In the December 2014 issue, contributor Michael Herhusky explains how to build a curved trestle to fit any location. Download the article he used to build his trestle bents here! […]
Build a curved trestle
Section: How To
Build a Mason Bogie locomotive
In the December 2014 issue, Mike Garforth shows us how to kitbash a Mason Bogie, using a Piko locomotive as a starting point. Mike has generously provided 10 step-by-step PDFs detailing the project. Also, despite our best efforts to compress these files, they are graphically intense and may take a few minutes to download. Part […]
Hardscape using cement products
1. Edward Van Pelt’s small yard in hilly San Francisco required retrofitting by reusing the underside of walkways as new hardscape. Stacked, recycled concrete (also from on site) forms the hill on the right. Planted with pink-flowering red stonecrop (Sedum spurium ‘Dragon’s Blood’ Zones 3-9), elevated terraces resist erosion from earthquakes and four dogs. In […]
False bleeding heart
Nancy Norris Common names: False bleeding heart, Yellow corydalis, Yellow fumitory Latin name: Corydalis lutea Plant type: Perennial USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8 Cultural needs: Moist, well drained, mildly acid or mildly alkaline soil; shade to part shade Plant size: 6-12″ Native to the southern Alps of Europe, yellow corydalis (kor-ID-ah-liss) sports tubular, spurred flowers on […]
HO scale Nickel Plate Road, St. Louis Division
Name: Nickel Plate Road, St. Louis Division Layout designer: Tony Koester Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 24′-6″ x 60′-6″ Theme: high-speed flatlands railroading Locale: west-central Indiana, east-central Illinois Era: fall 1954 Style: multi-deck Mainline run: 500 feet Minimum radius: 42″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 (yard), no. 8 (main) Maximum grade: 1.5 percent Originally appeared in the […]
On30 Jemez & Rio Grande (“The Chili Line”)
Name: Jemez & Rio Grande (“The Chili Line”) Layout designer: Jim Gore Scale: On30 (1:48 proportion on 30″ narrow gauge track) Size: 12 x 16 feet Prototype: Denver & Rio Grande Western Santa Fe Division Locale: northern New Mexico Era: October 1951 Style: island style layout with continuous run Mainline run: 64 feet Minimum turnout: […]
Do you know where your boxcar is?
In the December 2014 Model Railroader, Seth Neumann and Chris Drone wrote an article about using radio-frequency identification (RFID) and a computer to track rolling stock and new possibilities for operation. Prototype railroads have been using scanning technology since the late 1960s. Automatic Car Identification (ACI) used an optical reader and a color-coded plate to […]
Olympia Logging Series: Part 30 – Steam locomotive weathering
While we’ve addressed how to weather modern diesel locomotives in other MRVP videos, David Popp takes on the challenge of giving the Olympia Logging Co. steam locomotives an aged appearance. Follow along as he demonstrates how to use an airbrush to apply various paint color effects — all without impacting the performance of our layout […]
Big steam in the coal fields
Layout designer: Ray Stuber Scale: O Layout size: 8 x 12 Track type: Lionel Fastrack Minimum curve: O-31 Originally appeared in the December 2014 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Steam in the coal fields track plan Steam in the coal fields track plan schematic […]
Olympia Logging Series: Part 27 – Applying ground cover
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page How could we?! Truth be told, we almost forgot to get MRVP’s Jenny Maaske involved in the construction of our On30 Olympia Logging Co. display-style layout. Lucky for us, she was willing to jump right in and get her hands dirty helping Kent […]
HO scale Bona Vista RR
Name: Bona Vista RR Layout designer: Gerry Leone Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 14′-6″ x 30′-0″ Prototype: freelance Locale: northern Wisconsin and Minnesota Period: 1953 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 200 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 1 percent Originally appeared in Great Model Railroads 2015. Click on the link to download […]
N scale Burnt Hills & Big Flats RR
Name: Burnt Hills & Big Flats RR Layout designer: Steve Prevette Scale: N (1:160) Size: 20 x 30 feet Prototype: inspired by NYO&W Locale: northern Pennsylvania and central New York Period: June 5, 1970 Style: Around the walls with peninsulas Mainline run: 203 feet Minimum radius: 12″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 3 percent […]
