Posts Tagged ‘Layouts’

When it comes to model train layouts, pretty much the sky is the limit, depending on your budget and space. You can pick many kinds of model train scales, and it really depends of what you ideas you have.

The most common scale is the HO train, which is 1:87 scale, or one eighty seventh of the size of a regular train. There are variations of HO that have a narrower space between the wheels for smaller width tracks.

HO is the most common and widely used model train scale because of many reasons. First it is an ideal size for beginners, and people who have large hands, and have trouble dealing with smaller scales.

It is a good ’show’ train, and isn’t so small that it makes making layouts complicated. It is the easiest to find in most local hobby shops, and the accessories are in abundance, and if you are creative, can be made at home.

Your standard train layout is an 8×4′ piece of plyboard, but that is just a common base line. If you were to look up model train layouts on a search engine, you would come up with many pictures and videos of layouts, including some of the most complex and intricate designs that you would think that these people had a lot of time on their hands.

In truth, many people make model trains a quite an extensive hobby, and do take much painstaking effort is building train layouts. In fact, there are many train modeling clubs, that have annual contests for their members, to see who has the most elaborate set up.

Most beginner layouts would start with a basic track design, usually some kind of oval or oval modification. You would have the track go around close to the outside edge of the board, making access to the engine and cars easier.

From there you can really get as creative as you want. There are complete accessory packages available, including miniature trees, buildings, people and other decorations.

You can use this as a simple start, or of course you can make your own. Small toy trucks and cars can be used, if they resemble the real thing, and you can make buildings out of just about anything.

For instance, if you want to create silos, or oil refinery containers, you can clean out a variety of different sized tin cans, and paint them to resemble the oil containers, or glue a couple together at the ends for a grain silo. This is just the beginning of the possibilities.

You can find out an abundance of information about model trains, layout designs, and and what the different scales are for them. There are many sites that are full of videos and images of these layouts, as well as pictures of the different kinds of engines and cars available out there.

There are many ideas about home made props, like taking plastic plants and taking them apart for use as scenery. You can also go to your local retailer to get a hands on idea of all the items out there, and they may also have some really good package deals, where you get the train set, plus a basic accessory pack.

Technorati Tags: Layouts, Model, Overview, Quick, Train

There are a few things to remember when designing custom layouts for HO scale model railroad trains. First – enjoy yourself! There is lots of room for creativity, just stay with in a few basic guidelines.

Some very useful online tools including free software to design your own railroad model layout; search for it – it is even fun to use. You can also do it the “old fashioned” way, using pencil and paper with a compass for curves and a ruler for straight-aways. Keep in mind that no matter how exact you are in your design, when it comes to laying the materials, some adjustments will always be necessary.

You can also design your layout right on location, placing track pieces and switches loosely in place to get a feel for what it will look like. You can move things around until you have it exactly the way you want it. This is known as “going free-lance.”

It’s helpful to deliberately leave openings for later changes and additions. Leave some space for a train yard you might be able to add later, or other details you might not have the time or money for in your railroad model right now. This makes for a rewarding, multi-stage project, growing in complexity over time.

There are several different types of yards you can add. A “hump” yard has a gentle slope with an uncoupler, allowing uncoupled cars to gently roll away from the mainline. A staging yard is a section of track deliberately hidden from view, where you send your trains to wait. It’s useful to simulate long-distance runs, or simply for storage purposes.

One important guideline to keep in mind is the minimum radius for your turns, which in HO scale model trains is 18 inches for 4 axle diesels and 22 inches for 6 axle diesels. As a general rule, things will look and work best with 24 inch radius turns. For a full circle, this means 48 inches diameter, so you will need slightly more than a 4 foot wide space for such a layout.

Another important guideline is the maximum grade, which for HO scale model trains is 4%. What this means is that you should take 100 horizontal inches to rise 4 vertical inches. And that’s a maximum. Try to keep hills somewhat less steep than that. And test your engines to find out what they can handle and how many cars they can pull up that grade you’re creating.

To simulate greater height, instead of creating a steep climb for the rails themselves, drop the ground level underneath. You can create some breathtaking gorge and valley scenery, or even just send a road or another track underneath.

