Discover Model Trains

Model Trains

Discover Model Trains
Author: Gray Rollins -
Model train manufacturers have done a great job of recreating life size trains as realistic models. And they've been doing it since the late 19th century when electric model trains first appeared. Take a moment to discover the magic of model trains.

Germany is where it all began when Marklin introduced their full line of model trains back in 1891. Their first trains were based on earlier toy models and were available in three scales. They were made from tin and were very crude, but they were a great success.

Then, in 1901, Joshua Cowen entered the market with Lionel trains. Lionel would soon come to dominate the model train market in America.

Of course there were other companies that came on board with their own lines of model trains. Ives, American Flyer, and Marx all introduced model trains.

Because model trains are so interactive they are a great choice for children and adults. Even the youngest children can enjoy them. It's not uncommon for adults to recall their first train when talking about their fondest childhood memories.

Lionel was quick to recognize the importance of starting train collectors at a young age and that's why they've got wooden train sets for ages 4 to 6. By the age of 8, kids are ready to be introduced to S scale, G scale, and the ever popular HO scale electric trains. And the hobby continues into adult life. Of course expanding on your model trains is just a matter of time, money, creativity, and space.

There are several different scales of model trains to choose from to fit your space, budget, and personal preferences. For example, if you are limited by space you can choose one of the smaller scales. Here are some of the most popular scale choices you have.

1. Z Scale is a 1:220 ratio. It is tiny and highly detailed, and is an excellent choice if you have limited space.

2. N Scale is a 1:160 ratio. It is the second smallest scale available and it's a great choice for the hobbyist that want to be able to incorporate scenery and longer trains.

3. HO Scale is a 1:87 ratio. It is probably the most popular scale of model train. There is an endless supply of trains, cars, tracks, buildings, and scenery. The detail on HO is good and a fabulous setup can be put together in a reasonable amount of space.

4. S Scale is a 1:64 ratio. It is larger than the HO and is popular among those with plenty of room. It is the scale of American Flyer products.

5. O Scale is a 1:48 ratio. It is a popular choice for young children because they are able to easily handle them. Lionel carries a full line of O scale for the young ones.

6. G Scale is a 1:22.5 ratio. It is the perfect choice for the garden set up. Bachmann, L.G.B, and Aristo-Craft all make G scale trains.

To put together your model train you will need at least one engine along with some train cars. You can decide whether you want passenger cars or freight cars. And of course you will need train track. The type of track and how much track you'll need is a personal choice.

You'll also need a transformer to provide the electricity to your train. Then all that's left is the scenery you want. Choose trees, tunnels, people, signals, or a host of other items.

If you are looking for a fun and rewarding hobby, why not discover the magic of model trains?

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for GetModelTrains.com. To learn more about model train kits , and model train sets , visit us.

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Buying Your First Model Train

Model Trains

Buying Your First Model Train
Author: Jason A. Martin
Selecting the right model train can be a difficult task for the newcomer to the model-railroading hobby. There are so many trains out there, each in a different size. In this article, I am going to discuss a couple important things to know before buying your first model train. I know firsthand how that very first trip to the model train store can feel. After reading this article, you will have a better understanding of what to look for.

Space and Scale

Before you even think of building a model train set, you need to know just how much space you'll have for it. When you purchase a model train, it has a "scale" associated with it. The scale informs you of the size of the train. The majority of model train enthusiasts love the HO scale because it takes limited space for a regular setup and the detail is nice. If space is at a premium for you, look into N scale trains. These can be run in the smallest of spaces. One of my favorites is the O Scale, sometimes called O Gauge, trains. These are big boys and come with great detail. If you have at least a 6 foot by 6 foot space, you can setup a decent O scale layout. O scale model trains and accessories are typically more expensive, but they are worth it in my opinion.

Requirements

It is possible to setup your own model railroad piece by piece or to buy a complete kit. Generally, a complete kit will lack the frills associated with model railroad setups like scenery, but you can be up and running in minutes. If you end up buying a ready-to-run complete set, you can add-on to it easily by simply buying the parts you desire. Also you can run other trains on the track. Just make sure to buy the same scale as your setup. For example, if you bought a HO scale set, you want to buy HO model trains in the future.

Some Things to Look For

When buying your new model train, look to see if it is DCC enabled. This is a big one. You want to have your train DCC enabled, if possible, so you can run other trains at the same time with ease. Should you decide one train is enough for you, this is less of an issue, in my opinion. However, you never know. Your model train store will only have a very small fraction of the model trains and accessories that are out there. Don't feel like you have to buy what they have. The Internet is full of model train stores.

Finally, I recommend that you look for a model train store in your area and go talk to them. You can learn a lot very quickly by talking with someone in person who cares about the hobby. While hobby stores are ok, a store dedicated to model railroading is far superior in every aspect. The probability of finding someone who really knows about model railroading in detail at a general hobby store is minimal at best.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Jason A. Martin is a model railroading enthusiast. You can read more about Model Trains at TrainTraffic.com. If you are looking for Free Website Content , visit ContentTycoon.com.

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Brief Overlook of Some Fun Thomas the Train Toys and Sets

Train Sets

Brief Overlook of Some Fun Thomas the Train Toys and Sets
Author: Jared Winston
Thomas the Train toys are specially designed to help your children learn while growing up while at the same time keeping them entertained, and this goal has definitely been successful since Thomas and his friends have fascinated children of many generations - more than sixty years! You can find a wide assortment of different Thomas the Train toys and merchandise, but this quick overlook will cover toy trains and train set accessories.

I have been a fan of all the Thomas the Train toys for quite a while, and I thought someone could find a quick summary of the train sets information interesting, so I decided to write this article. I hope you enjoy it.

Manually-powered Thomas the Train toys

The most known Thomas the Train toys distributor is Learning Curve; their wooden sets are just delightful. They are able to operate on the wooden tracks provided by Learning Curve, and also on those similar tracks manufactured by BRIO. These wooden sets are highly recommended for children aged 2 to 5, because at those young ages the children tend to enjoy manually using the trains on the ground or any other surface, so they won't get to fully enjoy more complex, remotely controlled train sets. Learning Curve also introduced the "Take Along" Thomas the Train toys series that was made of metal. In this series, the trains connect with the coaches by using magnets, which is a smart idea. The track is made of plastic, and the only disadvantage I found is that they are not at all compatible with the older wooden tracks.

Other good metal models of Thomas the Train and his friends were those manufactured by ERTL, but unfortunately the company discontinued the series.

Another great series of Thomas the Train toys is the line manufactured by TOMY. The series includes plastic models and tracks, and many kids prefer them over the metal ones mentioned above. This company also launched the "My first Thomas the Train" series of manually powered plastic train sets designed for younger children, with rubber wheels and a good plastic track.

Electrically-powered Thomas the Train toys

Electrically powered train sets are recommended for older kids. Among the manufacturers of the best electrical Thomas the Train toys, you can find big known names like Bachmann and Tomica. Battery or transformer powered Thomas the Train characters and accessories are available, and both of them also made tracks available in several sizes. They even manufactured some remotely controlled sets too! Other manufacturers of electrically powered trains were Lionel and Hornby.

The electrical sets are not my favorites. In fact, I prefer the old wooden sets, which seem to be more useful for a developing child than other sets.

Of course, your preferences on Thomas the Train toys may not be the same as mine. Feel free to visit your local toy store and ask the salespeople about all the available different Thomas the Train toys. You will surely find a train set that meets your expectations, and will definitely be able to provide your child a highly entertaining experience while helping him or her learn fun things too.

Copyright © Jared Winston, 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

For decades Thomas the Tank Engine has fascinated children, leading to the release of everything from the original book series to Thomas the Train clothes . Stop by Thomas Fans to read more about Thomas, his friends, their history and their adventures.

