top of page

The buildings

Applied techniques

Most (outdoor) model railways have one or more buildings or other decoration, which gives an extra addition.
Madurodam in The Hague is a good example, based on Dutch buildings and situations in scale 1:25.

In scale 1: 22½ there are some small series and standard manufacturers.


Because the objects have a larger volume and therefore cost more raw materials, the

prices above average expensive.

Proper consideration of what is to be installed does require attention, partly because of this

its preciousness and size.

​

Anchoring objects is necessary in certain cases, for example theft and weather influences.

But this is also situation dependent, so only the wind turbine is anchored on my track.

​

Most objects do not come with lighting, so you usually have to rely on your own knowledge.

Especially when one decides to self-build buildings or objects.

Due to the low power consumption and the often longer cabling lengths, LED lighting is most certain recommended.

This also applies to my own outdoor track, where only LED lighting was applied.

I would personally advise against incandescent lamps, on the one hand because of the possible heat development compared to the plastic (risk of melting) and the attraction of vermin, on the other hand because of a shorter

lifespan and vulnerability (change lights in case of defects).

When LED lighting is used correctly, there is virtually no further maintenance.

​

LAPP cable© control cable (or similar) is used for the cabling of the lighting of objects.

The advantage of this type of cable is that it is oil-resistant (application as a ground cable) and it is available from 1x2 on to many cores.

Various types of cables have been used on my outdoor track, each of the same brand (LAPP©) and core thickness (0.75mm²).

The objects are not connected with a plug connection (susceptible to interference) but with a simple terminal block.

When a single light source is connected in the object, a 1x2x0.75 mm² is used, with multiple light sources in one object a 1x4x0.75 mm² is used and in the case of a station, for example, even a 1x7x0.75 mm².

​

​

Applied objects

The signal box in the railway yard

IMG_1841.JPG
IMG_1843.JPG

The first building on the outer track was the signal box at the depot area.

This is a signal box based on a German example and has been in service since the end of 2019.

A distribution/connection strip has been created on the ground floor, where all cables from switches and other objects receive their power supply or control voltage.

This actually happens at the N.S. large company in a similar way.

The 'foundation' is a standard concrete tile 40x60 cm, in which an opening has been cut, which is precisely

falls within the walls of the ground floor.

The LED lighting was immediately installed during construction.

The lighting is on 24/7 (there is always someone present...), the outdoor lighting under the stairs switches

with the public lighting (on in the evening at dusk, off again in the morning at dawn).

The signal room on the first floor is not specifically equipped, this will happen at some point in the future.

​

The depot

IMG_1607.JPG
IMG_1606.JPG

The depot has been extended since construction.

The manufacturer of this impressive building is Piko.

An automatic door closer is available for this building, but it's not usable in situ

for this extended variant.

In the autumn of 2020, the building was equipped with overhead lines inside, but no recess has yet been made at the top of the doors for this.

Here too, LED lighting was installed during construction.

Three retaining strips 100x15x5 cm (black) were used as a foundation, which first had to be properly leveled to obtain a composite flat floor.

The four roof panels can be removed for service purposes.

​

The fuel station

IMG_1491.JPG

The fuel station is a standard object from manufacturer Pola.

It is simple in design with some extra oil drums and a covered diesel pump.

The storage tank is also covered with a small roof.

The old sodium lamp between the pump next to the storage tank is the only original addition.

This switches along with the public lighting.

The farmhouse with cowshed

Kopie van IMG_2394.JPG

The farmhouse is also a standard object from manufacturer Pola.

It is located beside the diesel line curve with a cowshed, an old Lanz tractor and a hay wagon next to it.

Additional it has connection points with AC-power from the signal box.

Like the other objects, this is also illuminated.

The residential house

Kopie van IMG_2401.JPG

The house is next to the farmhouse and the cowshed, all three visible in the photo above.

A foundation plate was made for this house from the same surface as the track is placed on.

It's not yet in place, so the connectionpoints are visible, both with cables looped through.

The cowshed is visible behind the house, although it is used for sheep.

The farmer sits on his field car with the sheep in front of him, grazing the railway embankments...

The station building and eatery

Kopie van eea82318-b358-4a23-990a-6d2efa

The image above shows the station building with eatery on the village side

The station building comes from the Piko collection and is newly built.

It has interior lighting, which is turned off after midnight, while the platform lighting remains on at night.

​

The eatery is a second-hand German object, which was completely dismantled after delivery and then rebuilt.

IMG_2521.JPG

The station building without tram traffic.

It just was put in service...

bottom of page