In some ways the Part 15 hobby resembles the model train hobby, because both amount to a miniature replication of the larger world. Combining the hobbies makes perfect sense for train modelers and would open a new target market for Part 15 manufacturers. Imagine a miniature town in a railroad layout. Somewhere in the town would be the radio station with its own transmitter shack and tower. The tower would extend from floor to ceiling and pierce right through the table. The section below the table would be painted flat black so it would not be noticed, and the section from the table to the ceiling would feature red & white FAA design with flashing tower lights at “night.” For that matter the town might have several stations just as it has several trains.
Neat Idea Carl
I don’t do model trains, but I’ve thought of building a miniature “antenna tower” maybe 2 ft tall to sit on the shelf with a little space inside it for my part15 FM transmitter. Basically as an item of decor/humor. You know for when people ask where the antenna or tower are? LOL
But something like a model train town could also be an interesting theme to build programming around for one or more part 15 stations.
Especially for folks with large train sets or miniature collections they set up as a village or town, it could be neat to have even a few different stations as you mention.
Hmm, or maybe for an AM neighborhood/community station with a ground mounted 3 meter antenna, one could perhaps build a miniature “Blaw-Knox” diamond shaped “tower” around it out of plastic tubing or something? Could be good also for community stations that want something to attract attention. A 10 ft working (under part 15) miniature of the old diamond-shaped red and white painted towers could definitely be a neat publicity item, especially for something like an OTR format station?
Daniel
Amazing Validation of a Fantasy
Carl, et. al.,
I have two American Flyer S gauge sets, the first acquired in the early ’50s. My brother was into model villages, vehicles, etc. and we had untold hours of fun. I kept the trains running and he was “mayor and zoning commissioner” for our 4 by 8 foot countryside.
The trains now only come out for the Christmas holidays for the enjoyment of the young folks (BS alert!!! I do it for myself! They can get their own.) I even figured out how to rewire the “fire box” and what oil to use to get the Flyers to smoke again as was orginally intended.
Anyway, my younger son (now 35) while a teenager had his own “countryside” with his own trains. When he was in his teens when I bought a gas welding set one of my first projects, with his help, was to build a “radio tower” from welding rod using the welder. This thing stands about two feet tall and closely resembles a power stantion. Though his trains remain in boxes in my basement (can’t get him to make them go away) the tower has always been his treasure, proudly displayed everywhere he has lived.
I never “activated” the towers to make them actually transmit but the visual effect was most satisfying.
Thanks for the chance to relive fond memories.
Neil
Hey look at what i found!
This was on ebay.
Some of you might be interested. Not sure it’s the right scale tho, but cool nonetheless. Ok i tried to add the link here but its way too long.
Try typing that into ebay search engine.
Busch Radio Transmitter Tower
Here’s a generic link
for model train radio tower on ebay
model train radio tower on ebay
Some cool stuff comes up there, too.
Model Train Podcast
A search turned up a model train podcast.
http://www.modelrailcast.com/