Red Oak Series: Adding ballast

Red Oak Series Adding ballast

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Just a little bit of a ballast goes a long way toward making Model Railroader magazine’s 3 x 7-foot N scale Red Oak layout look more realistic. In this video, David Popp walks you through the steps you’ll need to prepare the trackwork, […]

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Red Oak Series: DCC system installation

David Popp standing at a work table

While a complete Digital Command Control (DCC) system installation might not initially sound like a simple process, MRVP’s David Popp sure makes it seem that way in this how-to video. In his demonstration, David paces you through the steps he used to add a Digitrax Super Empire Builder Xtra system to Model Railroader magazine’s 3 […]

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Olympia Logging Series: Part 41 – Lessons Learned

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this final episode of MRVP’s Olympia Logging Co. On30 display-style layout construction series, David Popp and Kent Johnson highlight the efforts, successes, and shortcomings over the last several months. Enjoy the quick tour, glean helpful insights from the candid conversation, and then […]

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Red Oak Series: Benchwork construction

David Popp under a workbench.

Benchwork for the 3 x 7-foot N scale Red Oak layout didn’t need to be bulletproof, but it did need to be sturdy enough for us to move about the MR workshop and transport to shows. In this video, MRVP’s David Popp shows you how he assembled the lightweight legs, frame, and hollow-core door tabletop […]

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Olympia Logging Series: Part 40 – Layout operation

David Popp show’s you that it really is possible to perform prototypical operations on a layout as simple as our Olympia Logging Co. On30 display. Follow along as he first explains the scheme, makes the essential preparations, and then demonstrates how fun and easy it is to get the layout working like a real railroad […]

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Building the 3 x 7 Red Oak N scale model railroad part 4

Steve Otte next to layout

The Model Railroader staff’s N scale Red Oak layout features many interesting structures built from wood and plastic kits. Associate editor Steve Otte shows some of the structure highlights on the layout and provides some painting tips. Editor Neil Besougloff also plugs in a power pack and runs the Zephyr passenger train to test out […]

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Building the 3 x 7 Red Oak model railroad episode 2

Hand measuring off track section

The benchwork is built for the Model Railroader staff’s N scale Red Oak project. Next comes the tricky task of transferring the track plan to the foam tabletop. Get some tips from Model Railroader Video Plus producer David Popp, including a look at the layout’s styrene backdrop and the wiring channel around the tabletop. […]

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Olympia Logging Series: Part 39 – Log car upgrades

Now that David Popp has the Olympia Logging Co. On30 steam locomotives looking good and weathered, he’s turning his focus to the log car fleet on the display-style layout. Follow along as he demonstrates how to use a can of spray paint, various modeling paints applied with a brush, pre-mixed stains, and weathering powders to […]

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Olympia Logging Series: Part 36 – Build a log pond

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page There’s a place to include realistic water effects on just about any model railroad, including our Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout. In this video, David Popp shows how to build a log pond, starting with the pond banks shaped from foam insulation board, […]

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