Whats Neat in model railroading | February 2018 Model Railroad Hobbyist | Ken Patterson

mrhmag.com - MRH What's Neat columnist Ken Patterson's February 2018 What's Neat column:
- Layout construction with magnets
- Freight car roof weathering
- Kevin Rubel’s home layout
- Gerald Styles’ On30 layout
- Drone footage, great runbys, and more ...
Get even more great FREE how-tos for model railroading on the Model Railroad Hobbyist website. This video is just part of the TOTALLY FREE February 2018 issue of Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine.

[@Chsystem4u]

By far, my favorite episode! Thanks Ken & friends

[@davidmuse7004]

Ken, I don't know where to start, so I will just say, "mighty fine show". So much to see and take in. Mr Ruble's layout, well you said it. Thanks for sharing Ken and what a way to start the year!!

[@pabassfisherman]

Man I LOVED the weathering tutorial by Jason. Please keep them coming!! Thanks for making us all better modelers,

[@herrkiwi3110]

Cannot not wait to see the progress on Kevin's layout ! Super awesome ! Thanks for the great show Ken.

[@BobN.WB1EVU]

Thank you Ken. A great video. Love the weathering tips. Always great to see Mike and Daniel in your videos.

[@paulturenne434]

Ken, you`ve done it again.....this episode is another winner ,this one has it all.That drone footage was sweet ,and that fellows ON30 layout..WOW.I found the segment on weathering very useful as well ,and of course ,love your magnet layout section. Keep up the super work

[@kd5gsp]

Especially enjoyed the segment on weathering the tops of boxcars. Went out to purchase the paints and thinner after watching, but the local craft supply didn't have everything I needed, so a trip to pick up the items is in order. Anxious to apply the technique to some of my older rolling stock.

[@brianhester1996]

Super episode! All extremely useful. Loved the roof weathering segment.

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

I love Gerrald's On30 layout. Thanks for sharing it.

[@ACRR46]

Ken, Another great monthly video. I love your enthusiasm for the hobby, You are always challenging yourself with new ideas and techniques. Frank

[@curraheewolf]

Loved the roof weathering. The train at the very end was awesome! Happy railroading!!!

[@juicemoosehax]

Hey Ken! I absolutely love your show! It always gives me cool ideas for building my own at home layout as well as ideas to bring forward to my club. I was trying to think of a simple way to make an HO scale layout, but I wanted it to be quick and easy to put together and take apart because of space requirements, and I think using magnets and a foam base is a wonderful idea!

[@8ballphilc]

Ken, fantastic as always! Loved the weathering details, can always learn more there! Keep up the great work!

[@SouthernTennessean]

WHOOOOOOOOO. Southern railway. Can't wait to see that layout done

[@martinmcdonnell8058]

Great episode. The segment on roof rust was absolutely inspiring. I never realised it was that easy.

[@Perfusionist01]

Wow - that is a classic "What's Neat! Everything presented was "neat!". Thanks guys.

[@joelvale3887]

Another great video with great layouts.

[@richarddrum9970]

Another fine show Ken. I wish Mr. Ruble luck in completing his layout, it is a daunting task but worth the time and effort. Looking forward to seeing future segments of his progress. As always Ken, thanks.

[@applicareinc]

The drone footage of the California Zephyr with great soundtrack was astounding.

[@HighCoup333]

Hey Mike great points about steel loads coming off sequential stacks during manufacturing and how over time some damaged panels would have been replaced or from a different batch and therefore be rusted different than the ones next to them. Also thanks for pointing out colors of rust relating to its age, such good reminders. Your comments through the weathering demo nailed it. Good weathering technique involves not just considerations for weather over time but how a batch of steel might differ, to various mishaps, bumps and repairs a car might get through the years. Good stuff!

[@rgetty]

Wow. This show keeps getting better and better. I absolutely love the "process" segments - and this episode was chock-full! Special thanks this month to Jason Quinn for his segment on weathering - something that has me, like Daniel, a bit flummoxed. Not only is Jason a great teacher, he's really good on camera! This segment just might save a ME plate girder bridge that I attempted to weather. I'm going to have another go at it now with some confidence!

