Home Page
PRR Chartiers Branch
The Layout
Articles
My Library
About
Site Map

Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Authors
Magazine Articles By Ken Zieska

 

70-ton Great Lakes Ore Car

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2004-01/02

Page:

20

Category:

Product Review

Scale:

S

The author thoroughly reviews these new S-Helper Service cars. Includes a side-bar on the history of ore cars.

Build Craftsman-quality Kit With These Simple Tips

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2014-05/06

Page:

18

Category:

Structures - Towns/Cities

Scale:

S

The author provides some thoughts on using the Monster Model & Laserworks laser-cut kits.

Building Glacier Produce And Cold Storage

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2008-09/10

Page:

26

Category:

Structures - Industrial

Scale:

S

The author kitbashes the Pine Canyon Poured Concrete Storage Facility (kit #359), to fit a specific area on his layout. Includes assembly instructions, and two photos of the final model.

Building the Smokey Mountain Model Works H10-44 Kit in S Scale

Magazine:

S Scale Resource 2021-04/05

Page:

23

Category:

Locomotives - H-10-44

Scale:

S

After describing the prototype engine, the author details his construction of the Smoky Mountain Model Works' resin kit.

Coloring Brickwork

Magazine:

S Scale Resource 2021-10/11

Page:

34

Category:

Structures

Scale:

S

The author provides his step-by-step guide on how he paints brick walls for his structures.

Detailing the Pacrail Northern Pacific Boxcar

Magazine:

NASG Dispatch 1991 #3 May

Page:

16

Category:

Freight Cars - Box Cars

Scale:

S

The author describes how he super-detailed the Pacific Rail Shops' 50-foot NP box car.

Fairbanks-Morse Milwaukee Road H-10-44

Magazine:

S Scale Resource 2017-08/09

Page:

11

Category:

Locomotives - Diesel

Scale:

S

A brief article with photos showing the Smoky Mountain Model Works' FM kit before and after the build.

Farm Factor Figures

Magazine:

S Scale Resource 2020-10/11

Page:

45

Category:

Scenery - People & Animals

Scale:

S

The author reviews and prepares 3D-printed figures made by Farm Factor 3D. Includes photos of the finished models. The company also sells cows in various poses.

Fellow Modelers Salute

Magazine:

NASG Dispatch 2021 #1 January

Page:

15

Category:

Model Railroads and People

Scale:

S

The Pines and Prairies S Scale Workshop remember Gary Brown.

Focal Point: 'Rumansoda' on the Minnesota Heartland

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2001-09/10

Page:

34

Category:

Layouts - S

Scale:

S

The author tells about how he designed his layout to have several railfanning spots on it to remember the real-world railfanning he gets to do.

Freelanced Structure Kits & Power Routing

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2004-05/06

Page:

26

Category:

Model Railroad Clubs

Scale:

S

The author describes the informal Pines and Prairies S Scale Workshop group, and then offers member Steve Doyle to describe his freelanced structures, and how the club dealt with converting older turnouts to power-routing ones.

Highlights from a memorable railroad: Dave Jasper's New England Central

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2004-11/12

Page:

28

Category:

Layouts - S

Scale:

S

The author describes two scenes on Dave Jasper's layout before it is demolished.

Kitbashing River City Welding

Magazine:

NASG Dispatch 2014 #3 June

Page:

28

Category:

Structures - Industrial

Scale:

S

The author describes how he modified a Grand River Models kit to turn it into a freight house.

Light Up Your Work Space

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2014-01/02

Page:

25

Category:

Layout Lighting

The author describes a light bar he has built to help light up the modeling workbench.

Make-and-take Clinic

Magazine:

NASG Dispatch 2016 #6 November

Page:

24

Category:

Model Railroad Shows

Scale:

S

Having conducted the make-and-take clinic at the 2016 NASG Convention, the author shares his experience watching 18 people being guided in building a structure kit right there at the show. Includes several photos taken at the clinic.

Making S-S-S-Scenery in S Scale

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2005-07/08

Page:

16

Category:

Scenery

Scale:

S

The author tries to replicate Minnesota scenery using Woodland Scenics' products. Includes construction photos.

Making S-S-S-Scenery Using Woodland Scenics Products Part II

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2005-11/12

Page:

16

Category:

Scenery - Trees, Shrubs, Bushes

Scale:

S

Using the various scenery kits available from Woodland Scenics, in this installment the author paints the scenery base, applies scenery base texture, adds details, and installs trees. Includes several photos.

Meet an 'S' Gauger

Magazine:

NASG Dispatch 1991 #5 October

Page:

5

Category:

Model Railroads and People

Scale:

S

This column introduces Dave Jasper.

Milwaukee '85 Convention Wrapup

Magazine:

NASG Dispatch 1985 #3 Summer

Page:

12

Category:

Model Railroad Shows

Scale:

S

At the 1985 NMRA Convention, S-scale was well-represented by the largest layout at the convention. Photos accompany this brief article.

NASG 2020 Convention

Magazine:

NASG Dispatch 2020 #2 March

Page:

12

Category:

Model Railroad Shows

Scale:

S

The author announces the planned 2020 NASG Convention (which was canceled later in the year due to government lockdowns).

Natural Scenery Materials Organizing Parts

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2004-09/10

Page:

21

Category:

Scenery

Scale:

S

The author recommends collecting some outdoor materials before the frozen winter sets in, buying junk-drawer organizers, and wearing a visor light.

