Building a scale model drag racer

Personally speaking, I could never begin to repay the hobby for the thousands of hours of enjoyment it has given me over the years. When you think about it, there are very few ways to say 'thanks' to the hobby for providing such a wide array of pleasure.

Model building is largely a solitary hobby. Most of us spend hours in our basements or workrooms at the bench with no social interaction. It's nice to get away for a while. Building models can be a very relaxing experience.

However, it's not always good to hole yourself up. Modellers can get out to shows, attend club meetings, or hang out at the local hobby shop to meet people with similar tastes and talk to them about their favourite hobby. These are all good ways to share our hobby with others.

Building a good drag race car model involves more than a kit and some glue. Proper research and planning can take up close to half the building time. Photos, magazine articles, TV coverage, and trips to the local speed shops are some of the ways to gather information. Each piece of information eliminates some guesswork and makes a more accurate model.

Photos taken at the track are the best way to get the necessary information. Unlike most forms of racing, fans are allowed in the pits at drag races, so close inspection of the cars is easy. Most racers will let you take pictures of any part of their car, just don't get in the way during a between-rounds thrash. Try to get your pictures early when the racers are more at ease and the cars are unbuttoned for tech inspection.

Magazine articles are the easiest way to gather information. Convenience stores, drug stores and supermarkets all carry a variety of publications. Check all the magazines; you never know where something good might turn up.

Speed shops also offer a wealth of information. Most have large wall displays and built engines on stands right on the floor. A photo or drawing will help you remember what you saw. These shops usually also have catalogues and pamphlets from many of the equipment manufacturers.

I have no doubts that my skills have improved in direct proportion to the level of knowledge and experience I have encountered. I always come away from any event with a few new friends and a ton of inspiration for future projects. All in all, not a bad deal. It has been my experience that most, if not all, scale modellers are very willing to share ideas and experience. Look, listen, learn and share should be a basic tenet of any participant in modelling events.

About the Author
James Doan has enjoyed building scale models practically all his life. His main interest is miniature figures (you can call them toy soldiers and he won't mind). Visit James' Blog.

Correct track assembly is essential for your railroad layout

Probably the most important requirement for proper operation of your model railroad is to have correctly fitted joints on your track.

It may seem to be quite obvious but failure to ensure good joints is the main cause of most track operation problems. Most, if not all, model train derailings are caused by bad track assembly.

As a conscientious model railroader, you should develop the practice of consistently making an inspection, both visual and manual, of each track joint as it is laid. This extra effort will noticeably improve the ongoing running of your model trains. By simply taking a quick run of your finger across each joint, you will detect any flaws in spacing or level. Always keep any space between the rails being joined to a minimum and shim any variance in track levelness. Soldering each joint will not only keep the joints solid, it will also improve the conductivity of the electrical circuit. Any step in the joint can be corrected by a light filing of the area.

When laying your switches, there is a chance that you will encounter a switch that has a blunt end on the movable points. This can lead to binding the wheels of your train as it passes causing a derailment. derailment. Employing your favourite small file, simply sharpen the moveable part of the points. Be sure to check the finished rail gauge in both switch positions.

You should make it a standard practice to check all of your track gauge as you work along. It is generally easier to make any necessary adjustments at this stage, rather than later on.

If the track gauge is too tight, the wheels may bind or ride up and out of the track. If the gauge is too wide, the wheel flanges may drop in between the rails, leading just as easily to a derailment. Minor gauge adjustments can be made using a soldering iron to gently heat the rail You can then ease the rail into the proper gauge before allowing it to cool in place. If the gauge error is too big, you should replace the faulty track section or switch.

Growing a model club

One of the reasons that scale modelling is so popular now is that you get a lot of creative expression and enjoyment for the money you spend. Ours is a relatively inexpensive hobby. If you wished, you could do a respectable model for as little as $­50, counting the cost of basic tools. There's a lot of value returned for the investment.

