Sunday, June 28, 2009

Scale Model Trains Under The Microscope -Their Ins And Out

Contributed by Michael Hinkley

Enjoying the trains you're so passionate about doesn't need four years to be spent at University for a Mechanical Engineering degree.

It hardly matters if you're an office guy who spends 8 hours a day doing paperwork, a bank teller who holds nothing BUT cold hard cash throughout the day, or you're just another average Joe or Jane who enjoys piecing nuts and bolts together.

All it takes is a glance and you'll see the scale model trains (or toy trains as some would call them) on the loose on the net and offline realm alike.

Follow that up with a quick search on Google.com and you'll see all of the scale model trains that are driving these guys, who are passionate about trains, NUTS down to the bones and most of them come from BIG names like Red-Caboose, Bachman, Life-Like, etc.

To the uninterested, they may be nothing more than mini-copies of the actual trains they're modeled from. HOWEVER, for those who're passionate about them, getting these 'toy trains' creates a sense of personal fulfillment and satisfaction.

I know I'm one of these guys!

Thinking of joining the 'train nut club'? Then knowing the scale model trains along with their ins and outs is needed if you'll get the model trains that perfectly blend with what your wants (and needs) are.

Let's have a look at the 3 popular scales for these mini-versions of those massive mechanical wonders.

N-Scale Model Trains

So your place is NOT as spacious for those massive scale model trains?

Going for N-scale quickly remedies this dilemma. With a scale of 1/160 of the actual train size, it's your top option as it can easily fit anywhere within your home and a spot to place it is NOT a problem.

The Union Pacific N-scale model trains by Life-Like is an excellent example.

It may NOT be as massive as the other scales for toy trains, BUT it will never be lacking in visual features and quality.

HO-Scale Model Trains

Thinking to get a scale model train that's MASSIVE and rich in detail BUT doesn't fill half of your house?

HO-scale model trains are the way to go.

With a size of 1/87 of the actual size, it's jam-packed with color and detail from all sides from the real-life train it copied from WITHOUT taking up a lot of space.

Atlas has created some of the finest HO-scale model trains like Norfolk Southern and Southern Pacific, which were taken from the 3000-horsepower trains that have been in service since 1970's.

G-Scale Model Trains

Want to whet your appetite for massive size and rich (and fine) details and you don't worry about space? G-scale model trains are your BEST options.

These toy trains are GIGNATIC dwarfing the scales mentioned above with its 1/22 scale of the actual train size. They are an ideal size for garden railways.

When it boils down to creating the MOST detailed G-scale model trains, Bachman is the name to switch to. Their V&T replica is so beefed up with features and colors, you can see every visual element from a distance.

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Saturday, June 13, 2009

Modeling Buildings For A Realistic Layout

Contributed by Bill Murphy

Even if you aren't an architect you can enjoy making model railroad buildings. Sometimes it's just too hard to find that perfect building or bridge or train station that we can picture so we may just have to build it on our own.

So is it complicated? Do you have to be educated or handy with tools or can you just use what you find around the house?

In reality building a quality replica can involve some detailed miter cuts and depending on the scale you are working in may require some advanced woodworking skills and tools. However there is always the 'kitbashing' method, where you take existing models and use parts of them to start your building, then modify it as needed.

All you will need for this is your imagination and a few basic tools such as an X-acto knife and scissors.

Some other items that are useful could include balsa wood and glue, foam, mat board and cardboard and maybe even lightweight plastic.

Plaster and corkboard along with foils and spray glues can come in handy. Glitter and beads may add that little extra as well. Hobby stores should carry anything that you are looking for.

Where to find Further Ideas

Many tips and articles have been written for magazines and a good place to look for these is either in a book store for a new book or second hand store for a used book or maybe even your library.

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Friday, June 12, 2009

Model Railroading Clubs

Contributed by Bill Murphy

Most hobbies have clubs associated with them, in part because as humans we like to share and gain insight into our viewpoints as compared to others but also because shared or pooled knowledge leads to more successful ventures. After all if everyone had to recreate the wheel every time they wanted to drive we wouldnt get very far!

Model railroading is no different in this aspect. With hundred or possibly even thousands of clubs across the world model railroading is far from an obscure or fringe group of hobbyists.

For instance, clubs such as the LCCA (the Lionel international club) - formed in 1970 - provide their members with resources and forums to discuss and share their love of this wonderful hobby that might otherwise be difficult to achieve.

There are many different club types out there too: almost more then there are scales! One link on Railserve.com for instance shows over 150 clubs servicing a variety of modelers across the world -- each with a different focus or specialty.

One thing they all have in common however is a love of modeling, and the desire to share and improve the state of the hobby by sharing knowledge and information with their members. If you are serious about modeling then finding a club where you can share your findings and learn about what others have accomplished is not only a good idea, its a necessity.

