The correct height and other dimensions for HO gauge couplings are covered by NEM document 360 which states that couplings should be positioned at a height of 8.5mm above rail height. OO gauge couplings appear to follow suit with most...

Masking fluid works the same way as masking tape, only it comes in liquid form and is brushed on.Once painted on and allowed to set, masking fluid will keep an area paint-free while painting the rest of a model. Masking fluid can be...

If you are planning to install a decoder into a DCC ready locomotive, it will need to be the correct one. There are many different factors to consider when ascertaining which decoder is the absolute best one for your model, including, the number...

Rust prevention is pretty much at the top of the list when it comes down to criteria for military primers. Because of this, a primer containing red oxide is generally their primer of choice.Red oxide is used in high-performance primers to...

Hydrocal can be easily painted using acrylic paints.Hydrocal is a plaster-like substance many modellers use for moulding scenic items such as bricks, stones and rocks. It is a lot lighter than plaster of Paris and does not crack.Once set,...

Regardless of whether your locomotive uses analogue or DCC to operate, the principles of its motor will be the same, and both can come with either a 3-pole or a 5-pole motor. But what's the difference?Ignoring any posh or sophisticated...

In real life, the distance between parallel track centres differs depending on factors such as when the track was laid, where the track was laid, line speed and the surrounding infrastructure. Most standard UK railway lines have a distance of...

AFV stands for Armoured Fighting Vehicle. These versatile military machines come in many shapes, sizes and forms but generally are manoeuvrable, have armour plating and often have some sort of weaponry incorporated into their design.Armoured...

The Metcalfe Castle System (as it has become known) is a range of individual cardboard kits that combine to create a castle, its walls, a gatehouse and watchtowers.The kits are produced in both N gauge and OO gauge and allow modellers to add...

A flywheel is a heavy metal disc-shaped weight that is used to aid the momentum of a motor.Flywheels are added to some model railway locomotives for exactly that reason and are typically located on the driveshaft just after it leaves the...

The very first time you have to fit a decoder to a DCC ready locomotive can be a little daunting. But worry not, because providing your decoder is compatible, i.e. features the correct number of pins for your loco, decoders are designed to simply...

Decoders are definitely not all the same, they have different numbers of pins, can control different functions, come in different shapes and sizes, and often, have different amp ratings. But how important is the latter?Well, it is both very...