Jeff Silk’s Mount Marlborough RR

    In the September 2013 issue, explore Jeff Silk’s stunning 26 x 50-foot O gauge Mount Marlborough RR. This layout takes you across the Golden State through landscapes inspired by the Silk family’s favorite destinations. This video is courtesy of TM Books & Video. […]

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Thin Branch Series: Making puffball trees

Neil Besougloff holding materials for puffball trees.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Need a lot of tree-covered hills on your layout? In this video, MR’s editor Neil Besougloff shows you how to make common puffball trees. This technique models just the treetops, and it’s a great way to fill background hills with trees quickly. […]

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Thin Branch Series Ballasting a 1950s main line track

Cody ballasting alongside a track.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Cody Grivno, our one-man ballasting crew, shares his tips and techniques for ballasting a well-groomed 1950s mainline track. Cody takes you through the process start to finish on our HO scale Thin Branch project, but his techniques work just as well in other […]

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Dick Iannacone’s realistic S gauge layout

Dick Iannacone's realistic S gauge layout

Inspired by a lifelong love of American Flyer trains and the beauty of his home, New England, Dick Iannacone built this highly realistic 16 x 20-foot S gauge layout set in the steam-to-diesel transition period of the late 1930s into the 1950s. Enjoy additional photos of his outstanding layout in the gallery below. […]

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The Nepenthes, Gestalt, & Delirium Railway

The Nepenthes, Gestalt, & Delirium Railway

Railway at a glance Name: Nepenthes, Gestalt, & Delirium Railway Size of railroad: 40′ x 25′ Scale: Individual trains to various scales Gauges: 45mm & 63.5mm Era: Today Theme: The garden, trains, and the gestalt that results Age: 9 years Motive power: On-board battery, diesel outline; live steam; a little clockwork Length of mainline: 96′ […]

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Thin Branch Series: Build a Bridge part 4 – installation

David building a bridge with foam scenery.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page We close our four-part Build-a-bridge series by installing the model on our Thin Branch HO scale layout. In this video David shares some techniques for building foam scenery and working with plaster abutment castings to support our through-girder bridge. […]

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Thin Branch Series: Working with foam rocks

Hand placing foam "rocks" above a raw and unfinished tunnel portal on a model train layout.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page If you want to try a different material to make rocks for your model railroad, try foam. In this video, David shows how he added Mountains in Minutes foam rocks to our Thin Branch HO scale project railroad. […]

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Thin Branch Series: Working with plaster rocks part 1

David Popp casting rocks in plaster.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Whether it’s a mountain face or just a simple outcropping, sooner or later you’ll probably need to model rocks on your layout. In this video, David shows you how he cast rocks from plaster for the Thin Branch project railroad. […]

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