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A Guide To Choosing The Right Toy For Your Child's Age

Train Sets

A Guide To Choosing The Right Toy For Your Child's Age
Author: Amy Thomas -
Choosing the right toy for your child's age is not just a matter of selecting a toy that will engage, entertain and educate them, it is also a matter of safety. If you've browsed the aisles of any toy store lately you probably know that selecting the right toy can be a difficult undertaking. Not only do you want a toy that you can rest assured will provide no danger to your child, but you also want to select a toy that will help your child develop their full potential.

Research indicates that children who are provided with age-appropriate toys that are stimulating will help children to more fully develop their physical, cognitive and creative abilities. By learning which toys are right for your child's age you can help them to stimulate the connections in their brains that are responsible for building your child's future intelligence.

Keep in mind that it is never to early to begin this all important process. Even the youngest babies can begin responding to bright colors, helping their vision to develop more quickly.

Children under Six Months:

• Mobiles in bright colors will stimulate vision
• Activity centers to encourage reaching for motor control development
• Mirrors designed with baby safety in mind to encourage your child to explore faces
• Rattlers and teethers that will introduce baby to new textures.
• Board books-even at this young age reading to your baby will help them with beginning language development

6 to 12 Months

During this time period, it is important to begin focusing on interactive play with your child. This includes introducing the concept of cause and effect as well working on eye-hand coordination. Simple games such as "peek-a-boo" and "pat-a-cake" are fun ways to help your baby discover the wonders of their new world. In addition, look for these types of toys to further stimulate your child's development and learning:

• Toys that are musical and make sounds
• Baby gyms and activity courses to stimulate crawling
• Bouncers to stimulate physical activity
• Play telephones to encourage communication through mimicking
• Soft dolls and stuffed animals for kids who love to cuddle
• Wooden and soft blocks for stacking, filling and dumping games

12-18 Months

Around the time your child turns one he or she may begin to walk or experiment with taking those first steps. Toys at this age should focus on supporting your child's curiosity in exploration while further developing fine motor coordination.

• Swing sets and safety trikes encourage physical activity and development
• Building blocks for eye-hand coordination
• Nesting cups and shape sorters to improve eye-hand coordination as well as problem solving skills
• Storybooks/picture books for language and vocabulary development
• Toddler appropriate videos and music

18-24 Months

By the time they are a 1 ½ years old most children begin to use their imagination in play. This typically takes on the form of make-believe; however, in reality this type of play is helping them to develop problem solving strategies. Look for toys that support this important time of development by expanding their exposure to shapes, colors, ability to follow instructions and language. The important key to remember at this age is that kids are truly learning with hands-on play.

• Costumes and dress-up to stimulate imagination
• Push and pull toys that support both tykes that are beginning to walk as well as advanced walkers
• Puzzles that are easy to manipulate with a small number of pieces
• Playhouses and other scaled down objects that your child sees everyday will give them the opportunity to mimic the world around them.
• Swing sets to develop physical skills

24-36 Months

At age two children begin to really focus on fine motor coordination, even though they do not realize it, of course. By this age kids can begin working with board games suitable for their age as well as craft type projects and toys. Most kids this age are also ready to begin playing with other kids, so you may also wish to look for games and toys that are more structured in nature that previous toys.

• Simple board games and puzzles to encourage further eye-hand coordination and memory development.
• Outdoor equipment such as swing sets, riding vehicles and tricycles to build physical skills
• Beginner musical instruments
• Playhouses
• Sand boxes
• Train sets
• Dolls
• Cars/trucks
• Costumes/dress-up
• Art sets
• Storybooks for language development and vocabulary building
• Videos and music, especially those that expose kids to numbers and the alphabet

By keeping in mind which toys are age-appropriate you will be in a better position to help support the lightening fast development of your child's brain and actually step up their learning and development.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Monkey Bean Toys provides wonderful gifts such as wooden toys , stuffed animals, and specialzed gifts. Visit our site to see our full line of traditional wooden toys .

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3D Modeling in Transportation Flows

Train Set

3D Modeling in Transportation Flows
Author: Lance Winslow

We need to borrow the technology that the military uses for the Battlefield 4D holographic simulations in the Net-centric Warfare Battlespace and transfer this technology to help the DOT and DHS predict how to keep the distribution systems are moving in our Nation in real-time. We need monitor the movement and keep flows moving under circumstances involving Choke Point breakages in the Highyway and railway systems in case a bridge out, an accident occurs or god forbid we are attacked again by International Terrorists. Such a tool could help people like Secretary of Transportation of the current administration make split second decisions using a complete visualization in real time.

Imagine looking down at a holographic view of a city, state or the whole country at the same time watching the different types of traffic flows all interacting. Cars, trucks, trains, boats, planes and seeing first hand as traffic jams occur and being able to replay and store that image and run it over and over again modifying veriables; Traffic signals, times of travel, adding lanes, offramps? We have the technology now to eliminate traffic jams and increase the real world traffic bandwidth able to flow thru our transportation system.

This tool also when used in simulations can predict BMPs for things like blocking a lane for construction, adding a bridge or extra lane based on modeling by ERSI vendors and Battelle which is doing projects similar but not 4D in Seattle at their Pacific Northwest Laboratories.

Why this is important is we can then see how toll ways, off ramps, signals and other things impede traffic flow and the flow of goods and services to markets. How trains and boats and containers interact. How people on buses, trolleys, trains, aircraft, hydro craft, ferries, motorcycles, taxi cabs, limos and passenger cars move. How the system works together with Air, rail, Water and road travel no matter what the type of transportation used. This is like a giant train set you never have to build, can change at will. A holographic display, which can zoom in, zoom out, replay, record sessions, back up. Move to another state, county, city streets, just like a Google Map, but in 3D and 4D. $D in that you can see subways underneath tunnels and double-decker freeways such as in Seattle, SF, San Antonio. You can see the NY subways, Bart trains under the bay, the Baltimore Tunnel, you see, why we need this? And since we have the technology, we can run the system to perfection, increasing our nations productivity, decreasing traffic jams, enhancing response time to first responders. We can run our a Net-Centric Battlefield, not delivering bombs to the enemy, but delivering products, people, packages, goods and services to the masses. Efficiency in the flow of transportation is a vital part to a healthy economy.

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?showtopic=6

Someone like Snow the treasury secretary, a former Railroad man, might want to have a similar device for money flows and markets and since he is very valuable to the administration than that of merely a treasury secretary, he should be given the assignment of working with the DOT to develop systems to streamline the infrastructure, which will lower prices to consumers through efficiencies and raise profits for transportation companies which will increase flow and help us with the future inflationary period by lowering costs through efficiencies and it also saves fuel and of value to our dependence on foreign oil and the Energy Issues which are vital to the country. Can you see the potential here?

By using such a system and GPS tracking of trucking, cargo containers, ships, planes (using Lockheed's global system and the FAA system) we can predict under utilization points and times and fill them while alleviating times and areas with choke points causing a loss of productivity to our citizenry, small businesses and government agencies. This will increase quality of life giving back 1-2 hours in metro areas to all travelers. This is a gift worthy of the taxes charged by our government for the services they provide. It is fair and easy to do. The over all cost of this project I see at about 500 million dollars and will give the US the advantage to do more with less and therefore compete with a higher standard of living while delivering goods and services to the world. This system has another benefit. Better and healthy air, since vehicles pollute less when running at optimum not idling in traffic.

Here are a few examples of what has lead me to this conclusion. By having someone in the know with years of rail and distribution experience looking over the 4D model they can easily within minutes pinpoint problems and make good and important decisions, this is one reason at rail yards the Rail Master is in a tower for a better vantage point and why Air Traffic Controllers sit with an unobstructed view over the ramp and can see BLOS. There is an exponentially and mathematically component to this and that is that the cost savings to businesses will make them more profitable meaning more profits and more tax revenue. Moms and Dads will not be stuck in traffic and spend more time raising their kids with out latch key syndrome and that means better students, better citizens, less juvenile delinquency, drugs and less need for costly police, jails and rehabs. Everytime you assist our economy on more efficient operations we all win.

