Electrical Tools and Components Needed to Bring Your Model Train Layout to Life

By Daryl Clayton Kennedy

Model railroad replicas need electricity and a handful of special tools and components to operate. Without these special tools and devices your model train layout will simply sit and stair back at you as if to say, what the heck are you waiting for turn me on.

You'll need a couple of simple household tools to begin the electrical integration of components and accessories. First you will need a common everyday flat head screwdriver. Secondly you'll want to have a set of needle nose pliers handy as these are perfect for re-enforcing wire around connections.

Your third recommended tool is a pair of wire strippers. Your strippers will make shaving wire insulation a piece of cake and is a must have if you wish your electrical endeavors to prevail. Fourthly, you'll need a reliable 25 - 30 watt soldering gun. This percentage of wattage is most commonly used. For thicker gauge wire a larger pistol grip gun is acceptable for wire ranging in girth from 10AWG to 14AWG.

Connectors that Require No Soldering are Available for Your Model Train Layout

As an alternative to using a bulky soldering gun. Forked connectors are used to connect wires to busses and tracks. Though this format may not be the best case scenario for all connections, it will work for your less challenging electrical mergers such as connecting wires to busses and similar connections.

This will sound like a strange name for a connection apparatus but suitcase or tap-in connectors are popular as they require no wire stripping, only the simple sliding of wire into a bus and the connection is made. You may also know these connectors as (IDCs) or "insulated displacement connectors".

Your Model Train Layout Would Be Lost Without Electrical Switches and Power Supplies

Switches like most products come in a variety of styles yet they all perform the same duty. You may want to avoid purchasing the cheaper product and go for the gold by spending a little extra and going after the switch that has the higher rating. You may locate these tools of the trade in any common hardware store or maybe even some place like an Home Depot or Builders Square. By purchasing from such corporate operations you may rest assured that return polices are solid and product is affordable.

Lastly, your power supply is as you know the heart of you layout and should be treated with care. Here is a useful tip you're sure to incorporate into your plans. try to use only one power pack to operate your locomotives and a second independent pack for your layouts add ons.

To close, I'd like to say this. Use Multi Port Power Strips to help stop overloads! It may keep your layout safe from an ugly ending by protecting it and all it's components. - 31503

About the Author:

For more information on scale model locomotives visit Daryl's BLOG surrounding model trains, you may also stop in to read thomas the wooden toy train reviews.

Thomas The Wooden Tank Engine And The Origin Of Sodor

By Daryl Clayton Kennedy

The year was 1945 and devout christian Rev. Wilbert Audry gave the world it's first read of soon to be iconic children's ferry tale, Thomas the Tank Engine. Reverend Audry was inspired by his earlier ordeal with son and a life threatening bout of the measles 2 years prior. Rev Audry stayed at his son Christopher's call, assisting him and providing his every need.

History records as the Reverends son Christopher was fighting the measles, his loving father would chant out nursery rhymes. The tunes where intended to sooth the young chap while battling the deadly virus. Here's how one of the tiny tunes went...

Early in the Morning Down at the Station all the Engines Standing in a Row. Along Comes the Driver Pulls the Lever, Puff, Puff! Chuff, Chuff Off we GO!

After hearing this diddy many times during his ailment, little Chris began to ask his father questions about the rhyme. Where is the train going, Does it have a name?

Rev. Audry had to be creative to pull this one off. He explained to His son that the trains and their station is located on the Island of Sodor in the Irish Sea between the Isle of Mann and the British Isles. There is where the tales are told.

Most individuals believe that Thomas was the first engine in the series, but that's not true. Edward, is the oldest and most liked engine on sodor for a good reason. He is the original engine that Rev. Audry described to Christopher so many year ago. We suppose that's why everyone likes him.

The stories grew larger and more detailed. Additional locomotives where then tossed in the mix. Soon came Thomas, Percy, Lady, Henry, Smudger, James and a slew of others, each with personalities of their own.

In 1945 the first of the children's books was published and in 1984 Great Britain Introduced the popular book in a television series that has taken off to enjoy world wide fame with tots! The books are still in publication and in 1972 Christopher took over the honers of story telling and allowed his father Wilbert (1911-1997) to retire.

