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 2009-12-01 09:47:44. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Christmas is a time of year in which many homes employ model railway trains to circle the tree. This has become a tradition in families even if they are not model train enthusiasts. Those who do enjoy the hobby a little bit more can be very creative in the Christmas themed layout they create to either go around the tree itself, or on a tabletop nearby. Most can remember the train they had as a child and want to recreate that same memory for their children. Others still want to start a tradition in which they share the fun for generations to come.

While model railway trains can be highly individualistic in nature, it can also be a very good social builder. With many different clubs in existence for those who love model trains, it is possible to find one in your area. It is fun to get out and show off the creations you have while enjoying the creations of others. Talking about model trains with others who enjoy your passion can give you ideas and invigorate you to get back to work on your current project. Model train clubs are a great way for those who are new to get ideas on how to get started.

Sharing your passion for model railway trains is a great way to create stronger bonds between family members. Many fathers have included their sons in projects to create great layouts they can both be proud of. Trips to the model shop as well as the hours spent on the layout create memories, which will be cherished for years to come. The layout itself will stand as a testament to the value of teamwork in creating something you can all be proud of. Chances are if families get involved in a project such as this, they will pass along the tradition for years to come.

For many, the biggest joy of model railway trains is the amount of detail they are able to give it. Being detail oriented requires a lot of attention, which means you will not have the ability to think about other things. Concentrating this hard on what they are doing allow many model railroaders to forget about other aspects of their lives. They view their model trains as a great escape from the daily grind. In fact, most model railroaders look forward to working on their models more then most anything else.

Originally posted 2009-11-27 10:32:03. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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When it gets down to it, their valued, or their selling cost, will look on whatsoever things, not the least of which is how much the buyer is ready to give you to get it. The most affected buyers will course pay more than someone who is not fanatic about it.

The last someone you want to deal your used Lionel train to is one of those someones who post ads saying “I buy trains!”. These somebodies are in the business of paying the bottom possible price, and then selling as high as manageable. You most likely will not get a good cost presently.

Who you DO want to talk to is proper collectors of used Lionel trains. They are most likely to give you a ordinary cost, and in this group of someones is where you are likewise most in all probability to learn a motivated purchaser. You may have a localized group of collectors in your personalized region. Hobby workshops that deal in old Lionel trains, or supply regions and add-on for them, can direct you in seeing the accurate collectors.

Nowadays that you recognize where to find a purchaser, here are whatsoever hints to help you put a price on your antique Lionel train.

The Train Collectors Association has direct grading banners that are observed by the regular train collectors in discovering valuations. They divide the entire range of conditions into 7 categories, ranging from brand new and unused (mint condition) to rubble, with some useable divisions (poor condition). The 7 categories are: Mint, Like New, Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor. Your train will drop somewhere into one of these families.

In addition, there are 2 quality leads released every last yr that can help you to fix a rate for your old Lionel train. These publishing companies are well honorable in this field, and have been writing these guides for some yr. The two guides are:

TM’s Lionel Price and Rarity Guide – Volume 1 or Volume two, betting on the date your Lionel train was constructed

Greenberg’s Pocket Price Guide to Lionel Trains

There are certain affairs you can do which can make a primary difference in your selling cost. If your train is in mint condition, plus you have the special package, you will get the steepest price possible. So do not ever so cast away the box if you have one. Also, clean your train so that there is no dust, soil, dirt, or old built up oil on it. A clean and polished train that doesn’t move can ofttimes require a high dealing cost than a dirty one that operates. In addition, sometimes just cleansing it up and making minor fixtures can reestablish that old train to a more worthy condition.

You can get an superior guide for fixing your old Lionel train at LionelManuals.com. The guide is actually 2 CDs full of instructions, blueprints, parts lists, and detailed plots for every Lionel train ready-made from 1906 through 1986. It makes reconstructing your train simple, and can easily double or triple the cost you can get for your train. With whatever of these payable trains, doing the uncomplicated restores can actually bring you thousands of dollars more when you sell it.

So you see, there is a lot that goes into committing a rate on your used Lionel train. Your well count to get a good trading price is to do your enquiry on your train, check the established guides, make contact with a collectors club, and show a reconstructed, clean and beaming train to a wild gatherer.

