Q: Can you provide a simple procedure for pairing locomotives in a consist? One locomotive is pulling or pushing the one in front. – Stephen J. Szypula A: An important part of making your consist work is speed-matching the locomotives so they don’t fight each other. If your locomotives respond to the same throttle speed step […]
Building your first kitbash I’ve worked for Model Railroader for about six months now with no previous hands-on experience with model railroading. When an opportunity came up for me to enter a kitbashing “contest” among fellow Model Railroader employees, I plunged right in. Note: Fellow employees have been modeling for years. My skill level is […]
Looking for dirt cheap ground cover? While there are plenty of companies selling real dirt products graded and colored to match specific terrains and locales, if you’re on a budget, you might find some suitable ground cover closer to home. Specifically, in your own back yard. But you can’t just scoop up a shovel full […]
Q: I’m planning a reversing loop on my layout. Must isolated sidings inside a reversing loop be part of the reversing section? Or can they be part of the main power bus? – R. John Kohlbrand A: There are three potential ways to wire up separate sidings and spurs that connect to a reversing section […]
How do you find specific models in certain paint schemes? Cody answers this question in this video of Ask Trains. Click to see a review of the Bachmann Trains HO scale Siemens ALC-42 diesel locomotive. Do you have a question? Would you like to learn more about full-size trains? Send us an email at: AskTrains@trains.com […]
Do you need help controlling the main body and the cab while painting? Cody shows viewers how to fashion paint handles out of everyday items found in your home in this video of Ask Trains. Do you have questions about tools for model railroading? Would you like to learn more about prototype trains? Send us […]
Q: I would like to add a speaker to a decoder in my Atlas locomotive. But I plan to run it on a DC analog system. Can I still put the speaker on or can I not? – Zachary Chevalier A: There are such things as motor-only and function-only DCC decoders, so to know if yours […]
How do you find specific curved end railings? Sometimes it can be hard to find a commercial part for the prototype’s specific details. Cody shows viewers how to make their own curved end railings in this video of Ask Trains. Do you have questions about specific details for your model trains? Would you like to […]
How to repair or replace broken/missing couplers? Cody shares ways to take care of couplers in this video of Ask Trains. Do you have questions about model railroading? Would you like to learn more about prototype trains? Send us an email at: AskTrains@trains.com ………………………………… Ask Trains is a regular video feature of Trains.com for magazine subscribers […]
Storefront window displays are one way a modeler can make a building on a layout look inhabited without having to detail the entire interior. It’s a way to simplify the process while engaging viewers and hobbyists. A building can look fabulous on the outside with eye-catching signs and prototypically weathered brick walls, but if the […]
Large-scale rolling stock decals: Unlike modeling scales with specific definitions like HO scale (1:87.1) or N scale (1:160), the term “large scale” actually encompasses a variety of modeling proportions (generally from 1:13.7 down to 1:32). This segments the market into small pieces. Because of the limited customer base, there are few commercially made decal options […]
A lot of model railroads – and model railroaders – start out with that old standby, the 4 x 8-foot train table. The main reason is convenience; 4 x 8 feet is the size of a standard sheet of plywood. Extruded-foam insulation board, a popular train layout scenic foundation material, also comes in that size. […]
