Model Railways The Hobby for the Young and the Adult

Most of you would be having a toy train set either battery-operated, or equipped with a power pack. You may be thinking that this is a toy made for kids. But do you know that this train set is a part of a popular hobby among the grown-ups too? When you are playing with your toy train set, you may not be bothered about what scale this is or any scope beyond. Sometimes you may have even combined your train set with cars, which are even larger than the train. Well, that is the difference between using the train as a toy and adults using it for a hobby. Model Trains are not just small trains; but they are scaled models of real trains. The electric train sets what most children Play with are these HO' or 'OO' scaled model trains. Railway modelers have different interests. Some as their hobby collect only locomotives to be mounted on a display case, some want a layout with a lot of action - not particularly bothered about scenery, and some will run these trains with some imaginary scenes. However there are some very serious modelers, who want accurate reproductions of a selected location modeled to a specific period. The latter type would be very fussy about period features, if a particular part of Northern Germany is modeled as in 1961, much trouble would be taken to study magazines, photographs, maps, novels and movies pertaining to that era and area. This will help select the trains, automobiles, buildings, vegetation, the figures (people) correctly dressed for 1961 and the public advertisements for that period and place etc. The most important aspect in a model in contrast to a toy is the scale. Model trains are available in the market in different scales. The most popular is the Ho scale which has a reduction factor of 1:87 and the N scale which is 1:160. Other scales which are currently available are TT (1:120), Z (lz220), and LGB (1:22.5 Narrow Gauge). It is important to select a scale at the beginning, and maintain this in every part of the layout, you may have now realized that Model Railways is just not playing with trains, but the scope is much beyond this. Usually modelers collect items little by little, without spending a big amount of money all at once. When they have enough material the building of the layout begins. This can be done with proper serious planning or can be done in an ad-hoc manner. However it is better to start off with at least a track plan. Track laying and landscaping is the heavy part of the work. Landscaping can be done with different types of material. Rigifoam, cloth, paper pulp, newspapers or anything you come across can be used with a little bit of creativity. Apart from all these some electrical skills in electrical work is needed for a railway modeler, as the tacks has to be wired properly for the seamless operation of trains. So the hobby of Railway Modeling is not merely operating trains, but it goes much beyond that. It gives artistic skills while making trees and other scenery,

architectural skills while making buildings, and technical skills while laying the tracks and electrical wiring. Apart from having a Model Railway Layout at your home is like having a miniature city with operating trains. It is the most pleasing view for a railway fan while relaxing at home. It is the choice of the modeler whether he builds a busy city or a peaceful countryside.