Everything on model trains, model railroads, model railways, locomotives, model train layouts, scenery, wiring, DCC and more. Enjoy the world's best hobby... model railroading!
Rail King Crossing Gate
Sal asks readers:
“How do I wire Rail King O crossing gates to Gragraves track? The instructions only talk about Rail King track.”
Comment below.
Passenger Station Platform Clearance
Mr Leary asks:
“I am building an HO scale passenger station and I want the cars as close to the platforms as possible. I think I’ll have the rail nearest the platform 3/8 inches away from the edge of the platform to make it so that my imaginary passengers don’t have to leap across the gap. Anybody ever get this close or closer?”
Comment below.
Easy Cheap Good Looking Trees
Jack kindly sent in this idea:
"Most people buy the white or red grapes to snack on. They are a healthy snack. However they are more. Be careful pulling them from the stem. Dry the stems (usually 24 hrs is enough) put some school glue, hot glue or almost any adhesive and apply the 'moss' available in most any craft or mega stores for very few dollars. The trees look natural and no two are alike."
Grass Carpet Tip
Jonty has been a member of my online Model Train Club for 7 months now posted this idea in the members area:
I prefer grass carpet which is a simulated grass with a paper backing. It is hard-wearing and easy to apply to large areas. However too much of it can look a little too perfect (like a golfing green). What I do is weather it in places with a little bleach (watered down). Depending on how strong the bleach concentration is, the grass carpet with turn whitish, or a browny, or yellowy color. These colors can be effective on steeper slopes with little vegetation.
I have also used the Woodlands Scenic scatter grass and also make my own from a recipe that seems to change every time I make it. I often combine the above two techniques (bleached grass carpet with scatter grass) to get a very natural looking scene.
Scratching Building Houses And Buildings
Here is just one of the hundreds of useful tips inside the members area of my online Model Train Club. This one is supplied by Samuel who has been a member for 10 months.
Over the past 6 years I have done a lot of scratchbuilding of houses and buildings. I have tried using cardboard, balsa-wood and even styrene. Although I like working with balsa it is not always as strong as I would like it to be.
A friend gave me some double-sided printed-circuit board and it was perfect. I cut it using a guillotine as it was so strong. It was easy to solder pieces together. He gave me heaps of offcuts for free. I could still incorporate some balsa as it easily glued to the circuit board. I used my soldering iron to add some stonework effects. The buildings I now make with circuit board are almost indestructible.
Lots of very experienced model railroaders are members of the online club and share their ideas with other members. If you are not already a member – Join the online model train club today.
Make Retaining Walls For Layout
Chris is a keen member of my online Model Train Club and sent in this tip.
I use building construction foam that’s normally for expansion joints to build retaining walls on my layout. There are a couple of different types of this product and one has a cover you peel away leaving a very sticky surface. To imitate rocks I have used a variety of materials including crushed slate, aquarium stones and crushed brick which I apply to the sticky surface. I then add some grout between the stones. You could use this technique for roads or paths too.
There are hundreds more useful tips for registered members to access inside the club area.
Planned Layout With Contain Ship And Oil Tanker
Andre has some grand ideas for his planned layout and would like feedback from others. Comment below.
“My layout consists on paper at the moment, but my idea was to recreate the Gotthard Bahn in Switzerland ,around Wassen with the church and the 3 levels. It also contains a city and a harbor. It represents the city of Basel with the harbor. Of course it is not an exact copy of the city just a imaginary city and harbor. I also try to incorporate a narrow scale track that runs to a stone quarry and a sawmill. The harbour will have a container ship,a oil tanker and several barges and industries. It is about 20 feet long and 3 to 4 feet wide in a U format. If anyone has any construction suggestions or ideas I would be very grateful.”
4 Model Train Questions
Here are questions from four blog readers who are wanting some advice. Perhaps you can help one of them.
John asks readers:
Baseboard Scatter
"Can anyone suggest a scatter material for a 6 foot x 4 foot baseboard which is reasonably priced?"
