Paint repair work on your model trains

To restore your models to brand new condition you will need some paint and very small and thin brushes. You also need some practice so that the paint goes exactly where it should ant not where it should not. In my experience after a good paint job the locomotive or carriage always look much better. It might be a labour intensive process if you have many landscape features and trains that need work. However when it all goes in motion after a paint job, it really is worth it.

If you have metal die cast locomotives then you might need to do some wielding to get the metal repaired. This is not something the average person would because it requires specialist equipment and a lot of experience. If you make a mistake whilst doing this type of metal modification then you will for sure further damage your railroad component. If you still want to do these repairs yourself then you need to practice on something such as scrap metal. Once you are comfortable with using the wielding equipment then you should try out your new learnt skills on your cheapest train model in case something goes wrong.

A lot of the time when building track layouts for your model trains to run on you will do the most changes when placing the landscape around the track. You will end up disconnecting and then connecting parts all over the place. This process is really fun and when the whole thing actually starts to take shape.  When you become more experienced then your track layout ideas in your head will actually start with the buildings, trees and other landscape features already in your head.

Building tracks around the landscape

Some railroading enthusiasts like to first lay out the landscape features and construct the train tracks around them which is just another way of doing things. I prefer to do a mixture of all of what is discussed above as it means I am never limited to doing things any one way and have certain flexibility to my process which helps me be even more creative.

Some people choose to make their own N scale buildings because it is cheaper and they have more control over how the landscape layout looks. All you really need is metal, wood, paint and so on to create your very own buildings. The more you make the better you will get at it and the more impressive your railroad scene will look.

My top 3 N scale building ideas are:

1.       Making a city out of futuristic skyscrapers give a really cool affect that a lot of landscape do not have which will give you the edge if you decide to enter a competition.

2.      Wild West wooden buildings look real good when constructed at a high quality. Having the train pass through a town like that with smoke puffing in the air as the Lionel trains do really sets a nice scene.

Building a small town that is set in the woods and has a mountain manage behind it gives you a lot of flexibility because it allows you to make a track layout which passes through beautiful scenery. People love beautiful landscapes and if this is implemented correctly then it never fails to amaze people.

Advantages of Fleischmann HO scale locomotives

Its motor is very high tech which allows it to run for weeks without showing any signs of wear and tear. The transformer which gives it the power required to run is also very robust and has the ability to perform without overheating for a very long time. Overall Fleischmann HO scale locomotives are very desired by collectors but because of their high price tag it does require some funding.

My favourite aspect of these model trains is the die cast metal framework which is of the best in the railroading industry. The material and craftsmanship is really top class and you can easily see why these train models fetch up to $1000 on a consistent basis.

History of the German Streamlined Passenger Steam Locomotive

This model was first contracted in the 1930’s and was one of the best of its time. The toy company Fleischmann was founded in 1887 and because they have been around for such a long time their products are very well trusted and always well received by the railroading community. Their early train locomotives were mainly of German trains of that period and not much has changed over the years. Because they have been so concentrated on a certain market they really have made the best that people have to see on offer.

My top 3 features of HO locomotive trains are given below:

1.       My number one observation is that the power to consistently pull the carriages is very impressive. The diesel locomotive do this very well and in some cases actually go much faster than the natural limitations than the track layout allows for. Brands such as Lionel and Bachmann solve this particular problem by being able to limit the speed using a mechanism no matter what power output the diesel locomotive produces.

2.      Most of them are designed in a very realistic and detail way. This makes them really fun to look at and they move around the track layout and blend in with the surrounding landscape. Overall the more expensive models are the ones that are more impressive.

3.      Some of the models replicate the exact life like trains to a very high standard which is very cool to spot when you are just casually looking around the landscape.

Why pay more for a model train?

The reason to pay top dollar for model train is that the extra attention to detail that has been paid. The framework of the train actually is very hard to deign in some cases because it must look like the real thing but be very small at the same time. For example all the paint work is actually only carried out by very qualified and experienced people who know what they are doing. This does not come cheaply and therefore increases the overall price of the railway set.

