Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Now that we’ve marshaled the locomotive and rolling stock for our HO scale Winston-Salem layout, it’s time to make them look like they’ve been busy haulin’ freight! In this initial video, David Popp shows how to apply realistic weathering effects to composite freight […]
Section: Layout Builds
Building a trestle over a dry wash on the Eagle Mountain RR
A dry wash is a common scenic element in a desert landscape. Associate editor Steve Otte added this scenic element to the Model Railroader staff’s Eagle Mountain RR, as he describes in the June 2016 issue. In this video Steve describes scenicking the dry wash and building a Blair Line timber trestle for the main […]
Winston-Salem Southbound Series: Hero Trees – Adding foliage
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page In this final segment on making well-detailed foreground trees for our HO scale Winston-Salem project layout, David shows how to add a lush, realistic canopy to the plastic armature he assembled in the first video. […]
Winston-Salem Southbound Series: Hero Trees – Adding and shaping branches
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Every layout needs a hero — hero tree, that is! Even MRVP’s industry-oriented HO scale Winston-Salem project layout can use a few well-detailed or “heroic” trees in foreground areas. In this first of two videos, David shows the initial steps for building, shaping, […]
It’s My Railroad with Steve Brown: Cement plant parts & paint, Ep. 18
Progress on Steve Brown’s scratchbuilt N scale cement plant continues with our celebrated Regular Guy modeler working to add a few more components. All that before he puts quick coats of primer and paint on the assembled structure, and then sets it in place on his Port Smith harbor scene […]
Winston-Salem Southbound Series: Painting an EMD GP9 diesel locomotive, Part 8 – Installing final detail parts
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page In this final episode of the mini-series, Cody wraps up the project by adding grab irons, M.U. cables, and then applying a touch of paint. He then shows how to re-assemble the Athearn HO scale GP9 diesel locomotive before giving the custom-painted Winston-Salem […]
Using plaster rock castings on the Eagle Mountain RR
Associate editor Eric White provides an overview of how he used plaster rock castings on the HO scale Eagle Mountain RR. You’ll learn how rubber rock molds made it easy to add a realistically rugged terrain to the Model Railroader staff’s 2016 project model railroad. […]
Winston-Salem Southbound Series: Painting an EMD GP9 diesel locomotive, Part 7 – Fine detail painting
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Cody is working quickly toward outfitting our HO scale Winston-Salem GP9 diesel locomotive with the essential fine details and weathering effects. In this video, he shares how he touched up minor flaws in the decal application and added a few more detail parts. […]
Winston-Salem Southbound Series: Painting an EMD GP9 diesel locomotive, Part 6 – Applying front end decals
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page With the long hood stripes in place, Cody now turns to applying decals on the short hood and cab of our HO scale Winston-Salem diesel locomotive. Check out the techniques that make this effort go smoothly and yield great results! […]
T-Trak Group Project: Video Blog – The Fun Run
Now that the team has completed all of the N scale T-Trak modules, the only thing left to do is assemble them into a layout! Project hosts David Popp and Kent Johnson, along with the rest of the resident builders, share the fun of running a few trains. […]
A scenery base for the HO scale Eagle Mountain RR
Mountains play an important part on the Model Railroader staff’s HO scale Eagle Mountain RR project layout. Associate editor Eric White describes how he used plaster gauze over a cardboard web to achieve the rocky scenery base found on the 4 x 8 model train layout. […]
Winston-Salem Southbound Series: Painting an EMD GP9 diesel locomotive, Part 5 – Applying decals on the long hood
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Adding water-slide decals to our HO scale Winston-Salem diesel locomotive is the first step in giving the model a realistic appearance. Cody walks through the prep and application processes for dressing the long hood with horizontal striping. […]