A lot of transformation has happened in the world of bowhunting. Right from the primitive times when man used bow and arrow to hunt, to modern days when man uses exclusive bowhunting equipment to hunt game or participate in tournaments – a lot has changed.

Dominant eye usage:

It is imperative that you use only the dominant eye while taking shots using your bowhunting equipment. If you are not sure which is the dominant eye, then perform the following exercise. Take aim at any object with your finger pointing towards it. Keep both your eyes open. Next, close the left eye and find out if the finger still points at this target. Then close the right eye and take aim using the left eye only. Check to see if the finger has moved away from the target. If the finger points to the target when your right eye is open then the right eye is the dominant eye and vice versa. The purpose of knowing which is the dominant eye is to help you get accurate and precise shots each time. Thus, not only is it important to have the right bowhunting equipment you also need to have good eyesight.

The correct bow:

Another vital aspect to consider to improve your hunting sessions is to choose the right bowhunting equipment. The proper bow is crucial to ensuring a good hunting session. The best bow should ideally provide a good fit with your body. Depending on your size and age the bow should fit you appropriately. If you are using a longer bow or a bow which is shorter than your body length, then you risk jeopardizing the shot. Thus, choosing the proper bow is another vital aspect of selecting your bowhunting equipment. At times, improper bow length can also impact the weightage of the shot. It can also cause discomfort for the archer and resulting in improper balance.

Draw weight should be right:

The drawing weight is another crucial aspect you need to consider when selecting the bow for your bowhunting equipment. A higher degree of drawing weight can mean quick onset of fatigue and tiredness in the archer. Too much draw weight can also result in you having to move bow while drawing back in order to get the shot right. This can result in too much movement, which can distract and alert the game. Ideally, young archers need bow bowhunting equipment with draw weights ranging from 15 to around 35 pounds. Women who perform archery, need a bow with weight of 25 to around 35 pounds draw weight. For men archers the draw weight should extend between 50 and 55 pounds.

The correct arrow:

Another important aspect to consider as part of your bowhunting equipment is to select the proper arrow. When you are just starting to practice archery make use of cheaper arrow types. Continue this until you master the tricks and techniques of archery completely. Once confident, you can progress towards the expensive versions of arrows. Most of the time, the initial stages of archery call for using plenty of arrows in order to get a feel of the bow bowhunting equipment. Hence, you will use up lots of arrows, which is why investing in cheaper ones will save money.

Miscellaneous accessories:

There are a lot of accessories, which can be used along with your bowhunting equipment to improve shot accuracy. These include peep sights, rests, stabilizers, drop rests, which facilitate the best fletch clearance etc.

Jennifer Walterscheit is the owner of Eagle Archery, a website dedicated to selling Bowhunting Supplies, Bowhunting Equipment, and Archery Equipment. Come visit us today!

There are several aspects that are important in the eyes of the person who is just crazy for having the real boating excitement. Now-a-days, where you need to pay something in order to get anything, it really matters, if you get to know anything about free plywood boat plans. It is a fact that boating provides great pleasure to its lovers. The boating business is now getting popular and with growing popularity, it is now easier to get all the boating accessories at any place. There are several events organized in order to provide boon to this boating business and that is another reason why you can have almost everything related to boating now. In addition to these events, there are several sites available on the net from where you can get several useful information as well as resources related to boating.

From the sites available on the net, you can have all the useful information related to boating. Not only that, if you want to have several plans by which you can prepare several boating accessories that is also possible. There are ways available by which you can prepare boating accessories at home. However, it is very important to keep several important things in mind before opting for any of the method. By good knowledge and hard work you can convert your dreams into reality. There are many procedures for making unique masterpieces out of simple wood. However, before proceeding, it is important to keep several factors in mind, like you should make proper planning about the things to be done. You must also make sure to select the right material that is required in the making. Last, but not the least, you must consider the safety point in mind. So, by following these tips it would be easier to complete the project with ease.

