Search results

You've got something there Harold. I'd never given it much thought, but it would certainly make 19th century modeling easier if one went to OO. (My one hesitation is that I enjoy bashing the Mantua General, and it would be a bit small for OO.) I believe the old Mantua 4-6-0 (there's always a...

Many logging lines --- and most pre-1890 roads --- did not use tie plates. So, in representing such roads, hand-laid track in fact looks more prototypical than flex track. Also, even if you cut the webs between flex track ties and spread and angle them a bit, the ties are still too uniform in...

I was a member for years, both to show support for the NMRA's past work with standards, and to enable me to attend conventions. But I finally grew tired of the constant contribution solicitations, and the ever-increasing dues. I think the headquarters building was an economic mistake, and I...

It also helps to "etch" the metal a bit to give it "tooth" for the paint to stick to. Ordinary household vinegar works beautifully. Let the parts soak for a while and then wash them thoroughly in water and dry well before painting. Bill S

Right. I misspoke. I corrected my post. Thanks Bill S

If you model 1860-1880 (as I do) You will need to get heavily into kit bashing, if not outright scratch building. For locos and for cars. That may seem drastic if you are new to model railroading, but a lot of us find that to be the best part of this hobby. It wouldn't cost you a whole lot to...

My grandfather was an arctic explorer in the late 19th - early 20th centuries, and his field notes frequently described the aurora with a sort of awed reverence. And he often described them exactly as Glen says. Thanks, Chris, for sharing those pix. Bill S

This leans very far toward low tech, but the very best, most reliable turntable mechanism I ever saw wasn't really a mechanism at all. This guy had a large plywood disk mounted on the TT center shaft --- below the layout --- the edge of which slightly protruded into the isle. He turned the TT...

Don't know when you're going. The childbride and I are driving over to Phoenix this Saturday. Going to take in the air show at Luke Air Force Base, and then doing the Grand Canyon Railroad from Williams during the week. Whatever you do, have fun. Bill S

In HO you need not worry about whether a groove is "V" or not. The widest I think the groove would be in siding is 1/2 inch. A half inch in HO is 0.00574 inches. I doubt that anyone can tell whether a 0.006 inch groove is V or not unless they use a microscope! You can do as Robin says, and...

Just do it..... All of us once put together our first craftsman kit. And few of us were "experts" before we started. My only advice is to go at each step with care. and --- as mentioned above --- practice things like drilling and tapping, etc. before you tackle the expensive pieces. AND...

I highly recommend the book, "The Railroad Caboose" by William F Knapke, published by Golden West Books. First published in 1968, it has gone through many many printings, and is still in print. It isn't a "technical" book, but really relates the lore of the caboose, and has a lot of photos and...

Sincere best wishes of the season.... To all denizens of the Gauge. Bill S

I've seen (haven't tried it myself) molded resin retaining walls molded flat and then the molded piece is bent into a curve by demolding it before it is totally cured and just bending it to the desired shape. Worked slick. Of course the mold has to be made on the flat to start with..... Bill S

All the best, Jon. For his sake, be thankful that it was relatively quick. We're thinking of you and your family. Bill S

Jon..... Really sorry to hear about your father. I have a small suggestion. After my father died I wished that I had talked with him more about his youth. What it was like, what he did, the things he experienced. As my mother was then still alive, I did do it with her, and in fact got her...

The IHC locos run reasonably well, and are pretty good looking engines --- except for the tiny truck wheels and the pilot that's too far off the rails. They have a number of differently detailed versions (mostly variations in stacks, pilots, and paint) and that's handy. The Bachmann HO 4-4-0...

Gerd, Looks good. How are you keeping the rails in the proper position after the turnout is thrown? BillS

I have six of the Tichy ore cars still in boxes. Haven't gotten around to them yet, but in looking at the kits, I wonder how tough the trucks will be to assemble. Any comments or tips, Dash 10? BillS

I just posted a drill size chart --- including number, fractional and metric sizes --- in the Technical Q&A section (it's not exactly just an HO question)..... BillS