Posts Tagged ‘hobby’

Model railroading is a hobby that isn’t just for kids anymore; it can be enjoyed by just about anyone. There are many different types of model railroads and a kind to fit any need. The first thing you need do when you want a model rail road is decide what scale you want. Here is a quick run down of the scales: N Scale Model Trains are the smallest size of all the train sets. Ho Scale Model Trains is by far the most popular The scale ratio is 1/87th. The minimum track circle needs to be 69″ across. A typical box car for this scale is 6″ long and 1 ½” tall. O Scale Model Trains is best known the Electric Toy Train brand Lionel Trains This is the best choice for an all around set if you have the room. G Scale Model Trains are the largest scale Toy Train Set. Its often called “Garden Scale” because people can use them outside in there garden, or in there backyard. Now that you know the basic types of model trains, this is where it gets fun. Model railroad scenery and the track design for your set. This is where you get to customize your set, and make it perfect for you.

Scenery for model trains is what give your train set the life and give it the feel and design that you want. There are many different types of scenery for you train sets, but a few types of model railroad scenery can be broken down into the following categories:

Backdrops – Easy to install, these printed backdrops add depth and distance by creating a smooth transition between you actual scenery and backdrop

Complete Scenery Kits – Complete scenery kits usually come designed to look like specific stations, your completely unique ones. They usually come with enough parts to give you train a very nice look – and are often cheaper then buying it piece by piece. The problem is you cant customize your set as much with these.

There are also Foliage, Grass Mats, Covers, Plastic Kits, Rock Molds, and many other choices. The nice thing about model railroading is no matter what you want your railroad scene to look like, there is a good chance that there is a company who makes it, or you can find it somewhere. Scenery can either be purchased by scale, or by manufacturer. You can use any scale scenery for your train, it doesn’t have to be scale specific just as long as it will sit by the side. The track design for your model rail road is another area where you can go completely wild.

You need to buy pieces for your track that are the same as the scale, or else they will not work. A HO Scale track will not work for a G Scale Model Train because they are different sizes. Track pieces come in just about every style that you could ever want, and you can make the tracks go on forever as long as you have enough power going to them and they are always connected. Now that you know ways that you can customise your model train, get started with a set and the possibilities will never end, and you can see why model railroading will be fun for anyone.

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When beginning, expanding, or integrating your hobby collection, selecting compatible sizes can be confusing. With such a wide range of hobbies and scales, how can you fit together several different genres to create interest?

Each hobby category has popular scales and many scales have evolved since prewar years scaling both up and down with precision from 1:1000 up to a large scale of 1:12. My grandfather for example artfully welded together a model train that we could ride in probably in a scale of about 1:7. By exploring the ranges from 1:12 to 1:220 we will cover most of the popular hobby genres.

Much like electrical standards, there is not a universal worldwide hobby standard. For example, if you compare model trains in the US, the O gauge trains are 1:48, while in Europe, the NEM standard for model railroading O gauge is 1:45, and in the UK O gauge is 1:43.

Let’s compare the more common standards for several hobby categories:

Dollhouses

1:12 is considered large scale and is most popular for dollhouses with ceilings 8-11″ high. Consider this as 12 times smaller than a human house or 1 inch equal to 1 foot.

1:24, also called half scale, is the second most popular scale for doll houses. Some detailed plane models also come 1:24 and 1:30. Here 1″ equals 2 feet or is 24 times smaller.

Model Aircraft

1:35 is used for helicopters.

1:72 is most popular for aircraft, figures and vehicles where 1″ equals 6′. This crosses more genres than other scales.

Model Ships

1:75, 1:96, 1:108, 1:150 are all popular ship building sizes.

Model Trains

1:20 to 1:22.5 is called G scale and is most associated with garden trains. G gauge refers to the distance between the inside of the rails (1.75″ or 45mm). Note: The USA G scale is 1:20.3 and is sometimes referred to as F scale.

1:43 and 1:48 or ¼ scale is associated with O scale trains with 2 or 3 rail tracks. This scale is dominated by Lionel and is also the second most popular scale for planes. You’ll find compatible cars and trucks in 1:43, 1:48, and 1:50 scale.

1:64 is found in S scale model trains with the most popular brand being the American Flyer.

1:87, the most popular railroad modeling scale, is called HO or Half O.

1:160 is for N Scale Model Trains which is gaining popularity. The footprint typically hosts a 2″ engine almost half the size of the HO train. The name comes from the N in the Nine mm distance between the tracks.

1:220 is the Z scale model train, the smallest train scale, introduced by Marklin. It’s just plain cute.

Each of the railroad scales also offer a huge array of complementary structures, vehicles, boats, signs, figures, etc. for extensive creative layouts.

The scales vary widely between hobby categories, but you can integrate several for a realistic look and feel. Although many categories provide a wide variety of offerings within their realm, you can cross and mix more disciplines together for fun. For example, fly a 1:72 plane over a 1:75 ship model, or combine a 1:35 scale helicopter flying in range of your 1:24 doll house and G scale train.

So, consider expanding your hobby genre for fun, creativity, interest, and leisurely pleasure with a greater understanding of scale standards.