For preparing the boat, first of all you must make provisions to prepare the frame, hull and jig. For preparing these things, you must have good quality of spruce or board wood, left over strips of the board, nails, Epoxy resin, filler, drywall tape, blocks, plank, screws etc. In addition, the basic tools that are required are a hammer, saw, drill, pen or pencil, measuring instrument or tape, sand paper, paint, brush, batten etc. After assembling all the above you can start with your project.

To start with, first of all decide the length that you require as according to that only you need to cut the board. While cutting the board, make sure to cut the board in oversize as it is required later. As the whole project depends on the board, it is very important to cut the board with accuracy. For this purpose make use of measuring tape and cut the exact piece that you require.

It is important to use good plywood as it is very important in the making of a boat. With this wood, you must cut the total pieces that you require to build the project i.e. one big piece to work as the bottom and remaining ones that are going to be used as the sides. As it is the foundation, hence it is important to cut all the pieces with perfect measurement, for that purpose mark the sizes with the pencil or pen and cut exactly with the saw. Now after cutting all the pieces, it is important to concentrate on other things. The joining of these pieces can be done afterwards, but first carry on with other things.

PART 2 - For part two of this article, head on to Free Plywood Boat Plans where you can also find the best deals when looking for boat insurance Maryland.

Street racing games are fun, enjoyable and they totally take your mind off of things! As you cruise the streets on a pimped up car, driving 200 miles per hour you can feel your blood rush through you as you pass the others and you tread towards the finish line. You can always find a wonderful array of blood-pressure popping games at PlayCarRacingGames.ws

However, some street racing games have given an awful name to this genre. Specifically, budget games. All for lower overhead costs, they made the game despicable to the point of being trash can worthy after the first try. These games have the worst graphics seen, kind of like the Super Mario game in the first generation Nintendo Game Boy that was almost black and white, they are boring, with repetitive scenes and they are just plain ugly to look at, let alone play with.

However, one certain game is like the saving grace of the budget street racing games industry. And that is L.A. Street Racing. The plot of the game is plain and simple – racing in the dark and grumpy streets of Los Angeles, California as a kid. You have four rally points to choose from, which are all locations seen within this infamously crime ridden city in California. These so called rally points are usually near malls or mini-marts wherein you group with a bunch of people, insulting and cussing like regular LA punks then they challenge your character to one of the most exciting street racing games in the history of budget games.

After all the bad mouth talk that may get generic overtime, you get to go to the real part of the game, the street race. You go one on one with the guy who challenges you and the more you win, the higher your raking will be. This ranking become the basis if you can move forward to other rally points and then finally go hood to hood with the top street racer named “Matt Peacock” (I know, why use such a dorky name?)

The fun thing about street racing games is that it’s not just about the race as normal races are. It is also about that extra “something something” that sweetens the game. For L.A. Street Racing, that is participating in wagers. When you opt to participate in this bet, you up the ante by getting something off of the other rider’s car, like a great muffler or a better tranny or even tires that will increase your performance. A little word of advise though is that you have to know that not all new parts won from wagers will actually make your car’s performance better.

L.A. Street Racing may not be the one of the top 5 simulation street racing games in the history of PC gamin but it is the number one budget street racing game ever. And if you want to experience the fun of driving and cruising your way to the streets of LA at low a cost and with virtually zero opportunity to end up as a casualty, then download this game or other similar street racing games at PlayCarRacingGames.ws

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The production and development of the graphics of different computer race car games nowadays have been extremely revolutionary because more and more computer games software have been discovered that could support any kinds of game consoles. Several popular 3D car racing games have been in the world of computer games for so many years already, and you can find so many varieties of 3D car racing games according to your fancy. One good thing is that you never have to spend a single cent to enjoy these games.

