Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Authors
Magazine Articles By Glenn Guerra

1-2-3 Blocks

How to use a 1" x 2" x 3" metal block used by machinists to hold up parts for assembly.

2015 Spring S Spree

The Spring S Spree show was held May 8 and 9, 2015 in Dayton, Ohio, and is hosed by the Miami Valley S Gaugers. The author shares the many photos he took at the annual event.

25 Years And Counting

The author visits Bob and Elizabeth Jakl's celebration party of the 25th anniversary of their layout. Includes many construction photos from 1990.

A Dirt Cover For Your Gondolas

The author built a cover for a S Scale America/Des Plaines Hobbies' Thrall gondola.

A Quonset Style Building

The author describes how Tony Dixon scratchbuilt this farm building for a friend of his. Since there is a lot of farming equipment available in S-scale, Tony himself has switched from HO to S-scale to be better able to model farming.

A Railroad Car Out Outbuilding

Tony Dixon found an out building that consisted of two old railroad cars with a roof between them. The built a model of it and shares his construction story with plenty of photos.

Adventures In S Scale George Sorensen's Journey

The author met George, and subsequently learned about the man, and his current switch from an A.F. layout to a more scale layout, and his reasons behind that change. Includes photos of the old A.F. layout, and the construction of the new A.F. and "scale" layout combo.

Assembling the S Scale Alco RS1

The author shows, in a step-by-step fashion, how he built the S Scale America (Des Plaines Hobbies) RS-1 brass kit. The focus is on the soldering of the frame and parts, not on the chassis or painting.

Baldwin Switcher

A single photo of a Baldwin switcher still running at an elevator east of Montpelier, Ohio.

Bill Leider And His Union Pacific Layout

A large around-the-walls shelf layout featuring the owner's talented backdrop paintings.

Box Car Out Buildings

How the prototype uses box car for track-side buildings. Includes many prototype photos.

Building A Resin Gondola Kit

The author describes the process of building a Funaro & Carmerlengo O-scale NYC gondola kit.

Building A Resin Kit

The author describes building the Funaro & Camerlengo PRR GR gondola kit.

Building An Old Rex Kit Part 1

The author found an old Rex wooden outside-braced box car kit and shares how he built it. Includes many construction photos.

Building An Old Rex Regal Kit Pt. 2

In part 1, the author introduced working on this kit wherein he identified the manufacturer as being "Rex Engineering", but actually it is "Regal Kits", which he corrects in this article. This installment covers finalizing and painting the model.

Building Track Switches

The author describes how to build a custom turnout using cast frogs and points.

Chuck West's Layout

Chuck lives close to the Des Plaines Hobbies store, through which he learned about S-scale, and has been in S ever since. Many of the local S-scale modelers now work on and run trains on Chuck's layout. Includes many photos of Chuck's layout, and a group photo of some of the guys working on the layout.

Computer Aided Design For Modeling

Having used CAD software for 23 years, the author shares his experiences, for those who want to get into CAD designing to produce model railroading products.

Concrete Bag Retaining Walls

The author provides two photos where a small retaining wall was made out of bags of concrete.

Developing an Industrial Scene... Plastic Pellet Storage Part 2

This installment covers the construction of the tanks and the legs. Shows lots of close-up details of the construction process.

Developing an Industrial Scene... Plastic Pellet Storage Part 3

This installment covers the construction of the storage tanks, the silos, and their detailing. Includes prototype and lots of construction photos.

Developing an Industrial Scene...It's All About the Details Part 1

The author describes the Bemis Custom Plastics facility, and the team track siding found at their location. He next develops a plan for how to model that siding. Includes many prototype photos of the facility, and the sketch of a possible model layout.

Drawing for 3D Models

Issues and tips for when designing 3D models for parts.

Drawing for 3D Models

Issues and considerations that the author has learned over the years in creating CAD designs for use with lasercutters or 3D-printing. Several example parts are described in how they have resolve reality with the ideal design.

Eric Bronsky Photos

This article is a collection of photos taken by Eric Bronsky of Ed Halstead's Chicago and Utopia Electric Railway. He has a YouTube channel under the name of "Electropickle Productions", which includes videos of Ed's layout.

Fall S Fest

A report of the 2016 show in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, with lots of photos.

Getting Together

The O-scale club in Rockford, Illinois invited the members of the State Line S Gaugers over to come and see their layout. The author was invited as well, and writes about the activities. Includes photos taken at the O-scale layout's visit.

Grain Elevators

This article is a photo essay of various grain elevators.

Illinois Central Interlocking Tower

Modern-day photos of the IC tower south of Chicago in Kankakee, Illinois. Includes a scaled drawing.

