I clean my solder joints off with lacquer thinner and after dry, apply denatured alcohol. Let dry and paint. Never had any problem with paint...
Slink is easy to fix. I just put an MT axle spring on one axle of my rolling stock.
I am not planning on real water because of all the inherent problems. My main complaint on the water that I've seen on layouts is that it tends...
I am about to try making running water (stream) and water falls. My experience with "how to" books is negative since it's what they don't tell ya...