Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page In this episode of Off The Rails, host Gerry Leone puts the brakes on runaway trains! Gerry shares a couple helpful suggestions for keeping freight cars from rolling downhill, even when your entire layout is set on a pitch! Plus, Gerry’s friend Dave […]
Section: Layout Builds
Canadian Canyons Series: Part 32 – Carving rock strata
Now that the sloped mountainsides have an initial surface, Kent returns to the scenes to carve out realistic rock strata. In this segment you’ll quickly learn how to use an inexpensive steak knife, a thinned Sculptamold mixture, and a variety of Woodland Scenics plaster brushes/tools to shape extremely eroded rock formations like to those found […]
Canadian Canyons Sidetrack: Slide Sheds in SketchUp, Part 3
Eric White’s SketchUp design for an N scale slide shed has printed and shipped from Shapeways! Now it’s time for him to test the fit, finish the model, prep the material, and then add paint and weathering for a realistic rusty appearance. Follow all of the helpful tips and tricks Eric used to bring this […]
Canadian Canyons Sidetrack: Slide Sheds in SketchUp, Part 2
Eric White is back at the computer to refine his SketchUp design for a 3-D printed slide shed on our N scale Canadian Canyons layout. This time, he’ll walk you through the steps for finalizing and proofing the design, and then preparing the file for production. Follow along, as Eric makes cutting-edge modeling look easy! […]
Canadian Canyons Sidetrack: Slide Sheds in SketchUp, Part 1
For his second sidetrack series to our Canadian Canyons project, MR’s Eric White tackles construction of an N scale timber slide shed. But rather than launching into an complex scratchbuilding effort, Eric demonstrates how to use SketchUp modeling software to design and create an intricate 3-D model. Follow along as he blogs about this pioneering […]
Canadian Canyons Series: Part 31 – Surfacing with Shaper Sheet
Drew and Kent have relied on paper-based Sculptamold to fill in the sloped mountainside thus far. In this episode, they demonstrate another scenery surfacing technique that utilizes a relatively new and versatile product from Woodland Scenics. Watch and learn how easily Shaper Sheet can be use to cover broad patches of terrain, all without adding […]
Off The Rails: Episode 22
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Our beloved show host Gerry Leone is always angling to help you improve your model skills and efficiency. That’s exactly right (right angle, if you will)! In this episode, Gerry demonstrates a wide array of tools and techniques you can use to build […]
Canadian Canyons Series: Part 30 – Filling in the gaps with Sculptamold
With the spine for our eroding rockwork securely in place, Drew and Kent show you how to form a sloped mountain face using paper-based Sculptamold. Follow along, as the two share tips for mixing, filling, and finessing the putty-like product along the Thompson Canyon scene of our N scale project layout. […]
Canadian Canyons Series: Part 29 – Shaping extreme rock faces
After a quick overview of the foam forming techniques KJ and Drew used thus far, the two turn their attention to shaping the rugged, eroding rock faces for our Canadian Canyons N scale layout project. They share helpful materials, techniques, and tools you can use on your own mountain making efforts! […]
Olympia 2, The Log Blog: Part 14 – My game is a bit rusty
Now that host David Popp has a game plan for building up the log pond area, he’s set to prepare the site and some of the ancillary items he’ll need to complete the scene. He’ll also show you how to give some of these items a rusty appearance that’s suitable for a backwoods installation. […]
Canadian Canyons Series: Part 28 – Tools for carving foam
Drew and Kent don’t have glaciers at the ready to help form the mountains on our Canadian Canyons N scale layout project, but they DO have some handy tools! In this segment, the two share an array of knives, tools, and techniques they used to carve a rough profile into the foam insulation board pieces. […]
Olympia 2, The Log Blog: Part 13 – Give me an A…Frame
Now that the 2018 Winter Olympics are over, host David Popp returns to his Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout. He warms up by first addressing new questions and comments about the display, and then moves to his workbench to build a timber A-frame used to unload log cars. […]