Model Railroader 2013 Layout Progress Tour

Train pulling multiple cars

FULL SCREEN Follow along with the Model Railroader staff as they visit six model railroads, including Steve Otte’s HO scale Cincinnati, Lebanon & Northern model railroad. FULL SCREEN Our group met at Maxim’s train depot restaurant in Oconomowoc, Wisc., for breakfast. The town’s name is pronounced Oh-con-o-mo-woc. The train depot is on the route of the […]

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Bachmann’s HO scale Schnabel Car, In-depth Product Review

Bachmanns HO scale Schnabel Car

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page The Schnabel car is one of the largest freight cars ever made, and each is designed for a specific purpose. Senior editor Jim Hediger reviews Bachmann’s new HO scale model of the unique car, and he provides some tips on operating one realistically […]

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Denver & Rio Grande Western 4th Division and Rio Grande Southern

MRR-B0413

Name: Denver & Rio Grande, Western 4th Division and Rio Grande Southern Layout designer: Jim Hoffman Scale: HOn3 (1:87.1, narrow gauge) Size: D&RGW 24 x 28 feet, RGS 18 x 26 feet Prototype: D&RGW, RGS Locale: New Mexico/Colorado Era: late 1930s to early 1940s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 160 feet Minimum radius: 20″ Minimum turnout: […]

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Forest Park Southern

MRR-A0413_APLAN

Name: Forest Park Southern Layout designer: Bill Doll Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 33′-0″ x 48′-4″ Prototype: freelanced, inspired by the Chesapeake & Ohio Locale: Appalachian Mountains Era: 1950 to 1955 Style: walk in Mainline run: 250 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 8 (main), no. 6 (yard) Maximum grade: 1 percent Originally appeared in […]

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Lake Nipigon Northern RR

MRR-I0413_Ontario

Name: Lake Nipigon Northern RR Layout designer: Tom McRae Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 9 x 11 feet Prototype: freelanced Locale: Ontario, Canada, north of Lake Superior Era: flexible Style: around-the-walls Mainline run: 16 feet, plus branch Minimum radius: 30″ (main), 24″ (branch) Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 3 percent Originally appeared in the April […]

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Building the HO scale Winter Hill quarry branch, part 7

Cody Grivno next to layout with scenery

As the Model Railroader staff continues to work on the scenery for the HO scale Winter Hill quarry branch, it becomes apparent that they need to add the illusion of distance to the scene. An easy solution to this common model railroading problem is to add a distant treeline along the layout backdrop. Follow associate […]

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Building the HO scale Winter Hill quarry branch, part 8

Cody Grivno pours plaster into a mold

For the Winter Hill project the Model Railroader staff needed to add rock castings to the scene around the quarry branch. Associate editor Cody Grivno shows you how to make rock castings using molds and a light plaster product called Hydrocal. Cody also provides tips for trimming the castings and applying the finished rocks to […]

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Building the HO scale Winter Hill Quarry Branch part 9

Hand painting scenery

The long rock wall is an important scenery feature on the HO scale Winter Hill Quarry Branch project model railroad. Now that the Hydrocal castings are in place, Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno will paint and weather the castings so that they look like real rocks. Cody uses a variety of techniques for the […]

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Building the HO scale Winter Hill quarry branch, part 7

Cody Grivno next to layout with scenery

As the Model Railroader staff continues to work on the scenery for the HO scale Winter Hill quarry branch, it becomes apparent that they need to add the illusion of distance to the scene. An easy solution to this common model railroading problem is to add a distant treeline along the layout backdrop. Follow associate […]

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Building the HO scale Winter Hill quarry branch, part 8

Cody Grivno pours plaster into a mold

For the Winter Hill project the Model Railroader staff needed to add rock castings to the scene around the quarry branch. Associate editor Cody Grivno shows you how to make rock castings using molds and a light plaster product called Hydrocal. Cody also provides tips for trimming the castings and applying the finished rocks to […]

Read More…

Building the HO scale Winter Hill Quarry Branch part 9

Hand painting scenery

The long rock wall is an important scenery feature on the HO scale Winter Hill Quarry Branch project model railroad. Now that the Hydrocal castings are in place, Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno will paint and weather the castings so that they look like real rocks. Cody uses a variety of techniques for the […]

Read More…