The Table

You’ll need a table, but not just any table. You need one that can support the weight of the landscape on top. This might mean that you will need to customize it. That would be ideal. For a simple setup, though, with no mountains or the like, you could get by with a standard heavy duty solid wood table. Once you get into mountains and rolling hills, you might need to strengthen it by adding support pieces under the places that carry the most weight.

Model Train Accessories

A setup is never complete without accessories. You can make it yourself or you can go out and buy pre-made pieces. The advantage to making them yourself is that you can make it look anyway you want. You could create pieces that look like the buildings near where you live. You could even re-create the area where you live that has a railroad! That would be amazing to have in your house! I’m sure people will be amazed at that! As for accessories, you will want to invest or build buildings, trees, snow, water, mines, people, lights, railroad crossings, and all such things that you might see in the landscape. Yes, it gets very detailed and yes, it can be a never ending process of continual improvement and/or change. That’s probably why there is so much appeal to it. Like there is for the simulation games like Sim City and the like.

Different Scales

If you’ve been shopping around either in physical or online stores, you probably noticed that there are different size scales you can get for both the trains and accessories. HO is the most popular size. Different scales have different trains available and different accessories. So you would have more to choose from in the HO size. But of course, if you were to make your own accessories, the size you choose would only depend on the available trains.

Needed Space

The larger the space, the more you can add on to your railroad scape. The minimum space you would need for a model train setup would depend on the size train you pick. The smallest you could go is if you had just a circle for the train to go round and round in. Your table would simply measure the size of that circle. If you opt for more space, take into consideration how easy it would be to move. In case you have to move houses, you would most likely want to take your setup with you. Keep that in mind. If you have a big setup, remember to build it so that you have connecting pieces that you could easily maneuver out the door.

Originally posted 2009-11-06 11:18:18. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Repairing and reconstructing your old Lionel train can be very accomplishing. You can enjoy in the warm glowing of memories of past times, and so make new memories to go on with them!

The good thing is, you can do this yourself with just a small patience and know-how! At One Time you’ve mended it, holding your old train’s aura is largely a topic of a dab of oil now and then in the good targets to keep it functioning smoothly.

How do you mend Lionel Trains?

The introductory step in restoring an old Lionel train is to make it all cleaned up.

Wipe it all off with a soft cloth to remove debris and stain.

You can take out rust with rust remover or sand paper. Say you see green or cranky white spots, that is oxidation, and you can get rid of it with oxidation remover.

The final part in your cleaning is to wipe down the tracks, the wheels of the cars, and any moving parts with a light oil spray. Use Q-Tips soaked with the oil to get into smaller areas, like the wheels, and use a soft cloth soaked with the oil for the tracks. Buff it all up with a clean part of the cloth.

Placed a tap of the oil on whatever moving sections, and function it in so that they run smoothly and easily. You can use a toothpick to collect tiny pieces of oil for the small segments.

You can start to mending it now that it’s clean.

Make sure all the pieces of the track fit together tightly. If they don’t, then bend the connections back into position with average pairs of pliers. It might take a few tests to get them simply in good order, simply you should be able to get a challenging fit.

Take the bodies off of your cars, and inspect the interiors. Clean them as earlier, and reckon for broken areas. It Is actually simple to exchange these sections yourself. You can purchase them at a Lionel trains specialty storage, numerous hobby storages, or get them from Lionel trains regions catalogs. Only unscrew them and screw in the replacement part.

Lastly, does your train move? Check it after you’ve cleaned it all, because built up soil and dirt could cause the link ‘tween the train and the track to be so terrible that it retains it from running. If it’s clean and still doesn’t move, check to see if the plug is working. If the plug reckons Fine, it may be that the transformer wants repair or substitute.

You can find detailed statements about how to fix the transformer, and each of the different regions of Lionel trains at LionelManuals.com. They have a two CD set of complete guides, blueprints, and plots for all Lionel train ready-made from 1906 through 1986. The set also takes on a areas and supplements catalogue for your convenience.

Use the repair manuals to complete any other necessary repairs for your train.

Ready And Waiting to keep your Lionel train, merely keep it clean and furbished, oil the running parts all so often, and it should present you many more yr of enjoyment!

