Like many painting tools, airbrushes will periodically need a deep clean in order to remove persistent and ingrained paint deposits. Purpose-made brush cleaners can be very useful for this but can be expensive and don't necessarily always have the...

Inevitably there is a need to provide lubrication to the wheels of locomotives and rolling stock as they operate on a train set. Oil-based lubricants have many advantages as they are thin and as such can offer an ideal lubrication solution. The...

There are a number of ways to create a suitable surface for a diorama. Where a large surface area is to be created it is useful to use domestic substances that are cheap are readily available. Paper mache has traditionally been used in the...

A number of modellers will work with white metal components as either part of their model or as additional aftermarket parts to be added to a model for added realism. Inevitably white metal parts are likely to be on exposed surfaces which means...

There are several ways to overcome the problem of lights shining through narrow gaps around the base of a model building. In this case, it is good practice to test buildings for light leakage before securing them in place. One option for the...

There are several types of glues that can be removed for repair purposes, including: Solvent-based glues such as cyanoacrylate (CA) glue can be dissolved with a solvent such as acetone or naphtha. These solvents can be applied to the glue with a...

One of the most spectacular backdrops to any layout is a rocky gorge or another similar mountainous environment. The sight of a train making its way through a rocky landscape can be a real eye-catcher. The problem then becomes how can we create...

In simplest terms, gauge is the description of the perpendicular distance between the top of the rails, whereas scale is a direct ratio between the sizes of the original object and the modelled version. Most model railways will generally refer...

Ballasting points can be a fearsome prospect for some modellers as the consequences of getting it wrong can be a stuck point that might have to be removed. The means by which a modeller will choose to ballast their layout is a matter of individual...

Wiring is sometimes a subject of wide debate amongst modellers. Each layout is unique with a wide range of aspects each having an effect including size, complexity and the range of items to be electrified including lights, points and signals. This...

One of the most enjoyable elements of creating a layout is to scratch-build significant scene elements, whether that be buildings or other fixed structures such as bridges. Many manufacturers will create such elements in kit form and these can be...

The use of glue and putty is an inevitable part of modelmaking but they don't necessarily always behave as we would like and sometimes they can stray into unwanted places. Likewise, inevitably we sometimes use too much of these materials during...