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Model Railroads/Questions Answered by Expert John Schaub
| Subject | Date Asked |
| paper train kit | 11/8/2011 |
| Q: I am hoping you could help with this Paper Train Construction Car Kit. It was made by Merrimack ... A: A lot of the paper cut-outs were common from the early 1900's to the 1960's. I remember as a kid, ... | |
| The Westbrook Company | 6/23/2011 |
| Q: at an antiques store in Jacksonville, Fla. I bought six O-scale switch stands made by "The Westbrook ... A: This is a mystery to me too.. Try contacting the editor at Model Railroader Magazine. Kalmbach ... | |
| Lionel | 6/23/2011 |
| Q: My dad recently gave my brother a lionel train set made in usa with numbers 027 and the numbers 250 ... A: Lionel made O-27 trains specifically to run on tight radius track and switches with curvatures ... | |
| h o spirit of 76 steam engine w coal car | 4/2/2011 |
| Q: i have a tyco spirit of 76 steam engine with coal car i bought back in 92. it works well, but not ... A: Knowing how the secondary train market is today, your instinct then of selling might have paid off. ... | |
| Painting a Central Vermont S-2 1980s-90s GREEN | 3/22/2011 |
| Q: I want to paint an N-scale S-2 switcher for Central Vermont-1980s-90s,Green paint scheme.Can you ... A: Micro-Scale makes great decals. Make a test sample of the paint with the decals and compare the ... | |
| Painting a Central Vermont S-2 1980s-90s GREEN | 3/21/2011 |
| Q: I want to paint an N-scale S-2 switcher for Central Vermont-1980s-90s,Green paint scheme.Can you ... A: Dan, Central Vermont had a small amount of Alco S-2's. Most of them were painted in their affiliates ... | |
| How tocan I wire one pinless track to the 2 tracks on one or both ends? | 3/11/2011 |
| Q: Not having much layout space, I found an old free ping pong table, so that I could fold it up. I'm ... A: I'm glad to hear that you're going to use Lionel's Fastrack system. Please do not cut off the pins ... | |
| How tocan I wire one pinless track to the 2 tracks on one or both ends? | 3/11/2011 |
| Q: Not having much layout space, I found an old free ping pong table, so that I could fold it up. I'm ... A: I will need to know what size trains are you planning to operate? Lionel (o-scale) or HO scale. Your ... | |
| getting started in this hobby | 1/15/2011 |
| Q: I haven't had model trains since I was a little boy. Decades later, I'm now in a position to get ... A: Dan, Welcome back to the "world's greatest hobby". Like you, I'm finally getting back to the hobby ... | |
| what to do | 1/12/2011 |
| Q: my track plan requires a desert theme and i don't want that i like to have a winter theme? A: Thomas, Change your foliage as a first step. Then, consider painting a majority of the landscape ... | |
| Complete Layout | 11/27/2010 |
| Q: My stepfather recently passed away and had a layout in the basement that encompasses 2 rooms. It has ... A: Eric, Can you send me some pictures of the entire collection? Various angles of the train layout, ... | |
| Lost Instructions | 11/11/2010 |
| Q: I have a Muir Model MM023 "Mabry Grist & Saw Mill" and after many years and moving I have lost the ... A: Lee, I completely understand your dilemma. You have several options, try to build it from the ... | |
| oil refinery | 9/28/2010 |
| Q: haven't heard if you are working on the lehnis train museum refinery . ?update . allan cass A: Please contact me about the refinery project. Moving along at a great pace. John Schaub | |
| track gauge diameters | 9/5/2010 |
| Q: What are the available track diameters for 027 or 0 gauge tracks? (I have an O gauge engine or the ... A: Greetings Stan. Yes, the track curvatures for O-scale are plentiful. If you're building a railroad ... | |
| hills | 9/4/2010 |
| Q: I.Y stores and building stores all I can find is the bubbly stuff you get when you buy a dvd player ... A: Greetings Mike, I'm sorry to hear you cannot find any blue or pink board in Australia. The extruded ... | |
| Wiring my o gauge layout | 6/9/2010 |
| Q: I'M wiring my postwar lionel set. My question is I want to use my ZW transfomer to power all the ... A: Randy, To run a pair of independent trains on a ZW transformer you need to isolate both loops from ... | |
| what have I got | 6/8/2010 |
| Q: I inherited this from my brother-inlaw. Please tell me what I've got. The box is gray REA Red ... A: Andrew, I know exactly what you have, since I just sold a set last month. Aristo-Craft / REA has ... | |
| rechargeable battery lighting | 5/1/2010 |
| Q: I would like to use a 12 volt rechargeable battery to power my n scale street lights and building ... A: Toby, How many buildings and street lights are you planning to electrify for your layout? The ... | |
| Structure Lighting | 3/25/2010 |
| Q: John: I left the armchair 2 yrs ago and re-entered the active part of HO railroading. I am building ... A: Congratulations Ron to the wonderful world of model railroading. I enjoy building structures and ... | |
| for sale. | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: i needed pro. help. i have had a long set of railway trains from back in 1998 till today with quite ... A: Nick, Considering the re-sale market is soft. Try your luck with either eBay or Craig's List in ... | |