Originally posted 2010-01-15 10:33:28. 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 2009-11-26 21:05:35. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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One of the most common mistakes made by individuals especially beginners is that they purchase a model train set without taking the availability of space into consideration. However this is one of the most important facts that you need to keep in mind when looking to lay out your tracks. Check out a good model railroad magazine for some good examples.

If you are fond of changing your tracks around frequently than you would want to make use of an integrated roadway track to facilitate your movements. The ideal surface to work upon is a tabletop that measures 4′ x 8′.

It is highly recommended that you play around with some temporary layouts even if you intend on setting up a permanent one. This will give you a better feel and understanding of space planning. One thing that you need to keep in mind from the start is that the strength of the surface that you will use to layout the tracks needs to be strong enough to support the scale of your model train.

Modular layouts tend to be quite popular amongst train collecting enthusiasts. You will be able to find modules in varying lengths although the standard is about 2 feet. The standards have been published for the purpose of making it possible to position and wire modules that have been constructed by different makers.

If you’re looking to build a permanent layout then you need to make the right choice when it comes to the scale of your model toy train. This will have a profound impact on the satisfaction level of your model railroad track plan.

In general O scale is extremely large and takes up a lot of space which is why they’re usually set of tools. You would want to stick with HO and N scale model trains as they can be set up in a relatively smaller place. In case you have a very limited availability of space you can go for the downsized Z standard.

Contemporary model train collectors are fond of constructing narrower layouts that go along the walls of the particular room in which they are placed. L and U shape layouts and track plans are also very ocular today. You might also want to add an island so that you can create an M shaped track plan for your model train.

One of the most interesting model railroad track plans is the multilevel layout. This is a variation on the around the walls style which is achieved by putting a shelf measuring about 2 feet above and other table that measures about three or 4 feet. You can use a helix or a vertical spiral track in order to construct a multilevel layout where your train will actually be moving through the two-levels.

The above-mentioned layouts are just some examples model railroad track planning that you can experiment with as you design your masterpiece. It is generally advised to start off with simpler plans and then slowly progress to the more complicated track plans for your model railroad.

Originally posted 2010-01-11 10:31:02. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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The layout of the model train is very important in order to create a realistic look. This is possible with G scale model trains because you are able to use actual live plants as part of your layout. The large size of the model train allows you to be able to run the model outside in most any weather. The only thing you need to be careful for is that there are no fallen leaves or twigs on the railroad track. Most model railroaders who use the G scale wipe down the track before using them in order to clean off any excess dirt or debris.

Being able to build outdoors allows you to do things not possible indoors. You can use your G scale model trains in order to create a layout which includes water towers and grain elevators that work. You can then build such things as a train wash and fill stations for carrier cars, which will fill the cars with gravel or dirt. You would not want to do this indoors as it could get quite messy if anything spilled onto the floor. Many have created something similar with smaller scales, but without the ability to use actual material to dump into their cars.

Many clubs have been established for those who enjoy G scale model trains. This size is very popular for a lot of different people, and they like to get together to discuss their models. Local clubs will often rotate where the meetings are held so members can show off the trains they have built and the layouts they travel through. Those just getting started in with G scale would be advised to attend some local meetings of a G scale club in order to get some design ideas and tips for creating a great layout.

Museums like G scale model trains because of their size. When creating displays that need to look as real as possible, the larger the train, the better. It is possible to create a more vast display with a smaller scale, but too often detail of the display is ultimately lost. In order to keep the maximum effectiveness of their display, the museum will use the G scale along with real plants in a controlled environment. They are also able to create displays in which rain is a part of the display as the train can handle it.

Originally posted 2009-12-21 13:18:12. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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The ‘N’ stands for nine, which means the 9mm, the distance between the inside of the tracks. These tracks are small, and many of these train layouts will fit in a rather small space.

It is also a good size if you are thinking about running long strings of cars, since the train cars will be lighter, they will use less electricity. You could read about all the different train rail gauges, and there are plenty of great, highly detailed specifications, drawings, and layouts.