Originally posted 2010-01-03 11:09:38. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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The German toy company Marklin developed the O scale train in 1900. Instead of providing a realistic train experience, they focused on making model trains fun. Before long, everyone used the O scale for their model railroads. Once the United States got through the Great Depression, it became standard to use O scale model trains. O scale tracks typically have three rails on them. You can find current O scale tracks in three or two track outfits, though (three rail tracks are powered). Since the advent of more realistic train operations, people have been passing over the O scale trains for HO and NO scale model trains. However, people still tend to start out their train collections with O scale trains.

What do O scale model trains do? Train scales are determined between the difference in size between their real counterparts. Regional scales tend to be a little different, though! O scale model trains in America are at 1:48 scale. However, British O scale trains have a 1:43.5 ratio. The rest of Europe has a 1:45 O scale ration. Therefore, you shouldn’t count on all O scale model trains worldwide to be the same size. Make sure you know how different the trains can be as you shop for O scale items.

What exactly is the O-27 scale and how is it different? You can find this among several O scale tracks. A regular O scale model has a 31 inch diameter when it’s made into a perfect circle. It’s technically O-31 scale, but since it’s the standard, it’s just called O scale. However, O-27 scale gives you a 27″ diameter if you lay out its track in a perfect circle. There are many different sizes of O scale track, like O-31, O-72, O-27, and O-54, so look out for these variations. As before, the number on the scale is the diameter of a circular track. With the smaller tracks, you can have a better efficiency of space, but it’s not as realistic, and it can be harder for full sizes O scale trains to navigate the track. You can, though, mix and match your track sizes so you can make your own custom track that meets your desires.

O scale model trains are becoming more popular of late, despite the dominance of N and HO scale trains. Due to this newfound popularity, it’s easy to find O scale equipment and trains nowadays. In the past few decades, O scale model trains have enjoyed a much higher level of detail. Since O scale standards tend to be confusing, it’s hard to find consistent equipment. Make sure you know how different O scale is in each region, and whether or not you want two or three rail tracks. Despite all this, you can’t go wrong with O-27 scale model trains, especially if you just want to get started with model trains as a hobby.

Originally posted 2009-11-05 10:09:08. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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When it comes to basic sets, HO delivers with more beginner, intermediate, and advanced sets than any other scale. It isn’t hard to find one that is right for you. You can always find HO scale, whether in your local hobby shop or a wide range of websites.

Whoever is doing the detailing for this scale has a lot of time on their hands because the work is so intricate that it rivals the real thing. For size proportions, HO scale model accessories can’t be beat. The figurines look just right, and seem like they will fit inside the cars, not just on them.

One of the nice things about HO sets is that you have many different styles. When the holidays come around, there is no shortage of Holiday Express sets available in many styles. Shrek is a big selling item, as well as Thomas the Train Engine.

Of course, there are many traditional offerings with brightly colored engines and trains, steam locomotives, and some that actually give of whiffs of smoke, or even play holiday music.

There is no shortage of holiday scenes either. You can find many intricate winter wonderlands complete with little carolers, lighted lamp posts, working clock towers, and buildings that play holiday carols. Many of these working scenes either run on batteries, or can be plugged into any outlet.

For track layout and design, the HO scale model train wins hands down on imagination and creativity. There are so many different kinds of layouts, from simple oval tracks to mountain scenes with lumber yards, vehicles and trains hauling wood from the country to town.

There are many cityscapes, and buildings, vehicles, and equipment that you will never be bored. For almost anything you can imagine, there is probably a layout design for you.

For train locomotives, HO has probably the largest selection and variety on the market. You can find just about any brand of locomotive in this scale, such as Santa Fe, and Union Pacific, as well as vintage steam trains and futuristic monorail designs.

You will find the same holds for cars as well. You have freight cars, hoppers, and tankers galore. There are flat beds filled with lumber or other building materials. There are car carriers, passenger transport cars, and many different styles and models of caboose.

A quick look on the internet will bring you many presentations. You will not find it hard to locate the millions of videos and picture images of train modelists layout designs, and just one search will reveal more sites that will sell just about anything than you can imagine.

You can find dozens of sites that strictly sell scenery, shrubs, trees, and grasses, all painstaking painted to look like the full size versions.

