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From CTT’s editorial page to Collectible Classics, I’ve spouted on about how the world’s greatest hobby, model railroading, has and will continue to influence my life and leisure. Unfortunately, that influence hasn’t (yet) extended to my young son, Theo. Instead of toy trains, he’s currently consumed by all things LEGO – those interlocking plastic building […]
Trains.com Director David Popp shares 11 easy urban lighting tips to help model railroaders learn to light their layouts for nighttime operations. As if model railroads aren’t cool enough by themselves, adding miniature lights to the streets, buildings, and automobiles on your layout can make it so cool it glows – literally! Recently, I […]
Facts & features Name: Adamsville Branchline Scale: N (1:160) Size: 3′-3″ x 3′-6″ Prototypes: Freelanced Locale: New England Era: Steam-to-diesel transition era Style: Island Mainline run: 13 feet Minimum radius: 9.5″ Minimum turnout: No. 4 Maximum grade: 2% Benchwork: 1 x 2 open grid Height: 8″ Roadbed: Cork Track: Atlas code 80 flextrack Scenery: Cardboard […]
Facts & features Name: Gulf & Pacific RR Scale: HO (1:87) and HOn3 (HO scale, 3-foot narrow gauge) Size: 20 x 24 feet Prototypes: Freelanced Locale: Generic Era: Early 1960s Style: Shelf Mainline run: 180 feet Minimum radius: 30″ (main), 24″ (branch and spurs) Minimum turnout: No. 6 (main), No. 4 (branch and spurs) Maximum […]
Download the track plan for this layout. […]
Name: Dave Tori’s S gauge layout Dimensions: 13 x 21 feet Track: Gilbert and Lionel American Flyer (diameters range from 36 to 54 inches) Switches: Gilbert American Flyer Motive power: American Models, Gilbert and Lionel American Flyer, Pennsylvania Heritage Models, S-Helper Service Rolling stock: American Models, Gilbert and Lionel American Flyer, S-Helper Service Controls: American […]
Name: Sean Morgan’s O gauge Hellertown & Delaware layout Dimensions: 18 x 20 feet with a central opening for viewing and running trains Track and switches: Lionel FasTrack (diameters range from 60 to 72 inches) Motive power: Lionel Legacy, MTH, 3rd Rail Sunset Models Rolling stock: Atlas O, K-Line, Lionel, MTH, Williams Controls: Lionel ZW-L […]
Five model railroad uses for Lego. My wife and I have two kids who are enthusiastic about Lego. We enjoy watching the creations they make straight from the box and share in their joy when they make new creations by rebuilding sets. And, like many of you, we’ve also felt the pain of stepping on […]
Working with rail joiners is difficult for many model railroaders. Rail joiners are the weakest electrical connection on any given model railroad layout. When tightly fit, rail joiners serve as fine electrical conduits. However, over time, rail joiners tend to expand and loosen, which results in worse electrical conductivity. However, better rail joiners are possible. […]
Managing the installation of a Tortoise switch machine on my layout’s two-inch thick foam baseboard has been challenging. I tried the hook-and-loop fastener solution explained in the October 2005 Model Railroader but didn’t like the wobble or the actuating wire’s long reach through the foam board. After some experimentation, I’ve developed the mounting method that’s […]
Kitbashing is a facet of the hobby many model railroaders enjoy. Full-size railroads modify equipment, too. As I was combing through my photo collection and images in our David P. Morgan Memorial Library, I found five Burlington Northern kitbashes. Hopefully one or more of these cars will inspire your next modeling project. Want more Burlington […]
The lost art of soldering was once an important skill for model railroaders. Until the mid-1970s, knowing how to solder was essential for anyone who wanted to scratchbuild or detail locomotives and cars or assemble sheet-metal structures. By 1980, new adhesives came into use, including two-part epoxies, the various cyanoacrylate adhesives (CA), and effective contact […]
