Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Railroad Model Craftsman 1979-03
Articles Listing

The Ramapo Valley

The layout is an around-the-wall style layout with a large J-shaped peninsula into the middle of the room. It features lots of switching. There a quite a few close-up photos of the layout. The layout is loosely based on the Erie Lackawanna in northern New Jersey. It models a double-track mainline between Hoboken and Ridgewood with one branch line.

Modeling Modern Short Line Boxcars

The author describes how one could model the unique short line boxcars with custom decals. Includes scale drawings of a typical ACF Railbox car.

McClanahan's Hundred

The author created a condensed and simplified Western ore mine to fit his layout, while preserving all the features one would find in such a structure. Includes model photos, scale drawings, and detailed construction drawings

Making Your Own Ground Foam

Using foam rubber, dye, and a wire wheel grinder to make your own ground foam.

U-1 Wheel Stencils

Explanation of the yellow or white dots that appear in a black square on the side of freight cars. These indicate cars that are still equipped with sub-standard wheels. Many prototype photos are included.

Improving Athearn's Piggyback Flatcar

The author describes how he made some changes to this kit to have it ride lower and improve operations.

Back-dated (shortened) Piggyback Flat

The author shortened Athearn's 85-foot flat car to 75 feet to make his V&O TOFC piggyback flat car. Includes one prototype and several model photos.

Piqua Crossing

The article describes the brick interlocking tower near Piqua, Ohio where the PRR (now Conrail), Chessie, and B&O cross. Includes a track diagram of the area, and a scale diagram.

Two Small Bridges Part 2

This installment covers building a riveted plate girder bridge. Prototype and model photos are included, as well as a scale drawing. Various close-up photos of prototype bridges provide a clear view of the details to consider when building this model.

The Incredible Large-scale Models of Russell Clapper

In 1917 Russell started scratchbuilding his own two-inch scale models. He wound up building a collection of 138 models which he now describes as the "Clapper Railroad Museum". The article is accompanied by a good number of photos of his models.