Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
HO scale slot cars utilize a hand-held controller to govern the speed of the electrically driven car on the track. Stock controllers are usually not as precise as their more expensive, customized variants and often introduce fatigue to the hands after hours of use. Modifying the controller for smoother trigger operation helps reduce the occurrence of fatigue while also improving the control and performance of both the controller and the slot car.
HO trains are model trains. They are half the size of O-scale trains, which is how they got their name: "HO" is an abbreviation of "Half O." The models are 1/87 the size of genuine trains. Everything in the HO setup must match in scale to complete the illusion of a miniature train chugging through a miniature landscape. There are converters available that can change any dimension to HO scale, but the process is simple to work out by hand.
If you're building a diorama for a class project or for your own pleasure, you may need to construct scale buildings and other wooden structures. Depending on the scale and subject of your diorama, you will probably want to use craft sticks or balsa wood.
While any details help, lighting elements go a long way towards making your HO scale model railroad train layout appear real. Whether it's a lit house, street sign or string of street lamps, the addition helps to add dynamism to your layout. With the addition of a electrical switch controller you can add the lights you need and run them to a central unit allowing you to turn them on and off with the flick of a single switch.
Miniatures can add visual interest and tactical detail to Wizards of the Coast's "Dungeons and Dragons" roleplaying game. Miniature figures can be used to represent player characters and their opponents. Players often go to great lengths to convert and paint miniatures to represent their characters. Try sculpting your own figurine. The sculpting process is simple, but adding detail allows for almost limitless customization and creativity.
With its calming waves, the smell of saltwater and the appeal of sandy beaches, it's no wonder the ocean is a top vacation and relaxation spot. If you can't take a trip to the ocean, you can still lay back and unwind as you appreciate the beauty of ocean scenery crafts.
Beacons are light sources intended to communicate something, depending on their location and placement, or simply to illuminate. Their source of light can come from natural substances or man-made technology. The resources at hand often dictate what creates the light. In most cases, a certain amount of preparation is necessary to create a beacon of light or cause one to illuminate.
Whether it be for a child's birthday party, a play, a nursery or even a wedding, a circus backdrop can add a lively original touch. While you can purchase ready made backdrops, it will be more economical and fun to make your own. Plus, you can decide on which elements of the circus you want to highlight and make your backdrop truly unique. Even if you don't have great drawing skills, with the help of an opaque projector, you can achieve satisfying results
Heroscape is a strategy war game set on the planet Valhalla, where the primary inhabitants, the Kyrie, have discovered magical wellsprings. By drinking from these wellsprings, some Kyrie have gained visions and powers. These super-Kyrie, or Valkyrie, battle to control the wellsprings, using armies summoned from their magical visions. The game is played using linkable, stackable battlefield tiles that allow you to customize your playing field. Your armies are represented by 3-D figurines, each with cards explaining the figures' strengths and weaknesses. The army figures available for purchase stretch across multiple genres and worlds. Sometimes, though, you might get your…
Model railroaders often seek more realism for their scale replicas. One such detail frequently installed on many locomotives is a rotary beacon. A significant number of prototype railroads often mount a rotary beacon on the cab roof of a locomotive to serve as a warning device. This beacon design is sometimes also known as the gumball type of flasher. Recreating this realism in HO scale is rather difficult, so installing an LED and a flasher circuit is the best compromise.
Model railroading can provide countless hours of entertainment and activity for hobbyists. One of the most pivotal components of a model railroad are the crossing sensors, which trigger the crossing gates when the model locomotive nears. This connection involves moderate knowledge of electrical pressure switches and can prove somewhat challenging. Luckily, setup of this component requires only a small amount of instruction and preparation to accomplish the task successfully.
In some parts of the world, the best way to bring commodities such as wood from where it is harvested is by train. It's an efficient and swift means of transport, and in model railroads, there is a great way to commemorate these transporting giants with an in-scale log car for your train.
Railroad trestles have been used since the early days of the railroad to safely move a train across deep valleys, bodies of water, and other tricky geographical features. They are still widely in use today, although complex, intertwining trestles made of timber are less common then in the past while steel, stone, and other materials are now more commonly used. To make a scale model of railroad trestles, you are going to need several supplies such as plastic foam, paints and glue as well as a keen eye.
