Model steam locomotive troubles and how to fix them: Compiled by John Page, Editor of the Model Railroader, in 1952. Many of the tips here address problems with open-frame motors and direct-current operation. However, many of the same gear and wheel-quartering issue still apply to locomotive models in any scale and manufacture. Model steam locomotive […]
In this article we’ll look at five ways to clean track. If you want to get a lively debate started amongst model railroaders, ask them the best way to clean track. Some prefer abrasive blocks, like the Bright Boy, while others turn to any number of cleaning solvents, homemade or commercial cleaning cars, or off-the-shelf […]
The Lionel Scout locomotive has been for many an entry point to the toy train hobby. For me, it was the little engine that got me back into it. I’ve been in the toy train hobby for many years and have amassed an impressive collection of Lionel’s postwar F3s, Berkshires, Turbines, and other locomotives. But […]
Lingonberry or mountain cranberry Common name: Lingonberry, mountain cranberry Latin name: Vaccinium vitis-idaea Plant type: Perennial USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-6 Cultural needs: Moist, well-drained, very acidic soil, full sun to partial shade Plant size: 4-12″, depending on variety and culture Hello, Zone 2 gardeners! This naturalized Scandinavian import is hardy to -50°F! Mountaincranberry, […]
Clean track and repel critters: I’ve been running my garden railway for about nine years. While operations have been successful, I’ve had to deal with two recurring challenges that seem to affect other large-scale operators as well, namely connectivity and Mother Nature. Connectivity issues usually means either bad joint connections between pieces of track or […]
Let’s look at some different types of tunnels. In the real world, tunnels are incredibly expensive to build and maintain. Prototype railroads would only dig a tunnel when there was no other way through or around an obstruction like a mountain, a river, or a built-up city. However, some types of tunnels are often necessary […]
John Allen’s Locomotive Weathering Secrets: Digging through back issues of Model Railroader the other day, I came across a short article about John Allen’s techniques for weathering locomotives. The January 1964 article features the work of several modelers, including Bill McClanahan and John Allen, and provides some tips on their practices for painting and weathering […]
Large scale boxcars and graffiti in an art exhibit: The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles (MOCA) opened its Art in the Streets show on April 17, 2011. It is the first major US museum exhibition on the history of graffiti and street art, tracing its development from the 1970s to the global movement […]
Many hobbyists strive to model freight cars accurately. Selecting the right doors, installing the correct hatch covers, and using the proper ladders and stirrup steps are just some of the things freight car enthusiasts focus on. Those re-creating earlier eras may even add chalk marks to the car sides. How to graffiti a freight car […]
Working with wire cutters – Trains.com director David Popp demonstrates the application of wire cutters, crimpers and strippers in model railroading. A pair of wire cutters are an invaluable tool in wiring your model railroad, and David demonstrates the different usages for each tool as they relate to model railroading. You can read more about […]
Heat-shrink tubing is something you need to have in your wiring toolkit. This material makes neat, insulated soldered joints simple and fast. What is heat-shrink tubing? As the name implies, the material shrinks when it’s heated. It comes in multiple sizes, some of which are somewhat specialized and are most likely to be found in […]
One piece of rolling stock I can bet almost every model railroader owns is a caboose. These cars are a staple in both real life and the model form, to the point where many people who don’t know much about trains at all know what a caboose is. Along with the existence of the word […]
