Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Articles by Scale
G Articles

The author describes how he created a small street scene in Mogadishu, Somalia.

The author describes how he built a diorama of a car that ran into the water, and covers how he creates an "ambiance" in his models.

Modeling stone wall remnants using polyurethane insulation foam.

The fun and challenge of building a diorama in a one-foot square.

The author shares the techniques he tried in the construction of this 5-inch square diorama.

25 Tips for Beginning Garden Railroaders

Lots of info about getting started in this hobby.

3D Printed Power Transformer and its Schnabel Car

Designing and 3D-printing a very large transformer model. Lots of photos, including prototype ones. The second half of the article is about making a reasonable facsimile to the Schnabel car, suitable for G-gauge track.

A Growing Garden Empire

The article features many photos and a garden design plan for this 75' by 80' layout.

A Pennsy Pike in France

The author shares his story of 1:32 (Gauge One) garden model railroading. Includes photos of his PRR equipment and his layout.

A Twice-kitbashed Passenger Car

The author didn't want to get rid of his award-winning 1:32n20 gauge passenger car, so he converted it to a shed for a new yard has was building. He cut a 1:29 or 1:25 figure down so that it would fit in this structure.

Big Operations & Large Scale

The author describes Steve Bittinger's G-scale Western Maryland layout, covering how he constructed the outdoor layout, the track parts he used, locomotives and rolling stock found in the layout, the scratchbuilt structures, and scenery and operations. Includes the track plan of the layout, with lots of photos.

Build a Steel Gondola Car

The author builds this generic 40-foot gondola starting with the parts of another commercial model.

Build the Claremont & Concord in G Scale Part 4

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

Building a Garden Railway Part I

The first installment describes why and how the author got started in building a garden railroad. It covers the design of the track plan and the garden (including a list of plants used), and the start of the project.

Building a Garden Railway Part II

In this installment the author will start the construction phase of his garden railroad. It covers preparing the ground, ballasting, incorporating a tunnel, dealing with grades, incorporating a mountain, building a retaining wall and bridge supports, planting plants, and structures.

Building a Garden Railway Part III

The author continues his series on how he built his garden railroad. This installment covers wiring and finishing the layout, including powering the railroad, wiring a reverse loop, wiring a double-slip switch, A.C. wiring, burying wires, structure wiring, and the control panel.

Craftsman Trophy To Mal Harvey

This model by Malcolm Harvey features exquisite detailing on the exterior and the interior. The roof of the caboose is removable to reveal a fully detailed interior, including working parts. The exterior features, among many things, a working brake system.

DCC Impulses

In this part three of his topic of wireless DCC, the author covers the completion of the garden-railroad system, by using batteries in box cars that power an RS-3. Includes a sidebar on how to change the channels on the CVP T-5000 throttle.

Fun in Tiny Spaces

The author discusses how he designs, builds, and then operates his tiny G-scale layout that covers only one square foot. Includes design and construction photos. There is a side bar called "Games People Play" that covers some other small layouts that can keep operators busy, such as the famous TimeSaver.

G-scale On The Move

A group of people who create G-scale portable modules.

Gary Mittner's 1:29 Scale Class B6SB - 4001

Final photos of the model, whose progress can be see at this web site: http://www.angelfire.com/film/prrpics/B6.html

How I Got Into Garden Railroading

The author describes how he convinced the family to give up some space for the layout, and how he wanted to experiment with live steam. Includes a diagram on how the track foundation is constructed.

Is Garden Railroading for Serious Modelers?

The author describes how he built a Gn3 layout in the backyard. This particular article compares modeling in HO to that of garden railroading, covering the differences between the two.

Jack Verducci's Garden Layout

This layout encompasses an area of 65 by 100 feet in Jack's backyard. It models the California narrow gauge set in the 1930s. Although he started in N-scale, he quickly discovered G-scale and now runs live steam locomotives on his layout. The article includes many photos and a trackplan of this large layout.

Kitbashing a Payroll Car

Using a coach car, the author converted it into a payroll car, including burglary bars. Includes a materials list and photos on how to make the bars.

LGB Christmas Layout in a Mall

The story about how two people built a G-scale layout in a mall.

Light Up Your Railroad

A guide for permanently wiring your buildings. Includes photos and diagrams.

Locomotive Fittings Part 2

Covers various locomotive fittings associated with getting water into a locomotive's boiler.

Mack Trucks

The author scratchbuilt several variations of the FK Mack trucks. Includes model photos.

Modeling in 1:29 Scale - PRR F3 (EH-15) A-B-A

The author, a PRR HO-scale modeler, decided to tackle a G-scale project. He bought an A-B-A set of USA Trains F3 locomotives and super-detailed them specific to the PRR. The details had to be scratchbuilt.

PRR G29 Gondolas in 1/32 Scale

A brief note and several photos of the author's scratchbuilt model.

Rusty - A Four-wheel Climax

The model is built to Gn15 scale. These cars were used to pull logs out of forests. They were ugly, but powerful. The mechanism for this odd car came from a Bachmann On30 streetcar. Scale drawings and close-up detail photos are included.

Scratchbuilding a G Scale Ore Car

Model and prototype photos, as well as scale drawings, of the Apache Railway's 22-foot ore car. Includes construction photos of this 1:24 scale model.

Structures: Simple Construction

How to build a simple track-side structure or shed.

Ted Greeno's Southwest & Western RR

This fantasy theme park like layout is in a 900-square foot greenhouse, and features four separate levels. Despite whimsical, the layout is fully scenicked, detailed, and features lit buildings.

The Colorado & Western's Gn3 Division

Photographed by Bob Werre, Barry's Houston, Texas indoor G scale layout is the focus of this article. The layout is built into an attic. The article includes lots of layout photos, and a track plan.

The Consolidated Republic Mining Railroad

This L-shaped layout features a 1:32 scale tram railroad built by Greg Wright. This unique scale requires a lot of scratchbuilding (including the engines), but that was exactly what the owner wanted. Includes a trackplan and many close-up photos.

The Good News Chapel Car

A freelance car that came out of a desire to have equipment on a new outdoor layout, but with budgetary restrictions. It was scratchbuilt following plans of a HOn3 wooden kit.

The Lasting Legacy of Kent Morris Part 3

This last installment describes Kent Morris himself. Includes many photos of his layout.

The Ogden Botanical Railway

The author describes his third garden railroad. Includes photos and a track plan.

This Old (Ware) house Part 2

This installment covers creating the floor and foundation, which the building didn't have when the author bought it. Includes many construction photos.

Visiting New York Central's Big Four Division

A large two-room, double-track 1:29 indoor layout, modeling the NYC around 1954.