Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Model Railroader 1978-11
Articles Listing

Scratchbuilding a Narrow-gauge Combine

This article describes how the author built his Sandy River & Rangeley combine no. 14. This is a step-by-step article, and includes prototype photos, dimensioned drawings, materials list, and many construction photos.

Steam Heat Comes to the Cobwebs, Dust & Ashes

The author describes how he scratchbuilt a small central heating plant. Includes model photos and scale drawings.

Building a Digital Fast Clock

Using a Radio Shack four-digit clock module, the author shows how to build a fast clock (operating about 10 to 12 times faster than a normal clock). Includes schematic diagrams, circuit board designs, final wiring diagrams, and a parts list. The article then covers how to operate using a fast clock.

Resistance Soldering

The article covers the benefits of using a resistance unit for soldering, and describes the system marketed by Contact, Inc.

Ntrack at Dearborn

A photo article showing some of the NTrak modules at the recent NMRA show.

Modeling the Clinchfield RR. Part 1

This is the introductory part of a three-part article on how the Model Railroader staff built a portable 6' x 13' N-scale layout, based on a prototype railroad. This introduction talks about how they got started, the prototype research they did, layout design, equipment selection, how the layout is to be operated and controlled, and provides lots of photos of the layout itself. There is a column in the back of the issue to talks about the behind-the-scenes set-up for photographing the layout.

Erie's Mahoning Division in HO Scale

This is a visit to Joe Slanser's 28' x 29' basement layout. The main layout is in a 9' x 29' area, with a large double-track loop running through the rest of the space.

Scratchbuild a Wartime Hopper Car Part 1

The author describes how to scratchbuilt a wooden hopper in S-scale (differences between scales are discussed as they affect materials or steps). This installment describes how to build the center sill, bolsters, end sills and braces, underframe, brake rigging (both K-2 and AB brakes), kingpin blocks, the car's sides, the car's ends, the slope sheets, and assembling and details the superstructure. Includes many detailed drawings. (By the way, there is a photo of the author on the Web; he is the second one up from the lower right-hand corner)

Paint Shop

This issue's column discusses how the author painted a SCL GP38 using the "Family Lines System" logo on a three-color paint scheme.

Designing and Obtaining Private Road Name Heralds

When modeling a freelance railroad, you need to design your own logos and heralds. This article describes how to do this (before computers), and then how to order decals sets for your custom drawings.

Turning the Tables

The author describes how he retrofitted an Atlas turntable under his upper-level benchwork and built a turntable bridge.

It's More Than Horsepower

The author describes how he created a "tonnage chart" where a certain number of engines are needed to pull a certain number of cars. The quantity and type of engines used in the consists are based on scaled-down prototype engines' performance numbers. He then bases the information on what kind of terrain the engines would be battling. It is an interesting way of adding to the realism of model railroad operations.

The Mighty Pen

Using the various parts of a ballpoint pen to model clay sewer pipes, bags of cement, drainage culverts, smokestack, piping, industrial valve, stove, and vertical steam boiler.