Classic Toy Trains Editor Hal Miller prowls the dollar store aisles in search of inexpensive items that are useful on the workbench or layout. […]
Budget railroading: dollar store finds
Tag: Painting & Weathering
Meet Walthers Open Class Contestant DJ Arlia
WAUKESHA, Wis. — It’s mid-April and the second-annual Walthers National Model Railroad Build-off is well-underway. Across the country, modelers are hard at work on their layouts. With four different categories and hundreds of contestants, the judges are sure to see no shortage of talent from this year’s submissions. “Open class” contestant Domenic Joseph Arlia, otherwise known […]
Kitbash a large-scale gazebo for your garden
DIY garden train gazebo While shopping at a local thrift store, I spotted an aluminum tea light candle holder. The shape and size approximated a large-scale gazebo. With minor modifications and spray paint, it would make a weatherproof and inexpensive display piece in the railroad. I added a miniature hanging basket plant, made from a […]
Walthers second-annual National Model Railroad Build-Off is gaining steam
MILWAUKEE — Despite a global pandemic, the world of model railroading is high-balled to roll on. And now, Walthers is offering builders of all ages and skill levels an opportunity to use this quarantine to show the world what they’re made of — and what they can make — in the model railroad company’s second […]
Backdrop painting, Ep. 22
Want a better backdrop scene? Series host Steve Brown desperately desires something other than plain blue sky to grace his N scale layout background, so he jumps right into the process for hand painting his own mountain skyline. Grab your paint, brush, and big ideas, and then follow along the “Regular Guy” way! […]
Backdrop painting, Ep. 22
Want a better backdrop scene? Series host Steve Brown desperately desires something other than plain blue sky to grace his N scale layout background, so he jumps right into the process for hand painting his own mountain skyline. Grab your paint, brush, and big ideas, and then follow along the “Regular Guy” way! […]
RailSmith Models N scale lightweight coach, ScaleTrains.com SD45, new Tony Koester book, and more!
Cody shares the new RailSmith Models N scale Great Northern lightweight coach, ScaleTrains.com’s HO scale EMD SD45, Tony Koester’s new book from Kalmbach Media, Applying Lessons from the Prototype, a modeling tip and viewer mail. […]
RailSmith Models N scale lightweight coach, ScaleTrains.com SD45, new Tony Koester book, and more!
Cody shares the new RailSmith Models N scale Great Northern lightweight coach, ScaleTrains.com’s HO scale EMD SD45, Tony Koester’s new book from Kalmbach Media, Applying Lessons from the Prototype, a modeling tip and viewer mail. […]
Weathering with powdered pastels
Powdered pastels have long been a popular choice for weathering locomotives, freight cars, and buildings. Several firms offer ready-to-use weathering powders, or you can make your own by scraping pastel sticks with a hobby knife. I started work on this N scale Micro-Trains boxcar by spraying the entire car with Model Master Lusterless Flat. The […]
Glaze windows with adhesive
Microscale Kristal Klear is a versatile adhesive. One of its uses is to secure clear parts to models. But in a few simple steps, the adhesive can also be used for window glazing, 1. Kristal Klear works best on smaller window panes. Start by dipping a Microbrush into the Kristal Klear. Then, working from the […]
Make couplers look realistic
I’ve seen many well-weathered models, but too often the effect is ruined by shiny black couplers with bright metal centering springs. But in three easy steps, you can weather your couplers to look more prototypical, 1. On my Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern GP40, I wanted the couplers to look older, so I sprayed them with […]
Simulate rust with makeup applicators
When I asked my wife if we could walk through the cosmetic department at the local drugstore, she gave me a somewhat puzzled look. This part of the store is home to some fantastic weathering tools, including foam-tipped cosmetic applicators. I used these applicators to simulate rust and paint wear on this Athearn HO scale […]
