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Written by Paul D. Race for Family Garden Trains™

This page is a place for odds and ends that may be of value to other garden railroaders. Initially this site was mostly graphic files I created for my own use to use on buildings I built or trashbashed, that is, created from non-models such as toys and bird feeders. Early versions of this page featured low-resolution graphics that could quickly be downloaded and printed on cheap printers. However, since more people have access to better networks, computers, and printers, I've replaced the graphics with commercial-grade graphic files. I've also added many new textures that hobbyists find useful, including rotten cedar shakes, flagstones, etc., as well as a few signs that look good around the train room or trainyard.

New for Fall, 2009! Tinplate Textures - In 2009, project designer Howard Lamey started dabbling in antique toy "tinplate" trains. He discovered that many collectors would like to have more vintage-style accessories for their railroads but don't want to pay a fortune for them. Other folks would like to have a "Christmas" village that reminds them of the seasonal railroads and communities that their parents and grandparents used to set out under the tree when everything was new and bright. So, with Paul's graphic files, we created several building projects based on the old lithographed tinplate buildings of the early-to-mid 1900s. We call the series our Tribute to Tinplate™, and it has been very well received. Paul is now making the lithograph-inspired building textures he created for that series available as separate downloads so you can design your own tinplate-style structures. Most of the graphic patterns are available in S, O, and Large Scale (1:32), so you can build vintage-inspired structures to go with any toy or tinplate trains you own. Scroll down the page for more information. Below these links are links to other resources that you may find helpful.

Building Front Photos: I have been stockpiling graphics to add to this page when I have opportunity. We are now adding an entirely new feature: High-resolution photographs of classic buildings and building fronts that you can print off and use to provide backgrounds on indoor railroads, especially shelf railroads. Trainroom Sign Files This section replicates old-fashioned signage that you used to see on and around railroads. Today you can use them to remind people where they're allowed to go and where they're not allowed to spit. The Trainroom Signs page includes instructions for printing and preparing for use out of doors. Business and Station Signs This section includes commercial quality signs and posters that you can resize and print to use on your railroad buildings and accessories. The Business and Station Signs page includes instructions for resizing and printing. We have also added a collection of miniature toy train posters has been added for use in store front windows, etc.

Building Textures This section includes downloadable "brick paper," flagstone patterns, and other commercial quality graphics you can resize and print to use for buildings and backgrounds. Folks with collectible villages can use the brick and stone pages for streets. The Building Textures page includes instructions for resizing and printing.

Tinplate Textures This feature on the Big Indoor Trains™ site includes brick, shingle, siding, door and window patterns inspired by the tinplate buildings that Lionel and other companies made to go with their toy trains a century ago. Many of these have already been used in our Tribute to Tinplate™ series, which has been embraced by toy train buffs. The Tinplate Textures page provides most patterns in three different scales to help you find the best sizes for your existing railroad or holiday village.

Curtains and Shades This section includes downloadable curtain and venetian blind patterns you can use to add color to a dull building or to camouflage a building's lack of interiors. The Curtains and Shades page includes instructions for resizing and printing.

	Stained Glass Windows (572K). I made these up from a Corel-Draw clip-art file to use for a Fisher-Price schoolhouse I am converting into a church. I printed them on Hammermill Papers' "Invent-it" clear decal stock (not good for rolling stock details, but good for signs). Looks great; I mounted them behind clear plastic for additional protection, but the colors came out nice and rich and deep-looking. Since I posted these, lots of folks have used them, including professional sign companies who needed to make a client's full-sized windows look like stained glass. But one of the most interesting examples comes from Howard Lamey, of Jacksonville. One of Howard's hobbies is building cardboard "Christmas houses" that look like the ones we had around our train set growing up (and which became "cool" again in the early 2000s). To see a church he built using the stained-glass pattern, simply click on the thumbnail to the right). Howard tells me that it is 9" high and the base is 3 1/2" square, if that helps.
	Street Signs (752K) Using the Alps, I printed out a few of these on plastic stock, with the idea of cutting them out and gluing them on sticks.

Wrapping Paper Patterns Okay, it isn't exactly a model railroading page, but we thought we would let you know about a great resource we're putting together for the Family Christmas Online web site. This page includes several color-coordinated antique-style "wrapping paper" patterns that will add color and charm to the simplest paper crafts. Or you could use one to wrap a small present if you forgot to get wrapping paper before Christmas eve. Other Resources for Information The Family Garden Trains "Where Do I Go From Here" page includes links to several sites that contain a lot of good information on Garden and Large Scale railroading. If there's something else you'd like to see here, I'm open to suggestions. Also if you have something you think is worth posting here, please contact us.

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Note: Family Garden Trains™, Garden Train Store™, Big Christmas Trains™, BIG Indoor Trains™, and BIG Train Store™ are trademarks of Breakthrough Communications (www.btcomm.com). All information, data, text, and illustrations on this web site are Copyright (c) 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 by Paul D. Race. Reuse or republication without prior written permission is specifically forbidden.

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