Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Authors
Magazine Articles By Lionel Strang

A Better Way of Measuring

Using calipers to accurately measure parts and scale drawings when scratchbuilding.

A Hobby With Something for Everyone

Discovering a "toy-train" layout in the basement of an accomplished HO-scale modeler.

A New Tool Gets Me Off My Duff

Sprue cutter

A Structure Measuring Kit

This handy fold-up kit can be used when going out and measuring a prototype building.

Adding Character

The author decided to remove a section of his mountains to model a rock retaining wall, which includes two water drainage pipes that flow water. The describes the whole process and the article includes some construction photos.

Animation

Building a flickering light simulating a campfire.

Anne's Paint Caddy

Building a paint caddy that holds paint bottles and brushes.

Appalachian Central

Ballasting, scenery, painting the backdrop, tree-covered hillsides, roads, ground cover, rocks, fascia, structures, and weathering.

Backdrop Blues

Painting various levels of blue on the backdrop to more accurately simulate the real world.

Build Great-looking Structures

The author shows his construction techniques as he builds a track-side warehouse.

Build the N-scale Appalachian Central

Complete article from benchwork to wiring.

Building a Lamppost

A lamppost design that can take a beating.

Building Scenery

How to overcome your fears of doing scenery for the first time on your layout.

Decoding Decoders

What do the various wires on a decoder mean?

Detailing Tunnels

The author describes how he cast tunnel interiors.

Easy Trackside Details

The author shows how to build rail racks, rail fences, and how to model used ties.

Fast and Fun Foam Mounds

Model the mounds of coal or ballast using pieces of foam insulation.

Handy Layout Table

This article describes how the author built a table for the Woodland Scenics Scenic Ridge layout.

Improved Installation of Circuitron Switch Machines

This author describes how he uses a 1 x 4 x 4 block of wood to install the Tortoise and its wiring before actually installing the block under the layout. This makes the overall process much easier. Because of the extra height under the layout, the article also describes the actuating crank necessary.

Joining the NMRA

Reasons for the existence of the NMRA and why you should join.

Lionel's Favorite Web Sites

The author's top 10 web sites for this past year.

Making People Unique

The author describes how he takes the common Preiser figures and makes them more Americanized, changes their limbs, and paints them to look different.

Painting Track

Photography 101

Choosing a camera, lenses, tungsten film, lighting, composition, depth of field, and bracketing. Includes digital photography tips with minimum requirements for MR publication.

Recessed Fascia Panels

To avoid damaging the plugs of throttles, the author shows how he built recessed fascia panels.

Styrene Tips

Tips and tools needed for styrene construction.

Surplus Vehicles

The author took two vehicles, originally design as military vehicles, and repainted them to be used by civilians in every-day use.