1996 marked the true end of an era as this is the year Christopher wrote his last tale. As mentioned the stories are now told by a wounderfully imaginative collective of writers who do the original tales justice! - 31503

About the Author:

For more information on scale model locomotives visit Daryl's Website surrounding model trains, you may also stop in to read thomas the wooden toy train reviews.

Direct Current Power Packs for Model Trains - You May Need To Upgrade

By Daryl Clayton Kennedy

When purchasing model train sets you have a wide variety of options, some more worthy than others. In todays' competitive market the bottom line is cost! Unfortunately some of the model train manufacturers aim at the masses by producing locomotives and layouts that look good and run, but that's about all they can muster.

Manufactures of today tend to produce products that are affordable to the masses which means, they are limited in their capabilities. If you wish to add moving parts and energy consuming accessories then you will want to look into upgrading your Power Pack. The Packs that come with ready to run trains are only capable of handling the minimal amount of add ons' and accessories that come standard with the locomotive.

Solving the Problem of Under Powered Layouts

There is one name that comes to mind out of many when searching for top DC Power Packs. Model Rectifier Corporation leads the pack in DC Control and electronic model train navigation. Reliable, easy to use and affordable. MRC is you best choice when looking to add additional DC power to you layout.

MRC is not the only manufacture of these necessary devices, although they are on e of the most sought after DC Pack on the market. Other companies such as Atlas, Bachmann and Aristo-Craft provide reliable DC Power Packs for use with various model train sets.

Most modelers in the United States set up their layout in their home or apartment. This requires 110 volt outlets, other countries may differ. A un-scaved 110 volts will fry through circuits which is where your power pack comes into play. The power pack will reduce the number of volts to a figure manageable by your layout, say 18 volts or so.

The transformer is the main component of your power pack. This crucial piece in you DC pack allows the high alternating current to be transformed before your eyes into a Direct Current. This direct current is of sufficient amps to power your layout without burning a hole in your benchwork!

If your looking for advice, I'd go for a higher grade set from Kato, Atlas, Bachmann, Walthers or Micro trains. These manufactures don't make toys, they produce high quality locomotives that are worthy of our hobby. By going this route you're sure to be satisfied with the quality of your pack and its capabilities. - 31503

About the Author:

For more information on scale model locomotives visit Daryl's BLOG surrounding model trains, you may also stop in to read thomas the wooden toy train reviews.

How Your DC Model Train Works - The Importance of Clean Tracks

By Daryl Clayton Kennedy

If you ever run across a situation where your model train or trains don't run... it's wise to have the knowledge of how your train works under your belt.

The first course of understanding is that electricity is your juice or the origin of your power. That being said, if you hook up your pack, twist the knob and give the steam whistle a toot, but the engine just sits there, your first recourse is to check all electrical connections starting with the one in your wall.

If all is well at your wall connection, you'll want to follow the power cord to it's power pack and be on the lookout for slits, cuts, breaks, exposed wires, etc... all these things can cause your power pack not to receive the electrical impulses that make your layout come alive.

If you've followed proper procedures and chased potential problems down to their root cause you'll naturally end up at the wires running from your power pack to the track or rails. Your problem could easily be lurking here.

Your DC current enters the circuit at this junction. Entering through the wheels and traveling through the locomotive to it's motor, the current can be traced as it dumps off life giving forces to the electric components. The power pack which was at the beginning of this electrical journey is also at its closing as the current completes it's circuit by traveling back through the opposite rail and re-entering the power pack.

Word to the wise. If your wheels are unclean they could lead to complications during operations. Electrical impulses can be muffled or disrupted by dirt on tracks. In severe cases you may not receive any reception at all.

For this very reason it's a good idea to clean your track and wheels before and after operation.

Following these simple step by step actions will likely lead to identifying any major problem. If problems continue and you have exhausted all the tricks outlined, try a multi-meter, you can usually find electrical problems that normally avaid the eye. While locomotive chassis is disassembled go ahead and check motor for foreign objects and binding gears. - 31503

About the Author:

For more information on scale model locomotives visit Daryl's Website surrounding model trains, you may also stop in to read thomas the wooden toy train engine reviews.

