How To Make A Display Track For 00 Gauge Models - Model Railway Tutorial

A tutorial on how to make a display track for your 00 gauge model railway locomotives!
If you've ever wanted to have your locos out on display between running sessions then you'll defintiely want to watch this video. This tutorial shows you a quick way to make a simple display track for you 00 gauge models and most of this can be done using surplus materials that you'll have for your layout.
This also acts really well as a photoplank too, so if you don't have the space for a full layout but want to photograph your locos in a scenic setting, just add a small backscene to this and away you go!
Timestamps:
00:00 - Creating The Base
02:12 - Laying The Track
04:52 - Adding Some Scenery
07:07 - The Result
Thanks for watching!

[@treinenliefde]

Ooh a display plinth. Its definitely something I'm gonna try before starting my permanent layout to try and get some grip with ballasting and weathering of track.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Great idea! This is a perfect way to try out some of the basic techniques in a small confined area before starting on something much bigger. If you haven't seen it already I've also done a whole series of tutorials called Model Railway Basics which you might be interested in: kzbin.info/aero/PLrxCs5t2FkmwrlGe3uA8naYkBug7g-u7N Thanks for watching 😃

[@treinenliefde]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy oh don't worry I've saved most videos on that list haha. It's definitely a great series for beginners such as myself, thanks!

[@adam_fordham]

What a good idea, I will definitely be giving that a go, there's a few locos I'd like to display and this plinth is perfect 👍🏻

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks Adam, that sounds like a great idea - hope it goes well for you! I have to admit I want to make a few more now for some of my other locos too. Thanks for watching 😃

[@HemelDownModelRailway]

Great idea!

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks, it certainly presents the loco nicely between running sessions! Thanks for watching 😃

[@foxhillrailway2252]

great idea... simple but so effective👍🏻🚂

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

It really presents the loco nicely doesn't it! And in theory you can make this with left over materials from your layout. Thanks for watching 😃

[@tagsdm]

Very nice. This the first I've seen a display base with a railway subject. Sure beats plonking your loco down on a desk or coffee table. I imagine you'll be taking this much further over time. Best.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks, yeah it's just a nice way to display a loco so that it feels a bit more presented. I do have some other ideas too so we'll see how popular this video is and maybe I'll show some of those in the future. Thanks for watching 😃

[@plto4ka]

Amazing, great idea.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks, yeah just a simple little project that can be put together fairly quickly. Thanks for watching 😃

[@dansterland1824]

Fantastic idea might make one for the princess what's coming next Friday can't wait for that 😀😀😀

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Excellent! I'm sure that'll look brilliant presented on something like this. Have fun and I hope it goes well. Thanks for watching 😃

[@martinhall60]

Well done, a great idea to show rolling stock.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks Martin, definitely much nicer than just putting them on a spare bit of track. Plus if you're building a layout anyway, most of this can be put together using the leftovers. Thanks for watching 😃

[@nigelcole1936]

Great idea, nicely done

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks Nigel, really glad you enjoyed it. I have a similar idea for another video that takes this idea and expands on it so hopefully I'll get round to making that sometime soon. Thanks for watching 😃

[@nigelcole1936]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy Look forward to seeing that one. I have my locos in a display cabinet and any ideas on making them look smart are of great interest

[@londonbrightonsouthcoast]

I love this. Might do this for my first engine

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Brilliant, what a great idea! Thanks for watching 😃

[@paramjeetdayal7769]

Thanks bro... this video and very nice 👍

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Awesome, glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching 👍

[@johnriley8080]

Since I still haven't begun a proper layout, this could be a way in, to see how it goes. Thanks

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Definitely, it's a great way to get used to the basics. Plus if you make it a bit bigger and add a few points you've got a micro layout for shunting 😉 I'll happily give you some pointers next time I'm up. Thanks for watching 👍

[@barra8771]

Nice job 😀

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks, it certainly does the job! Thanks for watching 😃

[@abethpezarkar9946]

Beautiful..

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks! I'm certainly pleased with it considering I threw it together in an hour. Thanks for watching 😃

[@abethpezarkar9946]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy ..am inspired to try it out this weekend..

[@thiruraj3866]

Ooo nice

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

It's a nice little way to display a loco isn't it. Thanks for watching 😃

[@NicholassTrainChannel]

Nice video mate i have also made one of those i use my one to display new locomotives and rolling stock i get. I use my one when i do reviews.- Nicholas.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks, yeah it's a great little way to make new models look more like a display piece. Using it for review videos sounds like a good idea too! Thanks for watching 😃

[@railway187]

I have such display track for about one year now. I use it for taking my models outside and making pictures on different places, in the park, at the beach… I also have a very small one, without track, just for making pictures of figurines or cars 🤓 Yours is however more professionally done, I must say. In the video you have a very professional background too. How did you make that?

