Hints, tips and products for model train and railway enthusiasts.
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Make a realistic texture thatched roof with this simple but effective technique
Living in Surrey, I see a lot of thatched roofs. There's no denying their beauty. But recreating them in miniature for a model railway or diorama is [...]
Adding point motors to already laid track
Now filed in a draw marked 'why on earth didn't I think of this' is this marvellous tip from MRE community member Lee Maylon for installing point motors on [...]
A quick easy way to make curved corners for your backscene
If you want your backscene to have curved corners you may be struggling with how to create the curved wood onto which the paper is glued. I did and then I had [...]
How to wire Circuitron Tortoise Point Motors
Here's a quick simple guide to how I wire my Tortoise slow-motion point motors and use them with Lever operated passing contact switches. [...]
Tips from an inspirational model railway
There are realistic model railways and then there are realistic model railways. Anyone who’s seen Ben Alder's Far North Line layout knows what I mean. [...]
More on the Train-Tech Screen
In my highlight of 2018, I mentioned the Train-Tech Screen as one of the highlights of the year. Here's more information on this innovative little product. [...]
Big Country, Big Sky, Big Backscene
One of the basic rules of model railway construction is to lay the track into the landscape as opposed to building the landscape around the track.
Railways [...]
How I got 5 locos to run smoothly over my points with just 10 minutes work
Most of the time, our locos run smoothly over points. But occasionally there are problems. Here's how I quickly solved a problem that was causing 5 of my locos [...]
Trains stalling on Electrofrog points?
Trains stalling on Electrofrog points? Here’s the one solution I’ve found. I hope it works for you too.
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How to fill gaps between your rails
If you've ever laid track and found you have an unsightly gap between two sections here's an easy little trick to conceal it and help your trains run easier. [...]
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. [...]
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? [...]
What is 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 [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
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 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. [...]
Upgrading an old Hornby Pannier
GWR Pannier engines are the best. They're my favourite locos and I have quite a few, in both OO and N gauge. The Hornby versions are great little [...]
The ABC’s of Fiddle Yards
Fiddle yards are the changing room of a Parisian fashion show catwalk for model railways.
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