Name: Leadville & Red Cliff RR Layout owner: Bill Brown Scale: HO and HOn3 (1:87.1) Size: 25 x 40 feet Prototype: Union Pacific, BNSF Ry. (lower level); Denver & Rio Grande Western, Rio Grande Southern, and Silverton RR narrow gauge lines (upper level) Locale: central Colorado Era: present day (lower level), 1949 (D&RGW and RGS), […]
Section: How To
Oregon, California & Eastern RR
Name: Oregon, California & Eastern Ry. Scale: HO scale (1:87.1) Size: 60 x 96 feet Theme: freelanced, bridge line based on the OC&E Locale: central, southern, and western Oregon Era: Fall 1975 Style: double deck, point-to-point with connecting staging yards Mainline run: 1,353 feet (20.5 scale miles); Sycan Branch, 118 feet; Coastal branch, 72 feet […]
Canadian Canyons Series: Part 34 – Rock coloring and more
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page The flexible foam, rubber, and Sculptamold rocks are now set on our Canadian Canyons N scale layout! Kent Johnson now shows you how to blend these bits using liquid pigment washes and subtle drybrushing techniques. And to keep the progress rolling, David Popp […]
PDF: Build Gull Pond Station
Download the plan to build a 1:22.5-scale station. To learn more about converting this to another scale, see our free conversion chart.Click on the icon to download this PDF project.Part 1 Part 2 Note: This PDF is formatted to print on your home printer. Most pieces are formatted to fit on a 8.5″ x 11″ […]
Napa Valley Wine Train drive by
In the April and June 2018 issues, Raymond Parent shows you how to make a Napa Valley Wine Train Super Dome car using 3D printing. John Cushman thoughtfully provided this video to share with our readers of the prototype train. Enjoy! […]
How-to Library: Arduinos in Model Railroading – Part 4 Background Sounds
To conclude this MRVP mini-series, part 4 presents Gerry Leone’s tips and tricks for using an Arduino to add sound effects to his layout. As with other episodes in this series, Gerry walks and talks you through the steps you can follow to enhance your model railroad with sounds ranging from chirping birds to bustling […]
Canadian Canyons Series: Part 33 – Flexible foam and rubber rocks
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Looking to add a detailed rock face in a space that’s tall, narrow, and situated along a curved track section? In this episode of the N scale Canadian Canyons Series, Kent Johnson shows he’s up to the challenge as he demonstrates how to […]
Realistic weathering tips for freight car models
This view of the Daneville Yard on Pelle Søeborg’s HO scale Union Pacific layout shows a variety of equipment with weathered roofs. He completed all of the weathering with powdered pastels, hobby paints, and an airbrush Years ago, when I became interested in weathering model trains, I found it extremely difficult to find roof photos, […]
HO scale Chester Branch
Name: The Chester Branch Prototype: Morristown & Erie Ry. Era: 2016 Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 10′-0″ x 12′-4″ Minimum radius: 24″ main line, 20″ branch Minimum turnout: Peco no. 5 Maximum grade: 3 percent This track plan originally appeared in Model Railroading: The Ultimate Guide. Click on the link to download a PDF copy of […]
O scale Olympia Logging Co. v.2
Name: Olympia Logging Co. v.2 Scale: On30 (1:48 narrow gauge) Size: 1’-10” x 13’-0” Minimum radius: NA Minimum turnout: Peco On30 code 100 Maximum grade: 6.9 percent Height: 40” This track plan originally appeared in Model Railroading: The Ultimate Guide. Click on the link to download a PDF copy of this track plan. […]
HO scale Piedmont & Western RR
Name: Piedmont & Western RR Layout owner: Jack Parker Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 20 x 20 feet plus 12 x 40 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by the Clinchfield RR Locale: North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia Era: early to mid-1950s Style: multilevel, walk-in Mainline run: 600 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 […]
OO scale British Railways
Name: British Railways Layout owner: Chris White Scale: OO (1:76 on HO gauge track) Size: 15′-0″ x 19′-6″, plus 6′-0″ x 13′-0″ staging in adjacent room Prototype: British Railways – Southern Region Locale: southern England Era: 1960 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 120 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: Peco large radius (main), small and medium […]