Build a layout that highlights 1950 Lionel

CTTM0518_trackplan

Collectors concentrating on the outfits, locomotives, and accessories offered by Lionel during a single year in the post-World War II era will find inspiration in the compact O gauge layout developed by Robert Banks. He has designed an 11 x 11-foot three-rail display capable of letting three trains operate simultaneously. Build a layout that highlights […]

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Canadian Canyons Series: Part 32 – Carving rock strata

Kent Johnson next to layout scenery

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Now that the sloped mountainsides have an initial surface, Kent returns to the scenes to carve out realistic rock strata. In this segment you’ll quickly learn how to use an inexpensive steak knife, a thinned Sculptamold mixture, and a variety of Woodland Scenics […]

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Plans for a fertilizer blend plant

fertilizerblendplant

Click on the photo or link to download the prototype plans for this fertilizer blend plant. Rich Cobb Fertilizer blend plants have been common rail-served industries since the 1950s. Rich Cobb describes the prototype for his HO model of one of these trackside structures in the April 2018 Model Railroader. Click on the link below […]

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Scott Gould’s concrete roadbed

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Scott Gould Scott Gould Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Zone 5 Concrete strong Sixteen years ago or so I built a layout that loops atop a mound of rock in the center of our backyard. I was agile then, but still had difficulty reaching tracks above a pond. Now, with my 75th birthday rapidly approaching, only my […]

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Rails in New England woods

model steam train on garden railway

Rails in New England: I lived in New England for 40 years. On a recent trip back to the northeast corner of the USA, I visited garden railways, mostly on the coast where trees often grow up to the shore. I also chanced upon some full-scale historic railways, which seemed to crop up everywhere. Predating […]

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Blue star juniper

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Nancy Norris Common name: Blue Star juniper Latin name: Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’ Plant type: Dwarf conifer USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9 Cultural needs: Moist, well drained, neutral or slightly acidic soil; sun or part shade Plant size: 2′ x 3′, spreading Blue Star juniper is a selection from Asian parentage, the Himalayan juniper. A plant […]

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Video 101: Talking pictures

filming an outdoor model railroad with a phone

We can do something with our videos that frontier photographers could not. We can make our pictures talk and make the trains rumble. With sounds, our videos can have mood and a speaking voice. We can make “talkies.” Learning how to add sound to video can be done in under an hour using basic consumer-level […]

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Video 101: Talking pictures

filming an outdoor model railroad with a phone

We can do something with our videos that frontier photographers could not. We can make our pictures talk and make the trains rumble. With sounds, our videos can have mood and a speaking voice. We can make “talkies.” Learning how to add sound to video can be done in under an hour using basic consumer-level […]

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Canadian Canyons Series: Part 31 – Surfacing with Shaper Sheet

Kent Johnson and Drew Halverson next to layout scenery

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Drew and Kent have relied on paper-based Sculptamold to fill in the sloped mountainside thus far. In this episode, they demonstrate another scenery surfacing technique that utilizes a relatively new and versatile product from Woodland Scenics. Watch and learn how easily Shaper Sheet […]

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HO scale Johnstown & Gerryville

HOscaleJohnstownGerryville

Name: Johnstown & Gerryville Layout owner: John Travis Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 13 x 37 with 5 x 17 staging area Prototype: freelanced, inspired by Pennsylvania RR Locale: southwestern Pennsylvania Era: 1953 Mainline run: 240 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 2.5 percent Benchwork: L girder and open grid Height: 42″to […]

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HO scale Sierra Pintada & Western RR

HOscaleSierraPintadaWestern

Name: Sierra Pintada & Western RR Layout owner: Willem Van der Hoeven Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 10′-0″ x 34′-10″ Prototype: freelanced, inspired by old-time western United States railroads Locale: Arizona Era: 1880s Style: shelf Mainline run: 40 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: shelf on consoles Height: 40″ […]

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