By Lance Winslow

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The Rise Of Techno Toys And Gifts

Train Set

The Rise Of Techno Toys And Gifts
Author: S. Mallon
The market for technology-based gifts for the 'big boys' market continues to grow

As Christmas looms once more on the horizon, the retailers stock their shelves in the hope of a bumper season. Parents try their level best to appease the kids at great expense but the era of the train set and doll houses is over and the pressure and financial strain on parents increases. The increasing trend towards technology-based toys means increasingly sophisticated products at increasingly sophisticated prices.

The year's most wanted toys (http://www.toyretailersassociation.co.uk) reflect this trend with increasing emphasis on i-Pods and Sony PSP and a movement away from the traditional toys and gifts is more acute this year than any other. A case in point is this year's most sought after gift - the Robosapien V2 as it pervades the stores and online retail pages (http://www.justtoys.com/toy.asp/Toy/31/buy/robosapien-v2.htm). Billed as a walking, talking humanoid, the Robosapien V2 threatens not only the place of traditional Christmas toys, but the traditional household pet as well. The Robosapien V2 is just the latest in a long line of recent products which mark a sea change in the type of gifts and toys that we shop for.

The market for techno toys is booming – perhaps a result of a two tier market where toys and gifts are marketed to 'big boys' as well as to kids. The techno-based lifestyle where we are surrounded by plasma screen TVs, the latest audio equipment and game consoles is upon us and could be at the heart of this paradigm shift. This is, of course, felt more acutely online than anywhere, where retail sites providing secondary products around this market are evident. One such example is Stand and Deliver (http://www.standanddeliver.com) a site dedicated to contemporary furniture to house the techno products that we surround ourselves with.

All of which requires considerable financial outlay – something which will be felt in the forthcoming months that at any point previously.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Steven is an independent cultural commentator who contributes to a wide range of journals and magazines both online and offline E-mail – steven@hamsterage.com Phone – 0131 561 1791 Resources: www.toyretailersassociation.co.uk – Industry body for the UK toy retailers providing market analysis and overview www.justtoys.com – UK online toy store with strong focus on toys for grown ups such as Robosapien V2 and Doctor Who Toys www.standanddeliver.com – UK site providing audio visual furniture for Plasma TV's and a range of home technology products.

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Slot Car Racing: High-Speed Thrills

Model Train

Slot Car Racing: High-Speed Thrills
Author: Ronald Roberts
The cars are bumper-to-bumper into the final lap. It's too close to call ... and the Dodge Charger Daytona takes the checkered flag just ahead of the Plymouth Superbird!

No, that wasn't the call from the latest televised race. It's the kind of heart-pounding racing thrills that you and your friends could be enjoying with motorsports for the home.

Slot car racing has been around since the mid-50s, when enthusiasts "drove" their cars on model train tracks. In the 1960s, slot car racing events were featured on television shows such as "Mike Douglas," "Johnny Carson" and "Steve Allen." And Elvis loved slot cars so much that he had an entire room at Graceland devoted to the hobby.

Elvis, however, never had anything like the latest slot cars from Carrera. The sport has come a long way since the days of The King of Rock 'n' Roll. Today, Carrera's "Evolution Pro-X" sets another high tech benchmark with a state-of-the-art digital system in 1:32 scale.

Unlike analog systems, by fitting a micro-processor to each car and including the special digital power control unit and track sections within the layout, the new digital system lets you run multiple cars on the same track for a more realistic racing experience than Elvis ever could have imagined. The wide lane-changing sections let you pass at top speed with bumper-to-bumper thrills down the back stretch, plus raw lane change section activation as you maneuver for position, just like professional race car drivers. The Pro-X system features the latest models from Ferrari and Mercedes as well as classics like the Dodge Charger Daytona.

Carrera also offers the "Exclusiv" line with cars such as the Chevrolet Corvette C6R and 1:24 scale tracks, as well as "Carrera Go!!!" in 1:43 scale featuring Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four sets for younger slot car enthusiasts.

Long popular in Europe, slot car racing is gaining momentum in the U.S. as Americans - from car aficionados to hobbyists to collectors and "kids" of all ages - rediscover the thrill of this challenging and adrenaline-pumping hobby that's fun for the entire family.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

To learn more about the latest advancements in slot car racing, visit www.carrera-toys.com. - NU

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My kids have the same toys as everyone else, how do I find unique toys?

Train Set

My kids have the same toys as everyone else, how do I find unique toys?
Author: Jakob Marlena
Have you found yourself running out to the mall and buying toy after toy for you kids simply because they have friends who have this toy, only to find the toy isn't even played with a couple of weeks after being purchased? The cycle then resurfaces for the next toy of the moment your child tells you he or she wants. Playing with toys can not only be fun, but with the right toys play time can also stimulate your child's imagination and creativity. Although malls have many toy stores and department stores, these stores tend to all carry the same set of toys and products. They follow the tried and true formula for carrying products, allowing for little to no unique products.

Children tend to want the same toys as their friends simply because whoever is first to get it will be the proud owner of a new unique toy. This novelty of having a unique toy soon wears off as each of your children's friends now has this same toy, all purchased from the same store in the mall. A child's creativity needs the right creative toys to continue growing.

As a parent you walk a fine line between spoiling a child and rewarding them with new toys. But from experience you know that the euphoria from having a unique toy fades as the toy becomes mainstream. What are you to do so as to not fall in this cycle?

The answer is found on the Internet! Many toy stores have opened online selling unique, creative, imaginative, or simply hard to find toys products. Very few specialty stores will carry products that can be found at another store that specializes in carrying unique items.

The next time a toy purchase is planned, why not bring your child with you to the computer and show them all of the stuff they never would have known exists if you had gone to shop at your area mall. You never know what you could find.

Does your child like building blocks, such as Lego's™? Then why not try Clics, a building material that clicks together with endless opportunities for your little one. Blast off to the moon, or to completely new worlds with the Clics rocket, or ride the Orient Express with the Clics train set. And those are simply the special Clics sets. With buckets of Clics there is no limit as to what can be built. Creativity and imagination are able to run free while designing the next great structure.

Buying toys online also make it easy to find the perfect unique birthday or holiday gift for not only your own child, but for family and friends as well.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Andrew Serrano is the owner of www.kidlotz.com , a children's store that sells unique and educational children's toys and products. KidLotz.com's product line includes unique product line includes items for all age groups: Pedal Cars, Wildlife Animal Chess Sets, Night Lights, Clics, Prayer Bears, Growth Charts,Wood Toys, Graduation Photo Frames, and many more.

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Model Trains and Railroading

Model Trains

Model Trains and Railroading
Author: dave4
Model trains has been a hobby for many years. Model Train enthusiasts enjoy their hobby all year long. There are several scales or sizes of trains. Some of these sizes are G Scale trains, O Scale trains, N Scale trains, and HO Scale trains.

G Scale trains are typically used in outdoor garden layouts to create a garden railway. Garden railway train sets can be large enough to have many trains throughout the yard. G Scale trains can also be run indoors. Bachmann, is a major manufacturer of G Scale train sets. Other companies that make G Scale trains and/or products including scenery are Lifelike, Model Power, MRC, Preiser, USA Trains, Vollmer, Woodland Scenics, Circuitron, and Walthers. Many types of products can go into garden railway layouts.

O Scale trains are commonly purchased by new hobby people or people who want a train set around the bottom of their Christmas tree. Atlas O, Lifelike, Model Power, MRC, Preiser, USA Trains, Vollmer, Woodland Scenics, Circuitron, and Walthers, Lionel Trains and Bachmann, are companies that make O Scale trains and/or products and scenery. Other companies are K Line, Lifelike, Model Power, MRC, M.T.H., Preiser, Vollmer, Woodland Scenics, Circuitron, and Walthers.

