Scale Model Railroading

InternetTrains.com is having a sale on Terrain for Trains layouts. They are now 25% off and they are also offering 33% off select train sets just in time for Christmas.

Adding a realistic looking backdrop to your layout helps to complete the effect ad look of your layout and give it more depth. Here are 6 tips to help make your backdrop look great!

1. Preparation – If installing your backdrop on a existing wall, smooth any large bumps or crack, and remove any existing wall coverings. Make sure to thoroughly clean the wall surface as well.
2. Acclimation – If installing a pre printed backdrop, it is a good idea to let the backdrop sit in the laout area for a few days to acclimate. This will reduce the risk of the backdrop shrinking or expanding after it is attached to the wall.
3. Add a Skyline – Adding shallow buildings to the edge of the layout adds more depth to the backdrop, and helps to hide where the dges meet.
4. Roads, Rivers, etc. – Having a road on your layout meet the backdrop straight on spoils the effect. Angle roads and rivers and use trees, buildings or other scenery pieces to obscure the actual meeting point.
5. Mountains and other large structures — Keep mountains and large structures way from the edge of your layout. They can throw shadows on the backdrop that will spoil the effect.
6. Lighting – To avoid shadows, use spot lighting to evenly light the backdrop. Make sure your lights are angled so they clear any large structures or mountains on the layout to avoid casting shadows.

Who needs DCC? Why not control it with your mind? I found a post on engadget about an experiment at Hitachi where they are using brain scans to analyze blood flow in the brain, and in turn switching on and off a thought controlled switch attached to a model railroad. Very cool stuff, but I don’t see ads in Model Railroader any time soon

From Citizensvoice.com:

“Once again, the Hudson Model Railroad Club will sponsor an open house for the holiday season. The first two days are Saturday, Nov. 25, and Sunday, Nov. 26, from noon to 5 p.m.

The club is located near the former D & H Hudson Yards, Gibbons and Martin street, above the Polish Club in Hudson.

Admission is free, but donations are most appreciated.’

I discovered this software recently that will allow you to control your layout from a PC, including locomotives and turnouts. It’s called JMRI, and works with Atlas Commander, C/MRI, Digitrax, EasyDCC, Lenz, Lionel TMCC, NCE, Roco LocoMaus 2, SPROG, Uhlenbrock Intellibox, Wangrow, and Zimo MX-1. Take a look, and if you find the software useful consider supporting them.

The Trainz.com online store is offering $10 off your order if you checkout using the Google Checkout option. Just place as many orders as you want between now and December 18th.

InternetTrains.com is offering 30% off over 300 Genesis F unit locomotive models from Athearn through Friday November 17. It includes every model they carry, including DCC and non-DCC models.

Walthers is having a sale a 9 pin Digitrax DCC decoder. Normally $19.99, it’s on sale today for $17.98

Johnstown, PA – The Laurel Highlands Model Railroad Club will have a 5,000 square foot layout open to the public form November until January. The layout is located in the Glades Court Mall, in the basement of the Newberry Department store at 109 W. Main St. (map it). Admission is $3 for adults, children under 12 are free. Hours are 6 to 9 p.m. Fridays, noon to 6 Saturdays and noon to 5 Sundays.

Monroe,WI – The Stephenson Society of Model Trainmen will be having their annual show November 18-19. The show will be open from 10am – 4pm both days at their facilities at 600 Fever River Place in Freeport. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for children 12 and under. The main attraction will be the fully operational HO Scale Fever River Railroad layout, one of the largest in the Midwest.

To find the Stephenson Society of Model Trainmen’s Fever River Railroad, follow the orange signs at the intersection of Galena and Island avenues, a block west of the intersection of U.S. Business 20 and Illinois 26 on the north side of Freeport.