Alan asks:
Lighted Trees
"I am looking for either a place to buy, or a way to make, some lighted Christmas tress for my O Gauge layout. I was thinking of adding a larger type tree to my town park area and would like the effect of having it lit. Does anyone know of a supplier of pre-made lit trees that can be wired into my layout?
Vincent asks:
Making Smoke
"How do I make smoke (not from an engine) in a burning building? Thank you."
John asks readers:
Rotex Scale Model Trains
"Does anyone know of ROTEX small scale model trains sets? If so,is there a club or group that has special interest in Rotex trains? Thanks."
Add your comments or suggestions below.
5 Model Train Tips From Club Members
Here are 5 of the hundreds of useful model train tips available to members inside the Online Model Train Club. If you join before Christmas you will qualify for the extra bonus Christmas gift, but time is fast running out. Read about the other bonuses here.
Rob’s ideas: I mix window cleaner (Windex) to thin my acrylic paints when using an airbrush. It dries quickly, but be careful the window cleaner brand doesn’t contain harmful chemicals like ammonia as they might damage some plastics.
Pat’s idea: I haven’t got an airbrush so I uses brushes to apply paint, but they can leave brush strokes. To get a really smooth surface I apply several coats and use fine wet/dry sandpaper between coats. I also thin the paint slightly between each coat and use a finer grade of sandpaper as I come to the end of the process. I also use rubbing compounds on some jobs.
Cedric’s idea: I use white spirit instead for those expensive thinners from art shops. Each time when washing brushes I keep the dirty old used thinner and pour it in an old jar. After a while the paint sinks to the bottom of the jar and the thinner is relatively clear again. I reuse it.
Noel another keen member of the online Model Train Club suggests…
From my days in the retail trade we like to add movement to our window displays to attract interest. A local retired electrician use to wire up little electric motors to make things move. I have used the same idea on my railroad. I have a little figurine of a man with a chain saw cutting through a log and a boat in the water rocking gently. It only takes a little electric or battery motor mounted under the benchwork with the shaft of the motor attached to the the object that needs to move. You need to be a little ingenious, but the effect can be very interesting.
There are hundreds more great ideas inside the online Model Train Club like this one…
Peter’s idea: A road disappearing into the distance can look impressive when done well. It can also look strange if it hits a wall and stops abruptly. To overcome this I bend the end of the roadway material up and twist it towards a point to the side. I then add some greenery on either side to hide it a little and give the appearance of the road weaving off into the distance.
Latest Poll Results
Nearly 500 people voted in the last poll when we asked: Do you scratch build your own structures for your layout?
Of the 490 votes approx 8% said always, 65% said sometimes, and 25% said never.
So, it seems about 73% do scratch building from time to time. Which is good, because there are plenty of excellent resources for you inside the member area of the online Model Train Club. New resources get added to the club each month as members progress monthly from level #1, to level #2, to level #3 and so on.
HO Tank Car Stanchions
A reader asks others in the hobby for advice:
“I do a lot of scratch building of HO scale rolling stock. One of the problems that I have is finding eyepins for my old time tank cars. I use 60mm wire for the hand rails and I am looking for eyepins (for stanchions) that are about 1″ – 1 1/4″ long with a 62 or 63mm hole to accomadate the handrails.”
Add your comments below.
LED Lights Power Control
Felicity has a question for readers about LED lighting:
“I was wondering if you could give me some information about LED lights. Do you know if they are powered by the 00 railway control panel of the layout or are they powered by the house mains supply. Many thanks for your time.”
Comment below.
Layout Questions
Phil wants suggestions from others in the hobby:
Hi all, first time poster here. I am looking for advice in upgrading my layout... here's the detail:
Over the past 7 years I've been building up my O collection... comes out and goes under the tree each year. The layout has grown in size and accessories, and I have a collection of different types of locomotives. Here are some key highlights:
- track layout is essentially 2 interlocking ovals (all standard o gauge tracks - the 3 rail metal ones)
- 4 powered switches 6-14062/3
- 1 electric gateman
- 3 other powered accessories (light up bridge, dog chasing the postman, etc)
- 1 utility/coupling track
- 1 transformer/controller (Lionel 6-14198 80 Watt Transfrmr/Cntrlr)
Engines include:
- 2350 New Haven EP-5 Pwd. Electric Locomotive
- Hudson New York City Locomotive 6-28044
- Rail King RTR Subway Train Set 30-4122-1
- Thomas the Train Engine
- Various other cars
The bad news:
- I've noticed some of the trains slowing down and even stopping around my layout
- with 2 dogs and 2 small kids, it is sometimes challenging to keep the area neat, wires connected, etc
The good news:
- the wife has commented about all the wires and having to sit on the floor next to the couches to run the trains (the door is open for an upgrade!)
