Originally posted 2009-12-10 11:56:03. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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HO Scale trains lead the pack with 31% of total searches in the US compared to 30% of searches for O Scale trains. HO Scale also leads the pack globally with a dominant 49% of searches. The explanation for the popularity of HO trains is due more to the affordable prices and manageable size. HO trains are 1:87 scale, which means the cars are about 7-9 inches long. HO scale trains are about the right size for most beginner train hobbyists because the track layout usually fits well on a 4 x 8 piece of plywood.

Compare that to O scale trains, which are 1:48 scale, which means the cars are about 12-16 inches long. Not only do these train sets take a lot more space to set up and to store, they also cost a lot more. As a result, these trains are primarily purchased by more serious model trains hobbyists while the HO scale trains are primarily purchased by beginners and families looking for train sets as a Christmas gift.

The next leading scales are the N scale model trains with 20% of searches, followed by G scale with 16% of searches. These trains are 1:160 scale, which makes them even smaller than HO trains. Cars are only about 4-5 inches long for N scale. G scale model trains are at the other end of the size spectrum with 1:22.5 scale, which means the cars are about 18-26 inches. These are too big to fit in most homes. They are most commonly used in outdoor gardens.

The only other scales getting any searches are Z scale and S scale. Z scale received 3% of total searches while S scale received less than 1%. Z scale model trains are 1:220 scale, which is even smaller than N scale. Z scale is a popular choice for people who have only a very small space available such as a coffee table or a desktop. S scale trains are 1:64 scale , which is slightly larger than the popular HO scale and slightly smaller than the popular O scale. Despite being in the same size range as the two most popular scales, the S scale trains have not caught on for many hobbyists.

Originally posted 2009-10-31 10:17:08. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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For starters, building toy model trains is a hobby that can truly be enjoyed by people of all ages. Therefore, building toy model trains is a fantastic way to spend some fun quality time with one of your loved ones.

Everyone from your significant other, to your child, to your best friend is sure to have a wonderful time building toy model trains with you! The memories you and your loved one will share from all the fun times you spent building your toy model trains together will be sure to last a lifetime!

On the other hand, if you normally lead a busy, hectic life and are looking for some peace and quiet, building toy model trains all by yourself is a great way to achieve that. Getting lost in your thoughts while methodically putting the pieces together on your toy model trains would be great for you.

This is because it would be an excellent way to slow down the usual fast pace of your life and give yourself some much needed rest and relaxation time by providing you with a creative outlet to help “escape” from it all.

If you are typically not a very imaginative, creative person, building toy model trains is a great way to help bring out that side of yourself that most likely has been hidden inside of you for far too long.

Putting toy model trains together is in and of itself a lot of fun. However, what is truly rewarding is the whole overall experience of model train building. It is truly just fantastic to start out with what basically amounts to an assortment of jumbled pieces, and then transform that into something that is both functional and beautiful.

You and your loved ones are sure to enjoy your toy model trains set for many years to come! So, what are you waiting for? Why not go ahead and get started on building a toy model train set today?

I assure you that you will be very glad that you gave building toy model trains a try, and that it will be an experience that both you and your loved one won’t soon forget.

Originally posted 2009-12-25 11:37:57. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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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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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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Originally posted 2009-10-31 10:08:09. 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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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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These days model railway trains are still a popular hobby, there are countless clubs, equipment, special interests groups, manufacturers and hobbyists out there. With so much variety those looking to get into the hobby might find themselves overwhelmed. Not to mention the model train hobby has developed its own terminology. It can take some time to get used to phrases such as “gauge”, “reverse loop”, “mainline”, “scale” and “benchwork”.

The sheer variety of model railway trains means that any hobbyist can specialize in a certain type. Anyone can find an area of interest that suits them when it comes to model trains. Some model train hobbyists prefer to act more as a collector, gathering parts of a particular kind whether it be operation, railway, or something else. Other hobbyists want to build an entire railway layout. There are even some hardcore hobbyists who want to create model train layouts that are as realistic as possible. These types of hobbyists seek to emulate actual railway operations with their model trains.

Let’s time to go over some of that model train hobbyist’s terminology. We’ll begin with choice of scale. The scale is the size of the model train compared to the real life size of the train it represents. The most popular scale is the HO scale which is 1/87th the actual train size. That means 1 inch of an HO scale track presents 7 feet and for inches of a real world track. Something on a larger scale, such as a G or “garden” scale requires a lot of space but is a much easier model to work with. A much smaller size like the N scale of model railway trains are difficult to work with but allow a hobbyist to build much more complicated layouts in a smaller space.

What gauge any given track is depends on the scale. Gauge is the word used to describe the distance between track rails. Naturally the gauge of a track needed will be smaller the smaller the scale of the model. Benchwork is the word that describes the supports of one’s model train layout. Beginning hobbyists generally begin with a flat layout. But of course a railroad isn’t always going to be flat in real life, so the benchwork can help create much more complex and realistic terrain. Many hobbyists enjoy building their benchwork and track layouts and crafting the scenery so that they can create a realistic small-scale representation of real world railroad operations.

Model railway trains have only become more sophisticated since Marklin introduced the hobby back in the late 1800’s and today it is a highly accessible hobby. With so many choices it’s possible to find something to interest any budding hobbyist. But how do you get started? Well there are a number of resources you could look to. There are many articles and books written on the subject, you could visits a hobby shop or a show, there are so many ways to learn about the exciting hobby of model railway trains.

Originally posted 2009-10-31 11:36:16. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Originally posted 2009-12-26 10:38:25. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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