Model Steam Trains: The Past Brought To Life

By Dee Ross

If you want to start out in the model train hobby and would like to use a train set that is about as old as the original trains themselves, model steam trains would be right up your alley. These trains seemingly have been around almost as long as the originals and are built with such painstaking detail, you can lose yourself in the train world that you build with them.

These types of trains are the favorites of collector's young and old, experienced and beginner because of the variety and size variations that they come in. In most cases, they are true recreations of a train and have fully functioning features. It is literally as though you took one of those old trains and put them in the dryer to shrink.

When you are involved in model trains, you have no choice but to be a history buff. It is only natural for you to get caught up in different time periods where monumental things happened both with and because of the train. While you cannot truly go back in time, your model stream trains will allow you to set the scene to recreate it as close as possible to the actual event.

As you start to get more involved with the hobby, you are going to want to start to check out shows and clubs. They have set ups there that will have your head on a swivel. You have to realize that because of the space they are allotted, they can get as involved and creative as they want.

When you really get involved in this hobby, these shows are an absolute must. You may get an idea to get your over that hump that you were dealing with in your own creation or maybe even take a class to expand on your growing knowledge. Even if you go to just see what the latest and greatest is, it is well worth the trip.

A step up from the small scale steam trains are the ones that you can ride. These model steam trains are actually large enough to sit on and go for a spin, provided you do not leave the track. Children of all ages will love this particular version of steam train model.

The model steam train brings back the glory days of the beginning of the railroad and the locomotives running through small towns all around. Many of these trains and kits are perfect reproduction of some of the most famous trains in history. If you are looking for a new hobby and you can remember what it was like to be a kid and watch the trains go by, a model steam train may be just right for you. - 31503

About the Author:

Looking to find the best deals on Model Steam Trains? Visit www.toymodeltrainanswers.com to find expert advice on Toy Model Trains for you.

Surround Yourself With a Display of LGB Model Trains

By Dee Ross

One of the more impressive things that you will see in stores during the holiday season is the model train displays. They are monster size trains that only seem to come out once Santa is getting ready to make an appearance. While there are several companies that make these G scale trains, few are as popular as LGB model trains.

When you are putting together a display that is going to use LGB, you need to understand how large these trains actually are and the space commitment that is needed to pull it off. They are going to need a very wide turning radius and are not something that you can set up on a banquet table or around a small tree. These are the kinds of trains that you will want to have in a much larger setting.

This is what makes an outdoor display the perfect arena for LGB model trains. You can have a garden display with them or perhaps have them rolling around your entire house during the Christmas season. You will know you got it right when your neighbors are walking into each other because they are stopping to look every time they cruise past your house.

If the outdoor setting is not possible, you still do not have to dismiss getting G scale trains. If your basement is set up as a game room or hobby room, you can absolutely make this work. Get really creative and create shelving around the perimeter of the room that you can set your track on. Now your trains can stay up year around and you can be assured that virtually nobody else will have done this.

LGB model trains offer a wide variety of locomotives and passenger cars to choose from. They range from the very classic styling of old time railroad to the sleek modern look of the electric trains of today. Priced anywhere from $100.00 for some of the passenger cars to $1600.00 for the locomotives, this is not only a hobby but an investment.

One good thing about LGB model trains is that even though they are much larger that the trains that most people collect, they need no extra power requirements to run. You can operate them with your standard electrical set up and will not have to incur any other costs to get them going wherever you choose to create your train scene.

When you want something unique that nobody else has and really want to make an impression with your model train set, LGB model trains should be your first and only consideration. Their displays have been stopping traffic in malls for decades and there is no reason that you cannot have the same thing at your home. Check them out and if you can find the space, this is absolutely the set for you. - 31503

About the Author:

For expert information about model railroading, stop by Dee Ross's site www.toymodeltrainanswers.com. For more about outdoor model trains, visit G Scale Model Trains.

Advice On Model Train Scale And Gauge

By David Blackburn

For hobbyists just getting started in train modeling, there's some model train information you should know. Many individuals will use the terms scale and gauge as if they're interchangeable. It is very important to recollect there is a difference between the 2 terms. The term scale is used so as to explain the size of the train itself. Gauge is employed so as to explain the length between the rails used to place the train on.

