By Brian Garvin and Jeff W
Do you have a train-lover in your family? And is that person your child? If so, you may very well be planning a train-theme birthday party in the near future. When that happens, you'll find everything you could possibly want at Train Party.
Train Toys ranging from railroad caboose pencil sharpeners to train engines with movable gears can be found for very reasonable prices. And with nine different train themes to choose from, your party favors, plates, and decorations won't be limited to Thomas the Train.
Train Toys and Gifts
For almost five years, Train Party has been providing a valuable service to train lovers everywhere. That's because no other retailer offers the variety of merchandise they do - all in one place. Combine this with their quality customer service, and you can't go wrong.
Train Toys offered by Train Party include:
• School supplies (erasers, pencil sharpeners, rulers)
• Wooden train sets
• Stacking trains
• Wind-up trains
• Die-cast miniature trains
• Train station (reproduction of a classic Russian tin toy)
Other favorites are Curious George train conductor stuffed animals, train bubble-blower and whistle necklaces, train-shaped savings banks, key chains, and toy harmonicas.
Train Piñatas
At least once in their life, every child should have a piñata at their birthday party. And if their theme happens to be trains, you'll need to find a train-shaped piñata. With the largest supply of train piñatas on the Internet, TrainParty.com is the obvious place to shop. Fifteen choices are offered, each with a different theme, including Thomas & Friends, Little Chug, and Whistle Stop.
Train Toys Are Not for Children Only
Kids aren't the only ones who enjoy trains. In fact, many adult train enthusiasts get more excited about trains than their children do! Examples of the collectible and other Train Toys for adults offered by TrainParty.com are:
• Pewter picture frames
• Locomotive rubber stamps
• Lionel train signs, lamps, and pinball games
• Crystal, porcelain, and brass train Christmas ornaments
• 100mm Lionel Wind-up Musical Santa with Train Waterglobe (plays "We Wish You a Merry Christmas")
• Fabric Mache Lionel Santa handcar (Christmas decoration)
• Railroad conductor Halloween costumes (yes, for adults too - including hats and bandannas)
• Scrapbook supplies
• Jigsaw puzzles
• Games
Two items that are actually for children, but should also be considered collectibles by parents, are the Retro Wooden Train Rocker and the Railroad Wooden Rocking Chair. The Retro Wooden Train Rocker is a ride-on toy that your child will enjoy for years. Made of hard maple and birch plywood, and measuring 13¾" L 28" H 41"W, this toy is recommended for children over age 2.
The Railroad Wooden Rocking Chair is a unique chair that has bright colors, is decorated with miniature smoke-stacks, and even sounds like a train when the chair rocks! (The sound can be turned off, if desired.) A photo greeting card is included so the child can send a "Thank You" card with a picture of them sitting in their chair. This handcrafted wooden chair measures 29" H, with a seat height of 12½".
The next time you're planning a party, looking for Christmas ornaments, or seeking for gifts for your own train lover, make sure to visit Train Party.
Find out about the latest Toys And Vehicles from Brian Garvin and Jeff West. Also discover the coolest places to look at Train Toys Online for free. Freely distribute this article but please leave author bio and links intact.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Garvin
Showing posts with label Model Steam train. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Model Steam train. Show all posts
Model Railroad Layout Backdrops - How to Make Them Truly Stunning
By B. Murphy
A well designed and cleverly painted backdrop can make your model railroad layout stand out from the rest and look truly unique. This is mostly because it makes an optical illusion that produces an effect called forced perspective.
Forced perspective occurs when the layout in the foreground appears to be larger because it is placed in front of a space in the distance, which is made by adding a backdrop to the wall in the case of model railroads. It is an optical illusion that will make your entire model railroad layout appear to be larger than it really is.
The effect of forced perspective can be observed all around us. For instance, a barn several hundred feet away from you will look smaller than a Chihuahua sitting on the ground ahead of it. By analyzing natural landscapes you will notice techniques you can use to make an outstanding backdrop to use with you model railroad layout.
