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Lionel Fastrack components
Section: How To
Dave Tori’s S gauge 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 […]
Sean Morgan’s O gauge Hellertown & Delaware layout
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
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 […]
Better rail joiners for your layout
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. […]
An easy foam installation of a Tortoise switch machine
Managing the installation of a Tortoise switch machine on my layout’s two-inch thick foam baseboard has been challenging. I tried the hook-and-loop fastener solution explained in the October 2005 Model Railroader but didn’t like the wobble or the actuating wire’s long reach through the foam board. After some experimentation, I’ve developed the mounting method that’s […]
Five Burlington Northern kitbashes
Kitbashing is a facet of the hobby many model railroaders enjoy. Full-size railroads modify equipment, too. As I was combing through my photo collection and images in our David P. Morgan Memorial Library, I found five Burlington Northern kitbashes. Hopefully one or more of these cars will inspire your next modeling project. Want more Burlington […]
The lost art of soldering
The lost art of soldering was once an important skill for model railroaders. Until the mid-1970s, knowing how to solder was essential for anyone who wanted to scratchbuild or detail locomotives and cars or assemble sheet-metal structures. By 1980, new adhesives came into use, including two-part epoxies, the various cyanoacrylate adhesives (CA), and effective contact […]
7 tips for installing decoders
7 tips for installing decoders: I don’t know about you, but I have far less hobby time than I would like, so I need to spend what time I do have wisely. Installing Digital Command Control (DCC) decoders isn’t one of those projects I look forward to doing, but it’s a necessary task for operating […]
More toxic chemicals on model railroads of the past
Months ago, when the MR staff started talking about more toxic chemicals used on model railroads of the past, I had no idea there would be such a list of them! While hobbyists needed to be creative to get the job done, sadly, some of their choices were unsafe. In some cases, the chemicals were […]
Locomotives short lines like to use
Locomotives short lines like to use: Shortline railroads have long fascinated me. Perhaps it’s because I had a front-row seat to the startup of one in my hometown in December 1996. Maybe it’s because some are real underdog stories. Seeing a railroad turn a line or lines plagued by years of deferred maintenance into a […]
Interior details for a 1950s Streetcar diner
Small interior details for a 1950s Streetcar diner are easy and fun to make. When building the diner scene shown in the photo above, I knew that I’d want to include enough interior detail to make the model interesting to look at. The diner has small windows, which meant that I only needed a […]
