| With the wide demand for this model, it is easy | | | | your locomotive to be touching the rear of your |
| to find the additional products needed to make a | | | | caboose, so the length of track has to be longer |
| great personal set. | | | | than the train. |
| The HO scale uses a 16.5 millimeter track. This is | | | | At the very least, you will want the track twice |
| important when you buy additional sections to | | | | as long as the train. This means a bench work 3 |
| lengthen your setup. Another thing to remember | | | | feet wide would need to be between 24 feet and |
| about the track is that there is a minimum radius | | | | 36 feet long for a 50 car setup. You may or may |
| of 15 inches. This means when you change | | | | not be willing to provide sufficient space to |
| direction 180 degrees, you will need about 30 | | | | accommodate this layout. |
| inches from center rail to center rail. This is | | | | When you are satisfied with the area you are |
| required at any place where you reverse direction. | | | | going to use for your train setup, decide what era |
| If you have an oval shaped track, your bench | | | | or type location you want to create. For instance, |
| work is going to be at least 3 feet wide to allow | | | | if you want to have a train set that represents a |
| for this. | | | | replica from a motion picture, it will be necessary |
| The length of track you have will determine the | | | | to find a scenery source that can provide desired |
| minimum length of your bench work. You should | | | | scenery items and the train style you wish to |
| design your overall size for the setup based on | | | | duplicate. |
| the number of train cars you plan to have. If you | | | | It is always good to make as much of your |
| plan on having 50 cars or more, a medium sized | | | | scenery as you can. It saves money, and it |
| layout will not be sufficient. | | | | provides a feeling of satisfaction for having |
| Calculating how much room you need based on | | | | accomplished this on your own. It also allows you |
| the number of cars you have is easy, when you | | | | to flavor your layout with your own unique style |
| know the length of your cars. Many suppliers | | | | of creativity. |
| have models based on cars of 40 feet. This | | | | When you choose an HO model train for your |
| means a 50 car train would be just over 23 feet | | | | setup, there are very many possibilities and |
| long. If you use the specifications for the | | | | directions you can choose to take. You can |
| Southern Pacific cars, they are anywhere from | | | | choose any number of timeframes in history to |
| 45 feet to 58 feet long. | | | | represent in your layout. You just have to find a |
| With this length car, your model could be over 33 | | | | space of adequate size to build your thriving |
| feet long. Of course, you don't want the front of | | | | model train community. |