| With model railroading just as with real railroads it | | | | some upkeep that these standard tracks help the |
| all comes down to the tracks on which the trains | | | | hobbyists to avoid, and there is very little to be |
| roll. If they are stable and well designed the trains | | | | gained from creating the roadbed yourself - what |
| will safely make their journeys year after year. If | | | | it really all comes down to is two things: |
| not they may not be able to complete even a | | | | - The level of realism you want to achieve |
| single trip without problems or derailment " so | | | | - How much of the work you want to do |
| what goes into the creation of a safe and stable | | | | yourself |
| track system? | | | | If you merely want a functional rail system and |
| In the real world deep gravel beds supporting | | | | want to focus your efforts on dioramas and |
| heavy wooden beams are used to anchor and | | | | other aspects of prototyping, or find yourself |
| place the tracks. On most prototype systems | | | | completely satisfied with the look simulated on |
| however the creation of miniature roadbeds is | | | | standard track systems then it makes sense not |
| bypassed for a quicker and less work-intensive | | | | to invest the time and costs of creating a |
| standardized track system which can be simply | | | | roadbed and meticulously laying out track by hand. |
| glued or nailed down to the table surface. | | | | Its faster, cheaper and almost as effective to |
| Most of the standard tracks provide at least | | | | just glue down existing track systems after all " |
| some detail to help emulate the look of a real | | | | but if you are detail conscious and proud of the |
| track, in the more exotic cases even simulating | | | | amount of work you are putting into your |
| the gravel roadbed in various materials including | | | | prototyping then you may want to go ahead and |
| cork or rubber, and these are the most common | | | | include your rail system in your hand-crafted |
| products that hobbyists utilize. | | | | techniques. |
| Just as in real life creating a true roadbed from | | | | Either way the end result is bound to be |
| scratch involves a lot of work and necessitates | | | | spectacular - its all just a matter of choice. |