Posts Tagged ‘n scale model trains’
Tiny Model Trains
Do you recall that sixties B movie where scientists shrunk down and entered this patient’s body to save him? I can’t remember now exactly what it was called “Fantastic Journey”, maybe? Something like that. Other movies have shown people shrinking down or getting bigger but that’s the one that really stuck with me. Well, that’s the sensation that a lot of us get when we look at micro trains. We are just lured into the tiny world of these fantastical and oddly realistic model trains. Here’s what’s great about these model trains:
The smallest trains you can buy:
What is their exact scale? Real locomotives are 160 times the dimensions of an N scale train. Stick out two of your fingers. That’s the size of an N scale train. If you think that’s tiny, Z scale is even tinier–1/220th the size of real trains!
Micro trains can be put almost anywhere
Thought you couldn’t fit anything into that tiny 2’ x 4’ alcove in the foyer? Try these model locomotives. A 2′ x 4′ area is plenty of room for these guys. These little guys are sometimes called “tabletop” trains because they so easily fit on any flat surface. What would it be like to be in that little landscape whizzing by tooth pick farms, porcelain cowboys and ceramic chickens and cows? Strange Journey indeed!
Here are some draw backs:
I hear they torture poor, acne smeared middle schoolers in some countries by making them detail N and Z scale trains:
Crafts activities are definitely a no go with these tiny mechanical wonders. The scale of these trains is too small for real craftwork so collectors get prefabricated accessories. These guys are just too small to be detailed or decalling.
N and Z Scale are DANGEROUS for small children:
Because these model trains are so tiny you’ll want to be careful that you don’t let tiny mits get a hold of them. N-scale is bad enough but Z scale really shouldn’t be put in a home with small children!
If you don’t like to play ”Search and Rocover Mini-Train Edition”, z-scale may not be for you:
Because it is so tiny, z scale does not offer you a lot of unique choices in terms of trains and accessories.
With these things in mind however, these are really wonderful. There’s something odd yet fascinating about seeing a shrunken little world–we’re drawn to it like we are to miniatures of all kinds! Just ask Gulliver and the Jolly Green Giant.
Here is more information on Model Train Information. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.
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N Scale Model Railroad Table
Here’s an aspect of model training we haven’t thought enough about, the surface where we’re setting up our trains. Even with N gauge this can be important. You could simply put these trains on a regular surface, you say. Wait a sec. Let me try to argue my point. The kind of table you choose your N scale locomotives on can actually be very significant. Here are some reasons why:
A unbalanced surface can’t handle it:
To begin, you don’t want to choose a surface that is weak and that will lean or that can be easily bumped over. You don’t need your trains to stay upright against a the “Big One” but they shouldn’t fall over when the school bus shakes by outside. One horrible moment and your locomotives could be in fragments tossed about the ground. Imagine the possible cost and the time you just trashed! Don’t open yourself up to this setback. If you’re practiced with your hardware you could fashion this train table yourself.
Cool Tip: Here’s a cool suggestion. Remember that unused ping-pong table that lays forgotten in the basement? Sure you do, it’s the ping pong table that became your new model train table. Ping pong tables are nice and big so they free lots of options for your design. Think of how complicated you could make your HO track plan on a table of these measurements. Even if you have a Lionel O or one of those new S gauge trains, you’ll find that you can really do a lot with a table this big.
Portable tables for travel:
Look to shell out a bit for a strong train table. A quick web search will list a gaggle of leads focused on train tables.
Cool suggestion #2: Here’s a room saver: Lower your table from the ceiling. Want your car port back for your cars? Attach your table to the ceiling with a pulley device and your problem is overcome.
Interlocking tables:
The best bet when it comes to tables, though, is domino style tables that can be used in any configuration. These tables usually come in 2’ x 4’ cuts that can be fastened in any direction so that you can make really long pieces by connecting the thin sides or you can make wider tables by connecting the 4’ to 4’ sides. What these great domino tables let you to do most however is to grow your train layout in any way that you would like. Unlike other types of tables that force you to change your design to match their dimensions, these tables allow you to control the limits of your layout. The light weight design is ideal for model train lovers. If you want to take your model train down in the basement, you can just carry the table down to your work area. If you want to take this over to your brother’s house to show his kids your track, it is light enough to be hauled. They are so easy to reconfigure that you might actually have difficulty keeping to one track plan.