Product Reviews

Magazine:

NASG Dispatch 2015 #4 July

Page:

7

Category:

Structures - Towns/Cities

Scale:

S

The author reviews the Monster Modelworks "Single Story Starter Kit".

Re-lettering Method That Really Works

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2007-01/02

Page:

25

Category:

Painting & Weathering

Scale:

S

The author shares Tom Lennon's approach to reliably remove lettering on models. Shows two models. Shows the technique used.

Revisit the Minnesota Heartland

Magazine:

S Scale Resource 2021-06/07

Page:

32

Category:

Layouts - S

Scale:

S

The December 2016 issue of this magazine documented the first visit to the author's layout, so this article catches us up on the changes he has made since then. The article includes many photos, and an updated track plan.

S Product Reviews

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2010-11/12

Page:

8

Category:

Product Review

Scale:

S

Reviewed are the C&NW Tool Shed by Lake Junction Models, the Ore Car by Prairie Locomotive Works (an On30 car),

S Scale Industrial Building Projects Part I

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2005-05/06

Page:

28

Category:

Structures - Industrial

Scale:

S

The author uses Pine Canyon's shallow-relief structures to create an industrial scene.

S Scale Industrial Building Projects Part II

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2006-01/02

Page:

18

Category:

Structures - Industrial

Scale:

S

Scale Track Systems

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2011-11/12

Page:

24

Category:

Track

Scale:

S

Using code 70 or 83 in yards and sidings and code 100 on the main line has been a good choice for S-scalers modeling the transition era. The author continues by reviewing American Models flextrack, Customtrax flextrack, Tomalco flextrack, Shinohara flextrack, S-Helper Service flextrack, and sharing tips on how to work with all of them.

Sedum Trees Revisited

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2007-11/12

Page:

32

Category:

Scenery - Trees, Shrubs, Bushes

Scale:

S

The author describes how he used this natural material to build trees using Paul Scoles' method for tree making.

See These Layouts at the NASG Convention in July

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2010-03/04

Page:

20

Category:

Model Railroad Shows

Scale:

S

A few photos of layouts open for touring at the 2010 NASG Convention.

The Banta Products SOO Line Class 2 Standard Depot

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2003-09/10

Page:

27

Category:

Structures - Depots/Stations/Yards

Scale:

S

The author describes his first experience building a wooden laser-cut kit, namely the Banta Modelworks Soo Line Class 2 depot kit, of which he needed two for his layout.

The McDoakes Cart Storage System

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2006-01/02

Page:

19

Category:

Tools

A simple wheeled cart for moving things out of and under the layout's benchwork.

The MHRy Gets an Update

Magazine:

S Scale Resource 2020-02/03

Page:

10

Category:

Layouts - S

Scale:

S

The author describes how his layout has changed over the years to match his changing interest in what he wanted to model in terms of operations. Includes a couple of photos of his layout.

The Minnesota Heartland Railway (Western Division)

Magazine:

NASG Dispatch 1998 #6 December

Page:

16

Category:

Layouts - S

Scale:

S

A description and photos of the author's layout, which is open as part of the 1999 NASG Convention's layout tours. The layout is set in the 1960s, and fills the basement. Includes several photos of the layout.

Tips & Tricks

Magazine:

S Scale Resource 2017-12/01

Page:

51

Category:

Tools

Build a sanding station that helps to ensure wall ends are square and flat.

Using the Woodland Scenics Mod-U-Rail System

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2006-11/12

Page:

30

Category:

Layout Construction

Scale:

S

The author does a product review and actual application of this new system using Ron Kemp's 5' x 9' layout.

Visiting Two Hi-rail Layouts

Magazine:

S Gaugian 2008-01/02

Page:

28

Category:

Layouts - S

Scale:

S

The author visits Rodney Gutzmann's layout and large A.F. collection (displayed to mimic the A.C. Gilbert catalogs of the time), and Jim Brown's Twin Cities & Western Railroad. Both layouts fits the "hirail" category perfectly in that they are nicely scenicked layouts with taller rails, and equipment has larger flanges and claw couplers (for compatibility between older and newer S-scale items).

What's on Your Workbench Today?

Magazine:

S Scale Resource 2016-04/05

Page:

28

Category:

Locomotives - Diesel

Scale:

S

Ken is working on a Smoky Mountain Model Works H-10-44 kit, and completed a S Scale American X29 box car kit.

What's on Your Workbench Today?

Magazine:

S Scale Resource 2016-06/07

Page:

45

Category:

Structures - Towns/Cities

Scale:

S

Photos of two, three-story, buildings by Monster Modelworks under construction.

What's On Your Workbench Today?

Magazine:

S Scale Resource 2016-08/09

Page:

41

Category:

Structures - Industrial

Scale:

S

Photos of the Modular Industrial Buildings produced for the Pines and Prairies S Scale Workshop's "make and take" clinic to be held at the 2016 NASG Convention.

What's on Your Workbench Today?

Magazine:

S Scale Resource 2016-10/11

Page:

45

Category:

Freight Cars - Hoppers

Scale:

S

A SOO Line American Models hopper receives decals, and a Great Northern Wood Sheathed 10' IH ARA box car built from a Standard Railway Casting Company kit.