Design and Planning

We would loosely suggest that the best model railway gauge for children is 00 gauge, of course, each child has different tastes and ways of playing, which would influence the answer, but from a purely factual point of view, 00 gauge ticks most the...

If you are just starting out on your model railway adventure and are wondering which era you should model, the answer is simple: whichever makes you happy. After all, it’s your layout, and you will be spending a lot of time and money creating it...

There are several different ways to design a track plan for your model railway project. There is no right or wrong way but thought should be given to which way is best for you and which way suits your skills set the best.The easiest way to...

Which is the most realistic gauge? This is likely to have been the topic of conversation during many modellers tea breaks, internet chats or long car journeys to exhibitions.The answer to this debate depends on which angle you are viewing the...

One of the fears modellers have surrounding N gauge is that you will not be able to get everything for your model railway layout that you can for 00 gauge. After all whenever you pop into your local model shop or flick through the glossy pages of...

The general advice is that you don't run engines on anything less than a second radius curve (438mm or 17.25 inches) in 00 gauge (double the measurement for 0 gauge and halve it for N gauge).This radius should be increased greater if you plan...

Diorama derives from the greek dia (which means through) and horama (which means view).Diorama is one of those modelling terms that we use so interchangeably that its definition has almost been lost amongst the noise.The definition of...

Gradient, is often displayed using a height measurement followed a distance measurement. For example, a 1 in 100 gradient means that for every 100cm of railway track there will be a rise of 1 cm, or inches, metres, feet, yards or even finger...

Sharp bends are just about the only aspect of a model railway that still cause modellers a headache with regards to making them look real.Advances in the hobby have meant that everything else from rolling stock and buildings to people and...

There are many ways in which you can construct your layout, there are several common types that have names you might recognise and they can all be adapted, extended or even amalgamated to create a layout that suits your needs, desires or space...

If you are planning a model railway layout then you are likely making some crucial decisions, one of which will be how much track vs scenery should you plan to incorporate into the layout?The correct answer to this question is personal to you and...

Baseboards are made up of three elements. Starting at the bottom and working up, there arethe supports (legs), on top of the supports sits the framing (baseboard frame) on the very top of all that is the top surface (board on which you...