Classic Toy Trains July 2004

VISIT A 21ST CENTURY MUSEUM LAYOUT

Roger Carp shows how teamwork helps the San Diego 3-Railers build an O gauge masterpiece.

FLYER'S BELL-RINGING DIESEL

Ted Hamler takes a close look at the prototype of American Flyer's postwar "Defender" diesel.

BEHIND THE SCENES AT TM BOOKS & VIDEO

Roger Carp visits Tom McComas and the creative team behind TM's toy train videos.

TROUBLESHOOTING BAD WIRING

Terry Thompson shows you how to attack wiring gremlins on your layout one step at a time.

TINPLATE 4-BY-8 LAYOUT

Rob Lihani displays his Lionel O gauge trains in an art deco setting.

BEER AND CIGARETTES

Roger Carp reveals how Lionel's 1970s and '80s alcohol and tobacco freight cars were products of their time.

9 PAINT TIPS FOR PLASTIC BUILDINGS

Jene Hughes shows how to make kit and pre-assembled structures look even better.

PLASTIC AND TOY TRAINS, PART 2

Joseph H. Lechner concludes his 2-part series, focusing on how injection-molding shaped the postwar Lionel and American Flyer lines.

INVISIBLE INFRARED CONTROLLER

Chuck Brough shows how to mount Lionel no. 153IR controllers under your layout.

LONG RUN WITH A TWIST

This 50-year-old O gauge track plan has been re-drawn with MTH RealTrax.

PHOTO ALBUM

How can you get a photo of your layout into CLASSIC TOY TRAINS? Easy, submit it to Photo Album, our newest regular feature.

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE OF CTT:Bob Keller reviews the latest trains from Weaver, American Models, Williams, and MTH;industry news; Q&A operator tips with Ray L. Plummer; and our popular Collectible Classics column.