N Scale train sets are one of the smallest sizes of trains. They are quite small in size and proper supervision of children is necessary around these small train sets. Athearn, Atlas, American Model Builders, Bachmann, Branchline Trains, Busch, Classic Metal Works, Con-Cor, and Heljan are companies that make N Scale trains and/or products and scenery etc. Other companies are Kadee, Kato, Lifelike, Model Power, MRC, Peco, Preiser, Vollmer, Woodland Scenics, Circuitron, and Walthers.

HO Scale train sets are the most popular scale and make the best choice for an all-around train set if you have the room. Accurail, Athearn, Athearn Genesis, Atlas, American Model Builders, Bachmann, Branchline Trains, Boley, Broadway Limited, Busch, Classic Metal Works, Con-Cor, and Heljan are companies that make G Scale trains and/or products and scenery etc. Other companies are Herpa, Kadee, Kato, Lifelike, Marklin, MDC Roundhouse, Model Power, MRC, Peco, Preiser, Rivarossi, Stewart Hobbies, Vollmer, Woodland Scenics, Circuitron, and Walthers.

Companies like Bachmann, Lionel Trains, Athearn, Atlas, Atlas O, Lifelike, Model Power, MRC, Preiser, USA Trains, Vollmer, Woodland Scenics, Circuitron, and Walthers, Lifelike, Model Power, MRC, M.T.H., Peco, Preiser, Rivarossi, Stewart Hobbies, USA Trains, Vollmer, Woodland Scenics, Circuitron, and Walthers are well known by many hobbyists. The train set and garden layout hobbyist often spends the winter making new layouts and designs during the winter months.

Layouts can be made indoor or outdoor. Woodland Scenics is a popular brand for trees and buildings for train layouts. Scenery is a big part of the garden layout. People and animal figurines are available in varying scale sizes that will coordinate with the different scale train layouts. Lifelike trees and shrubs come in a large variety of sizes and types.

The Learning Curve manufactures wooden train sets. The Learning Curve makes these toy trains for children. Children worldwide enjoy toy trains. Wooden toy trains are perfect for kids because they are more durable. Children love wooden train sets. The Learning Curve is a great source for your child's first wooden toy train set.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Timm Romano is a model train store owner and writes about Model Trains and Model Railroading

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Model Train Scales

Model Trains

Model Train Scales
Author: Jason A. Martin
When you get into model railroading, you quickly learn about model train scales. Every model train that is produced has a scale letter associated with it, such as: HO, O and so forth. The scale let's you know how true to life it is and more importantly, the physical size of the train itself. The scale refers to the size in comparison with the real thing. For example, 1:220 means the real version of the model train is 220 times larger. If you are a newcomer to model trains, the amount of space will be the first factor in determining which scale to go with. For the hardcore model railroader, mixing scales is a great joy when space permits. Let's take a look at some of the model train scales and minimum space requirements.

Z Scale trains are 1:220, which means they are very small. I call these "cute" trains and they are perfect for those with an extremely limited space. As with any scale, you can expand the layout as large as you want to go.

Next up is the N Scale, which is 1:160. N scale trains are semi-popular and are great if you want your focus to be on your layout and not the train itself. They are small as well, so you can fit these trains into minimal space.

HO Scale model trains are 1:87 and the most popular scale of model train with model railroaders. They offer a good level of detail and allow you to fit a nice size track into an average size space. I like HO scale trains because they blend in great with any type scenery and you get a good balance as a result.

The O Scales, my favorite, are 1:48 and very popular as well. Lionel has been making great O scale model trains for many decades. These model trains are larger and require a good amount of space for a proper layout. It is possible to setup a small oval track in about a 5-foot by 5-foot area. Although the track will seem small because of the train's size, it is better than nothing. If your layout is smaller, the O scale train will dominate the view.

There are a couple other scales, such as S and G, but these are the main ones I choose to discuss in this article. Only you can decide which scale is right for you. Some, with limited space, prefer the O scale model trains, even though they dominate the layout, because of their detail and size. O scale trains are "meatier" and are really great for pacifying the children.

All trains have a variance in quality so one scale is not necessarily more expensive than another. Although, I have found O scale model life to be a little bit pricier. You really can't go wrong with model railroading. It is highly rewarding and wholesome. In the end, you might find yourself collecting model trains across the entire scale spectrum. Get out there and ride the rails!

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Jason A. Martin is a model railroading enthusiast. You can read more about Model Trains at TrainTraffic.com. If you are looking for Free Website Content , visit ContentTycoon.com.

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Magazine Subscriptions: The Perfect Gift

Model Trains

Magazine Subscriptions: The Perfect Gift
Author: Daniel Smith -
Every one of us has that person in our lives that is absolutely impossible to buy for. It may be a friend, coworker, or acquaintance. It may be a distant family member such as an uncle or cousin. Maybe it is even someone closer to you, like a parent or sibling. For some people, even buying a gift for their spouse can prove confusing.

People are hard to buy gifts for for a wide variety of reasons. Maybe the person on your list has everything they could possibly need. Maybe they are so picky that you are afraid to take a chance on personal gifts. Sometimes if you don't know the person well enough, it is hard to buy a gift that is thoughtful but not too personal.

There is always the old standby when it comes to hard to buy for folks. Gift cards have become an acceptable way to acknowledge a gift giving occasion without having to worry about finding a present that suits the recipient. The problem with gift cards is that they are so impersonal. They don't tell a person that you thought about them and took time to pick out a gift that was perfect for them. All they say is that you recognized a person's special occasion by giving them money. This isn't a great message to send and you run the risk of hurting the recipient's feelings or even offending them when you give a gift card for special occasions.

So if gift cards aren't a great idea and you are stumped as to what you can get for your hard to buy for friend, what is a person to do? Cash and checks are even more impersonal than a gift card and it is really hard to go to the mall and find something nice for someone you know very little about. Magazine subscriptions are the perfect solution. With the thousands of magazines in existence it is easy to find the perfect subscription even if you don't know the recipient well.

If you want to buy a magazine subscription for any of the hard to shop for people on your list, and you aren't quite sure what kind of magazine to buy, sit down and make a list of all the things you know about the person. Ask yourself if they have any hobbies that you know about. What kind job does the person have? Does the person travel a lot? Where does the person live? Does the person have pets or children? If you can answer even one of these five questions, you will have a basis to use when choosing which magazine to give your friend. You could buy them a subscription to a trade magazine that will keep them informed about changes in their industry. You could buy them one of thousands of hobby magazines that cover popular subjects like cooking and gardening to those that cover more obscure hobbies such as model trains or bird watching. If your friend loves to travel, there are lots of great magazines that showcase fun places to visit or get them a subscription to a general interest magazine. They can tuck the periodical into their carryon and always have something interesting to browse when they are on the go. If they have children or pets, consider a subscription to the hundreds of parenting and pet magazines that are in existence. Even if location is the only thing you know about the person you want to buy for, a magazine subscription is the perfect gift. There are regional magazines for every nook and cranny of the world and it is always fun to read about events that are local to you.

Once you have decided what magazine to purchase, go out and buy one copy of the magazine and wrap it up in a pretty box with a big bow. Include a card with the gift that tells the person they will soon start receiving the enclosed subscription in the mail. You can even tell them just why you choose the magazine that you did. Perhaps your aunt makes the most delicious pies so you think of her whenever you read through your favorite baking magazine and that made you want to get her a subscription to that magazine.

Don't worry if the person already has a subscription to the magazine. Your gift will simply be added on to the end of their subscription extending the time that they receive the magazine. Giving a magazine subscription is a thoughtful way to remember someone and the best part about these gifts is that every time a magazine comes in the mail, the recipient will remember just how considerate a person you are.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Daniem Smith writes about Magazine Gift and Magazine Coupon

...

Magazine Subscriptions: The Perfect Gift

Model Trains

Magazine Subscriptions: The Perfect Gift
Author: Daniel Smith -
Every one of us has that person in our lives that is absolutely impossible to buy for. It may be a friend, coworker, or acquaintance. It may be a distant family member such as an uncle or cousin. Maybe it is even someone closer to you, like a parent or sibling. For some people, even buying a gift for their spouse can prove confusing.

