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    Making trees from wire, plaster and lichen Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 
    Sunday, February 03 2008 @ 09:54 AM CST
    By David L. Farquhar

    I like this tutorial because it uses common materials and works for almost any kind of train: Making detailed oaks and maples.

    It doesn't hurt that the results look good too.

    read more (251 words) 2 comments
    Most Recent Post: 02/06 09:33AM by DaveF  [ Views: 437 ]  

    Confessions of a mediocre modeler Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 
    Friday, January 25 2008 @ 06:15 PM CST
    By David L. Farquhar

    Spookshow is an N scaler's autobiography of his hobby experience.

    I agree with him that he isn't a master modeler, but if he's mediocre, he's upper-tier mediocre. The biggest difference I see between his layouts and the layouts in magazines is the photography--their photographers take clearer, "poppier" shots, and they don't take photos of the layout's weak points. (What you don't show is as important as what you show.)

    read more (215 words)
    Post a comment  [ Views: 234 ]  

    My new toy train website Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 
    Saturday, January 12 2008 @ 03:54 PM CST
    By David L. Farquhar

    For the first time since about 1997, I've created a hobby web page. Since my ISP provides web space and I pay for it whether I use it or not, I thought this would be a good use for it. I have some photographs there, and some general information on toy trains, particularly tinplate trains.

    The address is pages.sbcglobal.net/dave_farquhar/.

    read more (72 words)
    Post a comment  [ Views: 311 ]  

    Fifteen minutes a day Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 
    Sunday, December 30 2007 @ 08:17 AM CST
    By David L. Farquhar

    I've been spending entirely too much time on train forums lately. So have a lot of other people. Places that used to be good for learning things have turned into cliques, or worse yet, hateful arguments over stupid things like whether Lionel O gauge is more popular than HO scale (something that hasn't been true since about 1957, and I'm shocked anyone has believed otherwise since about 1960).

    A few months ago, someone actually posted something helpful: a suggestion that you spend 15 minutes a day working on your hobby instead of talking about it.

    read more (509 words)
    Post a comment  [ Views: 494 ]  

    The Christmas train Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 
    Monday, December 24 2007 @ 03:13 PM CST
    By David L. Farquhar

    I saw a story on one of my train boards today that illustrates just how much the world has changed since 1923.

    This story came from the 1950 book Messrs. Ives of Bridgeport, by Louis H. Hertz.

    read more (298 words) 2 comments
    Most Recent Post: 12/30 08:14AM by DaveF  [ Views: 430 ]  

    Fixing erratic Lionel track Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 
    Sunday, December 09 2007 @ 10:29 PM CST
    By David L. Farquhar

    Modern Lionel train sets come with a new, more realistic track called Fastrack with integrated plastic roadbed and lots of ties with simulated wood grain that to many eyes looks better than the traditional three-rail track with just three metal ties per section, and it's a lot easier to assemble and disassemble.

    Unfortunately it's also a lot more prone to manufacturing defects. If your new Lionel train slows down at some point on the track, or it has trouble tripping your accessories, you'll have to either return your track, or do a fast and easy DIY repair.

    read more (594 words)
    Post a comment  [ Views: 364 ]  

    Decorating for Christmas again Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 
    Sunday, November 25 2007 @ 07:32 PM CST
    By David L. Farquhar

    My wife and I decorated for Christmas today, which used to be something I didn't look forward to, but today I do, because it means I get to have a train upstairs for about six weeks.

    I kept it simple this year.

    read more (301 words)
    Post a comment  [ Views: 375 ]  

    If you think you can do it so much better, then do it yourself Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 
    Saturday, October 27 2007 @ 08:10 PM CDT
    By David L. Farquhar

    I've noticed a disturbing trend lately on the Classic Toy Trains forums. It seems like every time a new issue hits the street, someone has to find an article that has something wrong with it and point it out.

    read more (955 words) 1 comments
    Most Recent Post: 10/27 10:29PM by joseph  [ Views: 461 ]  

    A story of a truck, some trains, a vet, and a possible scam Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 
    Friday, July 13 2007 @ 04:51 PM CDT
    By David L. Farquhar

    I think I've been taken for another Internet scam.

    Of course the Internet is ripe for this kind of thing. The story of Kaycee Nicole Swenson is one infamous example. Unfortunately I fell for that one too, although not as hard as some people did. All I really wasted in that case was some bandwidth and a little disk space. That's more than I can say for the people who sent her gifts and other things.

    read more (1430 words) 4 comments
    Most Recent Post: 07/15 08:14PM by DaveF  [ Views: 518 ]  

    Cheap, effective terrain scenery Email Article To a Friend View Printable Version 
    Monday, March 26 2007 @ 08:12 PM CST
    By David L. Farquhar

    Most traditional toy train layouts feature painted scenery: After plopping the 4x8 sheets down on some 2x4s to make a table, the hobbyist grabs a brush and some dark gray and green paint and paints roads and grass on the board.

    If you want something that looks a little better than that but doesn't take a lot of time, here's my method, which takes 2-3 hours to complete.

    read more (767 words)
    Post a comment  [ Views: 495 ]  

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