A Beginners guide making AWESOME model train layouts in 5 Steps
Step 1
Nothing of any value ever came easy! It's all about the effort! I make my living in computers... my love and my escape is trains. In the computer business we have a saying "garbage in - garbage out" What do I mean? It comes down to really deciding that you want to make something of merit. Something to be proud of and something that you are going to be really dedicated to doing AND FINISHING. It's one thing to admire a railway layout; it's a whole other thing to create one. You envision, and then you organize your thoughts. You plan and research, plan some more and do some revising along the way. Then you have a road map so to speak. You have a concrete, written down idea of what you want and how you are going to go about achieving it. Then you are ready to start a very exciting project for your new found construction skills in putting bits of pieces together into one breathtaking layout the world has yet to see!
Step 2
"But wait! Hold On!" you say. "That's easy for you, you've done this before. I'm a beginner. What's the nitty gritty? How do you start?" Consider all the elements. This is hard at first for beginners. There are things that have to be given enough attention - like where is this going to be placed? Is it a permanent part of the room - like a pool table or sofa? Do I have to move it around like that fold-away ping-ping table or my wife's message table (what a mistake that was!)? Face it, you didn't think about that did you? How big will it be? One sheet of plywood is 4 feet by eight feet. Am I using one sheet, only half a sheet, am I going for broke and using two sheets in an "L" configuration? How solid is my marriage? Oh yeah, that's a different article! Will my layout have levels? This concept alone is a very advanced one and tends to work itself out visually as mountains and valleys when finished. Are you starting to get the idea here? Are you getting a feel for ground zero yet? The overall design of the layout, materials to be used and the general impact that a builder is working towards is usually the first step in the design process. Now before we leave this step I want to give you the advice of a pro -"K.I.S.S. keep it simple, sweetheart!" Before you go biting off more than you can chew, start off small, modest. Jump in at the shallow end of the pool. It will be better to plan a project you can finish and ramp up the next one than to get frustrated half way through, quit, never finish and never try again. Think about that before moving on.
Step 3
Plan every detail. When doing this, it is important to focus not only on building but on making your project as visually stunning as your skill level will allow. For this you can not only research what other model railroaders have done before you but take queues from wildlife magazines, favorite photos and paintings, picture books, travel books... well you get the idea. The avenues of inspiration are limitless! You will be amply rewarded for the effort and imagination that you put in to things at this point. It is definitely the icing on the cake, shall we say! This part of the design process does not only involve how the layout will ultimately look but should also include estimations of supplies, materials; measurement of the layout substrate as well as track runs. Scales and details on how the trains will be made to run smoothly on their tracks come into play here also. The more you plan at this stage and the more complete your plan is in the end, the less frustration you will encounter during your build and the less wasted material you will have in the end. The old adage here applies " measure twice, cut once."
Step 4
Keep in mind your skill levels and any special knowledge you have of things like engineering, model making, art, wood working, plastering, fiber glassing and even electrical wiring to make everything not only beautiful, but also functional. It is important to be attentive about the precise detail of every single piece that is incorporated in the layout. A single nail or metal strap or bolt out of place or positioned in the wrong area can make or break the entire project. At the very least, it will make your life a misery! The key to avoiding this kind of aggravation is "knowing" and "proper planning". After a while in the hobby and in building layouts, things become much easier and fun to do as all this stuff becomes "second nature".
Step 5
Develop your scenery with an eye to realism. That old Troll doll or Smurf figure may be kind'a fun but you won't find one in the real world! Also, mis-scaled toy cars that are half the size of your trains really don't add to the realism factor... To make the model railway layout even more stunning it is important to give special attention to the scenery. Making a model railway requires an eye for the finest of details. It should appear just the way it is in nature - in the world we live in. That is the yardstick by which your work is measured. The key can be found in the materials that are used and in the finish given to each piece. Our viewers will hardly appreciate the hard work of our layout even if the trains are running flawlessly and fast, if everything looks kind'a off - just not quite right... The illusion must be built in nice, beautiful and consistent to itself.
So there you have it. 5 easy, simple, short and fun steps to making truly AWESOME model railway layouts and the best part is that if you follow all of them you are guaranteed to end up with a pieces that is not only breathtaking but will give you limitless amounts of pride and pleasure.
As you continue to explore model railroading, look to Tylers Trains for more interesting and informative articles for the model train beginner! Be sure to visit us at tylerstrains.com just to see all the fun stuff we offer the train buff and modeler alike! Everyone loves model railroading!
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