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Track Nails: I read the post about using needle nose pliers to hold the nails while driving them in to hold the track in place. I use a nail set to push the nails in. I found that driving the nail in ( even with a small hammer ) would set the nail too deep and am very happy using the nail set ( purchased at a local hardware store for about $3.00 ) to push the nails through the cork and into 3/4 inch plywood.-Charles Chapman.
Coal Loads: To put coal in my HO scale hoppers, I went to a nearby playground that used pulverized tar bits. I grabbed a bagfull and picked out the smaller ones for the top, and the larger pieces for the bottom. I laid a thick layer of white glue on the car, then sprinkled the tar 'coal'. When that dried, I poured glue on top of that and put on another layer, and so forth until I got to the top of the car. Beware this is not a coal load for a child's train set, as it is really not terribly strong of a bond (Just strong enough the car can tip over and be tipped upside down). -Stephen
Flatcar Loads: To make a suitable flatcar load for your MOW (maintainence of way) train, buy the cheapest, rustiest (Rusty is good) straight track you can find at the hobby shop or swap meet. Rip the rails off the ties, and glue them onto the deck of the car. Don't forget about tie downs or blockings. -Stephen
Kadee Height: When putting your own Kadee draft gear pocket on the Proto 2000 Northeastern (My example that I worked on) caboose, if you install the centering spring above the coupler, the coupler will ride too low. Therefore, you should put the centering spring UNDER the coupler to achieve a little more height. This is why one should ALWAYS test fit the coupler's height before gluing or screwing the pocket together or to the frame! -Stephen
Painting old American Flyer or Lionel locomotives: For years I struggled to find just the right paint to use when repainting Lionel & Flyer steam engines. It is a matte black, not gloss, and not flat. I finally found it, and it comes in a spray can that does a fine job, no need for an airbrush. The paint is "High Temperature Barbecue and Stove Paint" by Rustoleum. The Barbecue & stove paint from Krylon also does a good looking job.
Don't use it on plastic though... I have a couple of tenders that look like they were made out of leather because of the way the paint reacts, even with that tough Lionel tender plastic. -Geoff Worstell
Operation: The bottom line for most model railroads is "Operation". Some people prefer having their trains just running in circles and yet others attempt to do what the prototype railroads do. Operation concerns itself with bringing freight cars or passenger cars from one place to another. I enjoy freight operations and bring cars online to a required industry as selected by a "Computer Car Forwarding System", (CCFS) manufactured by Interloc Software. With the aid of the computer, cars are selected and assigned to be brought empty or loaded to the numerous industries that I have. This system does not employ cards or the like and a form 19 is printed out on your printer. This is perhaps the closest aspect to prototype railroading there is for modelers. How does this all work? A car is brought to the interchange track where a passing north or south bound train picks up the car or cars. The train is required to deposit the car or cars on a siding where a switcher engine picks it up and deposits the car at -Marty
Lubricating Small Area(s): When lubricating a small area(s) with either "Liquid Graphite", "Machine Oil" or any other lubricating material, I use a SYRINGE. Purchase what size you are comfortable with at various stores.
Sanding Area(s): I have had wonderful success with cutting down "Popsicle Sticks" to what size needed and Glue the various Grits of Sandpaper onto that piece. Glue both sides of stick. Easy to remove and replace sandpaper. Excellent control of sanding stick. -Marty
Masking: When you need to paint two colors on the same model, first paint the 1st color, wait to dry at least 24 hours, then use any masking tape to make your line. Now, spray the area that is to be painted the new color AT THE EDGE OF THE TAPE with dullcoat, sealing the tape. let dry for 30 min. or so and then paint the second color. What a great paint line this leaves. No bleeding, just a great line.-Lester Larrew
Figures: An easy way to hold figures when painting is to fit it with 'Pritt Buddies' (from Pritt) on a photo film plastic box!-Sainte Eric
Painting: To paint the front edges of locomotive steps white use the tip of a round toothpick dipped in the paint in the lid after shaking.-Henry Stowell
Painting: When airbrushing HO, with a little hand molding, the soft cardboard rolls that toilet paper comes on fits into the cars and locomotive bodies and provides a way of holding these objects. I used the cap from a spray can fastened to the center of an inexpensive lazy susan to allow me to turn the bodies without having to touch them while the paint was wet. -Palmer Schatell
Power Lines: When running wires down a light pole, it is sometimes easier to drape them down and into a nearby structure. The structure hides the wires and the connection looks authentic. -Jack Hanks
Loads: I discovered that an old rusting metal shielf could supply many tons of scrap iron for gondola loads. These flakes of rust could comply with various scales. Just fill the gondola with the flakes or add a false bottom and fill the remainer of the car with the rust flakes and apply white glue. Set the car aside until the glue dries. Presto, you'll have real honest to goodness a steel scrap metal load. -Marty
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