Buying a Hornby train set is the ideal way to start your model railway collection, but what other Hornby products are available to help you take that first step from train set to model railway? Whether building your first TrakMat layout, or extending your train set to a larger model railway layout, the basics are the same - you need to know how to lay down track, add electrical connections and scenic your layout.
The Hornby Book of Model Railways, By Chris Ellis
The Hornby Book of Model Railways aims to encourage anyone who is interested in model railways. Starting with the basics, it's a book for beginners, more experienced modellers and especially for those who just want to know what railway modelling is all about.
The Hornby Book of Model Railways is available to buy online from Navigator Guides
Hornby TrakMats
All Hornby train sets come with a TrakMat - a scenic underlay sheet which you can use as a base for your layout at any stage in its development. A TrakMat also tells you where to put the track, buildings and other accessories to complete the full TrakMat layout.
Baseboards
Wherever you use your TrakMat, it must have a firm base to be put on. The easiest way of doing this is to construct a baseboard. There are many ways of building a baseboard, but the most popular and standard construction is to use a top surface of insulation board such as Sundeala, with a supporting frame of softwood battens (minimum 50mm x 25mm) running along and across the underside of the board at intervals of 600mm or less.
This type of baseboard can be constructed to almost any size and shape, although for a TrakMat layout, the baseboard will have to be a minimum of 1800mm x 1200mm (6ft x 4ft) in size.
Track
Most Hornby train sets come with Track Packs A and B, with a further four Track Packs available that will fully extend your TrakMat layout:
- Track Pack C - adds a second oval and extends the outer siding
- Track Pack D - adds a level crossing and an inner siding
- Track Pack E - adds a large external siding.
- Track Pack F - adds two additional sidings, one inside the main loop and one outside.
Power and Control
Once you have your baseboard built, TrakMat fixed down and track in place, it is a simple task to plug in Hornby's standard power supply system - the transformer plugs into the controller, the controller plugs into the power clip and the power clip plugs into the track - all these items come with your train set.
However, to control the full TrakMat layout, you will need at least one more controller, so you can control two trains or more at the same time on different circuits. The Hornby HM2000 controller is a complete transformer and speed control unit in one, with built-in control for two separate trains and bi-directional running.
Accessories
The TrakMat layout also gives you space to add a variety of buildings, which are available in three TrakMat accessory packs:
- Pack 1 contains a platform, station building and signal.
- Pack 2 contains a water tower, railway cottage, and various trackside accessories.
- Pack 3 contains a larger curved platform and platform shelter with luggage and accessories.
- Pack 4 contains a loading shed, railway cottage and trackside fencing.
- Pack 5 contains a goods shed, signal box and signal.