Fifer Hobby has a page of how-tos that I find very interesting.

http://www.fiferhobby.com/html/how_to_make_your_own_lengths_o.html

I'm going to buy short lengths of Unitrack this weekend at Trainmaster Models in Buford, GA as I don't have the tools yet to make my own lengths.

http://www.trainmastermodels.com

Well,  I've made the plunge...no turning back now.    A lot of years spent building not much.   Here's hoping the new one will inspire me to make real progress.   The good part is that planning will be based not only on documentation of the real line, but with input from railroaders that ran on the line.   Wish me luck.  BTW, this is my first upload here

Loren Casey

Maryville,IL

ICG St. Louis Sub. 1979

With all of the main track in place I started work on the Doodlebug track which will run around the layout in a "U" shape with stops on both ends and an intermediate stop in Hoovertown.  I wanted a little vertical variety so I used the Woodland Scenics 2% included foam to raise the track level from "base" up by 1/2" actual inches which will be about 44" scale inches in HO.  I'll be using Tam Valley Depot's shuttle control to run the trolley.

I will post photos of my Wharf construction here.

I went out and purchased 5/8" dowels from Home Depot along with some 1/4" square dowels. Thats what they call it anyway.

The following is an account of how I have set about designing my layout and operating scheme.

Ok guys,

This ones a little off topic. Anyone know of an epoxy that comes in anything smaller then 3.5 Gram packets?

I have need to attach a lot of very small ( about 7/8"x 7/8" ) item to a grave stone. Way off topic but then again with miniature models others may find the results useful. I have found "double bubble  Epoxy" packets but even those are overkill for what I need.

I am somewhat frustrated by the lack of a published performance metric or specifications for model train locomotives.

IT'S COLD OUTSIDE! The Greater Nickel Plate spur has made some improvements that should keep everyone warm and toasty. It took awhile what with a pile of lumber, being color blind and some ingenuity adaptation from the original kit - - like adding a light over the door to the office and a bin for old tires I happened to have.

continuing the kitbashed building flats project, this episode is all about painting. I use hand-brushed crafters acrylics for almost all my painting projects.

here we have applied a very uneven coat of the brick colour. I use different colours for each building, or at least a couple different shades so they don't all look like they were built at the exact same time with the same bricks. I want matching era, but not necessarily matching builder and suppliers.  Paints used - Heritage Brick, Raw Sienna, Burnt Sienna, Primary Red. Some used straight, some mixed.

Hi Guys,

I'm starting to get stuff together and build a Pier for the Wharf section of my On30 layout. Some time back I purchased some 1/4" diameter dowels  at the grocery store. I think they were sticks for Carmel apples. So, 1/4" works out to 12" in O scale. Is that diameter big enough around for pilings? I have searched online for hours and can not find any blueprints or drawings for a wharf or pier. The old Santa Cruz pier would be type of design I'm looking for.