People are hard to buy gifts for for a wide variety of reasons. Maybe the person on your list has everything they could possibly need. Maybe they are so picky that you are afraid to take a chance on personal gifts. Sometimes if you don't know the person well enough, it is hard to buy a gift that is thoughtful but not too personal.

There is always the old standby when it comes to hard to buy for folks. Gift cards have become an acceptable way to acknowledge a gift giving occasion without having to worry about finding a present that suits the recipient. The problem with gift cards is that they are so impersonal. They don't tell a person that you thought about them and took time to pick out a gift that was perfect for them. All they say is that you recognized a person's special occasion by giving them money. This isn't a great message to send and you run the risk of hurting the recipient's feelings or even offending them when you give a gift card for special occasions.

So if gift cards aren't a great idea and you are stumped as to what you can get for your hard to buy for friend, what is a person to do? Cash and checks are even more impersonal than a gift card and it is really hard to go to the mall and find something nice for someone you know very little about. Magazine subscriptions are the perfect solution. With the thousands of magazines in existence it is easy to find the perfect subscription even if you don't know the recipient well.

If you want to buy a magazine subscription for any of the hard to shop for people on your list, and you aren't quite sure what kind of magazine to buy, sit down and make a list of all the things you know about the person. Ask yourself if they have any hobbies that you know about. What kind job does the person have? Does the person travel a lot? Where does the person live? Does the person have pets or children? If you can answer even one of these five questions, you will have a basis to use when choosing which magazine to give your friend. You could buy them a subscription to a trade magazine that will keep them informed about changes in their industry. You could buy them one of thousands of hobby magazines that cover popular subjects like cooking and gardening to those that cover more obscure hobbies such as model trains or bird watching. If your friend loves to travel, there are lots of great magazines that showcase fun places to visit or get them a subscription to a general interest magazine. They can tuck the periodical into their carryon and always have something interesting to browse when they are on the go. If they have children or pets, consider a subscription to the hundreds of parenting and pet magazines that are in existence. Even if location is the only thing you know about the person you want to buy for, a magazine subscription is the perfect gift. There are regional magazines for every nook and cranny of the world and it is always fun to read about events that are local to you.

Once you have decided what magazine to purchase, go out and buy one copy of the magazine and wrap it up in a pretty box with a big bow. Include a card with the gift that tells the person they will soon start receiving the enclosed subscription in the mail. You can even tell them just why you choose the magazine that you did. Perhaps your aunt makes the most delicious pies so you think of her whenever you read through your favorite baking magazine and that made you want to get her a subscription to that magazine.

Don't worry if the person already has a subscription to the magazine. Your gift will simply be added on to the end of their subscription extending the time that they receive the magazine. Giving a magazine subscription is a thoughtful way to remember someone and the best part about these gifts is that every time a magazine comes in the mail, the recipient will remember just how considerate a person you are.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Daniem Smith writes about Magazine Gift and Magazine Coupon

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Hand-eye coordination and visual discrimination key to literacy

Train Set

Hand-eye coordination and visual discrimination key to literacy
Author: Deanna Mascle
Sometimes the best thing you can do for your child's early literacy development is simply to let them play. Turn off the TV and anything battery operated then let your child pick up their toys, build blocks or duplos, or manipulate puzzles or game pieces. Not only are you giving your child the gift of childhood, something we so often fail to do in today's hectice, achievement-oriented world, but you are actually helping them build skills that are key to learning to read and write.

Hand-eye coordination is a necessary skill for written language and the best way to help your child develop this skill is to let them play with toys and activities that involve looking at, using, and discriminating a number of elements. Puzzles are obviously a great activity for this but so are manipulative toys such as blocks, duplos, and magnetix.

My son just spent over an hour this evening playing dominos with his father -- OK they weren't so much playing as setting up complex pattterns and then knocking them down -- but I didn't tell them they were engaged in a preliteracy activity. They were just having fun together.

Studies have shown that spending time on hand-eye coordination activities improves children's ability to learn to read and lessens the difficulty they face during the process. In fact engaging in a variety of craft activities, which most kids love, can be very beneficial so add play dough, stickers, and glue sticks to your list of educational supplies.

Research shows that early practice of hand-eye coordination activities reduces the risk for reading difficulties.

ACTIVITIES TO ENCOURAGE

Puzzles help develop hand-eye coordination because learning to control hands and fingers according to information received from sight is a coordination skill that aids children in early attempts at reading and writing. Determining out which piece goes where, working to fit pieces into place by making adjustments, and seeing a sequence develop in an organized pattern can be a great learning experience as well as very satisfying for children.

Puzzles, matching games, and the like are also important to help children learn visual discrimination. Visual discrimination is the ability of the brain to quickly tell the difference among visually similar letters, like "p," "b," and "q" or between words such as "was" and "saw." Students with difficulty making these distinctions often struggle with learning to read, write, and spell. Playing games, engaging in activities, or with toys that help children discriminate among similar objects can be fun for the child and help them master an important preliteracy skill. My son loves to help his father sort change before rolling it to be deposited at the bank. Sure we could use an electronic sorter but our son loves to engage in the activity and it is a valuable learning experience for him.

Visual discrimination can often be learned with your child's existing toys. Matchbox cars, dolls, and action figures all offer the opportunity for your child to learn visual discrimination.

Encourage children to work their wrist and finger muscles as well as work on their coordination and small-motor skills to help prepare them for the handwriting practice in their future. Activities to help with these goals include legos and other building sets, playdough, puzzles, pegboards, beads and other table toys. These fun, natural activities help children improve their cognitive and fine motor skills without frustration or boredom.

My son engages in many activities every day that encourage hand-eye coordination and visual discrimination. I don't suggest the activities to him. I make the toys and manipulatives available to him and he chooses them on his own. The activities vary he may go an entire week building and rebuilding his wooden train set every day and then the next week his magnetix set dominates his play time. Some days he plays with both together and pulls in his duplos and wooden blocks for added fun. It doesn't matter to me which activity he chooses because I know he is having fun, challenging his imagination,and learning.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Preschoolers Learn More newsletter offers a free tutorial to help you teach your child to read as well as other preschool resources at Teach Your Child To Read and Teach Your Child the Alphabet .

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Driving a Steam Train

Model Train

Driving a Steam Train
Author: Suie Roberts
To drive a steam has got to be in the top ten of boyhood dreams. Stoking the fire, and building up a full head of steam, the screeching of the whistle, and the slow starting chuff, chuff, chuff, as the locomotive slowly pulls out of the station. Those old bygone days, with their bygone aromas and sounds that warmed many a boy's heart.

So much so, that steam trains were popular in children's television programmes. Thomas the Tank Engine is probably the most popular, narrated by Ringo Star. Trumpton also featured a little train, the catchy son echoed and romanticised the boyish dream of becoming a rain driver.

Time flies by when I'm the driver of a train,
and I ride on the footplate there and back again,
Under bridges over bridges to our destination,
Puffing through the countryside there's so much to be seen.
Passengers waving as we steam through a station.
Stoke up fireman for the signal is at green.

Ivor the Engine was another much loved steam train, who ran through the welsh countryside with his own distinctive chhh-ta-cuff sound. The magi of steam trains was emphasised with a couple of welsh dragons that had taken up residence in Ivors fire box.

Of course our love affair with steam locomotives started with first appearance of steam trains. The majestic power and beauty of these huge engines boasting our incredible engineering skills and capabilities of the day. The splendour and the speed of these magnificent wonders dazed people; Robert Louis Stevenson decries this wonder in his poem 'From a Railway Carriage' in which you can actually hear the sound of the engine powering along -

Faster than fairies,
Faster than witches,
Bridges and houses, hedges and ditches;
And charging along like troops in a battle,
All through the meadows the horses and cattle,
All of the sights of the hill and the plain,
Fly as thick as driving rain;
And ever again, in the wink of an eye,
Painted stations whistle by.

