Building Better Model Railroads Volume 1

Producer: Charles Smiley

Era: 1950s

Length: 90 minutes

We shall take a sidetrack here. Journey to the Model Railroaders world. A Special Holiday Excursion. Why you ask?

This Train is scheduled to take us there!

I have tickets for everyone. Time to leave the Station…

ALL Aboard…

Vintage film examples are used throughout. These range from; black and white, to full color. All are targeted to specific items. Flatcar decking, Roofwalks, the Interlocking Tower, for example.

The Transition Era is the basis for these subjects. Realize that most items survived into the 1970s.

Usual fare.. Silver Factory pressed DVD. Chapter Menu. Preview section. Printable.jpg files.

Charles has some freight car projects. Upgrading older kits. Box cars, flat cars and tank cars.

The kits cover a range. Early metal ones, from the  1950s. Plastic kits from the 1960s- 80s. Even old Tyco ready to run cars. Tycos are very involved to get results.

He gives very detailed, step by step instructions. Closeups, on the appropriate sections. Everything in it’s place. There is work involved in these upgrades. Parts must be purchased. Repaint and decal. Own an airbrush? Compressor? How are your painting skills?

Tank Cars become involved with quite a bit of work. Depends on your level of interest.

A key to this level of Craftsman. Besides, the obvious skill. A very well equipped workbench. Note the specialized tools that are used. A Variac with a foot pedal, to control electric drill speed. Some are machines. Others are not. See the custom made jig for the handrails?

Structures

Structures. A Fruit transload Facility. Actually, a California Reefer Loading Site. Open air and enclosed.  Basswood board by board shed. Photoshop fruit crates. Interesting.

Martinez Box factory for wooden crates. Signage and history. Illuminated.

Abandoned Grocery. Distressed wooden building. Using basswood and Strathmore.

Section House is briefly shown.

For those who may have built structures ahead of layout. Maybe, more common, changed layouts. Repurposing your own existing buildings. This material, might be more needed by most people.

A small Section House, is briefly shown. A few quick points about it.

Tunnel Portal and Culverts. Use your Drill Press, is recommended! I never owned one. Adding water to a scene. Adding guard rails. Good advice.

County Road bridge. Adapting a common plastic kit. Tools and materials. Installation of the bridge.

Country Roads. Simple materials. Coloring and installation. Weathering. I use a completely different method of construction. DVDs did not exist, in my era! This is a good one.

Better Boxcars

Vintage film shows prototypes. Upgraded models on the layout. Various kits shown.

Assortment of vintage kits. Upgrading various improvements. Many options. Adding: new ends, ladders, grab irons and roofwalks.

Interlocking Tower

Vintage film shows the prototype. Charles had to scratch build it. Oakland Tower.

Window group assembly. Proper cement and sanding. Use the right tools and materials. Add lighting. Flooring and roof.

There is a .jpg file with templates for this Interlocking Tower on this disc. All you need is a printer. Like so many people now, I haven’t owned a home printer in many years. The work around, have a local shop print it out.

Projects like these, were once monthly features, in the various modeller magazines. I was not one, to replace ladders and such. Left scratch building, to those so inclined.

I did some custom painting and decaling of unavailable schemes. Decades, before the market expansion. I engaged in that aspect. Out of necessity. That airbrush was a pain. Champ decals were great!

My local area is extremely weak, as far as train shows. It is very convenient to mail order. The higher end cars, make sense to me. Your situation may vary.

The techniques shown are rock solid. Note some of the tools used. These are not on your average tool bench. Charles does provide how to obtain information on those. As far as making jigs, your on your own.

There are great tips for most anyone. Repurposing structures. Development of a scene. Weathering is always good.

I would never touch a perfectly good Kadee wheel. Some blackness wears off, when used. Consider, they are in perfect round, from the factory. Make your choice. I always check the gauge of all wheel sets and that’s it.

Building Better Model Railroads Volume 1

Charles Smiley Presents. Consistent first rate shows. This matched that high quality standard. If you haven’t grasped. He is a Craftsman level, Model Railroader. ALL his models are beautiful.

This show does offer, step by step methods to achieve his level of models. There is patience and an amount of work involved. You probably need to invest in some tools.

The hobby seems to have shifted into more of a ready to run market. I really do not know, if many people, are upgrading cars in 2022. Yet, there are still plenty, who could benefit from viewing the myriad of Model Railroad information this program.

No Rating. One Time. Model Railroad Special.

Well, there you have it. A Model Railroad DVD. If it speaks to you, a worthwhile purchase.

Happy Holidays!