Most beginners will eventually become an experienced craftsman. Your children will also learn during the many projects related to your railroad. You and your family will learn how to use basic hand tools, power tools, saws, clamps, levels, sanding, surface putty, soldering, wiring, glues, paint, drills, bolts, screws, nails, tape measures, squares, stripping wire and cables, wood staplers, files, hinges, plasters, plastics, and many, many more tools and construction products depending on the design of your model railroad projects. It s no secret that many young men today did not have an opportunity to learn building techniques, or use tools, because many school districts have discontinued their wood, metal, and auto shop. What you learn as a model railroader will be useful in other projects at home.
Modelers often take their time when deciding which scale to model and which era to model.
There are many products available. International Railfair s vendors and the operating layouts will have trains and scenery in all eras and you will have an opportunity to see the different scales in operation. The Walthers Reference Book, published for several different scales, is a catalog that lists and illustrates thousands of available products for building and operating your model railroad. Another source for information is the Internet. There are thousands of websites related to model railroading.