Model railroad resources of high quality are available from many sources.
Model railroad resources are available in high quantity and quality on the internet and in written form. Free information is readily available from websites like this one as well as organizations such as the National Model Railroad Association, manufacturers, magazines, and articles by model train experts. Books and DVDs can be purchased on specific scales and modeling techniques which provide targeted content on almost any phase of the hobby. It is amazing how much valuable information one can get from their local hobby shop. Most of the workers are modelers also, and have the advantage of input from customers who buy and use their products. I have found the advice from these folks to be a great help concerning new products or the best approach to solve a specific problem.
It would be impossible to describe the amount of information that I have gleaned from model railroad magazines. For fifty years I have been a subscriber to Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman as well as a host of others that I occasionally bought. The how-to articles, product information and reviews have formed at least 75% of my model railroad knowledge. Over the years, I cannot remember a single issue that I didn’t find something in these magazines to improve my railroad modeling skills. Advancement and new techniques in benchwork construction, scenery, electronics, painting, and scratchbuilding just to mention a few, were described in these publications first. Long before the first commercial DCC systems were introduced circuit diagrams and operational theory appeared in these monthlies. It may be obvious that I highly recommend these sources as valuable to any model railroader.
Manufacturers and suppliers websites are often a great provider of information, especially about the products that they make. Walthers catalogs often contain descriptive and informative write-ups on the thousands of products that they merchandise. If, like me, you build your own turnouts and crossings, a wealth of information can be found on both construction and wiring from multiple sources on the internet. In my library I have six notebooks of reference material on DCC and sound systems which cover theory, installation, and troubleshooting-most of it copied freely from the internet.
Listed below are a number of model railroad resources of various types. Since new ones are forthcoming on a regular basis, please check back here often for new additions.
If you like stories about your hobby, or have one to tell, visit your story remembered
National Model Railroad Association-Since 1935, the association for development of standards and enjoyment of the hobby. Covers all scales.
Railroad Model Craftsman Magazine
Scratchbuilt Turnouts Information
Bill & Walt's Hobby Shop "Your Number One source for Hobbies"
We carry a large selection of plastic model cars, planes, ships and figures along with the paints, glues & tools needed to complete your project. How to Books on modeling plastic kits, trains & scenery. Also model rockets, educational items and model railroad supplies.