There is a huge selection of 3D car racing games that caters and suits everyone’s fancy, both grown-ups and kids. Do not be surprised if women play these kinds of games in the near future as well. The long list of the most popular 3D car racing games among 3D car racing games aficionados includes, fugitive takedown, GH racer, frog race, and formula racing, just to name a few.

Now, let us take a deeper look at some of the 3D car racing games; its characteristics that make them popular among car racing games players. Topping the list here is the formula racing which was based on the actual famous formula racing in some parts of Europe. The popularity of formula racing has invaded not only the different race tracks of Europe and Americas; it has also penetrated the world of internet. The development of 3D car racing games like the formula racing has opened wide doors to those who want to experience the excitement of a car racing, but due to some reasons, cannot afford to have those amazing and expensive formula racing cars. With the help of the 3D technology, anyone who wishes to play any 3D car racing games can now play till their hearts content for free!

Another 3D car racing game that is highly-rated by the car racing games enthusiasts is the fugitive takedown. This is one of the coolest and fun 3D car racing games because you get to play here a good guy who drives a police car to chase precarious mobsters on the street. One of the modes of fugitive takedown is the “pursuit” – wherein you will have to run after the car of the dangerous fugitive and crash into it until you finally get hold of them. The other mode is the “time trial” – wherein you have to compete with a ghost driver once you have finished your first lap and after your race information has been saved up. The last but not least mode of fugitive takedown is the “hit and run” – in this mode you will have to play against the law by crashing as many people that are walking along the street as you possibly can.

One of the newest 3D car racing games is the “fish truck” which is also gaining fame among the fans. Your primary mission here is to transport securely and to protect your truck of fish from hungry and vicious birds with the use of your weapons as you traverse the long stretches of the streets. For more information on the latest racing games available check out PlayCarRacingGames.ws

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When you are trying to look for sites that offer and provide their consumers the opportunity to play race car games online for no charge, the best and sensible ways that you can be able to do is to go to race car games forums, read the opinions of the people who have already played certain types of race car games and see for yourself which you think is the most amusing and interesting game for you. When a game site ranks higher, it means that the quality and content of the site is one of the best. However, you do not have to take the words of other people all the time about game sites; if you think that the race car game site which you come across looks fascinating to you, you may go straight ahead and try to play race car games and see for yourself if it passed your standards.

A wide variety of race car games are readily available for anyone’s fancy. If you want your adrenaline to be in extreme level and constantly fired-up, you might consider playing race car games that requires your mind to be completely focused and thrilled. The usual games that will make you feel like this way are the high-speed bus and extreme car games, which are usually very competitive in nature. Unlike offline games, in online games you can be able to play race car games and compete against participants for free. Why go for expensive car game consoles like the PSP or Xbox games when in fact you can get the same pleasure when you play the games online?

A single site usually consists of so many race car games, such as the drifting car games, wherein your driving skills will be tested to the extreme especially if you choose the “battle mood”. If you opted for the “time attack mode”, the main objective here is to finish the race with the shortest time. Gone in 60 seconds is one of the coolest and thrilling race car games to play – a car game that is based on the Hollywood movie in which Nicolas Cage appeared in. this game will also test your driving dexterity because it is actually one of the most difficult race car games to play. The main goal here is to find the key of the car and then once you have successfully located the key, to drive the car into the warehouse, quickly, of course!

Redline rumble is another race car game to play that is making a wave of history in the world of online race car games nowadays. In order for you to play race car games in the level of redline rumble, you should be an expert already in the race car games because this is one of the most adventurous race car games that you could possibly think of. Redline rumble is a complete set of exploration and exhilaration because you will be surrounded by numerous opponents while all at the same time you are performing unimaginable stunts in your car while you are trying to avoid the people in authority and the mobsters who are both chasing you. If you are interested in playing race car games then for more information visit PlayCarRacingGames.ws

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One of the most revolutionary changes that the advent of the internet has produced, is the introduction of new and sophisticated online betting systems, where the ‘traditional’ bookmaker is no longer king.

