The Quilts Zone Blog

Is this as much space as you as you’ve got for your model railroad?  Yeah, you’re right, anything more than that and you’d have to find a new place to live?  I dig you. No big deal.  4’ x 8’ is a good amount of room for a model railroad.  HO model railroad manuals advice this as a minimum space requirement.  HO?   Not versed in HO? It’s the most often used scale by beginners.  HO trains are one 87^th the size of the real world trains they are modeled after.  How could you best maximize this space?

Try a simple loop layout to begin with:  It doesn’t get more straight forward than this.  In this format the train just circles around in an oval.  This works wonderfully for the limitations of a 4’ x 8’ space. Avoid boring people by making use of the the center. This setup calls for a little model metropolis at the center. Add small details like animals to the central space to spice this basic track plan up.

Just like in ice skating, a figure eight can be great: One of the best alternatives to the basic oval is the figure 8 set-up. This set-up cuts right into the large interior space that makes the basic oval a bit awkward. You’ll have 4 little spaces to add decoration to or to leave untouched.

Concentric tracks also work well:  A loop within a loop works better than you might think at first.  You can have a connection point where your train jumps from the short to the long track and back again.  This setup begs for a train yard at the center, since this is what the setup most resembles in the real world.

Double train tracks:  Another way of adding interest to this set-up is to have two separate trains, one on the interior and one on the exterior of the track   Now it’s a contest to see which little train will draw the most interest. Don’t bother with extra decoration, there’s a war on.

For more options use more space friendly N scale trains:  To get more bang for your buck in terms of space, use n-scale trains.  Actual trains dwarf these little guys by 160 times. With these guys you will no longer be trapped into the three types of formats I have mentioned. You can add interest to your design and variation to your landscape.  You could perhaps have a little town on one end and a hilly landscape on the other.  The drawback, of course, is that n scale is so small that a lot of people just do not find them very impressive.

Whatever you choose to do with your 4’ x 8’ space, don’t let the space drawbacks limit your imagination.  In model training we are always encountering space limitations but solving this problem creatively can actually add interest to your model training experience. Some of the most stringent space requirements have produced some of the most imaginative layouts.

Here is more information on Model Train Information. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.  

You know what you haven’t heard of but is probably to be the next hot thing in hobbying? What’s about to break that has every model trainer tossing and turning with anticipation? What throw back kind of locomotives are about to make a come back the way bell bottoms and tye-dye did a the end of the Reagan Era?  Alright, here it is: s gauge model railroads.  Yeah, that’s right, s scale? If you’re not that acquainted with scales and gauges then you probably don’t recognize that this isn’t a standard gauge these days. Do you even know about different scales?  Alright, well let me set you straight on the nitty-gritty on these before you start reading about them in the news:

Here’s a blast from the past, these s gauge locomotives are “American Flyers”:  

This line of trains has been enshrined in the pantheon of model trains.  Nostalgia explains a lot.  American Flyer’s s gauge trains had their best days right after the Big One when the baby boomers were starting to sprout up.  This was in big part an attempt to compete with Lionel’s O scale who was the king of the roost through the 50’s. S gauge is an “inbetween” scale, way larger than HO but smaller than Lionel’s O.  S scale is one 64^th the size of a real train whereas Lionel’s O scale is one 48^th the size.   That is to say that S scale is a bit more user friendly in terms of the minimum space requirements for the track but still large enough for those of us that dig the arts and crafts part of model training. These locomotives are a lot of fun to paint and detail.

S scale is not common:  

Because American Flyer in effect invented s gauge and then went bankrupt just a few years after, you don’t come across it much.  A.C. Gilbert, who owned American Flyer at the time, created this gauge as an attempt to make a line of trains that would keep up with Lionel by introducing high quality locomotives that weren’t interchangeable with Lionel locomotives. American Flyer locomotives from the 50’s only fit s scale and wouldn’t operate on Lionel’s O.   It also means that those hobbyists of the s gauge trains in the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s had to make most of their replacement tracks from scratch and to meticulously maintain their locomotives since replacement parts in the pre-internet era were hard to find.   This has made American Flyer the Holy Grail of toy trains for many hobbyists.