Now, scale modelling is where model railroading was thirty years ago. There are cottage industries springing up, making wiring kits, special decals and even tires. It's getting more sophisticated.

Having lots of fun and building great models go together. It's a great hobby if we'll just let it be so, and not allow ourselves to be side-tracked.

The modelling club scene is not as bad as some might make it out to be. There are many activities which can bring members together: activities such as building clinics for disadvantaged kids, club projects, club theme nights, and full blown club-sponsored contests. Some other ways to make your club better:

• volunteer to do a demonstration for your fellow club members on a technique you have mastered.
• bring your kids and do a snap kit building demonstration for them.
• conduct a clinic for girl or boy scouts in your area.
• try building in a style that interests other members of your club (you might like it!)
• set up a challenge contest between your club and another in your general geographic area.
• do join as many clubs as you can (but do it to experience various interests, not to be involved with smaller cliques).
• be open minded to the interests of others in your club (if a fellow club member's model car is not a Chevy or a Ford, that does not mean it is a bad model).

About the Author
James Doan has enjoyed building scale models practically all his life. His main interest is miniature figures (you can call them toy soldiers and he won't mind). Visit James' Blog.

Grow your model railroad layout

You should allow your first model railroad layout to develop naturally as you gain knowledge. Do not attempt to build a layout with concepts you do not yet understand. The great thing about a model railroad layout is that it does not have to be a static display. You can adapt and change it as your experience grows and your interests change. With this in mind, you can start with a basic oval of track on a 4x8-foot sheet of plywood.

Take the time to make sure that this initial layout is running properly, then you will be ready to expand your expertise. You can try a better-quality locomotive, or you can upgrade your rolling stock by adding magnetic couplers to some of your cars. Shortly, with a little research, you can even add a reverse loop and practice some advanced track wiring. All the while, you can be experimenting with various scenery techniques.

Sharing information you have found with other enthusiasts is a great way to quickly learn more about the hobby. You will find that it can be as enjoyable gathering both model and prototype information as it is using it.

You may discover that the scale you initially chose to work in does not have the variety of accessories to be found in another scale. Changing scale can be frustrating and even expensive. It will be preferable to do a little research first:

- ask questions of other railroaders,

- check how much space you will have available,

- determine whether you want to run diesel or steam locomotives,

- decide if your layout will be multi-level.

Before you begin building, you should have a fairly complete idea of what you want your layout to do. In the planning stages you can visit your local hobby shop and ask their advice. Any reputable hobby shop will be a dependable resource with staff that is just as passionate about the hobby as you. You can easily benefit from their experience.

Larger layouts, like those found in model railroad clubhouses can be quite impressive, As a beginning railroad modellers you should resist the temptation to immediately build something with this scope..

Bear in mind that a large layout will be an expensive undertaking in terms of money, time and planning. You can build a basic layout that will give you a lot of pleasure to develop and operate as soon as you start. You can create an illusion of size by using forced perspective. Changing the backdrops for different areas can also make your layout appear more complex.

By designing your layout in modules, it will be simple to expand later on when your resources allow you.

Scale Modelling as a healthy alternative

The other night, as I sat patiently painting dozens of rows of braid on a Napoleonic Officer's tunic, a job which seemed to take hours, it occurred to me that instead of feeling frustrated at such a mind boring task, I was quite enjoying it. With some music in the background and a cup of coffee nearby, I was able to let my hands do the work, whilst I thought of how the next stage in my model would proceed. Quite a relaxing process in fact, following on from a day at the shop, which was anything but relaxing. However, while I don't mind doing something repetitive for a short time, I would hate to be doing the same thing eight hours a day at work.

The experience brought it home to me how important a hobby like modelling can be. Whether you work as I do, in an environment where the telephone is constantly ringing and people are asking for assistance, or whether you are on a factory floor or perhaps driving a truck and coping with the stresses of time schedules and traffic jams, the opportunity to wind down and relax when you get home is something to be treasured.

