Quilt Patchwork Patterns

N Model Railroad Layout

So you’re into the miniscule tikes, huh? You won’t hear an dissent from me.  There is nothing so neat as little tiny trains.  These miniature beauties really can make for a captivating model training experience.  Another interesting thing about these tiny trains is that they are so tiny you can practically fit them anywhere.  Let’s think a little bit about how we could use them in different spaces:

The smallest N scale space:

It doesn’t get any less space consuming than this. See that little table over there where you have that plant, that’s enough space for it.  If we do this layout though, we are really constrained to just having the trains go around in a donut. The only other possibilities would be a figure 8 or concentric donuts.

Pre-fab n scale scenic highlights:

N-scale is so small it is hard to work with. Craftwork is beyond most people’s ability for these little guys but don’t worry, several companies offer lines of pre-fab handiwork.  A good way of adding interest to your n-model railroad layout is to hand over your hard earned money for some of these and add them to your layout. Atlas is a good first stop for these accessories.

3’ x 3’ N Model with lake and bridge crossing:

If you can get just a small amount of extra space then you can make things a lot more complicated. It doesn’t seem like much but it makes a humungous difference.  You will need a dedicated train table to do this, but if you place a lake at the center of your track you can have the trains circling it and crossing over its river at the edges.  This makes for a really captivating scene in a really uncompromising space.  I wouldn’t advise trying it in a space any smaller than this however.  The attempts I’ve seen to do this just don’t really function.

Add systematically to your track layout:

Commence with a basic circle and connect, connect, connect.  So you can set the ball rolling with a track plan similar to our 3’ x 3’ plan and then when you are ready add another 3’ table to it.  You might extend a stream so that it is in the middle and then have your track criss-cross it as it moves down the table.  This is also a good way of adding variations to your landscape as you go. Perhaps add a ruined boom town or a waterfall to create interesting variations and harness your growing modeling abilities.

N scale gives you the most choices for the least amount of space.  Just try to think outside of the box and make your track plan both manage your space and to realize your imagination.  If you find a particular landscape captivating, construct it.  Others are likely to find it captivating as well.

Here is more information on N Scale Model Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.

Model Railroad City

Wow, what a design!  I like how the track breaks from the grove and goes into that tunnel.  Cool miniature run down barn you got in the corner.  It feels like you could still add something though?  Right here in this big zone that is a miniature bit bland, you could put a model railroad metropolis.  Here are some reasons why it would really improve your track design:

A toy railroad city is interesting in itself: 

First of all, a tiny toy railroad city is just great to have for its own merits.  When you look at a train circuit design and you see a miniature city in it, your gaze is naturally pulled to look up and down its streets.  We love to look on the little people going about their days in their tiny make believe world.  For some young watchers the toy railroad city will command as much attention as the trains themselves. 

A toy railroad city provides impressive contrast for the locomotives: 

Another wonderful thing about having buildings and other objects a watcher is used to seeing in the real world is that it gives you a sense of scale in relation to your locomotives.  It’s also wonderful to have the locomotive disappear between buildings and pause at a fully developed locomotive station. The made up world of the toy locomotive just seems that much more full and rich.

A toy railroad metropolis provides period specific detail:  

Another wonderful thing about a toy railroad city is that it really let’s you develop the period specific detail for your toy locomotive.  So if you have a train that is specific to the late 19^th century you can have your city be a Southwestern boomtown, having telegraph lines, cowboys, 49’ers and bars.  It really let’s you create a wonderful tiny fictional setting for your train.  But this can also be a form of stealth learning for your young ones.  This is yet another wonderful way of developing the realism of your toy locomotive world.

Got a budding Rembrandt in the family? You’ve found the part of the toy train hobby that will they can really get with: 

If you have some members of the household that aren’t that into model trains but that enjoy drawing and painting, this is the ideal opportunity to recruit them.  All those miniature artistic touches that bring a model locomotive world together and that drive your mathematical mind crazy, your tiny Rembrandt will find a joy.  Just watch in wonder as their precise little brush strokes bring out details you couldn’t even envision but that now seem so obvious train design you will definitely want to leave an area for a model railroad town.  Just think of all the possibilities!

Here is more information on Model Railroad Track Plans. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.

N Scale Model Railroad Table

Here’s something we haven’t thought enough about, the surface where we’re placing our models.  I know, you like those little N scale trains so it doesn’t seem like such a big deal. Everything is so miniscule in N gauge that it just doesn’t seem like you need all that good a surface for it.  But hold up.  Give me a chance to set out my point.  I believe it makes a significant difference what type of table you place your layout on.  Here are some reasons why:

A weak surface will disappoint:

Straight off, you don’t want to choose a surface that is weak and that will tilt or that can be easily pushed over.  When you display your new setup to your younger family members you don’t want the little tykes to be able to inadvertently derail your trains with just an accidental touch.  Or even worse: what if your whole table gets knocked on its side. Imagine the possible damage and the amount of time you just wasted!  No, you definitely must have a nice firmly constructed surface. You’re good with your hands, you could probably construct the table yourself.

Cool Tip: Here’s a cool tip. Remember that unused ping-pong table that lays forgotten in the garage? Sure you do, it’s the ping pong table that became your new toy train table. Ping pong tables are nice and big so they open up lots of choices for your layout.  If you have HO or smaller, you will never need any more room than this.  Even if you have a Lionel O or one of those new S scale trains, you’ll find that you can really do a lot with a table this big.

Portable tables for going places:

Be ready to unburden your wallet a bit for a strong hobby table. A quick web search will pop up a gaggle of leads geared to train tables.

Cool tip #2: Here’s a space saver: Lower your table from the ceiling.  If you’re good with your hands and in need of extra space, the best way to save floor space is not to use it.   You can use pulleys to raise and drop your train whenever you would like.

Interlocking tables:

The best bet when it comes to tables, though, is domino style tables that can be used in any setup. These tables can be united in any shape or layout.  What these wonderful domino tables let you to do most however is to grow your locomotive layout in any way that you can imagine. You set out the dimensions of these tables. The light weight design is ideal for model train lovers. So light, its no problem to take your entire setup from room to room.  If you want to take this over to your brother’s house to show his kids your track, it is easy enough to be hauled. In fact, you might find yourself altering your track design over and over.

A well designed toy train setup is only as sturdy as the foundation it is set on.

Here is more information on N Scale Model Trains. Here is a website with a free mini-course dedicated to Model Trains.