How to model realistic track and trackside scenes

In this special supplement to Model Railroader, you’ll get expert advice on and photos of lineside details for: Roadway, ballast, rails and ties Terrain and features alongside your track Signals, signs, and grade crossings Trackside communication, safety, and maintenance equipment Enter your email below to sign up for our weekly newsletter and get your free download! […]

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A Special Wish garden railway project

A Special Wish garden railway project

Special note: All photos courtesy of Aileen Elizabeth Photography For many, garden railways are a unique hobby, but for Jack, a garden railway was a “special wish.” A Special Wish Foundation, North Central Ohio Chapter (“Special Wish”), is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to granting the wishes of children under the age of twenty-one who […]

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Video 101: Postproduction

a model train running on a garden railroad

“The trainyard is your media; the train is your story. Assemble the tracks you need. Then create the trains to run on them.” My Apple Store instructor was searching for an analogy for our class about movie making, not describing Southern Pacific operations. The resemblance worked for me. Postproduction Transforming our rough clips and music […]

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Video 101: Postproduction

a model train running on a garden railroad

“The trainyard is your media; the train is your story. Assemble the tracks you need. Then create the trains to run on them.” My Apple Store instructor was searching for an analogy for our class about movie making, not describing Southern Pacific operations. The resemblance worked for me. Postproduction Transforming our rough clips and music […]

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Video: Kato N scale SDP40F with ESU LokSound

Kato N scale SDP40F with ESU LokSound

This latest version of the N scale Electro-Motive Division SDP40F from Kato USA includes a factory installed ESU LokSound decoder. Check out this demo of the locomotive and the decoder’s realistic Full Throttle diesel sound package in this exclusive video on the Model Railroader staff’s N scale Salt Lake Route model train layout. […]

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How-to Library: Weathering diesel locomotive details

Cody Grivno adds weathering effects to a model train.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   As a follow-up to Cody Grivno’s initial video on adding realistic weathering effects to an out-of-the-box HO scale model, he now shows you how to apply additional effects to specific components of a hardworking diesel locomotive. Of course, the techniques Cody demonstrates […]

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How-to Library: Weathering diesel locomotive details

Cody Grivno adds weathering effects to a model train.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   As a follow-up to Cody Grivno’s initial video on adding realistic weathering effects to an out-of-the-box HO scale model, he now shows you how to apply additional effects to specific components of a hardworking diesel locomotive. Of course, the techniques Cody demonstrates […]

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The City Edge day and night in 4k

The City Edge model railroad

The City Edge is an HO scale model railroad created and built by Vic Smith. The city section of the layout is 25′ (length) by 3′ (depth). The city is made up of multiple model kits, including kitbashed, custom and scratchbuilt structures that have all been recreated and casted in very durable black urethane. The […]

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