No wonder then that we have model train enthusiasts who hanker over these large, powerful and romantic locomotives, building model railways in the loft, or running larger model rail ways for children to ride on at local parks during the summer months. They want to keep the magic alive.

Of course you can indulge yourself in a romantic Nostalgic Steam Train Journey. Some steam engines are kept in good order for people to travel on. No need to try to recall what an old stream train journey was like, you could enjoy a day trip on a train, and pass on the excitement of steam trains to another generation.
http://www.bigboystoyz.com/drive-a-steam-train.php Keeping Big Boys Dreams alive

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

S.Roberts writes or a number of websites www.bigboystoyz.com and www.santaspostbag.co.uk being just two. If you would like to publish this article in part or full I a happy for you to do this as long as you include a link back to bigboystoyz Thanks

...

Do What You Did and Keep Getting What You Got

Model Train

Do What You Did and Keep Getting What You Got
Author: Michael Harrison


Venture nothing - gain nothing.

One thing is for sure if you keep doing what you did you will keep getting what you got.

When I started my consultancy business I was struck by the reaction of people who knew me and knew my experiences and background. The reaction of my wife was totally supportive and my children were neutral. (they were going thro' college at the time!)

Many friends were not surprised because as an independently minded person with my own views and thoughts I was a bit of a free wheeler.

However, one friend was askance and a conversation on the golf course explaining what was going on created the comment "I could not do it, I need the support of a corporation around me".

Having left employment in the corporate world behind his comments stayed with me. About six months later he called to ask what he should do as the secure corporate world had just decided to dispense with his services.

Discussing his alternatives with him - employment or independence, I advised that to secure further employment could take a while so he may as well get busy on his own account as well. He was/is a talented electronic engineer with vast commercial and training experience, which could be commercially exploited.

Helping him through this phase was rewarding because he never went back to employment. He became confident in his abilities and consulted successfully. Specialising in management training. Now he and his wife spend a good part of the year in their house in Mediterranean, even though they still work together in the business the rest of the time.

Another downsized accountant friend now has a thriving business helping small business owners with their accounts and tax matters. When discussing our corporate backgrounds and subsequent good fortune in being able to set our own agenda he made the observation that we would not have been able to succeed so well without our home computers.

This is so true because the computer as a business tool has revolutionised the opportunities for so many all around the globe. Knowledge based service businesses are particularly suited to the use of computers.

Having said all of that how about these true successful ventures? I recently read of a 21year student who needed new spectacles but was astounded by the cost. He decided to see if he could do better and is now a millionaire. How? He ventured to believe that he could and would do something to reduce the high cost of what is an essential for most people.

Using the internet to source spectacles he found he could supply direct at about 20% of the cost on the high street stores. His new venture was spawned when he founded Glasses Direct. With the support of student friends he set up a web site and supplied his customers from a spare room in his parents' house. He still lives at home.

The business now has more than 8,000 customers and sells more than 300 pairs a day. The venture has had it's problems from the established industry but if it continues to grow at the present rate this young man will become even more wealthy as someone buys him out.

Another great venture is the housewife who wanted to buy her husband a present. He is a model train enthusiast. She found some difficulty in getting advice and sourcing the present. So she spotted a niche and set up a web based business. It now employs twelve people and she has a supply for her husband who works in his job while she runs her new venture.

This article entitled 'venture nothing - gain nothing' came very much on the spur of the moment, I guess my thinking is 'lets get on with it'. If we keep doing what we did we will get what we got. The opportunities are out there even in the most unlikely places.

Tip
I try to use tips as a prompt to our thinking and applicable to this weeks' bulletin is 'if you never begin you will never win'. All of the true cases mentioned won because they started. Some in adversity went on to win.

*********************************************************************
Resource Box:
Article by Michael Harrison, Author, Publisher and Business Consultant. Learn from an expert: Go to: http://www.be-your-own-business-expert.com/
*********************************************************************
**Attn: Ezine Editors / Site Owners / Webmasters / everyone**
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site as long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include our resource box as listed above.
You can use other articles similarly from http://www.be-your-own-business-expert.com/Articles.html

About the Author

Michael Harrison is an author, publisher and business consultant specialising in helping business owners and individuals to realise and release the full potential of their situation. He has helped many people to improve their business situations and advised and supported individuals to embark on new directions in their careers.

...

Do What You Did and Keep Getting What You Got

Model Train

Do What You Did and Keep Getting What You Got
Author: Michael Harrison


Venture nothing - gain nothing.

One thing is for sure if you keep doing what you did you will keep getting what you got.

When I started my consultancy business I was struck by the reaction of people who knew me and knew my experiences and background. The reaction of my wife was totally supportive and my children were neutral. (they were going thro' college at the time!)

Many friends were not surprised because as an independently minded person with my own views and thoughts I was a bit of a free wheeler.

However, one friend was askance and a conversation on the golf course explaining what was going on created the comment "I could not do it, I need the support of a corporation around me".

Having left employment in the corporate world behind his comments stayed with me. About six months later he called to ask what he should do as the secure corporate world had just decided to dispense with his services.

Discussing his alternatives with him - employment or independence, I advised that to secure further employment could take a while so he may as well get busy on his own account as well. He was/is a talented electronic engineer with vast commercial and training experience, which could be commercially exploited.

Helping him through this phase was rewarding because he never went back to employment. He became confident in his abilities and consulted successfully. Specialising in management training. Now he and his wife spend a good part of the year in their house in Mediterranean, even though they still work together in the business the rest of the time.

Another downsized accountant friend now has a thriving business helping small business owners with their accounts and tax matters. When discussing our corporate backgrounds and subsequent good fortune in being able to set our own agenda he made the observation that we would not have been able to succeed so well without our home computers.

This is so true because the computer as a business tool has revolutionised the opportunities for so many all around the globe. Knowledge based service businesses are particularly suited to the use of computers.

Having said all of that how about these true successful ventures? I recently read of a 21year student who needed new spectacles but was astounded by the cost. He decided to see if he could do better and is now a millionaire. How? He ventured to believe that he could and would do something to reduce the high cost of what is an essential for most people.

Using the internet to source spectacles he found he could supply direct at about 20% of the cost on the high street stores. His new venture was spawned when he founded Glasses Direct. With the support of student friends he set up a web site and supplied his customers from a spare room in his parents' house. He still lives at home.

The business now has more than 8,000 customers and sells more than 300 pairs a day. The venture has had it's problems from the established industry but if it continues to grow at the present rate this young man will become even more wealthy as someone buys him out.

Another great venture is the housewife who wanted to buy her husband a present. He is a model train enthusiast. She found some difficulty in getting advice and sourcing the present. So she spotted a niche and set up a web based business. It now employs twelve people and she has a supply for her husband who works in his job while she runs her new venture.

This article entitled 'venture nothing - gain nothing' came very much on the spur of the moment, I guess my thinking is 'lets get on with it'. If we keep doing what we did we will get what we got. The opportunities are out there even in the most unlikely places.

Tip
I try to use tips as a prompt to our thinking and applicable to this weeks' bulletin is 'if you never begin you will never win'. All of the true cases mentioned won because they started. Some in adversity went on to win.

*********************************************************************
Resource Box:
Article by Michael Harrison, Author, Publisher and Business Consultant. Learn from an expert: Go to: http://www.be-your-own-business-expert.com/
*********************************************************************
**Attn: Ezine Editors / Site Owners / Webmasters / everyone**
Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site as long as you leave all links in place, do not modify the content and include our resource box as listed above.
You can use other articles similarly from http://www.be-your-own-business-expert.com/Articles.html

About the Author

Michael Harrison is an author, publisher and business consultant specialising in helping business owners and individuals to realise and release the full potential of their situation. He has helped many people to improve their business situations and advised and supported individuals to embark on new directions in their careers.