After all, Rome wasn't built in a day and most certainly not by one single engineer!

No matter what your interest - prototyping real-world scenes, collecting antique train equipment or just a general interest in all aspects of the hobby, you'll be able to find a club that focuses on the same thing.

You'll be glad you took the time to connect with them. There's nothing wrong with working on your own, but sharing your skills with others while learning from them at the same time is a lot more satisfying.

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Thursday, June 11, 2009

What is the Best Way to Control Your Model Train?

Contributed by Bill Murphy

If you need to decide how you are going to control your model train, you nave two main options. You can either choose analog control or digital command control, often referred to as DCC. We are now going to discuss the differences between these two options, which are many, and which may be best suited for your needs.

To begin with, analog control means that a battery supplies the track itself with a variable voltage charge. All of the trains that you have on your track thus move due to this electrical charge. All of the different functions of each train car, such as their motor, lights, etc. are powered by the electricity taken in by the wheels.

If you turn up the voltage, the speed of your train will increase. If you reverse the polarity, you can make your cars reverse and go the opposite way. A downside to analog control is that you can only control the charge you're sending to the tracks. This means that you cannot have several different things happening at once.

The other option, DCC, not only supplies the track with electricity, but each separate engine can be operated by means of a control center which sends out various signals. This gives you many more options that analog control. Since each separate car receives its own commands, not merely the tracks, you can really be creative.

Some of the other advantages to DCC is that you can add many different lighting and sound effects to your track. Not only can you randomly program them in, you also have total control over everything that happens. Trains can also hitch, unhitch, and complete a variety of other functions without you laying a finger on the set. This will really make your train set come to life. All of the different trains can be going at different velocities and doing different things. All you have to do is sit back and punch a few buttons.

With Dcc control you also have the option of changing the velocity vs. acceleration level for each different train that is on the track. There are also other options that allow you to stabilize the velocity, with your decoder automatically detecting how fast the train is moving and adjusting the voltage accordingly.

Many of the most common DCC sets that are on the market today are composed of multiple parts, including the battery, decoder, accelerator, control station, and a booster. The speed control that is offered varies from 14, 28, even up to 128. Just think about what you could do with the latter. The possibilities are almost endless. An added benefit to DCC control is that nearly all parts and setups are compatible.

Don't worry about what will happen to your train set if the company that sold you your DCC controls goes under. The wiring is quite basic. It is also possible to upgrade your analog set to DCC, which will greatly simplify matters since analog wiring is very difficult to work with.

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Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Model Railroad Layout Backdrops

Contributed by Bill Murphy

A well designed and cleverly painted backdrop can make your model railroad layout stand out from the rest and look truly unique. This is mostly because it makes an optical illusion that produces an effect called forced perspective.

Forced perspective occurs when the layout in the foreground appears to be larger because it is placed in front of a space in the distance, which is made by adding a backdrop to the wall in the case of model railroads. It is an optical illusion that will make your entire model railroad layout appear to be larger than it really is.

The effect of forced perspective can be observed all around us. For instance, a barn several hundred feet away from you will look smaller than a Chihuahua sitting on the ground ahead of it. By analyzing natural landscapes you will notice techniques you can use to make an outstanding backdrop to use with you model railroad layout.

Projects of this sort always require lots of planning. Hopefully, you will be working on your backdrop at the same time that you are designing the rest of your model train layout. A mistake that many people make is working on the backdrop after they have finished everything else. If you design them together, you can make some interesting and unique set pieces.

To make your backdrop, you need to have in mind what season it will, what the weather will be like, the location you will be showing, and what kind of day it will be. Planning these details will save you lots of frustration in the long run.

Think about what the sky will look like. Remember that, even on a cloudless day, the sky is actually made up of several different hues of blue due to the position of the sun and other environmental factors. A good base color is Velvet Sky Vinyl, available in acrylic flat paint.

When considering what the clouds will look like, remember that no two clouds are quite the same. The grand majority of clouds are cumulus, stratus, and cirrus. The most common clouds are the white and puffy cumulus ones.

The color of clouds also varies quite a bit depending on where they are positioned in the sky. Decide where the sun is in your backdrop and then color the clouds near is lighter than those farther away.

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Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Main Supplies for Model Trains

Contributed by Bill Murphy

For many people their first model railroading experience begins with a circle or oval on just a piece of plywood. It tends to be very basic with no extras such as buildings, scenery or landscaping.

Before long the desire to add more accessories to make a more realistic model can turn this into an ongoing project that can grow in intensity.

Every layout is different and everyone has their own favorite accessories, but the following 5 items are some of the most common accessories that add a level of realism and interest to your model railroad.

1. The Train Station

The train station will probably be one of the first buildings added. It's the focal point for starting and ending and the town can be built around it.

