Building a model railroad can be a fun and exciting hobby, and can be a great way to unwind from a hard stressful day, or even a way to spend quality time with the family.
The thrill of model railroading is being able to take complete charge over the destiny of trains, or even seeing the looks on peoples' faces if you happen to have your layout set up at a recreation center during the holidays.
There are many ways to start your hobby, and many books and videos on the subject.
One look on the internet and you will find an overwhelming amount of layout designs, for every scale of train, including larger real working models, such as you would find at amusement parks, or even for people who use them on their property.
The first place to start is by deciding what scale of model railroad trains you want.
There are many different scales, from G scales, which are ideal for people wanting to add outdoor features to their gardens or other landscaping ideas.
O and HO scales are also ideal for indoor railroading, depending on the size of the area you have available.
HO scale is one of the most common and popular for many different reasons.
They are large enough to be handled by children, or even older people who may have a hard time seeing or holding smaller scales.
This scale also has the biggest selection of engines, cars, and scenery, and many of these can be found at local hobby stores, or other retailers in your area.
Once you decide which size model train you want, buy a basic set, so you can practice your new hobby.
Remember that these basic sets will have a limited amount of track and accessories, just enough to make a small oval layout.
While this will get boring after awhile, it is a good way for beginners to familiarize themselves with how the power transformers work, as well as track connectors, and how the train itself runs.
You will want to set aside some area to build your model train layout.
This could be in a spare bedroom, a section of the garage, or wherever else you may want.
You will want a good sturdy base, and you can choose either a permanent or portable work base.
Portable platforms are ideal for people who don't have a certain designated area, and many hard-core hobbyists use portable tables in order to transport their layouts to model train shows.
The next step is of course picking out the right layout for you.
Beginners should pick ones that are relatively simple to put together, and there are many to choose from.
No matter what kind of resources you use for finding the right layout, make sure that it includes a complete list of tracks you will need, and any other accessories.
In the beginning you may be tempted to try to put it all together right away.
Even though you are quite excited, you want to make sure that you do it the right way the first time.
Lay out the track first, without tacking it down permanently.
Plug in your power supply and run just the engine around the layout, checking to make sure that the tracks are connected properly.
If you are using a portable table, you also want to make sure that your track connections are not over the table breaks.
Bad electrical connections can be frustrating.
And then, have fun!
The thrill of model railroading is being able to take complete charge over the destiny of trains, or even seeing the looks on peoples' faces if you happen to have your layout set up at a recreation center during the holidays.
There are many ways to start your hobby, and many books and videos on the subject.
One look on the internet and you will find an overwhelming amount of layout designs, for every scale of train, including larger real working models, such as you would find at amusement parks, or even for people who use them on their property.
The first place to start is by deciding what scale of model railroad trains you want.
There are many different scales, from G scales, which are ideal for people wanting to add outdoor features to their gardens or other landscaping ideas.
O and HO scales are also ideal for indoor railroading, depending on the size of the area you have available.
HO scale is one of the most common and popular for many different reasons.
They are large enough to be handled by children, or even older people who may have a hard time seeing or holding smaller scales.
This scale also has the biggest selection of engines, cars, and scenery, and many of these can be found at local hobby stores, or other retailers in your area.
Once you decide which size model train you want, buy a basic set, so you can practice your new hobby.
Remember that these basic sets will have a limited amount of track and accessories, just enough to make a small oval layout.
While this will get boring after awhile, it is a good way for beginners to familiarize themselves with how the power transformers work, as well as track connectors, and how the train itself runs.
You will want to set aside some area to build your model train layout.
This could be in a spare bedroom, a section of the garage, or wherever else you may want.
You will want a good sturdy base, and you can choose either a permanent or portable work base.
Portable platforms are ideal for people who don't have a certain designated area, and many hard-core hobbyists use portable tables in order to transport their layouts to model train shows.
The next step is of course picking out the right layout for you.
Beginners should pick ones that are relatively simple to put together, and there are many to choose from.
No matter what kind of resources you use for finding the right layout, make sure that it includes a complete list of tracks you will need, and any other accessories.
In the beginning you may be tempted to try to put it all together right away.
Even though you are quite excited, you want to make sure that you do it the right way the first time.
Lay out the track first, without tacking it down permanently.
Plug in your power supply and run just the engine around the layout, checking to make sure that the tracks are connected properly.
If you are using a portable table, you also want to make sure that your track connections are not over the table breaks.
Bad electrical connections can be frustrating.
And then, have fun!