One of the major problems that train collectors generally face is finding the right kind of space where they can display their model railroad layout. The fact that the N scale model trains are small in size allows them to be displayed on a relatively small surface. Collectors have said that this is one of the biggest factors contributing to the popularity of this scale. Even collectors living in apartments may find the space to put up a layout.

A big advantage of the N scale is that, due to its size, it allows you to create a detailed railroad layout. The size is perfect, since it is large enough to display sufficient detail in the locomotive and cars and yet small enough to allow for an extremely elaborate model railroad layout with very detailed topography and cities. In other words, it is not so small that you can’t work with it, and yet, not so large that you can’t manage it. Hence forth, for many collectors, it is the perfect fit.

N scale model trains are also preferred because of the high level of detailing that can be found on them. It is important to know that the N scale is not the smallest of the model trains. The Z scale model trains are much smaller and may be a good fit for people with very little space. Those who purchase the Z scale will compromise on the quality of the detail to the train, as they do not offer the realistic visible aspect that you are able to find with the N scale.

Price is yet another advantage of collecting the N scale model train over the HO or other larger trains. In recent years this particular scale has gained a lot of popularity and the net result is a reduction of the selling price. Since it has become so popular, the overall production of the N scale toy model train has increased. And with all markets price is driven by supply and demand. Since supply is up manufacturers are selling them at a lower market price. Furthermore, you will be able to find a wide variety of accessories catering to this scale at an affordable price.

There are also a wide variety of fuel choices in the N scale model trains. Electric powered trains are by far the most popular. For collectors, the electric model is also considered to be the best choice. Steam powered models are also very popular in the N scale along with an electric version that creates a steam effect.

The N class has been around since 1927 although it was not commercially produced until 1962. If you are considering getting into model railroad collecting the N scale may be the perfect fit for you. I would suggest that you visit a model train show in your area before you begin to invest in this hobby. Getting off to the right start will on increase your enjoyment of this great hobby. Good luck and happy collecting.

Originally posted 2010-01-19 10:33:50. 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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The amount of space you are willing to give up for your model train will be a huge determining factor in what model train scale to buy. If you do not have very much room, you will probably want to buy one of the smaller scales like the Z, N, HO, or OO. Those living in an apartment will do well to buy from one of these scales so you will be able to do more with the model train you buy. Having options allows you to not only enjoy the train you have now, but you will be able to grow your setup into something more than just noteworthy.

Layout is a very important aspect in the model train scale you buy. Buying the right scale will allow you to create the size layout you have in mind. If all you want to do is create a still shot environment in which your train will stay stationary, you can buy as large of a train as you wish. However, if you are looking to be able to have your train actually travel through an environment, you will want to buy a train scale, which will allow you to do just that. If you have a decent amount of space, you can buy a 0 scale or G scale model without making your train look cramped in the layout.

If you want to run your model outdoors, you will be restricted to the larger model train scale. The problem with the smaller train scales is they do not provide the kind of waterproofing necessary to operate outside without being damaged. Another factor in being able to operate outside is the ability to operate under an independent power supply. The larger models are able to operate off of enclosed boiler tanks, which allow them to operate on steam power. The fuel for this will range from butane to coal and propane. Two of the most popular outside scales are the G scale and the 1:8 scale.

Those who want to be able to ride their train are restricted to only the largest model train scale. Many of those who want to ride their model train are willing to spend a lot of time working on the train themselves. There is not a lot of commercial demand for trains so large, so buying the 1:8 scale train is not very easy to do. You are better off joining a club and working as a team to build the train from scratch. This will also help to defer some of the cost from such a venture.

Originally posted 2010-01-24 09:42:16. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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A good place to start with sectional track is to plan your layout. The simplest designs are circular or oval and more complex layouts may include complex crossings. Consider how much space you have available. Once you have a design planned out for your Lionel trains, take the time to invest in a range of track. You want large pieces as well as small pieces so that you can avoid holes. One of the biggest mistakes is not having enough of the right pieces on hand to build the desired layout.

There are many types of track to choose from. There are of course the basic straight and curved pieces of track as well as more complex options. For example, a turnout is a piece that helps a train enter in one direction and leave on two or three other tracks. Crossings are pieces where you have two pieces of track crossed in 90, 45, or even 30 degree angles.

Some forms of model trains sectional track include roadbeds. These pieces have interlocking tabs that will keep your train running without risk of derailment. With or without roadbed, it is recommended to nail the entire track layout to a piece of plywood. This will prevent carpet fuzz and debris from breaking up the track and interfering with the engine of the train.

