We also have a Discussion Board dedicated to railroad modeling. If you have questions you can post them, or you can post your latest and greatest tips for everyone else.

Backdrops

Backdrop Know-how - Complete information & tips for creating your own model railroad backdrops.

Backdrops

Tips for Painting Clouds - A great step-by-step how-to for painting clouds on your backdrops.

Backdrops

Creating Photo-realistic backdrops with --what else? -- photos - Doug Tagsold wrote a very comprehensive article for Hotbox on using real photographs for your layout backdrop. He explains every step in great detail.

Casting

Construction Techniques - Casting masonry walls in plaster. By Kevin E, Musser for Hotbox.

Chain-Link Fence

How to Create a Chain-Link Fence - An easy way to create a barrier around your industrial parks or anything else you want to keep your nosy scale people & animals away from.

Decaling Primer

Foothill Model Works has provided this Primer specifically for using their decals. However, these instructions are an excellent guide to using any manufacturer's decals.

Decals

Tips for using a personal computer and printer for making decals plus techniques for applying thin-film decals.

Kitbashing

Structure Building - A Classic Kitbashing with DPM Wall Sections. By John Alaniva for Hotbox.

Layout Design Primer

'The Layout Design Primer is a document intended to assist the beginning to intermediate railroad modeler become familiar with basic and advanced layout design concepts and practices.'

Mockups

Mockups - The ultimate planning tool. By Kevin E. Musser for Hotbox.

Modeling with Junk-Mail

Junk-Mail Modeling--What a Concept! - A guide to using that unwanted junk-mail for detailing your model layouts. By Jim Zinser for Hotbox.

Painting & Weathering

Painting & weathering techniques - Creating mud splatters, using pastels & permanent fixing of pastel weathering, rejuvenating old decals.

Photography

Basic Model Railroad Photography by Model Railroader - Everything you ever wanted to know about photographing your own layout explained by the pros.

Polyurethane

Working With Polyurethane - Foothill Model Works has lots of helpful tips to aid in working with polyurethane.

Polyurethane

Painting Polyurethane - Great tips from Foothill Model Works on painting polyurethane structures and giving them that 'weathered' look.

Processing Lichen*

Here's a great tip that shows you how to process your own lichen step by step, and at the same time help save you money. The lager your layout, the more you will save!.

Scenery

da trains! building model scenery - Tips and techniques for everything from benchwork to scenery.

Scenery

A few excellent scenery tips from TTTrains

Scenery

Ivy Effect - A quick and easy hint for giving your structures an ivy effect.

Scenery Tips

'Thinking Vertically' - How to keep the eye from zipping in and zipping out of a scene on your model railroad by D. Lewis, special article for Hotbox.

Structures

A few tips from TTTrains to make your buildings look more realistic.

Testor Searchable Database

Testor Tips & Techniques Searchable Database - Still haven't found that tip or technique you are really looking for? Try the Testor Searchable Database.

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Conversion Chart

Degrees of Curvature to Scale Radii - for calculating prototypical curves on model railroad layouts. N to #1 scales.

Railroad Grading Charts

Information on grade calculations and charts for calculating grades on model railroad layouts. Hosted by da trains!

DCC Decoders

Problems encountered with DCC Systems - An excellent source of information for programming DCC Decoders by Stan Ames

Digital Control

Märklin DIGITAL and HyperCard - Controlling Märklin Z with a personal computer. Has many schematics and diagrams.

Scale Rail Sizes

Rail Sizes on da trains! - A comprehensive listing of prototype and model railroad rail sizes.

Track

A few tips from TTTrains for laying track and making it look more prototypical.

Track Cleaning

An Easy-to-Make Track-Cleaning Tool. By Ken Chick for Hotbox.

N Scale Bend Track

Bend Track's own site with tips and techniques for using their N Scale track for your modules. Includes information on trackwork, benchwork, scenery & electrical.

Wiring

Run wire under the layout the easy way - This page shows you a inexpensive, easy & effective way to run your layout wiring. By Norm Ion for Hotbox

Wiring

Atlas Wiring Glossary - Explanations of various wiring terms.