Planes to Trains

Written by Model Trains Staff A step-by-step guide to converting your model plane to a model train. Happy April Fools' Day, thanks to our great model train friends for playing along. :)

Are you tired of the freedom and excitement you get from flying? Would you rather experience the thrill of hauling bulky cargo freight in a ridged non alternating repeating pattern? Then tear off those plane wings and convert your boring old plane into a model train. Here's how.

Step one: Remove the wings

You need to create a locomotive and cargo, so grab a few aircraft. Then remove everything until you only have a fuselage. For your locomotive, be sure to keep the motor and prop to propel your new train.
In this photo we are removing the tail and wings to expose only the fuselage.

Step two: Add train wheels.

Your new train will not work unless it can roll on the rails. So remove the landing gear and wheels and replace them with rail car wheels. In some cases you can keep the landing gear and simply replace the wheels with rail car wheels. These can be purchased online and at most hobby shops.
The landing gear on this plane can be bent to better align with your railroad tracks. Photo available under a Creative Commons license by Phil_Parker at http://www.flickr.com/photos/45131642@N00/4354155124/.

Step three: Design and build

You'll want to carefully plan out your track and make sure you have enough room to build your layout. HO or N scale tend to use the least amount of real estate, but probably won't be compatible even with the smallest micro park flyers. O or G scale may be more suitable for aircraft.
This design allows for multiple aircraft/trains. Photo available under a Creative Commons license by Creative Commons by mikeporterinmd at http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikeporterinmd/6601590297/.

Step four: Enjoy

Throw off those aviator goggles and don a conductor hat.
All aboard, let's have some fun. Photo available under a Creative Commons license by Creative Commons by Abi Skipp at http://www.flickr.com/photos/9557815@N05/8086374449/sizes/z/in/photostream/.

Happy April Fools' Day, thanks to our great model train friends for playing along. :)