For getting started with your first layout, it’s probably best to stick with sectional track, which is fairly easy to snap together. More advanced modelers of HO scale model trains prefer to construct their layout from flex track. It comes in bundles, so it’s generally cheaper, and, as its name implies, it is a very versatile option, with greater opportunity for customization. It will make your railroad model look good. You can create small, brief curves with more natural lead-ins as opposed to being restricted to standard radii and straightaways in the snap-together sets.

A final point to consider in your design is to be sure you will be able to get to all parts of the finished layout for maintenance purposes. Some advanced modelers constructing larger layouts will even make “access hatches”, large holes covered by a movable portion of scenery, where they can come up from beneath and actually stand in the middle to work on those less accessible portions. Be sure the opening is large enough to comfortably stand and move around in. The scenery on the removable section should be light and durable for ease of handling. You may also want to create a screen of trees or some other visual obstruction in front of the removable section.

Technorati Tags: Guide, Layouts, Model, Railroad, Scale, Track, Trains

A train toy is a key piece of any childhood. Thus, it is important to master the wiring of toy model trains to ensure they run as smoothly as possible. This way, your child can enjoy hours upon hours of great fun. Don’t worry: Even if you have little experience with wiring, you can definitely master this with a little practice. The following includes a basic guide to wiring model train toy layouts.

Before you begin, you should know that the larger your model train track is, the more complex wiring and set-up will be. Additionally, you may need to use a heavy gauge wire as a bus for the track and may also have to run a number of feeders. Experts recommend that you fasten your train track to a foundation so that it is as secure as possible. Plywood is generally an inexpensive and effective material to use for this.

One of the keys to wiring model train tracks is to keep track of which wire is which. Using different-colored wire is a great way to keep track of your wiring patterns. For example, you could have the outside rail wires be red and the inside ones white to mark the negative charge.

Most experts agree that the right hand rule of wiring is integral to a successful track layout. Basically, you want the train to travel the track layout to the right or counterclockwise direction from where you stand at the power pack. When wiring, this means that the outside rail would be positive (+) and the inside rail would then be a negative (-) rail. It’s important to keep in mind which rails are positive and negative so that wiring is made that much easier.

You can wire the toy train wires to the model’s track in a number of ways. The most popular way is to solder feeder wires to the outer side of your rail. An 8 place terminal block is a great way to keep track of your wires. For example, you can connect all of the wires here and keep yourself from doubling up wires in a power pack. You don’t want the vibration from the pack to result in loose or frayed wires. Attaching the wires from the pack to the block is easy: all you have to do is strip some of the insulation from the wire, loop it around one of the knobs or screws of the terminal, and match up the charges.

Beginners should start simple so that they can master the basics of wiring and soldering. Once you master a simple model train toy track layout and its wiring, you can start experimenting with more and more complex layouts and their wiring. Soon, you’ll have many trains running on interlocking and reversing loops of track.

Technorati Tags: Guide, Layouts, Model, Track, Train, Wiring

Copyright (c) 2009 Randy Beckett

If you have been checking out the local model train store I?m sure you have discovered by now how the scale system works. The scales of model railroads are basically used to describe the ratio of the model train to the real version. With regards to the N scale model train it has a ratio of 1:148 that makes it one of the smallest scales on the market. They are extremely popular because of the many advantages they offer collectors with limited space.

Space is usually not the only factor considered when beginning a model train collection. However, if you are extremely limited in space the N scale will surely be high on your list of scales to consider. Due to its popularity the N scale has a wide range of accessories available in both cars and extensive landscape options.

The toy model trains available in N scale are also very popular due to the extensive amount of detailing on them. Even though they are one of the smallest scales they are exceptional in detail. If you are looking for something smaller than the N scale then you would need to go with the Z scale model train. The cost of the Z is among the least expensive, unfortunately you will be giving up a great deal of detail since the scale has become so small it is hardly worth being to creative since it is so small you would not be able to appreciate the work.