[@DKuzzin]

Thanks for that tutorial on weathering...wish it was longer. :) That Indiana layout will be EPIC!! And from someone who lives in NW Indiana now, it will be a great adventure to watch grow. Keep posting the updates!

[@just4funTrains]

#KevinRubel layout is the dream of many modelers!!! but.........space , money and time. I`m excited to see the evolution for this project. Finally great technique for weathering!! thanks

[@twiztedmowers2]

Love the weathering man. That's awesome.

[@skeetjeffcitysub86]

I always look forward to...What's Neat! It's very informative with the professional modelers like, Mike Budde,Dave Davis,& Dennis Norris as well! All The Best!

[@spacecalander]

Really love this series!

[@IMRROcom]

Magnet is only holding 10lb. 20lb divided by the 2 support points is 10lb at each point. 10lb at the magnets and 10lb at your hand. Granted this 20lb is closer to one end moving CG over your fulcrum on lever so the split might be more 75/25 15lb at the magnets and 5lb at your hand.

[@kevinleftridge8241]

Good Job Kevin! looking forward to and update on his layout!

[@IMRROcom]

I'm using magnets and a 2 section of angle iron stock the nest together for a lift section. one you drop the section into place with the angle iron guiding it to perfect alignment every time 1st test used to powerful of magnets and it was too hard to get apart.

[@oldtown6240]

Excellent video from start to finish.

[@Ardy6]

Ken love the shows, brilliant! It's too short, Tell Joe we want more!!

[@kendallepperson1901]

great show ken you do great work thank you.

[@carolinafoothillsrailroad4929]

thanks ken for another great whats neat

[@edwardstd52]

Great use of magnets! I'm in the process of doing a four module N scale layout and you might have just solved the connection problem!

[@manthony1956]

Wow, what a home layout Kevin is building. Five scale linear mile run not counting sidings. I have been in clubs with less mileage. Has track maintenance gone down greatly since the days of brass rail? I know nickel silver oxidizes differently. My concern is maintenance versus operation time. Went through the issue of spending more time maintaining than operating before. Love the work of your modellers and the enthusiasm you bring to the hobby.

[@rjl110919581]

THANKS VIDEO AS VERY TIME ALL WAY GREAT DETAIL IN VERY SHOW AS GREAT JOY . THANKS ALL CREW WHO WORK WITH KEN PATTERSON .

[@r.a.monigold9789]

...also, thank you for the Drone footage (AND the Music!!).

[@Mr60059]

Hi Ken , Really enjoy watching Whats Neat Every Month , Just a shame we Don't have something like this over here in the United Kingdom . Really enjoyed the section of N scale Modelling this month . Would really like to see more for N Scale Modellers . Such has Double Stack Container trains Weathering for the Boxes on the train ( Which you could also do in HO ) . I have a question as well , How long is your excellent HO Layout ? Keep up the Brilliant videos as I do enjoy learning more about this great Hobby .

[@trainboyyy4312]

Very good as always ken

[@just4funTrains]

Ken great job as always!! for my next project I will try a mix between modular and TOMA sections, but I have doubts how do wired my bus line? in my 8X4 was easy a simple 16 gauge around the benchwork. How I kept the bus wired with modular sections or TOMA?

[@jonstoddard3970]

Great show yet again! Question for you what kits and materials do you use for your bridge scenes? (One of which appears around the 35:50 min mark) When I finally get to the build part of my layout I'd love to include a decent size bridge over water. Keep up the great work!

[@BCRYinHO]

Fantastic as always, watching you guys from the north, Canada! . Never change the cool intro music! More N please! Recommendation for a decoder with sound to install in a Kato Es44ac n scale? Daniel?

[@JoseCadilha]

Thank you so much for your great video, fantastic

[@petelinster7093]

Wow! Awesome!

[@billbrassea7879]

oil AND acrylic!!! Awesome!!! I cannot wait to use that weathering trick on everything!!!! I love Rust!!! (accept in anything I drive, or that heats my house, or carries water or sewage from or to my house...) Are there any similar tricks to do with an airbrush?

