Compendium

A place to gather ideas, observations, and lessons from the world of model railways. Part personal reference, part shared resource, this collection is about exploring and enjoying the craft in all its detail.

Research

Standards

Layout Design

  • Layout Design
  • Study Models – massing models, space planning, spacial qualities, maquette models

Baseboards & Benchwork

Track

Electronics

Locomotives

Copper Tungsten –  (80% tungsten 20% copper) is 85% denser (i.e. heavier) than brass and around 35% more than lead. 

Peter Kirmond – I use 6mm and 1mm sheet to produce milled chassis similar to those stocked by shop 3 of the 2mm Assoc. (3-691). This is expensive and MUCH harder than brass or steel so needs a reasonably solid milling machine and good quality carbide tools (high speed steel drills/files/saws etc. will be blunted in seconds) and lots of patience. But the P2, for example, weights over 200gm and used maybe £30 worth of CuW. Hope this helps.

Small Scale Locomotives

2mm Scale Steam Locomotives

  • Universal Joints
  • Wheels
  • Crankpins (Coil some fine copper wire round an appropriate sized drill and cut off slices of the coil for crankpin washers)
  • Coupling Rods (1mm Steel)
  • Frames (33 thou / 0.84mm Brass)
  • Cylinders
  • Crossheads and Connecting Rods
  • Brake Blocks
  • Carrying Wheels
  • Tenders
  • Hand Rails and Lamp Brackets
  • Boilers
  • Tapered Boilers and the Belpaire Firebox
  • Boiler Mountings and Fittings
  • Chimneys, Domes and Safety Valves
  • Cab Interiors

2mm Scale Diesel Locomotives

The Toolbox

Suppliers

Buildings & Structures

Vernacular architecture

  • Brian McCulloch Braeside Models
  • Approach & Planning
    • Foreground, Middle, and Background Buildings
    • Selective Compression and Forced Perspective
    • Choosing and Using Prototypes
    • Fieldwork, Working from Photographs and Historic References
    • CAD and Manual Scale Drawing Techniques
  • Structure & Construction – “International Pasteboard as used by Roye England has long been unobtainable, as has Apsley Pasteboard which was a superb surface. I really struggled to find good quality white card in the right thickness for 4mm scale as the stuff sold in Art shops is generally too thin, too thick (mountboard) or has a shiny hard surface. I finally sourced some beautiful card from one of our school suppliers that has a surface texture similar to watercolour paper which is ideal for architectural work.
  • Try Pisces Art Specialists www.piscesart.co.uk
  • WBA SRA1 for 680 micron (just over 0.6mm)
  • WC1 2S100 for 12 sheet 750 micron thicker stuff which is good for internal bracing and floors
  • They also sell 280 and 380 micron which is good quality thinner card.
  • Pisces will send small samples if you ask for them. You may be able to buy smaller quantities than those listed or perhaps split a pack with chums.
  • Also try
  • Seawhite of Brighton
  • www.seawhite.co.uk
  • Packs of good quality stiff white pulpboard in various thicknesses
  • Pulpboard has a paper skin with a softer core which can be exposed by cutting and peeling the outer surface giving a rough texture ideal for representing old render, or cob (in westcountry buildings)
  • There have been questions raised in the past as to the durability of card as a medium and the relatively thin material (0.5 – 0.75mm) used for external walls. I can only point to the Madder Valley layout whose buildings date to the 1930s, and some of the early Pendon buildings that were constructed in the 1940s and 50s. Provided the card is well braced internally and not subjected to excessive damp it is and ideal medium for modelling.
  • Hope this helps.
  • Steve Howe
  • Further to obtaining decent card, another useful supplier is Specialist Crafts Ltd based in Leicester, but with extensive mail order www.specialistcrafts.co.uk
  • The definition of thickness of card and board can be a bit confusing as different maufacturers use different specifications, either in weight of grams per square metre (gsm); sheets; or microns. A micron is 0.001mm so 500 micron is 0.5mm thickness.
  • 230 micron = 180gsm (approx) = 0.23mm = 3 sheet
  • 380 micron = 290gsm (approx) = 0.38mm = 6 sheet
  • 500 micron = 420gsm (approx) = 0.50mm = 8 sheet
  • 750 micron = 590gsm (appox) = 0.75mm = 12 sheet
  • Generally card over 230 micron is referred to as ‘board’
  • Specialist can supply sizes from A1, A2 to A4
  • Steve
  • Windows and Doors
    • Modelling Windows
    • Scribing Glazing Bars on Acetate
    • Glazed Doors and Sash Window Techniques
    • Using Transparent Plastics for Glazing
    • Cheats for Background Windows
  • Wall Finishes and Materials
    • Brick and Stone Paper Applications
    • Using Printed and Painted Paper Finishes
    • Scratchbuilding with Card and Pen
    • Adding Relief: Sills, Copings, Quoins
  • Roofing Techniques
    • Slate Roofs: Materials and Methods
    • Double Roman and Plain Tile Roofs
    • Flat, Felted, and Leaded Roofs
    • Corrugated Iron and Asbestos Roofs
    • Thatch
  • Details and Fittings
    • Chimneys and Chimney Pots
    • Gutters, Downpipes, and Verge Boards
    • Etched Details: Railings and Balconies
    • Signs, Lamps, and Shopfront Fittings
  • Painting & Weathering
    • Painting Techniques for Small-Scale Buildings
    • Colour Matching and Muted Tones
    • Weathering Walls and Roofs
    • Lichen, Soot, and Rain Streaks
    • Dry-Brushing and Tinting Tips
  • Backscene and Layout Integration
    • Compressing Backscene Buildings
    • Creating Visual Layers on the Layout
    • Obscuring End-On Views and Enhancing Depth
    • Using Cut-outs and Profile Boards
  • Materials and Tools
    • Card, Paper, Plastic and Acetate – What to Use Where
    • Adhesives: What Works and What Doesn’t
    • Tools and Equipment for Small-Scale Buildings
  • Appendix or Reference Section Titles
    • Useful Dimensions: Bricks, Slates, Tiles and Chimneys
    • Scale Conversions and Material Thicknesses
    • Typical Roof Pitches and Finishes
    • Glossary of Materials and Modelling Terms

