1001 Model Railroading Ideas PDF
Preview 1001 Model Railroading Ideas
Today's vast selection of model railroading
equipment allows you to specialize in the segment
that best suits your tastes. Take your pick of operation,
realistic locomotives and rolling stock (cars),
track, scenery, electronic wizardry, or whatever;
work alone, with a friend or two, or in a large club.
All of these diverse combinations are available for
your pleasure in this hobby of kings and adventurous
men from the Arctic to the Congo.
Model railroading has changed about as much as
any hobby can. New labor saving products allow
many times the former realism and precision. It
now takes less of your labor than anyone ever
imagined possible. Ready-to-run locomotives have
as much or more detail than many custom-built
models of years past, and they cost much less.
You can still build your own cars, locomotives,
or track from kits, or just the raw materials (this
is called "scratch building"); If it's instant action
you seek, you can simply combine ready-to-run
components into an enjoyable model railroad and
actually build very little, or you can build unique
and super-detailed segments of the hobby that suit
your interests. This suit-yourself aspect is the real
key to why this hobby is so masculine, exciting,
creative - and especially FUN!
A 'seasoned' model railroader may prefer a layout
duplicating the equipment used only during the
"glory years" when the steam locomotive was powerful
evidence of the monopoly that the real railroads
had over the transport of people or products.
The true buff may decide to specialize in the
huge freight cars and ponderous, but colorful, diesel
locomotives of the ' ultra-modem present. Some
even combine both by relegating the 'old' steampowered
trains to operation on smaller sub-railroads
called branch lines. This leaves the "main line"
freight and passenger hauling to the modem diesel.
Either · way, there is the ever-present thrill of seeing
your own trains snaking thru a long sweeping
curve, across spindly bridges, thru tunnels and
vast "acres" of cars in the railroad yards. The idea
is, that all of this was created with a sweep of the
hand by you, the "empire builder."
Don't let all this talk of a railroad empire seem
to be beyond you. Another attribute of this hobby
is that you need only complete as much of the railroad
as you wish, at the rate of progress to match
the leisure time you can devote to it. Better yet, is
the fact that a model railroad need never be 'finished'
in the true sense of the word. There is always
the challenge of new locomotives or rolling stock.
You can add improvements, branch lines, yards, or
just detail or revise what has all ready been completed.
Add to this the thrill of actual operation.
By operation I mean running trains so they function
like real ones. Plan on hauling freight or peo-;
pIe from one point to another with a set timetable
and/ or a sharp look-out for other trains operating
at the same time. Operation can include the "hot
shot" freight booming across the landscape, or
that night mail train, or a 'peddler' freight jostling
its cars from sidings along the main tracks, or a
tiny switcher making up trains in the yards.
Many model RR buffs still insist on only the
older 'period' model railroads, while others prefer
ultra-modem 'periods' of time. Many enjoy specializing
in equipment that is a copy of one particular
full sized railroad. This type of specialization often
forces one into using the handcrafted imported
brass locomotives. It may also require building
many of the cars from 'craftsman-type' kits which
are more costly than the mass-produced plastic
and metal products which satisfy most of us.
We hope that this book will give a better idea
of the vast selection of products available, and how
to use them for the most effective and enjoyable
model railroad.
When entering the hobby, one of the first
choices must be which scale to pick for your future
railroad empire. Four scales are now popular in
America: N scale, which is about 1/ 160 of life-size,
HO scale at about 1/ 87 of life-size, S scale at about
1/ 60, and 0 scale at about 1/ 48. Some buffs feel
that the larger a model is the more realistic it appears,
so they choose the larger scales of 0 or S.
Others think that it is more realistic to have long
trains, so they select the smaller scales of HO or N.
It is important to remember that the size of a model
is a relative thing. An HO scale boxcar will seem
small if compared to one in 0 scale, but the same
HO car will appear huge if set beside one in N
scale. Compare all of the various scales before you
choose. Consider that other factors favor one scale
over another. Include such things as the amount
of visible detail, the selection of equipment available,
and the amount of space you can afford.
