February 8th, 2011 
dwalton 
Model Train Scenery Kits - How To Use Scenery Kits In Your Model Railroad Track Plans
Author: Henry Michael
Model railroad track plans are not complete without scenery. “But wait”, you say, “I got into this hobby for the cool locomotives and the history. I am not an artist, and I don’t have time to spend hours and hours on scenery.” So what do you do? Well short of hiring your own craftsman or relegating your layout to the incomplete category, you can take advantage of an entire industry that serves this hobby, namely kits for model train scenery.
While there are some drawbacks to kits, like high cost, not being able to find what you want in the scale you want, or having scenes from different manufacturers not matching in color or scale, there are also quite a few advantages. First, they are quick. You pay for the kit, take it out of the box, and set it in your layout. Done. Second, there are lots of choices. Companies like Woodland Sciences sell everything from individual pieces to complete scenes and everything in between. Most items also have video online so you can learn the techniques for painting or using them in your model railroad track plans.
One thing to be careful of when you look for your scenery kit and that is the scale. Descriptions do not always make it clear which scale you are ordering, so make sure you search out that information before making your order. You don’t want to end up with a 3 inch tall G scale character in your H0 scale layout where it should be ¾ of an inch tall.
If you want to save some money, consider an economy pack of figures instead of buying individuals. For instance, you can get 100 figures in a similar theme (e.g. farmers) for about each. If you buy individuals or say a set of 5, you could pay up to twice that much. The disadvantage is that you are not able to select which figures you get. Another way to save money is to go to an auction site like Ebay and search for what you want. You will be surprised at the array of choices. Model train swap meets are another place where you may find what you are looking for at a low price, or even be able to swap something you have, for something you need with no money changing hands at all! Be careful of trying to save money by going to your local hobby shop and buying scenery that was not designed for model railroad track plans. These kits may look nice and be less expensive, but they are probably not the exact scale you need to make your layout accurate.
Also consider how much finishing you want to do if you order a kit. Complete, ready to go kits are available which, as explained above, you can just take out of the box and set up. Others will require some finishing like painting or weathering. Decide what fits into your budget, what your interests and skills are, and choose accordingly.
The typical model train enthusiast enjoys making their layout look realistic. In order to do this, you must have accurate, quality scenery. You can spend hours making that scenery yourself and even developing techniques to teach others. If that is what you love, there is no reason not to, but if you are more interested in other aspects of the hobby, include scenery kits in your model railway trains plan. Follow the guidelines here to ensure this aspect of the hobby doesn’t derail your model train layout!
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/model-train-scenery-kits-how-to-use-scenery-kits-in-your-model-railroad-track-plans-1798911.html
About the Author
Henry Michael is a model train enthusiast who enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with others to help them get the most out of this exciting hobby. For more model railway trains information, visit my website at http://www.modeltrainenthusiast.com/ and learn how easy it is for you to get involved with model railroading. It will help you to avoid mistakes that most beginners make. If you are more experienced, it will give you a different perspective on things you maybe doing or would like to do.
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I’ve never seen one, but you might try eBay.
http://www.ehobbies.com/ItemDetail.do?&hdnASINNO=B0006KSKP6&extid=rdrct
http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=ATL887
Great Idea… the books I’d suggest come from Kalambach Publishing (they print Model Railroading Magazine):
They have a nice SERIES of book that cover the basics, and also that deal with “realistic” operations and design of the layout. Here is a link to get you started: http://kalmbachcatalog.stores.yahoo.net/model-railroading-books-model-railroading-for-beginners.html
ONE I truly suggest is “Realistic Operations”: http://kalmbachcatalog.stores.yahoo.net/12231.html
Since you’re in OZ there should be some hobby shops listed. Let me check and see what I can find. I’ll be glad to help any way I can. The best way to start is to purchase a complete set and build from there. Here’s a link to help:http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/shops.htm
Welcome to the hobby!
I know why you are asking this. My wife has tried, but she does not know what to get!
So, let me help you by making suggestions about what I [the person with everything train related] would like from someone who knows me and my passion for trains & railroading:
- I have found T shirts, pins & caps of some of my favorite railroads and tourist lines fun to wear while out botching around
- some neat magnets for the fridge of my favorite railroads
- signs of favorite railroads
- my wife got me a picture, framed and all [about 18 X 30"] of a nice steam engine scene
- some neat train & railroad related calendars are fun
- little gift type things that hang on wall, railroad related
- coffee cups of favorite railroads
OK, here, go the these websites and see if any of this tickles your fancy:
http://www.railroadcatalog.com/
http://www.classicrail.com/store.html
http://www.zazzle.com/rail+road+gifts
http://www.everythingrailroads.com/railroads/
Sounds like you are in Europe somewhere, and most of these are USA stuff, but these will at least get you started, and you’ll find something for this person whom has ‘everything’!
[Can't have 'everything', really!]
Looking for model train bridge kit Atlas ATL887.?
This kit is apparently discontinued. I can’t find it online or in local stores or on Ebay. If you have one and would sell it, or know where I might purchase it, either assembled or unassembled, please let me know.
What is the best book or starter kit for a beginner with Model Trains?
One of my best friends mentioned years ago that his dad did model trains and had a big model train table before his dad passed away. He mentioned that he wanted to make something similar to it when he gets older, in part because it’s one of the few memories he has of his father. I’ve only recently remembered this conversation and I thought a starter kit or an informative book for beginners might be good for him as a birthday or Christmas present. Does anyone know anything about this hobby that might be able to make some good suggestions?
model train set question(s)?
Hi there, I am new to this, and I am having trouble with where to start. I looked around ebay for model train sets and I couldn’t find a kit, with tracks, a power pack/transformer and with a simple train. I realise these parts are usually bought seperately? I did find tracks, but they ranged in price from $5 to $400… Some where nickel, some where plastic… I am confused. Then the trains, are all of the trains offered on ebay powered the same? As in you put them on the tracks, turn them on plug the transformer in and they run. Or are some of them just models that won’t run. Any help for a newbie lol. Thanks in advance.
Btw. I am in Australia and our power supply is different… will a simple power adaptor work?
Does anyone know if they sell kits for model train street cars overhead wires ?
I want to operate the car as they ran in Baltimore.I also want to run engines with panographs.I am running HO
What do you get the Model Train Enthusiast who has everything?
He really has everything, it’s always so difficult to buy him a gift because he either has everything, I don’t know the hobby as well as him so I’ll probably buy him something he doesn’t want, or if there’s a wagon or kit or something he wants you can be sure it’s on its way to him in the mail already..
What can I get him that isn’t a model train or something to add to his layout that will still appeal to him? He even has a canvas shopper with the Marklin logo on it, I can’t even get him that!! I thought of a cap or a tshirt, but what should the tshirt say?
Is there somewhere I can get vintage railway stuff? I once bought him a set of retro magnets with photographs of old trains on them..
He specialises in Marklin..