model railroading Archives

Testors Dullcote alternative

Dave Farquhar Model Building, model railroading December 18, 2020March 3, 2021

Testors Dullcote is a very useful clearcoat for a variety of hobbies, including building plastic models and model railroading. However, Dullcote is in short supply in 2020 because of the COVID pandemic. So here’s my favorite Testors Dullcote alternative. It’s reasonably cost effective and DIY.

You can make a Testors Dullcote alternative from Pledge Floor Gloss and Tamiya Flat Base. Best of all, you can mix it to exactly the sheen you want.

Dave Farquhar

David Farquhar is a computer security professional, entrepreneur, and author. He started his career as a part-time computer technician in 1994, worked his way up to system administrator by 1997, and has specialized in vulnerability management since 2013. He invests in real estate on the side and his hobbies include O gauge trains, baseball cards, and retro computers and video games. A University of Missouri graduate, he holds CISSP and Security+ certifications. He lives in St. Louis with his family.

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Q scale model railroading

Dave Farquhar model railroading November 19, 2020November 15, 2020

Eventually, whenever the discussion of proper O scale railroading comes up, someone mentions Q scale. What was Q scale model railroading, and why didn’t it catch on?

Q scale was the North American equivalent of European O scale, which sized models at 1:45 scale, or 17/64 of an inch to the foot.

Dave Farquhar

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What is the difference between 1/64 and 1/87 visually?

Dave Farquhar model railroading June 19, 2020March 28, 2021

One of the most common questions I get is regarding the difference between 1:64 and 1:87 scales. Someone asked me to show the difference visually. That’s easy enough to do.

Dave Farquhar

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How to disassemble a Sharpie

Dave Farquhar model railroading April 28, 2020September 13, 2023

My wife and sons asked me how to disassemble a Sharpie. They were working on a craft project and wanted to recover the ink from some dried-out markers. It wasn’t immediately obvious how to do it, but with the right tools, it’s not difficult. Here’s how to take apart a Sharpie and recover the ink for use in crafts or hobbies.

Dave Farquhar

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How to dust your model railroad

Dave Farquhar model railroading, Toy trains April 10, 2020April 2, 2020

Depending on the look you’re after, dust can detract from your model railroad layout’s appearance. Dust especially shows up in photographs. Here’s how to dust your model railroad quickly and easily.

Dave Farquhar

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Soldering for model railroaders

Dave Farquhar model railroading March 27, 2020April 12, 2022

I saw some questions come up on a model railroading forum about soldering, and I guess there’s a lot of confusing information out there about it. I’ve been soldering for 30 years, so hopefully I can clear up the common questions about soldering for model railroaders.

The main reason you find conflicting information about soldering is the application. If you’re soldering wires to the track, the advice for soldering sheet metal together to scratchbuild cars will be very different.

Dave Farquhar

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How much weight can a train table support?

Dave Farquhar model railroading, Toy trains February 14, 2020June 13, 2022

Truth be told, most of our train tables are probably overbuilt. The size and strength of them isn’t the only consideration, and overbuilding them probably does make construction a little easier. But we also don’t need to go crazy with our materials. Here’s how much weight a train table can support.

Dave Farquhar

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Code 100 vs Code 83

Dave Farquhar model railroading February 7, 2020October 22, 2022

Model railroading track is measured in numeric values, called a code, that indicate rail height in thousandths of an inch. In HO scale, Code 100 track is the most common. But Code 83 is more realistic, making it popular among those who crave realism. Let’s look at Code 100 vs Code 83.

Largely the difference comes down to cost vs realism. Code 100 is more widely available and cheaper, so you pay a price for Code 83’s better realism, or you might decide the difference isn’t noticeable enough to you.

Dave Farquhar

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Liberty Falls Collection

Dave Farquhar model railroading January 3, 2020September 16, 2023

The Liberty Falls Collection was a collectible holiday village popular in the 1990s. The product was produced in China and sold in the United States in large department stores. It was on the market from 1991 to 2008.

The Liberty Falls Collection is a bit obscure today, but it isn’t especially rare. Purchasers frequently packed the items away in the original boxes every year, so when they turn up, they often turn up in like-new condition.

Dave Farquhar

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How tall is an O scale train?

Dave Farquhar model railroading December 20, 2019December 1, 2019

How tall is an O scale train? It varies. It can vary quite a bit. But I can give you some general guidelines. I can do the same for a related question, how long an O scale train is.

Dave Farquhar

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