Bachmann Trains & Accessories

Ho Scale Train Sets
under the Bunk bed train layout?

I want a bunk bed with a slide out N or HO scale drawer under the bottom bunk. I want it to be prewired and soldered. An HO set up would use a tunneling grouve in a tight dog-bone shape to accomodate the stationary front leg. The back edges would be completely boxed in to keep anything from falling behind the drawer and keeping it from being shoved back at night. I dont think the N scale would have to extend beyond the available standard space unless a person simply wanted it to. The entire drawer would ride on teflon casters for smoothness of operation. The max height of the lower bunk mattress would be 15 to 18 inches including the innerspring mattress.
Now for my question…does anyone know of a place that already makes such a peice of furniture? And if so can you give me a ball park figure on the cost?

We always used a regular bunk bed and made the train board ourselves….

You will want an N Gauge layout. The curves are too tight for an HO gauge setup. Check older issues of Model Railroader or Trains! for ideas…

Ho Scale Train Sets

The Ho Model Train And Its Advantages

The name HO came from the term ‘Half of O’ because it is almost half the dimensions of the O scale train models. In Europe and North America, the HO model train is arguably the most popular train scale. In fact, its sales worldwide have been relatively high compared to other models for many years. These smaller trains came into demand because plenty of train hobbyists did not have enough physical space to accommodate larger train models.

Most novice hobbyists choose HO scale models due to the fact that they are readily available. Since there are plenty of suppliers of these models, enthusiasts also have a wide variety of components and accessories to choose from. For instance, with a large selection of scenery available, it is much easier to set up and make additional improvements later on. In addition, the proliferation of manufacturers allows hobbyists to conveniently visit their local retailers rather than having to rely solely on long-distance orders through catalogs or the Internet.

Another reason for the popularity of the smaller trains is that they are normally cheaper than their larger counterparts; larger scale trains tend to be harder to come across since their manufacturing costs are higher. In contrast, since there are many manufacturers of HO trains, the competition is great, which keeps pricing competitive to the benefits the consumer. This is an important consideration because lower costs open up the hobby to the masses, making it more accessible to many rather than a few who have a large budget.

Some enthusiasts feel the HO trains are the perfect size because they are in between the larger models and the smaller versions such as the z scale. They are not too big and not too small. They are just the right size to have creative scenery, including an intricate track plan, and small enough to be easily handled by children without any components getting damaged. The HO scale train is also heavy enough to have adequate support on the track, which ensures proper movement.

HO trains can be purchased as complete, ready-to-run models that can be used immediately. All the components have been fitted after manufacturing, although a few accessories may need to be attached later on. These train kits are simple to assemble and usually include a single piece body, couplers, chassis, and a counterweight. Structure kits are also available and include glazing, doors windows, and walls. For the more experienced hobbyist, there are craftsman kits that include over five hundred parts. These kits require considerable skill and patience to assemble.

If one is considering a medium sized model train with an accompanying landscape and scenery, the best option would be the HO model train. A considerable amount of research should be done before purchasing a particular HO train set, considering that there is a wide selection to choose from. The HO scale model is definitely the best train scale that offers the most enjoyment possible for model train enthusiasts.

About the Author

Gabriel O. Delaney is a model train enthusiast. For more information on HO model train , visit http://www.ultimatemodeltraintips.com.

what si a good way to make easy mountains for a ho scale train set?

my family is setting up a marklin train set and i want to know how to make simple mountains at home (not to buy)

This is a method that you can make the ‘layered rock’ type of inclinations that end up looking really neat and realistic:

The Styrofoam that comes in all kinds of packaging, and different thicknesses glued on top of each other in ‘layers’ like how the rocks really look on a ‘cut’ made during the track construction in real life.

You ‘break’ off the foam in strips, so the face is rough and obscure looking, glue them down with glue gun or however you want, then by using different thicknesses of the foam, you can mock how the layered rock looks in real life. And talk about cheap. This Styrofoam usually ends up in the trash, so essentially its “FREE”!

Another neat trick is to make the layers ‘unlevel’ like how the rock layers really look in a cut through a hill side, or mountain or whatever.
The construction methods listed in the other answers are good also, but I have found the multiple thickness foam piled up to however I want it in an ‘unlevel’ fashion, really looks awesome!

The random unlevel look is really neat, and makes you want to look at it for a while, like how the real rock layers entice you to study them.

Enjoy your little mountain building project. It is fun.

EDIT: Another neat product I’ve manipulated with an excellent result are the pressed material of ceiling tiles used mostly in commercial spaces. These break off into neat looking layered material.
Stacking these looks great. also mixing these within the Styrofoam is a neat effect also, like a vein of coal in the rock layers.

Transformers Tyco Train set restoration; review; part 2 – ho scale