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Brass Track
John asks readers:
"Recently I dusted off my HO trains and track, some of which are 50 years old. The track I have is Code 100 and in a brass type finish. I am seeing steel and silver nickel but no brass. Is there any brass track out there?"
Add your comments below.
Making Road Surfaces On Layout
If you want to save some money building roads try this. Use wet/dry fine grade sandpaper for sections of roadway. You simply rub a couple of sheets together to remove the perfect glassy finish and make the road even smoother. Even the dust adds to the look, but you might need to spay a light coat of matt varnish to stop the dust getting where you don’t want it.
Train Roof Weathering
If you study real trains you’ll see the cars all have a different colored roof. This is due to natural wear and tear. The cars will be of different ages and have been on different trains, in different locations, and different weather conditions during their lifetime in service. Some will be covered in dirt, brake dust and even rust stains.
I line all my cars up and then add a little dark gray paint to a saucer (that’s what I use to mix my paints on). I then paint the roof of the first car. After that I add a dab of another color (maybe gun metal) to the gray paint and paint a second roof. I then add a dab of another color (maybe rust brown) to the mixture and paint a third roof. I continue this process until finished. I end up with the base color of each roof being different to the one next to it. I then do some additional weathering on some of them. This way all my cars look different.
More helpful tips in the Model Train Club
Making Plowed Fields For Train Layout
Corrugated cardboard is good for making plowed fields. Glue it down in the farm paddock with the corrugated side facing upwards. Then paint on some white glue and apply a sprinkling of soil-colored scatter. The final details can be a few indications of some weeds or dead growth. A little detailing is usually better than overdoing it.
More helpful tips and new tutorials monthly in the Model Train Club
Polystyrene Is So Versatile For Building Scenery
Styrene is a railroaders best friend because it has so many uses. It is cheap and quick to use. It provides insulation and using it is a quick way to add a 3D look to your layout. You can glue chucks together to form mountains and valleys and then hack away at it with a knife, saw, or file. If you make a mistake you can simply glue another piece on. You can often get styrene free from the likes of an electrical store as they will only throw it away.
Mountains are quick to build up with styrene and you can even cover them with newspapers covered with white PVA glue mixed with water. The other option is to cover the styrene with plaster before adding rocks, trees, scrubs, grasses and weathering effects.
My New Online Model Train Club Goes Live
The Exciting News Is Out!
After more than a year of planning and development my brand new online Model Train Club is now LIVE.
You can have a sneak peek at http://www.modeltrainclub.org
The “Members Only” Model Train Club includes sections on:
- scenery & layout construction ideas
- benchwork
- detailing and weathering
- locomotives
- maintenance and repairs
- train operation
- overcoming problems
- planning and design
- rolling stock
- scenery construction
- scratchbuilding and structures
- trackwork
- wiring and control
- DCC and …
After you join the Club you will be able to access a collection of step-by-step tutorials, how-to articles, photo galleries, plus lots of videos with clever ideas and…
There is even a member forum where you can chat, share ideas and ask the experts questions and …
Model Train Club members can also access a f.ree collection of historical railroad books, product reviews, there are expert interviews, handy ideas and tips and answers to your model railroading questions and… much, much more!
It’s all in the “Members Only” Model Train Club.
When you join, the club will keep you up to date with every aspect of this fascinating hobby… and it’s ALL IN ONE PLACE!
And, even better, exciting new content will be added each month.
The online Club will save you time and money in creating a model train layout you’ll be supremely proud of… with all the help you’ll need at your fingertips!
I know you are going to like this. http://www.modeltrainclub.org
Tender Derailing
Peter wants advice from readers:
“Hi guys. I need some advice. I recently purchased a 4-6-0 pacific from Bachmann. It comes with a rather odd HO locomotive to tender coupling set up. It looks like a type of fork coupling. The problem I am having is that once this is clipped into position the tender derails on slightest radius curve. I have tried every adjustment but no go!”
Comment below.
Derailments Railcar Jumps Track
Bob
“I’m getting pretty frustrated with my HO track. I have attached an oval loop, with an outside loop siding to a piece of plywood. I have soldered some of the joiners which seemed loose or not making a good connection. I am being very careful to get a good flow with the solder. I’ve been trained in electronics.
My biggest problem is keeping the cars on the track. The locomotive alone will go around just fine. Add so much as one railcar, and it jumps track. Not necessarily the engine, but the car, or cars, oh yeah. The cars won’t even make one lap. Has anybody got an idea or two about why this may be happening? I have tried placing weights in various cars, but they still won’t ride the rails reliably. I have found and repaired a few obvious problems, but they still fail to keep these cars on the track. I am getting desperate…what do I need to do please?”
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MTH Quality
Rick wants to here readers opinions on MTH products:
“I purchased a MTH HO Mohawk. Igot it home and discovered one of the drivers was missing a screw. I returned it and bought MTH Dreyfuss and it runs great. I then bought a EMD diesel by MTH. After A few days the rear wheel plastic housing broke. I replaced it with another EMD. This one had a defective memory board. Out of 4 I have one that runs. I need two more,What brand would you suggest? Is there a problem with MTH quality control or am I just unlucky?”
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Power Problem
Michael wants advice from readers and asks:
“On both of my trains I have seperate transformers but on both I can’t keep either train running at the same speed. At one point on each track the trains slow down to almost a complete stop. The “O” scale I have new track which is about 14′ in length which I run my pre-war 259 Lionel. And the Standard scale track is about 18′ in length which I use the original track which came with the Lionel 10E handed down to me. On both tracks I have two lock-ons from each transformer. But when I try to add a third one I end up with no power at all. Thanks for any help I can get.”
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HO Turnouts Derailments
Jerry needs advice from readers:
“I have Atlas #4 turnouts and a brass USRA 080 W/ tender. The tender becomes derailed when it travels through the turnout. What am I doing wrong?”
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Track Liftout Sections
Bill has a question for readers:
“When building an HO layout that has a section that will need to be lifted out with track on it how do you maintain the needed alignment of the rails everytime the section is removed then replaced?”
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Culvert Loader And Unloader Wiring
Ron wants advice from readers and asks:
“I recently obtained an O Lionel #345 Culvert Loader (6-22965) and a Lionel #342 Culvert unloader (6-22975). Both are wired for Command Contol only. I need any recommendations on how to wire them for conventional operation.”
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Decals Made With Computer
John wants to hear from anyone who has made decals:
“I am looking for a program to make decals from my computer for HO scale equipment.”
If you have some suggestions please comment below.
Setting Up and Wiring for a Railroad Crossing
Charlene works in HO scale and asks readers for advice:
“We have a nce 5 amp power amp and cab would like to add a railroad crossing to make it work when the trains approach. I am just not sure as how to go about wiring it to a distribution board or to the track. I would like it to work automatically without having to run around and set off a switch. I would appreciate any help you could give us.”
Add your comments below.
Clean Train Wheels and Train Track
Michael asks readers for help:
“What is the best way to clean my railway track for dcc running on OO scale.Any help? What is the best way to clean the train wheels, buy a cleaner or use what?
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How to Figure Scale
Fred asks readers for help:
"What is the correct way to figure scale? I have used three methods, and get different answers. I would like to get the correct answer. What is the correct height of a six foot fence post in ho 1.87 scale."
Comment below.
Automatic Reverse Loop For Trolley Car
Charles has a question for readers on setting up an automatic reverse loop:
“I have tried and tried to set up an automatic reverse loop for a trolley car set up using LGB equipment. Can someone please explain how to make the set up to make this work?”
Comment below.
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