Valid to UK only - excludes oversized items
The Class 73 locomotive is fascinating. These electro-diesel engines, first introduced by British Rail in the 1960s,...
A sector plate is a specialised type of turntable commonly used in railway modelling, to allow trains or rolling...
A syringe can be an incredibly useful and versatile tool that goes beyond its traditional medical use. One of its...
The Black 5 locomotive, officially known as the LMS Class 5MT, is one of the most iconic steam engines in British...
Ballast is an essential component in railway construction, serving several crucial functions in maintaining the...
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As the DCC standard is still evolving, there are several different sizes and formats for DCC decoders.To give you an idea of the difference in pin numbers and their capabilities/functionality take a look at the list below of common DCC...
"Analogue compatible" means the decoder is able to run on a traditional analogue layout that is not DCC. This is useful if you have two layouts, one being DCC and one being analogue: the same engine can be used with no modification on both...
The blanking plate is a small circuit board that manufacturers add to the DCC socket to protect the socket that your DCC chip will go in. The blanking plate will need to be removed before the DCC chip can be inserted to allow you to run on a DCC...
DCC ready means that the loco is designed to be fitted with a DCC chip. At the factory a small piece of circuitry is added to the loco with a socket that enables you to insert a DCC decoder to convert the engine from analogue to DCC. It is quite...
In theory, it should be easy as the whole idea of being DCC Ready is to simplify the process. The first time I did this, it took me less than five minutes however it will depend on where the socket for the DCC decoder has been placed. Sometimes...
You do not always have a model railway controller on you. And even if you do, sometimes you do not have any power socket to use it. This means you may not be able to test an engine before buying it. The easiest solution is to get a 9 volt battery...
Yes, an N Gauge controller is compatible with OO gauge trains. You may have to change the power clip to the track but otherwise there is no difference, both scales run on 12 volts, so the output is just the same. The reverse is also true: you...
Electricity is inherently dangerous and should always be treated with respect. But with model railways the voltage is so low and there is no risk of electric shock at all. You can touch the track and you will not feel anything (and will not hurt...
Weathering powders are very much the same as powdered paint pigment. The only real difference is that weathering powders are produced to create a specific effect such as rust, mud, grime and are a realistic match for the real thing. If you are...
Weathering is a painting technique used by modellers to create the appearance of dirt and grime and even damage to make the model "whatever it may be" look aged and used. For example: If you have just built and painted a model of a military Jeep,...
There are various techniques for adding these fine lines to your model. I always give my model a coat of gloss varnish before adding the wash. One method is the pin wash: take a pin, dip it into your wash and run the pin down the panel line....
You need to ensure that the model has had sufficient time for the paint to dry, but otherwise there should not be a problem. Modelling masking tape is designed to respect the model. Most modellers masking tape has low tack which means that they...