Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Model Railroader 2005-11
Articles Listing

Renumbering Kato HO Locomotives

Renumbering a Kato Amtrak F40PH using Microscale's decal set.

Modeling Foreground Trees

Creating realistic scale trees using a Super Tree starter kit from Scenic Express. The author describes his step-by-step process to preparing, soaking, painting, and adding foliage to these trees.

How To Make Better Scenery

The article describes how the author creates a scenic base using Woodland Scenics' foam sheets, then covers it with "ground goop" (a mixture of Celluclay, Vermiculite, flat latex paint, and white glue). The photo essay continues with ground cover, planting trees made from Peppergrass, and finishes with two scenes of a suburban front yard and static-flock grass along the track side.

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".

Pipeline On Rails

The article describes the railroads' role in the oil industry during the 1940s. Includes prototype photo of the Mid-Continental Petroleum Co. refinery in Tulsa, OK, a refinery in Louisiana during WWII, and fencing around refineries. Sidebars on tank car classification, typical daily refinery output, refining in 1940, and storage tank sizes and capabilities are also included. There is also a 3-D graphic of a potential model.

A Depot from Two Houses

Creating a single small town depot from two Rix Products Maxwell Avenue house kits. Diagrams of the modified walls are shown as well as some construction photos.

Lessons from a Successful Layout Part 2

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

Modeler's Guide to Passenger Diesels

This article covers all the diesel locomotives used to pull passenger trains. In each section the available HO and N scale models are listed. It covers Alco's DL-109 and PA's, EMD's E-series, F-series, and Fairbanks-Morse's Erie-builts, Trainmasters, H-15-44, and General Electric's U-boats and Dash 8's. A handy diagram showing the time-line of when which model was active is included.

Build the Claremont & Concord in G Scale Part 4

The final installment discusses choosing the right rolling stock and setting up for operations.

Gopher State Fallen Flags

This 7' x 22' layout includes both the C&NW and the Milwaukee railroads. One depot served both rails.

Power Buses and Districts

The first part of the article discusses the basics of good wiring and why that is important when DCC is used (as opposed to cab-control). The rest of the article discusses the benefits of well-thought out districts to help even the load and reduce total shut down in case of shorts.

Threading the Needle

Using a straw to guide track feeders through layers of insulation foam.