Name: Rice Harbor Layout designer: David Popp Scale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 5 x 8 feet, plus a 9″ x 40″ folding carfloat extension Prototype: freelanced short line Locale: coastal South Carolina Era: 1930s Style: island, portable Mainline run: 18 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 (main), Atlas 18″ radius Snap-Switch (spurs) Maximum grade: none […]
Section: How To
Thin Branch Series: Buried track
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page David uses our HO scale Thin Branch project layout to show you a simple technique for modeling an industrial track laid into gravel or dirt, which makes it easy for vehicles to drive over the rails. […]
Basic Training: Static grass
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Realistic model railroad scenery is much easier once you know how to apply static grass. Kent Johnson shows you how easy it is to apply these small rayon fibers, which stand on end just like real grass! […]
CTT’s Port Terminal & Western RR: Day 1
Follow along as the CTT staff takes on the first day’s work for crafting the Port Terminal & Western RR: benchwork! Get the full step-by-step instructions in the January 2014 issue of CTT. […]
Thin Branch Series: Foam scenery part 3 – filling gaps
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Once your foam scenery is in place, you need to smooth out the bumps and fill in the gaps. David shows you how he did just that on our Thin Branch project railroad, including putting on the base coat of paint. […]
Build a brick and frame signal tower 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 […]
Build an icing station 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 […]
HO scale CSX Miami Downtown Spur
Name: CSX Miami Downtown Spur Layout designer: Lance Mindheim Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 17 x 21 feet Prototype: CSX Locale: Miami Era: 2007 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 89 feet Minimum radius: 24 inches Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: none Originally appeared in the December 2013 Model Railroader. Click on the link to download the […]
HO scale Milwaukee Road 14th Subdivision
Name: Milwaukee Road 14th Subdivision Layout designer: Bowen Tubbs Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 12′-0″ x 16′-6″ Prototype: Milwaukee Road or Seattle & North Coast RR Locale: Olympic Peninsula, Washington State Era: 1970s to 1984 Style: around the walls with divided peninsula Mainline run: 60 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 1 […]
N scale Spokane International Ry.
Name: Spokane International Ry. Layout designer: Mike Pagano Scale: N (1:160) Size: 6 x 13 feet Prototype: Spokane International Ry., Northern Pacific, and Great Northern Locale: Northern Idaho Era: 1954 to 1962 Style: Sectional island Mainline run: 78 feet Minimum radius: 12-1⁄2″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 3 percent (main), 4 percent (logging branch) […]
Timetable-and-train-order dispatching
St. Croix train sheet Train dispatching under timetable- and-train-order authority is partly a science and partly an art, and it takes a certain amount of knowledge and experience to do it well. When you first want to try your hand, though, just the mechanics of dealing with train sheets and order books can seem like […]
How to adjust wheelset gauge
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno shows how to adjust wheelset gauge. […]