An artistic impression backscene is one option for providing a suitable backdrop for a layout or diorama. Some modellers will have a specific idea of the backdrop they require and may choose a photographic backscene. This is effectively a mosaic...

Tamiya X-19 Smoke is part of the Tamiya range of acrylic paints. As such it can be brush painted or can be airbrushed onto a wide variety of surfaces such as wood, styrofoam, resin and model plastics such as styrene. Smoke is intended to mimic...

There are a number of glue options that are available to a modeller when assembling a Metcalfe Card kit. Each glue has unique characteristics that will make them more suitable to certain projects but less useful for others. One important issue for...

If you're modelling the Southern region, the Underground, or any other railway that uses a conductor rail in OO gauge, the chances are you'll be wanting to add a third rail to your track, but how is it done?The good news is that the...

In real life, curved track sections often have cambers built into them to allow trains to traverse bends quicker without creating wear to rolling stock wheels or the outer rail.Whether or not you add such cambers to your model railway comes...

Based on the principle of a layout configured as a loop the smallest practical baseboard size for an OO/HO will be 31 inches by 31 inches (about 80cm x 80cm). This value is based on a track of 'First' radius (371 mm/ 14.6") which is the smallest...

HSS stands for High-speed steel. This is a particular blend of steel that is configured especially for drilling tools and saws. As such HSS tools have been designed to offer greater strength and durability and a higher temperature operating...

Dazzle Camouflage patterns were first introduced during the First World war in order to protect warships and merchant vessels from attack by U-Boats. Initially, ships had been painted various shades of grey to camouflage them against the sea but...

Satin and semi-gloss paints are similar but subtly different products. As a general rule of thumb Satin is less shiny than semi-gloss as it is generally mixed with a lower content of gloss formula than semi-gloss. As a result, semi-gloss will...

Wiring colour light signals to a DCC layout can be a little daunting when doing it for the first time. That's because LED lights are not compatible with the AC power supply used on DCC layouts, and an external power source is usually required to...

The internal gluing technique is a common practice employed by modellers to avoid glue being extruded from between parts as they're married together.The process is simpler than it sounds and involves modellers temporarily dry-clamping or...

We are used to expecting more from our DCC models, more electrics, more capability and usually more zeros added to the price tag. But power clips are the exception to the rule!Hornby power clips (used to connect power to tracks) come in two...