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...

How far couplings protrude from their host wagon, loco or coach is something only kit builders worried about before NEM couplings came along. So why do we now have short, medium or long arm choices?The truth is, the extent to which couplings...

A wide selection of hobby paint ranges can be used very effectively on metal figures.Both enamel and acrylic paints are effective on metal figures, as are paints with a specific metallic finish. When painting metal figures it is good practice to...

There are a variety of figures that modellers can choose to populate their layouts. One of the key things to bear in mind when attaching figures is what is the size of the surface area of the figure to be attached. An adult figure in a standing...

Most toggle or lever switches used on a model railway feature just two positions. A type called an SPDT switch (on/on switch) is ideal for operating a two-aspect colour light signal as the two positions of the switch can be used to select between...

Creating road markings on a model roadway may seem like an easy painting task, but no matter how steady your hand is, it's not easy achieving the crispness required to successfully recreate this common highway feature.If you are one of 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...

There's no shortage of manufacturers producing models and components for DCC layouts these days, and that's a good thing, but it does mean lots of terminology, and that's a bad thing.One area that causes significant confusion is when trying...

The term 'Pin Wash' is a shortening of pinpoint wash. Pin washes are generally applied to very specific parts of a model to enhance individual surface details such as recessed panel lines, access plates or hatches and doorways. In this regard, it...

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...