Tools, tips and tricks

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Almost to the Point of Rocks

Fri, 2014-12-12 09:46 — jackanf54

My first attempt at brick on wood of the Point of Rocks Station, this is being built for the man who bought my Josie Olina Mercantile. my restriction is that it can only be 4 inches wide so only one side is being built the back side is flat and he wanted it longer to fit his space.

Quick Paint Rack Project

Mon, 2014-12-08 14:50 — Mulvaney66

Tools, tips and tricks

The Importance Of A Good Vacuum

Mon, 2014-12-08 06:28 — Mule_Shoe_and_W...

Novices be warned, building a model railroad is a messy business. Owning a good vacuum cleaner during layout construction will benefit you throughout the layout's life. Spend a decent amount of money on a good one. Why? Here are a few good reasons...

Using the family vacuum will cause you grief with the spouse. It won't be there in the closet when she goes looking for it. It will have plaster dust all over it. It will be full every time she needs it. Bad juju. So get your own.

Tree making machine???

Mon, 2014-12-08 06:27 — Meadmaker

I saw a brief clip of a tree making machine a while back, possibly on a Dave Frary clip.

I cannot seem to find that clip or the name of that tree making machine. Does anyone happen to know if that machine still exists and possibly have a link to purchase one if it still exists?

Thank you.

5 comments

Questions, Answers, and Tips

Questions, Answers, and Tips - Model trains - MRH column December 2014

What's Neat: Christmas potpourri

What's Neat: Christmas potpourri - Model trains - MRH column December 2014

Paint styrene to look like wood

Fri, 2014-11-28 06:45 — traintalk

I have some flatcars that are factory painted red. What I would like to do is paint and weather the top boards to look weathered gray.

I have some scrap styrene that I painted red and I have experimented with a few techniques by re-painting the styrene a tan color and then using a mixture of Indian Ink to stain it gray. This has produced some OK results.

I thought I would ask for some other techniques/methods. Any pictures to share?

--Bill

3 comments

3D Printing Update, Shapeways FUD Process

Thu, 2014-11-27 08:15 — hacketet

In a recent article I wrote I discussed the good and bad points of 3D printing as I had experienced them. I had concluded that it was useful when traditional methods were difficult or impossible to employ. In October I attended the Mideastern Region NMRA conference and visited the Koppers tie plant at Green Spring, WV. I wanted a tie plant on my layout, but had no information on the operation. One item I found that I needed was a lot of carts for moving the ties into the creosote chambers.

Comparing train prices

Thu, 2014-11-20 17:07 — lxp31

Hi,

I have to buy two trains for Christmas, so I was wondering if there is a site where I can compare prices for the same model in many different shops at the same time?

(so I can find the cheapest place to buy the trains)

Thanks a lot!

// Louisa