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For those of you unfamiliar with electronics, a "pot" is short for potentiometer. It is a variable resistor. A trim pot, as Pitchwife suggests, would be a better solution than trying dozens of different resistors until you find the right one. The resistance on a trim pot can be adjusted by...

A good place to start is by getting the Walthers N/Z catalog. It's a good sampling of what's available and how much it costs. Most hobby stores have them, or you can order one online at www.walthers.com.

MT's got these coming out in a bit. Way cool. I can't use them on my layout, but I may collect them nonetheless. Clicky-wicky

Looking good! Do you plan to lay the track on any cork roadbed before you ballast? I would highly recommend it, as most prototypical track is elevated above "street level." As far as the lake goes, there are a number of good resin products that mimic water to a high degree of accuracy. It's...

Too bad the Acela "express" can't go through it. I've taken that train from Boston to Philly several times, and believe you me, it could use a wormhole. Once it was delayed for track problems, and we crawled along at 15 mph for 6 hours (!!!) in order to yield right of way to all the New York...

Have a great time. I made several visits to Vancouver when I lived in Seattle. It's a great town.

Which is NOT what this thread is about. (I just liked the pun.) Here is the wiring for my turnout motors. I've run the wires under the layout into a conduit box made of PVC commonly used in building applications. I then made a faceplate for the switches and AC input out of electrical perf...

As I've only started in the hobby recently, I don't yet have very many engines and rolling stock, but I do have several different types of couplers on them. The problem with MT couplers for me is that I model 19th century, and MT couplers look less prototypical than small knuckle couplers.

No modeling for me - I have a weekend trip to New Hampshire for a friend's wedding.

Wow! What a fantastic diorama! Now that I have a new digital camera, I find that half the fun of the hobby is taking pictures. You probably feel the same way.

What 60103 said. Passing contact switches are generally used for turnout motors of a solenoid variety to minimize the amount of time current passes through one of the coils. If current is allowed to pass through the coils for too long a time, they can burn out. I use Peco turnout motors and...

Nice pic. It's interesting to see how monochromatic shots highlight detail that color often doesn't. I've been experimenting with black and white photography with a new 5 megapixel camera, and then blowing up the prints to 11" by 17", a la Ansel Adams. Unfortunately, there's no point in posting...

That cactus is giving me the finger, that's what's wrong. And this is a family forum I'll have you know.

WHAT THE #&$*@????!!!! Now I've seen everything. Don't those people have jobs?

Does anyone find it odd that K-Line paid a Lionel engineer for trade secrets? Why not just buy some Lionel stuff and take it apart?

Wow, very impressive. I just bought about a dozen Period Miniatures models because they were on sale for dirt cheap. I can't really use them on my layout. I was thinking of building a small scene with them - now you've inspired me. That's just what I need now, another project. That makes an n...

Whatever you decide on, the center of that layout seems a bit crowded. I would go with only one siding in the Northwest, and one to the south of the yard. That way, once you've got all the track ballasted, you'll still have some room for buildings.

Hey, sorry to hear that, brother. Life takes a lot of difficult turns sometimes. Wishing you the best, John.

I have a loupe that fits over glasses, so that it's hands-free. The tools I used are mostly two very very tiny tweezers. The glue is ordinary super glue, but the model has fallen apart several times in my hands, mostly because the assembly order in the instructions is not well thought-out.

After months of searching out models, and building them, and setting them aside, I think I've finally found a solution to this siding - an iron works on one side, and a small warehouse on the other, bordered by an office building (which used to be an old assay office.) For more info on the...