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Oil paint is actually MORE forgiving than acrylic. Once acrylic is dry its there. Oil can be reactivated with mineral spirits for days.

[@pieseasmyseas]

Keep up the great work

[@K27fan]

Insane, those shadow boxes look exactly like mine

[@larrymonske8086]

Im intending to do this for my layout. Tip: sawdust makes great grass you can use food coloring or spray over tabletop Elmers glue and spray a coat of Elemers mixed 50/50 apply your sawdust.

[@111polarbear]

The bridge at 26.25 truly is amazing

[@sharkzf6]

AWESOME!

[@briandent5146]

Hi Ken Another great Whats Neat Show. What is the music you use with the Steven Conroy footage, it is different from his web site?

[@AmericanMilitia]

Hey Ken I'm just starting out with my ho train layout and I love the hobby! Only issue is that I am quadriplegic and I'm unable to build up the buildings. Would you sell some of yours?

[@bayda53]

Steven Conroy: You out did yourself again on the drone footage, I take it that was you hanging out the door of the observation car, what type of drone are you using ? I have been looking at one for about $2600.00 and I would hope the quality would work on Mt. tops and ranges for long distance. Thanks Ken for another great show Steven Notz

[@quartergauger9058]

Excellent video Ken'. I really enjoy the Arial shoot of the Zephyr by the drone. How can I obtain a copy of the sound track, or, can you provide information on the music, musicians, etc. It would be much appreciated'. Thanks for the great work'.. Goober, on MRH Ezine...

[@ckain5501]

When placing the magnets have you tried off setting the depth of the bor so that one magnet acts as a male and the other like a female magnet to ensure perfect alignment.

[@ericjonboone]

interesting concept to use magnets. Do the magnets affect your Kadee couplers at all, especially the larger ones you're going to use for the HO scale modules?

[@samiam619]

Eric Boone They would be too far away. The magnet has to be directly under the ties to trip the magnets.

[@Andrew74488]

Hey Ken, I have a couple questions. First, how do you wire the modules for the layout held by magnets? Second, could I use regular paint thinner for weathering instead of the odorless thinner?

[@pbyfr]

I weathered a locomotive with oil paint using standard cheap turpentine in the past, it took more than two years to (look) dry (yes 2 years). With odorless quick drying mineral spirit for oil paint , I have everything dry in a week or less (and no odor, which is quite pleasant). And for just weathering, even a small bottle will last a long time.

[@juicemoosehax]

If you want a quick way to wire them together, try quick plug lighting connectors. They’re primarily used for fluorescent lights, but they come apart really easily and stay together really well, and because they are a plastic unit, you could embed them into the side of the module similar to the magnets, so all you have to do is line up the connectors, push the modules together, and voila! By the way, those connectors can be bought at Home Depot or nearly any other hardware store.

[@TristanMorrow]

*Magnets!* Has Ken gotten around to trying the magnetically-connected HO scale modules yet???

[@TheCrewChief374]

You do know that they sell magnets that should be the same strength as the magnetic wands that you got from the big box stores, without the wand. That should cost a lot less as well. That is unless you are planning on using the handle as a leg to hold your layout up in place!

[@jamessbca]

Nice San Luis Obispo Drone footage!!!

[@ah244895]

I just need room for a barn, then a barn, then I can start on an awesome layout!

[@MegaMultiMoe]

Hey Ken awesome video. Quick question for you do you think especially with a routing tool do you think you could compass the holes rather than hand drawing the holes and cutting the holes by hand would make it smoother and less work when you put the magnets in the holes?

[@GrahamWalters]

Better still to use a forstner drill bit www.amazon.co.uk/Forstner-Woodworking-Tungsten-Titanium-Carrying/dp/B01N40PLW2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1516746774&sr=8-2&keywords=forstner+set, I'm sure you must have them in the US

[@ckain5501]

Did my fist oil paint weathering. I have a ways to go but not bad for my first attempt

[@the4000class]

Drone footage of Wyoming Sherman Hill would be great to see

[@Modelersguild]

Hook a brother up with that huge RR. I would love to build for that project.