Projects of this sort always require lots of planning. Hopefully, you will be working on your backdrop at the same time that you are designing the rest of your model train layout. A mistake that many people make is working on the backdrop after they have finished everything else. If you design them together, you can make some interesting and unique set pieces.
To make your backdrop, you need to have in mind what season it will, what the weather will be like, the location you will be showing, and what kind of day it will be. Planning these details will save you lots of frustration in the long run.
Think about what the sky will look like. Remember that, even on a cloudless day, the sky is actually made up of several different hues of blue due to the position of the sun and other environmental factors. A good base color is Velvet Sky Vinyl, available in acrylic flat paint.
When considering what the clouds will look like, remember that no two clouds are quite the same. The grand majority of clouds are cumulus, stratus, and cirrus. The most common clouds are the white and puffy cumulus ones.
The color of clouds also varies quite a bit depending on where they are positioned in the sky. Decide where the sun is in your backdrop and then color the clouds near is lighter than those farther away.
Should you be using DCC control for your model railroad? Find out how it's different from analog control (and why it's better) on The Model Railroader website. Visit http://www.themodelrailroader.com for more helpful tips and advice about building a model railroad.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=B._Murphy
Model Train Displays - Building a Smelting Plant
By Victor Epand
You just finished that big model train display table you have been wanting to build for a while. You got all your features added to it including the two tunnels, the lake and the train bridge. You have everything painted as well. It looked a bit bare so you decided to make it a manufacturing diorama. You have already added a couple factories and some other buildings as well. After thinking for a bit you decide to go to the Internet. You finally find exactly what it is you need. A smelting plant would be the perfect addition to your manufacturing diorama.
A smelting plant is a plant in which ores are heated to a certain point at which their base minerals are released. Iron, copper and more get smelted down so that the pure minerals can then be collected. It is a very hot and nasty process. As such, when you get ready to build your smelting plant you should try to keep it true to form. The first thing you will need to do is to decide whether you will want to make your own plant or build it from a kit. If you do chose to build a kit then you will just have to follow the directions that come with it.
If you choose to build the smelting plant yourself then you will have to do a little bit of research. Look on the Internet and see if you can find some pictures that will suit your purposes. Make sure that they show the plant from as many angles as possible. If you have to look elsewhere you can check out some books from the library. You will be surprised how many sources of information are out there.
Once you find plenty of pictures you then need to decide what material you are going to use to build your plant. If you are using plastic sheeting then you will also need some plastic cement to hold the parts together. You will also need a bit of sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges that might be present. Make sure that if you do have to sand you do so lightly. It is easy to take too much off and unfortunately it is not so easy to put back.
If you have to build your building from cardboard you would use masking tape to hold all your parts together and then apply white craft glue to cement it all together. You can then cover the outside with brown paper which in turn can be painted any color that you decide to paint your plant.
It can take a little bit of imagination when you build buildings such as these but you will soon find with the right research and a little ingenuity you will be able to properly represent any building that you want to add to your model train display. Whether it be churches and schools or farms and factories they will all look great when you take the time to keep them looking authentic.
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for model cars, model trains, and model trucks. You will find excellent hobbying and trading resources here for model car tips, model trains scenes.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand
You just finished that big model train display table you have been wanting to build for a while. You got all your features added to it including the two tunnels, the lake and the train bridge. You have everything painted as well. It looked a bit bare so you decided to make it a manufacturing diorama. You have already added a couple factories and some other buildings as well. After thinking for a bit you decide to go to the Internet. You finally find exactly what it is you need. A smelting plant would be the perfect addition to your manufacturing diorama.
A smelting plant is a plant in which ores are heated to a certain point at which their base minerals are released. Iron, copper and more get smelted down so that the pure minerals can then be collected. It is a very hot and nasty process. As such, when you get ready to build your smelting plant you should try to keep it true to form. The first thing you will need to do is to decide whether you will want to make your own plant or build it from a kit. If you do chose to build a kit then you will just have to follow the directions that come with it.