| for sale. | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: i needed pro. help. i have had a long set of railway trains from back in 1998 till today with quite ... A: Nick, Probably in the right price range. Except, your description is a bit vague. It would help to ... | |
| Train info | 1/5/2010 |
| Q: I am looking for a good resources of info on the following. 1. Max grade of trains. I am going to ... A: I looked over your questions about the Lionel train layout display. What is the size of the layout ... | |
| Wiring for mantua locomotive | 1/1/2010 |
| Q: John Schaub, I have a mantua locomotive that was my fathers. We never used it as I recall because ... A: I found an old Mantua 0-4-0 shifter in my collection. Here's what you need to do. Turn the engine ... | |
| Wiring for mantua locomotive | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: John Schaub, I have a mantua locomotive that was my fathers. We never used it as I recall because ... A: Walt, Thanks for sending the photos of the Mantua/Tyco locomotive. Try connecting the wire on the ... | |
| Wire Question? | 12/20/2009 |
| Q: John: I have a LIONEL VW TRAINMASTER TRANSFORMER 150 WATT. I do not known how to wire the track ... A: That vintage Lionel transformer might be ready to retire and buy a new transformer. If you plan to ... | |
| tracks | 12/5/2009 |
| Q: can you tell me how to fill in gaps between ho tracks. I have a track layout afixed to a board. ... A: Rob, Gaps on HO track are acceptable when they are no wider than a thickness of a credit card. ... | |
| O gauge oil refinery | 10/29/2009 |
| Q: Where can I find already assembled oil storage tanks, and the necessary piping, fittings, shut off ... A: Jack, Unfortunately, nothing is readily available on the market. Here's a few options for you. 1- ... | |
| Carlisle77 | 10/10/2009 |
| Q: I've been looking on and off for years if you know Carlisle 77 i've found the right john schaub. ... A: If you are talking about the car swap meet in PA who could not forget the '64 El Camino in tow. I'm ... | |
| HO Passenger Car Lighting | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: I have three IHC Hobby HO Passenger Cars. Each car has 2-trucks with three pairs of plastic wheels ... A: William, If you want to work with conventional track power for lighting. Contact a hobby dealer ... | |
| HO Passenger Car Lighting | 9/14/2009 |
| Q: I have three IHC Hobby HO Passenger Cars. Each car has 2-trucks with three pairs of plastic wheels ... A: You might consider low voltage LED bulbs via a micro-switch and battery power. Saves time on a lot ... | |
| 1880 + railroad | 8/12/2009 |
| Q: My son is very much into the Lonesome Dove TV Series that aired in the 90's and was set in the ... A: Yes, there's plenty of 1800's era locomotives, passenger and freight cars out in the marketplace. ... | |
| best way to sell HO scale loco. and tender | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: I am hoping to sell a Rivarossi 4-6-2 Crescent Ltd steam locomotove and tender (HO scale). It also ... A: Anita, e-Bay is the best way to sell this engine. I would suggest a series of at least three views ... | |
| HO/OO Scale Platform to Track Measurement | 7/21/2009 |
| Q: I am wanting to lay a length of parallel track so that I may place a 3inch wide island platform in ... A: Greetings Bob A first alternative is to purchase an NMRA clearance gauge. For HO/OO scale. A common ... | |
| General value question | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: My fiance and I are in the process of buying a house that has two HUGE train rooms. The owner passed ... A: Roni, Thanks. I will need lots of photos. Can you tell me the width of the track. Please measure it ... | |
| block wiring | 5/21/2009 |
| Q: I am wanting a SIMPLE explanation of how to run two lionel trains on one loop where one waits and ... A: Patrick, Without getting involved with electronic relays, there is no simple way to do this on a ... | |
| Louis Marx Model Electric Train | 3/27/2009 |
| Q: I have a vintage Louis Marx Model Electric train still in original box. The date on the box is 1958 ... A: In a yellow box with black ink? Go to eBay auctions. Type in Marx Trains. Add to search list the ... | |
| small trains | 3/8/2009 |
| Q: I have some small train pieces and would like to find out a little on them but have searched the ... A: The Life-Like model trains, are they HO or N scale? Most of these were mass produced and sold to ... | |
Model Railroads
John Schaub
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer most anything on: Scenery, Structures, Lighting, Historical Content, Concept and Design. My area of expertise northeastern modeling. Transitional era (steam to diesel) and up and including modern eras. I can not answer questions about wiring or other related electronics issues.
Experience
Model railroader since 1967. Full-time professional model railroad scenery consultant since 1994.
Organizations
none
Publications
pending
Education/Credentials
New York Institute of Technology. Self-taught model railroader.
Awards and Honors
none
Past/Present Clients
Garden City Hotel, Garden City, NY. Willis Hobbies, Mineola, NY. Queens Historical Society, Flushing, NY. Bayside Historical Society, Bayside, NY. Numerous residential clinets.
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