2. Lighting

Railroads can have various types of lighting. Background lighting will give a nice subtile realistic effect or street lighting will add a nice backdrop while working on building or adding to your town or city. These lights may be just decoration or practical for giving your streets a lifelike glow.

3. Train Cars

The locomotive usually gets the most attention when setting up a model railroad, but there are many choices for railcars as well.

4. People and Animals

Adding figures such as people will complete your model and make it more realistic. The addition of animals will add that extra little touch as well.

5. Landscaping

There are many options for landscaping a railroad. You can add things like grass, trees, lakes or rivers alongside the track. Or you can get a little more in depth and add hills and valleys for your train to travel through, and tunnels through the mountains.

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Monday, June 8, 2009

Playing God - Landscaping Your Model Railroad Layout

Contributed by Bill Murphy

Landscaping and picking out the scenery can be one of the more fun things that you can do with your model railroads. You are the person who gets to decide just how you want it to look.

From fanciful hobbit themes, alien worlds or realistic recreations there is nothing that you cannot create and display, all it takes is a plan, some materials, a little skill and some time.

First and foremost you need a plan or at least a concept.

- Do you want to copy something you've seen somewhere else?

- Do you want a faithful historical recreation of a place now lost in time?

- Are you more inclined to creating a never-before seen or unlikely scenario to wow the masses?

Making a choice on one theme for your layout and staying true to that theme is perhaps the most important keys to success. If you change your methods and style in the middle of your landscape the result will be inconsistencies that will detract from the overall impression you are trying to form.

Staying consistent will enable the people.who are observing your project to find all the small details that you have added to make it so special.

Once you have picked your theme you need to work on where you will put your tracks and the landscaping. It can be more advantageous to first put in your turns or switches and then add your terrain than vice versa.

Your next step is to collect the items that you think you will want to use. Some you may already have around the house, others you may want to purchase from dealers or even a local hobby shop if you have one near. Just remember what your original design plan is so you don't stray from it. Just because you like the look of something doesn't mean that it will suit your project. Some common materials that you can gather are:

1. Tables or Stands

2. Plywood (preferably outdoor grade) for base if using stands

3. Glues

4. Twigs, 'dirt' gravel, crushed or powdered stones, herbs etc. for plants and groundcover

5. Paints of various kinds for touch-up, covering the base and backgrounds etc.

6. Poster board, wax paper, aluminum foil, tissues etc. for texturing and shaping

7. Styrofoam blocks and sheets for shaping

Some other items you may include:

- Fiberglass or plaster

- Powder, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper for adding texture and color

- Cork paper or board

- Roofing tar for roads

- Caulk and adhesives for holding items secure

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Sunday, June 7, 2009

Shopping Online For Model Railway Equipment

Contributed by Bill Murphy

One of the best things about present day is being able to access so many different materials and supplies. With the arrival of the Internet, you can now have those hard to find toys or models delivered right to your door without needing to go anywhere. The only downside to this abundance of supplies is that you're not always sure what you're getting. Without actually looking at an item before hand, it's possible to be mislead by images and descriptions. By being careful, you can avert many of the problems you might have purchasing items online.

Here are a few simple rules for purchasing model railroads supplies online.

1) Buy from someone who is trustworthy

2) If possible buy only known brand(s) and product lines that you have had experience with

3) Understand their return policy and any costs accompanying the exchange

4) Use a credit card or other method of payment that offers you some protection, especially on high-dollar purchases

Using discussion groups and asking other hobbyists is a good way to find reputable online sources and work through the lists of suppliers. The lowest cost shouldn't be the only factor when purchasing. The quality of the product, friendliness of the store personnel online and in person should be considered. This is most important when purchasing from auction sites or other low cost sites. Double check with sellers that they are providing a worthy product and remember that price isn't everything.

When it comes to an ongoing hobby like model railroading you need to understand that you will probably be forming a long-term relationship with the vendors you like, and should expect them to act accordingly. With a little research a few bucks and couple of mouse clicks that special locomotive can be headed your way today...and who knows what may follow?

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Saturday, June 6, 2009

Bring Your Model Train Set to the Next Level By Adding Multimedia

Contributed by Bill Murphy

Are you looking for a way to really take your model train to the next level? Would you like to make it appear, sound, and believe it or not, even smell more realistic? The best way to achieve your goal is to add multimedia. Due to the advances that have been seen in recent years in the field of electronics and technology, the sky is the limit. Use your imagination and creativity to make your model train something that will amaze the crowds. Consider some of the following types of multimedia that you could add.

What Kind of Multimedia You Can Add

While there is a dazzling array of multimedia that could be added to your set, the following are the most popular and the easiest to add. Each and every one of the multimedia types that will be mentioned, be it audio, video, pictures, or other special effects, will do wonders to make your set breathtakingly realistic.

