Customer Reviews

Model Railroading in Small Spaces (Model Railroader)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Two things are important when you have little space to put a model railroad in. A) A smart way to use the space you have or a smart way to dis-assemble and store the layout. B) how to get a lot of "train action" in a small space. The latter, meaning interesting track plans, is where this book is weak and doesn't satisfy.

Model Railroading in Small Spaces may have been written a long time ago, because there is no reference to z scale (1:220) which is a great way to get a lot of "train action" in a small space and came out in 1972. There is also no reference to wiring for digital or light weight composite material (honeycomb).

The feel of the book is that of assembled from magazine articles. Pictures are all in black and white, the diagrams and descriptions seem to be enough to build the layouts and some of the chapters spend more time on landscaping than others. The latter seems redundant and off topic to me and should be limited to only one sentence: Don't make your mountains too high.

This book did not fulfill my needs and as you may have guessed. There is no reference to the modern layout or module building materials/styles (insulating foam, honeycomb core, I-beam etc) and none to wiring for digital (which may be so easy that no mention needs to be made)

Maybe this book should be re-titled or rewritten. How about: Decades old Ideas on Space Saving Model Railroad Carpentry.... too long you say? Guess they will just have to rewrite it.

Mat does an excellent job showing the reader examples of model railroad layouts that can be constructed in small spaces. He covers each from concept to completion and shows many tips for the beginner and advanced modeler. Even if you choose not to build one of the pikes shown in the book, Model Railroading in Small Spaces can serve as the inspiration for your own small space creation.

An excellent book written for those who are either just starting in the hobby to those who have been building model railroads for years. Great step by step instructions and different designs to fit anyone's small space.

I was somewhat disappointed in the contents of this booklet. Although there were some tips for small spaces, I would have liked more information on small HO layouts for tables less than 4 by 8 feet. Most of the content dealt with N gauge, not HO.

Th

is book made a perfect gift for a retiring friend who also was celebrating his 65th birthday. Shipping was prompt and the book received was in very nice shape,