You all know how much I love an update.

There’s only one thing better – and that’s making a start.

And while I was going through some posts yesterday to welcome Little Rich into the Hall of Fame, I kept running into Old Taz’s posts.

And no wonder, because when it comes to all things trains, they are inseparable.

And what a start OLd Taz made.

His back story (below), never fails to make me smile.

It rather made me feel that putting Little Rich in the Hall of fame on his own, was like putting half of a double act in there.

So today I am putting that wrong right.

I’m very pleased to welcome Old Taz into the Hall of Fame, next to his pal, Little Rich.

What’s more, I think it’s a wonderful example of how this hobby is so much more than making models and laying tracks.

Here’s Old Taz’s fab back story:

“Hi AL

I live down the street from the Zephyr. Dick and I met several years ago and have been close friends ever since.

I was restoring cars at that time. My health went south and I had to quit and sell everything that had a stick shift.

I’m no spring chicken either Al. Some new parts some rebuilt, some added, some removed and some we are watching.

My dad and my wife’s dad both worked as switchmen dowering the WW2. One in Minnesota and in Montana.

When my dad was building the trains longer, to come across the plains, her Dad was taking them Apart to make up shorter trains over the divides. Then vice a versa.

I have been following Al and the rest of you for about five years or more trying to absorb what I can.

The first train I can Remember having, Dad and I had to save five box tops off a chocolate drink mix and send them in with a Dollar. You could order a “A” unit (no motor). Then five box tops and a dollar baggage car and so on. I drank a lot of chocolate that summer. I got the motor for my birthday! No track! That came At Christmas.

That was it for trains till I went to work at The Toy Chest (age 22). Engines passenger cars, box cars, Buildings, track, all N GAGE. My first wife said I was nuts. It all got packed away.

Around 70 I decided I could not restore cars any more. When you can’t feel with your fingers you need to see what your touching.

I met Dick down the block and seen what he had as a hobby. Dick is a close friend we bounce ideas off each other all the time. Mine are better!

Here are some pix of my start.

It started in the garage on a pace of cardboard.

Then to the basement, gluing down my first piece of blue board I dislocated my new right hip.

It all went down hill from there!

Richard from Montana (Old Taz)”

You know how I’m always banging on about making a start?

I think Dick’s pictures above show in spades all layouts start with a single step. Look at how his finished. Amazing.

So make that start!

That’s all for today folks, except of course a quick reminder that there’s only a day or so left on the $9 mega bundle giveaway:

If you don’t dilly dally you can grab the Beginner’s Guide with it’s all bonuses, and 22 printable buildings for just $9.

Of course, I’m biased, but it’s an absolute giveaway: A a crazy $216 saving.

It’s not a ‘made up’ saving either – you can seee how much the buildings sell for in the store.

What’s more the The Beginner’s Guide has been the same price ever since I started the blog in 2011, so sadly, it will be going up this year.

So now is a doubly good time to grab it.

I know some of you buy it just for the printable buildings because you already have the guide. That’s fine – thank you for supporting the blog. Pat yourself on the back for helping the blog to chug along.

There are 5 brand new buildings to be had, in addition to the 17 others which are bundled with this deal.

As I said, I know many of you already have the Beginner’s Guide and are just buying it for the new buildings and that’s absolutely fine.

So here’s what you get for just $9. I’ve called it the Mega Bundle:

For $9, you get the Beginner’s Guide – and all of its usual bonuses – plus 22 printable buildings.

Five of the printable buildings are brand new:

The fire station.

Garage lock-up

Store / showroom

Sidings store building

Green shack

And here’s the crazy bit. I’m also throwing in another 17 printable buildings too, so you get all these:

(Click on the pics to see larger versions)

The buildings can be printed out at any scale. For HO scale, you don’t need to anything, just print.

But for N scale, for example, just reduce the print 54%. Easy peasy.

And here’s the very talented John with a quick youtube on making the new buildings.

It could just be me, but I think he had ‘lunched’ rather well before he recorded:

Here’s a few of the prints so you can see what they look like:

So here’s the Mega Bundle deal:

You get 22 free printable buildings, in addition to all the usual bonuses that come with the Beginner’s Guide.

The buildings sell for $9 each in the store, so that’s $198 worth of printable buildings.

In addition to this, the Beginner’s Guide normally sells for $27.

But today, just $9 gets the guide, it’s usual bonuses and $198 worth of printable buildings.

That’s a crazy $216 saving.

As I said, I want the sale to be sincere and knock out value to give something back to you lovely people.

And even with this $216 saving, you still get my 60 day, no quibble, money back guarantee.

If you are not utterly delighted with your purchase – for any reason or no reason at all – let me know and I’ll refund you in full.

Of course, I’m biased, but the Beginner’s Guide, is a treasure chest of info, whether you want to get started, get going, or just decide whether you want to build a layout.

Some of you will already have the Beginner’s Guide and just be grabbing it for the new buildings, and that’s absolutely fine.

But each and everyone of you will be directly supporting the site and be helping it to keep chugging along.

What’s more, it things are tight, you can help just by leaving a comment below if you’ve enjoyed the blog, the Beginner’s Guide or the printable buildings.

As you’ve probably worked out, with the printable buildings you’re only restricted by your imagination, you can make as many buildings as you like with this bundle or any of the bundles, to whatever design you like.

It’s a crazy deal and I hope you like it.

And to those who aleady have the Beginner’s Guide and are buying it just for the prints or to support the blog, thank you: without you there would be no blog.

Please remember though – it’s for this weekend only – then everything goes back to how it was.

So if you’d like to grab over $216 worth of Guide and prints for just $9, grab it here, right now.

Best

Al

PS The Beginner’s Guide has been $27 since I started the blog, way back in 2011. Sadly, it will be going up later this year, so this $9 bundle really is a great deal.