Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Authors
Magazine Articles By Paul J. Dolkos

10 Steps to Great-looking Passenger Cars

The article covers techniques for applying paint and decals. It shows how to plan the project, checking the parts, planning the painting sequence, painting the underbody, masking the underbody to paint the main body, and additional masking to paint a second color on parts of the sides, applying decals and the finish.

A Developing Basement Empire

Monroe Stewart's Hooch Junction was covered in an Allen Keller video several years ago. Now it is covered in print. This large layout offers plenty of action.

An American's Impressions of British Model Railroad Exhibitions

The author visited some of the British layout exhibitions to see how things are different between there and the U.S. Layouts are smaller, and they use space very effectively. Includes a side bar on designs for "fiddle" yards. Lots of photos.

Assault on the Alleghenies

Ballast: The Finishing Touch

Ballast on Boston & Maine RR prototype. Preparation, ballast, and painting.

Battery Power And Radio Control

The author introduces the reader to using radio-frequency control over locomotives that have their internal system powered by an on-board battery. The article is dated and contains several errors. HO- and O-scale examples are provided, but S-scale is ignored (my web site has had my installation documented since 2012, so the author could have come across my article if he had done a more thorough research). In general, while it is a nice attempt, the article was definitely written from the perspective of, "here it is, but we don't recommend it", and the author doesn't appear to be using the technology himself. Visit my personal web site, if you want a more up-to-date and positive look at using battery technology.

Bill Aldrich's New New Haven

Bill's previous layout appeared in the Great Model Railroads 2000 magazine, but it was dismantled after that due to a move. The new layout is based on the same ideas. The author describes how Bill was able to get the new 35'x50', around-the-walls layout up and running in three years.

Building Wood Cars from Styrene

Although the subject is a Barre & Chelsea RR wood combine, the article is not a step-by-step how-to article about how to build this particular car, but rather a general one about how the author builds wooden passenger cars using styrene. Includes model and prototype photos, a construction detail diagram, and a parts list.

Bulk Oil Depots

This article includes prototype photos and full description of the variety of oil depots. An HO-scale model is shown in one photo, but only suggestions are provided for how to model it.

Detailing the Right-of-way 3

In this installment the author covers trackside communication systems, safety, and maintenance equipment.

Different Time Different Look

The author takes a look at what turn-of-the-century modeling might involve (1900, that is).

Lessons from a Successful Layout Part 2

This installment discusses the virtues of having nice scenery to help set the tone for operations.

Modeling a Secret Prototype

It was a challenge for Chris White to build his 11' x 13' layout modeling the Russian prototype. The layout is small. A sidebar is included discussing the "joy of terminal operation".

Modeling Grade Crossings

The article covers all the parts that make up a grade crossing, with prototype spacings and distances between the various components. Scale drawings are included for the crossing signals and gates.

Next Stop Linwood!

Paul visits Mike Fyten's Kaw Valley model railroad, which is set in rural eastern Kansas in the early 1950s. It measures 28'x28' in a mostly around-the-walls layout with one peninsula. The article includes many photos, a track plan, and a small bio about Mike.

Passenger Cars Part 1

The article is about building the cars you want for your fleet by combining unique sides with common carbodies. The author started with an HO-scale Eastern Car Works car, removed the molded-on details, added the new sides, updated the underbody detail, installed grab irons, added an interior, painted and applied decals, and installed diaphragms and window shades.

Passenger Cars From Core Kits Part 2

The articles covers how to build a Southern Railway Pullman sleeper using NKP Car Works etched-metal sides and a Train Station Products' core kit for an HO model. Next, the author shows how to convert a Bachmann coach car into an N-scale RPO for the Monon.

Staging Solutions

Various staging solutions are described, such as using cassettes, sector plates, turntables, and traversers.

Weathering Your Yards

Railroad yards are not pretty nor clean, so this article describes some things you can do to mimic the real world.

Working the Mill Job

Instead of a bunch of small industries consider one big one.