My questions:
- I suspect I may need a more powerful transformer (maybe a ZW) to go with this - I am only using 1 lockon to drive power to the track... will a 2nd lockon help?
- how do I upgrade into the 20/21st century with a hand held remote? I've seen the "legacy" command and control modules at train shows - is this the best bet?
- I understand that many of the new locomotives are being built optimize the control experience, but I also have mostly older engines that I would want to make sure still works
- are the command/control centers capable of controlling my switches as well (and eliminate more wires?)
Any help/advice is appreciated
N Scale Peco Code 55 Double Slip Switches
Richard asks readers about Peco Code 55 Double Slip Switches:
1. Are they trouble free
2. I am running DCC Insulfrog or Electrofrog?
3. Any special tips
Comment below.
HO Layout Old Mill And Dam
Frank is looking for advice from anyone who has experience building scenery and structures:
“On a large HO layout I want to use an old grist mill with a dam and running water over a water wheel. #1 I’m concerned the water may have a corrosive problem for the train? Will it? #2 Is there a good substitute for water without the problem of corrison. Forgot to mention I would like to add a waterfall (apprx 12- 15″) close to the mill site. Thanks.”
Add your answer or suggestion to help Frank.
Making Water Tank Bands
Benjamin is a keen member of my Online Model Train Club and sent in this idea:
You might have seen those steel bands holding water tanks together. Well, you can add realism to your tanks by replicating those steel bands. The easy way is to get your hands on some copper-tone or black colored automotive pin stripe from an auto store. The good thing about pin stripes is they are perfectly straight which is near impossible to achieve with a paint brush and shaky hand. Also they come in a range of widths and colors. Although the tanks in the photo are not water tanks, you could use the same technique.
You could use a copper-tone stripe to represent the rusty band on a tank. There are lots of uses on a model railway for pin stripes. Another is for bands around wine barrels if you have a winery on your layout. You can paint the pin stripes if the color you want is not available, which is still easier than trying to paint a straight line…believe me.
Resale Value Of Trains
Cedric who is a member of my Online Model Train Club sent in his thoughts on pricing secondhand trains.
Because I have been in the hobby about 40 years and attend lots of train shows I get asked a lot about the value of secondhand trains. It is difficult to give an exact answer because it really depends on what some will pay on the day and how many buyers there are for that particular loco or car.
A lot also depends on whether the item has been modified, weathered, or is in its original condition with original boxing. Depending on the brand and condition, sometimes the value will increase if the loco or rolling stock has not been modified in any way.
In general I have found that weathering will devalue the item useless it has been done to an extremely high standard, in which case the reverse could apply and the value increase. Cars that are factory weathered can retain their value as they are factory stock as opposed to being modified by a home hobbyist.
Rare items (such as rare brass locomotives) should increase in value, but modifications to the factory paint and finish of rare items could devalue them.
When it comes to rolling stock, the value can increase based on any upgrades such as the addition of better trucks and metal wheels etc. A buyer might be prepared to pay a little more for upgrades if it saves them the cost and effort of them having to upgrade the item.
A final tip is to keep all the packaging and printed instructions that originally came with the item. This will help the resale value if or when you come to sell.
Interesting Poll Results
It was interesting to see the results of the last poll when we asked “Do you operate DCC, DC, or Live Steam?”
A total of 647 people responded which is a big number.
47% (309) said they operated DCC, 34% (223) answered DC, 2% (15) Live Steam, 3% (24) said some other system, and 11% (76) said they didn’t have a layout.
So, although the trend is toward DCC there are obviously still a lot of people operating DC.
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