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My hobby is n-scale trains model railroading would like to correspond with person of similar interest

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There are so many different model railway trains that it can mystify you. There are Model Railways that are as large as half or quarter size of the real train represented.

There are models that go all the way down to 1/220th the scale of the actual train represented. You will find model trains in many different places such as an amusement park, carnivals, and larger scales are often used for viewing nature preserves due to the fact that they will often have to lowest impact on the natural beauty.

While this sized scale seems a little excessive, and expensive, this really is not the case. The nice thing about these large scale model railway trains is that they have a variety of functionality, aside from transporting people around a track.

If you have a large piece of property, a 1/8th scale live model train can transport various items such as feed, harvested crops, chopped wood, as well as many other items of interest.

Model railway trains can be fully functional steam models with real wood or coal fired combustion chambers and other features that contribute to their overall functionality. While you may think these trains are expensive to invest in, that’s not really the case at all.

The first thing that makes these cheaper is that they are sent you as a fully prefabricated kit. All you need to do is follow the instructional video, and finish it yourself. You can order kits for the engines, whether steam, or electric.

Many companies offer plans for model train cars, that you can build, and they even supply all the necessary hardware like couplers, base framework or wheels. It is a good idea to stick with premanufactured train rails, so you get a quality product right away.

You won’t have to worry about scale, load bearing specifications, and concerns that are similar in nature. All you have to do is follow the installation instructions, and provide a firm foundation.

Prices of kits are low right now, and people who work in foundries are hard pressed for work. Of course many people do not have the space to consider a train this size.

That is why there are many scales that can fit with any kind of indoor or outdoor setting. There are scales so small that a whole layout could fit easily on one small table or desk.

The most popular scale is HO, which is 1:87. This scale is easiest to find, buy accessories for, and find replacement parts. It is small enough to deal with, yet large enough to show in layouts very well. You can also find specialty sets, like for around the holidays.

These model railway trains often include a festive engine. These engines may emit ’smoke’ or play music. It will usually include some kind of simple oval track layout, and have a few pieces of scenery, such as brightly decorated little houses, figures singing carols, or even actual lighted lamp posts.

One thing parents should remember when giving the gift of one of many model railway trains, is that they have electrical components, and have to be plugged into an outlet in most cases. Simpler models can be battery operated, or even hand moved on simple wooden tracks.

However, if you are purchasing such a gift for an adult, knowing how much space that individual has to work with once they receive the gift and the level of interest that they have in model railway trains are important considerations that must be made.

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Looking for a fun, engaging, and family-oriented hobby? One possibility is setting up your own home railroad with model scale trains. It’s definitely a step up from collecting Thomas the Tank Engine toys, which is where many families start with their lifelong passion for choo-choos. There are countless possibilities, from a modest circle track and single train, to an elaborate vista populated by homes, people, animals, and criss-crossing trains.

It’s easy to get started – it takes a single locomotive and a few pieces of track. Kids and adults both find it fascinating to watch trains toys traveling around, making that familiar clickety-clack. Creating your railroad is much more than just trains, and that is part of the universal appeal. If your children love horses, let them create a ranch populated with their favorite miniature horses. Build a town that looks just like your own neighborhood, and populate it with tiny versions of your friends and family. Or make a futuristic train world, with aliens and space ships too. The possibilities are endless.

While there is a definite financial outlay to buy the initial connecting pieces and model scale trains, these tend to be robust and long-lasting. The remainder of the landscape can be your own creation, using any materials at hand.

Model railroads offer a lot more than just trains. For a start, there’s the artistic aspect, whether your child likes to model with clay, build tiny houses out of toothpicks, or paint realistic trees. Every family member can contribute. And then there is the educational aspect.

Finding out about trains involves many different topics. Any vehicle enthusiast will enjoy learning about engineering and how trains move (as well as how your trains toys actually operate). There are steam trains, electric trains, coal-burning trains, and so on. Trains are also historically important, which can lead to conversations about immigration patterns, the settlement of new areas, and moving goods around. Trains are used around the world and can form the basis for looking at other countries and their transportation systems. All those geographic details that make the track interesting also introduce concepts like mountains and valleys, along with bridge construction and other practicalities.

It’s not all academic, of course. Building a model railroad involves some basic skills like hammering, sawing, and wiring. Kids love to build tiny things out of scraps of wood and other materials, which also helps develop their hand-eye coordination, imagination, and concentration. Then there’s detailed painting to be done – on a teeny-tiny scale. There is no end to what can be added, and many kids learn excellent researching skills while figuring out how to make a realistic coal mine or log cabin.

Before you envision being housebound with this hobby, consider the social possibilities. Not only are there many groups who communicate online and meet to share ideas and skills, but there are model contests and potential excursions. Some communities have larger scale trains that can carry passengers, often maintained by enthusiasts. Families enjoy trips to railroads of all sizes, from city subways to small-gauge railways, from San Francisco to Paris and Disneyland to England’s Lake District. You’ll also meet plenty of interesting people, coming from every walk of life to share in the fun of model scale trains.

So if you are looking for something to keep the family entertained and off the couch, have a look at model trains toys. You’ll find yourself in good company; many well-known faces have also shared this interest – from Tom Hanks and Frank Sinatra to Bruce Springsteen and Joe DiMaggio.

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