Clean all surfaces to be soldered with a fiberglass brush (Radio Shack $5). Also useful for small painting jobs. But don't rub your eyes. Wash your hands after using.
Use rasps, knives, or sandpaper to cut foam instead of heat (or have lots of ventilation). Melted foam releases poison fumes.
Use water-based paints and scenery materials wherever you can. They smell better, are faster, easier to use and clean up, and often work better. The big exception is, of course, modeling water itself.
Before building a layout, draw it out on the floor full-size with chalk, or on paper.
When planning a layout, think of it as a movie set or theme park.
Consider what would make your layout interesting to operate for many years, not just for a few hours.
Cover lichen with ground foam to make it more realistic looking. Use hair spray to attach.
Collect coffee cans, plastic bottles and bowls for future use.
Volunteer to do a program, clinic, or newsletter article. It's amazing what you will learn.
Observe the world around you for color, texture, reflection, balance, proportion, detail, depth, effects of weather, light and shadow. Read a book about photographic composition.
Look at a picture of your layout. Does it look real? What can make it more so?
When taking pictures, get low and close. Set it for a small aperture and long exposure. Best is a pinhole camera or lens. Use a tripod.
If your soldering iron tip is corroded, file it and coat with solder. This can be done many times.
If you find you are melting a lot of ties, you may need a larger soldering iron. You need to be able to heat a small area quickly, melt the solder, and get the heat away fast.
Go to SIG meetings or start one.
Schedule regular operating sessions.
Don't rush.
Find out how real railroads operate.
Ask yourself what business principles can be applied to operations.
Try a wide variety of methods to find out what works best for you in a variety of situations.
Occasionally, try to do something that seems beyond your ability to see if it really is.
Use plenty of lighting, and magnification whenever it would help.
Combine fluorescent and incandescent lighting for a good color balance.
Try a wide variety of scenery materials, and use whatever is most appropriate for a particular need.
Vary color and texture when applying ground foam.
Practice techniques on a diorama before applying it on a layout.
Don't be afraid to bulldoze and start over when needed.
Take plenty of breaks.
It's only a hobby. Relax.
Aim for perfection, but be happy with what you can do.
Don't follow the crowd, unless they are going your way.
There is no best scale. Use whatever offers the best combination of benefits for your purpose.
The Texas Tech Library has some interesting railroad books. You can become a Friend of the Library (and check out books) for $30 a year.
Add small surprises and touches of humor to your layout.
Weather almost everything.
Plan your work, then work your plan.
Ask dumb questions. That's how the experts got to be experts.
Add variety to your life.
Break a big project down into small steps, then set realistic goals as to when to accomplish each step. Revise these as needed.
Organize your tools and materials.
Ask for help, and offer yours.
Try anything once, well almost anything.
Failure is how almost all learning takes place.
Try using colored pencils for dry brushing. Use a lighter shade of the object.
Think easy maintenance.
Keep the backdrop simple. Use it to add depth, but not to distract from the scenery. It will also give your water some blue to reflect.