Where do you stick your model trains when you are done running them? Do you throw them in the closet where they will not see the light of day until you are ready to bring them back out? Do you stick them under the bed to gather dust? You would not do that to any of your other investments so why would you do it with this one?
A model train collection deserves to be displayed in a way that can showcase all of your engines in a beneficial light. Why not do this by displaying them around the upper perimeter of the room where you want to show them off? This can be a little bit involved but it can really make for a spectacular display.
The first thing you will need to do is to lay out all of your engines and couple your cars to them. Also set out the bits of scenery that you would like to include in your display. Next you will need to measure the perimeter of your room. This is the distance all the way around the inside walls. Your next measurement should be the clearance you will need from the ceiling in order to have room for your trains and scenery to fit. Once you have this distance measured you should mark the wall so you can remember where it is.
The platform for your trains will be pieces of white pine that are cut into strips that are 1 inch thick by 6 inches wide and 10 inches long. For your corners you will need to take another measurement. Cut this piece out of a large triangle piece of wood. A section that is 24x24 should just about do it. This will allow you to keep a much smoother curve in your track.
Place a wall border around the top of the room that matches the theme of the train display. You will most likely have to paste this into place as these do not usually come with the peel away backing. Once this has had time to dry you can then begin to assemble your platform pieces. Use 4 inch L-brackets to attach your boards to the wall and line them up along the line you marked when you measured down from the ceiling. Once you get all your boards attached to the wall you will then be ready to attach your track sections and the buildings.
If you can you should attach your pieces of track with 1/2 inch long # 6 wood screws. Down the wall just within reach you should mount a board for the controls to sit on. Now you are ready for the trains and the scenery. Once you have these all in place as well you can wire up your controls. You are now ready to plug it all in and let it run! If you should want to you can paint the underside of your pine shelves so that they blend in better with the wall color but this is by no means a requirement.
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