Best practices

So we know how many coaches our trains should ideally have, we even know what quantity of passengers to place on our platforms to make them look right, but how many cows should we put in our fields?That question may not be one that keeps you...

To better answer this question it is probably best to establish a working scale for any comparison. The reason for this is that the term OO Gauge is generally referred to in the world of model railways and is not widely used by collectors of model...

The closest scale model aircraft to N gauge would be those modelled in 1:144 scale. That said, there are a few caveats to bear in mind. N gauge means different things in different places. In the UK, N gauge equates to 1:148 scale, in Japan it...

Deciding where to place signals on a model railway layout can be extremely confusing as there are many rules to adhere to. Because of this, the mere layman has little or no chance of getting it right the first time, and in the absence of a...

Making model roads is easy thanks to the range of products available that can be used to fashion a suitable road surface as well as ready-to-go road rolls for a quicker approach. However, making a road that appears 'well used' is a little more...

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...

One significant issue for modellers assembling model aircraft with a tricycle undercarriage is that left to its own devices the model will probably be a tail sitter. This requires the modeller to introduce additional nose weight in order to...

A spray booth is a very useful tool for any regular airbrush user. An airbrush will use air pressure to atomise paint into small droplets which are then sprayed onto the subject model. Not all of this spray will go on the subject model and any...

Inevitably in most modelling projects, there is a requirement for the clean-up of parts prior to assembly. This may be as a result of imperfections left over from the moulding process, or simply as a result of unwanted plastic burrs when parts are...

Wooden parts supplied with some kits can be quite thick and can offer significant resistance when a standard hobby knife is used to cut them. Additionally, modellers may have to contend with the inherent grain of the wood which can also make...

Realistic snow can be a fantastic backdrop for a layout or diorama and it can be achieved fairly easily and cheaply. Some manufacturers have created specific snow effects specifically designed to use on layouts such as 'Scenic Shovelled Snow' by...

Unfortunately, one of the unwanted side effects of modelling is that sometimes our creations can serve as very effective dust and debris traps, or a ready-made metropolis for household spiders. In short, they are very effective at collecting dirt...