Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page In this video, Cody Grivno demonstrates how to add dirt ballast to the trackwork of our Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout. Cody walks you through the dry application of the real rock ballast, the prep for securing everything in place, and the easy […]
Section: Layout Builds
Olympia Logging Series: Part 34 – Adding trees
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Now that the rocks and basic ground covering is in place, MR’s Cody Grivno adds the tall timber to our Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout. In this video, he shows how to install and blend big commercial trees along the sloping mountainside terrain. […]
Building the 3 x 7 Red Oak model railroad
Model Railroader magazine’s editor Neil Besougloff introduces you to the MR staff’s Red Oak project layout. The 3 x 7-foot N scale model railroad is built on a hollow-core door and models the Burlington Route through Red Oak, Iowa, in the 1960s. Neil will show you some of the locomotives, trains, and structure kits to […]
Olympia Logging Series: Part 33 – Fixing a hillside flaw
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Uh-oh! We worked ourselves right into a corner this time. After modifying the snowshed and the adjacent terrain on our Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout, we had to go a bit off script to pull the last section of the hillside together. We […]
Olympia Logging Series: Part 32 – Installing a DCC system
MRVP’s David Popp takes a casual approach to installing a Digital Command Control (DCC) system on our Olympia Logging Co. display-style layout. Follow along as David guides you from opening the NCE starter system box to adding a wiring bus to watching trains run on the On30 layout! […]
Olympia Logging Series: Part 31 – Detail a logging locomotive
In this video, Cody Grivno continues to enhance the appearance of our Olympia Logging Co. On30 Bachmann Climax locomotive by adding select details. After referencing prototype photos, Cody shows how and where to add crew figures, oil cans, chains, tools, and many other details that help make this locomotive look like an authentic logging company […]
Olympia Logging Series: Part 30 – Steam locomotive weathering
While we’ve addressed how to weather modern diesel locomotives in other MRVP videos, David Popp takes on the challenge of giving the Olympia Logging Co. steam locomotives an aged appearance. Follow along as he demonstrates how to use an airbrush to apply various paint color effects — all without impacting the performance of our layout […]
Olympia Logging Series: Part 29 – Custom locomotive lettering
As the layout construction and scenery work progresses, MR’s Cody Grivno continues to prep the Olympia Logging Co. steam-powered workhorse for service. In this video, he demonstrates how to reletter our factory-decorated On30 Bachmann Climax. When an initial technique falls short, Cody cleverly introduces an alternative process using a floor finishing product. […]
Olympia Logging Series: Part 28 – Installing a steam sound decoder
We wanted our On30 Olympia Logging Co. display-style layout to sound as impressive as it looks, so David Popp decided to install a DCC sound decoder in our Bachmann Climax workhorse. Follow along as he shows how to disassemble the locomotive, solder the decoder and speaker wires, position and test the unit, and then re-assemble […]
Olympia Logging Series: Part 27 – Applying ground cover
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page How could we?! Truth be told, we almost forgot to get MRVP’s Jenny Maaske involved in the construction of our On30 Olympia Logging Co. display-style layout. Lucky for us, she was willing to jump right in and get her hands dirty helping Kent […]
Olympia Logging Series: Part 26 – Build a timber retaining wall
After kitbashing a timber snowshed for our Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout, MR associate editor Eric White decided to make good use of leftover kit components. In this video, he shows how to assemble a retaining wall using stripwood and detail parts. Eric also shares insights on adding rust effects with weathering powders. […]
Olympia Logging Series: Part 25 – Reworking the snowshed base
Nothing in model railroading is exempt from a do-over, including the scenery we roughed in around the base of the timber snowshed on our Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout. So rather than try to finesse the terrain to better support the structure, David Popp simply used a mulligan to rebuild the area with foam installation […]