Canadian Canyons Series: Part 2 – Legs and wheels

David Popp under benchwork

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page The next stage of framework construction takes creature comforts into consideration! In this video, David first discusses how to establish the ideal layout height. He then shows how to install the layout legs, complete with sturdy casters that help keep model railroads on […]

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HO scale Milwaukee, Racine & Troy RR (2017)

HOscaleMRTtrackplan

Name: Milwaukee, Racine & Troy RR Layout owner: Model Railroader staff Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 28 x 54 feet Prototype: freelanced bridge line Locale: Southeastern Wisconsin Era: 1980s and 1990s Style: walk-in Mainline run: approx. 200 feet Minimum radius: 36″ (main) Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 4 spurs Maximum grade: 3 percent eastbound, 1.5 […]

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HO scale Union Pacific Spine Line

HOscaleUnionPacificSpineLinetrackplan1

Name: UP’s Spine Line Layout owner: Bob Sprague Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 10 x 18 feet Prototype: Union Pacific Locale: Eastern Iowa Era: modern Style: double-deck around-the-walls Mainline run: 74 feet visible, plus helixes Minimum radius: 27″ (main), 24″ (industrial and wyes) Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2.75 percent This track plan originally appeared […]

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N scale Union Pacific Spine Line

NscaleUnionPacificSpineLinetrackplan

Click the image to download a copy of the track plan. Name: UP’s Spine Line Layout owner: Bob Sprague Scale: N (1:160) Size: 10′-0″ x 17′-6″ Prototype: Union Pacific Locale: Eastern Iowa Era: modern Style: walkaround Mainline run: 59 feet Minimum radius: 15″ (main), 12″ (industrial and wyes) Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: none […]

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HO scale Dyer Junction & Eureka

HOscaleDyerJunctionEureka

Name: Dyer Junction & Eureka Layout Owner: Jim Molloy Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 5′-4″ x 15′-9″ Prototype: freelance Locale: Northern California Era: mid 1930s Style: shelf Mainline run: 15′-9″ Minimum radius: 15″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: none Benchwork: 1 x 3 joists topped with 1/4″ plywood and 2″ Styrofoam Height: 43″ Roadbed: 1/16″ […]

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HO scale Baltimore & Ohio Ridgley Division

HOscaleBORidgleyDivisiontrackplan1

Name: Baltimore & Ohio Ridgley Division Layout owner: Dale Ridgeway Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 18 x 20 feet Prototype: inspired by the B&O, Pennsylvania RR, Norfolk & Western Locale: central West Virginia Era: 1964 to 1967 Style: multilevel, walk in Mainline run: 175 feet Minimum radius: 24″ (main), 18″ (balloon track at D. Lee Coal […]

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HO scale Central Vermont RR

HOscaleCentralVermonttrackplan

Name: Central Vermont Layout owner: Dave Mitchell Scale: HO (1:87.1) Layout size: 4 x 8 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by Central Vermont Locale: northern Vermont Era: early 1950s Mainline run: 18 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 3.6 percent Benchwork: L-girder Height: 45″ Roadbed: cork on Homasote Track: code 83 sectional […]

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Olympia 2, The Log Blog: Part 1 – Olympia on the Move!

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page MRVP’s David Popp plans to keep the wintertime woes away by building an addition to the Olympia Logging Co. On30 display-style layout we started in 2014. Even better, he’ll host a video blog highlighting the planning and construction of the extension. But first, […]

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Canadian Canyons Series: Part 1 – Building the framework

David Popp with wood pieces

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page The fun begins as David Popp launches into the effort to assemble our N scale Canadian Canyons project layout! In this first of several videos addressing benchwork, David shows how to use a butt-joint framing technique to build a substructure that’s both rigid […]

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