When I first clipped the extension module in place, I was a little surprised that I got reliable power simply through the rail joiners connecting the module to the main layout. I left things that way for a while, but I wouldn’t call it a best practice standard. As with all turnouts, the frog is […]
Category: Modeling Techniques
Weathering A Rapido Reefer
Backdating the LAJ layout to the early 1960s has entailed educating myself as to the types of rolling stock that were on the rails during that era. It’s been a slow but fun process. First up was the need for an era-suitable reefer for Federal Cold Storage. I chose Rapido’s Santa Fe RR-56 mechanical reefer […]
Vehicle Composition
Vehicles are noticeable enough that their overall composition against the canvas of our layout warrants some thought. For your era and location: What’s the best mix of tractor-trailers, panel trucks, and passenger vehicles? Within the vehicle realm, what selection makes the most sense in terms of make and model (Domestic? Import? Luxury? Non-luxury?) Where should […]
The Importance of Neatness
Master modeler SebSG’s Smallwood County layout is among the best of the best. One of his hallmark skills is clean, tight, and neat workmanship. It makes an enormous contribution to the visual impact of his scenes. You can’t achieve exceptional modeling results without being crystal clear on the elements that drive those results. At the […]
Upgrading A Coil Car
My latest project was upgrading this Intermountain coil car for the LA layout. The goal of this project, and the point of today’s blog, was to focus on keeping the weathering subtle. Follow along as I walk you through things. The title of today’s blog involves a bit of bait and switch. It’s less about […]