MRH
end connecting it to the mainline - for non-industry tracks these are commonly referred to as “passing sidings,” as their purpose is to allow one train to pass by another.
Questions, Answers and Tips
Similarly, what is commonly referred to as a spur track only has one switch connecting it to the mainline - it dead ends at the other end.
Q: I have a 10 year old son. We want to start building a layout but when we went to the hobby store we couldn’t decide what size equipment we should use. Is there a best scale for us?
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS Q: I’ve started using a electrostatic grass applicator. The grass looks really good, but I need to apply grass in an area much smaller than the applicator. Are there applicators available with a 1” diameter head?
Figure 1: A Noch GrassMaster with a paper aperture reducer installed in the business end.
Hole in paper disk
— Jeff Shultz
A: I agree that static grass looks great! Instead of buying or making another static grass applicator (see MRH Issue 6 - Static Grass Applicators), try cutting a disc of paper to fit inside the head of the applicator you have. Cut a hole in the paper the proper size for your needs (figure 1). — Charlie Comstock Q: I hear people talking about spur tracks and sidings. I’m a little confused, aren’t these just different names for the same kind of track. If not, what’s the difference? A: I don’t know that there is any official difference between the two names and they are occasionally used interchangeably, but in common usage a siding has a switch at each
Page 34 • Issue 8 • Jul/Aug 2010 • MRH Questions, Answers and Tips, page 1
A: Children under 10 often have difficulty handling small objects. Remember the big, thick pencil you first wrote with in kindergarten or first grade? HO (1:87) and larger (S, O, G) are quite appropriate for a 10 year old. Additionally, as your son grows, those trains and the railroad can grow with him. Once a child is 12-14, N scale (1:160 – roughly half the size of HO) becomes another option. The most popular scales are HO and N and you will find more equipment and a wider variety in these scales. If you have lots of room don’t overlook O scale (1:48 – Lionel is O scale).
Q: I’ve decided to use cork roadbed under the track on my HO layout. Should I use 1/8” or 1/4” thick cork? A: Mainline tracks are usually higher than sidings which are higher than spur tracks. I build the town areas on my railroad on plywood. I use the 1/4” cork under my mainline, 1/8” under my sidings, and lay my spur tracks directly on the plywood. The differences in height help identify which track is which (figure 2). — Charlie Comstock Q: What does kitbashed mean?
Let your son’s physical and emotional maturity help guide you in this decision!
Figure 2: The difference between mainline on 1/4” cork, a siding on 1/8” cork, and the spur under the flat car, which has no cork beneath it, can be quite striking.
— Jim Duncan
A: Kitbashing is the term used when, instead of assembling a model kit in accordance with the instructions,
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