Posts Tagged ‘model railroad accessories’

There’s more to model railroading than operating the locomotives, isn’t there?  The locomotives are what pull us in in the beginning but as we try to imagine a world for our track plans to run through, we discover that this world becomes just as interesting. The historical time, the topographical scenery, the weathering and coloring are all just as intricate and involving as the trains for many of us model trainers.  In addition the fun of painting, detailing and building these landscape features adds a whole new venue to our model training experience.  Try these tips:

Begin by choosing a particular historical period for your metropolis that fits the trains you will be using:

You don’t have to have your social detail accurate but it doesn’t hurt to try. If you can keep your topographical details in accord with your kind of train it will impress other fans who appreciate that kind of stuff. There are infinite possibilities for you to decide between when it comes to time period and scenery.  So if you are trying to realize an accurate European feel to your tiny model train city then construct villas and figures that match this motif.

Structures and paths take priority in planning:  

Ideally your roads will crisscross your town and some will go back to and segment the railroad tracks. Once you have these thought out you might plan your other less important buildings and accessories around these central decisions.

Consider placing natural scenery into you city area:

Trees and other types of flora should also be included in your city. A little park at the middle of your city can really increase interest to your topography.  Some of the ideal plans I’ve seen include a central lake area in a city with a tributary that flows out and under the oval train tracks. This allows you the most variety of accessories and track plans.

Be sure to detail and weather your town:

Tiny details are at the center of good model railroad town.  This all has to do with the style of town you are designing but there are always chances for creating more intense grades of realism to your plan. Your efforts will be well rewarded in the end.

This is a rewarding aspect of the model training world that you can include the whole household in.  Virtually all kids take pleasure in painting and coloring.  There is a great pleasure in pasting parts together and adding tiny weathering details to high rises and paths.  If you have a particularly gifted member of the family, this can be the ideal chance to call on them and kindle their interest in model training. You can really use this as a bonding experience for the whole family. This is a wonderful way of creating lasting family recollections and customs.

Here is more information on Model Train Track. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.

Technorati Tags: ho model railroad city, ho model train, HO Model train railroad city, model railroad accessories, model railroad city, model train setups

Hey, we’ve really spent lots of time meditating on the models and the gauges of our little model train setup haven’t we? Appears you’ve already thought a bit about your terrain.  You know what we haven’t thought much about yet though?  We left out the access roads and streets that lead to our miniature berg and that section our track at times.  Right now your paths and trails have little detail and don’t really look like real roads at all.  You know what; here are some things we could do to make them more cool and captivating:

Build model railroad roads like we would build them in real life:

Make roads like in the actual world. Begin with the foundation.  Then use molding plaster to shape a dome over this surface.  The border of the road should be lower than the middle since roads are built to direct rain towards the edges.  A cool tip:  Here’s a real cool effect that I saw recently. This model railroad setup was going for a rural feel so when it made a road that crossed down into the model little prairie house it made it a dirt road.  To get this effect the hobbyist used actual sand. What an effect!

Railroad roads can be detailed too:

Weathering and detailing are indispensable to avid model train hobbyists. Like the paths we traverse in real life, model train roads should be equally beaten up.  You will find that the effect really adds whole new dimensions of realism to your model railway train world.

Pre-fab toy railroad roads:

Even though we train hobbyists really love the result that we get when we design anything on our model locomotive railroad layouts, sometimes it is better to just purchase pre-fabricated roads and streets.  A fast google search on “toy railroad roads and streets” will turn up several good leads.  Walthers Cornerstone is a great little company for HO scale.  They make lots of fantastic structures but I especially like the roads.  I personally also like their brick streets. They are really, really neat.  Walthers also makes several real cool accessories. Check out their line of steel products that they bundle under the title of  “Ashland Iron and Steel”.  If you’re into HO gauge Walthers Cornerstone is good place to go to get your accessories.

The borders of the road are just as important:

Your average sidewalk has pedestrians, stray cats, fire hydrants and street signs and so should yours. The childlike joy of such details is unquestionable! There is a form of awe that we get from looking at the uncannily shrunken that is every bit as powerful as what we get from the Grand Canyon.  Also, if you have a family member that is into the arts but not generally into the whole mechanical or historical aspect of the model railway trains experience, this may be the perfect opportunity to recruit them in the family fun.

Suggestion: Check this product out. Cool little working lamps that really light up lend a lot to a set up. Think of your train set up as a night scene and change the whole nature of your lay out. Soooo cooool!

Model railroad roads are just one of the many parts of the model train world that you can choose to focus your artistic gifts on.  Natural scenery also can really foreground a landscape.  A uneven surface, for example, is far more interesting than a flat one.  Oaks and redwoods and streams and mountain faces all really add to the uncanny feeling that you are looking at a shrunken world. A vintage phone booth, a sheriff’s station, a telegraph line—such historical detail helps paint the picture of the world we are creating.

Here is more information on Model Railway Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.  

Technorati Tags: model railroad accessories, model railroad roads, model railroads, model railway trains