If you choose to build the smelting plant yourself then you will have to do a little bit of research. Look on the Internet and see if you can find some pictures that will suit your purposes. Make sure that they show the plant from as many angles as possible. If you have to look elsewhere you can check out some books from the library. You will be surprised how many sources of information are out there.
Once you find plenty of pictures you then need to decide what material you are going to use to build your plant. If you are using plastic sheeting then you will also need some plastic cement to hold the parts together. You will also need a bit of sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges that might be present. Make sure that if you do have to sand you do so lightly. It is easy to take too much off and unfortunately it is not so easy to put back.
If you have to build your building from cardboard you would use masking tape to hold all your parts together and then apply white craft glue to cement it all together. You can then cover the outside with brown paper which in turn can be painted any color that you decide to paint your plant.
It can take a little bit of imagination when you build buildings such as these but you will soon find with the right research and a little ingenuity you will be able to properly represent any building that you want to add to your model train display. Whether it be churches and schools or farms and factories they will all look great when you take the time to keep them looking authentic.
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for model cars, model trains, and model trucks. You will find excellent hobbying and trading resources here for model car tips, model trains scenes.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand
Creating Model Train Water Features
By Victor
An extremely enjoyable hobby, model train building can definitely benefit from adding different features such as working bins or even water features. A water feature can be anything from creeks and streams to rivers or even a lake. There is no end to the amount of creativity you can use when it comes to using this technique to improve your model train layout.
You can make this sort of feature from many different materials. You could use something as simple as crumpled up tin foil with an ash tray or a bowl to create this look. All you have to do is to look for the shape you want to create and crumple the foil to fit this shape. You then just have to place your new "pond" on the train layout and maybe add a few touches of paint to make it look a bit more realistic. First you will need to disguise the edge of the pond with some "dirt" such as coffee grounds.
You can also use sand or little rocks to dress the edges up. Now you will just need to add the illusion of depth to the water feature. This can be accomplished by painting the inside with different acrylic colors. You should paint the inner parts deeper colors and the outer ones a lighter shade of blues and greens. This will help to vary the depth of the water. If you want to add any small islands you can do so by using rocks. Now all you have to do is to fill up the water feature with some of the clear acrylic cement. You can either spread it thin and flat or you can even make "waves" by pulling it up into small heaps.
If you are wanting to add more realism than this then you should start by getting pictures of a water feature that you would like to simulate. Get as many different ones as you can especially of the area surrounding the water. You should also look at the colors that are in the water so you can accurately match them. When you begin to build your new feature you should keep in mind that coffee grounds are perfect for simulating the dirt that surrounds lakes. You can also simulate gravels and rocks by using small pebbles.
If you are wanting to represent boulders or islands then you can use big rocks. After you know where on your train layout that you will be placing your feature. You then should decide what sort of feature it is going to be. It could be a pond, a lake, a beach front or more. No matter which it is you will need to first lay the course out on your display. As soon as this is done then you can begin to paint it and add coffee grounds or sand.
Once you get all the parts into place you can begin running your "water" by pouring acrylic floor wax. Use it as deep as you need it but before you decide to create your simulated waves you will need to allow the wax to set a bit. This will begin you down the road to making award winning water features, enjoy!
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for model cars, model trains, and model trucks. You will find excellent hobbying and trading resources here for model car tricks, model train.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand
Model Train Collectors Don't Always Operate Their Trains
By B. Murphy
They might sound pretty similar, but the fact is there is a difference between model train enthusiasts and model train collectors. It may be minor, but it does exist! A collector is usually more interested in the rarity of an item and may simply want to display it rather than actually operate a model railroad themselves.
Collectors exist for almost every object and hobby in the world. They're the ones who drive the costs of that first-issue Batman comic through the roof and the ones who simply 'must have' that rare item that no one else really cares about just because of the fact that it is rare.
