If you own the OGR form and could post the 5 most important tips for O gauger's--what would they be?

1) It's your layout: do what you want.  Nothing more, nothing less.

2) Don't use Simple Green to clean anything.

3) Get a good surge supresser/master switch for the layout.

4) Buy only quality locos: never go for cheap, because it is.

5) Have a big fire extnguisher just in case (I have three).

1) Have fun and enjoy the hobby. If flipping the switch to "ON" doesn't immediately put a smile on your face it might be time for another hobby.

2) Repairs/Mods - Looking to try something new/different. Post the question and wait for responses, plural.

3) Buy what you like, not what other people like.

4) Layout - Big or small doesn't matter. Build one!

5) When posting on OGR remember what Mom said, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

1) Don't run mth trains with a cw80 or postwar transformers cause your gonna blow them up..Use only mth transformers or 135 or 180 watt bricks. 

2) When you decide to buy any train look for videos and ask questions and shop around..

It sucks when you buy something and your disappointed ..

3) Not to be afraid of modern trains there not hard to run and use

circuit breakers they will run for a long time..

4) You do get what you pay for (aka visionline)

5) I rather have 5 awesome trains then 20 ok ones 

* Don't believe everything you read on the forums.  Get additional opinions before taking any actions.

* Don't fall prey to forum peer pressure.  Make your own decisions.  Do it your way and don't look back.

* Start small so you can learn where you want to go with the hobby before you invest a small fortune.

* Avoid arguments.  They are a lousy substitute for reasonable discussion and accomplish nothing.

* Have fun.  If you're not having a good time what's the point?

Pete

1) You can do this without going Broke

2) Balance, if you're all trains, there wont be any money for scenery.

3) Participate - You'll learn more.

4) Learn how to take and post pictures

5)Don't be afraid to sell stuff you are not using or most likely not going to use.

Scrapple in moderation 

Everything else is just gravy

1. Learn all you can about 3-Rail O Gauge so you can make informed decisions about what it is that you want to do in the hobby.

2. Don't be afraid to jump in and build a railroad if that is what you decide you would like to do.  Recommend that you start small and then tackle  a larger layout after you have gained some knowledge and experience.

3.  Don't be hesitant to ask questions of others.

4.  Join a forum, they're great places to find answers and share information.

5.  Remember, this is your hobby so have fun and enjoy it your way.

6. and 7.  Have a fire extinguisher nearby and don't use Simple Green to clean your track. 

Bo 

Visit my website Bo's Trains at http://www.bostrains.com

1) subscribe to O Gauge Railroading the Magazine

2) become a premium Member of the forum

3) support our forum sponsors

4) don't spend more time on the forum than you do with your trains (do as I say not as I do)

5) enjoy your trains, but be greatful for the wealth of free knowledge this group is willing to share. Every thing I know about O Gauge has come from this group. 

I just have one.

Learn to use the "search" on the forum.

I, like most of you, occasionally have a question or problem that comes up, that I turn to the forum to have answered. Before I do a new post, I always do a search first to see if the issue I have, has been discussed in a past post. Probably 75% of the time, I find that it has and find the answer without having to do a new post.

I see many new posts concerning issues that have been discussed in great detail previously.

1) It's your layout build it as such.

2) Google is your friend

3) The only person you need to impress is yourself.

4) Have fun, it's a hobby not a job.

5) Things are not always right or wrong....just different.

Two words

Have Fun!

All the best,

Miketg

Bryan, this is a good topic with mostly helpful tips in the replys. Thank you.

Paul

Some of your buys will be disappointing.  Plan for it. 

1. Do not preorder.

2.Do not preorder.

3. Do not prorder.

4. Let another o-guage modeler preorder an item and find the flaws, defects, inaccuracies, or inoperability altogether.

5. Then make your decision as to whether you still want the item.

There are some excellent suggestions. Rather than repeat, I'd add just one to the mix:

Reference material can be a good friend. The forum contains a constant flow of questions from posters such as "What are the best cars to run behind this engine?", "Did XYZ railroad have this locomotive?", "Is this model scale?" and so forth. There are many wonderful books, videos and other items available which are treasure troves of information. Take the time and invest the necessary resources to seek out some information on your own. It's a fun process and can be as enjoyable as actually running the trains.  

Bob

1) Spell-check is your friend... it's O-GAUGE  (just kidding Bryan, I always spelled it GUAGE too!)

2) Don't be afraid to ask... most of the guys I know, know a lot more about this stuff than I do.

3) Find someone to buy from that you can talk to, ask questions, etc... whether it's a LHS or online dealer, get to know the person you deal with.

Ed

#1. Start with a transformer that provides more output than you think you'll ever need.

#2. Use the widest curves you possibly can.

#3. Buy and run what you like, how you like.

#4. Don't be afraid to ask for advice.

#5. Network--meet other train nuts like yourself; visit each others' layouts and see what neat things they have come up with.

This is the best advice so far:

"Don't believe everything you read on the forums.  Get additional opinions before taking any actions."

I already disagree with several of the advises given above. 

.....

Dennis

my 5 tips: do not post worthless topics x5.there is alot of this going on lately.-jim

;

1. Education,Education,Education.Learn all you can before you jump in.

2. Always try to support your local hobby shop(s).

3. Always have your hobby shop test run the locomotive before you buy it.

4. If your LHS won't test run locomotives,find one that will.

5. There are a lot of great Youtube videos on the latest locomotives. You can see how they run and sound before you make a purchase. Ericstrains come to mind.

Most of all-have fun!

A sixth tip:

* If you feel that a topic is worthless don't read it.

Pete

1.  For newbies:  jump right in with a Carpet Central, or temporary layout or Plywood Central.  Its fun, and you need the experience and chance to experiment.

2.  For newbies:  don't be too quick to buy everything that catches your eye (but buy some of it), and don't start that dream layout right away.  Your likes and preferences will evolve over time.

3.  Even if you can't have a layout right now, at least keep an oval (or more) of Fastrack so you can occasionally set up and run trains.  

4.  Let your layout evolve and change, don't be afraid to redo. 

5.  Read this forum, its a great source of info and ideas.

Is "Don't Drink and Ebay!" on the list?

1.  Try to model just one railroad.  You'll save a ton of $'s and you won't get sucked into impulse buying.

2.  Observe the outside world and recreate it on your railroad.

3.  Stay away from the Soap Box people on the forum.

4.  You only need to please yourself.

5.  Above all have fun and do it your way.

Stop posting these types threads

don't post polls

stop the idiot topics, what's your favorite.................

stop posting in the wrong area

I'll offer just one as it applies to the Forum:

Read the entire thread before you post to any thread.  (And yes, I did...)

Curt

1. buy what you like.

2. have fun.

3. get the trains running.

4. buy more kits than you have time to build,

(something for a rainy day)

5. share with friends

(whats simple green)??? got any photos???

1. have fun !!

2. meet the people you chat with when

3. join a club, you would be surprised how much you can learn as well as operate a bigger layout

4. Caution on #3 above sometimes the most opinionated are the least knowledgeable.

5. All the manufacturers have something good to offer

jojofry can you explain your #1 above about MTH trains and "other"

transformers, please? (newbie and hae not seen this advice before)

Eric