Classic Toy Trains recommends these six tried-and-true tips for simple scenery that goes beyond sparse displays of “trees” or a random tunnel and will improve nearly any toy train layout. 1. Start with foam framework A 4 x 8-foot sheet of 2- or 3-inch-thick pink or blue extruded foam insulation board is much lighter than […]
Modeling Topic: Scenery
Five inexpensive garden railroad tools
Here are five tools for a garden railroad you can make or obtain cheaply. 1. Make a ballast broom If you do a lot of reballasting (or ballasting) on your railway, take an old 4-inch paint brush and attach the handle with screws to an extension pole about 3 feet long. This becomes a mini-broom […]
Make quick-and-easy junked cars for toy train layouts
Toy train layout operators foiled by the lack of inexpensive details can you aluminum foil as the raw materials for unlimited “junked cars.” Best of all, the project won’t strain your how-to skills and will add detail to your layout. You’ll need heavy-duty foil, gloss black paint, your choice of flat colors, a hobby knife, […]
It’s My Railroad with Steve Brown: Waterworks, Ep. 21
What’s a port without the water? A drydock at best! So after months of work around and about his N scale (1:160) layout, host Steve Brown finally gets his feet wet in the Port Smith scene. Follow along to see what went right, what went wrong, and how he fixed it all the “Regular Guy” […]
It’s My Railroad with Steve Brown: Waterworks, Ep. 21
What’s a port without the water? A drydock at best! So after months of work around and about his N scale (1:160) layout, host Steve Brown finally gets his feet wet in the Port Smith scene. Follow along to see what went right, what went wrong, and how he fixed it all the “Regular Guy” […]
Trains.com Holiday Party: Scrap Box Scenery, Episode 9
The Trains.com Holiday Party continues with David Popp suited up to make some special layout scenes using little more than odds and ends he’s cobbled together. Even better, everything he made was assembled in a single afternoon. […]
Trains.com Holiday Party: Scrap Box Scenery, Episode 9
The Trains.com Holiday Party continues with David Popp suited up to make some special layout scenes using little more than odds and ends he’s cobbled together. Even better, everything he made was assembled in a single afternoon. […]
The Hills Line with James McNab: More Scenery Secrets, Episode 8
Host James McNab shares how he combined sticks and leaves, and applies water effects to help add an authentic appearance to his HO scale Hills Line layout. These and other scenery construction considerations and insights will help lead you to incredibly realistic results! […]
The Hills Line with James McNab: More Scenery Secrets, Episode 8
Host James McNab shares how he combined sticks and leaves, and applies water effects to help add an authentic appearance to his HO scale Hills Line layout. These and other scenery construction considerations and insights will help lead you to incredibly realistic results! […]
Off the Rails, Episode 52
What once was lost, has now been found! Hard to believe, but host Gerry Leone left some remarkable tips on the cutting room floor. Being a resourceful guy, he’s collected enough nuggets and polished them into helpful modeling gems for this episode of Off The Rails! […]
Off the Rails, Episode 52
What once was lost, has now been found! Hard to believe, but host Gerry Leone left some remarkable tips on the cutting room floor. Being a resourceful guy, he’s collected enough nuggets and polished them into helpful modeling gems for this episode of Off The Rails! […]
Trains.com Holiday Party: Seawalls and waves, Episode 1
The holiday season is here — and that’s a pretty good reason for Trains.com’s preeminent host David Popp to have a party! As the mini-series plays out this month, join David (along with other special guests) as he reveals some of the modeling/layouts projects and quick-hitting techniques keeping him engaged in the hobby. First up, […]