Train Cars
Train Cars
A model train set toolkit should be well-organized and contain a plethora of tools. A small toolbox or plastic container with a lid and handle will allow you to move your toolbox around the track or train area as needed. A gardener bag with pockets on the outside and a large interior is another good idea for a toolkit holder.
Include several rags or a roll or two of paper towels in your toolkit. The rags are useful for cleaning up spills, wiping brushes, or dusting the tracks. Washable rags may be less expensive overall.
Needle nose pliers are used for holding items that need cutting and bending. You can also hold wires and small pieces of scenery in place while joining or gluing them. The pliers should be 6″ to 8″ in length. Wire cutters at the end will be helpful.
A hobby hammer is much smaller than a regular household hammer and allows you to get in between train track rails and other small places. You will probably want both a ballpeen and footed hammer.
An X-Acto type knife is needed for trimming scenery, placing glue in place, and a myriad of other activities. Be sure to get at least a medium-duty as it will hold up longer. Rubber grips will provide a cushion for your fingers if you will be doing a lot of cutting and trimming.
A rail nipper looks similar to a pair of flat-topped pliers and is used to cut model train tracks. The cutting edge is square, which allows you to cut very close to the track. The best length is about 6-1/2″ long.
An assortment of small screwdrivers is needed for your model train set. You will need Phillips screwdrivers in sizes #1 and #0, and standard screwdrivers in both 1/16″ and 1/8″. Magnetized ends are helpful to pick up small parts that drop during construction and additions to your track.
Tweezers will be useful for detail work, building scenery, and putting together buildings and structures. You can pick up tweezers at any store, but you might consider a curved set so you can get inside small places.
Clamps, such as rubberbands, alligator clips, or small v-blocks are needed when gluing together model train assemblies. Use an old cookie sheet to store your work while it’s drying – the sheet will prevent glue from sticking to paper and creating more clean-up later.
Paintbrushes in small sizes are best because much of your detail painting is on a small scale. A good hobby shop or craft center has an array of paintbrushes; pick up an assortment in sizes 2, 3, 4, and 10. Look for round brushes with a good tip.
Filing tools are needed to remove leftover plastic or metal from your buildings and train cars. Get an assortment of about eight to ten files to start; you can add more later. Sandpaper will also be necessary when building track layout boards as you will want to be sure the surface is smooth. A sanding block or electric sander can make your job easier.
Solder iron is useful when you are doing any amount of wiring. There are corded and cordless models. It is recommended to find a solder iron with a fine tip so you can get into those tight wiring places.
Scissors are needed for cutting and trimming. Pick up several pairs ranging in size from small tips to larger tips for cutting track covering. A bent tip allows for precision cutting.
A lighted magnifying glass is useful when working with extremely small parts. A bench magnifier with either a movable or fixed base allows you to use both of your hands for your work.
Power tools, such as drills and saws, are nice for cutting boards and drilling holes for wiring. A miter box cuts perfect corners and a cordless drill allows you to move the drill wherever you need it.
Finally, be sure to get an NMRA gage for your model train set. Match the gage to your model train size. This gage allows you to check your tracks and switches for proper sizing of your model train parts. You use the gage to check and make adjustments to your train tracks and wheels.
Finally, it is recommended to always wear safety glasses when working with power tools, sanding, or cutting any items that may fly into your face.
Joe Kanooga is a father of two kids, a successful business owner and the author of numerous articles about model train. Click here to download our free train set guidebook filled with hobby tips, ideas and information.
Is it more dangerous when a train engine pushes cars vs. pulling them?
I ride tri-rail every day, and in the morning, the train engine pulls the passenger cars, but in the afternoon, it pushes them…
Are BOTH equally safe, or is one better than the other???
According to the FRA (Federal Railroad Administration), which I believe studied the push-pull method after the accident in California a few years ago it, they came to the conclusion that there is virtually no different in safety regarding the cars being pushed by the locomotive rather than pulled.
