Modeling Articles  

Rather than taking the time to write magazine articles, I decided to invest my free time into creating articles online about topics that might be of interest to you. The articles are intended for model railroaders of all skill levels. The information is purely based on my own personal experiences from the model railroad layouts I have built.

You are free to read and print the articles. Please do not reproduce them either on your own web site, in published print, or in any electronic format. They are here for all to enjoy. The dates listed are the last time the article was modified. Click on the article title to read the article. All articles are copyrighted by Peter Vanvliet.

 Scenery
Scenery Base 06/24/07
  How I create scenery base.
Scenick Barrier 09/11/06
  Hiding staging tracks.
Thin Castings 07/19/06
  Description of how I make thin rock castings.

 Electronics
Flickering Lights 09/27/05
  Simple circuit for flickering lights.
Helix "Elevator" 10/23/02
  Infrared detection of trains in the helix.
Helix "Elevator" (part 2) 09/23/04
  Installing the Helix "Elevator" circuits.
LED's 01/08/07
  Some generic information about LED's.
Resistors 02/15/02
  Handy reference information about resistors.
Sound 07/05/02
  Project for including sound on the layout.

 DCC
Digitrax DCC 04/03/06
  The command station, throttles, etc.
Digitrax DS 44 12/04/02
  Stationary decoder installation.

 N-scale Engines & Rolling Stock
Bowser Caboose Z-scale Couplers 06/05/03
  Installing Z-scale couplers in a Bowser Caboose.
Doodlebug Conversion to DCC 05/19/01
  Convert a Bachmann Doodlebug to DCC.
Doodlebug N-scale Couplers 05/21/01
  Installing N-scale couplers in a Bachmann Doodlebug.
Inspection Car 07/07/07
  A see-through car for inspecting track.
Painting Wheels 01/28/06
  A simple how-to for painting plastic wheels.
Passenger Car Coupler Conversion 01/08/05
  Converting a Kato passenger car to Z-scale couplers.
Surface Plate 11/16/06
  A jig for checking locomotives and cars.
 Basic Trackwork
Roadbed 12/19/02
  Using AMI Roadbed material.
Laying Flextrack 05/25/04
  Detailed article on how I lay flexible track.
Painting Track 12/19/02
  Simulate weathered track using spray cans.
Ballasting Track 12/20/02
  My method of ballasting flextrack.
Track Cleaning 12/04/02
  What I do to keep my track clean.

 Advanced Trackwork
Custom Turnouts 07/04/03
  Describes how I built code 55 custom turnouts.
Above-ground Tortoises 08/19/06
  Installing a Tortoise above ground.
Modifying Tortoises 12/09/02
  Modifying and installing turnout controllers.
Pivot Table 09/23/04
  Yard access that replaces a dozen turnouts.
Helix 11/25/02
  Ten-level helix construction fully documented.
Handlaying Code 40 Track 04/26/08
  Step-by-step article on how I handlay code 40 rail.

 Woodworking
Foam Drawers 09/23/04
  Lining drawers for rolling stock storage.
Tools 03/28/08
  Various tools and jigs I use.

 Animation
Experimental Moving Doors 08/12/05
  Successfully created experimental moving doors.

Copyright © 1999-2008 Peter Vanvliet