Copper Range RR caboose drawings

CopperRangeRRcaboose

Check out these plans for a Copper Range RR caboose from Model Railroader magazine. When I scratchbuild rolling stock, I do my best ­to follow a prototype. I typically select a subject from one of my favorite railroads, which happen ­to be the Soo Line, Chicago & North Western, and neighboring roads. The Russell Car & Snow-Plow Co. […]

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HO scale Pennsylvania RR

PennsylvaniaRR

Name: Pennsylvania RR Layout designer: Brent Monahan Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: layout 51⁄2 x 191⁄2 feet, dioramas 41⁄2 x 17 feet Locale: north of Princeton, N.J., to New York Era: 1959 Style: island (layout) and dioramas Mainline run: 10 feet (visible track) on layout Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent […]

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HOn3 Glenwood & Black Creek

GlenwoodBlackCreek

Name: Glenwood & Black Creek Scale: HOn3 (1:87.1) Size: 16′-6″ x 35′-0″ Locale: western United States Theme: western narrow gauge Period: 1930s – 1940s Turnout minimum: no. 6 Minimum curve radius: 24″ Maximum grade: 2 percent (main), or 3 percent (branches) Originally appeared in the May 2014 Model Railroader. Click on the link to download […]

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Great structure projects and techniques

yhst-22106725251441_2125_50014390

Learn how to build structures for your model railroad from a variety of materials including styrene, wood, cast plaster, and other materials. Includes 5 complete construction projects and tips for adding detail to stone, brick, roofs, and more. ($5.95, 35 pages, 2.7 KB) Download this article collection today! […]

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Rice Harbor freight car roster

RiceHarborfreightcarroster

1930s-era freight cars and locomotive on Model Railroader‘s Rice Harbor project layout. Accurail No. 2500 series Norfolk & Western USRA twin hoppers (2) No. 4111 Virginian 40-foot outside braced-boxcar with wood doors and wood ends No. 4311 New York Central 40-foot outside-braced boxcar with wood doors and metal ends No. 43041 Pennsylvania 40-foot outside-braced boxcar […]

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Farewell to an N scale pioneer

FarewelltoanNscalepioneer

Jim FitzGerald, left, converses with the yardmaster at the Santa Fe yard in Bakersfield, Calif., in the early 1980s. Jim’s home layout was a superbly done multi-module intermodal yard. Last summer we lost Jim FitzGerald, one of the N scale community’s great ­pioneers. He’d just turned 90. He was one of my personal heroes and […]

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Basic Training: Adjusting wheelsets

Hands checking wheel gauge

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page If you have trouble with your rolling stock staying on the rails, you should check the wheelsets. In this video, Cody shows you how to check and adjust the wheels on model trains. […]

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Basic Training: Adhesives and Glues

Kent Johnson next to assortment of glues

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page With such a wide array of materials used in model railroading today, it can be challenging to figure out which glues and adhesives you’ll want to have on hand. Kent Johnson of MR Video Plus takes a quick look at some of the […]

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Build a covered loading platform in 1:29 scale

Build a covered loading platform in 1:29 scale

Download the PDF of this project here. This PDF is formatted to print on your home printer. Most pieces are formatted to fit on a 8.5″ x 11″ piece of paper. For larger parts of the plan, you will see “break lines.” Line up the break lines to create the larger piece. PLEASE NOTE: This […]

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HO scale Lime Ridge & Hercules and Portland & Western

LimeRidgeHerculesandPortlandWesternRR

Name: Lime Ridge & Hercules and Portland & Western Layout designer: Steven Otte Scale: HO Size: 8 x 12 feet Theme: Stone and gravel industries Locale: generic Era: late steam to early transition era Style: around-the-walls Mainline run: 63 feet Minimum radius: 15″ Minimum turnout: Atlas 18″ Snap-Switch (rest are no. 4) Maximum grade: 2 […]

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HO scale Pennsylvania RR’s Middle Division

PennsylvaniaRRsMiddleDivision

Name: Pennsylvania RR’s Middle Division Layout designer: Will Darrow Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 24 x 36 feet Prototype: Pennsylvania RR Locale: Mifflin to Lewistown, Pa. Era: steam-to-diesel transition era Style: walk-in Mainline run: 130 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Originally appeared in the April 2014 Model Railroader. Click […]

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The O scale Buckeye RR

TheBuckeyeRR

Name: The Buckeye RR Layout designer: Herm Botzow Scale: O (1:48) Size: 37 x 56 feet Locale: northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania Era: June 1956 Style: walk in Mainline run: 368 feet Minimum radius: 54″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 1.5 percent Originally appeared in the April 2014 Model Railroader. Click on the link […]

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