Originally posted 2010-01-09 10:05:49. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Here are some weathering tips and techniques for transforming your model trains from fresh-out-of-the-box shiny and new to working engines and cars. These techniques should work great with most model trains HO and O scale. While Lionel trains are the most popular brand, these weathering techniques work the same way with any brand.

Some of the conditions you might want to simulate on your model train cars are the effects of weather, dirt, age, and even bumps and scratches. To do this, you?ll need paint and paint brushes, hard-wire brushes, chalk, crayons, toothpicks, and either photos of real aged railroad cars or access to real-life cars to see where and how exactly they age. The more the better, so you can pick several different looks for different cars, or even different parts of cars. Keep in mind that no two cars will age in the same way, or at the same rate.

Paint colors will vary depending on what effect you?re going for, but good colors will be rust, orange, browns, black, earth tones, white; you can mix and match, or combine colors to get the colors or effects you have in mind. Even if you use a color called rust, remember that there is a wide range of rust, so you might want to have it darker in one place, and lighter in another.

Use a dry-brush technique (use a hard-bristle brush dipped into the paint, then wiped mostly dry with a paper towel) to apply the paints to your Lionel train. A vertical stroke, top to bottom of the car gives the appearance of streaking, as a normal car exposed to the elements would.

If this is your first time weathering a model train, you might want to practice first, either on a piece of paper or cardboard, or on an old model train car, if you have one. You might be able to find an inexpensive car at a garage sale or thrift store to use as your practice vehicle. Use your practice time to get a feel for how much paint it takes to get the color you want, and how much pressure to use to get the streaking look you want before moving on to your good cars.

Another way to weatherize your model trains is washing. There are different methods of washing, but in essence it consists of mixing your paint with either alcohol or a thinner, and applying a thin coat on your cars. Depending on the look of each coat, and what look you?re going for, you can apply several coats of wash, keeping each one thin.

Using chalk is also a way you can make model trains look realistic. Make a powder of chalk, either by scraping it with a knife, or rubbing it with sandpaper, and apply the chalk dust to the car. Then seal the chalk onto the car. Model Master Lacquer is one product that can be used for this purpose.

Model train weathering powder comes in a variety of colors, and is a chemical powder than can be used not just on model train HO cars, but in your layout as well: on buildings, water towers, or whatever else you have that you want to weather.

Graffiti is one thing that will automatically lend an air of legitimacy to your model train. You can add graffiti to your Lionel model cars using graffiti decals, which are available in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and words. Or you can let your inner artist out, and paint your own. This is another technique you might want to practice first, to make sure you have the size, scale, and flourishes right.

In summary, these weathering techniques work great with Lionel trains and any other brands. The main goal is to create real-life effects. Any technique that helps you achieve that goal is okay. There are no limits to what you can do. Pretty much anything goes when it comes to weathering model trains HO and O scale. Beginners can use the techniques presented here to get started then create their own methods as they get a feel for it.

Originally posted 2009-10-31 11:36:15. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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One other consideration to bear in mind is the gauge of the model railway – buying an avid collector of N gauge an O gauge train will not be so warmly received as if you can buy someone the model they love, in the gauge they collect. So check out which gauge you should be looking for if you are buying a present for someone else.

If you want to collect the best, then a couple of manufacturers offer an amazing range. There are some great special editions being manufactured, for example, and it is also possible to buy vintage/second-hand models either on-line or by going to a collectors’ fair. E bay is a wonderful source of model trains and accessories, for example. The collecting of vintage models can put a serious dent in your pocket but bring you much joy, especially if you are old enough to remember the vintage models from your own childhood!

For most American model railway enthusiasts, Lionel Trains will be a well-known name. A popular manufacturer in the 1940s and 1950s, the company started in the 20s and antique Lionel trains dating from those early years are certainly sought after. Any collector lucky enough to get his hands on the Liberty Lines 600E 2-6-4 will consider himself fortunate indeed and the Lionel Super 381E is most likely to be seen in a museum than a private collection, since only a hundred were ever made. So whilst these particular trains may be impossible to afford as a gift even if you could source them, Lionel Trains do make new models still and it is also possible to pick up a great vintage item that many a collector will love. To find something in your price range, try using TM’s Lionel Price & Rarity Guide (which comes in two volumes) or Greenberg’s Pocket Price Guide to Lionel Trains to assist you in your search – both books detail the prices you can expect to pay for Lionel trains. As the cost varies enormously according to the condition of the train, they are clear about how much you can expect to pay for a mint condition train, say, rather than something in fair or poor condition. If the person you are buying for is a real model railway enthusiast, they may well be delighted with a rare model in poor condition that they can restore, rather than a run-of-the-mill model in excellent condition that doesn’t have any excitement value. It sounds odd to recommend buying someone a beat up old train for a present, but if you buy the right one, you could make someone very happy!