At present, HO scale offers about ten-times the
number of different locomotives, cars, track, buildings,
or whatever. If your tastes in equipment are
extremely hard to satisfy, then HO is your best
choice. About 80 % of the model railroaders agree
on that. The other three scales have enough variety
to satisfy most of us.
N scale is the smallest size and the newest of
the four popular scales, having been available with
American style engines and cars just recently. It's
the fastest growing scale right now with dozens of
new items every month, and, if it's accepted as well
as anticipated, there should be almost as wide a
choice as in HO within a few years. Because of its
tiny size, there are fewer kits in N scale. Most
equipment is of the ready-to-run variety.
The selection of a space for your model railroad
is no longer the problem it used to be. A 2 x 4-
foot area is ample for a really nice N scale layout
(the Bedbox Central in later pages is only 20" x
47"). A small yard or industry complex can be fitted
into this space in HO scale as well, so that even
apartment dwellers can find a place for their
"empire" by storing it under a bed, or in a closet.
Even the space across the top of a bookcase is
enough for an N or an HO scale yard. Many pleasurable
hours can be spent making up trains for an
-imagined trip over the main line, then uncoupling
them to assort the various cars to specific sidings
or yard tracks. All this is possible with either manual
or remote-control operation of the couplers and
switches, using a miniature switch engine. This type
of a model layout offers a testing ground for ideas
and plans that may be incorporated into that bigger
empire you will want to build someday.
Many of us, including some apartment dwellers,
can negotiate for a model railroad "right-of-way"
in an area of about 4 x 8 feet by building a cabinet
so that the layout will fold up against the wall
. when not in use. Some suspend it above the car in
the garage by using ropes and pulleys so that it
could be lowered onto temporary legs for operation.
The 4 x 8-foot size is about the minimum for
a model railroad layout in S or 0 scales, is 'passable'
for HO, and excellent for N scale. If you can
negotiate for an even larger area, so much the better.
The best spot is a spare room in the house,
followed by an attic or basement, then half, or all,
of a garage. Your local hobby shop or library can
provide books that give detailed track plans for
any scale, in any size area.
You can build or operate your railroad at any
time you wish, and, you'll find that 'fellow model
rails' are a really friendly lot. They are happy to
share their experience and enjoyment with others.
The quickest way to locate other model railroaders
in your area is to keep in contact with a local hobby
dealer. He can usually direct you to clubs or private
model railroads whose owners will welcome a polite
and courteous visitor. An appointment should be
made in advance by telephone.
Now that you've decided on a scale and negotiated
for an area for your empire, you can give serious
thought to getting started. The simplest and
most economical introduction to the hobby is to
purchase one of the ready-to-run train sets. You'll
save $5 to $20 over the cost of the individual items
out of the set, and you can expand any of the sets
into whatever type of a model railroad appeals
most to you. Be sure to get a good power pack
to convert house current to the common 12 volts
DC current, with a rheostat built in to control
train speed. Some sets include them, but, if not,
about $12 will buy a small one.
Normally, the train sets include an oval, or
other simple plug-together track sections, plus
the locomotive and some cars. The size and complexity
of the locomotive and the number of cars
and accessory items will determine the price of the
set. In 0 or S scale, the complete sets are priced
between $25 and $225. The HO scale sets range
from about $21 to $65, including power pack, with
the 'average' set at about $40. N scale sets range
from $18 to $50 with power pack, with average
prices at about $37 . .
If the kit building aspects of the hobby appeal
to you, you could make your first investment a
single car kit. These and all other items are discussed
later in this book.
Here is as good a place as any to consider the
tools and work space you'll want. The cost is low
for an expandable selection of tools. You'll want to
provide a drawer or shelf-box for storage. At first, a
scrap of wood and the desk or kitchen table will
make an adequate work area. It's a good idea to
start with at least one simple kit to familiarize
yourself with the various pieces. Your hobby dealer
can be a great help in picking out a kit to suit
your skills. From here you can expand into the
model railroad hobby as rapidly as desired. We
hope these pages can give you at least a slight
indication of the fun and relaxation this hobby
will provide.
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