How much time you invest in this hobby and what you purchase will also depend on your personality.

If you are someone who prefers more realism, then it is likely you’ll have different goals and different needs to someone who focuses mainly on maintaining and operating the trains.

Both people could invest just as much money (and time), but on different things.

So, there are no hard and fast rules, because model railroading is a hobby that can be adapted to meet the requirements of the individual. We’re all different!