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Electrics
Hints, tips and advice on installing, building and fixing model railway electrics and wiring; DC and DCC; track, lighting, signalling, controls and accessories.
DC or DCC? What do you prefer and why
This is one of those topics that everyone has a view on. But what do real-world modellers prefer? [...]
Fixing & connecting wires together without soldering
If you struggle with joining wires — such as track feeders to bus wiring — this is for you. [...]
A handy modelling tool
If only I had more fingers.
That’s something almost every modeller has uttered at one point or another.
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How to join and solder wires for the most reliable connections
How have I missed this? [...]
Electrics, an update on the £35 Model Railway Project, part 4
The electrics: A gamble that worked but I'm behind schedule. [...]
Add more power
Pressed for time..need to get a modelling fix? Here's the first in a new series of quick to carry out tips to improve your layout.
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Sounds good – audio effects for layouts
We've had sound in locomotives but what about sound in your buildings? [...]
Baseboard tips: make wiring easier with a splash of paint
I wish I'd done this before my most recent journey to the dark side of my layout!
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Cheap, easy, lights for your layout
Let me brighten up your railway with this quick and cheap way of adding lights to your layout. [...]
Why and should I solder my track — Reader Q&A
On the back of this reader question on track offcuts Steve Boughton reached out to ask if he should shoulder his track together.
Here's the wisdom from [...]
How to wire up LED lights on your model railway – the simple guide
I've covered the mechanical aspects of making street lights before, this post, however, focuses on the electrical element of wiring LEDs for buildings such as [...]
Why do the LED lights on my layout flicker? – Reader Q&A
If the lights on your layout flicker, follow this advice that I gave to Paul who contacted me over the weekend. The answer was simple but of [...]
Model Railway Beginners Q&A: How to connect more power leads to a model railway set
If you've added more track to your model railway set you'll reach a point where just one power-clip isn't enough. But how do you get more power to your track [...]
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 [...]
Adventures in DIY Point Motors or How To Make Your Own Point Motors
After a recent slight miscalculation with off-the-shelf point motors I started thinking about making my own point motors. How difficult could it be and would [...]
Adding Lights to Your Model Railway – The Low Cost Option
When adding lights to your railway you can either buy expensive off-the-shelf lights or use this low cost technique for building and street illumination.
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Project Update – Layout, Bedding, Wiring and Track Laying
I admit it. It's true I haven't posted an update on my layouts for a while and since the last report a lot has changed. So here's what's gone since then [...]
3 Tried and Trusted Track Soldering Techniques
One of the questions many model railway beginners face when moving up from basic sets is how to securely connect the power wires to the tracks of their [...]
Building a Speedometer for model trains
Ever wondered how fast your model trains go? Here's a way to measure the speed of your trains on your model railway.
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How To Avoid The Two Ugly Sisters of Track Soldering Hell
Tried soldering wires to your model train rails? Fed up with melted sleepers and solder globules ruining the look of your track. Here's a handy tip for quick, [...]