And these tables can grow with your model training experience letting you expand your surface setup along with your developing toy railroad layout.
Here is more information on N Scale Model Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.
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N Model Railroad Layout
Small miniatures are the neatest, huh? You won’t hear an argument from me. There is nothing so neat as little tiny trains. Something about the uncanny likeness of miniatures really lures us in. Another interesting thing about these little locomotives is that they are so miniscule you can practically fit them anywhere. Let’s think a little bit about how we could use them in different spaces:
2’ x 4’ N model railroad layout:
This is the smallest layout that we can use for these little trains. We could set it up on the coffee table if this is all the space we’re going to use. If we do this layout though, we are really limited to just having the trains go around in a circle. The only other choices would be a figure 8 or concentric circles.
Pre-fab n scale scenic highlights:
N-scale is so small it is hard to work with. Craftwork is not really feasible for these little guys but don’t worry, several companies offer lines of pre-fab accessories. A good way of adding interest to your n-model railroad layout is to purchase some of these and add them to your layout. Atlas is a good first stop for these accessories.
Square setup:
A square 3’ x 3’ hobby space will really open up fun possibilities. I’ve seen some pretty interesting designs for a space of this size and larger. Try a peak at the center of your setup with your train circling around it. This makes for a really captivating scene in a really tight space. I wouldn’t advise trying it in a space any smaller than this however. The attempts I’ve seen to do this just don’t really work.
Add systematically to your track area:
A good way of constructing your design is to add incrementally to it. You could begin with a simple 2’ x 4’ design and then add to it so that it is a 2’ by 8’ long island type configuration and then turn it into an “L” shape, etc., etc.. You might extend a river so that it is at the center and then have your track criss-cross it as it moves down the table. Use your imagination to come up with captivating detail. Little ruins or perhaps a delapadated castle by the side of a tributary can really make for a varied and captivating scenic experience.
N scale gives you the most variations for the least amount of space. Challenge yourself to let your imagination overcome the physical limitations of your space. If you find a particular landscape fascinating, build it. Others are likely to find it captivating as well.
Here is more information on N Scale Model Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.
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N Gauge Model Trains
Model train hobbyists have a lot of choices as to scales. If you’re a model train enthusiast who has a small amount of space to work with, then you may want to have a look at the smaller scales such as N Gauge Trains. These model trains are far smaller than the more common HO and O scale trains; N scale trains are designed with small spaces in mind – you can make entire layouts for these trains on a work bench as small as 8′ by 4′ or even smaller. The name of the scale refers to the size of the tracks these trains run on: N is short for nine, which is the space between the rails. N scale trains are in a ratio of 1:160 to real trains, which is approximately half the size of HO trains (which are made in a 1:87 ratio). However, the exact size of the trains may vary depending on the manufacturer.
Even though they’re somewhat less popular than the larger O and HO scales, N scale trains are the most popular of the smaller scales and the cars, tracks and other accessories are widely available. While the trains may be small, the size does not mean sacrificing detail; many of these trains are actually more detailed than are their larger counterparts. You may choose N scale trains even if space is not at a premium for you; the smaller size of these trains allows you to build very elaborate layouts in the same space a larger scale would require for a very basic setup.
N gauge trains are also ideal for people who like to run long trains with many cars. N trains are much lighter than bigger models, both for engines as well as the cars themselves, so you can run a really long line of cars if you want, without loosing power as you would with larger scales. Many also choose this scale because of its small size and portability. There are portable workbenches that fit can be taken apart and moved around, and the light weight of this size train make moving it from place to place a lot easier.
N gauge trains are made by a variety of different companies, though Lionel and Bachmann are the most popular brands. Bachmann in particular makes some high quality and affordable starter kits such as the Prairie Flyer Set, which includes a 4-4-0 steam locomotive with tender, coach cars and a combine as well as plenty of EZ track; enough to make an oval of 34″ by 24″. This kit is available for less than 0 from many retailers.
There are many scenery packages as well as many more styles and sets to choose from when it comes to N gauge trains. These include trees and other plants, plus many buildings, vehicles, and little figurines. You can find an abundance of websites that sell this gauge and many others, and you can also check with your local hobby shop. If you want to see what kinds of layouts can be created, there are many examples online to help give you plenty of ideas. There are even books available to help you create some of the best layouts imaginable. These include all the list of parts you will need, as well as great advice.
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