Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Authors
Magazine Articles By Earl Smallshaw

A Station for Middletown

The author describes how he built a model based on the prototype Central New England (later New York, New Haven & Hartford) station in Middletown, Conn. Includes scaled drawings, model and prototype photos, and various construction diagrams.

Building Demolition

This article describes how to model a building that is in the process of being demolished. This shows the interior of the structure, as well as walls half broken down. Included is a description of how to model the rubble that forms around the area.

Distant Pines

Making pine tree silhouettes using shaped metal screen and ground foam.

Forced Perspective

Forced perspective can be created by building smaller-than-scale structures and trees.

Modeling Tenements

Tenement housing provides opportunities for detailing. The article includes scale drawings, construction details, close-up photos, and a side-bar on how to make clothing.

Progress Report on the Franklin & South Manchester

Completion of South Manchester is covered in this article. Trackplan and many (large) layout photos accompany the article.

The Donald Clerke Memorial Bridge

Retrieving and restoring a bridge from a friend's layout.

The Sterlingworth Steel Hopper Car

The author describes how he scratchbuilt this 1900s steel hopper out of styrene and brass. Includes model drawings and photos. A sidebar is included on how to build a rivet machine, which was documented in the June 1968 Model Railroader issue.

Urban Scenery

Putting city buildings on a second level above the track can make the city look dense, yet still allow the trains to move on through. The author describes how he makes rounded backdrops, uses mock-ups, builds roads, and the buildings themselves (painting, weathering, roofs, signs, and lighting). Includes a sidebar on how to cut out windows when scratchbuilding a wall.