Modellings tips and answers - Clean the track and wheels - Inspiration - add light to your layout
Hello
Don't forget to read our latest modelling tips located at the bottom of the newsletter.
Nigel Sacree has sent us some pictures of his OO gauge garden railway layout. It uses about 200 feet of Peco track. To see more pictures and read Nigel's explanations, simply click on the images:
More and more modellers are discovering the Just-Plug method of adding lighting to their layouts. From street lights to illuminating buildings, this method is clean, easy and hassle-free!
No longer do modellers need an in-depth knowledge of wiring or electrics to introduce lighting to their model railways. The Just-Plug method doesn't even work off a controller, instead, it uses an independent power supply that you simply plug into an everyday wall socket.
To get started you will need the "Just-Plug power supply" this is a fancy name for the adaptor that plugs into the wall. Next, you need a "Light Hub", this is your control panel, it has 4 sockets into which you can plug any Just-Plug product, and there are many to choose from including self-adhesive LEDs (for lighting building interiors and station canopies etc), street lighting, rail yard lights, lit billboards, wall mounted lights and even flags that flap in the wind!
Many Just-Plug products come in multi-packs, for example, street lights. These will typically come supplied with a "linker plug", you use this to operate all of the lights in the pack from just one port on your light hub. Each port on the light hub has a dimmer switch so you can choose the level of lighting for each group of lights independently.
Extension leads are readily available for operating lighting on the far side of your layout, they simply plug into the controller and light fixture.
When you are ready to extend your lighting beyond the 4 port capacity of the light hub you can just add another hub onto it using an expansion hub. You do not even need an extra power supply, you can keep on adding additional hubs until you reach a capacity of approximately 50 lighting fixtures.
The lights themselves are bright, low energy and remain cool so won't damage your models, even if the light is to be installed inside the model.
Just-Plug lighting is available for 0, 00/H0 and N gauges. The system is a neat, tidy and effective way to add lighting to your layout. Below is just a small demonstration of the wide range of lighting that is available including a double street lamp, cast iron streetlight, a wooden pole lamp that extends to for use in goods yard, a wall light and the used hubs to control and extend the system.
No longer do modellers need an in-depth knowledge of wiring or electrics to introduce lighting to their model railways. The Just-Plug method doesn't even work off a controller, instead, it uses an independent power supply that you simply plug into an everyday wall socket.
To get started you will need the "Just-Plug power supply" this is a fancy name for the adaptor that plugs into the wall. Next, you need a "Light Hub", this is your control panel, it has 4 sockets into which you can plug any Just-Plug product, and there are many to choose from including self-adhesive LEDs (for lighting building interiors and station canopies etc), street lighting, rail yard lights, lit billboards, wall mounted lights and even flags that flap in the wind!
Many Just-Plug products come in multi-packs, for example, street lights. These will typically come supplied with a "linker plug", you use this to operate all of the lights in the pack from just one port on your light hub. Each port on the light hub has a dimmer switch so you can choose the level of lighting for each group of lights independently.
Extension leads are readily available for operating lighting on the far side of your layout, they simply plug into the controller and light fixture.
When you are ready to extend your lighting beyond the 4 port capacity of the light hub you can just add another hub onto it using an expansion hub. You do not even need an extra power supply, you can keep on adding additional hubs until you reach a capacity of approximately 50 lighting fixtures.
The lights themselves are bright, low energy and remain cool so won't damage your models, even if the light is to be installed inside the model.
Just-Plug lighting is available for 0, 00/H0 and N gauges. The system is a neat, tidy and effective way to add lighting to your layout. Below is just a small demonstration of the wide range of lighting that is available including a double street lamp, cast iron streetlight, a wooden pole lamp that extends to for use in goods yard, a wall light and the used hubs to control and extend the system.
You can never clean your rolling stock's wheels too much. the amount of dirt and grime that builds up on them after even just a few running sessions is mind-boggling. Almost as mind-boggling as where it all comes from in the first place!
There are several ways to clean your train's wheels starting with the basic but extremely effective track rubber. An older track rubber that has lost its bulk and rigidity is ideal for cleaning wheels.
Special chemicals such as Track Magic make easy work of cleaning wheels. Simply use the included swab or more traditional cotton buds dipped in track magic to gently wipe the wheels. You'll be amazed at how the dirt falls off the wheels.
You could even automate the process with a wheel cleaning machine. Available for both 00 and N gauge they are very quick and easy to use producing great results.
As well as the three cleaning methods, you may also consider a loco service cradle used for holding your engines or coaches upside down while cleaning and handy Microbrushes for getting into those super tight places.
We keep on adding modelling tips to our website. Here are the latest ones:
- What is a servomotor?
- How do you "plant" a model building?
- What is a cameo scene?
- What is Gunpla?
- What are self-closing tweezers?
You can also access all the articles by visiting this page or simply click the link called "tips" on our website.
Send us an email or give us a call to check availability or to reserve anything, whatever scale you model in. As usual, if we do not have in stock what you are looking for, we will order it for you and you will get it fast (usually within a week if the manufacturer has it in stock). We place weekly orders with most suppliers.
Upstairs Downstairs is currently closed to the public due to the virus. Phone and Internet orders are usually dispatched within 24 hours.
Upstairs Downstairs
3 Pier Street
Sandown, PO36 8JR
Isle of Wight
Tel: 01983 406 616
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