How To Design A Model Railroad

Design a freelanced or prototype-based model railroad by selecting a time period, modeling geography, creating a roster, using graphics, and following paint schemes.

This new hands-on book will show how to use tools and elements such as track, turnouts, crossings and scenic elements to paint the "canvas". The reader will learn how to blend the track plan itself with structures and scenery in a realistic manner along with a basic understanding of how real railroads work to help them narrow the layout-design focus, leading to a workable plan for the space a modeler has available.

From Model Railroader magazine, these simple layout designs are ideal for beginners. Features full-color plans and construction techniques for HO and N scale starter layouts.

Acquire more space for scenery and longer mainline runs with multiple decks. Tony Koester walks you through design options, lighting and wiring considerations, and the all-important construction process and techniques.

Covers freight and passenger operations, route design, and contemporary railroading operations. The step-by-step design techniques and operation-oriented track plans also make it easy to create your own realistic model railroad.

Learn how to plan a model railroad using layout design elements: prototypical models of towns, yards, terminals, industries, and other realistic building blocks.

Layout building is perhaps the most exciting, rewarding and challenging aspect of creating a model railway. Making the right design decisions and choosing good construction techniques are vital to ensure success. This book takes you through basic baseboard construction, shelf layout themes and how to link multi-deck designs together, enabling you to make the most of a given space. With different concepts covered, from simple portable layouts to helix construction techniques, Nigel Burkin mixes the best of British layouts with those used routinely overseas and shows you how you too can achieve success and satisfaction in executing your layout design. Topics covered included: Designing for comfort; How to use space efficiently; Practical construction techniques from L-Girder to box frame baseboards; Sub track bed construction, track laying and wiring; Fine tuning the layout for smooth operations.