American Flyers are about to enter the model train market again:  

American Flyer’s arch-enemy Lionel bought them out in the 60’s and is now looking to reinvigorate both brands by marketing the vintage 1950’s toys that persist in being so cherished by trainers.  The s gauge toys they are due to re-release should take the model train world by storm.  It might not be long before we have to make space for s gauge as yet another common size in the toy training world.

Now’s the instant to put your chips down if you want to cash in early on this tip.  This is when the early adopters wade in and check things out.  Get one of these flap jacks while they’re still hot.  Remember when I told you about this little coffee house called Starbuck’s.  And you said no one would ever pay more just for some coffee. 

Here is more information on Model Train Scale. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.

Boys and girls these days are a lot more interested in updating their face book information than in actually sticking their faces into a book.    If it doesn’t connect to the power grid and add to the monthly electrical cost, lots of young people are just not that into it.  This is after all the cyber age and if a youngster isn’t reading three things at once he feels like he is slacking.  Even though they consider the past to be what happened last week, it’s still important to find ways to get them involved with it.  It’s not enough to know that there were some guys named Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and Benjamin who now have their faces on our bills.  If we’re going to remain a successful democracy we really need to pass on some of our beautiful history to them.  So how do we get them to open the book on the traditions of this country without feeling like we’re pulling teeth? There are lots of ways, but one particularly good way is through toy trains.  Yes.  Yeah, historic toy locomotives embody a vibrant history with them but don’t burden us with feeling that we are being educated.  Try using toy trains to teach the past this way:

Use trains as a secret vehicle for the past:

Try to make your set-up time and place specific. Imagine a set-up that is set during Reconstruction in the American Southwest.  You can feign ignorance and get your young people to “help” you figure out what would make for correct scenic details to your setup.  Imagine stringing up a long row of telegraph poles next to your track to show the communications system of the time.  Or they might create a vibrant town near the tracks to represent the boom cities that were the winners in the railroad speculation game.  Maybe even have a few washed out prospectors still panning for gold in the nearby stream.

Spice up the tired old school project by swapping in a toy locomotive setup instead:  

Diorama and similar craft projects are fine but if you’ve already gotten your kid into model locomotives why not take advantage of his or her hobby to really impress at his next school presentation.  A static diorama really can’t compete with the dynamic movement of a historic toy train layout.  Just imagine, for example, adding a toy locomotive display to your youngster’s essay on Jesse James.  As your period specific locomotive rounds the curve there are Jesse and his whole gang just waiting to pounce and continue his wrong headed crusade.  It’s your youngster though, who will be robbing that A right out of his teacher’s grade book!

Visit Historic train Locales:  

If you’re anywhere in the American West you are never far from historical locomotive sites and museums where model locomotives are often featured.  This can be a lot of fun and be very educational as well.  Some rolling exhibits may come around as well. Just keep your ears pricked and you are sure to come across one sooner or later.

All of these things are sure to place your child on track to greater cultural literacy.  Even if you just do toy training without even considering the educational possibilities you will inevitably kindle a greater sense of historical knowledge simply by handling these little mechanical doorways to the past.  

Here is more information on Model Steam Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.

Model Trains - A Quick Beginners Overview

Possibly, there are just as many kinds of model railway sets as forms of real railroads. It isn’t difficult to site them on the internet or in a hobby store in your local municipality. You can get ones that appear just like real trains, fancy ones, trains from the future, and about everything else.

The sets will have not just the cars, engine, and tracks, but will have buildings as well and scenery that you can utilize to create a fundamental layout.

One of the precisely specific kind of model railroad sets is known as the Bright Sleigh Bell Express for Holidays. The railroad set is blanketed in colors that demonstrate the holiday styling, and it comes with a coal car, an engine, a caboose, and a car for passengers.

There are 75 various lights on it, it has bell or a whistle sounds, and it performs several Christmas songs. It also has 12 arced tracks and 8 unbent, a water tower, and a transformer that will give the set the power it needs to run. Other cars from New Bright won’t be able to fit on this model railroad set, but there are many Holiday Express cars that are acquirable.

