There are a few reasons why your analogue controller could be cutting out, but the most probable cause is a short circuit.Many controllers have a built-in safety feature where, if a short circuit is detected, it will automatically cut out. Some...

We are often advised to dry-brush models to achieve particular effects, but what is dry brushing, and when would you use this technique?Dry brushing is the process of putting just enough paint on your brush to leave a trace of it on your...

A composite coach is a railway carriage with accommodation for more than one class of passengers.In the early days of pre-nationalisation, this typically meant that a single carriage would have had first and third class accommodation. In later...

With so many functions on a modern or advanced multimeter, and so many reasons why you may want to use one, it would be impossible to answer the question 'How do I use a multimeter?' comprehensively. However, most modellers will only want to check...

When modellers talk about quartering, they are referring to the side-rods on their locomotives being set to the correct position in relation to each other.Contrary to belief, the side-rods on either side of a locomotive do not rotate level...

A wash is a thinned down coat of paint used by modellers to add details such as weathering, dust, grime, oil, rust or mud to the models and scenery on their layouts or dioramas.A wash is a coat of paint so thin, that when applied to a model,...

Interlocking is used in railway signalling to ensure that potentially dangerous combinations of points and/or signals cannot be selected.Interlocking works by either a physical mechanism or an electronic application preventing a signaller from...

When new to the world of model railways, it's likely you will read many articles explaining the best way to go about those crucial first steps, and you may well be advised to make a general-purpose locomotive one of your first rolling stock...

Dreaming up track plans for a layout is somewhat an art in itself. A common mistake is to sketch a layout on a scrap piece of paper that realistically, has no chance of fitting into the space available (we're all guilty of that at one time or...

Many model kits, whether they be of buildings, coaches, aeroplanes or any other type of vehicle, will likely have glazing to attach at some point during the build. Your choice of glue when installing the glazing is an important one because many...

S.N.E.R. stands for the Scottish North Eastern Railway, it was the result of a merger between the Aberdeen Railway and the Scottish Midland Junction Railway in 1856.The Aberdeen railway (opened 1847-1850) ran between Aberdeen, Forfar and Arbroath...

A pinion gear (often called a pinion cog) is a small metal cog that can be found fitted to the shaft of a model's motor.Not all model railway locomotives have a pinion cog with many featuring a long worm screw instead, but whichever is used, their...