Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Model Railroader 1987-12
Articles Listing

The Challenges of Building a Layout in a Garage

The author describes the common problems encountered when placing your layout in a garage, such as bugs and dust. His weathering approach accounts for the standard shade of dust collecting in his garage.

Introducing the Allegheny Midland Part 1

Tony describes his now famous AM, how he was inspired by Allen McClelland, the rational for the layout, and the track plan.

Tank Farm at Chateaugay

This article describes combining several kits to build a unique fuel dealership that is serviced by the railroad. This is a structure built for the Rensselaer Polytechnic club's layout.

Slow-action Crossing Gates Part 2

This installment covers command control and DC bi-directional circuitry necessary to have a realistically operating crossing gate. It also covers the gate, LED, and bell circuitry, the power supply, and the finishing touches to complete the installation.

The Sun Belt Ry.

The author describes his experience from switching from O to HO to N, and finally settling on Z-scale. He covers some of the problems he had with early Z-scale equipment, but claims to really enjoy it now.

Boston & Maine Atlantic in HO Scale

Accompanied by the finished model photos, the article describes how the author built this model almost completely from scratch.

Rob Carey's Colorado & Southwestern

This 13' by 16' basement layout features a lot of scenery and long trains. Under the layout, Rob built his children's O-scale Lionel layout.

An 8000-gallon Tank Car in HO Scale

Model and prototype photos are part of this article on how to model a common steam-era oil hauler.

ABCs: Going Beyond the Train Set

A basic hand-holding article starting with the train set loop track and adding turnouts, flexible track, and dealing with derailments and buying new equipment.

New Haven Class EP-1 Electric Locomotive

Includes prototype photos and scale drawings.

Remembering the Reading with Lionel

Although 3-rail track is used, the layout looks finished and realistically designed. Three loops of track cover this 6' by 16' layout for continuous action.

Build Southern's Big John

Starting with a center-flow hopper kit, the author builds this unique car.

Green Mountain's North Walpole Yard

The author describes this Green Mountain RR's former branchline, which now serves as the railroad's operating headquarters. All the track is described, and includes a turntable, roundhouse, storage yard, etc. The article has a full track plan, prototype photos, and two model track plans for compressed applications.

Building Believable Buffs

Simple, step-by-step procedure for building realistic bluffs to cover the area between two tracks at different elevations.

Structure Lighting

Using cheap Christmas tree decoration lights to create interior lighting for structures. The article covers how to deal with the fragile light bulb wires

Wabash "Bluebird" F7s

Includes prototype photos, scale drawings (for painting purposes), and paint mixture descriptions for painting these models.