A very spectacular element that you can add is video. Many in recent years have chosen to add a video background to their model train set. This background can be composed of several different elements. Some choose to thus add a changing climate to their set, a truly spectacular touch. You could also add animals, cars, trucks, other trains, and anything else that comes to your mind.

Another idea that is very easy and economical to implement is that of adding audio, or sounds to your train track. You can buy tapes or compact disks at nearly every store nowadays that contain "life sounds". This is a very important element to increase the realness of your layout. When watching your train circle the tracks while hearing the sounds of everyday life, people will truly be drawn into the event.

Another way to make your train set realistic is to add pictures. They can be added in several different ways. You could use them to complement the background, the scenery, or anywhere else you feel appropriate. You will thus be able to model your track after a specific decade, a very nice effect.

If you have ever seen a train set with special effects built in, such as fog coming out of the train's exhaust, lightning crashing in the background, and the likes, you know how realistic that makes the set. You can do the same to your set by using some creativity and adding these elements.

Just imagine incorporating all of the aforementioned multimedia into your set. You could be seeing a storm video on your video background, hear thunder booming in the background, and see bolts of lightning crashing down. Although a lot of labor would be included in adding these elements, the results would be well worth the effort.

Don't be afraid to be bold. Use your imagination, add multimedia to your set, and bring it to the next level!

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Friday, June 5, 2009

Model Train Collectors Don't Always Operate Their Trains

Contributed by Bill Murphy

Believe it or not there is a difference between model train enthusiasts and model train collectors. A subtle one for sure, but a difference nonetheless! Collectors are more interested in owning and displaying hard to come by prototypes or items of value rather then the art of recreating a diorama or prototype themselves.

Pretty well every hobby you can think of has collectors in it. They're the people who drive up prices of old items like the first edition of a famous novel. Most people don't understand the obsession, but collectors certainly do.

They help set standards and values, expend vast amounts of time detailing and listing historical facts about existing railroad prototypes and in general help to drive a level of professionalism into the hobby that otherwise might be missing. model train collectors are a good thing, and the fact is that most collectors are also hobbyists - displaying their collections not in jewel cases or behind glass but in a model train layout of their own design.

Some of the model train companies, such as Lionel Trains, even sponsor collectors groups for their historic equipment. If you're interested in learning more about a particular type of train, there are probably clubs you can join.

One of the things these groups do is create standards by which equipment can be rated. The equipment is often rated separately from the packaging it came in, if the box is still intact, and those that are still in the original box, never having been removed, fetch the highest prices.

model train Grading

* NEW - In order to be considered "new" the item must be unused, ideally never even removed from its original package.

* LIKE NEW - Good as new with no damage but likely removed from the packaging at some point.

* EXCELLENT - No rust, dirt or other types of damage but almost certainly used at some point.

* VERY GOOD - Some wear but no serious damage or rust.

* GOOD - Could be some minor damage such as scratches, and other signs of normal wear but no rust or major damage.

* FAIR - May be slightly damaged, scratched or worn but still functional.

* POOR - Suitable only for parts and possible not working.

How Packaging Is Graded

* NEW - Original packaging complete with no damage or fading.

* LIKE NEW - May have a bit of wear but no major blemishes.

* EXCELLENT - Like-original packaging with only moderate wear, no repairs.

* VERY GOOD - Minor damage possible, maybe even some tape for repairs but still complete.

* GOOD - Missing elements, heavy wear and possibly some mildew but complete.

* FAIR - Missing pieces, tears and discolorations on original items.

* R - A replica, not the original packaging.

If you're starting out with model train collecting, knowing your grades is important. Then pick the era and/or brand you want to pursue and get started.

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Thursday, June 4, 2009

Converting Model Railroad Scales

Contributed by Bill Murphy

Prototyping is the word used to describe the use of scaling real-life objects down and typically for Model Railroading different names are given to differing 'scales' to represent the percentage of the original. For instance, the 'HO' scale means 3.5mm represents 1 foot, with a ratio of 1:87.086 ... needless to say this can get difficult.

Fortunately you rarely need to convert between scales that are already set -- but what about when you want to figure out what the scale conversion of an existing object or building should be to fit into your diorama? That's when you remember your third-grade math teacher who told you there'd be days like this.

First be aware of the measure of scale being used: is it the percentage or a millimeter (mm) scale? With the ratio, the right-most number shows how many units (normally in inches or centimeters) on the original are equal to one unit on the replica so a 1:200 scale means that if the miniature is 1 inch tall then the original was 200 inches or 16.67 feet tall. If the scale simply lists a height such as 25mm or 54mm as is common with many figurines, then they are referring to the number of mm to a certain height and an assumed ratio has been made based on the original's size.

In theory, to convert a ratio scale into a 'height' scale, you first assume that the height scale is measuring to 'eye' height on the figure and that ratio scales measure to 'head' height and divide 1610 by the scale. For example, a 1/285 figure comes out to approximately a 6 mm figure (1610 / 285 = 5.6) while a 1/64 scale is about 64.4 mm -- this may help if you find figures online that would work in your diorama but don't know if the scale is the same.

