For modeling steel cable, don't use sewing thread—it has stray fibers that look ratty, especially after painting. Instead, use beading thread. This material is thermally bonded, so there's no fraying. Example product: Beadalon WildFire .006 inch (0.5mm) thick, in black, light grey and other colors. Available at Michael's and most craft stores.

My layout is called the GREAT WEST ROCKY MOUNTAIN, KENORA-SUDBURY RAILROAD COMPANY. The general scenery is modelled on my hometown, Kenora, Ontario as [ ... ]

Hopper Weathering Clinic II
By Bill Mock
December 2009

So here's how those BN Hoppers turned out after the surface rust dried. Not bad. I'll [ ... ]

RSLaserkits Cheltenham Station Build by Modelersguild.com

If someone had told me two months ago, that there is such a thing as a Z scale Craftsman kit, [ ... ]