OK, I'm new here. Have looked at a few sites and an FAQ.
My daughter (5) wants a "train set". She played a little when she was younger with those wooden toys you push around a track and now wants a proper train set. I don't know how long this will last, but I'll go along with it because I never had one and always wanted one :-)
Anyway, after looking in a shop she decided she wants a real train set rather than the Thomas the tank engine variety. I'm sure I'll do what most people do and buy a Hornby set to start off with. This is going to be a set that is played with, not something that is going to sit pretty and unused. I guess I'll glue the track mat to baseboard (with frame) and mount the track using pins on foam underlay, but I have no intention at the moment of creating a model village.
Anyway, as to my questions:
1) Are any of the Hornby starter sets much better value than the others? I notice some of the sets have trains that will not run on first radius curves, so I'd rather avoid them as she wouldn't understand.2) How much track do you think would be the right amount to start with? Looking at the Hornby trackmat, I think that she'd be bored without at least two ovals (basic track + A/B/C).
3) Is it simple to motorize points and signals?4) Other than EBay, are there any particular on-line retailers that are known to be particularly cheap?