While there's a standard track size used for each train scale, you don't need to call the track size a scale. Knowing this can help you to be able to speak the lingo utilized by those that are knowledgeable in train modelling.

The size of train is the next piece of model train information you must know before buying. As you currently know, scale is the term we use to describe size. A Z scale model train has a ratio of 1:220 and is the littlest of the model trains available. For those with little space or little rooms in their home the Z scale is right allowing you to make a good size model railway for you to enjoy.

Near the very top of the popularity stakes you will find the N scale. If you would like a train that shows you more detail but can also fit into a smaller area then the N scale might be more to your liking. If you desire the most important scale for private use then you need the 1:8 ratio model train. The 1:8 ratio is the model train to have for jumpimg aboard and riding yourself.

Now we come on to model train information concerning the railway track required for your layout. It is one of the most important things you may learn as you start out in model railroading. Obviously without the right track your model train will be useless. The size (scale) of your train will determine the gauge (width) of the track required. You will find a customary gauge for all train scales allowing your trains a smooth and consistent journey around your layout.

The standards in train track gauges allow you to buy a track your train will travel along. It is very important to recollect there are slight variations within the ratio for each train scale. While this means your train won't fit precisely on the standard track, it are able to run smoothly along the track. It is acceptable to have a slight difference between train wheels and also the track. Make sure the track isn't too little, otherwise you run the risk of the wheels striking the ties of the track.

Interesting model train information is where the names of the scales come from. The G scale train is one, which has been named due to the size of the train, but has been nicknamed thanks to where the train typically runs. G scale was originally named because Gros is the German word for big. In more recent times, G scale trains have become known as Garden trains. This is because the size of the train permits it to be waterproof and thus operate outside in most any weather. - 31503

About the Author:

Find more great information on model trains here ==>> model-train-scale and also his web site at: http://www.modeltrainsadvice.com

Model Railway Trains Are Enjoyable

By David Blackburn

I do not know quite when it began. I was just a little boy when I first laid eyes upon it. My childhood with model railway trains was so very exciting. I was able to escape to so many different places right there in my grandpa's home. My grandpa loved his models and so did I. He taught me everything he knew and we both learned a few things along the way.

I do not know just how this tradition got started in my family. I had heard momma talking one day with Aunt Cecile. They were talking about their dad and how much he loved "messing" with tiny trains. I got interested and started eavesdropping on their conversation. They laughed and giggled as they remembered their dad.

Daddy worked long hours so, he was not home much. It was mostly mum, me and Michael. He grew up so quickly and I had to keep up with him because as soon as he could walk, he wanted to go everywhere. He grew like the weeds did in mum's garden. I was so amazed at how quick he would learn, he soaked up information like a sponge.

One day, one of daddy's co-workers came to tell mum there had been a bad accident and just like that, my dad was no longer with us. I was twelve and Michael was six. I think Michael loved daddy more than even mum and me. He never sobbed but, tears flowed down his dirty face. I did not know how to comfort him. But, on that day, there was a change in Michael.

Grandpa loved his model railroad. He spent years building it bigger and bigger. He was so proud of it and I loved just watching the little town he built with the train running all around the edges of his town. He even made a tiny little pond. It was so precious.

We have dirt, sand and water in our model. It seems each day we are adding something new. When other family members come to visit, our train town is the star attraction! Our model has barns and houses which have a worn look. We have grass, cars, people and animals. I made a wax squirrel, last year, just to put in our town park! Momma carved a court house this year and it has a new home!

Michael did as mum said. She went with him. Mr. Bradford had a simple train set in the back of the store where the older gentlemen sat. After the apologies, Mr. Bradford asked mum if he could show my brother something. When my brother saw that little train set, his eyes glowed with tears.

There is nothing unusual in model railroading. I think this is a good way for families to get involved with each other. You use your hands to create something that is soothing to all the people who see it. Some of my nieces and nephew squeal with joy whenever they watch the trains roll down the tracks. It is safe, small and they can not get hurt. What better way to entertain the kids? - 31503

About the Author:

A childhood with model railway trains and american model trains is so extremely exciting. You are able to escape to so many different places right there in the comfort of your own home.