The hardest part of this hobby isn't wiring a decoder, ballasting a three-way turnout, or even building a helix - it's getting started. Skills and knowledge develop over time - but you have to start somewhere.

A finished layout can be a daunting challenge.
©2012 Ryan C Kunkle, licensed to About.com, Inc.

If you, or somebody you know, is just thinking about starting a model railroad, here's a quick link that will help ask all the essential questions. Once you know where you're going and what lies ahead, there is no excuse to hold back any longer. Model railroading is a hobby that can last a lifetime, so don't wait another day!

This week you get two freight cars for the price of one! A covered hopper, damaged in an accident, is seen loaded on a TTX flatcar awaiting repair. The location is the UTLX facility in Altoona, PA - housed in the former passenger car shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad. This car was not alone in the line of cars awaiting work.

A wrecked covered hopper has arrived at the shop for rebuilding.
©2012 Ryan C Kunkle, licensed to About.com, Inc.

The flatcar itself was formerly an RTTX car capable of hauling 28' and 45' trailers. In fact the stenciling for that loading can still be found toward the center of the car. With more and more intermodal traffic riding on spine and well cars, and with 45' trailers themselves a rare variety today, the car has found a new service to make the most of its remaining years.

A model like this would make a fun project for any modeler. The starting point of the two cars is easy enough. For the damaged car, just about any old model that has fallen to the floor one to many times would work. Keep in mind that if a car is extremely damaged, it is often more economical to cut it up for scrap on the spot than load and move it to a shop like this. Like the prototype, you can start with an intermodal flatcar, remove the hitches and change the reporting marks.

The next step will be recreating the blocking and tie downs used to secure the load and its trucks. Blocking from basswood and styrene are easy to coble. Use small thread or chain to tie everything down. Notice that many of the tie-downs are welded directly onto the deck. These are easy to cut off after the car is unloaded and can be reattached later for a different load.

Look for an article on modeling a car like this in the near future!

The next building for the Rio Grande project layout is finally complete. No mountain town would be complete without a boarding house and tavern. This one came from a Walthers kit, the Boomtown USA Lodging House.

The details make the difference on any model, but the real beauty of this cardstock kit is in its engineering.
©2012 Ryan C Kunkle, licensed to About.com, Inc.

The kit, like others in the series, is made almost entirely of cardstock and paper. I'll admit, I had some doubts about the project when I started. As the kit progressed, I became more and more impressed with both the engineering used to make it, and the strength of the materials. Although it took some time due to the many many parts involved, construction was easy and enjoyable. This is a project that anybody with a little patience can complete.

As with the other buildings on the layout, I made a few small modifications to this one along the way. So whether you're looking for some general tips on building cardstock models, or want to recreate this model exactly, take a look. And give cardstock models a try!

If you're new to model railroading, the names and numbers given to switches (aka turnouts or points) can be a bit confusing. What switch goes with which curve? What's bigger, a No. 3 Wye or a No. 4 Left?

Switches are an essential part of any layout, understanding which ones work best for your application is the first step.
©2012 Ryan C Kunkle, licensed to About.com, Inc.

This primer will help you get on the right diverging path! Once you know what you'll need, track planning and construction goes a lot easier.