You could build a small railroad scene and take pictures of it from different angles. If you like photography, you could have multiple "model train displays" consisting of interesting photos you've taken of model trains or railroad equipment. √G Scale North Woods Logger Setting up Model Railroad Scenes for Photography a 3D work of art that you could place in your living room or even sell at a craft show or train show if you like.Ī reference for model railroad dioramas is √ Scenery for Model Railroads, Dioramas & Miniatures: With 25 Handy Tear-Out Reference Cards by Robert Schleicher. This could be done on a 2 by 3 foot piece of plywood or even smaller, depicting a railroad scene complete with train, track, terrain, scenery, structure, people, and even a pond or creek, etc. That's basically what a model railroad layout is anyway - a bunch of small scenes that trains run through, over or under. These small kits can help you learn how to create a realistic scene on a small scale so that when you are ready to do a larger railroad layout, you will know how to do it. The standards for building these modules are defined by the NMRA (National Model Railroad Association).Ī great reference for building modules is Track Plans for Module Railroading by Peter Harmady.Ī small diorama is a much smaller type of model train display that may be the perfect way for you to get started in the hobby. This is the way a lot of model railroad clubs like to develop their model train displays. You may elect to create a small standardized module that you can bring to a model train show or exhibit that will fit into a much larger layout constructed by putting lots of other modules together. Some people may just want to do a special train layout for the Holidays - perhaps something more than just putting a train around the tree, but a real Christmas Railroad with Holiday-decorated trains, lighted buildings, lighted trees, skating rinks, winter scenes, etc. Or, even if you already have a larger model railroad in one room, you may want a smaller one for your office. A good reference book on this is √ How To Design A Small Switching Layout by Lance Mindheim.Ī small train layout project might be the best way to go if you want a nice personal layout, but don't have the time or the space for a big one. Many different industries would be conducive to being modeled on this kind of layout. You can even create some unique switching "puzzles", to challenge the operator to get a freight car from one branch track to another without touching it. This wouldn't require much room at all and many of these designs can be very interesting and intriguing. However the names on the locos and the cars as well as the track plan and the towns through which the railroad runs can be entirely made up.Ī small switching layout might be right up your alley. Most cities have fantastic train museums where you can obtain a lot of history about the railroad you wish to model.Ī freelanced model train display will be created solely from the imagination of the builder, but the design should always define some sense of realism regarding how a railroad operates and the general era and area in which it is operating. One of the most exciting ways to do this is to take a trip to the area you are modeling and gather as much first-hand knowledge as you can, including pictures, measurements of structures (if they still exist). There are many available resources to easily obtain this information if you are so inclined. This, of course, requires a certain amount of research and acquired knowledge about the particular railroad you are trying to model. The more friends you have that are interested in helping you with your layout (in exchange for cookies and ice cream), the larger layout you all can have and share.Ī prototypical layout will try to duplicate as many facets of the real railroad (e.g.,Norfolk and Western) as possible within a certain known length of track (e.g., Roanoke to Richmond) and within a certain period of time (e.g., November of 1948). ![]() Sometimes, smaller model train displays are better because you can devote more time to perfecting it and making it into something you can really be proud of. You may want to have a small shelf switching-type layout, point to point, or a large basement or attic-sized empire with multiple continuously running trains in a loop to loop fashion with lots of side branches, junctions, bridges, multiple industries, ports or cities. ![]() Your model train display may be as large or as small as you wish based on your own space, time and monetary constraints.
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