Building the bench can be as easy, or as complicated as you want it to be. Benches can be custom built, or you can make use of an unused kitchen table or a shelf fixed to a wall. The first thing to consider is how much weight the bench will carry, as that will determine…

In any layout you must have realistic scenery, including buildings, so you might as well include some buildings if you have a model train layout. It is really important to build structures to the correct scale, as a Z scale building would look at of place on a HO scale railway and vice versa. It…

WARNING – As we all know model railroading is an expensive hobby. Don’t make these biggest 5 mistakes. Download the eBook package now. Understanding Scale and Gauge The first question you need to ask yourself is… Which model train scale is best suited for you? Choosing a size (scale) is the first step to your…

Locomotives are available in steam, diesel and electric (operate with overhead power lines). They can be manufactured from plastic, steel, alloys or brass. They are available as models of prototypes from the 19th century to today. The more expensive locomotives come with a large amount of detail and better working components. Figure 21 High-end locomotives…

When planning construction of a model railroad there are all sorts of possible track configurations and plans to consider. It really depends on the space you have at your disposal and what type of train operation you would most enjoy. Real railroads (prototype) run from one destination to another rather than go around in a…

Now is when we get to the creative side of model trains. Creating realistic scenery is the part that pulls your layout together and brings it alive. You’ve started with a train set, and now it’s time to convert it to a full scale model railroad. Scenery is the geographical setting of your layout. It’s…