A trestle is a specific type of bridge often seen on mountainous passes under railroads. It's made predominantly of wood or metal and is a simple design for a bridge. On an HO-scale model railway, it's a simple task to build one of these from some balsa wood and glue. Your homemade HO-scale trestle can be made to fit nearly any gap in your train track, and, if it's a custom device, you know how to expand on it if the time comes.
Although most of us will never be able to afford to buy our own island, we can create an island craft and be the ruler of our own domain. Making an island craft can be an invaluable tool to teach about volcanoes, biomes, weather patterns and geography. Whether you are teaching about a specific island or about islands in general, creating an island craft is a hand-on learning tool to be remembered for years.
HO scale is a common scale of model railway, where 3.5 millimeters represents 1 foot. Although you can buy figures already painted, they are expensive, whereas purchasing non-painted figures and painting them yourself can be a fun activity and give your scene a more personal look. These unpainted figures come in sets of pedestrians, passengers, trades people and drivers, so you can choose exactly what sort of figures you want in your scene.
There are a variety of HO scale figures available commercially, but sometimes they just won't do. They might be in the wrong position or wearing clothes that don't fit the time frame you are modeling, or maybe you just want to represent a special profession. The small size makes this difficult. An HO scale large adult male will be only 21 mm. But if you have reasonable sculpting skills, simple tools, and a great deal of patience, you should be able to create the figures you want.
For most people, detailing is what really makes a model train layout special and it can be the most fun part of the process. It is the little things, especially when they are handmade, that give a model railroad its character. Scratch building fences is a nice way to add that kind of character and it is not particularly difficult. Naturally, a picket fence will require more out of a builder than a split rail fence, but the process is basically the same.
Building HO model train layouts are many people's favorite pastime. They spend hours designing the layout, designing and creating the buildings and setting up the track. When you have added the track and certain the layout is how you want it, attaching the HO track to the wood base is important. It helps provide a smoother ride for the HO model trains. There are three main ways to attach track, using nails, glue and contact cement.
HO scale is one of the most common sizes of model railroad equipment in use today. The name HO is derived from the fact that it is half of O scale, the former standard. The scale is .14-inch to 1-foot, or roughly 1/8-inch of model represents 1-foot in the real world. HO scale models are made of almost anything that is commonly found along a railroad right-of-way. Unless you have a warehouse at your disposal, there will be a limit to the 3D models you can add to your layout, that's where backdrops come in. Much like backdrops used for…
Model railroads have different scales. Scale is the size of the train and the track that the train is moving on. The most common scale for a model train is called "HO," with 0.14 inch on the model representing one foot in the real world. Wiring will need to be done after you have laid or set the track in place. However, you will require a power controller to drive the train and a track that has a terminal connector for the electrical wires.
You might be surprised by how often people need scale models of deciduous forests. Model train enthusiasts may use them as the starting backdrop for a rural setting. Architects often use them to visualize the effects of their various projects. War-games enthusiasts and role players alike use the verdant woodland as a place to execute their various battle campaigns. Whatever your reason, crafting a scale model of a deciduous forest is not without its challenges, but is still within the realm of even the casual hobbyist.
Model trains, table top games, plays, school projects and home movies can all use mountain scenery. But no matter the purpose, the process for making the scenery is the same. The only difference between small and large mountain crafts is the scale. This project will take several days, so allow yourself plenty of time to construct the scenery.
As logging became a large-scale American industry, timber companies began experimenting with ways to transport their goods, especially from remote areas. One way of moving timber was by train. There are several types of railroad cars used for logging, including flat cars and other specialty cars that can handle bundled items, such as harvested lumber.
If the fairytale character Goldilocks was a model train enthusiast, chances are she'd prefer the HO scale. Considering their "just right" size--between the larger O scale and smaller N scale--HO scale trains allow for rich detail and creative displays without eating up space.
The HO scale, which stands for half of the O scale, is the most common scale used throughout most of the world for model trains. The scale is based on the relationship between the size of the train to the size of the model. The HO scale is set at 1:87.1 which equals .0646 inches or 3.5 millimeters on the model equaling one foot of the original. The easiest way to measure an HO boxcar is to use a metric ruler.
