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You are here: Home / Archives for Consumer Products / Model Railroading

How To Add Details To A Model Railroad Or Diorama

March 28, 2018 by Tom Piccirillo 5 Comments

Xuron® Model 450BN Bent Nose Pliers hold and place detail pieces

Tom’s Corner

Tips, techniques and commentary from Master Model Railroader Tom Piccirillo

Some people say, “It’s all in the details.” This is certainly true for award-winning scale models. Models are submitted for judging at contests, and much of the “score” needed to win an award is derived by the clean installation and proper placement of details.
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Filed Under: Model Railroading, Scale Modeling Tagged With: Details, Diorama, Hand Tools, Model Hobby Tools, Model Railroading, Pliers, Xuron Tools

Restore Model Railroad Equipment Using Precision Tools

June 4, 2017 by Tom Piccirillo Leave a Comment

Xuron® Model 485 Long Nose Plier was used to restore a vintage model railroad car

Tom’s Corner

Tips, techniques and commentary from Master Model Railroader Tom Piccirillo

One of my favorite hobby activities is rebuilding old model railroad equipment that I have acquired over the years from friends, estate sales, and flea markets. I think it’s really cool to transform what appears to be a pile of junk into a high quality model. So, the time came to restore a beat-up O scale brass model of a Pennsylvania P54 coach that’s been in storage for about 35 years.

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Filed Under: Model Railroading Tagged With: Hand Tools, Model Railroading, O Scale, Pliers, rebuild, restore, solder, xuron, Xuron Tools

Building A Model Trolley Pantograph

January 28, 2017 by Tom Piccirillo 2 Comments

Tom Piccirillo's scratch built rmodel railroad pantograph

Tom’s Corner

Tips, techniques and commentary from Master Model Railroader Tom Piccirillo

Back in the 1960’s, when I was a teenager, I used to ride my bike several miles to view the annual model railroad show at the Central Jersey Model Railroad Club in Westfield, NJ. Although I liked watching the huge O scale steam and diesel locomotives hauling their heavy trains down the main line, I found myself highly fascinated by the operation of the model trolley cars that plied their way from one town to another on the layout . . . over, under, and around the main line tracks. I was hooked. Modeling O scale traction was to become my life-long passion. Collecting electric current from the wire suspended over the tracks in order to power the cars was the ultimate in realism, and I had to prove this could work in reliable fashion, even in model form.

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Filed Under: Model Railroading Tagged With: Hand Tools, Micro Forming Pliers, Model Hobby Tools, Model Railroading, model trolley, Pliers, Xuron Tools

Putting The Finishing Touches on Ol’ Number 36

September 19, 2016 by Tom Piccirillo 3 Comments

Xuron® Model 450 TweezerNose Plier being used to put the finishing touches on the Someset County Ol' Number 36

Tom’s Corner: Tips, techniques and commentary from Master Model Railroader Tom Piccirillo

Somerset County Traction System’s huge interurban combine had been in the shop for two months. “Ol’ number 36” (as she is affectionately called by the shop crews) was being rebuilt from the rail up. She got new trucks, new motors, new underbody equipment, new seats, new lights and a new paint job in brilliant Traction Orange. Finishing touches involved installing the handrails . . . now that the paintwork and lettering were complete.

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Filed Under: Model Railroading Tagged With: Hand Tools, Model Hobby Tools, Model Railroading, Pliers, Xuron Tools

Light ’em Up!

June 1, 2016 by Gerald Voigt 1 Comment

My workshop lighting takes many forms.

Imagine drawing on the wall of a cave or trying to paint the ceiling of a 16th Century Chapel using nothing but a couple of candles to illuminate what you’re working on. Today’s hobbyist, craftsmen and artists don’t have to rely on the light emitted by a few candles. We can have ample lighting to see what we are doing with just the flip of a switch. This is accomplished through the use of overhead lights, task lights, and key lights. As an added bonus, in the 21st century we have access to full spectrum lighting and magnification lamps!
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Filed Under: Beading, Model Railroading, Scale Modeling

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Founded in 1971, Xuron Corp. is one of the world's leading manufacturers of ergonomic, electronics-grade hand tools for the electronics, aerospace, plastic molding, wire processing, hobby, craft, jewelry, and fishing industries.

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