The new ‘breed’ of betting systems is called a betting exchange and the way that these exchanges operate, means that as a punter the odds are more stacked in our favour, which is of course no bad thing.

Betting exchanges such as Betfair enable punters to place bets against each other in support of which horse they believe will win or lose a particular race. If one person believes that a particular horse will win a race; they will back that horse and offer a wager price. If someone else believes that the horse will lose the race, and they like the odds that are offered, they will lay it. At that point, the bet is matched.

Players Control The Odds, Not The Bookmakers

According to Betfair, during peak hours they’ve matched over 12,000 bets per minute. This represents a significant marketplace that will see very large sums of money changing hands every day. On betting exchanges such as Betfair, the players themselves are in complete control of the odds and the prices - not the bookmakers.

As far as comparing it to the betting systems of yesteryear, it is about as far removed as you could get.

First of all, as there are no bookmakers, there are no longer any hefty margins either. With a betting exchange, a punter always wins, not a bookmaker. Odds are never manipulated to protect profit margin and the only cost for using the system is a low commission that is applied to net winnings. Such betting exchanges typically offer punters much higher odds than traditional bookmakers, and that’s why I always recommend comparing their odds against that of the high street bookie.

How Does This System Work?

Maybe the most unique and attractive aspect to betting exchanges is the fact that its the punters who get to choose the odds, not the bookie. Players can enjoy the flexibility of offering their own odds within a betting system that gives the punter almost complete control and the ability to dictate a certain event on their own terms.

Once this has been done, its then down to other interested punters to actually provide a counter-offer to these odds. If the originally player who placed the bet likes your counter-offer - they accept and the bet is matched. Either way, one player or another is going to win and make money.

Why The Punter Always Wins

This approach to betting of course means that a punter always wins. This represents extremely high liquidity across a huge range of markets, and many betting exchanges attract both very high-rollers and small-time punters as well, with small minimum bets available to cater for the latter.

From my own experience, I have found the arena of betting exchanges quite exciting and it’s very hard to beat the pure excitement of what Betfair calls an “in-play”. In-play betting allows players to use their own analysis to try to predict results of an event even after the event has begun. This means that even right into the middle of any event, two people can immediately place a bet regarding the outcome of that event.

The excitement of such a betting system is that two players can pit their wits against each other regarding their ability to do real-time analysis in predicting what they believe will be the outcome. This represents high-energy, fast moving action where the odds change by the second.

In fact, Betfair and their betting exchange counterparts have presented the public with a new and innovative approach to placing bets, that of course removes the middleman; otherwise know as the bookmaker.

Which Came First?

Most people would think that the bookmaker is the image of traditional betting, well maybe not. Betting exchanges offer people a method to directly place bets against each other, very much like nobility used to do during the earliest days of one-on-one thoroughbred racing, so maybe it is the exchange that is closer to tradition?

Whatever your thoughts or beliefs, exchanges have forced the bookmaker to look at its business model, and in time this will benefit one set of important individuals, the ones who provide the money, the punter.

Cliff Thurston is the CEO of Grosvenor Racing Club, a successful horse racing tipster service. For more information, please visit: www.grosvenor-racing-club.co.uk

So you want to be a rock climber. You’d like to climb a rock wall or maybe hang off the side of a rock formation somewhere. Well, you’ll have several styles to choose from to do it. It could be pretty easy and safe or you could seriously risk your life. Either way, you’ll need to know exactly what you’re doing. There should be no room for guess work.

Rock climbing is climbing to the summit of a natural rock formation or climbing to the summit of a manmade rock wall. It could also be climbing to a designated endpoint on a climbing route. It doesn’t always mean that you’ve got to reach the very top. A sectional climb like this is referred to as a pitch. If you’re climbing several routes consecutively, it would be considered a multi-pitch climb.