[@joshcalhoun9326]

Question, for anyone who can help. What is the max number of HO cars you can pull per locomotive on a flat layout? For example, can 1 loco pull 15 cars, and a 3-loco lashup pull 45?

[@MRhobbyist]

It varies. Some locos can pull 3 cars max, others can pull 30 cars. It also depends on the weight of the cars and how free rolling the trucks are. If one loco can pull 15, three locos of the same brand should pull 45, but you need to test it to be sure. That assumes level track and all the cars weigh and roll the same, and testing each of the three locos independently shows they can each pull 15 cars by themselves.

[@snafu3714]

Great show. I always learn from one & all. Pleas check out one day Gulliver Gate in new york.

[@Tom.Gregory]

Like totally awesome. Gotta weather more cars.......

[@azmike1]

Drone stuff is absolutely amazing! great concept! Welcome to 2018! Beautiful!

[@vidfreak727]

Ken, does the magnet trick at the beginning of your video work for HO scale?

[@Kensart55]

check out June 2016 Whats neat video.

[@vidfreak727]

Ken Patterson thank you

[@jamesneidlinger6065]

Not one but 2 thumbs up for this episode. Looking forward to you forging ahead with your magnetic "train" of thought on connecting layout sections. Why did you soak the wood & foam in water before using Gorilla glue?

[@jamesneidlinger6065]

Thanks for the follow up !!

[@westwruxshire5042]

What's neat on What's Neat? Everything! That's what.

[@Gorgula]

Love the content but you may want to experiment with using a new camera (many cellphones have native 4K, for instance) or workflow to increase the resolution to at least 1080p. The increased resolution will benefit the detailed content presented. Keep up the good work.

[@baronjutter]

That's neat

[@InterCity134]

Time to update the copyright on the title slide as I don't think you can retroactively claim a copyright in the year before the video was made. Or did this footage all get created last year? Kevin needs to start his own KZbin channel documenting the build in monthly updates. Wow just wow.

[@canalsidingsmodelrailway3411]

Hi Ken, John here from the UK. I have been watching your show for about a year now (and more recently the weekly podcast) and I am fascinated by the use of styrofoam for layout construction. I have tried to find out more but it seems to be frowned upon here in England and dismissed as not viable. My new layout section that I need to build needs to be super light as It will have to be removable and quite large like yours are . I am looking for some guidance on installing and wiring Tortoise motors to turnouts laid on foam and can find very little especially how to route the wires through/round the foam. Do you know of any books/videos that will help me get started in styrofoam baseboards? ............John

[@r_mon_e]

It is extruded polystyrene, you will find it at a building supply store. At www.kenpatterson.com he has a video on how to build a shelf layout.

[@canalsidingsmodelrailway3411]

Thanks Ryan. ...........John

[@davidstill1256]

Hi John I'm in the UK you can get the foam from wickes it's goes under the name of celotex here, if you cut grooves and slots for wiring it can be filled with expanding foam from an aerosol or glue foam back in with gorilla glue. Also glue ply to mount point motors etc. Where needed.

[@canalsidingsmodelrailway3411]

Hi David, thanks for the reply. I have now obtained some blue XPS which is very dense but also very light. I think it is made by Dow Corning. A bit expensive but very high quality. Do you have any experience using XPS for baseboards? Seen any videos? Know of any books? I have watched Ken's videos where he uses XPS but he keeps the electrics very simple and uses manual point operation. So far my idea is to use 50mm x 4ft x 2ft sections wrapped on all four edges with thin ply or mdf and add a1/2inch stripwood lattice to the base to allow the whole thing to slide easily into place and to give somewhere to keep the wiring. I will also do as Ken does and paint all the foam surfaces with emulsion paint to seal it. .....................John

[@davidstill1256]

I use it for scale model bases the blue model foam is more expensive than celotex but very dense. I am making a small 2'x2' Christmas layout with some at the moment. I use rod and tube switches with frog switching for turnouts for motors I would probably cut out a space under the switch and insert a wooden patress to mount the motor to.

