Weeping Norway spruce

A spruce on a garden railroad

Common name: Weeping Norway spruce 
Latin name: Picea abies ‘Pendula’ Plant type: dwarf conifer USDA Hardiness Zones: 2-8 Cultural needs: Moist, well drained, slightly acidic soil; sun to part shade Plant height: 18″ if prostrate; 10-12′ if staked Dark, evergreen needles on drooping soft branches make weeping Norway spruce an attractive specimen tree. Garden railroaders […]

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Meet the modeler: Eric Schade

Two live-steam engines on a garden railway

How did you get started in the hobby?  I received an HO scale model kit of a steam locomotive for Christmas when I was 14 years old. I had fun following the instructions, then building a railway to run it on. I also liked building outdoor villages with buildings and roads with toy cars and real […]

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A fun, large-scale Halloween display

A Halloween display layout on a truck

I love collecting and displaying large-scale trains. I also love showing off my 1956 GMC pick up at car shows, or even at the front of my driveway at home. I decided to combine the two and make a mobile display layout! The layout is an easy build. My truck has slots on the truck […]

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News & products for the week of October 14, 2021

Austrian Federal Rys. Taurus Railjet locomotive.

Large scale locomotives Austrian Federal Rys. Taurus Railjet locomotive. Digital Command Control sound decoder; molded and separate, factory-applied parts, including lights, windshield wipers, handrails, horn, vents, fans, bumpers, and exhaust stack; hook-and-loop couplers; and can-type ball-bearing motor. $779.99. November 2021. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com Large scale passenger equipment Austrian Federal Rys. Railjet first-class coach. Plastic wheelsets, molded […]

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News & products for the week of October 7, 2021

Deutsche Bundesbahn two-axle third-class coach.

Large scale passenger equipment Deutsche Bundesbahn two-axle third-class coach. Separate, factory-applied ladder, handrails, and underbody piping; hook-and-loop couplers; and plastic wheelsets. $164.99. November 2021. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com Deutsche Reichsbahn two-axle luggage wagon. Separate, factory-applied ladder, handrails, and underbody piping; hook-and-loop couplers; and plastic wheelsets. $264.99. November 2021. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com […]

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Dwarf crape myrtle

Miniature tree next to a model church

Common name: Dwarf crape myrtle 

Latin name: Lagerstroemia indica ‘Violet Filli’ (Filigree series) Plant size: 6-24″, depending on the miniature variety Plant type: Shrubs and small trees USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-11 (or grown as an annual) Cultural needs: Well-drained, slightly acidic to acidic soil, full sun The miniature crape myrtle in the photo, one of […]

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News & products for the week of September 23, 2021

America Deutsche Reichsbahn Class 50 2-10-0 steam locomotive.

Large scale locomotives Deutsche Reichsbahn Class 50 2-10-0 steam locomotive. Molded and separate, factory-applied parts, including lights, brake cylinders, bumpers, smokestack, tanks, piping, and handrails; hook-and-loop couplers; and can-type ball-bearing motor. Direct-current model can be upgraded with PIKO locomotive decoder no. 36125 and sound kit no. 36230, both sold separately. Direct-current model, $1,499.99; with PIKO […]

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