To position your sectional track, line up the pieces so there isn’t a gap between them. Be sure the pieces are level: You don’t want one overlapping the other. Do not try and force pieces of track together, especially curved pieces. If you do this, you risk creating a gap or having an awkward section of track that can cause derailment. You want your curves to be tight so that you can run many model trains on your track, but you do not want the curves to be unnatural.

At first, it may take a while to plan and build sectional tracks, even for popular brands like Lionel trains. You may start with an idea only to realize you lack all of the necessary pieces or that its design is larger than you anticipated. Sectional tracks are like pieces of a big puzzle. Assembling the pieces will help with estimating the layout’s dimensions and the necessary supplies needed to for its construction.

Originally posted 2009-11-24 12:08:40. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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The custom model layout creates excitement and fun for children of all ages. With expert and professional help and assistance people can build train layouts of all sizes and complexity. Parts or the entire layout that is created can be shipped to the recipient all over the country if it is packed properly and the sensitive pieces are wrapped carefully once it has reached its destination. The finished product should be electrically wired, trimmed and set up to go prior to shipment.

Railroad expert services can be done with DCC, DCS or Legacy digital controls or conventional. Most accessories on the layout can be programmed into the hand controllers and all that is needed is for you to press the button. The scenic designs are created and made like an artist, who help make the Railroading real fun, practical and true to life. They use countless trees and shrubs, all kinds of grasses, people, cars, rock formations, stone walls, realistic looking water creeks and falls. They use boats, hot air balloons, airplanes, oh just everything to create a realistic scene all in the specific gauge and scale. When they are done, the layout is totally complete and looks it.

Model railroads can accommodate street cars and bumper cars. The finished tables can be done with bridges, mountains, tunnels and on multi levels, depending on size and digital controls. You can run many more trains at a time than you would think. Often they are built on plywood with a Homasote panel top or with cork under the tracks. The complete layout should have furniture quality trim and legs. The cross braces under the layout, are for space framing and will make the layout strong enough for you to stand or walk on. Through the under structural supports place the electric wiring and make it protected for electric power shorts. You can wire for reversing loops and for all lengths of track runs and levels. Place sidings and in many cases round houses for all the additional train cars and train engines that you will add in future years for your enjoyment and fun.

Created layouts for the enthusiastic person come in all sizes and finishes. The gauge creates the size of the layout in many instances. The size of the radius curve is important to the operation. When you want to run the new and larger sophisticated engines most likely you will need wide curves to accommodate the engine and cars to run properly. So, the layouts or models must be correctly sized to allow you to operate what you want on a particular train line and allow for smaller curves and the operations of smaller engines and cars on narrower curves. The model train layout or toy train layout brings railroading to a point of sophisticated operation when built by us. The layout table size may be 4 feet by 6 feet or 20 feet by 40 feet for example, whatever you desire.

Take the time to learn about your options. Soon you will realize that you can create or have created for you almost anything you desire. Beaches, ski mountains, rock climbing scenes and golf courses are just a few of the amazing finished products.

Originally posted 2009-10-31 11:36:12. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Once you have determined the scale and make of model train you intend to collect you will then need to focus on designing a layout for your collection. It is important to do your due diligence when it comes to selecting the model railroad and scenery you wish to use within your layout. Getting these elements right may make a profound determination in how you layout your railroad. If you are a novice in building a model railroad system it is highly recommended that you purchase a kit for your first layout. Creating a layout from scratch should be left to the veteran collector since it is a very tricky job and one that should not be ventured into lightly. A model train kit will come equipped with the model train scale of your choice, railroad tracks as well as some minor landscaping, equipment and accessories. Kits are easily available in specialty model train shops all around the world and it is the best way to start off from scratch.

For you seasoned collector there is plenty of room for experimentation. An experienced model train collector should stay away from the simple and yes boring circular tracks. Begin to push the envelope with your layout and go for a railroad that offers a more exciting and dramatic route. Ask yourself what do you find interesting about trains in general and build on that thought. The masterpiece comes from your imagination. Put your civil engineer hat on and begin to see the layout as a passage through time. See the terrain with rivers, gorges, mountains, deserts, bridges, highways, etc. The layout should be a growing organism. It can start very small, however the layout should be set up to be expandable beyond the space you have available. Over time you may wish to move the entire layout to a new location and the layout should be able to grow into the new location.

