Along with half the country, I’m homebound due to the massive snow/sleet/ice storm. It’s a good excuse to get some modeling in. It’s been an interesting behavior mod. challenge for me of late, going from a lifetime of “mission mode” model railroad construction to learning to slow down and enjoy the ride. I have to […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]