Bassett-Lowke was an English toy company founded around the turn of the twentieth century, which is well known for its O gauge locomotives made with great attention to detail. Superb production quality and careful construction meant that every model was excellent but the company could not survive financially in competition with the more mass-produced and cheaper models which flooded the market in the late 1950s and early 60s, and ceased trading some forty years ago. In the high-end vintage train market today though, Bassett-Lowke is a name to conjure with, and pristine condition vintage models might set you back two or three thousand pounds sterling ($4000-$6000). Fortunately for most collectors, in the last ten years Corgi have started producing brand new high end collectibles with the Bassett-Lowke name. These are proving popular once again, and Corgi have stuck to the original O gauge scale, producing beautifully crafted limited edition pieces, some of which even have a miniature smoke generator so they can produce real steam. This is top quality, but it comes at a premium price, with many models costing GBP500-800 ($1000-$1600). For the serious collector they are a must though. If you can put any of these on your present buying list, you will be likely to find yourself with a very pleased collector on the receiving end of the gift.

Bachmann is another manufacturer that produces a good range of collectibles, and theirs are often in HO gauge, which is perhaps advantageous to many collectors as it is such a popular scale. They also do the Graham Farish range in N gauge, and both of these are much more affordable, being in the hundreds, rather than the thousands of pounds sterling. Many have digital control and a range of features which make it worth putting the loco on the tracks and using it, whereas some collectors of other top end models prefer to keep them pristine in the original packaging. To be honest, if they paid three thousand pounds/ $6000 for one rare vintage locomotive, who can blame them! Like Lionel, Bachmann trains can be sourced on the internet as well as at fairs. Do be careful with Bachmann though as some of the older models are not top quality, but anything from the “Plus” or especially the “Spectrum” range is likely to be much better than from the standard range.

On thing to consider in a top quality model train is whether it supports DCC or Digital Command Control. This is a means of powering each individual loco by means of a decoder fitted to the train which responds to commands from a DCC controller. Many top quality locos can now be bought with a decoder already installed and the ability to operate the train independently of the power in the track in a great step forward in railway modelling. If the train is not DCC ready it is worth asking if it can be converted – i.e. can you fit a DCC chip yourself? In a top end loco it is a real advantage – it allows the modeller to include on-board sound and lighting effects, for example.

Though it is impossible to recommend particular models as the top ones to have, as that will depend on the special interests of the collector, my personal favourites include Hornby’s OO gauge R2610 Caledonian or the Flying Scotsman LNER Class A1 4-6-2 loco (R1072).

For more information visit Diecast Trains

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Originally posted 2009-12-22 11:21:43. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Detail is very important to most model railroaders, and N scale model trains allow a high level of detail to be achieved. These details are not only possible in the trains, but also in the layouts you create for you train to travel through. Many different pieces are available for purchase, which allow you to add in realistic looking buildings to your layout. Buildings such as cafes with details such as napkin holders make the layout appear as if it is a small town built right in your own home. This accounts for the large popularity of the N scale.

Weathering is something that has become popular with those who use N scale model trains. By adding stains and scratches to the trains, you are able to make the trains appear as if they have been affected by the conditions they would actually encounter. Trains in a cityscape would be darkened by smoke and grease while trains in a desert would be scratched by sand. Being able to make your trains fit in their environment is very important to keep with the realistic look of the layout you have created.

Those living in Japan have celebrated N scale model trains because of the ability to get involved in train modeling. Most Japanese home are very small and do not include a lot of room, but thanks to this ideal scale they are able to create such things as recreations of the bullet train. Many of those with a large disposable income happen to live in New York City where space is at a premium. This means a smaller model train is necessary in order to create something they can be proud of. Turning the extra room into Grand Central Station may take some time, but it won’t take a bigger home.

