Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Authors
Magazine Articles By Lee Vande Visse

A Bulkhead Flatcar for Two Gauges

Taking a standard gauge car, the author modeled a narrow gauge one. However, most of the article appears to be scratchbuilding the model. Includes scale and isometric drawings of how he built the flat car frame. Also includes prototype photos.

A Paint Mixer for the Workbench

Using a BBQ rotisserie motor, the author built this device to rotate the paint bottles. This keeps the paint in good condition and always ready for him to use.

Beat Up But Beautiful

The author describes some ideas on how to weather maintenance-of-way equipment, covering cracked and chipped paint with rubber cement.

Cast an Abandoned House

The author describes how he modeled a collapsed house by casting the walls, then carving the individual bricks on them.

Casting Your Own Detail Parts

Step-by-step instructions on how to cast parts using RTV silicone rubber.

Model a Pond

The author covers how to waterproof the pond, adding bottom details, modeling cattail plants and dead trees, how to simulate standing water, how to pour the resin, and how to add lily pads.

Modeling Tarpaper Roofs

Information on how to use tissue paper to model weathered freight car roofs.

Paint and Weather a Blast Furnace

Painting the HO and N scale Walthers blast furnace kit.

Painting Signs on Buildings

Painting a drop shadow on stenciled signs to give buildings a vintage look.

Scratchbuild a Sandstone Station

The author built a New York Central-flavored passenger station by casting the walls and then carving each of the individual blocks. He describes how he built the molds, cast them, and then carved the blocks. Also covered is how to stain the plaster casting, inserting the windows, building the corbels, and adding the final details. Included are model and construction photos, scaled drawings, and an assembly exploded 3D drawing.

Staining and Finishing Wood

The author shares tips on how stains wood, how to simulate creosote, and how to create peeling paint and making knotholes.

Weathering Steel Mill Cars

Unique hot-metal cars. Simulating glowing metal in the cars using miniature fluorescent light with red plastic filter.