Another reason why you would pay more is the little realistic features that are added which make the overall effect really worth having. These extra features include real smoking being puffed out of the old locomotive or headlights that are actually working. Working headlights actually have a very cool affect if you run your model train set in the dark.

Lionel is a trusted brand can get away with charging people more than other companies. This is what happens in most industries and people are generally happy to pay more knowing that they will not be buying a cheaply made train model.

Custom made Train models are even more expensive

If you think that Lionel train prices are really high then you need to have a look at places such as eBay where people are selling custom made models. These are frequently sold in the thousands which really puts the whole thing in perspective.

Constructing a layout is really expensive and Bachmann model trains allows people to save some money but the question remains if the quality is the same as the more expensive counterparts. In my opinion overall the quality is still there but the attention to detail is just not the same which is a real shame. Some people might not notice the subtle differences but they are definitely there. The transformers that Bachmann use for powering their trains are really well made and it is one of their strong points. This is important to note as making sure your trains get go round the whole track without power shortages is fundamental.

The top 3 features of Bachmann model trains are:

1.       They have a very wide selection which kids really enjoy such as the Thomas the tank engine range, which is a really big seller in the kids market. This is mainly because of how popular the television series has became and the appeal and simple design of the main character Thomas the tank engine.

2.      Their instruction manual makes the installation process really easy so some kids can attempt these themselves.

3.      The prices are relatively cheap compared to the rest of the market.

Overall Lionel are the number 1 train model manufacturing company because they provide really good value for the products that they release. A lot of hobbyists actually base their designs on their trains which is a goes to show how much respect they have in this industry.

Apart from Lionel steam engines there are other big brands such as Bachmann and Life Like Trains. However in my opinion Lionel is the best because they have been in the business for a long time which has led them to perfect their design to what the customers really want. Just the little features they add such as working headlights and real whistle blowing is where their value lies.

The 3 vital components all of these sets should have are:

1.       A transformer which allows the model to be connected up with the power source as having a weak connection is one way that a automated set stops working.

2.      Fully realistic components such as working headlights and real whistle blowing. Smoke pumping is also a very common feature.

3.      Apart from the main locomotive the Lionel steam engines should have around 4 carriages and lots of signs for the landscaping layout. These extras means that you can get all your equipment from buying one pack which not only saves you money but also makes it much more convenient to be a hobbyist in this industry.

Wooden model train sets not for motion

In general models that are made using wood are not used for motion but are used for setting a frozen theme. This has major limitations because it does not allow the hobbyists to interact with the landscape which is a big disadvantage. However some people prefer to carve wood to get very cool life like models. It all depends on what your experiences and preferences are.

Safety hazard

When setting up you track layout make sure that there are no sources of fire around such as candles. Overall this is not really a problem but if you have kids that you bought a train set for their birthday then you need to explain to them that there are dangers which can be avoided by doing very simple things.

Repairing your wooden trains

Repairing these models is actually very tough because it is not like hammering a bit of metal into shape. You can try researching some tips on the Internet for advice but generally if some breakages or splits occur then it might be that usually that they are beyond repair. Burnt wood can be repaired but needs to have a certain material which can be used to sand down the burnt surface. If the wounds are deep then the train model might be beyond repair.

Lionel train Transformers

Lionel models are made using authentic heavy metals as this is the best way to guarantee that the materials are durable. Because of this extra than normal heaviness the power source needs to be stronger as sometimes you might have heavy models such as the Power Express not going up a slope as easily as you might want. Also their model train transformers are very durable which is great because you can have the satisfaction of knowing that you will not need to replace it for a long time.

Model railroad power supply

The power supply needs to be very reliable for exhibitions and museums because there will be visitors looking on for a whole day. Therefore the points where the wires connect to the box needs to be very well moulded as commonly this point of contact is where damage tends to occur first. To repair these transformers your best bet is to take it to an electrician as there are the only ones that you can trust to do a good job. However if you want to tackle this repair job yourself you need to do some research on what tools you need and how to go about the job. This option really does save some money as electricians charge a lot of money for the work that they do.