Host and star of MRVP’s Off the Rails, Gerry Leone, is returning to Trains.com with a new series on building a new layout for his home in the Pacific Northwest — Back on Track. In recent years, Gerry not only scrapped his old layout, but he moved from his existing home in a brand-new house […]
Section: Layout Builds
The Hills Line with James McNab: More Scenery Secrets, Episode 8
Host James McNab shares how he combined sticks and leaves, and applies water effects to help add an authentic appearance to his HO scale Hills Line layout. These and other scenery construction considerations and insights will help lead you to incredibly realistic results! […]
Off the Rails, Episode 52
What once was lost, has now been found! Hard to believe, but host Gerry Leone left some remarkable tips on the cutting room floor. Being a resourceful guy, he’s collected enough nuggets and polished them into helpful modeling gems for this episode of Off The Rails! […]
It’s My Railroad with Steve Brown: Details, details, details, Ep. 20
Details, details, details! Our “Regular Guy” Steve Brown keeps the banter at bay, before jumping into how he uses computer printouts to make building interiors and exterior signage. Plus, he shares how and where to add big crates, bound loads of lumber, and many other details to complete his authentic N scale Port Smith setting! […]
The Hills Line with James McNab: Scenery Secrets, Episode 7
Host James McNab shares secrets to making scenic showcases on his HO scale Hills Line model railroad. You’ll see that repetition is a helpful thing when it comes to making realistic scenery layers. From applying a single coat of paint, to adding static grass, to making stone ballast, James demonstrates that rinse and repeat techniques […]
Winston-Salem Southbound Series: Switching the Winston-Salem Southbound
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Work on our Winston-Salem Southbound HO scale layout is complete. Now it’s time to try running it like the real thing! Once the paperwork is order, David Popp walks first-time operator Jenny Maaske through a typical switching sequence. Along the way, David explains […]
Video: SoundTraxx equipped HO Atlas U30B on the Eagle Mountain RR
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page In the November 2017 issue of Model Railroader associate editor Eric White shows how he used some parts on hand to install a sound system into an Atlas HO scale U30B locomotive. These parts include a SoundTraxx Tsunami decoder and speaker. Check out […]
Building the HO scale Bay Junction layout
Bay Junction was a project railroad for the editors of Model Railroaders in the early 2010s. Track plans and videos for that project are linked to below. Bay Junction track plans The Bay Junction track plan Industries and tracks and Williams Bay Bay Junction overview article Read the first article about the second Milwaukee, […]
Build the 3 x 7 Red Oak layout online extras
The 2015 N scale Red Oak project layout Fifty miles west of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy RR division point of Creston, Iowa, lies the town of Red Oak, the inspiration for Model Railroader’s 2015 project model train layout. Named for the trees that line the Red Oak Creek, the town came into being with […]
The Hills Line with James McNab: Harnessing electrons and wiring electronic devices, Episode 6
In this episode of The Hills Line, host James McNab crawls under his emerging HO scale layout to walk and talk you through wiring techniques. His focus on harnessing electrons and connecting electronic devices promises to make the model railroad action especially interesting atop the benchwork! […]
It’s My Railroad with Steve Brown: Completing the cement loading terminal, Ep. 19
Host Steve “Regular Guy” Brown shares views of his completed scratchbuilt cement loading terminal. Plus, you’ll also get to see an assortment of details he’s added to his Port Smith North setting on his N scale layout. All of that, and even more! […]
The Hills Line with James McNab: Highways & Byways, Episode 5
The Hills Line host James McNab takes you on a trip through road construction techniques on his HO scale layout. In particular, you’ll see his special attention to the design, installation, and coloring of a roadway grade crossing. Follow along to see how you too can build authentic, easily repeated roads and streets in any […]