Make. Paint. Build: Tips and tutorials for model trains, scale modellers and miniature war games.
Layout Construction
Tips, techniques and guides to model railway construction, including baseboards, track planning, backscenes and track work.
How to attach wires to model train track
Moving up from track clips to attaching power wires to track? Here are 3 techniques, how to do each and the pluses and minuses of each. [...]
Is cork underlay needed for track?
This is question that comes up frequently, here are my thoughts. [...]
Signalling – Basics: Point Roding
How steam-era railway signalling was controlled. [...]
Track planning on modular base boards
My exhibition layout has been designed with a track plan finalised but track plans for modular baseboards are slightly different to normal layouts. [...]
A prototype inglenbook track plan
Love industrial heritage? Fancy an inglenook model railway shunting puzzle layout? Here's an industrial narrow gauge line that has an inglenook built in. [...]
Making my first exhibition layout, part 1
It was just another email. [...]
Plywood – what you need to know before buying
Plywood is a simple material, very versatile and great material for a model railway baseboard top. Here's what you need to know before buying. [...]
How to make the three most common woodwork joints
If you're building a model railway baseboard from wood you'll need to join various bits of wood together. Here's how to make the three most common wood work [...]
Don’t use this for baseboards
I'm always on the look out for new, cheaper or better materials to build model railways with so when someone wrote in suggesting fibreboard I had [...]
Protecting your rails while painting track
Most model railway track come with black sleepers. These look nothing like the real thing and many modellers paint them a more authentic colour.
Browns for [...]
The Best Ballasting Tool For N Gauge Model Railways
Ballasting is one of those tasks you either love or hate on a model railway. It transforms your track work but is a slow laborious messy process that's hard to [...]
Get perfect track cuts everytime by using Xuron cutters this way
Struggling to get clean, straight ends, for your N, OO and HO track when cutting it? Here's how I use the Xuron cutters to get perfect track every time.
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A surprising but ideal ready-made base for a fun small model railway
It's not an obvious choice but this baby accessory turns out to be a perfect small model railway base.
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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 [...]
An easier way to hold your track in place while gluing
Is this the quickest way to fix track down for gluing? [...]
Simple idea that saves time and makes track testing fun
The best ideas, as they say, are the simplest. And never has this been more true than with this bit of lateral thinking from an MRE group member. [...]
Best Ballast Spreader for N, OO and HO track in 2021
Ballast transforms your railway from a train set to model railway but it's time consuming, fiddly and slow to lay. No more with this brilliant little ballast [...]
How high should a model railway baseboard be?
While working on the construction of one of my layouts, I happened to think about the correct height for maximum convenience. [...]
Skip the pain of reaching across your layout with this inspired home built aid
How's this for a nifty idea. [...]
What are modular model railway baseboards
Looking for the easiest, quickest, way to start building model railways and operating your trains? Pre-made modular model railway baseboards are the ideal [...]