[@dwightatnorthernstar1820]

WOW

[@RonsTrainsNThings]

Welcome to the world of N scale. Be careful, Ken. It is addictive.

[@salesjumper]

Dan Cortopassi has left as the host on TSG Multimedia You Tube Show. Can you imagine if Ken Patterson were to leave MRH ??

[@MRhobbyist]

As long as we keep Ken happy, we don't expect he's going to get itchy feet. We do talk about our future together (MRH and Ken) and so far, we're both quite happy with how things are going. But yes, without Ken, it would be quite a different thing.

[@DCoombs928]

North Georgia Pete Did he really leave??

[@MRhobbyist]

Yep, Dan left. Talked to John Abatecola, the other half of the team. He's actually planning new modeling experts to come on TSG's podcasts and videos and using the opportunity to bring in "fresh blood". John says he's actually excited at the new opportunities this opens up once he started thinking about it.

[@johnnyh.6851]

Before you consider using the super magnets, read all the precautions first. 🤔😯😯

[@trainboyyy4312]

Would testors thinker work for the whethering

[@jeepguy51]

Turpenoid or mineral sprits are easy to get. Any thinner that cuts oil paint will work. If your unsure go to your local art store and ask them for guidance. Testors thinner is a no go plus its super expensive in comparison to the other thinners. BTW im the guy who did the segment.

[@trainboyyy4312]

indy svt well for me I live in canada so it's hard to get all these thinners

[@gregwilliams7354]

Any Michael's store will have these thinners and more. Or go to Canadian Tire and buy mineral spirits. Cheap and easily available.

[@trainboyyy4312]

thank you

[@azmike1]

Really should make that layout in Colorado a double line. At least. It could be the ultimate "rail fan" operation. Good Luck! And thank you for a great episode of What's neat. :)

[@genecarlson483]

Why didn't you use any alignment pins?

[@ericjonboone]

I think the magnetic fields of the connecting magnets want to naturally center themselves to balance the magnetic fields and thus act as alignment pins.

[@ericjonboone]

Here is a chess set using magnets that self center. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l560doqHd8elZ80

[@genecarlson483]

Eric, while that's sounds good, it's not quite true. If you take 2 loose circular magnets and allow them to come together they will not automatically come together in perfect alignment (circumference to circumference). The earth's magnetic field, other potential magnetic fields in the area, as well as, the individual domain fields of each magnet will affect how they come together. The layout sitting flat on the table provides the major portion of the alignment. The fact that both sets of magnets, on both sides of the layout, would have to be in perfect alignment for the "self centering" to work. I suspect there's something else going on here that Ken is not telling us about that ensures perfect track alignment. While you could easily adjust the layout once assembled, I can't imagine the N scale track work would be perfectly aligned every time you just let the layout come together by the magnetic attraction alone.

[@genecarlson483]

In regards to the chess set, there is only one magnet not two. So it's not an apple to apple comparison. Unlike the layout, the chess piece is free to move while the bolt in the board is fixed. The movement of the chess piece is not controlled by the table top like the layout is. etc. etc. etc.

[@Kensart55]

They do line up well. Snaps with a crack.. pretty cool.. I have not put the Ho module segment together yet.

[@azmike1]

Where's the bus? Where is Patterson looking at? Cameraman?

[@r_mon_e]

I guess we missed the bus :)

[@azmike1]

Hey folks! Bachmann is the only company that manufactures a wider selection of models than other companies.

[@azmike1]

48 dollar freight car! Wow! I'm runnin' and weatherin' 3.00 used Tycos and Life -Like stuff. I guess that's ok when your practicing? I melted a Mantua ATSF Flat car accidentally leaving the car next to a heater on a cold day. Don't worry guys! All is well.

[@larrymonske8086]

Kids that gratffi cars for ten bucks a car to do models to practice on.

[@azmike1]

Cameraman needs some more coffee. Close ups! More closeups!

[@azmike1]

Practice. Practice. Practice. Do not use a 48 dollar freight car until.....................well you know.