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Brilliant! Yeah they're great for using as photoplanks, can't get a better backscene than the real world! Not sure my background is particularly professional though... that's just my cutting mat 😆 Thanks for watching 👍

[@railway187]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy I recognised your cutting mat 😎 but at the end of the video the background is totally white. That’s very cool

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Oh right, that’s literally just my desk 😆 It’s the same place you can see when it pulls out to the wide shot right before the end. I do have a small photobox I use for doing my reviews which has a similar effect though. Maybe I should do some behind the scenes videos someday 🤔

[@alexsrailway5420]

this is also a great way to test new technuiqes and products or just get some practice before you do it for real!

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Definitely! While for me this was a way to use up some left over materials, I've seen a few comments from others saying they'll use this idea to try out the basics for the first time. Thanks for watching 😃

[@stuartclement1506]

Simple and effective, what was the spray you put on the first static grass?

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks Stuart! It's PECO Layering Spray, I showed it in a bit more detail in the static grass tutorial I did a few weeks back. Thanks for watching 😃

[@tico360]

if you cant get modeling compound, can you use ripped-up paper with water and glue mixed together?

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

I haven't tried it myself but yeah I imagine paper mâché would be a good alternative. Thanks for watching 😃

[@RD-uq4hg]

Right, so I basically need this but I want to put rolling road on it so I can see the locos move without having to have a massive layout setup up. Anyone know how best to achieve this? Not sure if there are prebuilt products for this purpose...

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

I don’t know of any ready to use products like this but if you made it with a deeper base you could sink the rollers down to be level with the track. Then have gaps in the rails where the rollers sit. The issue is that you’d need a different display track for every type of loco as you wouldn’t be able to slide the rollers up and down like on a normal rolling road. Hope that helps and thanks for watching 👍

[@RD-uq4hg]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy Thanks for this👍 Definitely food for thought, probably works for me as I don't own all that many locos. Powering the rollers would be the primary issue for me but I'll do some research.

[@arthouserailway4214]

Great Vid, a display diorama is an excellent way to show off or photo your locos, can I ask what brand static applicator this is? I will be in the market for one soon. Cheers Leigh.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Thanks! The applicator is just a cheap one from eBay. If you check out the Static Grass tutorial from a few weeks back I show it in more detail there and there’s also a link to where you can buy it in the description: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3jFY5WDm9uYZtU Thanks for watching 😃

[@arthouserailway4214]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy Thanks will check out the tutorial, might be cheap but the applicator works well!🌟

[@UrLocalTTTEFan]

I wonder if anyone can make a model layout with display track

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Not sure I entirely follow you there Michael. Do you mean fit an entire layout onto a display track or build a normal layout that has a siding for displaying locos? Either way I'm sure someone's done it! Thanks for watching 😃

[@tico360]

i also cant afford a static grass applicator so I'm using ho scale grass mats

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Grass mats are also a great option, though they tend to look a bit uniform. You can get cheaper static grass applicators as well. Mine is nothing fancy and only cost about £15 which isn't much more than a grass mat in my experience. Thanks for watching 😃

[@georgethomas7814]

PLEASE DO NOT THINK THIS IS A CRITICISM IT IS A CRITIQUE.... THAT MODEL GUY HAS SUCH HIIGH STANDARDS I AM OFTEN STUNNED AT THE PLANNING AND FORESIGHT THAT HAS GONE INTO HIS MODELLING. Some how I expected you (That model Guy) to be more creative with your display/ tester track. A Signal Box with a Signal and a few Railway Employee's like the Signalman, Driver, Fireman and some trainspotters. And then you don't even paint the exposed sides of the display stand, shocking, average. On the upside there is plenty of scope improve, with scraps and boot sale finds. As a shelf display thin wood is best with the track support scraps you have. Sand and Paint everything that will be exposed, this is the closest that anyone will ever get to your favourite engine. Pick another feature, include that very expensive flat wagon that was an impulse buy. Having the display long enough for a large engine means that should you get a "New" favourite engine or have more than one you can swap out the engine. Try powering the track to display any lighting you may have on the engine or in the feature. That Model Guy made a 800x800 end for his layout, That would of made a great display with minor alterations, it did have a buffer at one end if I remember rightly. Placing a small shed beside the track and having a short runaway point at the other end would add features that are not normally seen in model displays. Think about where your display will be and use that space as a guide for your base. In some cases this may include room for crossovers and double track to add to the presentation.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

I just wanted to keep it simple for this one but I may do something like that in the future. As it's intended to be something small to sit on a desk I didn't want it to get too complicated, and also I quite like the way that it's been made entirely from left over materials from my main layout too. Thanks for watching 😃

[@georgethomas7814]

@@ThatModelRailwayGuy I knew I had said that wrong and was in the middle of correcting myself when you replied. Charlie from Chadwick Model Railway said something like never think anything is good enough until it is.

[@ThatModelRailwayGuy]

Not at all, I didn’t see it as criticism and it’s always good to get feedback 😊 I guess think of this as a first attempt, a proof of concept which people can take away and adapt for themselves. It’s nice to know you hold me to such standards though 😁