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

Model Train Buildings

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There are many different types of structures available for your HO layout. You may purchase built up structures, which can be installed without any preparation. Or you can purchase building kits which must be assembled.

The vast majority of buildings are available as kits, ranging from simple snap plastic kits to craftsman quality wood kits which are very beautiful when finished. Most of the plastic kits aren’t hard to assemble. You will need model glue and a hobby knife, with assembly taking about an hour for most kits. Some of the more detailed kits will take longer, but these kits are more realistic and are worth the extra time required to assemble. Wood kits require wood glue and a hobby knife for assembly, and will require some additional assembly time. Don’t hurry with these kits. They are quality kits, and are well worth the extra time spent building them.

Painting isn’t usually necessary for the plastic kits, as they are molded in color. But they can benefit from painting and detailing if the modeler is so inclined. Painting, detailing, and weathering give the buildings more character. This step can make the difference between creating a nice layout and having one which really stands out.

Painting is easy if you follow a few simple steps. Wash the model in warm soapy water first to remove the mold release. Rinse and allow to dry. Sort the pieces and compare to the parts list, making sure all parts are there. Some parts are best painted prior to assembly, some after assembly. Paint the buildings using a brush or airbrush. Use the drybrushing technique you learned painting the rocks to weather and detail the buildings, picking your colors carefully. You may use model paint, or acrylic craft paint to paint the buildings.

Lighting is another option which will impart more realism to the layout, and it is simple to do. House lighting kits are available, or you can just drill a hole in the layout where the building will sit and run the wire through the hole under the table and back to the transformer. You may install on/off switches to make turning lights off and on easier. You can independently control banks of lights with these switches. Run the lighting off the AC lug on the transformer. Secure all wiring under the layout with eye screws or other fastener.

You may make other modifications to the buildings to make them look more real. Glue thin styrene plastic panels to the inside of the windows to simulate glass. Paint the inside of the buildings with a flat black paint to make less transparent. This keeps the light from illuminating the plastic house when the lights are on. You can also glue lichen moss around the base of the house after it is installed to simulate shrubbery. Rub-on decals are available to simulate signage and other things on the sides of the buildings.

Some modification of the terrain may be necessary to accommodate the buildings. Use Mold-A-Scene or a similar product to level the area where the building will sit. Re-apply ground foam as needed.

You will find an almost unlimited supply of different types of structures for your HO layout. You can model almost any business, scene, or home. Farming operations, mines, logging mills, feed mills - the possibilities are endless.

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