I have a tip that I think other modelers might like: a fast and easy way to make a terrific roof covering. The gravel roof in the accompanying photo was painted with Rustoleum American Accents Stone textured finish. It went on in one coat and looks even better in person than in the photo. This […]
Q: What exactly is a switchback and how does it work? I originally thought it was a switching move backwards against the turnout (switch). But I read about switchbacks being used in maneuvering hills. I was also wondering if you could refer me to any back issues of MR where they have been used in a […]
Q: When building benchwork for a model railroad 24 inches deep by 6 feet long, how far apart should the L-girders be from each other? I was studying the graphic drawing of benchwork on the top of page 91 in the book Popular Model Railroads You Can Build (Kalmbach Books, 1977, out of print), and […]
Q: I am a fan of the Penn Central RR. While visiting my local hobby shop, I saw a model of a PC caboose with a white stripe down the middle. Is it prototypical? And why the white stripe? – Mark Kroll A: Yes. Although it was uncommon, that was a prototypical scheme. I’ve seen it […]
Q: I have a couple of questions about the benchwork construction of your Spartanburg Subdivision. How large did you cut the plywood sheet? Did you attach the 1x4s to the top of the plywood sheet, or at the sides? Where did the trim pieces go? How large was the sheet of foam you put in […]
Q: When I run a unit coal train of Bethgon Coalporter gondolas, should the colored (rotary) ends face toward the front or the rear of the train? Which is most prototypical? – Nathan Penn, Monmouth, Ill. A: If possible, a double-rotary-ended car should be the first car in the train, since the coupler on the locomotive […]
Q: The axles stick in the journal boxes of some of my rolling stock. I tried scraping them out and lubricating them. Any help would be appreciated. – Christopher Kramer, Chicago A: Depending on what tool you’re using, scraping them out might be making the bearing surfaces rougher, worsening your problem. And lubricating axle bearing […]
How do I use paper turnout templates? Q: I’m looking to get back into model railroading and I’m having a hard time deciding on a layout. I’ve confused myself by looking at hundreds of plans, drawing possible layouts and trying design software. I would like to be able to use paper track templates, but I […]
Q: Next Christmas I’d like to build a small automatic direct-current layout to put in my wife’s shop window. How is it possible to make sure that when a train arrives at the station and stops, a switch is triggered, the polarity is reversed, and another train departs in the opposite direction? – Ferruccio Felletti, […]
Recent scratchbuilding efforts prompted me to come up with a simple glue applicator that would put a small amount of adhesive precisely where I wanted it. There are many commercial products to do this, but none were exactly what I needed. I took a sewing needle, measured its diameter, and drilled a slightly smaller hole […]
Q: My N scale layout is set in 1933. Several years ago, someone whose railroading knowledge I respect told me that running boards on early freight cars weren’t painted since they would be dangerously slippery when wet. However, all the models I see sold now have the running boards painted the same color as the […]
Q: When superelevating track curves with shims, is the shim placed with one of its sides along the track centerline or in the middle of the line? – Robert, last name not given A: Superelevation is where the rail on the outside of a curve is elevated slightly above the inner rail so trains transiting […]