Even though the transformer has enough power for 80 feet of model railroad track, you might wish to get more power if you wish to purchase the clock tower that is musical to go with it. This model railroad set can be purchased for about $235, but you might be able to ascertain it in some places for about $200.

One other of the most ordinarily acquired model railroad sets is known as Bachmann Digital Commander, and is the Deluxe HO Set, and the model number is 00501. Two dissimilar trains come with this model railroad set, and it has On Board Technology from DCC, which lets you to use both of the railways individually, but jointly.

You will be able to control the speed lighting and what directions the railways are passing with the E-Z Command system. The model train set has the Santa Fe (EMD FT) engine and the Union Pacific (EMD GP40) locomotive. It has 3 cars for loading, a railcar, and a depot rerailer.

There is more than adequate track to create an oval track measuring 47×38, and it has a position for command, magnets, and a power pack. There is also an instructional DVD that comes with it and a handbook with artworks.

This model railroad set sells for about $300, but you might be able to find it for less than $200.

This section describes just a little taste of what is furnished with model train sets. It doesn’t even tell all of the kits and accessories that comes with the sets. There are many different sets for towns, sets for scenery, and packets that have sufficient trestle in them to create a layout of a mountain pass.

If you’re interested in discovering more designs, there are many pictures and videos you can look at. Your sole terminal point is how much cash you’ve and how much vision you bring to it.

There are communities for people who like model railway sets, and in some areas you can discover shows and museums that are specifically specified for model railways. There are contests too for model train sets adorers to discover who can set up the most fancy railway set, whether it be inside or outside in a garden or in an area that is landscaped.

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Model Trains - A Quick Beginners Overview

The variety of model railway sets out there probably beats that of real trains. Locations like your local hobby store or the Internet have an great number of them. You’ll observe them in every style available – antique locomotives, monorails, steam engines, and more.

When you buy these sets, you will acquire everything involved with the complete railroad set, including all the components you’ll require to get a good layout constructed.

The New Bright Sleigh Bell Holiday Express G is a model railway set that has shown to be very unique. The holiday theme is presented through loud, boisterous colors, and you can get the complete railroad, from engine to caboose.

You will be able to have Christmas songs and other holiday sounds, as well as accent it with 75 lights. The layout supplies a water tower, as well as a few optional track shapes to make your own track, powered by an effective transformer. While you may purchase additional Holiday Express accessories to add on to this, you will not find New Bright add ons that fit.

You can power 80 feet of railway track with the transformer, but it may have trouble powering that and the optional musical clock tower if you opt to get that as well as everything else. This whole list of materials goes for around $235, but you can acquire it for cheaper in some retail online stores.

The Bachmann Digital Commander Deluxe HQ Set is another fantastic option of model railway sets out there. You will find two trains with this set, which you can work at once with separate controls using the innovative DCC On Board technology integrated into the console.

You’ll be able to have your trains operate at disparate speeds and directions, as well as adjust the lighting. Both EMD FT locomotives and EMD GP40 trains are discovered here in this wonderful and complete railway set. Also included are three freight cars, a caboose, and a rerailer device.

In addition to the command console, magnets, and power pack, you will receive track pieces to assemble an oval track 47×38″ long. You will even receive a manual and DVD that show you how it all works.

This set is approximately $300, but you can discover it for $200 in select retail outlets on the Internet.

There are several more model railway sets available for you if you like. You can even buy many more accessories and kits to enhance them. There are scenery packs that open you to set the world for your railway, which range from little towns to trestles, giving you a mountain to travel around.

There are plenty of pictures and videos online of varying layouts that hobbyists have constructed, so you can get ideas. The only boundary is your wallet and your creativity.

You are not alone in your hobby, as you can come together with other people who share your excitement in clubs and even model railroad museums. There are model railroad set contests that can be put on where people compete against each other for the most creative layout; you can even set them in landscaping configurations to display your hard work outside.

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