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Layout Construction
Tips, techniques and guides to model railway construction, including baseboards, track planning, backscenes and track work.
The tale of the errant fish plate
Fish plates are fiddly things but I didn't think I'd spend most of a morning fighting with one. [...]
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. [...]
Stuck for space for your model railway? Here’s one uplifting solution
Stuck for space for your layout? Here's one modeller's solution. [...]
And it goes clickety-clack, clickety-clack
If you watch and listen to any real railway you notice a particular noise. [...]
Fitting Point Motors – how to save yourself time now and avoid disruption later
Point motors are expensive and fitting them under baseboards takes time which often holds up layout construction. Here's a great way to get your track laid [...]
Does your backscene distract from your layout?
Are beautiful photo-realistic back scenes too good and distracting from our models? [...]
Damaged Track, What Can I Do?
I was recently testing a locomotive on my layout and managed to damage a section of track in the process. Here's how I fixed it. [...]
An effective but surprisingly simple to making points look better: Sunday Scribbles
This is an effective but surprisingly simple tip to give your points a little bit of extra realism.
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Track Planning Software
I recently wanted to flesh out the track plan for the latest incarnation of my Cornish-themed layout, here's how I got on with various track planning [...]
Baseboard construction – an alternative technique
Most modellers make their layout baseboards from wood. But there’s an alternative, easier, more flexible and arguably cheaper material. [...]
A layout construction question and suggestion
Toby J. recently reached out to me to discuss a baseboard he was making. He'd seen a friend's railway and set out to build his own OO gauge layout. Having [...]
Camouflaging Curves – how to obscure artifical looking curves
Curves and bends make model railways more fun and allow continuous running but they come with a problem. [...]
The ABCs of Fiddle Yards
Fiddle yards are the changing room of a Parisian fashion show catwalk for model railways.
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Reducing Track Noise Levels
Track construction techniques to minimise noise.
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How to make reliable track-carrying bridges across baseboards
Bridges between baseboards? Here are three components to span the gap. [...]
How To Make Your Own Rerailer – Z, N or OO gauge
This is a creative DIY tip for making your own portable rerailer is almost too simple. [...]
Track Cleaning: How to clean track, the 2024 definitive guide
Here's a little secret. [...]
The best of both in 4ft square
How to have a railway that looks good from a distance with lovely large landscapes features but also works up close with lots of detail visible in your figures [...]
Remove rail joiners without damaging your rails (or fingers)
How to remove fish plates without damaging your rails, or your fingers. [...]
Tiny Terrific Track Tweaks : how to make your track work look better
I'm always on the lookout for ways to improve the look of my railways. Just recently I came across these fish plates and wow do they make a difference to track [...]