It's all too easy to collapse in the chair in front of the television and let the electronic images do the entertaining, but it is much more rewarding to get out the glue and the craft knife and do something more creative.

It doesn't matter if the project on the workbench is intended to be a potential show winner with all the skills you can muster lavished in it, or whether it is something you are kitbashing for your own pleasure which won't even be seen by another modeller. In this respect, it is the process that counts, not the end result. What matters is that you are using your brain to plan your model, and your hands to build it. When it is finished you can scrap the model and still have derived something positive from the experience of making it. At the same time you are escaping the pressures of everyday life.

So the next time your partner or family complains about the amount of time and expense associated with your modelling, point out that you are doing something positive to improve your health and well-being. Don't feel guilty about spending time doing what you enjoy. It's time well spent. And if your partner doesn't agree, just say "James Doan says it's OK!"

About the Author
James Doan has enjoyed building scale models practically all his life. His main interest is miniature figures (you can call them toy soldiers and he won't mind). Visit James' Blog.

Quick primer for preparing your first model railroad layout

Once you have decided on a scale for your model railroad layout, and purchased a quality locomotive, power pack and a few pieces of rolling stock, it is time to begin work on the track and switches. Until recently, track proved to be the major cause of concern for modellers working in either N or HO scale. The sectional track that was most readily available would easily come apart. If your preliminary layout was set up on the floor, dirt and carpet fuzz would get into both the locomotive mechanism and the joints between track sections. This would lead to electrical conductivity problems.

Fortunately for today's modellers, the newer sectional track conveniently provides a plastic or vinyl roadbed attached to the track sections which allows these sections to be solidly locked together, thus ensuring reliable mechanical and electrical contact. You should consider this type of track for initial layouts as you can easily change the layout without having to tear up track. This allow you to experiment until you are ready for a permanent layout.

For best results you should use track with nickel silver rails. Although both brass and nickel silver corrode and oxidize, you will find that the oxidation on nickel silver still maintains better conductivity than brass rail, allowing the trains to operate more reliably.

In addition to the track required for a basic oval, you should purchase several turnouts and extra straight and curved sections. This will allow you to create a layout which will vary the train's route. Active switching and reversing of the operation of the train will provide a more interesting train session than if the engine merely chases the caboose.

As a beginner you should purchase sectional turnouts rather than attempting the advanced practice of laying your own switches. One important feature to consider for enjoyable operation of your train is to ensure the switch rod is correctly installed and the points throw freely.

Some thoughts on the quality of resin model kits and accessories

I recently had the opportunity to examine a number of resin cast kits and aftermarket parts from several suppliers. I am truly amazed at how far the aftermarket has come in terms of product selection and quality. At the same time, I am amazed at how far it has to go.

The quality of today's resin products is all over the board. Certainly, there are some casters whose quality is always top notch, yet others vary. In speaking to modellers and through my own experience, I know that some cottage casters have ready excuses for poor craftsmanship. Commonly heard rebuttals to customer complaints include, "That's not so bad, any modeller can fix it," and "It's better than no model at all." Of these people I ask, "If any modeller can fix it, why didn't the modeller who prepared the master do it right in the first place?"

Casting techniques have advanced to the point at which they are no longer the problem. The problems of most resin casters seem to exist in the preparation of their master models. Some aftermarket business owners appear to be happy with masters that look like the car they are patterned after, yet have visible flaws such as unfinished putty work, jagged or incomplete panel lines, crooked emblems or thick pillars. Such sloppy work should not be good enough for any resin caster.

Every resin master itself should be prepared as though it was destined to be a contest model. All surfaces should be smooth and blemish free, bodies should be 100% symmetrical, panel and door lines should be crisp and straight; and any add-on parts should be test fitted prior to casting. In other words, a master body should need only a paint job to prepare it for entry in a contest.

About the Author
James Doan has enjoyed building scale models practically all his life. His main interest is miniature figures (you can call them toy soldiers and he won't mind). Visit James' Blog.