Category Description: Information about scratchbuilding model railroad items.
Back to Simple
Railroad Model Craftsman 2010-11 pg. 72 Scale: Author: Bob Walker
Evaluating the complexity of a project, purposely choosing a simple project, or making a project simple can yield a lot of dividends for the layout without it taking a long time to complete.
Bar Mills 1-Kit
NMRA Bulletin 2002-07 pg. 24 Scale: (none) Author: Gary Hoover
Using the kit to create buildings and car sides.
Brass Tacks (and Other Metal Bits) Part 1
Garden Railways 2005-12 pg. 27 Scale: Author: Kevin Strong
This article gets into the basics of metal working discussing terminology, materials, tools, and how to join metals.
Challenges
Railroad Model Craftsman 2010-04 pg. 50 Scale: Author: Bob Walker
How do you tackle a huge, complex, or intimidating scratchbuilding project? One bite at a time! The author describes various large projects he started, facing his initial fears.
Corrugated Siding by the Ton
Model Railroader 1985-11 pg. 80 Scale: (none) Author: Jim Wild
The author describes how he makes large quantities of economical corrugated sheet metal using Evergreen Scale Models' sheet styrene as the template for the shaped aluminum foil. The article also covers painting and weathering the aluminum foil.
Details, Again
Railroad Model Craftsman 2012-01 pg. 76 Scale: Author: Bob Walker
Bob's history as a detail manufacturer, balancing between buying and making your own details, and how details bring a scene to life.
Distress
Railroad Model Craftsman 2011-03 pg. 64 Scale: Author: Bob Walker
Using various tools to distress wood to give structures that aged and weather-beaten look.
Doors
Railroad Model Craftsman 2009-01 pg. 74 Scale: Author: Bob Walker
The author describes how to model various doors, some of which may have to be built from scratch.
Home Improvements
Railroad Model Craftsman 2006-07 pg. 80 Scale: (none) Author: Bob Walker
The author discusses how models you built a while back may not look right anymore. Either your skills have improved or they are not the right size. He suggests not throwing the models away, but rather built them into a new structure, or moving them to the back of the layout.
Making Stone Walls
Railroad Model Craftsman 2011-02 pg. 74 Scale: Author: Bob Walker
How to make a wall master and then casting a number of them for structures.
Metal Working III
Railroad Model Craftsman 2010-08 pg. 56 Scale: Author: Bob Walker
The metal working series continues with this installment that covers drilling and tapping.
Metal Working IV
Railroad Model Craftsman 2010-09 pg. 58 Scale: Author: Bob Walker
This installment covers using a lathe to mill metal.
Metal Working Pt II
Railroad Model Craftsman 2010-07 pg. 52 Scale: Author: Bob Walker
Bob continues his article on how to do metal working, covering filing and soldering.
Metal Working Pt. I
Railroad Model Craftsman 2010-06 pg. 62 Scale: Author: Bob Walker
The basic about how to work with metal and some of the tools required.
More About Plaster
Railroad Model Craftsman 2007-01 pg. 64 Scale: HO Author: Bob Walker
The author is learning how to cast structures in plaster, and this month's experience includes building a masonry building. The finished model is beautiful.
More On Walls
Railroad Model Craftsman 2011-01 pg. 80 Scale: Author: Bob Walker
How you build your structure's walls depends on whether or not their interior will be visible. Includes a discussion on how to strategically light the interior of the building.
More on Roofs
Railroad Model Craftsman 2009-11 pg. 74 Scale: Author: Bob Walker
Bob describes various roofing techniques and how he builds the foundation of his model roofs. It follows up on his February, 2005 column on roofs.
Out of the Fringes
Railroad Model Craftsman 2008-11 pg. 79 Scale: Author: Bob Walker
Bob discusses what could be considered the fringes of our model railroading hobby.
Paper
Railroad Model Craftsman 2005-03 pg. 88 Scale: (none) Author: Bob Walker
Using paper for scratchbuilding. There is commercial paper, and the author also discusses how to take photos of prototype structure walls, print them, and apply them to your scratchbuilt structure.
Photo-modeling
Railroad Model Craftsman 2008-02 pg. 72 Scale: (none) Author: Bob Walker
Using photos of prototype buildings or structures on the layout, the author describes how he photographs and prints walls to be glued to structures. This is great for back-of-the-layout type of structures.
Realistic Model Window "Glass"
Model Railroader 1978-01 pg. 106 Scale: Author: Thomas D. Dressler
Using Micro Scale's Kristal-Klear to mimic glass in engines and structures.
Scale Drawings
Railroad Model Craftsman 2003-04 pg. 86 Scale: (none) Author: Bob Walker
The author discusses how to convert scale drawings in a scale other than the one you are modeling into the scale you are modeling. Conversion factors are listed.
Scratchbuilding Ward's Sawmill Part 3A
Model Railroading 2003-04 pg. 28 Scale: HO Author: Sam Swanson
Building the interior and exterior of the main building. The model is built using prototype construction methods. This would be a great model to duplicate in N-scale. The article has model construction photos, HO-scale drawings, and a parts list.
Sharpies Work Best After a Flat Finish
Model Railroader 2002-10 pg. 30 Scale: (none) Author: Paul Schmidt
Using Sharpies pens.
Smaller is Easier
Railroad Model Craftsman 2007-12 pg. 67 Scale: (none) Author: Rene Gourley
Describes how to make accurate miter cuts for such things as window trim and roof trim.
Something From Nothing
Railroad Model Craftsman 2011-12 pg. 80 Scale: Author: Bob Walker
Using the scrap box to build models, the author describes how he built a simple shed.
Taking Notes, Keeping Track
Railroad Model Craftsman 2006-01 pg. 60 Scale: (none) Author: Bob Walker
The author makes a case for keeping track of notes and time spent on scratchbuilding projects. This would then make it easier to guesstimate your next project.
The Advantages of Glass
Railroad Model Craftsman 2009-01 pg. 84 Scale: Author: Trevor Marshall
The article describes how to use microscope glass to model real glass in structures and equipment.
Things to Do Before Supper
Railroad Model Craftsman 2008-10 pg. 86 Scale: Author: Bob Walker
The author describes various small things he does before he is called to the dinner table.
What You'll Need to Scratchbuild
Railroad Model Craftsman 2003-01 pg. 66 Scale: (none) Author: Bob Walker
Review of a large collection of handy tools for doing scratchbuilding work.
Window and Door Screens in HO Scale
Model Railroader 1996-09 pg. 76 Scale: HO Author: Ken Patterson
This brief article with plenty of construction photos shows how to use silk-screen to simulate window and door screens.
Working with Plaster Part I
Railroad Model Craftsman 2006-12 pg. 95 Scale: (none) Author: Bob Walker
This introductory article covers the various types of plasters available, how to create your own molds, and how to cast with plaster.
Working with Wood
Railroad Model Craftsman 2003-05 pg. 76 Scale: (none) Author: Bob Walker
The article discusses when it is best to use strip wood and when sheet wood is better for models.