These people are the ones who help to set the value of the equipment as well as the standards used to grade it. They often spend a great deal of time and energy learning all they can about the history of various model trains and other related equipment. In reality though, many collectors aren't happy to simply display their trains - they want to run them on an operating layout as well.
Companies like Lionel Trains even go so far as to sponsor collectors' clubs for their past equipment. There are plenty of groups you can join if you're interested in learning more about the hobby.
One of the things clubs help to do is set standards such as the following by which items are judged. Normally the product itself is graded separately from the box, and collector's value highest items that are in a 'new' or 'like new' box that have never been removed.
Model Train Grading
* NEW - In original condition, most likely never used or even removed from the package.
* LIKE NEW - Good as new with no damage but likely removed from the packaging at some point.
*EXCELLENT - Excellent condition means there is no rust, dirt or damage but that the item has definitely been used.
* VERY GOOD - Could have a bit of wear but no damage, rust or other blemishes.
* GOOD - There may be some slight scratches as well as normal wear but no rust.
* FAIR - Slightly damaged, worn and possibly scratched but still quite usable.
* POOR - Serious damage, may not even work. Likely only used for parts to repair better specimens.
How Containers And Packaging Are Graded
* NEW - Original packaging in the original condition with no damage or fading.
* LIKE NEW - Original packaging, may have some slight wear.
* EXCELLENT - Like-original packaging with only moderate wear, no repairs.
* VERY GOOD - May have some tears or damage possible non-original tape but complete.
* GOOD - Some elements may be missing, some wear and possibly even minor mildew damage.
* FAIR - Pieces missing and tears and/or discoloration are possible.
* R - A replica, not the original packaging.
If you're starting out with model train collecting, knowing your grades is important. Then pick the era and/or brand you want to pursue and get started.
Bill Murphy writes about train scenery building and more Model Railroading subjects at http://www.TheModelRailroader.com Surf over to http://www.themodelrailroader.com for a free copy of my report "Model Railroad Design Secrets"
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=B._Murphy
They might sound pretty similar, but the fact is there is a difference between model train enthusiasts and model train collectors. It may be minor, but it does exist! A collector is usually more interested in the rarity of an item and may simply want to display it rather than actually operate a model railroad themselves.
Collectors exist for almost every object and hobby in the world. They're the ones who drive the costs of that first-issue Batman comic through the roof and the ones who simply 'must have' that rare item that no one else really cares about just because of the fact that it is rare.
These people are the ones who help to set the value of the equipment as well as the standards used to grade it. They often spend a great deal of time and energy learning all they can about the history of various model trains and other related equipment. In reality though, many collectors aren't happy to simply display their trains - they want to run them on an operating layout as well.
Companies like Lionel Trains even go so far as to sponsor collectors' clubs for their past equipment. There are plenty of groups you can join if you're interested in learning more about the hobby.
One of the things clubs help to do is set standards such as the following by which items are judged. Normally the product itself is graded separately from the box, and collector's value highest items that are in a 'new' or 'like new' box that have never been removed.
Model Train Grading
* NEW - In original condition, most likely never used or even removed from the package.
* LIKE NEW - Good as new with no damage but likely removed from the packaging at some point.
*EXCELLENT - Excellent condition means there is no rust, dirt or damage but that the item has definitely been used.
* VERY GOOD - Could have a bit of wear but no damage, rust or other blemishes.
* GOOD - There may be some slight scratches as well as normal wear but no rust.
* FAIR - Slightly damaged, worn and possibly scratched but still quite usable.
* POOR - Serious damage, may not even work. Likely only used for parts to repair better specimens.
How Containers And Packaging Are Graded
* NEW - Original packaging in the original condition with no damage or fading.
* LIKE NEW - Original packaging, may have some slight wear.
* EXCELLENT - Like-original packaging with only moderate wear, no repairs.
