Hints & tips for model railway enthusiasts, miniature painters and model makers.
Intermediate
Making an entrance
Progress update on my temporary mini diorama / model railway layout and how I'm making the timber mine entrance. [...]
Make your own ground foam
Making your own ground foam for scenery is fun, much cheaper than buying the commercial stuff and gives your more flexibility in your scenery.
But [...]
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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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. [...]
Skip the pain of reaching across your layout with this inspired home built aid
How's this for a nifty idea. [...]
How to paint lifelike figure faces
If there's one element of model making and painting I REALLY struggle with it's face painting. I can never get the results I wanted. This six minute guide [...]
The Best Thickness For Plywood Model Railway Baseboards
What thickness of plywood is best for a model railway baseboard. [...]
How many inches in height do I need for my incline
Confused about inclines and how many inches you need to raise your track to go over other track? Here's what you need to know. [...]
Black, grey or white: What colour to use for plastic model primer
There's a lot of debate about what colour to use as a primer and undercoating on models and miniatures but for me the answer is simple. [...]
Want the fonts to create model transport road signs? Get them here for free
The Internet is a wonderful place. I can spend all day on it. Especially when I come across sites like this that give away the fonts you can use to create [...]
Tips from an exhibition layout: Oak Road by Mike Buick
Mike Buick will be familiar to many modellers as the creator of the Oak Road layout. It's a beautiful layout exhibition with astonishingly lifelike modelling. [...]
How to make rock faces and cliffs
Creating realistic cliffs and rock formations in miniature is surprisingly difficult but with these techniques, some practice and a bit of time anyone can do [...]
Building a Metcalfe Church? Here’s how to add stained glass windows
Models of churches for layouts look great but typically miss one vital element. [...]
How a Blue Peter favourite can help with your layout construction
They've been around for years and are a mainstay of crafters but Velcro and double-sided sticky tape are a godsend for model railways too. [...]
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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Great Model Railway Challenge What I Learned
I was glued to my TV last night watching the first episode of Great Model Railway Challenge. Here's one great tip I picked up. [...]
A hot little tip for keeping your glue flowing
I use a lot of Revell Contacta glue. It's ideal for all manner of model making jobs. But there's a problem with them. [...]
Model Railway Fiddle Yard, what is it
What is a model railway fiddleyard? Find the answer here, the Internet’s biggest model railway glossary. [...]
How to outmanoeuvre the carpet monster
In the threads of my carpet lives a monster. [...]
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. [...]
