Construction
Everything on model trains, model railroads, model railways, locomotives, model train layouts, scenery, wiring, DCC and more. Enjoy the world's best hobby... model railroading!
Homasote
Sy has a question for anyone who wants to help him and asks:
“In my area I cannot find homasote. What would be the best substitute?”
Building a Platform
Beth has a question for readers who have Built a Platform and asks:
“Where do I even begin to find someone who can build a train platform. My husband has 5 sets of trains (the large ones — sorry I don’t know the scale) and he has about 2 sets of the small ones. I would like to find someone or even something that will tell me what I need to do to get one built complete with layouts, etc. I’m trying to surprise him and am wanting mountains, bridges, tunnels, etc. The key (for now at least) is there must be a way for it to be easily broken down and rebuilt (maybe something with hinges that fold, legs that fold or pieces of the base that somehow snap or screw together so that it’s not an act of congress to take down to a new place.
THANK YOU for ANY help your readers can give.”
Building A Layout
Kathy is new to the hobby and would benefit from getting my Model Train Help Ebook as the questions she asks are addressed in it. However, some of the readers might like to offer Kathy some suggestions and tips to get her started in the hobby:
Kathy from South Africa asks:
“Where does one start with building a model railway set up? Does one design the track and build the scenery around that, or do the scenery first and then the track? And how big should one make your first layout?”
If you would like to participate in discussions on the blog simply register (it takes 2 minutes) and add your feedback and comments.
Surface Coating To Reduce Sound
Several readers will know the answer to Andy’s question and I’m sure one or two will be prepared to share their thoughts so that other readers can benefit too. Here is what Andy asks about finding a suitable surface coating for his O layout:
“I am building a new table and keep getting different opinions about what the top surface should be. One is (A) two inch foam (B) Homasote (C) fake green carpet grass (D)regular plywood. What I am looking for is something that will help with cutting out a lot of the loud sound. The foam and homasote do cost quite a bit. Please help, I want a nice looking table without spending a lot of money. Plus I need a surface where I can glue and screw landscape and buildings, water towers… radar… beacon and what nots… Thanks for any advice anyone can give!”
You can add your thoughts and help Andy by clicking the green ‘Comments, Feedback and Answers’ link below. Simply register (it takes only 2 minutes), then you can participate in future discussions on this Model Train Help Blog.
Cork Road Bed
Marty has a question about cork road bed for helpful readers to answer for him:
“A friend of mine told me he paints his cork road bed before putting it down? He uses some kind of paint from hardware store that looks crackled. Has anyone else used it? What is it called? Is it any good? Also, can you wet roadbed material to bend around corners? Thanks.”
Use the green Comments & Feedback link to help Marty.
Train Layout Platform
Jim wants to hear from anyone who has experience covering a plywood platform:
“I am just starting to set up a new train platform for my American Flyer trains. Can someone with some experience tell me the best material to use as a covering for my plywood platform? I previously used the green grassy paper which looked okay, but continued to shed the grass for many months and I don’t want to have that mess again. I don’t want to paint it either, because I have no idea where roads, trees etc will be until I rearrange the track over several weeks or even months. Help please?”
You can help Jim by adding your feedback to his blog posting. Use the green Comments & Feedback link below.
HO Stanard Gauge Lightweight Retractable Platform
Richard is reasonably new to the hobby and is seeking advice from those who have more experience. Richard asks:
“I have limited space for a 6′ x 10′ platform. I haven’t constructed it yet. My space is in the garage but the car has to be in there too. I want to hang a track table platform from the exposed rafters. I’m thinking about some siccor hinges along the perimeter of the platform so that it can be pushed up & out of the way. I need very light weight & strong platform.
Is there some “super foam” or combination of plywood/foam, or some material that could satisfy this desire? The boarder frame could be either wood or flat metal bar (the kind with holes along its length). I’m still open to suggestions about this aspect too. In any case there will have to be some bracing underneath the platform itself. Any ideas? Any thoughts would be helpful.