...

Discover Model Trains

Model Trains

Discover Model Trains
Author: Gray Rollins -
Model train manufacturers have done a great job of recreating life size trains as realistic models. And they've been doing it since the late 19th century when electric model trains first appeared. Take a moment to discover the magic of model trains.

Germany is where it all began when Marklin introduced their full line of model trains back in 1891. Their first trains were based on earlier toy models and were available in three scales. They were made from tin and were very crude, but they were a great success.

Then, in 1901, Joshua Cowen entered the market with Lionel trains. Lionel would soon come to dominate the model train market in America.

Of course there were other companies that came on board with their own lines of model trains. Ives, American Flyer, and Marx all introduced model trains.

Because model trains are so interactive they are a great choice for children and adults. Even the youngest children can enjoy them. It's not uncommon for adults to recall their first train when talking about their fondest childhood memories.

Lionel was quick to recognize the importance of starting train collectors at a young age and that's why they've got wooden train sets for ages 4 to 6. By the age of 8, kids are ready to be introduced to S scale, G scale, and the ever popular HO scale electric trains. And the hobby continues into adult life. Of course expanding on your model trains is just a matter of time, money, creativity, and space.

There are several different scales of model trains to choose from to fit your space, budget, and personal preferences. For example, if you are limited by space you can choose one of the smaller scales. Here are some of the most popular scale choices you have.

1. Z Scale is a 1:220 ratio. It is tiny and highly detailed, and is an excellent choice if you have limited space.

2. N Scale is a 1:160 ratio. It is the second smallest scale available and it's a great choice for the hobbyist that want to be able to incorporate scenery and longer trains.

3. HO Scale is a 1:87 ratio. It is probably the most popular scale of model train. There is an endless supply of trains, cars, tracks, buildings, and scenery. The detail on HO is good and a fabulous setup can be put together in a reasonable amount of space.

4. S Scale is a 1:64 ratio. It is larger than the HO and is popular among those with plenty of room. It is the scale of American Flyer products.

5. O Scale is a 1:48 ratio. It is a popular choice for young children because they are able to easily handle them. Lionel carries a full line of O scale for the young ones.

6. G Scale is a 1:22.5 ratio. It is the perfect choice for the garden set up. Bachmann, L.G.B, and Aristo-Craft all make G scale trains.

To put together your model train you will need at least one engine along with some train cars. You can decide whether you want passenger cars or freight cars. And of course you will need train track. The type of track and how much track you'll need is a personal choice.

You'll also need a transformer to provide the electricity to your train. Then all that's left is the scenery you want. Choose trees, tunnels, people, signals, or a host of other items.

If you are looking for a fun and rewarding hobby, why not discover the magic of model trains?

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for GetModelTrains.com. To learn more about model train kits , and model train sets , visit us.

...

Buying Your First Model Train

Model Trains

Buying Your First Model Train
Author: Jason A. Martin
Selecting the right model train can be a difficult task for the newcomer to the model-railroading hobby. There are so many trains out there, each in a different size. In this article, I am going to discuss a couple important things to know before buying your first model train. I know firsthand how that very first trip to the model train store can feel. After reading this article, you will have a better understanding of what to look for.

Space and Scale

Before you even think of building a model train set, you need to know just how much space you'll have for it. When you purchase a model train, it has a "scale" associated with it. The scale informs you of the size of the train. The majority of model train enthusiasts love the HO scale because it takes limited space for a regular setup and the detail is nice. If space is at a premium for you, look into N scale trains. These can be run in the smallest of spaces. One of my favorites is the O Scale, sometimes called O Gauge, trains. These are big boys and come with great detail. If you have at least a 6 foot by 6 foot space, you can setup a decent O scale layout. O scale model trains and accessories are typically more expensive, but they are worth it in my opinion.

Requirements

It is possible to setup your own model railroad piece by piece or to buy a complete kit. Generally, a complete kit will lack the frills associated with model railroad setups like scenery, but you can be up and running in minutes. If you end up buying a ready-to-run complete set, you can add-on to it easily by simply buying the parts you desire. Also you can run other trains on the track. Just make sure to buy the same scale as your setup. For example, if you bought a HO scale set, you want to buy HO model trains in the future.

Some Things to Look For

When buying your new model train, look to see if it is DCC enabled. This is a big one. You want to have your train DCC enabled, if possible, so you can run other trains at the same time with ease. Should you decide one train is enough for you, this is less of an issue, in my opinion. However, you never know. Your model train store will only have a very small fraction of the model trains and accessories that are out there. Don't feel like you have to buy what they have. The Internet is full of model train stores.

Finally, I recommend that you look for a model train store in your area and go talk to them. You can learn a lot very quickly by talking with someone in person who cares about the hobby. While hobby stores are ok, a store dedicated to model railroading is far superior in every aspect. The probability of finding someone who really knows about model railroading in detail at a general hobby store is minimal at best.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Jason A. Martin is a model railroading enthusiast. You can read more about Model Trains at TrainTraffic.com. If you are looking for Free Website Content , visit ContentTycoon.com.

...

Brief Overlook of Some Fun Thomas the Train Toys and Sets

Train Sets

Brief Overlook of Some Fun Thomas the Train Toys and Sets
Author: Jared Winston
Thomas the Train toys are specially designed to help your children learn while growing up while at the same time keeping them entertained, and this goal has definitely been successful since Thomas and his friends have fascinated children of many generations - more than sixty years! You can find a wide assortment of different Thomas the Train toys and merchandise, but this quick overlook will cover toy trains and train set accessories.

I have been a fan of all the Thomas the Train toys for quite a while, and I thought someone could find a quick summary of the train sets information interesting, so I decided to write this article. I hope you enjoy it.

Manually-powered Thomas the Train toys

The most known Thomas the Train toys distributor is Learning Curve; their wooden sets are just delightful. They are able to operate on the wooden tracks provided by Learning Curve, and also on those similar tracks manufactured by BRIO. These wooden sets are highly recommended for children aged 2 to 5, because at those young ages the children tend to enjoy manually using the trains on the ground or any other surface, so they won't get to fully enjoy more complex, remotely controlled train sets. Learning Curve also introduced the "Take Along" Thomas the Train toys series that was made of metal. In this series, the trains connect with the coaches by using magnets, which is a smart idea. The track is made of plastic, and the only disadvantage I found is that they are not at all compatible with the older wooden tracks.

Other good metal models of Thomas the Train and his friends were those manufactured by ERTL, but unfortunately the company discontinued the series.

Another great series of Thomas the Train toys is the line manufactured by TOMY. The series includes plastic models and tracks, and many kids prefer them over the metal ones mentioned above. This company also launched the "My first Thomas the Train" series of manually powered plastic train sets designed for younger children, with rubber wheels and a good plastic track.

Electrically-powered Thomas the Train toys

Electrically powered train sets are recommended for older kids. Among the manufacturers of the best electrical Thomas the Train toys, you can find big known names like Bachmann and Tomica. Battery or transformer powered Thomas the Train characters and accessories are available, and both of them also made tracks available in several sizes. They even manufactured some remotely controlled sets too! Other manufacturers of electrically powered trains were Lionel and Hornby.

The electrical sets are not my favorites. In fact, I prefer the old wooden sets, which seem to be more useful for a developing child than other sets.

Of course, your preferences on Thomas the Train toys may not be the same as mine. Feel free to visit your local toy store and ask the salespeople about all the available different Thomas the Train toys. You will surely find a train set that meets your expectations, and will definitely be able to provide your child a highly entertaining experience while helping him or her learn fun things too.

Copyright © Jared Winston, 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

For decades Thomas the Tank Engine has fascinated children, leading to the release of everything from the original book series to Thomas the Train clothes . Stop by Thomas Fans to read more about Thomas, his friends, their history and their adventures.

...

