Model Railroading in Small Spaces (Model Railroader) [Paperback]

Mat Chibbaro (Author)

Book Description

Series: Model Railroader | Publication Date: October 1997

Wonderful layout plans for HO and N scale trains show how to build an impressive layout in nearly any space. Includes step-by-step instructions for building layouts in closets and drwaers, on tables, and more

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Kalmbach Publishing Company (October 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089024295X
• ISBN-13: 978-0890242957
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,820,510 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great carpentry but weak on railroad ideas, February 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Model Railroading in Small Spaces (Model Railroader) (Paperback)

There are a few good ideas for presentation and practical layout design but the volume concentrates far too much on the various methods of display in a small space and really tells us what a good carpenter the author is.

Compact track designs, building arrangements, making of false flat fronts etc. to give impression of size are only very lightly covered. If you are looking for practical help to build a convincing model railroad in a small space, look elsewhere.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Ideas and Some Practical Application, July 8, 2007

By 

Tetsu Uma "The 'Iron Horse'" (Illinois Native in Manassas Park, VA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Model Railroading in Small Spaces (Model Railroader) (Paperback)

In "Model Railroading in Small Spaces," Mat Chibbaro uses some of the very small layouts he has constructed to give the reader ideas in how they too can experience model railroading in a small space. Each chapter is one of the different layouts and the book also includes a chapter on making a compact work area. I personally like the chapters on railroads in coffee tables and end tables. Since this is a pretty small segment (pun not intended) of the model railroad community and has the consummate small body of literature to match, this book includes more construction techniques than a typical model layout plans book. This appears to be written in a very basic manner so someone new to model railroading could get an overall feel for construction from the start of construction through applying the scenery.

This book demonstrates that it is possible to have a layout is places you wouldn't expect and gave me some good ideas. You have to understand that you can't expect to have everything in a small layout. The Kato website has some good small layouts designed for use with their "Unitrack" product if you are looking for something like that. http://www.katousa.com/track-plans/n-plans.html. If you are interested in going this route for a layout or maybe adding a feature to your house, I think this book would come in handy.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No room for a model railroad? Read this!, October 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Model Railroading in Small Spaces (Model Railroader) (Paperback)

This book provides a treasure trove of ideas and pictures for building realistic model railroads in a minimum of space.The pictures and diagrams alone make this a worthwhile book for any model railroader. If you think you don't have room to build a model railroad, read this book. It is a tremendous resource for the novice or veteran hobbyist.