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Model Trains Consumer Guide w Dust Jacket 1979 72 PAGES
Model Trains by the editors of Consumer Reports. With dust jacket. 1979 72 pages Everything from simple little sets for children to elaborate lifetime systems that fill whole rooms - here are the colorful layouts, the products and how to tips for every would be Casey Jones.
NOTICE - FRONT dust jacket has a tear.
Here is all the necessary information about this many-faceted hobby, for both the long-time collector-operator and the beginner whose sights may be set on eventually developing a vast, complex system. Every aspect of this hobby is discussed in detail; including simple ready-made sets, specific locomotives and individual cars, track systems and environments, and power systems and wiring.
From the very beginning, the editors distinguish between those who just want to play and the modelers who take their craft seriously, advising the former to stay with the train sets that contain all the basic components in a single package, ready-made and ready to run. True train modeling is defined as the reproduction, to scale, of trains, track, and related equipment (switches and spurs), as well as the elements of a total railroad environment.
The fascinating history of model trains is traced back to the 1830s, when the founder of the Baltimore Locomotive Works crafted small models and track as a design for the transportation system that he was about to build. Not until a hundred years later did the hobby really come into its own, after motors and electrical systems became readily available.
The editors direct the beginner to hobby shops, manufacturers of model railroading equipment, and other enthusiasts for ideas on how to get started and what to look for initially. A scale chart demonstrates how various model trains compare to one another and to their full-scale prototypes in terms of gauge (the measurement of railroad track width from the inside edge of one rail to the inside edge of the other) and size. All the basic tools and materials needed are listed, and several suggestions are offered on how to expand an already existing set.
An instructive section on locomotives and cars includes many color photographs that introduce the reader to the wide variety available in both antique and contemporary styles. The three basic kinds of power for model locomotives (steam, diesel, and electric-the most popular) are discussed, and cars are broken down into four categories: freight cars, passenger cars, maintenanceof-way cars, and cabooses. "Super-detailed" and "scratchbuilt," two classifications of models designated by the National Model Railroad Association, are defined. According to one modeler, the choice of locomotive is important because it "puts life in a model set-up and really brings home the realism." Kit assembly provides the greatest challenge, but you may have to purchase the wheel assemblies separately.
Another complete section, on track systems, offers suggestions for proper track laying-planning is the key here-and illustrates several different configurations, from "dogbone" to "lap railroad." Maintaining the track is important, and a number of vehicles are capable of accomplishing this task with very little effort on your part.
The environment section, one of the most interesting and colorful, includes details about terrain and landscaping as well as accessory equipment. Do you want an Old West setting with bandits and cactuses? Or perhaps a bustling metropolis that you have planned yourself? You can create lakes and rivers, construct dams and bridges, make trees and mountains-all these, with the tips presented here. Just remember to leave enough space for later additions and changes through the years.
The more technical aspects of train modeling have not been forgotten either. In a special section on power packs (transformers) and wiring, the editors analyze the factors that influence the operation of the power pack, including the number of locomotives to be used, the number of cars each one will pull, and the length of the track. Common symptoms of electrical faults are described, and a checklist for isolating the difficulty makes troubleshooting relatively simple.
Sources for the modeler-the clubs, organizations, periodicals, and manufacturers' catalogs-are listed, and a concluding section of advice from the experts, with easy-to-follow diagrams and explanatory text, will prove invaluable. So climb aboard -Model Trains will take you on an exciting journey through the world of miniature railroads!
All pictures are of the actual item. If this is a railroad item, this material is obsolete and no longer in use by the railroad. Please email with questions. Publishers of Train Shed Cyclopedias and Stephans Railroad Directories. Large inventory of railroad books and magazines. Thank you for buying from us.
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