It's one thing to purchase and display a locomotive from your favourite railroad, but have you ever considered customizing your own unique model? The satisfaction that can come from creating something on your own is often far more rewarding than just walking into a hobby shop and grabbing something off the shelf. It also happens to be a lot easier than most people think!

The following is a very simple (and I do mean simple) guide for even the most novice model railroader... and by the way, I salute you for giving it a try.

You will need:

- One Undecorated Locomotive or Coach (preferably in HO Scale because it's easiest to work with) --see notes for some great ideas!
- Enamel Hobby Paint (Humbrol is a great brand)
- Quality Paint Brushes (And I do mean quality--not the stuff you find in dollar stores because those tend to shed bristles)
- Authentic Railroad Decals--see notes
- Protective Coating
- And last but certainly not least... patience.

Sound complicated? Don't worry, it's not. On the bright side, you're making this yourself so you're bound to like it!

Step 1 - choosing a model

Your best bet (at least initially) is to begin with something relatively inexpensive so you won't be too disappointed if you both the paint job or tear a few decals. I recommend an 'undecorated' Athearn model kit, for example: Athearn Item No. ATH1810--Undecorated Streamlined Coach. If you're feeling bold you can start with a locomotive shell and there are always some great ones up for auction on the site.

Step 2 - assembly and painting

Depending on the model you've elected to work with, you'll have to decide if you want to paint it before or after assembly. If your train has windows (like a passenger coach for example) in most cases it will make sense to paint the body before installing the windows. This will save you from experiencing the stress and frustration of painting around the tiny, plastic windows... I discovered this the hard way. In most cases it makes sense to paint the individual components, allow them to dry and then put them together. I recommend two solid coats and if you're using Embrol paint you should allow a minimum of 6 hours of drying time between coats. This will help reduce flakiness and the visibility of brushstrokes.

Step 3 - applying the decals

Personally I don't possess the talent or patience to hand-paint an entire model. For this reason I use decals to enhance the authenticity and realism of the model. Applying tiny decals can be very trickly--be sure to carefully read the application instructions that come with them and keep a stress ball on hand because you're bound to tear at least one or two in the process.

Step 4 - protective coat

If you survived Step 3 it's time to seal your work with a protective coat. I recommend this practice 100% of the time because it will prevent the decals from peeling off over time. You can buy matt or glossy protective sealants--the choice is up to you but in either case I recommend that you buy the kind you apply with a paint brush rather than in an aerosol can. A note of caution: if you used ordinary spray paint on your model the sealant might eat right through it and leave you with a nasty mess (but that serves you right for being lazy).

Step 5 - appreciate your masterpiece

So what if it doesn't look like one of those fancy brass imports?? This is your tour de force--display it proudly! You've just attempted what most people are too lazy to even consider. Go grab a beer and appreciate your masterpiece.

Simple, right? I sincerely thank you for reading and hope that I've been able to offer at least some little insight on the ease of creating your own personalized railroad model.

NOTES

Undecorated Models

Athearn makes great undecorated models, but when you're ready to move up to something a little more intricate I recommend Rivarossi. Feel free to e-mail me for some specific suggestions.

Suitable Paint and Protective Sealants

I recommend Humbrol brand paints. They come in small containers and can be found in just about any hobby shop. Humbrol also makes a great protective coat in matt and gloss (see Materials photo). Be sure to use both products in a well ventilated room.

Decals

My top two picks are Rapido and Microscale. Both can be readily found on eBay.