For a true masterpiece you will want to incorporate various track designs. You may want to use a continuous loop with an out and back setup. A continuous loop on its own is monotonous and boring but when you add a variation to the setup it becomes part of a masterpiece. The out and back will allow you to incorporate tunnels and bridges, turning circles and even train stations.

Another option that you can explore is that of point-to-point model railroad layout. Although this is of a simple design where the model train has to go from one end of the track on the way to the other, they tend to be far more exciting yet simple to work with. Most of the times you find these tracks accompanied with a train station.

In conclusion the kind of custom model railroad that you choose to build should reflect your character and passion. This is what will make it unique and allow it to become a masterpiece. You should also consider the availability of space and the level of experience that you have in setting up a model railroad. However, do not limit yourself to a short-term situation when you may have more available space in the future. Be sure and visit model railroad shows and comb through model railroad magazines for ideas. The sky is the limit!

Originally posted 2009-12-06 12:23:22. 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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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.

Originally posted 2009-12-22 11:21:38. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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The most basic model train layout is the one, which sets on top of a table. These are very common in small homes and apartments. The model train information you will need for this type of layout would suggest you use a Z scale model train. Being the smallest scale of train, you will be able to create a layout, which will be dynamic while not taking up all the room in your home. You can buy buildings and environment pieces that will match your Z scale train. Many people who create this type of layout will stick to a basic oval track.

Having more space will allow you to be ever more creative with your layout. There is a lot of model train information for those who have more space to utilize. A good tip for those with a decent workspace is to buy a door to set up your layout on. The door will be larger than a table and can be set up on two workbenches in order to give you a very sturdy base. The big benefit of this base is it is portable. You can bring the entire layout with you very easily to go to model train shows where you can show off what you have created.

Styrofoam has become very popular for those looking to create a layout from scratch. You can shape and mold the layout exactly how you want it to look with the right tools. This model train information has been shared by many who like to do things from scratch in the train-modeling world. A good benefit to using Styrofoam as a base is it allows you to easily affix trees and buildings into place. Using spikes will allow you to be able to move the pieces of your landscape should you choose to. This is a good idea for those who are expanding their collection slowly.

Weathering is a way to make your layout look a little more realistic. Knowing how to weather your train and layout will give your model the appearance you would see in the real world. There is a lot of model train information on how to accomplish the different looks you want. It is important to remember, the weathering appearance you give your layout should match your train. Be careful, because the weathering will be permanent and you may want to change trains, or layouts over time.

Originally posted 2009-11-04 16:50:43. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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The major part establishing a model railroad project is the design and implementation of the layout ? the diorama with scenery, structures and appropriate scale track for operating the trains.

The size of the layout you can design, build and operate depends on the amount of room in which you have to set it up. Some layouts can be quite small – shelf-top designs that can be accommodated in a very small space. Others can fill part of a room, or even a whole room or basement.

For a small, simple layout, a table will usually be adequate but most model railroaders aim to establish larger, permanent layouts. These will usually require construction of suitable benches, often fixed to the walls of the room to provide a high degree of stability.

An important aspect of any model train setup is the arrangement of the track itself. There are at least four basic layout patterns for setting out the track, and countless variations of both track configuration and subsequent station placement.

Four of the more common basic patterns are:

* point to point – this is merely a straight line of track with a station at each end, with trains going from the station at one end to the other station;

* continuous loop ? in its simplest form this is either a circle or an oval and the trains move around it continuously, but it could be modified into a ?dogbone? shape by pulling two opposite sides of the circle or oval together, giving a double track appearance in the middle with a smaller circular shape at either end;

* out and back ? where the train leaves the single station, travels around a pear-shaped layout and returns to the original station;

* station yard only ? where a single station is surrounded by a number of short, interconnected tracks, providing great opportunities for shunting.

From these four basic patterns, there are countless variations. Some possibilities are:

* combining two or more of the four basic patterns, for example adding an ?out and back? at one or both ends of a ?point to point? layout;

* adding double track to any of the first three basic layouts to allow two or more trains to operate at the same time;

* adding branch lines, allowing an increase in the number of stations;

* arranging a continuous loop as a figure-of-eight, even elevating one track over the other rather than having the crossing at the same level;

* using multiple levels, allowing the use of more track, and thus more activity, in small areas;

* adding station yards, with adequate standing tracks, to any of the configurations.

The number of possible variations you incorporate into your track layout will only be limited by the space you have available, your time [and your patience] and, of course, the size of your wallet.

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

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