If you are a beginner, or just a casual hobbyist you don’t have to get so technical. You do want to learn the basics the scale letter also give what standard gauge it is. Your most popular scale, HO, has a track width of 16.5mm, or 5/8th of an inch.

There may be other gauges for HO, but they will be clearly defined, like ‘HON3.’ This means that it is HO scale, but has a narrow gauge, and the track gauge is three scale feet wide, rather than the standard real life gauge of 4′, 8″ long.

Sounds really confusing doesn’t it? Don’t worry about that as long as you are sticking to standard scales.

The only time you may have to deal with this more is when you start getting up into larger model train track gauges, for

Originally posted 2010-01-05 09:38:48. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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Because of the significant amount of money you will have invested in establishing your model train collection, it is essential that you should take all the necessary measures to ensure that it is properly cared for. You would not want to have your investment to end up in the trash.

You will find that taking good care of your model train collection will save you a significant amount of money for repair and maintenance in the years to come.

The following simple guidelines should remind you of the basic essentials of the good habits you need to develop that will help take care of your very valuable model train collection and maintain it in prime working condition:

Originally posted 2009-11-27 09:45:04. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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The S scale is about half way in between O and HO scale. It is characterized by a 1:64 ratio. The model is fairly large as far as model trains are concerned. Because of its size, it is fairly durable. It can handle being mistreated by those who not know much about model trains like children and beginners. The larger size allows the production companies to add more detail to the trains in order to boost the amount of realism as the train powers around the track.

The history of American Model Trains starts in Britain where the S scale first got its start. When it was created before the turn of the century, it was known as the H-1 scale in order to represent its size as half that of the #1 scale. The name was changed in 1937 when CD Models started marketing the track that would be suitable for use in the 1:64 scales. The last change in the name came when the American Flyer brand started selling steam-powered locomotives.

American Flyer Trains got its start as a toy model train company, which was bought by AC Gilbert in 1937. When the company first started selling the trains, they ran on a 3-gauge rail. In 1942, the company started producing a 2-gauge track that is pretty close to what is being used by the same scale trains today. The American Flyer Train business failed in 1967, but the Lionel Company bought the name in order to sell the same scale and using the tracks that the company designed. Lionel still sells the American Flyer brand in their catalogs and online.

The majority of American Model Trains which are produced today are made to look and feel just like the old American Flyer trains. This will bring back a lot of memories for those who remember the trains chugging around the track on Christmas morning. Even if you do not remember, the trains offer a great classical looking train you can enjoy as it powers down the track.

The train you buy today will undoubtedly have a lot of history attached to it. Seldom are the trains going to have such an American heritage as the American Model Trains do. No matter if you buy the train for the history or for the realism, you are sure to enjoy the way it looks as it rolls down the tracks. Make sure you buy the train, which will allow you to have the most fun. Having fun is the name of the game in this and any hobby.

Originally posted 2009-12-22 10:32:22. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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In an article written by Richard Dilley, he identifies two types of railroad equipment: those produced for the serious model railroader and those produced for what he refers to as the train toy market. Naturally, the latter market is big for parents and grandparents searching for a child’s first model train and who know interest can be lost quickly as the child grows. What follows are tips aimed as the serious railroaders.

When buying locomotives, you should know there are many ways to improve operation of the electric motor. As you might suspect, the quality of the motor plays a large role in how effective the locomotive is on the track. And too, higher quality motors operate more efficiently so they don’t require as much electricity to operate properly. Another factor to keep in mind is the weight. Heavier locomotives get better contact with the track, which improves the “pick up” factor. Also, consider adding flywheels to the ends of the motor. Incorporating these prevents the initial lurch that’s common when a model train is powered up.

Dilley also encourages enthusiasts to remove the locomotive from the box for a closer examination. He warns store personnel may discourage it, but it’s important to ensure the locomotive meets your standards. He goes on to warn that if you damage or break it, you’ll have to purchase it.

After you’ve selected your locomotive, you’ll then move on to choose the rolling stock that will follow the locomotive. Using the same thought process as you did with your selection of the locomotive, you’ll want to closely inspect the wheels to be sure they’re stable and there’s no wobble.

Originally posted 2010-01-20 10:22:43. Republished by Old Post Promoter

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