So you are probably wondering where we got the '1610' from right? With figurines and deciding to use 'eye' height, we assume a man's eyes average a height of 5'3" for a 5'8" tall man (the average human) and convert that to millimeters. If the height was specified to 'head' height, we would have had a number of 1730, equivalent to the average 5'8" tall man.

You can also use tricks like this to determine scale from photos, as follows:

First you need to have at least ONE known measurement such as the eye or head height for the man we used above, and the photo must be full on either the front or side of the source. So long as these are given, the following can determine the scale you need to use to create or build a prototype:

Cut out and paste or print the photo onto an A4 sheet of paper adjusting so it fills half the A4 sheet so you are on an approximately 1/35th scale. Since there are 25.4 mm per inch, you can now calculate the known measurement (say 100 width) by 25.4 to get a known 2540 mm or 2.54 meters. This can now be multiplied by the 28.57 that represents the 1/35 scale giving 72.57mm which means, at 1/35 scale, the width is 72.57mm -- you can now measure the photo with a ruler.

Let's say that you get 90 millimeters on the 'actual' photo -- you can now divide the 90 by 72.57 to get the factor to divide by -- in this case 1.24. You can now measure and just divide by 1.2 (approximately) to know the size to match a 1/35 scale ... using different size pages to adjust for differing scales can allow you to calculate most any ratio from any image so long as you know the scale of the printed paper size and at least one accurate measurement from the image in question.

It may seem like rocket science but it really isn't, and many resources and tools to help exist out there -- but isn't figuring things like this out part of the fun? On the other hand, I may just buy all my prototyping in a set scale ... I DID get a C- in geometry after all ...

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Friday, May 15, 2009

6 Of The Best Model Train Layouts In America

Contributed by Bill Murphy

Model railroading enthusiasts enjoy only one thing more then showing off their pride and joy: seeing other prototypes and displays that they can then go back home to compete with! Fortunately since showing off is inherent to all of us getting a chance to see some truly spectacular displays is not that hard, and in many cases involves only a short journey as there are literally hundreds of museums across the country that displays tens of thousands of locomotives, cars and scenes between them.

Most museums do charge a fee for admittance, but it normally is quite reasonable (averaging $6) and proceeds typically go towards the maintenance and upkeep of the models and facilities. A few sites are run by private organizations while others are run by a state or municipality but they all have one thing in common: people who love trains and railroad modeling are involved!

There is hardly a state in the United States that doesn't have at least one major museum or showcase for the Model Railroader and all are worth visiting, but some are worth making a trip to see even if you are only marginally interested. A partial list of some of the more famous destinations that are sure to thrill both enthusiast and family alike follow:

The San Diego Model Railroad Museum - Partially available 'online', the museum is a tax exempt non-profit educational entity that was incorporated in 1980 in affiliation with the San Diego Model Railroad club; the La Mesa Model Railroad club; and the San Diego Society of N-Scale. Over 27,000 sq. ft. of display space makes this the largest indoor display in the world with two of the largest layouts in HO and N scale in the world as well.

The Twin City Model Railroad Museum in St. Paul Minneapolis features model panoramas of the 1930's, 40's and 50's and has been operating since 1984.

South Florida Railway Museum is designed primarily to educate the public about the history of railroads in southern Florida but includes several very nice layouts, including a large N scale and an HOn3 model.

Smokey Mountain Trains in Bryson City, North Carolina, houses many of the layouts once available from the Harmar Station museum in Marietta, OH and is a great vacation destination for the model train enthusiast.

The Museum of Science and Industry located in Chicago, Illinois, also has a wonderful model train exhibit called The Great Train Story which boasts as having a 3,500 sq. foot layout that shows the winding journey from Chicago to Seattle through the Midwest, the Rockies, and the Cascades.

The Clovis Depot in Clovis, New Mexico, in an old train station depot which has been rebuilt to its original condition; this site was registered with the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

So crank up that old locomotive and head out to one of these or any of the other hundreds of exciting museums dedicated to this wonderful hobby of ours. Full steam ahead " the past is waiting!

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How Model Railroading Has Changed Over Time

Contributed by Bill Murphy

The first model train systems worked on wind-up clock parts, followed shortly thereafter by miniature steam engines. The materials of the locomotives and cars were typically cheap tinplate or lightweight woods that didnt hold up well.

The thought of controlling the system remotely was a pipe dream at that time " and even single switches and connectors if added at all were manually controlled just like the real things. Times as they say have changed " and how!

Modern electric systems can actually digitally control multiple locomotives independently on the same track " in some cases while simultaneously controlling an older analog system as well. Electrically operating street lights, motorized apparatus and even sounds and smoke replicas are common place now. But just how did this revolution get started?