Rock climbing has been around for nearly a hundred years. Climbers have encountered many kinds of rock formations all around the world. It’s not surprising then that rock climbing has branched into several more distinct styles. Most of the rock climbing done today is considered to be a form of free climbing. This involves using solely one’s own physical ability to climb. Equipment is used but only as a means of protection from falling.

◦ Aid climbing. The safest method of rock climbing is aid climbing. Equipment is used for all handholds and all footholds, meaning that the climber is assisted every step of the way. When rock climbing first began, this method allowed for ascents that were believed impossible. It was this fantastic enabling quality of aid climbing that helped to bring such interest to the sport.

◦ Bouldering. This style of rock climbing involves short climbing routes that are near enough to the ground that a fall should not result in the climber’s death. There is no rope or harness but, preferably, there is a helmet. The only other option for protection is to use a bouldering pad (protective mat). The climbing partner (an absolute necessity) on the ground usually directs the location of this pad, aligning it with the climber’s location. The climbing partner is also the all-seeing eye that warns the climber of hazardous areas.

◦ Top Roping. This is probably the easiest and safest way to free climb. A rope is already secured through an anchor at the top of the climb. A belayer, your climbing partner, holds onto the opposite end of the rope, controlling any give or take while keeping it taut.

◦ Lead Climbing. This involves a lead climber who ascends with one end of a rope tied to his harness. The belayer, the leader’s partner, holds onto the other end of the rope, giving or taking up slack as needed. The lead climber sets up a belay system as she climbs, securing safety anchors for her partner to use, which is also the fail-safe system to catch the lead climber in case she falls.

If this is a multi-pitch route, the partner picks up the anchor points on the way up. The climbers then proceed to the next pitch. If it’s a single pitch, the anchor points are cleaned (taken out) on the way down by the last climber. This is a great way to help keep criticisms at bay that rock climbers litter the natural landscape. All climbers should live the creed: Take nothing, leave nothing.

◦ Traditional Climbing and Sport Climbing. These methods of climbing are both styles of lead climbing. The difference is in how the protection is placed. In sport climbing, the anchors are already set. You needn’t worry about placing them or removing them. In traditional climbing, the anchors are placed as the climb progresses and then removed by the last climber.

◦ Free Solo Climbing. This is also called free soloing. It is the most advanced form of rock climbing. The climber uses nothing for protection. No anchor points, no belay, no rope and no harness. If he falls, he falls unencumbered all the way down. It’s quite frightening. Accidents, in this case, are tragic. You’ve got to be fit, skilled and have great emotional and psychological control to do this successfully. Be more than ready. Be extremely more than ready. Your life depends on it.

If you decide to free solo, be very weary of the weather. The climbing may be going just fine and then it rains. This could prove fatal to this kind of climber. Dry, sunny days are what you want. Don’t risk your life.

◦ Deep water soloing. The only “safe” method of free soloing is deep water soloing. This is climbing done on sea cliffs over water. While falling into the ocean beneath a cliff face seems better than falling on hard ground, it isn’t particularly safe. You’ve got to be aware of the tides and of prevailing wave action, of submerged boulders or coral islands. Not only that but, if you’re climbing more than 80 feet above the surface of the water, the impact alone could prove fatal. Mind your elevation.

◦ Indoor Climbing. This designation is for all rock climbing done indoors. Climbing is done on man-made rock climbing walls. Any style is permitted, although not free soloing. You’re required to wear and use all safety gear. This would be the safest and most recommended way to learn how to rock climb.

There you have it, all the ways to rock climb. It could be a highly dangerous activity where you risk your life at every moment. Or it could be very safe and protected without worry. Just use caution at all times. And, please, don’t ever climb outdoors alone. You know you’re just asking for it.

Len Q. is a master blade sharpener. If you would like to learn more about

You’ve decided to become a rock climber. Yet all you know is what you’ve seen on television or in movies. That doesn’t matter. You’ve decided and that’s that. Let’s pretend that you come from a land where there are no large rock formations whatever. Here are some basic tips and suggestions to help in your understanding of what it takes to engage in this extreme sport.

