Build a newspaper vending machine

Build a newspaper vending machine

Add some interest to your railroad by building a newspaper vending machine. Jack Verducci provides full-size PDF drawings. For the full article, read the December 2016 issue. Note: These drawings are full-size for 1/2″ scale. To make them in other scales, follow the chart below. For 1:32 scale, reduce the drawings to 75% For 1:22.5 […]

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Beyond Alberta spruce

conifers2

1. The two darker trees on the right are Jean’s Dilly Alberta spruce (Picea glauca ‘Jean’s Dilly’, Zones 3-8), unpruned. The lighter-colored tree above the railtruck is a pruned dwarf Alberta spruce (Picea glauca ‘Conica’, Zones 4-8—author’s former garden railroad). Don Parker 2. Miniature moss false cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Squarrosa Minima’, Zones 4-8) is scale-appropriate […]

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Blue Pyramid cypress

pyramid_unpruned

Unpruned Nancy Norris Common name: Blue Pyramid cypress Latin name: Cupressus arizonica ‘Blue Pyramid’ Plant type: Dwarf conifer USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-9 Cultural needs: Average-to-poor well-drained soil; sun or light shade Plant size: Fast growing to 20′ in 10 years but easily pruned annually to stay under 3′ Pruned Nancy Norris Blue Pyramids are just […]

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Proxxon Tools disc sander

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Marc Horovitz Disc sander Proxxon Tools PO Box 1909 Hickory NC 28603 Price: $300 Website: www.proxxon.com 9 3/4″ disc sander (#TSG 250/E); cast-aluminum housing; double ball-bearing spindle; aluminum, tilting work table; electronic speed control; adjustable miter gauge; owner’s manual; approximate footprint: 11″ x 11″; height, 14″ Pros: Solid construction; easily replacable sanding discs; variable-speed motor; […]

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TrainLine’s narrow gauge 0-6-0-T

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Kevin Strong DCC-equipped 1:22.5 scale, gauge 1, steam-outline locomotive TrainLine Made in Germany Available from: Train Li 3 Kensington Way Upton MA 01568 Prices: $945 (analog DC); $1,145 (DCC) Website: www.trainli.com Mostly plastic steam-outline 0-6-0T; plastic side rods and valve gear; power pickup from all wheels plus skates; working headlights and cab light; available as […]

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Vilas County Lumber Company turntable plan set

turntable1

Turntable plan set in 1:24 scale Vilas County Lumber Company 12306 Lakeview Trail Homer Glen IL 60491 Prices: $18; plans only, $13; free shipping Website: www.VCLCo.com Photos of eight different turntables; full-size plans for 1:24-scale 60′ Lassig turntable; eight 9 1/2″ x 13″ pages and three 13″ x 19″ pages; spiral bound; printed in color; […]

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Making movies without a video camera

A camera pointing out an outdoor layout

GoPro cameras, cell-phone cameras, and video-capable DSLR cameras are everywhere. This column will review a dozen examples of video technique from my “Video 101” workshop, presented at the National Garden Railway Convention. Columns will include suggestions, with photographic links to a short demonstration videos of some Bay Area railroads. I recently saw a man filming […]

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Making movies without a video camera

A camera pointing out an outdoor layout

GoPro cameras, cell-phone cameras, and video-capable DSLR cameras are everywhere. This column will review a dozen examples of video technique from my “Video 101” workshop, presented at the National Garden Railway Convention. Columns will include suggestions, with photographic links to a short demonstration videos of some Bay Area railroads. I recently saw a man filming […]

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Video: Kato HO SD40-2 and EMD 2nd Generation Sound Card

Kato HO SD402 and EMD 2nd Generation Sound Card

Kato USA released a Second-generation Electro-Motive Division (EMD) Sound Card that’s a perfect match to its new HO scale mid-production SD40-2. Check out the realistic effects provided by SoundTraxx as Model Railroader senior editor Dana Kawala demonstrates the new Sound Card with a Kato Sound Box controller. […]

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Off The Rails: Episode 6

Fingers holding a small metal ring.

This episode of Off The Rails is nuts! But it’ll make perfect sense to a smart and savvy model railroader like you, and the show host Gerry Leone! While Gerry ventures away from the rails, he still manages to keep right on track in one particular aisle of his local hardware store. Join him as […]

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