When it comes to model railway layouts, aesthetics play a crucial role in creating a realistic and visually appealing...
Cart 0 Product Products (empty)
No products
Free shipping! Shipping
£ 0.00 Total
Product successfully added to your shopping cart
Quantity
Total
There are 0 items in your cart. There is 1 item in your cart.
Total products (tax incl.)
Total shipping (tax excl.) Free shipping!
Total (tax incl.)
Search Tips
Tips categories
Latest Tips
-
What are my options for hiding or camouflaging a side-mounted points motor on a layout ?Read more -
How do I integrate the backscene into my layout?Read moreCreating a seamless and immersive scene that blends the backscene with the foreground scenery is a crucial aspect of...
-
How can I run two engines in opposite directions?Read moreIf you are new to modelling or considering your first layout, you may be wondering if it is possible to run...
-
What coarseness of ballast should I use for my N gauge layout?Read moreThe best coarseness of ballast for N Gauge would be the fine or very fine ballast. This gives a better scale...
-
What are the tips for cleaning and preparing white metal parts for assembly ?Read moreWhite metal is a popular material used in scale modelling, particularly for model railway enthusiasts. It is a type...
What is a static mainline in model railways?
A static mainline is a dummy mainline track on a viaduct or embankment that spans the width of a smallish baseboard. It is used as a scene-break to hide the other side of the baseboard, but, as it doesn't go anywhere, it's generally not operational.
Using a dummy mainline as a scene-break is a good way of giving a small layout a mainline identity without the compromise of having fast trains traversing tight radius curves.
Train operations take place on an oval track or similar arrangement placed around the perimeter of the board. The track appears and disappears from view through bridges under the mainline and can represent any grimy, industrial or secondary route that would be commonly found in the vicinity of a mainline.
This arrangement gives the best of both worlds, allowing slower, more realistic operations on the secondary line while the mainline sets the scene. This type of track plan has the added advantage that a temporary end to end track can be attached to the mainline to permit occasional running but removed when space in your spare room is once again required.
Click here to receive the tips weekly in your mailbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Related products
Embankment Arches (Red Brick)
Price: £ 9.95Embankment Arches (Red Brick) Each arch is 104mm x 86mm tall.Each arch wall...
N Gauge Red Brick Viaduct Kit
Price: £ 13.00N Gauge Red Brick Viaduct KitPre-printed, pre-cut, embossed cardboard. Just...
Related posts
-
Is static grass better than scatter?I use both, separately and together. Static grass comes in various sizes from 0.5mm to 12mm while scatter is... - How do I apply static grass?Static grass is best applied using a static grass applicator. There are several on the market and they can apply...
- What colour are tree trunks?Tree trunks are actually grey in colour and not brown as you would think. The next time you are out and about just...
- How to make hills?You can make hills in a variety of ways. The tried and tested way is with chicken wire and papier mache. This is a...
- How do I glue scatter?Select the area where you want the scatter, then apply a layer of PVA glue, sprinkle your grass covering the glue....