A Guide To Choosing The Right Toy For Your Child's Age

Train Sets

A Guide To Choosing The Right Toy For Your Child's Age
Author: Amy Thomas -
Choosing the right toy for your child's age is not just a matter of selecting a toy that will engage, entertain and educate them, it is also a matter of safety. If you've browsed the aisles of any toy store lately you probably know that selecting the right toy can be a difficult undertaking. Not only do you want a toy that you can rest assured will provide no danger to your child, but you also want to select a toy that will help your child develop their full potential.

Research indicates that children who are provided with age-appropriate toys that are stimulating will help children to more fully develop their physical, cognitive and creative abilities. By learning which toys are right for your child's age you can help them to stimulate the connections in their brains that are responsible for building your child's future intelligence.

Keep in mind that it is never to early to begin this all important process. Even the youngest babies can begin responding to bright colors, helping their vision to develop more quickly.

Children under Six Months:

• Mobiles in bright colors will stimulate vision
• Activity centers to encourage reaching for motor control development
• Mirrors designed with baby safety in mind to encourage your child to explore faces
• Rattlers and teethers that will introduce baby to new textures.
• Board books-even at this young age reading to your baby will help them with beginning language development

6 to 12 Months

During this time period, it is important to begin focusing on interactive play with your child. This includes introducing the concept of cause and effect as well working on eye-hand coordination. Simple games such as "peek-a-boo" and "pat-a-cake" are fun ways to help your baby discover the wonders of their new world. In addition, look for these types of toys to further stimulate your child's development and learning:

• Toys that are musical and make sounds
• Baby gyms and activity courses to stimulate crawling
• Bouncers to stimulate physical activity
• Play telephones to encourage communication through mimicking
• Soft dolls and stuffed animals for kids who love to cuddle
• Wooden and soft blocks for stacking, filling and dumping games

12-18 Months

Around the time your child turns one he or she may begin to walk or experiment with taking those first steps. Toys at this age should focus on supporting your child's curiosity in exploration while further developing fine motor coordination.

• Swing sets and safety trikes encourage physical activity and development
• Building blocks for eye-hand coordination
• Nesting cups and shape sorters to improve eye-hand coordination as well as problem solving skills
• Storybooks/picture books for language and vocabulary development
• Toddler appropriate videos and music

18-24 Months

By the time they are a 1 ½ years old most children begin to use their imagination in play. This typically takes on the form of make-believe; however, in reality this type of play is helping them to develop problem solving strategies. Look for toys that support this important time of development by expanding their exposure to shapes, colors, ability to follow instructions and language. The important key to remember at this age is that kids are truly learning with hands-on play.

• Costumes and dress-up to stimulate imagination
• Push and pull toys that support both tykes that are beginning to walk as well as advanced walkers
• Puzzles that are easy to manipulate with a small number of pieces
• Playhouses and other scaled down objects that your child sees everyday will give them the opportunity to mimic the world around them.
• Swing sets to develop physical skills

24-36 Months

At age two children begin to really focus on fine motor coordination, even though they do not realize it, of course. By this age kids can begin working with board games suitable for their age as well as craft type projects and toys. Most kids this age are also ready to begin playing with other kids, so you may also wish to look for games and toys that are more structured in nature that previous toys.

• Simple board games and puzzles to encourage further eye-hand coordination and memory development.
• Outdoor equipment such as swing sets, riding vehicles and tricycles to build physical skills
• Beginner musical instruments
• Playhouses
• Sand boxes
• Train sets
• Dolls
• Cars/trucks
• Costumes/dress-up
• Art sets
• Storybooks for language development and vocabulary building
• Videos and music, especially those that expose kids to numbers and the alphabet

By keeping in mind which toys are age-appropriate you will be in a better position to help support the lightening fast development of your child's brain and actually step up their learning and development.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

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3D Modeling in Transportation Flows

Train Set

3D Modeling in Transportation Flows
Author: Lance Winslow

We need to borrow the technology that the military uses for the Battlefield 4D holographic simulations in the Net-centric Warfare Battlespace and transfer this technology to help the DOT and DHS predict how to keep the distribution systems are moving in our Nation in real-time. We need monitor the movement and keep flows moving under circumstances involving Choke Point breakages in the Highyway and railway systems in case a bridge out, an accident occurs or god forbid we are attacked again by International Terrorists. Such a tool could help people like Secretary of Transportation of the current administration make split second decisions using a complete visualization in real time.

Imagine looking down at a holographic view of a city, state or the whole country at the same time watching the different types of traffic flows all interacting. Cars, trucks, trains, boats, planes and seeing first hand as traffic jams occur and being able to replay and store that image and run it over and over again modifying veriables; Traffic signals, times of travel, adding lanes, offramps? We have the technology now to eliminate traffic jams and increase the real world traffic bandwidth able to flow thru our transportation system.

This tool also when used in simulations can predict BMPs for things like blocking a lane for construction, adding a bridge or extra lane based on modeling by ERSI vendors and Battelle which is doing projects similar but not 4D in Seattle at their Pacific Northwest Laboratories.

Why this is important is we can then see how toll ways, off ramps, signals and other things impede traffic flow and the flow of goods and services to markets. How trains and boats and containers interact. How people on buses, trolleys, trains, aircraft, hydro craft, ferries, motorcycles, taxi cabs, limos and passenger cars move. How the system works together with Air, rail, Water and road travel no matter what the type of transportation used. This is like a giant train set you never have to build, can change at will. A holographic display, which can zoom in, zoom out, replay, record sessions, back up. Move to another state, county, city streets, just like a Google Map, but in 3D and 4D. $D in that you can see subways underneath tunnels and double-decker freeways such as in Seattle, SF, San Antonio. You can see the NY subways, Bart trains under the bay, the Baltimore Tunnel, you see, why we need this? And since we have the technology, we can run the system to perfection, increasing our nations productivity, decreasing traffic jams, enhancing response time to first responders. We can run our a Net-Centric Battlefield, not delivering bombs to the enemy, but delivering products, people, packages, goods and services to the masses. Efficiency in the flow of transportation is a vital part to a healthy economy.

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?showtopic=6

Someone like Snow the treasury secretary, a former Railroad man, might want to have a similar device for money flows and markets and since he is very valuable to the administration than that of merely a treasury secretary, he should be given the assignment of working with the DOT to develop systems to streamline the infrastructure, which will lower prices to consumers through efficiencies and raise profits for transportation companies which will increase flow and help us with the future inflationary period by lowering costs through efficiencies and it also saves fuel and of value to our dependence on foreign oil and the Energy Issues which are vital to the country. Can you see the potential here?

By using such a system and GPS tracking of trucking, cargo containers, ships, planes (using Lockheed's global system and the FAA system) we can predict under utilization points and times and fill them while alleviating times and areas with choke points causing a loss of productivity to our citizenry, small businesses and government agencies. This will increase quality of life giving back 1-2 hours in metro areas to all travelers. This is a gift worthy of the taxes charged by our government for the services they provide. It is fair and easy to do. The over all cost of this project I see at about 500 million dollars and will give the US the advantage to do more with less and therefore compete with a higher standard of living while delivering goods and services to the world. This system has another benefit. Better and healthy air, since vehicles pollute less when running at optimum not idling in traffic.

Here are a few examples of what has lead me to this conclusion. By having someone in the know with years of rail and distribution experience looking over the 4D model they can easily within minutes pinpoint problems and make good and important decisions, this is one reason at rail yards the Rail Master is in a tower for a better vantage point and why Air Traffic Controllers sit with an unobstructed view over the ramp and can see BLOS. There is an exponentially and mathematically component to this and that is that the cost savings to businesses will make them more profitable meaning more profits and more tax revenue. Moms and Dads will not be stuck in traffic and spend more time raising their kids with out latch key syndrome and that means better students, better citizens, less juvenile delinquency, drugs and less need for costly police, jails and rehabs. Everytime you assist our economy on more efficient operations we all win.

By Lance Winslow

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