Hours of creative work goes into an HO model or handcrafted piece. Set up an entire scene for hand-built models or the train set that has been collected or built piece by piece. Landscaping adds a sense of dimension and reality to a model scene. Styrofoam produced by Dow Chemical company can be cut, sculpted and painted to create HO scale scenery for railroads, miniatures, car scenes and historical dioramas. Use Styrofoam sheets to design landscaping for your latest model or train project.
Model railroads come in a variety of scales, or sizes, the most popular being HO and N scales. Hobbyists build on train sets to create dioramas featuring people, landscaping, etc. The main difference between the two scales is that HO is larger.
Naturally, your available space, energy, time and money will dictate the ultimate shape of an HO layout, but whether you are filling every inch of your basement or just running a figure 8 on a single sheet of plywood, you can be creative. It's all about choosing a theme that will hold your interest and the interest of your visitors. And, if you have the extra space, you can put several themes in a single layout by using partitions to separate "regions" of your layout.
At its simplest, HO scale is defined as a scale of 3.5mm to one foot, according to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. It is perhaps the most popular scale for model-building in the world, being used by model railroaders, slot car racers, and the diecast metal car industry. But there is more to this simple scale than a brand of toys for children or (in the minds of some) overenthusiastic grownup railroaders.
A locomotive turntable provides a visually interesting element on any train layout. You can use turntables either to move locomotives into a roundhouse for storage and maintenance or as a means of turning the locomotive around. Wiring a turntable is now easier than ever, thanks to simplified modern products.
No model railroad is complete without some sort of loading dock onto which freight and cargo can be placed. This useful detail can be constructed relatively easily, although it will require some skill and manual dexterity. Just be sure to use the right tools and take your time.
Another touch of realism can be added to your HO train layout though scale-model billboards. These homemade billboards can be placed along your rail lines or model highways. You can “kit bash” billboards from spare model building parts, balsa wood, or other scraps.
Building an HO scale waterfall for your model train or railroad set can add visual interest. Although many create the look of water with plastics and silicone, creating the landscape with real waterways makes the setup look realistic as well. From fabricating a watercourse to choosing pumps and tubes, building an HO scale waterfall is suited to the weekend model enthusiast.
Model train bridges add greatly to the look of a model railroad setup. The bridge gives height to your model, creating an additional layer to your railroad build that aids in immersion and realism. Because of the small size of an HO scale layout, you can build bridges that seemingly stretch across wide chasms, over deep gorges, or crossing over busy city streets in an urban setting. The variety possible with HO scale brides is largely unlimited, but regardless of the design, the basic parts and procedures for building an HO scale model train bridge remain the same.
While building kits are available on hobby store shelves that are already in HO scale, the more you get involved in model railroading, the more inclined you may be to build a railroad structure from scratch. You can use a wide variety of construction techniques and materials, but the critical issue is scale. You need to transfer the dimension of a real structure to 1:87 scale that will look right along your HO track.
Building scenery to surround your HO scale model train layout is half the fun of model railroading. Scenic backgrounds are a creative challenge and many different materials are available to make the scenery look realistic to proper scale. Browse through model railroading supply catalogs to find ideas for creating a realistic mountain view.
As an HO model railroader, first you find a track plan, one of your own design or a published scheme. You build benchwork, including the surface, called a subroadbed, that supports the track pieces. Finally, you test-fit the HO track itself. If you're satisfied that the track goes where you want, you're ready to attach it semi-permanently. You have a number of methods, but all-purpose white glue is the easiest and works on all materials.
Even before that HO Flyer has completed its first circuit around a simple loop of track, many model railroaders are planning to add a tunnel. It's a good thought and not that difficult to execute. A tunnel provides instant scenic interest, breaks the visual monotony of seeing a train navigate every inch of its track and offers a great place to park a train or disguise a return loop.
Ask a model railroader how to make an HO-scale tree and you'll likely get a ready answer; ask a dozen modelers and you'll likely have 12 answers; choose one of those answers--any one--and you'll likely be on your way to making an acceptable tree for your layout. Scale arbors can be made in numerous ways, but whether the trees spring from nature, hobby-shop shelves or craft-store staples--or some mix-and-match combination of all these sources--they are basically simple to do. Moreover, regardless of the method you choose, tree-making in HO scale follows just a few essentially similar steps.