Tips for Good Technique.

◦ Rock climbing is mentally challenging. The ability to clear your mind and focus is essential to your success as a climber. If you’re able to meditate as you climb, you’re worlds ahead of those that can’t. Use whatever works for you. There is no one way for all.

◦ Control the center of gravity (COG). This is usually at the center of your body, somewhere in your abdomen. (Hopefully not lower than that!) All of your movements begin here. You’ll want your legs directly beneath you or to equal distances on each side of you.

◦ Observe other climbers. This is especially educational when you are belaying a good climber. Ask questions as they come to you. Understanding will go a long way when you try the moves yourself.

◦ Practice the techniques you’ve observed. Learn them. With repetition, these techniques will become more and more comfortable. Eventually, you may discover that these new moves are exactly what you need to complete a particular section of a climb.

◦ Climb when you’re tired. It seemed a bit nuts when I first learned this. But it really can help a new climber. Climbing tired forces you to plan each move with deliberation and not speed. It also forces you to consider your energy reserves and learn just how far you can go in this condition.

◦ Work on your weak points. Spare some climbs just to work on your weak points. You’ll vastly improve your climbing ability and bring you closer to becoming a good climber. Remember that it isn’t a good idea to work on your good points during the same climb. Work on one or the other, not both.

Tips when Climbing.

◦ This goes without saying but it’d be good to emphasize it some more. As a climber in an extreme sport, you should know your gear inside and out. Don’t even think of climbing until you could work it even in the dark. Depend on yourself and no one else.

◦ Rock climbing can be done at any speed you’re comfortable with. You may climb slowly and methodically. Or you may climb with speed and finesse, if that suits you better. Whatever the choice, it should depend upon the strengths you already have.

◦ Whenever possible, rely on your legs to move you. It is very unwise to sap unnecessary energy from your upper body when your legs can easily get it done.

◦ Raise one foot at a time. This will further prevent you from using your upper body to lift all your weight. Avoid doing so whenever you can.

◦ When you feel your muscles tightening, when you feel that a cramp is coming on, just stop. Go no further. Don’t wait for the cramp to happen to stop. Look for a nearby ledge or just hangdog (rest on your gear or on the rope) until all muscle tightening has disappeared.

Tips when Resting.

◦ Check and secure your footholds. Make sure that the next handholds are above your head.

◦ Keep your arms in a relaxed position by straightening them out. It really does make a difference.

◦ Lean back into the wall and not away from it. Energy is uselessly lost when you lean out and have to pull yourself back in to continue the climb. Your COG will have been in your arms and you don’t want that.

◦ Plan your next move. Locate your next holds. Position your hands and feet, even practice the movements. This improves each chance for a smooth execution, especially on difficult sections.

These are very basic tips and recommendations to quicken your understanding of what it takes to engage in the sport of rock climbing. When you understand, you can better implement safely and then improve quickly. And once you’ve received certified instruction on how to climb, you’re outta’ here. Just remember to always respect the air and space around you for there is no safety net. Be safe up there.

Len Q. is a master blade sharpener. If you would like to learn more about

Real gamers are not really a choosy bunch. They will play any title from any game genre without too much prodding. While they enjoy most of the games that are available in the market, the truth is there will always be games that are special to their hearts. If you ask gamers around, there’s one type of game that will always be part of their playlist. Racing games will always be very popular for gamers even if the most sought after games are from different genre. Most gamers play car racing games to satisfy their need for speed. The great thing about this game genre is that you can gauge how good you are in controlling your car of choice. You can test your skills by going head to head with another player or a computer character that has a high game AI (artificial intelligence). If you are the loner type, you can still test your driving skills by racing against time. Either way, you can have tons of fun if you play car racing games.

