Ask MRVP: Episode 7

Man wearing a Hawaiian-style shirt facing camera before a model train layout.

In this episode of Ask MRVP, many of the questioned focused on the various project layouts that have come your way in the pages MR and on MR Video Plus. Of course, David and Cody answer other inquiries regarding modeling techniques. Plus, a new guest sheds some light on what’s happening in David’s basement. But […]

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HO scale Detroit North Yard Branch

HOscaleConrailSharedAssetsDetroitNorthYardBranch1

Name: Conrail Shared Assets, Detroit North Yard Branch Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 26 x 42 feet Prototype: Conrail Shared Assets Locale: Detroit, Michigan Era: modern (2005) Style: double-deck walkaround Mainline run: 230 feet Minimum radius: 28″ (main), 24″ (industry) Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no.5 (industry) Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: L-girder Height: 42″ (lower […]

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HO scale Southern Pacific Shasta Route

HOscaleSouthernPacificShastaRoute

Name: Southern Pacific Shasta Route Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 24 x 26 feet Prototype: Southern Pacific Locale: Northern California Period: mid-1950s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 230 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Minimum turnout: no. 8 (main), no. 6 (yards) Maximum grade: 11⁄2 percent Benchwork: open grid and L-girder Height: 49″ to 58″ Roadbed: Homasote on T-girder […]

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N scale Columbia & Western Ry.

NscaleColumbiaandWestern1

Name: Columbia & Western Scale: N (1:160) Size: 16′-6″ x 20′-0″ Prototype: Canadian Pacific Locale: southern British Columbia Period: 1970 Style: multi-deck walkaround with double-­mushroom peninsula Mainline run: 230 feet Minimum radius: 18″ (main), 14″ (branch line) Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 2.5 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: 30″ to 76″ Roadbed: 3⁄4″ plywood […]

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On30 Shady Grove & Sherrill RR

On30ShadyGroveandSherrill

Name: Shady Grove & Sherrill Scale: On30 (1:48 proportion, scale 30″ track gauge) Size: 24 x 34 feet Theme: freelanced Locale: West Virginia Period: July 1947 Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 200 feet Turnout minimum: no. 6 Maximum grade: 4 percent (main), 7 percent (branch line) Benchwork: open-grid and L girder Height: 52″ to 60″ Roadbed: […]

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S scale Chicago, Burlington & Quincy-Lines East

SscaleChicagoBurlingtonQuincyLinesEast

Name: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy-Lines East Scale: S (1:64) Size: 19 x 30 feet Prototype: semi-freelanced, inspired by CB&Q Locale: Illinois Era: late 1940s to early 1960s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 312 feet Minimum radius: 42″ Minimum turnout: no. 8 Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: L-girder Height: 48″ to 56″ Roadbed: Homasote and cork Track: […]

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HO scale Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific River Subdivision

HOscaleChicagoMilwaukeeStPaulandPacificRiverSubdivision

Name: Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific River Subdivision Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 30 x 60 feet Locale: Eastern Minnesota along the Mississippi River Period: Early fall 1950 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 195 feet (per westbound and eastbound tracks) Minimum radius: 36″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent (in helix) Benchwork: L girder, […]

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HO scale River City

HOscaleRiverCity

Name: River City Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 13 x 23 feet Prototype: Minneapolis & St. Louis Ry. Locale: Mason City, Iowa Period: first week of May 1954 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 90 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: none Benchwork: open frame Height: 42″ Roadbed: Homasote on plywood Track: Peco code […]

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HOn3 East Broad Top RR

HOn3EastBroadTop

Name: East Broad Top RR Scale: HOn3 (1:87, 3-foot-gauge track) Size: 15′-8″ x 19′-8″ Prototype: East Broad Top RR Locale: south-central Pennsylvania Period: 1926 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 110 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 4 percent Benchwork: L-girder Height: 48″ to 52″ Roadbed: Homasote on plywood Track: Micro Engineering code […]

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O scale Nickel Plate Road/Canandaigua Southern RR

OscaleNickelPlateRoadCanandaiguaSouthern1

Name: Nickel Plate Road, Kentucky Western Division and Canandaigua Southern RR, Southern Division Scale: O (1:48) Size: 18 x 89 feet Prototype: Nickel Plate Road and freelanced Locale: southern Ohio and western Pennsylvania Period: May 1958 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 1,000 feet Minimum radius: 64″ (main line), 56″ (staging loops) Maximum grade: 2.5 percent Benchwork: […]

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