Give the gift of model trains to your daughters this year!

Overall, regardless of scale train sets tend to be the same cost from o to z . Yes, you will spend several hundred dollars but it's a gift that (depending on the scale) will provide your daughters with many years of enjoyment.

Once you determine the needed scale for the buildings there isn't any reason using basic materials that you can't build incredible scenery.

Ceiling tiles snapped on an angle and stacked with the edges out make (once painted) realistic cliff faces. Thin branches dipped in glue then rolled in shredded oasis foam are easy trees. Tiny gears, wires and plastic lens from old disposable cameras (be sure to short out the capacitor) is a wealth of items which can be used in the creation of debris along the tracks.

Popsicle sticks, bamboo skewers and a good set of shears can build log cabin homes in any scale in an afternoon.