HO scale models are the most prevalent types of models used in the model-railroading hobby. With a scale of 2.5 millimeters equaling 1 foot, HO models are large enough to show great details on a model, down to the tiny brass rails on locomotives and textured wood grain in buildings, while still being small enough to create complicated multi-layered train sets in a modest sized room. Choosing to build at HO scale allows you to benefit from its popularity. You'll have a choice of models that represent the history of railroads, from steam locomotives to modern bullet trains, which will…
An HO-scale model railroad offers you the opportunity to create scenes that reflect the world around you or your own made-up world. Create scenes that range from a farm in the middle of the country to the streets of a large city. The way you choose to design your layout is limited to the capabilities of your imagination. Each type of terrain you need for your HO layout can be custom made to match the scenes you want to portray.
So, the last of your HO track is fastened down, its wiring soldered, the ties and rails painted and weathered. Trains have tested every curve, grade and turnout. All that remains to complete your trackwork is the tedious task of ballasting. On a prototype railroad, ballast is the crushed stone a track crew packs around, between and below the ties to provide water drainage and hold the track in place. On your HO layout, ballast is a way to hide wiring and other distractions. It’s also the final step on your road to a realistic, reliable right-of-way.
In order to succeed in building your model railway, you should follow a design process that completely maps out your design on paper before you even buy your first piece of equipment. If you plan well early on in the building process, you'll need to devote less time to building your model railway and be able to proceed sooner to the enjoyment that comes from running it instead.
HO scale measures the relationship of specific-sized model railroads to their real-life counterparts. By far the most popular scale at 87:1, HO gives model railroad hobbyists a size manageable enough to build finely detailed layouts.
There is nothing more attractive on a model train table than well-laid trackwork, with sweeping curves and properly positioned switches. Laying good track in HO scale can be more of a challenge than laying track in larger scales, such as O or G. Smaller trains are much less forgiving when it comes to bad trackwork, so you must pay much more attention to detail.
Most city sidewalk panels are around 5 feet square, and since HO-scale items are 1/87 of the prototype, this means that building an HO-scale sidewalk involves very small parts. You'll need to lay the "cement" panels on the wooden base of your lay-out one piece at a time, gluing them in place. Once done, your sidewalk will add a unique layer of realistic detail to your model railroad.
People first become enamored with trains when they are children. Many years later, as adults, train enthusiasts add to their childhood train set with more tracks, more trains and landscaping. This includes building towns and adding landscape features. One of the most popular model railroad scales used in home or hobby club models is the HO gauge.
Building an HO-scale model train layout can be a bit more challenging than working with three-rail tinplate or high-rail track. (HO stands for Half of O, because HO trains are about half the size of their O scale cousins.) A basic understanding of electricity is required, and the models and equipment must be handled more delicately.
A grade is simply the angle of change in elevation from ground level to a higher or lower level. While grade measures the angle from one level to the next, slope is the measure of the amount of change over a given distance. Slope is expressed as a ratio: the change in height divided by the distance. It is then converted to a percentage. For example, a 2-percent grade means your track rises two inches over a 100-inch stretch. Most model railroaders use grades of between 2 and 4 percent.
Electric train engines operate all over the world. They transport travelers quickly and efficiently, and they are cleaner than the diesel locomotives that serve as their main competitors. Model trains provide hours of entertainment for children and adults alike. The electric trains that makeup most HO sets work on the same principle as the modern lectric trains that transport passengers in the world's largest cities. The larger passenger trains are in many ways just much larger versions than the HO and O scale trains that have been enjoyed by hobbyist for over one hundred years. While steam and diesel powered…
There are several types of model trains, from real steam-powered engines you can actually sit on and ride, to LGB with cars like shoeboxes, to the classic Lionel 0 and 027gauge (very hardy for kids to manage), to HO scale (cars the size of an eyeglass case but suitable for ages eight up) to the tiny N gauge and even smaller Z gauge (serious adults only). A model train needs enough room to run a good-sized track. The necessary components for running a train include curved and straight tracks, an electric engine which will pull the rest of the cars,…
Scientists use all sorts of models to help explain their ideas. They also make models to try out designs on a small scale before building something that will be very large and expensive. If the model works well, they can use it to raise the money they need to build the true thing. Conversely, If something is too small to see easily, scientists may make an enlarged model so that they can manipulate it easily. This may help them figure out how the smaller thing behaves. Another way that scientists use models is to make predictions about the future.
