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Tabletop Whistlestop Tabletop Whistlestop From "DIY's Holiday Workshop" episode DHOL-102

As any model train enthusiast will tell you, miniature trains do much more than provide an engaging pastime: they also serve as visual focal points that lend charm and interest to their surroundings. This concept is never more evident than during the holidays -- whether a model train runs its course around the perimeter of a Christmas tree or exists in its own "world apart" on a tabletop, it adds a wonderfully festive touch to any room.

In this step-by-step demonstration, radio-control hobby expert Chris Chianelli shows how to create a fun and easy tabletop set-up for a model train, complete with a delightful winter village....

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F
	Figure G
	Figure H
	Figure I

• The foundation of the village begins with foam board: here, large 4'x8' sheets (figure A) have been cut to size to fit the tabletop, then prepared with a coat of brown latex paint.
  
  Note: The foam board's 4'x8' sheet size is ideal for this project, since these dimensions nicely accommodate a standard-size model train set. Foam board is available in most craft centers; have the staff cut the sheets in half if they're too large to fit in your vehicle. (Simply set them directly against each together on the tabletop when you begin assembling the village.)
  
  
• Brown is selected as the ground color since it provides a neutral background that can easily be "resurfaced" later to create any season -- topped with green grass for spring, etc. (Buildings and other structures can be also be rearranged or changed out later for a whole new look.) The foam board's thickness allows riverbeds and other features to be carved into its surface; foam blocks can be used to build up hills or mountains.
  
  
• Once your "groundwork" is done, the next item on the agenda (an important one!) is the train itself. Here, Chianelli has selected the "Frontiersman," a Spectrum series model from Bachman (figure B). This train features a 2-8-0 steam engine, a couple of freight cars, a caboose, and lengths of track -- all the essentials needed for the set-up!
  
  Note: "2-8-0" refers to the train's wheel configuration: two wheels in front, eight in the middle and zero in the back.
  
  
• After you've chosen your train, you're ready to plan the set-up of the track: how much of the landscape it will cover, what course it will run ... and so on.
  
  
• Now you're ready to begin building your winter village -- and what would a winter village be without snow? Chianelli uses white powder "snow" (specially designed for model train landscapes and sold in most hobby shops) to cover the ground, shaking it evenly onto the foam board (figure C). The amount of snow blanketing your village is up to you. A light dusting? Just sprinkle out a thin coat of the powder onto the surface. Snow banks and a blizzard effect? Shake out a heavier layer of snow, then use cotton batting to create mounds of downy white (figure D).
  
  
• Many great products on the market now make model railroading much easier than in years past. One example: Easy Track, a system of interlocking track lengths that allow for a wide variety of layouts (figure E). Here, it's included in the featured train set, but it can also be purchased separately. The track lengths clip together easily and stay put, thanks to the plastic springs on back (figure F). For this layout, Chianelli assembles the track to form a classic oval (figure G).
  
  
• Once the track is laid, it's time to "power up" the track using a transformer. For this train, Chianelli is using the MRC 260 (shown in figure H and available in hobby shops and toy stores), which includes a "momentum" feature that ensures the train will run realistically: no matter how fast the throttle is set, the momentum switch gently feeds electricity into the tracks so the train starts up smoothly and gradually ... just like its real-life counterpart.
  
  Note: This particular train is an H.O.-scale model, meaning it's 1/78th the size of an actual train. While model trains also come in smaller and larger scales, H.O. is by far the most popular.
  
  
• With the track equipped to power the train, it's tempting to get the engine and rail cars running right away ... but hold on! Before fitting the train onto the track, you'll want to set up all your buildings and accents. To bring this winter village to life, Chianelli uses pre-built H.O.-scale buildings from Walthers.
  
  Note: Remember -- "prefabicated" doesn't mean you can't add a personal touch! For example, Chianelli gives a miniature train station a festive, wintry look with a small holiday wreath and a light coating of powdered snow (figure I). A bit of glue on the back of the wreath and a thin coat applied on the roof and front walk with a fingertip is all it takes to make the look "stick"!

A theater, lamp post and small bench make a fun grouping....

"Models" of charm and character: a picturesque house and tree-bordered church.

Even the details have details: holiday lights adorn a white picket fence!

Once all the buildings are arranged to your liking and you've added the decorative details and accents of your choice (like the lamppost, bench and small pond shown in figure J), it's finally time to put the trains on the track! The design of the track allows you to "rail" the train when you set it in place – that is, it positions the flanges correctly on the rails.

Note: The flanges must be in the proper position on the rails in order for the train to stay on the tracks.

To ensure proper positioning, simply set the engine in place on the track (figure K), then slide it a few inches forward and back several times. Repeat the process with each of the rail cars as you add them to the track.

Figure J

Figure K

This lovely tabletop landscape now boasts a variety of beautiful buildings (complete with interior lights), realistic details, accent pieces and a handsome, functional train -- now all it needs is sound! For this final detail, Chianelli has chosen MRC’s sound station 312 (figure L) to enliven the village with all kinds of sounds: steam sounds, rail-clattering sounds, whistles, horns, and more!

When assembling and outfitting your own model train village, remember: you're only limited by your imagination -- so be creative!

Now it's time to send the train around the winter village (figure M), the first of many journeys this holiday season that will provide enjoyment for family and guests alike.

Figure L

Figure M

ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
	Tabletop Whistlestop
	Holiday Ham ... with a Twist
	Fast and Fabulous Holiday Looks