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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Tom’s Corner
Tips, techniques and commentary from Master Model Railroader Tom Piccirillo
Model railroad track comes in a large assortment of lengths and curve radii. Even so, most track layouts still need some custom-sized pieces to fit together without kinks, and sections of flexible track need to have rails trimmed to length. Cutting track to size is usually required, and modelers find it difficult to cut the metal rail . . . unless they have the right tools, like the Xuron® 2175B and 2175M Track Cutters.
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Our last post on glues, cements, and solvents for plastic model building promised a part two – tips to help you know which adhesive is best for your particular project, as well as useful tools for precision placement of your adhesive.
First, let’s talk about the pros and cons of each adhesive …
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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.
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.
