Q: Years ago, I used Liquitex Gloss Medium to create the water in two rivers on my layout. Now, I’ve noticed that they’re not as glossy as they once were. I periodically use a Woodland Scenics Dust Dabber and a wide, soft paintbrush to remove dust from the surface. How would you recommend that I clean the […]
A lot of model railroads – and model railroaders – start out with that old standby, the 4 x 8-foot train table. The main reason is convenience; 4 x 8 feet is the size of a standard sheet of plywood. Extruded-foam insulation board, a popular train layout scenic foundation material, also comes in that size. […]
Berkshire 2-8-4 locomotive: When I was a kid, my dad once showed me his childhood Lionel set. He had a Lionel no. 726RR Berkshire set with a few extra pieces stored in a metal crate. I never got to see it set up or operate, unfortunately. I had no idea what a Berkshire was back […]
Q: After carefully measuring and cutting rail, too often there is still a gap between the rail ends that some of my N scale cars don’t like. I’ve been trying some different fillers, but it’s a challenge for N gauge. Any suggestions for a gap filler? – Steven Simmerman A: Hi, Steven. Some rail gaps […]
Kitbashing a large-scale Pacific from a broken Aristo-Craft model wasn’t easy, but the result has been worth the work. My family has a history of model railroading spanning three generations. My grandfather modeled O scale as a child in the 1940s and passed that love along to my father in the 1970s, and who got […]
Baltimore & Ohio’s first P-7 Pacific, No. 5300 (originally named President Washington) is about to enter Howard Street Tunnel as it departs Mount Royal Station in Baltimore with train 21, the Washingtonian, in 1952. The 4-6-2 would soon be retired to the B&O’s museum in Baltimore, where it resides today. James P. Gallagher photo […]
Overlooked Lionel postwar accessories? Yes, these stalwarts are well known but aren’t always top of mind when someone is asked to list the company’s greatest gems. Click here to see the 7 Lionel accessories that usually garner the spotlight. Read on to find out what the “Rodney Dangerfields” of postwar Lionel are. ZW transformer 1948-66 The […]
Five tips for creating a summery scene: Summer is a time for gathering outside with family and friends. There are a lot of nostalgic activities that can be modeled to remind us of a hot, summer day — perhaps even of a specific childhood memory. Most of my fondest memories happen during summer months, so […]
Sidewalks and curbs for a garden railway: My downtown area had realistic paved streets. Now it was time to add some sidewalks and curbs. I went to the local Home Depot and found inexpensive small square shower floor tiles in a natural stone color. I also found some beige plastic tile edging, which I’d use […]
Make a lake, part 4 – In this episode of the Back on Track mini-series, hosted by Gerry Leone on his HO scale Bona Vista model railroad, you’ll see how to apply the finishing touches and details on the water effects, painted backdrop, and adjacent shoreline scenery. All of this and more, as Gerry works […]
Make a lake, part 4 – In this episode of the Back on Track mini-series, hosted by Gerry Leone on his HO scale Bona Vista model railroad, you’ll see how to apply the finishing touches and details on the water effects, painted backdrop, and adjacent shoreline scenery. All of this and more, as Gerry works […]
Menards Cripple Creek General Store is in the new product showcase for Bob’s Train Box 82. Then Bob and CTT editor Hal Miller have a show-and-tell about the types of track available for Standard, O, and S gauge hobbyists including tubular, integral roadbed, and scale-like. There are lots of choices if you’re just starting a […]
