Waterscape your garden railway: Swirling water stirs the imagination. Splashing shuts out city sounds, and viewers remember seeing famous falls at national parks or smaller watercourses near home. Bridges over brooks urge us to see connections to the land and how plantings create the habitat for a popular scenic attraction. There are countless reasons why […]
Section: How To
Build a steel-frame snow plow
Follow along with author Mike Lafond as he builds a steel-frame snow plow in the Fall and Winter 2019 issues. Download a full-size version of his CAD drawings here. Please note: Check your printer settings before printing. Uncheck the “scale to fit” box. You may need to tile these pieces into two pages. See gray […]
Scratchbuild a freight truck
Mike Lafond Figure 1 Mike Lafond Photo 1 Printed templates glued on the aluminum. I left the templates stuck on the alumimum until I had drilled out all the holes. I “cheated” here and used a bandsaw to cut these pieces from the main sheet. The two upper pieces are the outer bolster parts, cut […]
Turn your own wheelsets
Mike Lafond In the Summer 2019 and Fall 2019 issues, follow along as author Mike Lafond build a metal-frame snow plow. Download this companion piece to turn your own wheelsets. […]
Waterscape your railroad regional reports
The Mynderups keep their plants potted, which they grow on shelf-like terraces within their Redwood Creek and Tallulah Ridge garden railroad. Richard Mynderup Lighting under the Japanese maple illuminates the waterfall and is a beautiful and relaxing scene in the evenings. Richard Mynderup What tricks can you share about integrating water into your railway? Richard […]
Dwarf parrot’s feather
Nancy Norris Common name: Dwarf parrot’s feather Latin name: Myriophyllum aquaticum minima Plant type: Water plant USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-10 (overwinter indoors in colder zones) Cultural needs: Full or partial sun in water Plant size: 2″ high and spreading Dwarf parrot’s feather is one of my favorite aquatics for its lacy, fluffy look and its […]
Railway with a red caboose
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Build an easy Christmas layout
When I learned our 4-year-old granddaughter was visiting my wife Diana and me for Christmas, I was determined to make the holiday extra special by building an O gauge Christmas tree train layout – and I knew where to turn for help. My brother Norman has been a model railroader for as long as I […]
How-to Library: Easy Model Railroad Photography – Episode 1 Introduction
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page In this MRVP exclusive mini-series, Gerry Leone walks you through the basic steps you can use to capture great shots of your model railroad…and you don’t even need an expensive camera to get impressive results! […]
Stuff We Use: Adjustable snap and glue clamps
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page For projects such as building a model structure roof, gluing pieces of styrene at an angle can be tricky. Associate editor Steve Otte shows you how to make this task much easier and quicker with a set of snap-and-glue clamps. […]
Stuff We Use: How to use microbrush applicators
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Microbrush applicators have myriad uses in a model railroader’s workshop. Learn about these useful tools with Model Railroader Senior Editor Dana Kawala. If you need to stock up on microbrushes, get some at the Kalmbach Hobby Store! […]
How-to Library: DCC decoder and capacitor install for a On30 Heisler
See how David Popp installed a Bachmann Trains DCC sound decoder and TCS capacitor into an O scale (1:48) 14-ton Heisler steam locomotive used on the Olympia Logging Co., a popular MRVP project railroad. […]