White Pygmy cypress Latin name: Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘White Pygmy’ Common name: White Pygmy cypress Plant type: Dwarf conifer Growth rate: 12″ x 14″ wide USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-8 Cultural needs: Sun to part shade, rich soil, moderate water White Pygmy is one of the smallest dwarf conifers available, usually growing only to a foot tall […]
Kitbash an inexpensive flag stop station: I stopped by a garage sale last year that had children’s toys piled up on a table. I found several items I thought I could use, including what looked to be a horse stable building. The seller was asking 50 cents for it and the other items I picked […]
Graffiti on O gauge trains typically has a polarizing effect: One either loves or hates it. But there’s no denying the painting on model subways, rolling stock, and even diesel locomotives can make contemporary equipment come to life. Items produced and marketed by Lionel, along with some developed by Atlas O and MTH Electric Trains, […]
From CTT’s editorial page to Collectible Classics, I’ve spouted on about how the world’s greatest hobby, model railroading, has and will continue to influence my life and leisure. Unfortunately, that influence hasn’t (yet) extended to my young son, Theo. Instead of toy trains, he’s currently consumed by all things LEGO – those interlocking plastic building […]
Trains.com Director David Popp shares 11 easy urban lighting tips to help model railroaders learn to light their layouts for nighttime operations. As if model railroads aren’t cool enough by themselves, adding miniature lights to the streets, buildings, and automobiles on your layout can make it so cool it glows – literally! Recently, I […]
Facts & features Name: Adamsville Branchline Scale: N (1:160) Size: 3′-3″ x 3′-6″ Prototypes: Freelanced Locale: New England Era: Steam-to-diesel transition era Style: Island Mainline run: 13 feet Minimum radius: 9.5″ Minimum turnout: No. 4 Maximum grade: 2% Benchwork: 1 x 2 open grid Height: 8″ Roadbed: Cork Track: Atlas code 80 flextrack Scenery: Cardboard […]
Facts & features Name: Gulf & Pacific RR Scale: HO (1:87) and HOn3 (HO scale, 3-foot narrow gauge) Size: 20 x 24 feet Prototypes: Freelanced Locale: Generic Era: Early 1960s Style: Shelf Mainline run: 180 feet Minimum radius: 30″ (main), 24″ (branch and spurs) Minimum turnout: No. 6 (main), No. 4 (branch and spurs) Maximum […]
Download the track plan for this layout. […]
Name: Dave Tori’s S gauge layout Dimensions: 13 x 21 feet Track: Gilbert and Lionel American Flyer (diameters range from 36 to 54 inches) Switches: Gilbert American Flyer Motive power: American Models, Gilbert and Lionel American Flyer, Pennsylvania Heritage Models, S-Helper Service Rolling stock: American Models, Gilbert and Lionel American Flyer, S-Helper Service Controls: American […]
Name: Sean Morgan’s O gauge Hellertown & Delaware layout Dimensions: 18 x 20 feet with a central opening for viewing and running trains Track and switches: Lionel FasTrack (diameters range from 60 to 72 inches) Motive power: Lionel Legacy, MTH, 3rd Rail Sunset Models Rolling stock: Atlas O, K-Line, Lionel, MTH, Williams Controls: Lionel ZW-L […]
Five model railroad uses for Lego. My wife and I have two kids who are enthusiastic about Lego. We enjoy watching the creations they make straight from the box and share in their joy when they make new creations by rebuilding sets. And, like many of you, we’ve also felt the pain of stepping on […]
Working with rail joiners is difficult for many model railroaders. Rail joiners are the weakest electrical connection on any given model railroad layout. When tightly fit, rail joiners serve as fine electrical conduits. However, over time, rail joiners tend to expand and loosen, which results in worse electrical conductivity. However, better rail joiners are possible. […]
