Model Train | Beginners Guide To Model Railroading

Model Train Beginners Need This…

Model train beginners need clarity! Why do model railroaders need clarity? Because the model train opportunities are endless! You can build a layout in your basement, attic, shed, garage or garden. You can run steam or diesel locomotives. You can have multilevel railways with rivers, dams, mountains, snow... You get the idea! The opportunities are truly endless in this wonderful hobby. Some points to consider are: Where are you going to build your layout? In my case it's "Where will my Wife let me?" :-) I find that I prefer being in the shed where I am out of the way and can enjoy lots of "me" time. I ...

A Good Quality Locomotive Is Essential

A good quality locomotive will make all the difference… It can be very frustrating having a locomotive that you need to push to get going, or it suddenly speeds up and falls off the tracks. A locomotive runs by picking up the electricity from the track through its wheels. The wheels transfer the electricity to the motor, which then turns the gears to drive the locomotive. A locomotive with poor pickup on the wheels or a poor gear set up will give you lots of problems. As with most things, you get what you pay for… but this is one area you do ...

The Secrets To Weathering Your Model Trains

Why should you weather your model trains? Whether you are just getting started with model trains, or you have been enjoying this hobby for a long time, there are many different things that you can do to make your model train layout look more realistic. You may have already spent a lot of time making sure that your models are to scale, but if you want your model railroad to look real, you have to avoid it looking too new! Having objects in your train set look too shiny or too new can be quite distracting. This is why you need to think about ...

Which Model Train Scale Is Best?

A question I always get asked by people considering model trains as their new hobby is: “Which model train scale (or gauge) is best?” First up... A common mistake for model train beginners, is to confuse scale and gauge. I'll explain… Scale is the proportion of your model to the real thing. An example is a HO scale locomotive. This locomotive will be 1/87 the size of the real locomotive. Gauge in model trains is the width between the inside running edge of the track as shown in the drawing below. . So How Does Someone Considering Model Trains Decide Which Scale To Start ...

G-Scale Model Trains

G scale model trains have got to be the best all around train size for beginners and experts alike. These trains are bigger than most, at a 1:22 scale, one twenty-second the size of a real train. This means that the train is six inches high and around 27" long, ideal for children to handle with relative ease. G scale is a really good beginning train for families that want to explore this hobby together. Many of these train sets are found around the holidays, trekking around a Christmas tree for example. One of the nice things about these G-scale model trains is that ...

Scenery and Structure Basics For Model Trains

When you are getting started with model trains, it is easy to get carried away with the trains and the tracks themselves. However, part of what makes model trains such a great hobby is the scenery. The scenery that your model train will run through and over makes the whole layout interesting and it is fun to create. You should take a moment and learn more about how to create great realistic looking scenery. Model trains are a hobby that can grow over time, and the more time that you spend working on it, the ...

Model Train Pictures

Send me a picture of your model trains and I'll post it here for the world to see! Send it to => modeltrainsforbeginners(at)gmail.com Attach your photos and include your name, your location and tell us about the picture. Here are some photos that have been sent in to Model Trains For Beginners. Enjoy! Click any image to enlarge it: ...

What Is Scratchbuilding?

Scratchbuilding is exactly what it says on the tin; building from scratch. True scratchbuilding is done completely using raw materials, from the foundations of your model train layout, to the buildings and detailing you use to decorate your model railway. Rather than using a shop-bought kit, which simply needs assembling, scratchbuilding is the creation of a scale model by hand from raw materials. Plywood, clay, plaster, metal and plastic are all materials that can be used to create your model railway if you choose to scratch build it. Whether you choose to buy some of the extra layout detail, such as buildings, signs ...

Building Model Railway Trains And Scenery

Part of the fun of model railroads is being able to build the scenery around them. Once you are tired of setting up the train set around the Christmas tree and putting it away after Christmas every year, you might be ready to build something more permanent. The benchwork is the foundation of your railroad. Train hobbyists have the option of buying an already made benchwork or building one for themselves. Buying a benchwork kit has several advantages. Benchwork kits are precut and predrilled. Plus they are sturdier then a piece of plywood on two sawhorses. Also, with a kit, you can ...