Where can I find a complete model train set?

Question

It's for a gift for an older man, who used to collect trains. I know nothing about model trains, but instead of asking him, I wanted to make it a complete surprise.

Can anyone help me find something that's complete, so I don't have to do crazy figuring what goes with what? I'm willing to spend a few hundred dollars, or slightly more. Could this get me something decent quality???

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

To find a great model train set. just go to a local hobby store. If not that let me give you some links to follow.

:http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo...

:http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo...

:http://www.lionel.com/Products/Findex.cf...

Lionel is a bigger gauge, but no clue what gauge your looking for

This site is probably the best site out of these.

:http://www.trainsetsonly.com/

Answer 2

Joe gave you some good links.

I'd be curious to know his AGE and living situation:  Those of us who are older often develope vision problems, and Z or N scale become VERY difficult to work with (because they're so small).  Also, his living situation determines how much space he can apply to model railroading.

HO is the most popular scale (1 foot = 87 feet), but takes up quite abit of space... and O scale (1 foot = 42.5 feet)  is GREAT for the older eyes but takes up even MORE space.

A few hundred dollars WILL buy you a BASIC HO "SET": locomotive, 3 or 4 cars, and track for an 8' oval.

GOOD LUCK .