Creating rust streaks on well-used wagons and scrapped vehicles is a great way to add realism to your model railway layout, but how is it done?Creating rust streaks is no different than many other aspects of modelling in the respect that you...

Initially produced in the 1930s, shock-absorbing wagons were specifically introduced for the carriage of fragile cargoes such as glassware. Springs connected the wagon body to the chassis. In addition to the buffers, these springs provided a...

Moss is evident in much of the natural world as well as many darker or damp locations within the built environment, but how is it modelled?There are a couple of methods used to model moss. Which you use depends on how much texture you require...

Peco's code 60 rails are used in the production of Z gauge model railway track, but they're also used to model the 'third rail' of tracks in OO gauge.In England, the electrified 'third rail' system of powering trains is used extensively on the...

A briar patch is a thicket formed from thorny plants and can often be found growing in abandoned or derelict sites as well as by the side of railway lines in more rural areas.Because it's such a common feature, briar patches are often modelled...

The word 'digital' when used in model railways usually refers to a model or product being specifically manufactured to work with DCC.DCC stands for Digital Command Control and is a method whereby trains and accessories are controlled via...

The term CCT van stands for 'Covered Carriage Truck'. These Railway vans were designed specifically to carry motor vehicles. First built in the 1950s these vans were subsequently banned by Motorail in the mid-1960s. Clearances for carrying motor...

Hornby's curved platform sections feature on many home layouts, and although there are arguably more realistic looking platforms available, they do serve a valuable purpose on a lot of layouts that are more focused on the fun aspect. But as they...

Adding real smoke to your model locomotive can significantly enhance its appearance, but is it easy to do?Well, that depends on the amount of space you have to play with inside your bodyshell! When fitting anything inside a model locomotive, space...

To model a freight train prototypically, one must first know how long the prototype is, but that information is difficult to come by as there is no set length.That statement may not be helpful for modellers looking for a definitive answer, but...

The toothpaste technique is very similar to the hairspray chipping technique and achieves roughly the same effects.The principle is to apply a basecoat that will eventually be seen through the finished topcoat to replicate damage or wear. The...

Brake vans (originally called break vans) were first employed on early industrial tramways and cableways to provide braking should coupling fail. They were needed because early wagons didn't have brakes of their own. These types of wagons are...