When the first steam-powered engines were developed and up until the mid 1920s something of a boom was occurring in the model train industry and gimmicks and the creation of accessories and marketing were bringing public awareness and interest to a new level.

Specialty items like the Toonerville Trolley, a wind-up locomotive toy made in Germany that had innovative aspects such as real-life interactions of a character driving the trolley began to spur interest in the creation of what is now common automation elements incorporated in dioramas.

Lionel was one of the early innovators, introducing a new knuckle coupler system and increasingly realistic models. In 1946 Lionel introduced smoke which was so popular that within a few years all models had it! Other postwar additions were figures that operated elements such as doors, loading or unloading baggage etc. all designed to up the realism of the systems.

Perhaps the most stunning change in railroad modeling history was the introduction of the digital controller in the mid 1900s. With the Digital Command Control (DCC) systems such as the models introduced by Digitrax every locomotive is outfitted with a decoder which intercepts and responds to commands addressed to that specific item. This allows voltage to be placed on the track and used as needed via the controller, as specified by a digital signal that is also sent across the same track.

Since each locomotive only responds to the commands sent directly to it modelers were then able to control a series of trains running on the same track just as their real-life counterparts would do. Speed, directionality all is individually controllable " of course just like those real world counterparts collisions are now a possible concern. But Im sure if technology continues to advance remote controlled emergency recovery vehicles will be able to attend the scene in record time.

Interested in building your own (http://www.themodelrailroader.com/landscaping/creative-ideas-for-making -model-railroad-scenery/) model railroad scenery? Visit The Model Railroader website for lots of helpful ideas & tips. Plus get your copy of "Model Railroad Design Secrets" at http://www.themodelrailroader.com

Model Railroading is one of the most creative hobbies!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Overview Of The NMRA -- National Model Railroad Association

by Bill Murphy

Model railroading is a hobby you can do alone -- but the enjoyment of watching others' reactions or being able to ask questions on specifications or historical references with friends may cause you to find other enthusiasts.

There are hundreds of clubs in the USA alone that have surfaced for model railroading, one of the largest being the NMRA, the National Model Railroad Association, a non-profit, educational association that promotes model railroading and impacts standards within the industry.

The NMRA has members across the world with over 150 divisions or groups of members spread out in 18 regions. Their yearly convention and the National Train Show continue to build excitement for model train enthusiasts to enjoy. The NMRA has been there for its members for over 70 years and will continue for many more.

The NMRA has set many standards that still exist today. Having been founded in 1935, they still maintain a list of Standards and Recommended Practices available to manufacturers and hobbyists. The Kalmbach Memorial Library, one of the larger railroad reference centers in the world is partially maintained by the NMRA. The Kalmbach Library has more than 5,000 books as well as over 100,000 prototype photos and over 50,000 modelling, prototype and historical magazines, a great resource centre for anyone into prototype railroading.

Available resources for members by the NMRA include:
  • Being able to access the Kalmbach Memorial Library, an excellent resource on railroads and model railroads
  • Association with other modellers and a monthly magazine
  • Availability to the Members Aid Program forum where you can discuss information of model trains and also access information sheets for existing train specs
Are you looking for ideas for (http://www.themodelrailroader.com/landscaping/creative-ideas-for-making -model-railroad-scenery/) model train scenery? Visit The Model Railroader at http://www.themodelrailroader.com for lots of helpful ideas and for your free copy of my report on designing model railroads.

New to model railroading? Check out Complete Beginners Guide to Model Trains.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

How to Create Landscape for Your Model Railroad Layout

Contributed by Bill Murphy

After getting all your supplies together, you need to form your terrain, which is often done by placing foam spacers and carving them to achieve the desired results, then coating those with a plaster, fibreglass or other sealer to harden them. Wireframe models with reinforcement are also used on larger landscapes, while some 'purists' will actually haul in stone, dirt, and sand in an attempt to make a 'true' world.

One note of warning when using real-life materials, however: graininess and texture of common elements can detract from the real-life aspects of a landscape. Most dirt is not fine enough to give a true impression of 'earth' in a miniature unless coated with an even finer coating of dust or powder. Keep your scales in mind at all times and work up your tallest points first (mountains, hills, etc.) to help you form your valleys and streams or lakes in a natural manner.

When your base is in place, the real fun begins. After painting all surfaces necessary to help mask any exposure, gluing and placing your various materials, stones and coverings is the next step. Stippling on 'grass' and other coverings with a fine brush is the normal procedure but a little forethought can go a long way to increase the realism.

For instance, if you are going to have a lake or pond, place a narrow lake bed of earth around it and have a ragged edge encroaching onto this, rather then taking the grass all the way to the water's edge. In real-life, ebbs and erosion will cause the bank to be washed away and tree roots to be exposed. etc. Planning to emulate this will add a realistic touch that even the most demanding of viewers will comment on.

