Model Train Hobby Collection Guide

You’ve set up that old electric train set that has been sitting in your attic or basement only to discover the transformer doesn’t work. You can get a new one or have someone repair it for you, but both of these options can be costly. With a little bit of patience and skill you can save yourself some money and do it yourself.

Determine what needs to be repaired by plugging in your transformer. If you can hear a sound from the transformer, but the train does not move, the contacts on the track need to be replaced or cleaned.

Unplug the transformer if it appears to be dead and use a screwdriver to dismantle it, making sure you’re well grounded and any excess charge in the transformer has been dissipated.

Look for wires that are disconnected, loose, green-tinted or whitened (which indicates they’re oxidized).

Use a soldering gun to reattach any disconnected wires.

Use a soldering gun to detach any oxidized wires and remove any excess solder that may be on the wires.

Place the wire tips into an oxidation remover and wait several minutes. Remove the wires and wipe them with a soft towel. Allow the wires to dry completely, then use a soldering gun to replace them inside the unit.

Replace any frayed wires and solder them into place.

Check the AC/DC output of the transformer. If you get a low or no reading, replace the plug.

Tips & Warnings

Keep a small bag or tray near your work area so that you can place your loose parts in them to avoid losing them.Make sure you are grounded when working on a transformer. They are electrical devices and may still hold a charge. more & ehow

Often, a model train videos shot with the intention of showing off a design or a particular piece of landscape. There is another reason why the recorded model train video however, and this is for fans to instruct others how to achieve a particular effect to the landscape, or how to build a tunnel that accesses the derailment invisible occasionally , or any number of other “how to” subjects. Some of these are videos that are OK, others are not. Here are some tips to ensure yours are not in the latter category.

Tip of the first and probably most important is to buy a quality tripod and use is time every day. Videos hand should be at the birthday party of your grandson. You do not want the watcher was distracted the subject of your video from a weak presentation. A tripod will ensure that the video is constant, but must also ensure the image is level. Look through the viewfinder to find the lines that are parallel to the ground to eliminate distraction.

Lighting is another key to a good video. Make sure the subject is well lit with natural light or artificial light is the correct color temperature to simulate daylight. The lights are mounted on the video camera are often too hard but may be adequate for close work. Once again, preview through the viewfinder before starting to ensure proper light levels and lack of color change.

Unless you are a gifted speaker who can wax eloquent coincidence, you must have a script and practice, practice, practice to the instructions of your natural sound. Do not just read a script or, worse, try to “improvise”, regardless of how well you know your topic. Try once and you will be surprised by how many awkward pauses, and uhh uhm is that you hear. A script, while better, it sounds pompous and stiff, without much practice. Enlist the services of an assistant. The expert in the field should not be the same person who is operating the video camera. In addition, the person making the statement, you can not zoom to show detail, back to show or wide angle to show the entire provision.

Plan your video. As with a good essay, a good model train instructional video, you must tell people what’s going to say, tell them, tell them what you said. This gives a structure video and feel fuller, with a beginning, middle and end. Another thing to consider is the length of your video. While it obviously has to be sufficient to cover the subject, cautioned against too long. 10-15 minutes is a good length. If you can not cover the item at that time, see if things are not as relevant or consider dividing the issue into two or more smaller parts and make more than one source.

Model train videos are an excellent vehicle to share your knowledge with novices or other enthusiasts. So channel your inner teacher and follow the suggestions above to make a great video that will become immortal in the history of model train videos.

The First of the Long Lionel Model Trains