This post explains how to increase the number of controllable signals of a model railway from iTrain in an economical way, with an approximate cost of 0.7€/output using DCC-EX. I control the locomotives and turnouts with the ROCO Z21 application or from iTrain. The problem is that to control traffic signals and building lights to…
Coal load for freight wagon
Steps to create a coal load for an open-top freight wagon. It takes around 10 minutes per wagon but could be reduced if done in batches. Steps:
Forest area base and ballast
Preparation of the forest was done by cutting a wood to shame and gluing brown and light brown dirt. Ballasting was done as always but with different ballast from Noch. White dots represent placement for trees.
Improving the bridges
The layout has two bridges. One in the back composed by NOCH-21320 and one in the front composed by NOCH-21320 + 2x NOCH-21350 and the piers from NOCH-21400. The original bridge was grey, which is a common colour seen in this kind of layouts, but I felt it looked as cheap plastic. I decided to…
DIY Trees for H0 scale
I want to create a small forest in my layout. Trees are expensive and most of they feel like plastic. I decided to attempt to create a tree by using wire and rope. The process is straightforward but hard to master. I have tried different variations, in order from left to right: These attempts do…
DIY Programming on siding track with Z21 Starter
I sometimes want to program CV to one locomotive without the need to remove other locomotives from the track (POM). To avoid this, added a siding with a DPDS connected to the Z21 white. This allows to bring a loco to the siding, change the switch, program the loco and after changing the switch again…
Industrial diorama
Before adding a railway crossing to my layout, more experience was needed. This triggered the construction of a small industrial diorama. This diorama would add a first experience of road and railroad crossing construction and building painting. The construction was straightforward: wooden base, white plaster for the road, static grass and an old building I…
Making a wire tree
I started by using garden wire. To create the structure of the tree. Then the structure is covered with modpodge mate glue. I sprayed the top with glue and added some grass to act as a small branches, it did not work as expected. Everything was then painted with airbrush. I ended up gluing coarse…
Railway crossing internal circle
The internal circle railway crossing is made with the same process as the one of the external circle.
Railway crossing external circle
The external loop had a “dirt road” and a tunnel entrance that needed some improvement. After removing the dirt and cleaning, plaster was used to make a more leveled countryside road. Using a knife and an old wagon ensured clearance on the rails. Once the plaster is dry it is painted, ballast added to the…