Laying track can be done in several ways; the simplest is to glue the track to the bottom directly; the most realistic is to form a true bed of crushed or powdered stone, with actual wooden 'beams' upon which your track is 'spiked', but this is very uncommon and time consuming in the smaller scales.

Software to help with design and layout can help with more ambitious projects as well -- but thought to maintenance and accessibility should be given during this phase since cleaning and repairing track sections is the most likely maintenance to need to occur over time.

Last, but certainly not least, is the creation of vignettes or 'small scenes' -- it is this which most model railroaders really live for: to recreate in miniature, the thousands of small scenes that make real life so endearing and turn our model railroads into wonders.

Choosing themes, such as small cities or train stations, that fit into your overall theme, and building appropriate houses and edifices or buying them and placing correctly is critical -- as is maintaining the proper scale. The human eye can note incredibly small differences in scale and proportion so staying true to your scale and theme is vital for a successful landscape.

There is much more we could discuss about landscapes but most likely you are ready to start playing -- so put on your engineering caps and start thinking. Turning on the light is probably a good place to start -- have fun!

Are you looking for more ideas for (http://www.themodelrailroader.com/landscaping/creative-ideas-for-making -model-railroad-scenery/) model railroad scenery? Visit The Model Railroader website at http://www.themodelrailroader.com for lots of helpful tips and ideas and for your free copy of my report on designing model railroads.

Model Railroading is one of the most creative hobbies!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

A Guide To Maintaining and Repairing Lionel Trains

Contributed by Barry Richardson

Is your old lionel train falling apart? Wouldn't it be good to see it chugging around on its path again, glowing with the same glory as the day it was discovered that Christmas dawn so long ago?

Mending and reestablishing your old Lionel train can be very satisfy. You can relish in the warm glow of memories past, and so make young memories to go on with them!

You can do this yourself with just a little patience and know-how. By and large, a drop of oil in the appropriate places will keep it operating smoothly.

How do you repair Lionel trains?

The first step in restoring an old Lionel train is to clean it. Wipe it all off with a soft cloth to get rid of dust, debris, and stains.

You can get rid of rust with rust remover or very fine sand paper. If you see green or ugly white spots, that is oxidation, and you can remove it with oxidisation 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. Don't put oil on rubber parts, though, as it can and probably will damage them.

Put a dab of the oil on some running gears in the engine, and run it in so that they move smoothly and easily. You can utilize a toothpick to drip tiny pieces of oil for the tiny parts.

Now that it is clean and beaming, you can start your fixes.

Make sure all the areas of the track fit together tightly. If they don't, then curve the connectors back into position with a pair of pliers. It might take a few attempts to get them just right; strive yfor a tight fit.

Take the bodies off of your cars, and check the insides. Clean them as described above, and look for broken parts. It's actually easy to replace any broken bits yourself. You can buy them at a Lionel trains speciality store, numerous hobby shops, or get them from Lionel trains catalogues. Just unscrew them and screw in the substitute part.

In conclusion, does your train run? Check it after you've cleaned it completely, because built up stain and dirt could make the link between the train and the track to be so bad that it prevents it from moving. If it's clean and still doesn't run, check to see if the transformer plug is OK and that the transformer is putting out the correct voltage. Use a volt meter to check. It could be that the transformer requires fixing or replacement.

You can find detailed directions about how to fix the transformer, and all the other areas of Lionel trains at LionelManuals.com. They have a two CD set of full guides, blueprints, and plots for each Lionel train made up from 1906 through 1986. The set also includes a parts and accessories catalogue for your convenience. Use the repair manuals to complete any other necessary repairs for your train.

In order to preserve your Lionel train, simply keep it clean and buffed, oil the moving parts every so often and it should give you many more years of enjoyment!

Do you want to learn antique train repair with over 2000 pages of illustrations? Learn step by step how to repair (http://www.lionelmanuals.com) HO model trains and download prewar and postwar (http://www.lionelmanuals.com) Lionel train catalog now.

Model Railroading is one of the most creative hobbies!

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Build Roadbeds or Use Standard Track?

Contributed by Bill Murphy

With model railroading, just as with real railroads, it all comes down to the tracks on which the trains roll. If they are stable and well designed, the trains will safely make their journeys year after year. If not, they may not be able to complete even a single trip without problems or derailment. So what goes into the creation of a safe and stable track system?

In the real world, deep gravel beds supporting heavy wooden or concrete beams are used to anchor and place the tracks. On most model railroads, however, the creation of miniature roadbeds is bypassed for a quicker and less work-intensive standardized track system which can be simply glued or nailed down to the table surface.

Most of the standard tracks provide at least some detail to help emulate the look of a real track, in the more exotic cases even simulating the gravel roadbed in various materials including cork or rubber, and these are the most common products that hobbyists utilize.

