Model Railway Scenics

Model railways are a moving 3D picture of real life and can be based at any age over the last 100 years which could be during the age of steam right up to the present day.

The scale is chosen dependant on space available and area to be covered in real size. The most popular scale is known as 'OO' which is 4mm to the foot and there are many makes available with British outline.

Model railway layouts can be set up in a spare room, either on a board in the centre of the room or on a shelf around the outside of the room. Another popular place is in the attic or in the garage.

A true model railway is not only the train tracks but detailed scenery involving hills, tunnels, stations, goods yards, etc.

Always remember that the railway was built for the purpose of transporting people and goods around the country so when you model you can involve such items as docks, factory areas, rivers, villages and countryside.

The degree of detail and the time spent on the model is totally under the modelers control so it can be a very relaxing hobby which with today's life of work stress is recommended by doctors for your health.

Never pick a locomotive up with your finger tips touching the running gear on the sides of the locomotive because it can damage the alignment of the running gear.

Never try to clean the wheels or electrical contacts with 'wire wool'. Being made of steel the wire wool is attracted by the magnet and will cause damage. It also causes electrical shorts within the locomotive.

Never clean the track with wire wool as it will leave strands which will cause a short across the track and trip the controller. We stock both manual and electronic track cleaning devices which are very effective. Give us a ring for advise.

Ensure all loose track pins have been removed from the track before running trains as the magnets will attract the pins into the motors and cause damage.

When designing your layout remember to keep curves as wide and gradients as gradual as possible. We have products in stock to assist the railway modeller when building inclines and laying track so ask next time you are in the shop or give us a ring.

When laying 'loose' ballast never run the trains until the glue has fully dried and the track has been vacuum cleaned to ensure no loose ballast remain.

When laying 'loose' ballast be very careful while distributing around point blades.

When unpacking that new washing machine, or TV don't throw the foam packing away. It's ideal for railway scenery (hills, cliffs, etc) and FREE.

Many household items that normally go in the bin can be used on your layout so next time you throw something out; think again. For example, tea leaves, saw dust, cardboard tubes and containers.

When wiring your layout to operate points, lights, power feeds, etc. always use different colour multi-stranded flexible wires. Plan first with a diagram and record the colours used for each function for future reference. You will find this invaluable when checking for faults later.

A good baseboard will result in good running trains. A baseboard should be constructed with a timber framework of 50mm x 25mm (2" x 1") made with open section measuring no more than 300mm square (1 footsquare). This can be covered with either blockboard, chipboard, MDF, or preferably fibre board (Sundella). The advantage with fibre board is that it will accept pins (as in a notice board) which is what track is held down with. It will also absorb unnecessary noise and is easy to cut.

Detailed method of laying loose ballast
To achieve fine detail on your track bed it is important to lay and fixed the track and ballast correctly. Although there are several ways of doing this the following is a recognized way that many modeler use today. The instruction below are meant as a guide more than fixed rules.
Detailed realism can be achieved by spraying the sides of the rails a rusty brown colour with an airbrush before fixing. Any overspray onto the rail surface can be removed with a rail cleaning block.
	The track is arranged with a drain away on either side of the track bed. To achieve this in a model strips of cork underlay are fixed to the baseboard. This detail is not essential but can add that little extra realism to the overall effect.
Scale size ballast chippings are poured over the track starting from the centre
	Ballast is shaped with a stiff hog's hair brush and any excess removed
Prepare an adhesive solution as follows: 49% ...................... P.V.A glue 50% ............................ water 1% ........... washing-up liquid The washing-up liquid is added to break the surface tension so the 'milky' liquid runs between the stones.
	First spray the track with 100% water to dampen down the surface Now the adhesive mixture is sprayed onto the track using a perfume atomizer or small garden spray. Continue spraying until the liquid is 'flooding' the surface, them stop. This mixture will dry over night and any loose gravel can then be removed with a vacuum cleaner after the surface is completely dry.
To give that final detail colour and texture can be added

The two examples above show what can be done with a little bit of practice.