On June 10th, I paid a visit to the Twin City Model Railroad Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota to take some pictures for an article I was working on for the Model Train Tips Newsletter. I also just wanted to check out the trains; I hadn't been to the museum in several months and this seemed like the perfect excuse. The centerpiece is a large O-gauge model railroad on display for the public. Each of the four main lines are 220' long which translates into two scale miles of track! In addition to the four main lines there are several yard lines, some of which can be seen in the photo at … [Read more...]
How To Apply Ballast
July 22, 2009 By 1 Comment
by Arizona Rock & Mineral Many people ask me how to apply ballast even if they have done it before. They must not be satisfied how theirs turned out so the very best way will be presented here. I use several techniques and each one has an advantage over the other as the desired effects or the situations vary. A neat looking roadbed is a major accomplishment and very satisfying to look at when finished. Basic Information The best rule of thumb is to apply it slowly and carefully. Each step is very important to follow because "now", you will be in control of its finished … [Read more...]
The Art of Applying Decals
July 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment
by Joe Czapiga The art of applying thin film wet decals to models is one that only gets better with practice. If at first you don't succeed, try and try again. Patience and persistency will allow you to produce models that look as good, if not better than the models in all your favorite magazines. I am sure many people have many different methods of applying decals successfully. The methods I use were mostly developed by trial and error and lots of query at every hobby shop I've gone to. As for the myth that you won't be able to produce a great looking model until you have 20 years … [Read more...]
Using RTV Molds For Creating Scratch-Built Models
July 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment
by Tony Segro RTV (Room Temperature Vulcanized) Rubber molds are simple to make and can allow you to cast several identical detail castings for your scratchbuilt models. RTV Rubber is a two-part mixture made by Dow-Corning. It comes in various styles. I find 3110 the easiest to use because it does not require an expensive vacuum pump to decompress air bubbles. Take the detail you wish to copy, called a MASTER, and glue it into a cardboard or styrene box with dimensions about one inch longer than the master by one inch wider than the master. When placing the master in the box, you will … [Read more...]
Tree Construction Technique
July 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment
by Lynn Goblin Materials A Tree Trunk Armature Use anything that looks like a miniature tree of the scale, height, and species you want to model. I prefer sage brush twigs for larger deciduous trees like mature oaks and cottonwoods. For birches and smaller deciduous trees, I use pieces from a decorative broom I bought at a Ben Franklin craft store. You can, of course, use anything that looks like a tree, from yarrow and goldenrod weeds; to herb and tree roots; to manufactured cast metal and plastic armatures. Ground Foam Ground foam represents the leaves of the tree. You can … [Read more...]
Building A Trestle Span
July 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment
By John Kraker Recently, I decided to add a new canyon to my N-scale layout. The plan was to build three separate trestle spans across my new canyon, after I build my new canyon of course! This was my opportunity to create a steel sub-girder trestle 280 feet long and 75 feet tall, plus two main line trestle spans, 200 feet long and 50 feet tall! Not to mention the possibility of some deep-water scenery and maybe a chance to model a boat. I purchased a supply of 'Micro Engineering' forty and eighty-foot steel sub girders and their "Tall Steel Viaduct" trestle kit. The sub-girders … [Read more...]
Choosing A Railroad to Model – Economy Through Selectivity
July 16, 2009 By 2 Comments
Model railroaders normally choose a specific railroad to collect or model. Many modelers choose the railroad whose trains they watched passing by as a child. Advanced modelers may invent their own fictional railroad, but this requires that the modeler paint and decal his or her own trains. So this not something I recommend for someone new to the hobby unless they already have a background in building, painting, and decaling other scale models. The reason that it is important to choose your railroad at the outset is that it will narrow your choices when shopping for your trains. There … [Read more...]
Largest Model Railway Display in the World
July 16, 2009 By Leave a Comment
While volunteering at the Twin City Model Railroad Museum I was introduced to a fantastic model railroad website and I want to share it with you: Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg, the largest model railway display in the world! The layout is located in Hamburg, Germany and visiting it is certainly on my personal "bucket list" (things to do before I kick the bucket!) Their website is in english and has plenty of photos and some outstanding videos. Be sure to check it out! Maybe you'll want to add it to your bucket list. PS; If you've been to the Miniatur Wunderland, please share your … [Read more...]
Model Railroad Clubs; Why You Should Join One
June 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Author: David Faulkner More people enjoy the hobby of building their own model railroads today than they ever have before. It is no surprise considering that the model railroads that collectors in the 1960s built are really primitive in comparison with the railroads that enthusiasts can build today. They are so life like and appealing that you cannot help falling in love with them and buying the equipment to get you started on your own. As a result of the popularity of modern railroads, individuals are starting to want to communicate with each other. Although technological advances … [Read more...]
Model Railroading; The World’s Greatest Hobby!
June 17, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Model railroading is considered by many to be the world’s greatest hobby and is one I’ve wanted to engage in since I was a kid. I visit model railroading shows and exhibits every chance I get and feel like a kid again every time I go! I live near Minneapolis, Minnesota and when the Mall Of America first opened in the early 1990′s I took my young daughter to check out the mall and ride the indoor amusement rides at Camp Snoopy. One of the businesses that set up shop at the new mall was a model train store with an incredible model railroad exhibit. They charged an admittance … [Read more...]
