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Wiring Coils and What Else?

Doug H writes:

“I have some magnet wire on a roll used for wiring coils and want to know if I could use it for other purposes?”

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Problem With Spinning Tender

Adam models HO and asks:

“I have a tender that at times stops and spins wildly. I disconnected some wagons on the train and that helped a bit. Am wondering if it is a wheel alignment issue or maybe the cogs?”

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Applying Decals The Right Way

Raymond asks:

“I know decaling is quite an art form which is probably why I suck at it. Can someone with experience share their insights on what to do and what not to do when applying decals? I seem to mess things up.”

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Which Materials Are Best For Making Roads?

Norman asks:

“I haven’t had much success in making roads. I have tried Plaster of Paris and board but neither looks convincing. What materials are best?”

Add your comments to assist Norman.

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Construct A Telegraph Office Beside Your Track

https://www.modelbuildings.org/rail-yard-pack-deal-pack-deal/

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Original Dining Car Orient Express D2419

Peter from South Africa writes:

“Attached is a copy of the dining car D2419  which  I wrote about in my recent blog article which I thought the readers would love to see. According to the info it was made by a firm Poco maybe Poland.

This wagon Dining Car started its life as the original dining car for the first  Orient  Express going back to the early 1900s and when the WW 1 finished the Armistice was signed in her between  France, England, and Germany and was mounted at Versailles France. Along came the WW 2 when Hitler signed the WW2 into operation and stolen the dining wagon 2419 D and used it as his command center on his special war command train until the end of the of WW2. Then according to the records this coach was pushed into a tunnel and burnt. The remains were only found later on but the French had an ace up their sleeve and had a similar coach and brought it out and renamed it 2419D and it is in Versailles today as far as I know. This information was obtained from a Video hunting Hitler shown here in South Africa.

Trust  this gives you  some info  on the coach  I use her on my 1930’s SAR trains as it color is what  they called Imperial  brown  which  blends in  with  the 1930’s passenger  rolling  stock of SAR trains

Cheers Peter Field RSA.”

Original Dining Car Orient Express D2419

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Power to Turntable

Rudy asks:

“I’m interested to install a manual HO turntable. How does power get to the table, and then the track beyond”

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Your Layout Photo

If you have a photo of your layout or a model railroading photo or diagram you would like to share – simply send the Blog Moderator a message using the ASK A QUESTION link below, and giving a few details about the photo/diagram you want to send for publication on the blog. We will then be in touch giving you an email address so you can forward it to us. Simple!

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Knuckle Couplers – Where From?

Larry models HO and wants to know:

“I don’t know the type or where to buy knuckle couplers for an AHM Burlington 5204D reel car. Any help available?”

Add your comment, or send in your question for publication. See links below.

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Best Way To Cut Flextrack

Byron asks:

“What’s the best method for cutting Flextrack?”

Add your comment or suggestion.

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Equipment At Work – Sent In By Patrick

Patrick was impressed with this busy scene he snapped at the National Model Train Show in Kansas City back in 2018. Looks like a big magnet attached to that crane. Hopefully, we will get back to the good old days of visiting train shows sometime next year.

National Model Train Show 2018 Kansas City

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Easy To Extend Backdrop Industrial Buildings

Here are plans for some background industries you can easily adapt and/or extend.

Background extendable industries – click here to download

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Confused With Airbrush Types

Kel posted this question:

“I want to start learning to airbrush and was all set to buy a boxed set with jars. Then I found out there are single action and double action types. Now I’m confused about what to buy. Input wanted if someone knows?”

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Track Pin Problem

Hedley models HO and asks:

“I was given a box with various pins and nails, but I’m finding the track pins I’m using bend all the time…well, not all the time, but a lot. Is there a recommended supplier or brand I should use?”

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Small Town Ideas

Peter Field from South Africa has kindly offered this follow-up to Keith’s question on planning a small town rural layout.

Peter writes:

“Before I started my present layout  I roughly drew up a layout as I stay in a city and we have a historic village some 15kms from  I opted to go for the rural scene made a small village with small shops etc and church of course. I also opted for three small businesses/factories and settled for a Furniture factory,  a Car maintenance plant,  a water house, and a scrap dealer. I made up two farms; one a maize farm, the other a general farm.

My layout is 5.5m  x 1.5m  wide big enough for me to control. Good Luck. Here are two pictures of the farm and village.”

model trains south africa

Thanks for sharing the photos Peter.

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Problem Lashing locomotives

Kirk who models O gauge asks:

I read that you can lash 2 Lionel LionChief locomotives by orienting them in the same direction and using a single remote. I bought 2 BNSF Tier 4 and tried this. Worked well at first but after about 10 different times of running around my 60 ft loop, they started to get jerky. Then they just stopped. I separated them and found one engine would not move. It would light up and rev up but that’s it. Did I do something wrong?”

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Isolated Sidings?

Warwick models N gauge and asks:

“So you know I have Kato # 4 points and a passing loop with sidings coming from the loop. Problem is; switching the track to maneuver my engine to the siding causes my other engine on the loop to moves too. Not sure how to isolate the siding? Help for others appreciated.”

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16V Track Cleaners

Blain asks:

“Just wondering, would there be any issues using DC 16V AC track cleaners for DCC engines? Would I be best to split the track between DC and DCC?”

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