* VERY GOOD - May have some tears or damage possible non-original tape but complete.
* GOOD - Some elements may be missing, some wear and possibly even minor mildew damage.
* FAIR - Pieces missing and tears and/or discoloration are possible.
* R - A replica, not the original packaging.
If you're starting out with model train collecting, knowing your grades is important. Then pick the era and/or brand you want to pursue and get started.
Bill Murphy writes about train scenery building and more Model Railroading subjects at http://www.TheModelRailroader.com Surf over to http://www.themodelrailroader.com for a free copy of my report "Model Railroad Design Secrets"
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=B._Murphy
The American Flyer Model Train
By John Vanse
Although The American Flyer model trains were at their peak of popularity between the 1940s and the 1960s, they actually had a long history before that, and their popularity seems to be on the increase again today.
William Hafner, working as a toymaker in Chicago, developed a clockwork motor for use in toy cars in the very early part of the 19th Century and by 1905 was making toy trains using that clockwork motor.
With a friend, William Coleman, and using a small hardware manufacturing business known as the Edmonds-Metzel Hardware Company, Hafner began producing toy clockwork trains during 1906-7. These Edmond-Metzel trains were sold so successfully through some major retailers that the brand name The American Flyer was adopted for marketing purposes and by 1910, the name of the hardware company had been changed to American Flyer Manufacturing Company.
The American Flyer trains proved very popular, in part because they were lower priced than other makes popular at that time, and also because their detailing made them more realistic than other low budget model trains.
Hafner left the partnership in 1913 to start up his own company and Coleman's American Flyer trains did extremely well during the First World War as they had no competition in the US from the German companies. By 1918, the first of the American Flyer electric trains were in production and business boomed during the 1920s but declined sharply during the Great Depression.
In 1938, William Coleman Jr, son of the company's founder, who had taken over the business following his father's death in 1918, sold the American Flyer to the A C Gilbert Company. Gilbert had been manufacturing and selling an extensive range of toys but not toy trains. He moved the company from Chicago to New Haven, Connecticut and immediately began to re-design the trains. He re-developed the American Flyer as S-scale in 1939 , a scale which was a modification of the very popular O gauge model trains then on the market. The S scale, which scales trains to the 1:64 ratio and made them smaller than the O scale trains, had a number of major advantages in terms of the track and track layouts.
In 1946 Gilbert made another major change to the American Flyer. Until that stage model electric trains had run on three rails, with the centre rail carrying the current. Gilbert developed a two rail system for running the American Flyer. This two-rail track, which had seven-eighths inches between the rails, made the track layout, and hence train operation, more realistic as the track now looked like 'real train track'.
With the advent of television - to distract both younger people and older people from their regular hobbies - together with the rise of the discount chain stores which undercut prices and demanded lower wholesale prices, A C Gilbert Company ran into trouble and in 1962 was sold to Wrather Group. The new owners produced lines of toys, including model trains, which were of very poor quality and sales dropped sharply until in 1966 production of the American Flyer ceased. By 1967 the Company was bankrupt.
At this time, Lionel Corporation, which was itself in financial trouble although it had been the leading model train manufacturer for many decades, bought the rights to the American Flyer. However, by 1969 Lionel Corporation itself was bankrupt and sold the rights to the manufacture of its model trains, including the American Flyer, to General Mills.
General Mills began selling some of the original Gilbert designed American Flyer trains by 1979 but in 1984 sold its Lionel Company section to a toy manufacturer, Kenner who on-sold the company to Richard Kughn in 1985.
Kughn was very successful for over 10 years with the Lionel and American Flyer trains but sold in 1996 to Wellspring Partners who set up the company Lionel LLC, which operates today selling a range of model trains, including the S-scale American Flyer. Initially Lionel LLC concentrated on promoting the O and O27 scale model trains of its original lines but since 2002 has been releasing more and more American Flyer models.
