Recent content by Selector

ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.


  1. Selector

    Gluing track

    Yes, it's safe. PL300 is also safe, but used to cost quite a bit more. The idea is to lay a thin bead, spread it thin with Door Dash cards or whatever, lay the track, and then lay soda tins or soup tins on the rails to keep it all steady. Inside of 2 hours, with typical humidity, it will be...
  2. Selector

    Is this hobby still worth it?

    The answer to this can only come from an internal reference point. I spent tons on the hobby starting in 2005 and have largely stopped. It's not like I can't afford to break an engine or drop a car and replace it; I have enough holdings to last a lifetime. Instead, over the past three years, I...
  3. Selector

    BLI engines

    I have at least 12 BLI steamers, none of their diesels. I have had to send three locomotives back to them over 20 years, twice due to my own doing. I have always received them back in good working order. Their steam offerings are exceptional, and I believe most enjoy their diesels as well...
  4. Selector

    Quick Rant

    Wood screws hold well in plywood as long as you don't over-drive them to the point where the screw head is embedded 1/4" deep. I use at most 5/8", or did, but now just use 1 X 2 or 1/2" GIS ply. Also, the screw must go into the face of plywood, never into an edge. As for gluing, I only ever...
  5. Selector

    Our OO friends across the lake

    Go on YouTube and search, 'Sam's Trains.'
  6. Selector

    Broadway limited diecast locomotives

    I have several of their plastic, metal, and brass hybrid series. All metal are the Platinum Series K4s Pacific 4-6-2 with QSI sound decoder, still works last I checked, and the PCM Y6b Mallet which is also my track cleaner car pusher because it's powerful and heavy enough to do a good job of...
  7. Selector

    Some ho modelers being too rigid

    Yeah, you got me there. S'truth. :D
  8. Selector

    Real Dirt for Scenery Question

    Thank-you, grande man. :)
  9. Selector

    Track with roadbed like Bachmann ez track, kato unitrack and others

    This is strictly my pros and cons, but each modeler will probably have others to add on both sides. We each have our own preferences and druthers in the hobby: Cons - cost, and all of them force the builder into constraints caused by the lengths of each piece and of the curvature...
  10. Selector

    Staging - is it really necessary?

    I have been in the hobby just over 20 years, and learned about staging fairly shortly after joining. To me, staging offers convenience. I don' use it to stage consists as if my road runs on a timetable. I use mine to keep consists together so that I'm not constantly unboxing and boxing, or...
  11. Selector

    TRACK CLEANING

    Take five minutes each running session and run a large, clean, steel washer over the rails with moderate pressure. Before powering the rails........please. The steel washer will help to smoothen out the rail head bearing surfaces. This is the 'burnishing' process found in 'gleaming' (you can...
  12. Selector

    Some ho modelers being too rigid

    It's a lot like men still wearing pony tails. That was cool 45 years ago, just like mullets were about 30 years ago. Fashions and interests change, as do styles. Few of us avoid getting stuck on some aspects, and then the world marches past us, disappearing into the distance. The old Roman...
  13. Selector

    Need Criticism

    Thanks very much. I was 20 years younger, sharp, wanting very much to learn (so focused and motivated) and I did manage to cobble together some skills in a hurry. Now, I'm older, with poor eyesight, less muscle mass and core strength, and my attention has wandered to other things. It's harder...
  14. Selector

    TRACK CLEANING

    I think many of us have a tube with brass tubing or rods and a whole lotta scale milled lumber for trestles and such. I use remnants of the wood to rub against the tires on my cars. If cut flush, with an appropriate cutter or razor saw (which most of us also have), you simply place one end...
  15. Selector

    Need Criticism

    Okay, one photo. It's grainy, non-digital, so it's old style. But it should help you to see my limitations. Imagination...no shortage, obviously, but a lot of fancy, lack of knowledge about railroads, and absolutely green when it came to building a layout:
See more




Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top