Tracks

Ballast inlays are sponge strips designed for placement under model railway track to cushion it whilst replicating ballast.Inlay for straight and curved track sections is typically supplied on a roll but specific sections are required for...

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...

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...

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...

Powerbase plates sound as though they're going to be very high-tech with lots of microchips, wires and a complex installation procedure, but actually, they're just some metal plates that you place beneath your tracks!That doesn't make them any...

Inevitably there will be times when a modeller will need to cut sections of a track when creating a layout. For those creating larger or more complex layouts, this may well become a more regular occurrence! So bearing this in mind what are the...

Dirty track can result in locomotives failing to run properly on a layout. If dirt or grime is present on the track then this can be transferred onto the wheels of a locomotive which will then potentially impair the electrical contact between the...

There are a variety of tools that will allow a modeller to cut track sections cleanly and accurately. Track cutters are a ready-made solution to this problem. Appearing at first glance to be a pair of ordinary 'snips' track cutters are...

Oil spills and evidence of oil leaks are a common feature of many railway tracks around engine depots and at the end of station platforms where locomotives have been stood idling, but how is it modelled?Choosing a paint to represent oil spills...

Tracksettas are curved metal gauges that slot between the rails of flexible track to help modellers create smooth curves and bends during laying. They come in various radii so can be used to create a range of curves with varying severity, but...

There are four different options for track curve radius for N gauge and the largest is referred to as 'fourth' radius and has an internal radius of 333.4 mm or a little over 13 inches. If larger radius options are required then there is the...

Many modellers like to weather various aspects of their layouts in order to create realistic weather or age-related effects. There are a number of different ways to do this including washes, pigments or specific painted-on effects. These can be...