model trains | Model Train Tips

Model Railroad Scenery; Building Scenery On A Budget

March 13, 2011 By Model Train Tips Leave a Comment

By Dan B Morgan Model trains can be an expensive hobby, especially the model railroad scenery. This is usually the case if you source all your materials from a hobby shop where you end up paying full retail price. But, if you keep a keen eye on expert model railroaders, you will observe that they have a tendency to keep every little thing as opposed to throwing them away. Jars, boxes, cartons and little bits and pieces of almost everything has potential to be used in one way or the other as part of their model railroad scenery. They make use of a wide range of tools to create … [Read more...]

Model Train Tips Reader Feedback

January 20, 2011 By Model Train Tips Leave a Comment

Last week’s tip from Robert Herring about painting brick on your layout was one of the most popular articles at Model Train Tips in the past month. Robert’s description of how he paints brick on his layout prompted Joao to ask for more information in the Comments area at the end of that article. Robert responded with additional clarification in a follow up comment. The popularity and comment exchange reminded me that some of the best content here at Model Train Tips is reader feedback shared here. In September 2010 I had posted two articles containing reader feedback from new … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General Tagged With: athearn, layouts, model railroader, model railroads, model train tips, model trains, n scale, painting brick, reader feedback, robert herring

Model Railroading Scenery Tip: Painting Brick on Your Layout

January 14, 2011 By Model Train Tips 3 Comments

This scenery tip came in from Robert Herring. Robert shared a technique he has used for painting brick on his model railroad layout that will give your brick walls an aged appearance. I’ve added this tip to the Scenery Techniques page as well as posting it here: The easiest way to paint brick, even N scale, that I have found is to: Paint the base color of the building. Use flat latex interior paint thinned about 2 to 1 with water and a drop or two of liquid detergent. After the base coat has dried, use a paper towel dipped into the mixture and rub the brick areas. The finish … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Scenery Tips Tagged With: layout, layouts, model railroad layout, model railroad scenery, model railroading, model trains, n scale, painting, painting brick, robert herring, scenery tips

S Scale Model Trains – A Bit of History

October 12, 2010 By Model Train Tips Leave a Comment

By Caroline Michaels The S scale is a term that is interchangeable with the American Flyer brand name of models and railroads. S scale model trains are a sixty fourth of the size of a real train, putting them between the HO and O sizes of train and track and are available in both AC and DC power types. The S scale uses a two rail track instead of the classic three rail track which uses the middle rail to provide electricity. There has been an S scale train renaissance in the past twenty years or so, and even people who are not normally interested in model trains are impressed by these … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General Tagged With: american flyer, model railroading association, model trains, national association of s gaugers, s gauge, s scale, s scale model railway society

Model Railroad Electronics Provide Many Choices to Make Model Trains Perform Different Functions

May 17, 2010 By Model Train Tips Leave a Comment

By Roy Chandler It's important when dealing with model railroad electronics that the transmitter, decoder and power stations you use in the model train set up follow NMRA guidelines so that different tracks and accessories from different manufacturers can be used together. The model train you choose will depend on the space you have for setting up. After deciding the scale, which may be Z, N, or O, you have to decide on the scenery. For scenery you can use dedicated software or artistically create the scenarios. For the trains to move on the rail tracks, you will require some electronics … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General Tagged With: model railroad electronics, model trains, nmra guidelines, remote control turntable

How To Avoid Model Railroad Derailments

November 19, 2009 By Model Train Tips Leave a Comment

Are you frustrated because your model trains derail from time to time? This was a major frustration for me. I would fix one section of the track and the next day the train would derail on another section. It frustrated me to the point of wanting to give the hobby away..! A smooth running model train is a dream for most model train beginners. But it is actually quite easy to achieve with a little attention to detail. Here are 7 ways to stop your model train derailing: 1 - Ensure every joint on your track is level, aligned and properly fitted Sounds like common sense? But … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Track Tips Tagged With: derailing model trians, frog assemblies, model railroad derailments, model train beginner, model train couplers, model trains, poorly assembled track joints, section of track, smooth running model train, track gauge, turnouts

Model Railroading 101

August 19, 2009 By Model Train Tips Leave a Comment

Here are some model railroad basics; things you should know before investing in model railroad trains. If you're planning on building a model railroad layout then this is the essential information you'll need before starting out. Pick a Railroad... Any Railroad Choosing a specific railroad to focus on can make the hobby much more more economical. Your railroad can be modern day like the Union Pacific, BNSF, or Canadian National. Or it can be a "fallen flag", a railroad that's been taken over by a larger company. Many modelers choose the railroad whose trains they watched passing by as a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, General Tagged With: bnsf, canadian national, model railroad basics, model railroad layout, model railroading, model railway, model trains, union pacific

Freight Yard Disaster

August 16, 2009 By Model Train Tips 1 Comment

I get a call Friday asking if I could come in Saturday to cover for another volunteer that can't make it in. Normally, I volunteer at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum on Tuesdays, but I didn't have any plans for Saturday so I said yes. Coming in on a Saturday would give me a chance to work with some folks I normally don't get to work with, so I figured it would be a good opportunity to learn something new. I did learn some new stuff but I also re-learned something I already knew; or so I thought. It was time to pull one of the freight trains off the main line into the Midland Yard and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Twin City Model Railroad Museum Tagged With: freight yard disaster, model railroad museum, model railroading, model railway, model trains

Uncouple Tip

August 13, 2009 By Model Train Tips Leave a Comment

One of the things I've learned while volunteering at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum (TCMRM) is how quickly and easily uncouple cars without lifting them off the track with your hand. A simple plastic stir stick, available at most fast food restaurants that serve coffee, can be used as shown in the pictures at right to uncouple two cars. Simply insert the pointed end of the stir stick into the coupler and rotate clockwise until the coupler arms release each other. The cars shown in the pictures are O Scale cars with Kadee couplers. I haven't tested this on smaller scale … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Tips, Twin City Model Railroad Museum Tagged With: model railroad museum, model railroading, model railway, model trains, uncouple

Model Railroading Magazines

August 7, 2009 By Model Train Tips Leave a Comment

Are you reading model railroading magazines to stay current and learn more about this great hobby? I find that reading current magazines helps me stay fresh with what's new as well as picking up tidbits of useful info. I decided to check to see what's available today and share it with you. Since Amazon.com is a great source for books and other stuff (I've personally bought not only books but computer parts and even a replacement stylus for my PDA phone) I thought I'd look there. Since we're communicating via the internet I figure Amazon.com is a good resource. Here's what I found (I'm … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, General Tagged With: model magazine, model railroad magazine, model railroading, model railway, model railway magazine, model train magazine, model trains