For some, space is not the issue, but N scale model trains are still the best option to choose from. The reason is because of the ability to create vast layouts without having to take up an entire warehouse. Those looking to make permanent displays for museums and schools have chosen N scale because it allows them to create something that is representative of the space they are trying to recreate. You will not have to cut corners as you build the layout of your dreams.

Originally posted 2009-11-16 11:36:38. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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There is a lot more to this hobby than just buying a couple of train toys to push around on a makeshift track. Instead, you need to consider everything from the materials from which the tracks are made to the locomotives, cars, wiring, power-pack components, and whether or not to purchase complete kits or buy each item separately.

One of the first things to consider is the scale. The most popular scales are O scale and HO scale (half-zero). O scale is 1:48 scale while HO is 1:87 scale. However, smaller and larger scale models are also available. The main consideration here is your availability of space. If you plan to fit your layout on a 4×8 piece of plywood, HO scale is a great choice for that. If you have more space and more money to spend, O scale is a great choice. There are lots of accessories available for either HO or O scale.

Another decision to make is whether to buy a complete kit or individual components. Kits are recommended for beginners because they provide the essential items at an affordable cost. The downside of buying individual components is it will cost more money and take more time to put it all together. However, for more serious model train hobbyists, buying individual components is recommended because it allows you to upgrade and customize your selections, making your set uniquely yours and totally awesome! Kits typically include standard quality items, which are okay for beginners but maybe not okay for more serious railroaders.

For the cars, as long as they are the same scale as your track, you really cannot go wrong. Buy the ones you like the best and have fun collecting unique and interesting cars.

One of the most important model train features is the track. Tracks have rail heads, which are made from three basic materials, brass, nickel-silver and steel. However, there are really just two choices here because brass is being phased out by most manufacturers and is already hard to find in hobby shops. The best and cheapest place to find brass track is in garage sales. So your remaining choices are nickel-silver and steel. Nickel-silver is the easiest to find and most commonly used. It is very popular because it is slower to oxidize, which means less maintenance and less cleaning. Steel has the advantage of looking the most realistic but it has the disadvantage of rusting faster and getting dirty faster. So if you want that awesome look that steel offers, you have to be willing to work harder for it.

When looking for track, look for a code on the track packages. This number relates to the height of the rail. The most commonly used track code is 100 on the HO scale. Model train enthusiasts often use lighter rails or those below 100 as an alternative to achieve a more realistic appearance.

Another important component is the locomotive. Here the choices are diesel versus steam engines. Steam locomotives are very fun because of the loud train sounds and smoke but are typically more expensive than diesel. Diesels are typically available as either 4-axle or 6-axle. Your choice here depends partly on the twists and turns of your track layout. For HO track, a 4-axle diesel requires a minimum track radius of 18 inches while a 6-axle diesel requires a minimum track radius of 22 inches.

Lastly, consider your electrical needs. You will not only need a power-pack but also wires to keep your train up and running. Different trains require different types of power. Most experts agree that HO locomotives pull between 0 to 15 volts DC at .5 or more amp, though adding extra amps is always a good investment. Invest in colored wires to make wiring that much easier. This helps you to keep track of positive and negative charges so that you can avoid a short.

What began as train toys can quickly become a far more serious but still very lovable model train hobby. This guide should help you get started so you can safely move past the serious issues and proceed directly into the fun times.

Originally posted 2009-12-20 09:45:46. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Originally posted 2009-11-05 10:09:13. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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The materials you will use include the following:
1 4 x 8 sheet of plywood (a good size for HO scale model trains; use 5/8 inch B-C grade plywood)
3 1×4 x8? (for edge supports)
4 1×4 x8? ripped into 1×2 stock (for 5 joists, plus bracing)
1 1×4 x10? ripped into 1×2 stock (for bracing between legs)
1 2×4 x8? ripped into 2×2 stock (this is for the table legs and is enough for a max height of 48 in)
1 box (100) 1-3/4? dry wall screws (will use 72 of these)
8 1/4×3? carriage bolts (for bolting on the table legs)
8

Originally posted 2010-01-14 12:02:35. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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