I have not been involved with model railroading for a very long time, so I know that many innovations have occurred over the years that others may have found useful for or adaptable to such odd situations.”
To help Richard, please add your thoughts using the green comments link below.
Homasote on MDF Board
Stuart has two questions for anyone who has used Homasote and asks:
1. I plan to lay on Homasote (compressed paper) supported by MDF boards. Should I use cork underlay as well?
OR
2. If I mark parallel lines just outside where the track will lay and paint glue between the lines, could I lay track then ballast in order minimize the use of track pins which will not hold very well in the Homasote?
All opinions very welcome – I am old but “beginner” status.
Definition: Homasote is a pressed paper construction board often used for model railroad roadbed.
Sub Roadbed Support
Bob wants to hear your thoughts on roadbed construction and asks:
“Has anyone ever used styrafoam for a sub-roadbed (ie. the material supporting the track leading up to a tunnel and down). Will it support the weight over time of an HO train?
Add your feedback to Bob’s posting using the green Comments and Feedback link below.
Wooden Construction On Railroad
Mike has a question for fellow model railroaders to try and answer. If you can help him he would really appreciate your feedback. If you have knowledge and experience please don’t keep it to yourself – help other and keep this hobby alive and thriving.
Mike asks you:
“I was wondering what size lumber to make my frame out of, 4X4 legs and the frame 2X6? Cross members 2X6? Drill 2″ holes into the cross members, and 1/2 inch or 1” particle board for the top, or should I use plywood?
My layout is going to be 18′ X 10′ 3.5′ wide on the long sides and 4′ on the ends, should I use 3.5 all the way around? Should I do my wiring before I put the plywood top on? After I put the top on my frame I should put 1″ foam board on top of my plywood, or a board called Homasote as it makes things quiet when the train is running around. If your readers can answer me I sure would appreciate it.”
Click the green comment link to add your feedback.
Train Table Plans
Moe wants plans for a train table:
“Does anyone in the hobby have details, plans, and pictures of the most fuctional train table? One that I can build?”
Add your feedback comments to this posting.
Work Bench Module
Paul would like to hear from anyone who has experience building scenery moduals:
“What do I need to use as the basic material to build a scenery module for a train layout?And how?”
Add your feedback below.
Model Train Videos Prove Popular
Thank you for the excellent feedback on my series of model train videos – I’m glad people are enjoying them.
If you haven’t already had a look at the free sample video you can access it here http://www.model-train-help.com/sample-video.html
Here is some info on a couple of videos in the 42 model train video series:
Video #17. Electrics Explained
In this video clip, James explains the control panel he built to control various points on his layout including the signals. He shows you how he has motorized all the turnouts on the main tracks and why he’s left all the other turnouts, such as the interchange, as manual throw turnouts. James has used different methods to attach the turnouts depending on their location on the layout and shows how he has mounted the DCC system under his baseboard.
After a quick tour James explains how to measure the track voltage and how to reduce the voltage to prevent decoders from overheating or failing. He then shows you step-by-step how to build a ‘diode matrix’ set.
Video #23. Making Scenery Foliage
Florist foam is an inexpensive, versatile material to use when making foliage and groundcover for your model railroad layout. Watch how to go about it step-by-step. Then, see a demonstration of applying ‘dried moss’ as foliage. It is so easy when you know how!
The model train video series is available at http://www.model-train-help.com/member-only-videos.html
Sub Roadbed For Model Railroad
Todd has an HO layout and has a question about constructing roadbed:
“Does anyone know what type of foam and how thick of foam should I use for sub roadbed construction?
Suggestions from readers can be posted using the green comments link below.
Corner Clamp For Building Construction
Timothy wants to locate a corner clamp to help with his model railroad building project and wants advice from others in the hobby:
“I am looking for a tool called a corner clamp. It is a clamp that looks like an ‘L’. You place one wall of a building in the clamp and then you place the other wall at ninety degree angle to it. You then you tighten the clamps to hold it in place. It has an opening in the middle so you can glue the two walls together. Any help from your readers would be much appreciated!”