Just as in real life, creating a true roadbed from scratch involves a lot of work and necessitates some upkeep that these standard tracks help the hobbyists to avoid, and there is very little to be gained from creating the roadbed yourself. What it really all comes down to is two things:

  • the level of realism you want to achieve;
  • how much of the work you want to do yourself.

If you merely want a functional rail system and want to focus your efforts on dioramas and other aspects of prototyping, or find yourself completely satisfied with the look simulated on standard track systems, then it makes sense not to invest the time and costs of creating a roadbed and meticulously laying out track by hand.

It's faster, cheaper, and almost as effective to just glue down existing track systems after all -- but if you are detail conscious and proud of the amount of work you are putting into your prototyping, then you may want to go ahead and include your rail system in your hand-crafted techniques.

Either way, the end result is bound to be spectacular; it's all just a matter of choice.

Remember that the scale of your railroad is also critical when choosing your model train scenery.

Find out more about designing, building and operating your model railway at The Model Railroader.

Model Railroading is one of the most creative hobbies!

Designing Buildings for Model Railroads

Contributed by Bill Murphy

Most of us have no desire to become an architect, but most model railroaders wind up getting into the act at one point or another. It's sometimes impossible to find exactly the building you need to complete your layout, leaving you to come up with something on your own.

So what does it take to make your own buildings? And do you need to have some serious carpentry skills or can the average hobbyist manage?

In reality, building your own detailed replica buildings can take some advanced woodworking skills, and the tools to go along with them. But an often easier alternative is the "kitbashing" method -- taking an existing model and using it as the foundation for your own creation, modifying it to suit your own taste.

When kitbashing, you can often get away with some simple tools such as an X-acto knife or scissors, plus a healthy dose of imagination.

Some of the materials you may find useful when making your own buildings include balsa wood, mat board, foam, lightweight plastics and even cardboard.

Corkboard and plaster, gold or silver foil, glitter and spray adhesives can also be helpful. Most of these materials are available relatively inexpensively at your local hobby shop.

Where You Can Find More Ideas

Articles about working with these various materials have been printed in numerous magazines over the years. Your local library or second-hand bookstore can be invaluable for finding these things. And don't limit yourself to model railroading magazines - lots of other hobbies have helpful information about working with these materials that you can apply to your train layout.

Looking for more ideas for building model railroad scenery? Visit TheModelRailroader.com for plenty of helpful information and for a free copy of my report "Model Railroad Design Secrets"

Model Railroading is one of the most creative hobbies!

Lionel Trains Repair Manuals on CD-ROM

Contributed by Jack Thompson

Do you want to fix your Lionel train? Are you a Lionel train enthusiast, buying, fixing up, and trading Lionel trains? If so, then you'll be happy to find out the perfect Lionel trains repair manual at LionelManuals.com!

Actually, it is much more than just a repair manual, likewise. It's a 2 CD set chock full of everything you want to be capable to fix, mend, or accessorize Lionel trains at a professional level.

You'll find particular directions for fixing every Lionel train manufactured from 1906 through 1986. These certain directions are instanced throughout with 1000s of plots and specified blueprints to make visualizing the instructions crystal clear. Require to take only one part of a plot? No problem! They're "zoomable"! Yes, the manuals were planned with you in mind! You can zoom in on whatever section so that you can learn exactly the spot that you are working on.

Yet with so much subject, you can easily find the right page you ask for your original train. It Is uncomplicated - they indexed every page for you!

Plus, the manual is printable, so that you can print out what you ask and take it to your work table with you.

There is likewise a convenient sections and accessories catalogue. You can learn what all is available for your Lionel train, and acquire whatsoever fundamental ideas on accessories to make your setup finished.

You can still reckon how your Lionel train set was in the first place set up back when it was constructed. They have included a lot of old Lionel catalogs, advertisements, and films. Experience your train with it's introductory concept, and feel a few fresh memories of the old days crawling in. Most Lionel train collectors nowadays have a passion for their hobby for this very cause. They think what it was like when they were so small and they got their original Lionel train! They can experience the awe and the delight all over once again. It's like Christmas morning! Is it the same for you? Is that why you are repairing your old Lionel train right now? They do have a way of bringing back those memories, don't they?

Yea, Lionel trains are some of the good areas of our history, and a portion that we like to think.

Speaking of history, your two CD Lionel Train repair and restoration set likewise includes an informative report: The History of the US Railway System. See how accurate your Lionel trains are, and how well the models fit in with the real history of trains in our country. In fact, numerous of the Lionel trains were an exact replication of a specific train.

All this can be yours with the full Lionel train repair manual set from LionelManuals.com. It's an greatest value! You are sure to love it!

Get you hands on over 2000 pages of rare Lionel service manual catalogs and learn how to repair trains with the most comprehensive antique lionel trains guide.

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