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Pinewood derby Catalog. |
Model Railroad Construction - Building a Model Toy Train Layout |
Toy Train Catalog |
A Short Primer On The Differnt Scales Of Toy Trains HO - G - N - Z - O |
Laying Model Train Track |
 Now you need to lay the track! Track laying is easy if you follow some simple steps. This column will not try to cover every track laying possibility. If a detailed discussion is desired, or any other layout construction information needed, refer to the ABC's Of Model Railroading from Kalmbach Publishing available at your local hobby shop. The first step in track laying is to assemble your materials! Most published track plans will have a list of the materials needed to complete the layout. Visit your local hobby shop before construction begins, as some components may have to be ordered. In addition to track, you will need track nails, a small hammer, a razor saw, hobby knife, and some needle nose pliers. All are available at your hobby shop. After the materials have been assembled the fun of layout building begins. First lay out the track on the train table according to the track plans. Do not fasten the track down at this point. Examine a piece of track and note the small hole in the center of certain cross-ties. This is the nail hole used to fasten the track down in final assembly. Using this hole as a guide, place marks on the table surface all around the track using a # 2 pencil. This is the most important step in track laying, and it pays to be especially careful at this stage. After the marks are made carefully pull up the track. Try to keep the track in the order it was on the table because this will make re-assembly easier later on. If your layout is going to feature waterways, you may consider installing foam risers under the track. These are flexible foam strips which will raise the level of the track above the table. Installation of risers make cutting waterways out of the plywood base unnecessary. Styrofoam boards can be installed later in the process to form the landscapes base. It is much easier to cut and carve than wood, and makes landscaping much easier If risers are desired, simply center the riser on the mark you made with the track's center hole. Pin the riser to the table surface with T-Pins. The riser may be glued to the table surface with either a low temperature glue gun or tacky glue. Allow glue to dry. If you used a glue gun, you may proceed immediately to the next step. If you want to install hills on the layout for the train to climb and descend, you may install an incline set at this point. An incline set allows you to install track inclines quickly and easily without a lot of complicated computations and tricky cutting. Install the riser on top of the incline set, after determining the hill's location. A cork or foam roadbed should be installed under the track. Roadbed cushions the track, deadening the noise of the running trains. Roadbed also allows you to ballast the track, creating a more realistic appearance. Two kinds of roadbed are available - cork and foam. Cork is the traditional roadbed. Instructions for its installation can be found at your local hobby shop. Foam roadbed is simply centered on the foam risers, or centered with the marks you made on the table if not using risers, and glued in place. Install track on top of roadbed, fastening with track nails. Make sure all track joints are properly aligned, and the rails are in contact with each other. If you are using Bachman E-Z track, roadbed is not needed, as each track piece includes roadbed. Simply lay the track down over the roadbed and tack down. Wiring will be covered in the next installment of the Workin' On The TrainTown Central series,  To Check Availability and Purchase Products Featured Here Visit Our Ebay Store Plum Creek Toy and Hobby |