Pelle Søeborg shows how he scratchbuilt a liquid-asphalt transfer terminal in the June 2013 Model Railroader. Back in the February 1994, Clyde Maybee Jr. showed how he modeled the industry on his layout. Click on the link to download a PDF of the original article. […]
Section: How To
Waterbury, Vermont historic railroad station drawings
Waterbury, Vermont’s historic railroad station was built by the Central Vermont Ry. in 1875. The station was the centerpiece of Waterbury Village for more than 75 years, serving as the gateway to nearby attractions. Its main entrance faced the village green. Through the 1950s, it was the destination for the Central Vermont’s Ski Train, which […]
Port Trenton, Baltimore & Ohio Paquettin Division
Name: Port Trenton, Baltimore & Ohio Paquettin Division (2013, original version) Layout designer: Mike Tricker Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 16′-6″ x 16′-6″ Prototype: Baltimore & Ohio Locale: Appalachian Mountains and New Jersey waterfront Style: partial mushroom Era: early to mid-1950s Mainline run: 78 feet (branchline run: 33 feet) Minimum radius: 30″ (main line), 15″ (waterfront […]
Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley
Name: Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Layout designer: Anthony Richter Scale: HO (1:87.1) and HOn3 Size: 10 x 13 feet Prototype: Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Locale: Black Hills of South Dakota Era: Turn of the 20th century Style: Walk-in Mainline run: 45 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: Standard gauge, no. 6; narrow gauge, […]
How to install a DCC decoder in a Stewart F-unit
Terry Thompson shows you how to install a basic NCE Digital Command Control decoder in a Stewart HO scale F-unit. If you’ve never completed a DCC installation that requires soldering, this video project is a great way to learn how to get started. […]
Santa Fe Ry., Emerald Springs Division
Name: Santa Fe Ry., Emerald Springs Division Layout designer: Tom Noblitt Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 28-1⁄2 x 55 feet Prototype: Freelanced Locale: Southern Colorado Era: September 1956 Style: Walk-in Mainline run: 192 feet Minimum radius: 36″ (main) Minimum turnout: Peco no. 6 Maximum grade: 3.5 percent Originally appeared in the May 2013 Model Railroader. Click […]
Thin Branch Series: Painting track with an airbrush
To make your track look realistic, you need to paint it. Cody Grivno shows you how he painted the track for our Thin Branch project railroad using an airbrush and acrylic paints. […]
The Gypsy Trolley Line
Name: The Gypsy Trolley Line Layout designer: John Kosma Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 2 x 34 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by the Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee and The Milwaukee Electric Ry. & Light Co. Locale: Milwaukee Era: 1939 to 1941 Style: freestanding, modular display Mainline run: 68 feet Minimum radius: 7″ Minimum turnout: no. […]
Scratchbuild a small factory
These days modelers are blessed with an abundance of materials for scratchbuilding. Sheet and strip styrene, ABS plastic, brass, copper, aluminum, and wood are just some of the products available. However, when I build structures for my S scale Buffalo Creek & Gauley RR (see Great Model Railroads 2011), I use mat board, rose board, […]
Thin Branch Series: Building Benchwork Part 2 – Frames
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page In part 2 of our benchwork video series, David Popp shows you how to make easy frames that can be used to support a variety of layout options. He also attaches the legs we built in part 1. […]
Thin Branch Series: Building benchwork part 1 – Legs
To build a model railroad you’ll need some sort of benchwork. In this video series we show you how to build easy yet sturdy benchwork that can be used on most any model railroad. In part 1, we start with simple leg assemblies. […]
How to use basic airbrushing techniques part III – cleaning your airbrush
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page An airbrush is a useful tool for many model railroading tasks. Proper maintenance ensures that your airbrush is ready for the next project on your model railroad. Follow along as Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno shows you the proper way to clean […]