How to Build HO Trains

HO-scale model trains are the most popular in the world. Since their standardization in the 1930s, they have gradually displaced the larger O-scale trains because they offer greater detail and realism in a smaller space. In fact, one of the benefits of HO scale is that an attractive and reasonably complex layout will fit on an 8 foot by 4 foot sheet of plywood. This means layouts can be done in corners of garages, rec rooms, offices and kids rooms without taking up most of the living space.

Instructions

Build the Benchwork

1

Use a stud finder to locate studs along the supporting wall.

2

Attach an 8-foot-long 2-by-4 to your wall with 3 1/2-inch screws at the stud points for a layout support ledge at your desired table height.

3

Cut six 2-by-4 legs to match your desired table height.

4

Cut two 2-by-4 studs at 44 1/2 inches long for a side frame. Attach long the plywood edges with 3 1/2-inch screws, leaving room for the supporting ledge.

5

Attach an 8-foot-long 2-by-4 to the front of the plywood and the side rails as an outer frame beneath the layout.

6

Cut three 2-by-4 studs to 44 1/2 inches long and attach them at 2-foot intervals as support braces inside the frame with 2-inch screws.

7

Attach front legs to the corners and the back of the plywood to the ledge with 3 1/2-inch screws.

8

Attach the middle front leg to the center of the front rail and three supporting legs along the midpoint line, with one on each side and one in the center.

Lay out the track

9

Attach a sheet of foam insulation to the plywood using white glue and 1-inch screws.

10

Lay out the track according to your plan, and test the power before nailing down the track by running an engine first. When you're satisfied with the run and layout, mark the positions and insert cork bed under the track.

11

Secure the track by running a bead of white glue under the cork roadbed and then tacking the rails down.

12

Drill a 1/4-inch hole near your feeder tracks. Run wires through the hole and under the table to the transformer.

13

Test the engine again.

Adding scenery

14

Mix about 6 oz. of warm water with 1 oz. of white glue with a couple drops of dishwashing liquid.

15

Sprinkle commercial ballast onto the rail bed and drop the water-and-glue mixture onto the ballast with an eyedropper to secure it.

16

Soak plaster cast cloth and lay it out across large sections of the layout, smoothing it over with your fingers. Topography can be created by wadding newspaper into shapes, taping down the paper and coating with plaster cloth.

17

Apply foam modeling "grass," "dirt" or other materials over wet plaster cloth or with the white glue mixture when the cloth has dried.

18

Attach scenery with white glue.