Adults Enjoy Toy Model Trains Too!

By Winston Tietgens

As Thomas the Train enlightened every boy's fantasy and graced the thoughts of those who have been awed by those fantastic machines, trains offer a powerful addiction to many. Small boys watch the talking trains from their living rooms and do not understand what it is that makes them so wonderful. But as boys grow into men they realize what it is that captured them when they were boys and stayed with them into their adulthood; control over a powerful machine.

So, what is it that pushes grown men to want to play with these "toys"? Is it the fact that they get to control a powerful piece of machinery even though it is model size at about 1/87th of the actual size? Perhaps a model train works the lines of electricity that make it work in the complex way. Some may be enthralled with the organized manner in which they run, around and around their tracks. Or it could just be a manner of fond childhood memories being relived as they see in their minds eye the choo-choo train circling the Christmas tree from their youth. Regardless of why men love to play with model trains one thing is certain, to characterize these models as simple toys is inaccurate. Toy model trains have grown up just as certainly as the little boys who love to play with them and are now big boy toys.

Toy trains are usually the plastic ones that you find on sale while you are Christmas shopping. They are low quality and priced as a great way to introduce kids to the hobby. When boys grow up they are called men. And when toy trains grow up, they are called locomotives. Locomotives are made to last. They are higher quality and many lack the push it slightly to get it to move feature like lower quality trains have. Their wheels are made to make greater contact with the track in order to get a better connection to the electricity which will help to get it going. They are the things that make model railroaders smile. Plus, locomotives have stronger engines. A stronger engine means greater pulling power. A quality locomotive is also made out of metal rather then plastic like toy trains. The weight of the train has a large effect on how well it works. The heavier the train, the better it will make contact with the track and therefore, a better running train.

Electricity is all good and well, but what if you want a little more power? Model train creators discovered a way to make a toy train powered by steam! There are many different steam trains available and the quality will vary but there is nothing more awesome than watching these steam locomotives chugging around the track. They are truly lifelike, but in miniature.

Not everyone can grow up and actually get to drive a train, and the ones that are fortunate enough may see it as nothing more than a job. However, if your lifelong dream includes trains and locomotives you do not have to be a conductor to enjoy the ride. Model trains offer pure indulgence in something so many people love. - 31503

About the Author:

Before you buy your first piece of track check out the free Model Railroading Engineer course at Cool Toy Trains. For a complete guide on Model railroading get the Model Train Engineers Handbook

Designing Model Train Benchwork And Scenery

By Winston Tietgens

Part of the fun of model railroads is being able to build the scenery around them. Once you have gotten 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 yourself something more permanent.

The foundation of any model railway trains is of course the benchwork. If you are just starting out and don't know what this is, it is the table on which your layout is created. It can be built yourself, or you can by kits. Kits can be an easy way to start layouts for model trains, because they are already cut and drilled, and are much more reliable than just having some plywood on some sawhorses. Kits can also be taken apart and moved just about anywhere you need too, and many hobbyists that set up at train shows use these as a quick way to transport their layouts.

The first thing you will have to do is to create a design for your layout. You'll have to figure out how large you want your benchwork to be. Consider if you will be adding on to it later on down the road. How much room in your house do you have to place a train layout? What shape are you planning for the top or your benchwork? It can be square, rectangle, oval, or circular. Typically the legs of the table are 28" but they can be altered to meet your designs specifications. The most important thing in benchworking is making sure that your benchwork is solid and can withstand a certain amount of weight. A good platform is a 3/8" to 1/2" thick piece of plywood. If you would like your benchwork to remain portable, you can cut the plywood into several pieces before you assemble your benchwork.

There are things to keep in mind when creating the scenery for your layout. One of the is perspective, having larger items in front and smaller ones in the back, can give the effect that the layout is larger than it actually is. You also have to consider the theme that your are trying to achieve with your model railway train layout. If you are doing a city scape, then you don't want to have a bunch of mountains in the back ground. The opposite is true if you are trying to create a mine or logging set up. You also have to consider what other accessories are going to be put in, like any mountains, bridges, or other buildings, because there are many different model trains and layouts to pick from.

It is a good idea to write these plans down before you do your model railway train's layout. When you are done, and are ready for placement, don't put anything in on a permanent basis yet. Do your set up, but check it first to make sure everything looks good, then do a test run of the model trains on the track. This way, you can make any kind of adjustments before you screw or glue everything down.

You can also incorporate towns or villages filled with houses and buildings. Plus, you should also add fine detail to your scenery. Fine detail includes signs, telephone poles, fences, underbrush, bushes, flowers, hedges, people, and animals. A really nice touch is including bodies of water like ponds, rivers, streams or even waterfalls . - 31503

About the Author:

Learn more about Model Trains. Stop by Winston Tietgens's site where you can find out all about the Model Railroad Engineers Handbook and what it can do for you.