4 Classic Model Railroad Tips
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- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
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Enhancing the quality of your model railroad layout doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, there are various common household items that can transform the overall look of your design. NMRA Master Model Railroader Gerry Leone shares four of his favorite model railroad tips that require few resources but ultimately produce significant upgrades to your layout.
Four Classic Model Railroad Tips:
The first tip Gerry introduces is a simple method for creating frosted glass using transparent tape. This method can be used to effectively block view of the interior of passenger cars or structures that lack detail. Gerry compares a normal window next to one with the frosted method to show what a difference it creates. The best part of this tip is it only takes about five seconds to complete.
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Gerry reveals two more tips which both involve filling joints in model structures. As common as it is for model structures to have a few dings or even warped walls, it’ll be convenient to understand a couple ways to fix this issue. The first way is with a solution you can create yourself using plastic cement and some pieces of styrene. You can eliminate the waste of styrene by using leftover pieces from other projects. You’ll wind up with a liquid solution that you can paint onto structures for a perfectly flawless joint. Another way of filling these gaps is by using ordinary baking soda. Gerry explains that this method works best when used on the inside corners of joints. You’ll wind up with a joint that is hard as rock and your structure will be extremely strong.
The last tip Gerry explains is an impressive way of creating loads for model railroad cars. He shows how old blister packs and facial tissue can make for a perfect addition to the top of a flat car model. This type of packaging is fairly easy to come by, especially in hardware stores. It comes in all shapes and sizes allowing for versatility. Gerry demonstrates some loads he creates resembling transformers and missiles neatly covered with a tarp and strapped down with some EZ line. He also explains a weathering technique to use to resemble classic tarp wrinkles you’d see on the load of a flat car.
Very good tips. I've got one flatcar that I put 3 hydrocal castings and they were already covered; all I had to do was paint them with some olive green paint to represent the tarps that covered the load. I used black thread to secure to the flatcar deck. Another thing you can use is very thin strips of electrical tape. I already knew about the CA & baking soda. Now I'll have to give the styrene putty trick a go. I guess one could use the left over sprues to make the liquid styrene. I have a Lionel Texas Special that has the cutout for the reversing lever but it only goes forward. I used the baking soda and CA to fill the gap and then sanded and painted the repair. Came out looking great! Cheers from eastern TN
Very clever tips. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing,
Definitely going to try them 😁
Great tips, thank you. What an interesting channel - glad I found it.
Great Tips! Thank You for Sharing
Thanks for watching!
I've another really good one- save your sprues. Cut them up, paint them, and you have some sort of scrap metal for your gondolas.
And it can be used to make some interesting piping on structures or in other scenes too!
Fantastic video and tips - thank you.
Top Tips! 👌
Thank you.
Hey Gerry, frosted widows, waxed paper is a heck of a lot more economical, more windows to the roll!
Thank you, really appreciate the insight.
My pleasure!
I love the idea with the blister packs... been i and out of the hobby for 25 years and thats a new one for me
Quite informative, thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks very much, great ideas....
Is that Soo Line Bicentennial loco on the wall behind your left shoulder? Great video, thanks.
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Great ideas.
Great ideas. Cheers :)
good idea
Many many thanks
Good tips!
Liked and subscribed!
Great info
Really Great ideas and handy tips with the baking soda.. About the blister packs used as "freight" though.. What if one is modelling in N scale? Tiny blister packs I suppose?
Sure. Look around as you’re shopping at hardware, grocery, or home improvement stores. There are ideas everywhere! We are planning a car load episode or Track Talk Live soon. Check it out!
Nice video and cool ideas..
Would you know a way to straighten warped walls? I have some Magnuson Buildings where the walls have warped and very hard to get them straight. If the kit is un-built putting weights on them works, but does take a long time, however on buildings already assembled, I have not found a good way to fix them. Any ideas are surely welcome. Thanks.
Philip
Well, I’ve tried that very same thing without a lot of luck. Maybe try soaking the walls in hot water?
@@ModelRailroadAcademy That is worth a try...
@@ModelRailroadAcademy I have had luck with loose (unbuilt) wall sections with weights and even using a weights and a hair dryer if they are severely warped...However, once they are built into a completed building, well I am at a loss. Thanks....
Philip
NMRA, The model railroad snob club
Colored Paint!? Must be tips from Captain Obvious....