In Memoriam Louis Bartig

A talented designer and model builder passed away.

Jim's Hopper Car

The author describes how Jim Kindraka's covered hopper cars (resin kits) were completed. Includes model photos and one prototype photo of an NYC two-bay hopper.

Kansas City 2015

The author shares his experience attending the NASG convention for the first time. Includes many photos of the vendors, local layouts, and clinics.

Kansas City S Scale National Model Contest and Display

Photos and description of the contest room's entries.

Kit Bashing an Unusual Gondola

Using a two-bay American Models hopper, the author describes how he modeled the L&M gondola/hopper car that appeared in the Spring 1983 issue of the North West Lines magazine (published by the Chicago and Northwestern Historical Society). Includes many detailed construction photos.

Larry Blank's Ahnapee & Western

Larry Blank's home layout has sections that he takes to local model railroad shows for display and running. The article describes why Larry decided on S-scale, how he came up with the design for the layout, and how he built it. Includes many photos of the layout, as well as an overall planned track-plan.

Layout Design

The author visits Matt Gaudynski's layout, The Milwaukee Road Beer Line, where Matt describes how he went from layout-concept to benchwork of his operations-oriented layout. The article includes a bit of history of how the railroads built their lines to get out of Milwaukee. Includes track plan and many photos of the layout under construction. The layout has hand-laid track, N-scale Caboose Hobbies turnout throws, and NCE DCC.

Making Frames

The author has his steam locomotive frames made from CAD drawings in a computer-driven machine. This article describes how that is done.

Making Small Bushes

The author describes how he makes small bushes from dried flowers from Queen Ann's Lace weeds.

Milwaukee Road Water Tank

This article contains photos of the Mid Continent Railway Museum's (in North Freedom, Wisconsin) Milwaukee Road water tank. The article also includes drawings of the structure.

Milwaukee SD-10

Just a photo of a Milwaukee SD-10 at the White Water Valley Railroad in Connersville, Indiana, in May 2015.

Missouri Pacific Inspection Car

A photo and a brief note about an ex-Missouri Pacific inspection car found at the railroad museum in Eurica Springs, Arkansas.

My First Two Steam Locomotive Kits

The author builds the pilot beams for two Stevenson Preservation Lines New York Central switch engine kits converted to Nickel Plate class B-11 switchers.

My First Two Steam Locomotive Kits Part 1

After some history, the author describes the Stevenson Preservation Lines New York Central 0-6-0 locomotives that he converted into Nickel Plate class B-11b switchers. This installment covers the basic model and the tenders.

NASG Convention 2014

A photo essay of the 2014 NASG Convention.

NASG National 2018

A description and photos of the 2018 NASG Convention in Boxboro, MA.

NASG National Convention 2019 Cincinnati, Ohio

Photos and an overview of what happened at the annual NASG Convention.

NASG National Convention 2019 Model Contest

Photos and descriptions of the various contest models.

NASG National Meet

A brief description of the show, and lots of photos taken at the event.

New Bulk Covered Hoppers

The author shares a number of photos of two-bay covered hoppers that are only about a month old.

Resin Kits

The author is building a gondola resin kit, while Jim Kindraka is building a two-bay covered hopper. The author has experience producing resin kits, so he shares the history of this type of product manufacturing, how he makes the parts, the downsides of casting resin, how to deal with parts that curl while still in kit form, and how to properly deal with flash on resin parts. He also shares a few tips on the gondola he is building.

Resin Kits Part 2

The author continues the topic of what it takes to build a resin freight car, in this case an NYC gondola. After some prototype information about the car, the discussion goes on to forming and attaching the grab irons, creating the interior bracing, installing the brake system parts, and painting the model.

Resin Kits Part 3

In this installment, the author describes how he applied the decals to his NYC gondola project car, and how to deal with hiding the decals' edges.

Roy Meissner Trucking

A visit with Roy introduces the author to the many trucks that Roy builds, some based on prototypes his family used to drive. The article includes many photos of Roy's modified trucks. Roy sells some of his trucks at shows he attends.

S West 2015

The author shares his experience, and photos, of attending the O/S Scale West in Santa Clara, California held from February 5 to 8, 2015.

Scene Around The Layout

State Line S Gaugers and their changing layout.

Scratch Building A Fuel Tank Pt 2

The author continues to work on the brass fuel tanks for the Weaver model of an Alco RS-3.

Scratch Building A Fuel Tank Pt 3

This installment covers detailing the RS-3's fuel tank. Lots of construction photos.