With the N scale model trains you have a scale that may be just the right size to fit into a compact space and also large enough to see the craftsmanship it possesses with great attention to detail. The N scale has become one of the popular choices for new collectors as well as those buyers who are purchasing the sets for young engineers during the holiday season. Check out your local model train shop to see the N scale in action. They can be used to layout elaborate model railroad systems. A word of caution: The size of the trains can make large layouts difficult due to difficulty with track conditions. There size can create layout problems if the track becomes too large since derailments are more frequent with smaller scales.

While you are at your model train store be sure and check prices on all of the scales. I believe you will find the N class to be very competitive when it comes to larger scale model trains. Since the N class is very popular right now it is manufactured more than other scales and therefore much less expensive. This means it offers great value for money and even though the material utilized is minimal there is an option to create more detail on it. So it’s a perfect way to start off when you want to spend limited amounts when delving into this hobby for the first time. Fuel for the N scale model train is available in many different varieties. You may use a live steam engine to power it, which can be fueled with butane or you may find mentholated spirit or fuel tablets made out of hexamine. Some other options for creating steam are using electricity. However, many collectors prefer to use plain ole basic electricity to run their model railway trains. All these options make it a very versatile choice. I am a great believer in playing with different models before diving into model trains as a hobby. So, get your shoes on and get down to your local train shop and play around with different scales until you find a good fit for you. Don?t be afraid to ask the shop owner lots of questions. A good model train shop owner will spend all the time you need to help you begin your new hobby. They want you to be a long-term loyal customer.

Technorati Tags: Layouts, Model, Railroad, Scale

The first step in adding ground cover to a Lionel train set is choosing the season you wish to display. Winter ground cover will obviously be different from summer. Even fall and spring ground covers will be markedly different. Consider the look you wish to achieve for your Lionel train set.

Winter ground cover generally includes a facsimile of snow. Snow can be created by using virtually any white powder, such as baking soda, flour, dry plaster, or even white marble dust. Sprinkle your white powder around your train set, then mist it with a 1:1 mixture of white glue and water, with a drop or two of dish soap to allow the mixture to flow.

Spring or summer ground covers include grass facsimiles, which are created using ground foam and the same water/glue mixture described above. Ground foam is available from retail stores in various colors, but it can get quite expensive, particularly for detailed train sets.

Luckily, ground foam can be made using ordinary chair padding and acrylic or craft paint (available at any craft store), and an old blender. The chair padding should be cut into small cubes (about 1” around). The blender should be loosely filled with the cubes and turned onto a low speed. You may need to use an old dowel to push the cubes down into the blades. You may also need to add a small amount of water to “lubricate” the blades. When the foam has reached a sufficiently fine state, you can turn the blender onto a higher speed and add a small amount of paint to the mixture. Let the paint mix with the foam for several minutes. If there seems to be too much paint, add a few more foam cubes and allow those to be chopped and blended into the mixture. When you are satisfied with the mixture, spread it out on a sheet of cardboard or heavy paper and allow it to dry overnight.

Fall ground cover is a much duller color than spring ground cover. Browns can be mixed into the ground cover using sand or dirt, or by using the methods described above to create foam with a dull brown paint color.

Creating trees, bushes, and rocks will be an adventure limited only by your imagination. Many companies sell premade trees or tree kits for train sets, but often you can create your own trees using supplies that you already have. Trees can begin with twigs that you find in your own yard, with balsa wood, wire, twine, or any number of supplies. Bushes can be made from lichen, which can be purchased in small bags in craft stores. You can also use a sponge, cut to size and painted a realistic color.

For large rocks, use rubber molds with plaster. You can glue together several molds and fill in the gaps with small amounts of plaster to create cliffs, canyons, and other large rocks. Paint the plaster a brown-gray color with watercolors or acrylic paint. For small rocks, you can use an ordinary piece of gravel or any other small stone.

Finally, there are many ways to add water to your train set. One of the easiest ways is with epoxy resin- tiny cubes that are melted and poured into place, then dry clear. You can add a drop or two of acrylic paint to simulate muddy water if you like. However, don’t be afraid to experiment with other supplies to create a variety of effects for your train set! These ground cover techniques will work just as well for any brand just the same as they will for a Lionel train set.

Technorati Tags: Adding, Cover, Ground, Guide, Layouts, Train