I only got into O scale model trains in the last couple of years after years of admiring great train layouts and waiting until I had enough space in my house to create my dream train layout.
Having pursued many different hobbies in my 45 years I knew that I could save a lot of time and money if I did plenty of research before I started going wild building my layout.
At that time there wasn’t nearly the amount of information available online as there is now, and most of the books I found in stores only seemed to cover parts of what I really wanted to know.
Have you been through the same thing?
I had to keep buying more and more model train books, just to get everything I was looking for, because none of books I found were very complete. They always seemed to be missing some key bit of info.
Most of the magazines and model railroading books assume that you know certain things, things that a beginner probably doesn’t know. I found this very frustrating. It was easy to find detailed solutions to complicated model railroading problems, but next to impossible to find out model train basics. Something I’ve seen in numerous hobbies.
It wasn’t until I spent hundreds of dollars and countless hours trying to get this basic model railroading info that I discovered two great sources right here on the Internet.
They are Model Trains for Beginners and Model Train Help.
I’m not going to insult your intelligence by avoiding acknowledging the fact that I’m an affiliate for both of these E books, so if you want to buy them without giving me my commission, I don’t have a problem with that. But unless you’re sure you know about everything that you can potentially waste time and money on, you really should give both of these a look over.
I could have saved a lot of money had I bought either of these two books before starting my layouts. In spite of all the research I did up front I still found multiple items, some in each book that could have saved me hundreds of dollars in materials if I had known about them before. And they’re for all scales, not just O scale model trains.
And they’re not just for beginners. I’ve easily gotten my investment in both of these model train books back multiple times, between the cost saving ideas and the mistake avoiding tips.
Should you by both? No. Either one of these is a great buy and they both have a 60 day money back guarantee, so you really have nothing to lose by trying either one. You get your money back in the next railroad layout project you undertake.
Here they are again: Model Trains for Beginners and Model Train Help
I recently visited a local O scale model train club who has opened their doors on New Year’s Eve to the general public. Having never visited this club I wasn’t sure if I was going to see an amazing collection of antique toy trains running or a fully modeled detail oriented O scale train layout. Either way I thought I was going to get some great photos for this blog. I could not have been more disappointed.
Let me first say that I’m not sure what the intent of this O scale Railroad club is. Maybe they just like to run the trains and scenery is an afterthought. I’m not here to judge their layout as much as I want to use their layout to illustrate some common mistakes that model railroaders make.
One of the problems that comes from working in O scale model trains is that it is fairly large scale and we have to realize that in the real world, even though locomotives and box cars seem huge to us, compared to trees and buildings they’re not that big.
Take look at this picture for example. Click on it and it will open full size. You will notice that none of these trees are more than eight inches tall. Most are not six inches high. Given that O scale equates into 1 foot equals .250 inches and that an average full size tree is about 40 to 60 ft these trees should be 10 to 15 inches tall at minimum. Certainly as tall as the 3 story buildings. Walk outside and compare the trees in your yard to your house.
O Scale Model Train Scenery
Another problem I found with this O scale layout is unrealistic positioning of structures. In this photo you will notice that the train platform is nowhere near the main living areas. While this may be common in a rural location we would not have this in an urban setting. You will also notice in this picture that a daring young family has set up their children’s playset between two sets of tracks. Would that happen? Notice also the street light in this photo. I’m guessing the base of that thing would have to be about three feet in diameter in real scale, and you’d need a pickup truck bed to haul the lamp that must go in there.
O Scale Train Structures
The last thing that I found in this layout of O scale model trains was a total lack of weathering and realistic patinas on any structures. Considering this layout belonged to a model train club I could attribute the lack of weathering to not wanting to ruin collectible model trains and buildings but I still feel it’s good learning tool for those wishing to have a realistic layout.
An example of lack of any weathering would be this bridge structure. First thing I noticed was a lack of any rivets on what appears to be an iron structure. But going beyond that; unless the railroad maintenance crew just painted this, this would definitely have major rust and weathering as well as the other iron bridge that you see in the background.
- O Scale Model Train Bridges
So these are just a few examples of some common mistakes that can be made in an O scale model trains layout. For some more great tips on how to build the train layout of your dreams visit Model Trains For Beginners.
While this site is devoted to O scale model trains, the factors that go into a train track design are the same for all gauge trains, just at different scales. I find that there are four main components that must be considered when designing a train layout. They are the space available, the scenic effect desired, number of trains running, and ability to access the layout for maintenance.
Let’s look at that last one first. When you’re creating your model train layout it is very easy to come up with grand schemes and expansive and detailed scenery only to find that the track you ran between your town and the mountain side can’t be accessed without you physically climbing up onto the layout and carefully stepping between features to get to it. You will eventually crush either a train car or a delicate piece of scenery in your model train layout.
Throughout every step of the build process always ask yourself, “am I going to be able to get to this later?”. That one question will save you countless moments of frustration later. It’s very easy to build ourselves right out of our own train layouts. Don’t kid yourself into thinking you’re never going to need to get to something.
Large O Scale layout next to Smaller Ho Scale
As far a space available goes, most model train layouts end up becoming one of two basic track designs. Either some variety of oval track where the trains run through the countryside in a large circle or oval or what I call an “out and back” where your train runs along a wall, does a turnaround and then basically comes back alongside the track it when out on. Each one poses it’s own problems.
An oval or rectangular model train track design allows you the ability to build some very nice features in the center, like a complete village and depending whether or not your layout is against a wall may provide you with ample access to your track or if it is against a wall, poses a problem getting to the portion of the rails that are out of reach. You may need to build a section of the layout that can be flipped open for access from below, or as is done often build a fake mountain/tunnel scene where you can actually come up “inside” the mountain and reach out into the layout.
I find the biggest hurdle with the oval or rectangular model train layout is getting all your scenery to tie together. Whereever your scenery starts from you will need to return to in a way that it looks natural. I find that it’s better to design your landscape working from one corner out or from one side of your layout across and then figure out exactly how your track will fit into it.
Always consider potential water features and bridges in the early stages even if you do not plan on constructing them the first time through. Pay close attention to your turn radius if you plan to do any inside loops. And leave enough room for your train yard. Many model railroaders like to spend hours working on their yards once the initial layout is done. Leave plenty of room for service rails and maintenance buildings.
If you’re looking to mimic a real run on an actual railroad line then the “out and back” may work better for you. The major consideration with this type of layout is that you have large enough areas at both ends for your turnarounds. The beauty of the “out and back” is that your scenery can be created from one end to the other which allows you to place a variety of completely different landscapes all into one layout. A cross country train can go from the Appalachians, through the plains and into the Rockies in just twelve feet if you’d like.
The drawback here is the depth you have to work with. If you’re confined to a layout that’s only two feet deep in the middle you don’t have a lot of room for buildings or roads. If that’s the case, then plan on a rural scene and detail the heck out of it. Use murals behind your track to add depth to a narrow layout.
Mural behind O Scale Model Train
This post is getting long so let me touch on the last item I haven’t discussed: the number of trains you plan on running. Almost everyone who thinks they are going to be satisfied running only one line and builds a model train layout accordingly is usually wrong. Think about that when you’re designing your track layout. Assume you will be adding at least one more line and leave room for additional railbeds, even if you can’t afford to put the line in right away. This will save you countless hours of rework later.
Model railroaders are usually victims of their own lack of planning. If you really want to learn from other’s mistakes may I suggest that you check out Model Trains For Beginners. This guide might save you hundreds of dollars and countless hours by avoiding the mistakes that others have made.
