Posted by Winston Tietgens | Posted in Model Railway | Posted on 13-03-2010
Tags: Model Railway, model railway trains, model train, model train scenery, model trains, toy model trains
Looking For Designing Model Train Benchwork And Scenery ? Then This is Where You Want to Be
 |
 Railroad Model Layout Collection Tracking Software  US $8.79
|
 DVD VIDEO BUILDING A MODEL RAILROAD 3 DISC SET US $1.29
|
 DVD VIDEO BUILDING A MODEL RAILROAD 3 DISC SET US $17.98
|
 Model Railroader Magazine Complete Year 1967 US $9.99 |
 Railroad Model Craftsman Magazine Complete Year 1977 US $9.99 |
Model Railway Trains And Scenery
Model train and railroading is about the surrounding terrain as much as it is about the train and the track. The usual circular track that you setup around the Christmas tree tends to lose its flair after a few Christmases, so it's just about right to create something new.
The benchwork is your railroad's foundation. It can be bought or you can do it yourself. Should you choose to do it yourself, you can let your imagination run wild; but that's not to say a retail version doesn't have its own advantages. All you have to do with the precut and predrilled kits is assemble them. You're also assured they are made to handle heavy weights, so it will not be an issue. You can also disassemble them for storage or for relocation.
The time it takes to create your own benchwork can be long, but you can customize it however you wish. Of course, everything starts with the design. Think about the size of your set up. Think about the things you'll throw in. Think about the location you'll let it stand in. Think about the shape of your benchwork and how your track will be laid out on it. You can have the basic oval shape for the track if you're drawing blanks. The table should be about 28 inches or higher from the ground, but you still call the shots. Make sure that your platform supports all the weight you'll put in there. About half an inch thick of plywood would be sturdy enough for the job. If you'd like your benchworks to be portable, simply have the whole thing cut in to pieces so it'd be easy to take apart and reassemble somewhere else.
When designing the scenery, think about the angle you want onlookers to see. From there, draw an illusion to make your whole setup larger than it is. Place different levels to create a near and far image. Place bigger objects in front, and smaller ones behind. For your setup to have a sense of unity, pick out a theme. If you have a logging train, you have to create a lumberyard environment of some kind. Place sawmills and other things of the same nature if you could.
You can also throw in "distant" structures or ad whatnot such as tunnels, meadows, roads, bridges as long as they fit in the theme that you picked. Place smaller houses in the background so as to look like a small village. Details breathe life into Your Layout. Signs, streetlights, telephone poles, water towers, and tall buildings can be added for visual effect. There's also nothing like the real thing, so you can put in ponds, lakes, rivers, or waterfalls using real water.
Creating something entirely out of scratch, and wowing your friends is a great feeling. Let your creativity shine and enjoy your hobby at the same time!
About the Author
Jason R. Dodson is a toy enthusiast and a miniature piece collector with a special interest in locomotives. He pays special attention to hismodel trains and has built the website www.ultimatemodeltraincenter.com to help model railroaders get started with the hobby.
[...] Designing Model Train Benchwork And Scenery [...]