The American Flyer then, is now more that 100 years old, and has gone though a number of ownerships and fluctuations in popularity. Dedicated S-scale enthusiasts now believe that this renowned model train is once again making a resurgence.
Author: John Vanse, a model train enthusiast, has a number of websites concerned with model trains.
These sites can be accessed through the hub site: The Model Train Guide
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Vanse
Although The American Flyer model trains were at their peak of popularity between the 1940s and the 1960s, they actually had a long history before that, and their popularity seems to be on the increase again today.
William Hafner, working as a toymaker in Chicago, developed a clockwork motor for use in toy cars in the very early part of the 19th Century and by 1905 was making toy trains using that clockwork motor.
With a friend, William Coleman, and using a small hardware manufacturing business known as the Edmonds-Metzel Hardware Company, Hafner began producing toy clockwork trains during 1906-7. These Edmond-Metzel trains were sold so successfully through some major retailers that the brand name The American Flyer was adopted for marketing purposes and by 1910, the name of the hardware company had been changed to American Flyer Manufacturing Company.
The American Flyer trains proved very popular, in part because they were lower priced than other makes popular at that time, and also because their detailing made them more realistic than other low budget model trains.
Hafner left the partnership in 1913 to start up his own company and Coleman's American Flyer trains did extremely well during the First World War as they had no competition in the US from the German companies. By 1918, the first of the American Flyer electric trains were in production and business boomed during the 1920s but declined sharply during the Great Depression.
In 1938, William Coleman Jr, son of the company's founder, who had taken over the business following his father's death in 1918, sold the American Flyer to the A C Gilbert Company. Gilbert had been manufacturing and selling an extensive range of toys but not toy trains. He moved the company from Chicago to New Haven, Connecticut and immediately began to re-design the trains. He re-developed the American Flyer as S-scale in 1939 , a scale which was a modification of the very popular O gauge model trains then on the market. The S scale, which scales trains to the 1:64 ratio and made them smaller than the O scale trains, had a number of major advantages in terms of the track and track layouts.
In 1946 Gilbert made another major change to the American Flyer. Until that stage model electric trains had run on three rails, with the centre rail carrying the current. Gilbert developed a two rail system for running the American Flyer. This two-rail track, which had seven-eighths inches between the rails, made the track layout, and hence train operation, more realistic as the track now looked like 'real train track'.
With the advent of television - to distract both younger people and older people from their regular hobbies - together with the rise of the discount chain stores which undercut prices and demanded lower wholesale prices, A C Gilbert Company ran into trouble and in 1962 was sold to Wrather Group. The new owners produced lines of toys, including model trains, which were of very poor quality and sales dropped sharply until in 1966 production of the American Flyer ceased. By 1967 the Company was bankrupt.
At this time, Lionel Corporation, which was itself in financial trouble although it had been the leading model train manufacturer for many decades, bought the rights to the American Flyer. However, by 1969 Lionel Corporation itself was bankrupt and sold the rights to the manufacture of its model trains, including the American Flyer, to General Mills.
General Mills began selling some of the original Gilbert designed American Flyer trains by 1979 but in 1984 sold its Lionel Company section to a toy manufacturer, Kenner who on-sold the company to Richard Kughn in 1985.
Kughn was very successful for over 10 years with the Lionel and American Flyer trains but sold in 1996 to Wellspring Partners who set up the company Lionel LLC, which operates today selling a range of model trains, including the S-scale American Flyer. Initially Lionel LLC concentrated on promoting the O and O27 scale model trains of its original lines but since 2002 has been releasing more and more American Flyer models.
The American Flyer then, is now more that 100 years old, and has gone though a number of ownerships and fluctuations in popularity. Dedicated S-scale enthusiasts now believe that this renowned model train is once again making a resurgence.
Author: John Vanse, a model train enthusiast, has a number of websites concerned with model trains.
These sites can be accessed through the hub site: The Model Train Guide
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Vanse
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