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Designing Model Train Benchwork And Scenery
By Winston Tietgens | March 11, 2010
Part of the fun of model railroads is being able to build the scenery around them. Once you have gotten tired of setting up the train set around the Christmas tree and putting it away after Christmas every year, you might be ready to build yourself something more permanent.
The foundation of any model railway trains is of course the benchwork. If you are just starting out and don’t know what this is, it is the table on which your layout is created. It can be built yourself, or you can by kits. Kits can be an easy way to start layouts for model trains, because they are already cut and drilled, and are much more reliable than just having some plywood on some sawhorses. Kits can also be taken apart and moved just about anywhere you need too, and many hobbyists that set up at train shows use these as a quick way to transport their layouts.
If you decide to build your own benchwork, then it is going to take more time to create the ideal model railroad train’s layout. However, with a little patience and creativity, you can make your personal vision of the ideal model train set up a reality. There are several things to consider when creating your own benchwork. How big you want it to be, the height, and if it is going to be a permanent placement, or if you want to be able to move it around if needed. The height of most platforms is around 28″ or so, but you can really make it any height that is comfortable for you. You benchwork really needs a solid base, so you need plywood that is at least 3/8″ thick or even up to 1/2″ is ideal. This way, it will support the weight of you train, track design, and all the accessories. You can use one solid piece of plywood, or you can cut it into different pieces in order to make it portable. You really have to decide before you start building, it’s a little later after everything is together.
Keep perspective in mind when you are building the actual model railroad scenery. The goal is to make your layout appear larger than it is. You can try using different levels of scenery to help with this. Placing larger trees in the foreground and smaller trees in the background or on the tops of mountains helps with this illusion as well.
Your scenery should also reflect the theme your have chosen for your landscape. For instance, if you are running a logging train on your line, it should be running through a rugged mountainous area filled with a ton of trees. You can also place a sawmill or lumberyard close by. Other aspects that you can have in your landscape are tunnels, grassy meadows, fields, rock formations, roads, and bridges.
If you are making your train go through tunnels in a mountain, make sure that you leave some kind of access available in case you have a problem, and need to recover your train in the tunnel. Once you are done, hook every thing up and make one last check over to see if everything is working properly, then you’re ready to start being a train engineer!
Want to find out more about Cool Toy Trains, then visit Winston Tietgens site on how to choose the best Model Railroad for your needs.
Topics: Model Railroading |
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