Hints, tips and products for model train and railway enthusiasts.
How to master perfect soldering for trouble-free track and wiring – the definitive guide
Want to improve your model railway track work, wiring, and electrics? Soldering is the only way. But what's the best solder to use? What's the best soldering iron? And how can you get superior solder joints? This article will answer all your soldering questions.
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What magic is this? How do I get working bicycles on my model railway?
You've probably seen moving cars, buses and lorries on model railways but how about bicycles complete with cyclists, their legs furiously moving up and down? [...]
Boot fair bargains – How I picked up a locomotive and controller for under £10
Who says model trains are expensive? [...]
What’s the best glue for laying track – Hornby or Peco, it’ll hold both
Today, I'm going to answer one of the most common questions that pops up in my mailbox and in the Model Railway Engineer community group. What's the best glue to fix your [...]
This 1880’s toy train still lives on and it’s famous but can you guess where it’s used?
There can't be many of us who haven't seen this train at one time or another. [...]
DCC Sound Speaker Comparison – make your locos sound better
Adding sound chips to your locos makes a world of difference to a layout but not all model train speakers are created equal as Richard Croft from Road and Rails finds out.
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Summer Heatwave: How to recreate the tortured sunburnt fields of 2018 in model form
Do something different with your model railway scenery and landscape and create the 2018 summer heat wave in miniature. [...]
FREE model railway card building kits
Looking for a cheap way to get buildings for your model railway? Paper and card building kits are simple to make, realistic and best of all there are lots of them available [...]
Add cropmarks to your fields and add novelty and realism to your layout: sunday scribbles
Here's a quick little tip to add realism and uniqueness to your layout. [...]
Building Bridges: How to make bridges for your model railway
Want a bridge on your model railway? There's more to it than you might think. [...]
Instant inspiration – modellers to follow on Instagram
I'm a BIG fan of Instagram. I find it a huge source of inspiration for my modeling and there are some really great folks there happy to share and suggest ideas. Here's my list [...]
Puzzled by Paints? Model Making Painting Basics 1: Acrylics – what you need to know
Acrylic paints are one of the most popular types of paint used for model making but what's the difference between the different makes, the varnishes, and thinners; when would [...]
How to outmanoeuvre the carpet monster
In the threads of my carpet lives a monster. [...]
A stable aid to let you keep modelling when your hands shake
If tremors and shakes are keeping you away from your model making, this handy accessory will be a game changer for your modelling. [...]
Baseboard backache be gone! Work under your layout in comfort with this handy aid
Car mechanics and model railways don't usually make great bedfellows but here's one garage accessory you might want to consider. [...]
Light up with Magnets – How to easily and flexibly illuminate your buildings
A simple technique for wiring your buildings for lighting while still allowing them to be easily moved and worked on.
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Solar Shed Power – how to harness the power of mother nature for convenient and efficient power
Need power for your shed or garage layout, workshop and workbench? Here's how to harness mother nature. [...]
Make your own mini-power sander: Sunday Scribbles
Here's a cheap way to make a useful mini-sander, ideal for smoothing edges of plastic models that are too delicate or small for typical off-the-shelf sanders. [...]
Stuck for space for your model railway? Here’s one uplifting solution
Stuck for space for your layout? Here's one modeller's solution. [...]
The undercover model railway: reader question
Regular reader Ed recently contacted me with an unusual question so I thought I'd throw it out to the Model Railway Engineer community. [...]
The number one tip for successful DCC upgrades: Sunday Scribbles
Want great running DCC conversions of your analogue trains? He's an often overlooked tip that will dramatically improve DCC conversion performance. [...]
