From the category archives:
Kitbashing is the word given to the art of taking an existing manufacturers kit and using the parts in whole or in part to create your own unique item. Most commonly used to create structures and prototype buildings it can refer to any action that uses pieces from any pre-existing kit however.
Many times the term [...]
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The advent of World War I helped many manufacturers of products that had been monopolized by European companies including the model train market, which at that time were primarily tinplate models.
The founder of Lionel Trains was Joshua Lionel Cowen. Born in 1877 Joshua lived until 1965, seeing his childhood fascination of trains and railroads [...]
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As with most hobbies once you’re into it and have learned a little you look back and say ‘man, if only I had known then what I know now’ … this common regret is something that beginners often experience without realizing that the journey to the point where they are now is what those early [...]
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The two methods of controlling model train engines and systems are Analog, which only permits one series of trains or systems at any one given time to be controlled, and Digital (DCC) which allows for several different units to be controlled separately by the same controller.
DCC stands for “Digital Command Control” which utilizes ‘command codes’ [...]
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One of the more annoying but common frustrations that model railroaders have to put up with is train derailments. It is common to have to troubleshoot layout issues during design and construction and the occasional derailment due to excessive speed or external causes such as wind, vibration or changes in car placement or order [...]
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Model railroading has been around in one form or another almost since the invention of the train itself in the mid 1800’s but has been a recognized hobby with dedicated clubs since the early 1900’s. One club for instance, the East Bay Model Engineers Society was founded in 1933 and is a featured [...]
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It’s easy to get wrapped up in your model railroad and basically put on blinders to other hobbies – I know I’m guilty of this. I usually think something along the lines of “I don’t have enough time for my railroad, how can I possibly consider a new hobby?”
Well, every once in a while something [...]
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On a 4′ x 8′ table you can handle every layout possible on a 4′ by 6′ table, with plenty of other variations. There are also many interesting layouts that can’t possibly be managed on a 4′ x 6′.
Of these, one of the most popular is the Figure Eight, to which you can add a [...]
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Perhaps the oval, no matter how you extend or alter it, appears too fixed and static for you.
You can make a distorted oval, and place stations or other buildings at the curved portions so the curves will be meaningful.
No real railroad curves without a reason, and you can always make your layout more realistic by [...]
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Let’s see what you can do with an oval on a 4′ x 6′ board. The first step toward variety of train operation is a pair of switches. They usually come in pairs, a right-hand and a left-hand switch.
You can tell which is which by looking at one from the end that shows only two [...]
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