Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Authors
Magazine Articles By Marty McGuirk

A Basic Tool Kit

Sprue cutter, cutting mat, miter box, bench cradle, and other tools that should be part of a model railroader's toolbox.

Ask Paint Shop

Chateau Martin wine cars. CB&Q Blackbirds. Tips on creating a applying decals can.

Ask Paint Shop

Jim Hediger used reflective tape to model accurate reflective safety stripes on his S4 switcher. Also covered is how to remove tarnish from brass models.

Backdrops

This articles covers how to build a backdrop using 0.060" styrene and painting it with just some basic sky colors.

Bridge Basics

How to select the right bridge for the purpose, and the anatomy of a bridge.

Drilling and Tapping

Basics on how to drill and tap a hole.

Easy Weathering Techniques

The author describes some simple steps for weathering trucks, wheels, and car bodies with washes and dry-brushing paint.

Fascias

The basics about what can be incorporated into a layout's fascia.

Getting Real

This column has a rotating set of authors, with Marty being the original one. He shares what he has learned from building his layouts. Large layouts aren't a panacea. A new layout is under way after a move.

Getting Real: Flipping The Piers

The author discusses various decisions he has made to model a pier in his layout.

Laying Flextrack on Curves

Maine Central U25Bs in N Scale

Using an Atlas U25B as a starting model, the author describes the modifications and painting he did to model two of these engines. Includes model and prototype photos.

Making Model Trees

This article describes how to modify Super Trees to get them to look more realistic.

Mocking up a Scene

Using cardboard to build the rough shapes of structures to see if they will fit on the layout. It is easier and cheaper to modify them before spending time building the final building.

Pennsylvania RR Lettering

Marty answers the question about which PRR lettering schemes were used when on their freight cars.

Scale Rules

Model railroad scale rules, architect's scale.

Staging Yards

This article covers four different types of staging yards we can add to our layouts.

Standards Gauge

This article describes what a standards gauge is, where to get one, and how to use its many features.

The Central Vermont of the 1950's

Prototype photos of locomotives, track, structures, maps, steam servicing facility, and rolling stock.

Weathering

A brief article on why one would one to weather equipment, and how the author weathers a freight car using thinned acrylic paints and pastel chalks.