1. White moss thyme (Thymus praecox ‘Albiflorus’), 1-2″ in height, with tiny white blooms in June, trails over the water’s edge. No need to trim this thyme, with the possible exception of shearing old growth in early spring. Two months beyond blooming thyme, Dan Saporito left a few gray twigs in place to give it […]
Section: How To
N scale Tehachapi Subdivision
Name: Tehachapi Subdivision Scale: N (1:160) Size: 11 x 13 feet Prototype: Southern Pacific RR and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry. Locale: Tehachapi Pass and Modesto in California Era: early summer 1995 Style: island Benchwork: L-girder Height: 38″ to 48″ Roadbed: cork Track: code 80 flextrack Mainline run: 75 feet Minimum radius: 17″ (main […]
S scale All American Railroads
Name: All American Railroads Scale: S (1:64) Size: 20 x 24 feet Theme: freelanced Locale: generic North America Era: 1950s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 116 feet Minimum radius: 42″ Minimum turnout: no. 8 Maximum grade: 1.5 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: 42″ Roadbed: cork on plywood Track: Shinohara code 100 Scenery: drywall compound over extruded-foam insulation board […]
Winston-Salem Southbound Series: Handlaying track – Part 2
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page MR contributing editor Tony Koester continues handlaying a turnout on MRVP’s HO scale Winston-Salem Southbound layout. In this episode, Tony shows how to sand, prep, and stain the wood ties prior to installing the rail. […]
Winston-Salem Southbound Series: Handlaying track – Part 3
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Model railroading masters like Tony Koester have the experience and skills to handlay near-perfect trackwork on the fly. But most of us can use as many of the helpful hobby tools and aids as we can muster! In this bonus video, David Popp […]
Winston-Salem Southbound Series: Installing Homasote roadbed
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Construction continues on MRVP’s HO scale Winston-Salem Southbound layout. In this video, David Popp shows how to add Homasote roadbed along the track plan he transferred onto the plywood subroadbed. […]
Winston-Salem Southbound Series: Handlaying track – Part 1
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Renowned MR contributing editor Tony Koester helps take your modeling skills to the next level by walking you through the process of handlaying a turnout on MRVP’s HO scale Winston-Salem Southbound layout. In part one of multiple videos, Tony first discusses turnout terminology […]
Red Oak Series: Weathering freight cars
Now that scenes on Model Railroader magazine’s 3 x 7-foot N scale Red Oak layout are nearly compete, MR associate editor Eric White turns his attention to enhancing the rolling stock with realistic weathering effects. In this video, Eric shares his techniques for applying weathering powders on both dark and light-colored freight cars. […]
Winston-Salem Southbound Series: Attaching subroadbed
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Every layout, including MRVP’s HO scale Winston-Salem Southbound Railway, needs a foundation or “subroadbed” for attaching trackwork. In this video, David Popp shows how to install plywood subroadbed over L-girder benchwork. Along the way, he pauses to share helpful tips for making minor […]
Model Railroad Operations: Trailing and facing point moves
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader magazine’s contributing editor Andy Sperandeo shows how to make trailing and facing point switching maneuvers on a layout of any size or scale. Viewers get to see and hear Andy talking through the steps, as he operates a diesel locomotive on […]
Plans for the rail-served Clay Spur bentonite plant
Vic Worthington built an impressive HO scale model of the Clay Spur bentonite plant that’s featured in the July 2015 Model Railroader. Bentonite is an absorbent clay that’s used in many industrial and consumer products and is often transported by rail. […]
HO scale Carol Valley RR
Name: Carol Valley RR Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 12′-9″ x 18′-6″ Prototype: freelanced subsidiary of Baltimore & Ohio Locale: West Virginia Era: early 1950s Style: around the walls with dropdown Mainline run: 70 feet point-to-point, 98 feet with continuous run Minimum radius: 20″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: open grid, L-girder, […]