Gutters & Downpipes in 2mm Scale

Adding gutters and downpipes to 2mm scale buildings can greatly enhance realism, particularly in close-up photography and exhibition settings. Though small details, well-made rainwater goods help a building feel complete and convincingly part of its surroundings.

Materials for Downpipes

Several materials work well for representing downpipes in 2mm scale, depending on the required diameter and the modeller’s preferred working method.

  • Plastic Rod (Slaters 30 thou, ref 0630)
    Richard Coy recommends Slaters’ grey 30 thou plastic rod (about 0.76 mm diameter), representing a scale pipe of roughly 4½ in, appropriate for industrial or larger domestic buildings. It’s easy to cut, glue, and paint.
    For painting, he suggests a ruling pen technique: open the pen to the width of the pipe, fill it with enamel paint, and run it along the pipe fixed to the wall. Any excess flows behind the pipe and helps adhesion – much neater than trying to mask or brush by hand.
  • Piano Wire (24–20 gauge)
    Piano wire keeps its shape perfectly straight and resists damage but is harder to bend or cut cleanly. It’s widely stocked in model shops. Dave Coward notes that:
    • 24 gauge (≈ 0.51 mm) matches typical domestic downpipes.
    • 20 gauge (≈ 0.91 mm) suits soil pipes or larger industrial applications.
  • Copper Wire
    Jim Watt uses copper wire for downpipes, with an ingenious method for pipe clips and joints. Wrap fine copper wire twice around the main pipe, twist the ends together at the back, and solder. The twisted ends can then be inserted into No. 80 holes in the building to attach the pipe securely. The result is both convincing and durable.
  • Styrene Rod (Plastruct)
    David Long reports good results using Plastruct styrene rod. Combined with ModelU fittings, these produce clean, consistent downpipes that are easy to paint and handle.
    • 0.5 mm for domestic 3 in pipes
    • 0.62 mm for industrial 4 in pipes

Guttering Options

Gutters are trickier than downpipes due to their cross-section and placement. Several proven approaches are in use:

  • Styrene Strip with a Skrawked Groove
    Jim Watt makes the top of the wall 20 thou short, then fits a 20 thou styrene strip with a half-round groove skrawked along the edge using a 1 mm dental burr. Rounding the underside gives the right appearance. This produces integral, realistic gutters — ideal for etched or scratch-built buildings where you want gutters that look built-in rather than stuck on.
  • Brass Half-Round Strip
    Dave Coward uses 1 mm × 0.5 mm brass half-round strip, available from Cambrian Models. The sections can be cut at 45° and soldered neatly around corners, giving robust, sharply defined gutters — ideal for industrial or commercial buildings.
  • Commercial Components
    ModelU offer an excellent range of 3D-printed fittings — shoes, hoppers, holderbats and more — which Andrew Glover and David Long both recommend highly. Although ModelU do not currently produce full gutters in 2mm scale, they have scaled down fittings by request. These parts add crisp, photographic detail in close-up scenes. David Long warns, however, “Don’t be tempted by the Ratio downpipes.” The fittings are overscale and tricky to integrate cleanly with finer guttering.

Ratio and Evergreen Products

Ratio’s half-round plastic gutters remain useful for brick or stone buildings. Evergreen U-channel suits corrugated or asbestos-clad roofs, where square-section gutters were common. Both can be pre-painted and fixed neatly with liquid cement or CA.

Additional Tips

  • Gutters are fixed to soffit boards rather than directly to the wall — worth representing where the eaves detail is visible.
  • Painting order matters: Richard Coy’s ruling-pen method avoids messy masking.
  • Soldered metal parts (brass or copper) benefit from an etch primer before painting.
  • Test-fit all components before weathering or varnishing, as Anthony Heywood’s Dunallander team found.

Final Thoughts

Rainwater goods may seem minor, but in 2mm scale they define the edge of roofs, punctuate façades, and catch highlights in lighting. Choosing the right combination of material and technique — plastic, brass, copper, or 3D-printed — will lift even a plain building to exhibition standard.

Operations