Tools, tips and tricks

What to do with old track

I picked up at least 200 old ho tracks and switches at a garage sale. It looks pretty dirty and I’d like to clean it up. I know about isopropyl alcohol and q-tips. I don’t see any rust but they look like they’ve been used and then stuffed into a container. I’m new to model trains. I’m really enjoying the fact that we found my father in law’s old 0 gage post war Lionel set with track, switches and cars. I also had a full set of HO trains and track as well as a large assortment of N gage track, cars and switches. Any thoughts 

thanks

What is the paint on a Branchline passenger car?

I have 3 Branchline passenger cars that are painted yellow and gray for Union Pacific. I want to remove the red car name and replace it with a different name. On other models I have successfully removed car numbers with 91% alcohol. I tried it on one of the car sides and the yellow paint around the car name came off beautifully sad and left the car number intact.

ChuckG-EDO's picture

Recommended airbrush how-to video for beginners?

Hi All:

I'm looking for a link to a good and thorough how-to video for using an airbrush. This would be a soup-to-nuts, set-up; use; clean-up video.

Shameless self-promotion is encouraged.

Thanks! I'm using an Iwata-Medea Eclipse HP CS Dual-Action Gravity Feed (below).

CDMV

BNML2's picture

Adding to Operations - Working Blue Flags

While digging through my toolbox recently, I came across some blue flags that I had made back in the early 90's.  Much like the the prototype, I made the original version to serve the very real need of not wanting my train to be "accidentally" run off the end of a staging yard!

This post will detail the history, construction, and use of these flags.

Craig

geoffb's picture

SMA26 Revised TwinT Block Detector for DC and DCC Train Detection

I rarely run with DC train control. Yes, certainly in bench testing and on a test loop I will exercise DC models, but my focus is on DCC control, for the most part. Recently, I had an impassioned request for help with block detection on a DC layout, with a specific request to use the “venerable” Twin-T detector circuit. It led me down a path that I did not expect, and to this report, that may be of interest to modelers

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BR GP30 2300's picture

Coal Loads

A short post about making cheap and easy coal loads.

OKGraeme's picture

Details, Details.....and Storage

When I moved to the USA I had all my Models, Modeling Supplies and Tools packed into crates. My new wife's home was very small and I had no room to unpack and do any modeling. We purchased a new home but still had little room to model and the only place I had to work was on the dining room table, eventually I got a Roll Top desk to be able to do modeling in the lounge. The problem was finding the parts for any project I wanted to complete as they were still packed away.

Yard control panel made with Cricut

I finally completed the control panel for one of my yards.  I am happy with the way it came out, but it was a pretty long journey, and I am sure that I could have used other techniques to make a control panel more quickly.  But, I was intrigued by the thought of making the control panel out of styrene sheet and cutting out the various openings using a Cricut Explorer cutting machine.

Model photography.. Tip.

It seems there is much buzz about photography lately. Be it smart phone or other, there is something I feel I must say. Please put some light on the models ! No matter what camera you are using, put light and more light on it. If you don't, you just might end up with other issues and chase your tail with settings unnecessarily. Dark pictures are just that..dark. Every ones models look the same in the dark, low detail and dark. 

BNML2's picture

Lessons learned from our latest layout setup

The Hill Country Outlaws 0n30 modular group participated in the New Braunfels Train Show this past weekend.  Overall, I think the show went quite well. The setup at this show consisted of our core display of an 8' x 24' loop with a wye at one corner. A 12' branch runs off the wye to a transfer table module and turntable.  The loop has a passing siding on each side to allow bi-directional running.


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