New train cars!
|
|
Thomas the Train wooden Trevor engine, cargo car w/Sodor box, magnetic GC $7.99 |
|
|
Bachmann HO Scale Train Flat Cars With Load Santa Fe 18912 $10.59 |
|
|
Bachmann HO Scale Train PS1 40′ Box Cars Lackawana 17044 $8.00 |
|
|
Spectrum On30 Scale Train Tank Cars Oxide Red 27197 $10.05 |
|
|
Bachmann G Scale Train (1:20.3) Logging & Mining Car Log Skidder 92699 $20.50 |
|
|
Bachmann N Scale Train 40′ Box Car Denver & Rio Grande Western 70089 $5.30 |
|
|
Bachmann HO Scale Train Thomas & Friends Tidmouth Milk Tank Car 77048 $9.89 |
|
|
vintage lionel train car nickel plate road red plastic $4.99 |
|
|
vintage lionel train car chesapeake & ohio $4.99 |
|
|
5 N Scale Micro-Trains MTL Loads for 100 ton 3 Bay Hopper Cars – FREE Shipping $9.95 |
|
|
Vintage 1950s-1960s Athearn HO Trains Southern Pacific Box Car Mint Condition $7.98 |
|
|
New LIONEL # 6 – 18430 NYC New York City Crew car train ! NIB Rare & Very Nice $20.50 |
|
|
N Micro-Trains 60′ Centerbeam Flat Car Northwestern Oklahoma RR #728102 $22.00 |
|
|
MIB MODEL POWER HO SCALE RECYCLED STEEL TRAIN CAR # 8508 $6.99 |
|
|
Disney Pixar Toy story train car Woody $2.77 |
|
|
Wilton 2304-1050 101-Piece Cookie Cutter Set $11.15 Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Valentine’s Day…cookie cutters for every season, and more! With a complete set of letters and numbers, designs for cowboys, stars, cars and animals, you’ll be ready for any occasion. Durable plastic cutters come in a convenient storage container. Hand wash. (2-1/2 to 6-1/4)… |
|
|
Constructive Eating Utensil Set Make Eating Fun! Clamshell package contains one Fork Lift Fork, one Front Loader Spoon, and one Bull Dozer Pusher…. |
|
|
Lunch Punch Transport Shape Sandwich Cutters (Set of 4) $14.50 Lunch Punch Match & MunchTM – 4 interactive puzzle shapes. For medium size bread. SIZE on each sandwich cutter is approximately 3.5 inc x 3.5 inc x 1.2 inc. Box dimension is 4.75 inc x 3.5 inc x 3.5 inc.Lunch Punch Critter CuttersTM – 4 unique animal shapes. For Large size bread. SIZE on each sandwich cutter is approximately 3.75 inc x 4 inc x 1.2 inc. Box dimension is 4.75 inc x 3.75 inc x 4 inc…. |
|
|
Baby Einstein – On the Go – Riding, Sailing and Soaring $9.58 Baby Einstein celebrates things that go–from trains and planes to boats and bikes–in this 40-minute foray into the world of transportation for the toddler set. Called a “digital board book,” the film is divided into segments of land, air, and sea. The deliberately paced scenes feature classical music by great composers (such as Haydn and Mozart) integrated with puppets, live action, and compute… |
|
|
Baby Einstein – Baby’s Favorite Places – First Words Around Town $12.79 A playful introduction to words and sign language — my street to main street!– Exposes babies to words and sign language– Presents a fun way for parents and little ones to “go exploring”As babies turn one year old, they continue to develop their communication skills. Meanwhile, with you as their guide, they also begin to explore the world beyond their front door. Baby’s Favorite Places presents… |
|
|
Marc Cohn $5.62 With rootsier, acoustic neofolk ascendant, Marc Cohn’s 1991 debut harkens back to the more sophisticated rock and pop inflections of singer-songwriters of two decades past. His supple, velvety baritone and elegant piano-based arrangements frame shrewdly crafted songs ripe with pop touches, none more intricate or deftly executed than the set’s epochal “Walking In Memphis,” an epiphany rooted in ri… |
|
|
There Goes an Airplane [VHS] $6.98 “Pilot Dave” Hood, cocreator and host of the There Goes a… series of children’s videos, straps himself into a variety of flying machines in this entertaining production. Riding shotgun on a stunt plane that loops and whooshes to a dizzying degree, Hood does a lot of yelping, but he also succinctly and entertainingly describes exactly why airplanes defy gravity. (Adults can learn from this video… |
|
|
Muppets on Wheels: Muppets SingAlongFun [VHS] $3.99 Kermit the Frog and The Muppets escort kids on a fun and educational tour of transportation, from the race track to the rollercoaster…. |
|
|
There Goes a Race Car [VHS] $6.98 … |
|
|
RoomMates RMK1132SCS Transportation Peel & Stick Wall Decals $8.85 … |
Tags: airfare, cars, environment, flights, train, train cars, train cars clip art, train cars for sale, train cars names, train cars to color, train cars with shackles, train carson city to virginia city, transport, travel
This entry was posted on Thursday, June 4th, 2009 at 1:47 pm and is filed under Toys and Hobbies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.