To guide Timothy click on the green comments link below.
4×6 layout Construction
Ron has a construction question:
“I am not that handy, but I am trying to find out how to build the table my layout. It needs to be 4×6 with legs then I can maybe build two and put them up together. I have seen some and they do not look complicated but I do better following plans.”
Suggestions from readers can be posted using the green comments link below.
Rookie Model Railroader Explains Layout Construction Progress
Model railroading “rookie” Jim has sent in this progress report on the model RR he is building (supervised by his wife and young nephew).
I wanted to share with your readers the beginnings of my model train set. It doesn’t look like much yet, but I am very proud of how far I have gotten. I started last spring. I built the table 4 x 8. It is still missing the wood molding to further strengthen the legs.
Last summer, the combination of high gas prices and such forced me to work a lot of hours and so I didn’t get back to until recently. My young nephew wanted to come over and work on it after our Thanksgiving meal so I brought him down to mess with it.
I wanted my track to have 22 degree curves to accomadate my 89 car carriers, but I couldn’t do anything more fancy than an oval that hugged the edges of the table.
I had one engine derail and it ended up on my concrete floor so I got very gun shy about running the set until I could find a solution. I went back and forth to the house to dig up all my old 18 degree radius’s and began replacing the 22’s and I remolded the track to look as realistic as possible.
My nephew ran my GP 35 Rock Island that he named “Stanley” up and down the tracks to where I had stopped saying “I am bringing up the work train to help you.” He then backed the engine the other way. I also started cutting the lake out and the river so I could put in a train bridge for my nephew. He enjoyed running “stanley” over the bridge.
Some days later my wife and I went to Lowes to buy a dry wall saw to use with making landscapes (her butcher knives just didn’t cut it). My wife helped me with some of the cutting and she cut up and down. At first, I went back to cut the bank to 45 degrees and then left some of the banks alone because it added a nice effect and variation. I then glued the foam to the board.
I am principally modeling the Missouri Pacific. At first, I wanted to have a small town plus a farm scene, but I don’t think that will work out so I am going to make this a pastoral scene. My only industry will be a grain elevator (Rix products) with a double siding.
I will put up two farms if possible and a road will cross by highway overpass the main line and siding. I have finished all but one of the grain bins and I have started working on the bridge over the rail yard.
At 0400 I cut the first layer of my hill that will hold the bridge up. I discovered that the pier was way too tall so I had to cut it down. In the process, it broke the plastic so I had to start all over. I put together two piers and a 50 foot section of bridge including painting the I beams. While the other project dried, I continued piecing the grain bins and augers together. This morning, I glued the third grain bin to the conveyer leg.
The setup looks very nice so far. I hope your readers enjoy the pictures and I thank you for teaching what you know about the hobby.
Robert comments: To share details, or progress, about your model railroad layout http://www.model-railroad-resources.com/my-layout.html
Lightweight Base Platmorm For HO Gauge Layout Wanted
Richard is planning to build a suspended RR layout and would like some ideas from anyone who has already built one:
“I need to suspend a base working platform from my garage ceiling rafters. I have no basement, rec. room, attic, or any other readily available space to re-start my model train hobby (I’ve missed it for a very long time).
I have about 8’x10’available for hanging a table/platform from my rafters on pulleys. I’ll have removeable leg supports or saw horses under the table but it obviously needs to be strong. I know that ping-pong table plywood is available & comes in 5’x9′ sheets, but I think it might be too heavy.
I don’t have a lot of scenery, equipment or running stock as yet, but I do want to start setting up my tracks & some previously constructed buildings.
Do any of your readers have any recommendations? Foam-core? Thin plywood w/1″x2″ frameing? Any table design ideas, layout configuration suggestions, pitfalls to be aware of, etc. will be appreciated.
If this question is a published item, I’d welcome any ideas from other modelers.
Thanks in advance for your readers help in this matter. I really want to get started on this project soon. I’ve waited for 45 years to get reactivated in a favorite hobby from my youth.”
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