Tunnels for beginners

[Anonymous]

Hi, this is my first post. My husband and I purchased a Life-like HO scale set for our 7 year old daughter for Christmas. She loves it just running on the board with no scenery but she is anxious to get a scene set up. The set did not include instructions on a tunnel but she wants one. We are very familiar with paper mache and plan to use this. Do you have suggestions on minimum height, width and length for a tunnel? I want to make it easy to get in to remove possible derailments. Also, I have seen some cool cars on ebay and other websites the look tall. Is there a site that would tell me the max height on an HO set car? Is there any concern with using cardboard as the base/inside of the tunnel?

Also, what is the best book for beginners in scene planning and making?

Thanks.
Michelle

[GerFust]

Michelle:

Welcome to model railroading!

For the book, visit http://www.kalmbach.com/ (owners of this site). They have a link to their scenery books http://store.yahoo.net/kalmbachcatalog/model-railroading-books-scenery.html.

As for clearances on tunnels, visit the National Model Railroad Assocation standards on http://www.nmra.org/standards/s-7.html. They recommend 3 inches in HO scale.

Be careful about eBay, as another thread here suggests, but the time you add on shipping, you are paying NEW prices for USED items. It is better to go to the local hobby shop (listing on this website) at http://www.hobbyretailer.com/.

I'll let those experienced with that type of scenery answer. But paper mache is one common method. Just put down plastic wrap or some such material when building the mountain so you can lift it off when dry. Purchase commercially-made tunnerl portals for greater realism.

Good luck!
-Jer

[Anonymous]

To me Woodland Scenics is the best place for a beginner, both in their books and their products. Check your hobby shop.


m

[Anonymous]

Model Railroader magazine often runs a series early in the year about a "home project" layout. It might be useful (and fun) to "build along" with one of them. You don't have to wait for new either - I recently bought all four of last year's project issues - Turtle Creek Central ran Jan to Mar 2003 - for $2 in the used bin at my local shop.

The Turtle Creek Central covers how to build benchwork (a base), right through to making trees and putting buildings on the layout.

To answer you question about making tunnels, there are many, many different ways. You can shape the base for your tunnel/hill/mountain from chicken wire, aluminum screening, a cardboard "web" or pink or blue extruded foam (the kind that usually insulates houses). You can then cover that base with paper mache, plaster-impregnated gauze, or a type of "straight plaster" called hydrocal which is stonger and lighter than convention plaster. This can then be painted, and landscaped with trees, grass, rocks, etc.

If you can't find that, then an "all-in-one" book is a good place to start. Kalmbach publishes many titles in this style of book that will not necessarily lead you through one specific layout, but at least all the steps needed to get your layout running.

Good luck - and don't be afraid to ask questions! There are many resources, internet and otherwise that are available.

Andrew

PS. My daughter is 2 1/2, but I hope she'll ask for a train set some day [;)].

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the hints and links.

Masonjar, we started both our girls early, despite not being into trains much ourselves (my husband had a small set as a child). We did this with Brio knock-offs at Target. We now have about 20 ft of track, battery operated engines, lots of cars, etc. They are easy to set-up and take down and they are good for motor skills in the little ones. Target has a nice set right now with two switch tracks and a long bridge for under $20. (Note, it is not online.)

Thanks again.

Michelle

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, Target is a US store, and we do not often make it down that way. Fortunately, IKEA also has a Brio copy with a big oval, a bridge, and a 4 car train. My daughter also surprises my wife from time to time by yelling "TRAIN Mummy! CHOO-CHOO!" at the top of her little lungs. The main line from Montreal to Toronto passes about 3 miles from our house, and she can hear them coming a lot sooner than we can...

There are a lot of neat small plans for compact layouts, including folding tables and so on. For more small layout ideas, try www.gatewaynmra.org .

Andrew

[trollw]

The January issue of Model Railroader started a series on making a small HO layout for $500.00 (including train set - if I remember right). It has a lot of details that you can use to get started.