It’s been established that car racing games are included in the games arsenal of gamers, the next question is where do you get these types of games? Depending on what gaming platform you use, you can purchase them at your favorite game shops or you can order from online shops. Over the years, some game gods and game geeks have found a way to get a multitude of games without having to go to any store. The solution is to download the games into their computers and start driving to their hearts delight. There are many sites that allow you to download games. One of the more dependable game sites is called PlayCarRacingGames.ws. It allows you access to over 800 million downloadable games. With such massive amount of games, you will surely get tons of racing car games enough to have an adrenaline rush.

If you play car racing games exclusively, the site is a treasure trove of racing gar games in all shapes and sizes. Your choices are endless. If you fancy arcade racing games, you can download old-school games as well as those that has gotten many design makeovers. If you’d rather have 3D car racing games, you will have a hard time choosing which ones to download because the sheer number of titles available. Racing simulators have been enjoying a steady number of loyal fans and has been catapulted to top rankings in various game sites. The phenomenal success of the Formula One franchise contributed to the increasing number of people who play car racing games. Playing this type of game allows you to mimic the maneuvers of your favorite race car drivers, minus the dangers. Your car can burst into flames and you will still get out of it unscathed.

PlayCarRacingGames.ws can help you get your racing games fix with less hassle. They have a huge network that allows you get any racing game title you can think of. Downloading racing games will not allow you to get all the games you want, but you save up in the process. With such wonderful service, it’s no wonder that people start to play car racing games.

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All the components necessary to build up a successful model train layout are expensive – locomotives, rolling stock, tracks, power controllers, buildings, landscaping, to list just some – these are all expensive. It is no wonder that the hobby of setting up and maintaining a model train collection is considered one of the more costly hobbies that you can become involved in. However, that does not stop many thousands, may be hundreds of thousands of people, spending a considerable amount of money on their model train collections.

Because of the significant amount of money you will have invested in establishing your model train collection, it is essential that you should take all the necessary measures to ensure that it is properly cared for. You would not want to have your investment to end up in the trash.

You will find that taking good care of your model train collection will save you a significant amount of money for repair and maintenance in the years to come.

The following simple guidelines should remind you of the basic essentials of the good habits you need to develop that will help take care of your very valuable model train collection and maintain it in prime working condition:

• make sure you store the most expensive parts of your model train collection – the locomotives and rolling stock –all the wagons, carriages, etc in a safe place when they are not in use. They should preferably be in a cupboard or containers to prevent dust and moisture affecting them. If you have your model train layout in your garage or in a basement, make sure it is damp proof;

• make sure you always wipe dust and dirt off the model train collection components. Use a soft cloth or a soft sponge when doing this. This will help prevent dirt accumulating, particularly in many of the surface ridges. An accumulation of dirt can potentially, over time, destroy the paintwork and can inhibit the proper functioning of any of the individual items;

• if you are using batteries to operate your model train, as many people still do, take them out of the train if you will not be using your train for some time. Batteries leak if not in use for a period of time. The leakage could damage the model train because the chemicals in batteries are harsh and abrasive;

• if you are operating electric control of your trains, make sure the tracks which carry the current are kept clean. Otherwise the proper functioning of your model train layout can be severely affected;

• let the locomotive of your model train run on its own power. Try to avoid touching a locomotive when it is operating. Doing so can often cause damage to the motor.

While you may find that the tasks of maintaining your model train collection properly, such as keeping it clean and safely stored, are somewhat tedious, and tend to detract from the enjoyment you get from having and operating your model trains on your layout, the development of good maintenance habits will, in the long run, add to your enjoyment by providing a well functioning, good looking model train collection.

And - it will save you money by not requiring costly replacements for poorly functioning components.

John Vanse, a model train enthusiast, has a network of model train sites - all relating to aspects of establishing and maintaining your model train collection. These sites can be accessed through the key site : The Model Train Guide