Scratch Building My Steam Locomotives Pt 2

This installment covers the spring rigging and frame assembly. Includes many construction photos.

Scratch Building My Steam Locomotives Pt 3

This installment covers the cylinder assemblies. Includes lots of step-by-step photos.

Scratch Building My Steam Locomotives Pt 4

This installment covers the cross heads, guide bars, and crosshead hangers.

Scratch Building My Steam Locomotives Pt 5

This installment covers the construction and installation of the fire box, motor mounts, and boilers. Includes many construction photos and diagrams.

Scratch Building My Steam Locomotives Pt 6

This installment covers the construction of the rear end beam and cab supports, the cabs, the domes, and the exhaust stacks. A sidebar covers some of the tools the author finds the most useful.

Scratch Building My Steam Locomotives Pt 7

This installment covers the construction of the lead trucks and pilots.

Scratch Building My Steam Locomotives Pt 8

This installment covers the valve gear.

Some Layout Ideas

A visit with Roy Meissner reveals how he planned and built his model railroad to support two levels of track work. He built a model of his benchwork out of basswood to help him visualize the final product. It also covers how Roy joins his rail together. Several photos are included with this article.

Some Thoughts on Weathering

The author completes an East West Rail Service SOO stock car, and provides tips on how he ages and weathers the painted wood model.

Southeastern Michigan S Gaugers

A bit of the history of the club, and photos from the club's layout as they had it set up at the 2014 NASG Convention.

State-Line S Gaugers

This article covers the history of this club, based in the Rockford, Illinois area, what sorts activities this club is involved with, and the layouts that they maintain. Includes several photos.

Steve Doyle's Chicago and Route 66 Layout

After a brief introduction to Steve, the author describes the layout, which features scenes along the famous Route 66. Included are lots of photos, including one on night-time operations.

The Buffalo & Chautauqua Railroad

A visit to Gaylord Gill's 30' x 42' layout. There is an explanation of how the layout came about, and there are lots of photos of the layout, some showing specific features of the construction (including how he builds Old Pullman turnouts).

The Caribou and Sierra Falls Railroad

John Albee's layout is fictitious, but it is set in Colorado, and connecting with the UP and the D&RGW. Includes lots of photos of the layout.

The Central California Railroad a Tradition Continues

This article covers a visit to Brian Jackson's layout, built by him and his late father. The article is accompanied by a large number of photos of this well-lit layout.

The Chicago & Utopia Railway

The author was there for the last run of Ed Halstead's layout (they are moving to a smaller home). In addition to many photos of the layout, the article covers Ed's youth, and how he got to eventually building this traction-based layout.

The Minnesota Heartland

The author describes his visit to Ken Zieska's layout, a brief history of Ken's involvement in the hobby, the start of this layout in 1980, his involvement with the local Pines and Prairies S Scale Workshop group, and the couple of expansions that the layout has enjoyed. Includes many photos of the layout, as well as its construction and a track plan.

The Port Huron and Northern

The author visits Dave Held's layout, which is based on a fictitious railroad in the Detroit area. Many of the background buildings use printed photograph he took himself in the 1980s. Includes many photos of the layout, as well as a track plan. Dave's layout is open for this year's NASG convention.

There Is Always Something New

A layout visit with Norm "Chic" Hartert. After a full history on Chic, the article covers how he discovered Sn3 through a P-B-L ad. There are lots of photos of the layout. Part of which is being rebuilt.

Thoughts on Scratch Building Structures

This article shares how Larry Blank goes about designing and building a scratchbuilt structure for his layout, of which he has many. Includes quite a few progress photos.

Thoughts On Soldering

This article is an overview of what solder is, some of the tools used in soldering, and some techniques. Includes many photos that show the various tools, soldering techniques, and of under-construction models.

Tony Dixon's Module

The author describes Tony Dixon's S-scale farming scene diorama, which includes a lot of vehicles that Tony likes to modify and super-detail. It is a great example of how one can model in S-scale without necessarily involving trains.

Track and Wheel Standards

The author explains what the difference is in hi-rail and "scale" S-scale wheels and track, and why there are compatibility issues between the two.

Trap & Garnet Ridge Railroad

The author describes how Mike Hurlburt got into model railroading, getting started in modular N-scale modeling, and then switching to O-scale. Includes photos of the layout, as well as a track plan. Operations is important to Mike. An interesting solution to a lift-up bridge is shown.

Trees From the Ground Up

Step-by-step process of how to create tree stumps from branches found around where you live.

Using Soldering Fixtures

This article continues to February 2015 one, and covers how to solder specific parts to the model. Includes lots of set-up photos.