Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Need a painted backdrop for your model railroad? Learn the basics of painting with artist Jay Smith as he adds a backdrop to our Thin Branch project railroad. In part 1 of our series, Jay shows you how to work from photos to […]
Section: Thin Branch
Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 3 – Foreground trees
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page In this third installment of painting backdrops, Jay Smith tackles the treetops and sun highlights in the foreground. He also shows you how to paint simple “hero” trees, those that have trunks and branches as well as leaves. […]
Thin Branch Series: Weathering corrugated metal structures with an airbrush
Although simulated corrugated metal siding on plastic structure kits has good molded detail, it takes some careful painting to make it look realistic. David shows you a simple set of techniques for painting corrugated metal siding with an airbrush as he finishes the coal tipple for our HO scale Thin Branch project layout. […]
Thin Branch Series: Ballasting turnouts
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Ballasting turnouts can be tricky because there’s a lot of potential for the little stones and glue to interfere with the proper operation of the points. Cody Grivno shows you an easy technique for ballasting turnouts that keeps the points working just like […]
Thin Branch Series: Powering turnout frogs
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page You can improve the operation on most any railroad by installing turnouts with powered frogs. David shows you how we set up the Thin Branch project railroad with turnout frogs powered through switch motor contacts. […]
Thin Branch Series: Making puffball trees
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Need a lot of tree-covered hills on your layout? In this video, MR’s editor Neil Besougloff shows you how to make common puffball trees. This technique models just the treetops, and it’s a great way to fill background hills with trees quickly. […]
Thin Branch Series Ballasting a 1950s main line track
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Cody Grivno, our one-man ballasting crew, shares his tips and techniques for ballasting a well-groomed 1950s mainline track. Cody takes you through the process start to finish on our HO scale Thin Branch project, but his techniques work just as well in other […]
Thin Branch Series: Build a Bridge part 4 – Installation
We close our four-part Build-a-bridge series by installing the model on our Thin Branch HO scale layout. In this video David shares some techniques for building foam scenery and working with plaster abutment castings to support our through-girder bridge. […]
Thin Branch Series: Build a Bridge part 3 – Guardrails
In this video (part 3 of 4), David shares techniques for adding trackwork guardrails to a through-girder bridge kit. […]
Thin Branch Series: Build a Bridge part 2 – Airbrushing
In this video (part 2 of 4), Cody shares techniques for painting a through-girder bridge kit. […]
Thin Branch Series: Build a Bridge part 1 – Kit assembly
In this video (part 1 of 4), David shares techniques for building a through-girder bridge kit. […]
Thin Branch Series: Working with foam rocks
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page If you want to try a different material to make rocks for your model railroad, try foam. In this video, David shows how he added Mountains in Minutes foam rocks to our Thin Branch HO scale project railroad. […]