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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A compact backyard line

The P&BW Railroad

Railway at a glance Name: P&BW RR Size of railroad: 30′ x 40′ Scale: 1:29 and 1:20.3 Gauge: Nº 1 (45mm) Era: Late 1800s to present Theme: Colorado railroading then and now Age: 4 years Motive power: USA Trains diesels, LGB and Bachmann steam locomotives Length of mainline: Lower loop, 106′; upper loop, 146′ Maximum […]

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The Baker & Grande Ronde Railroad

1:24 scale garden railroad

Railway at a glance Name: Baker & Grande Ronde Railroad Size: 60′ x 185′ Theme: 1880s narrow gauge, mining, and logging Age: 9 years Scale: 1:24 Gauge: Nº 1 (45mm) Type of track: Code-250 brass rail handlaid on redwood ties Turnouts: #4 stub, #6 stub, and #4 three-way stub, all scratchbuilt Length of mainline: 560′ […]

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Video: Model Railroader Layout Progress 2013 part 2

Model Railroader Layout Progress 2013 part 2

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Each year Model Railroader’s staff organizes a Saturday driving tour to visit model train layouts built by staff members, former staff members, and other Kalmbach Publishing Co. employees. In part 2, you’ll see the last three stops of the day, including Model Railroader […]

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Video: Model Railroader Layout Progress 2013 part 1

Model Railroader Layout Progress 2013 part 1

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Each year Model Railroader’s staff organizes a Saturday driving tour to visit model train layouts built by staff members, former staff members, and other Kalmbach Publishing Co. employees. In part 1 you’ll see the first three stops of the day, including Kalmbach Publishing […]

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Visit the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy HO layout

Visit the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy HO layout

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page The Milwaukee, Racine & Troy is Model Railroader magazine’s HO scale club layout. This introductory  video provides an overview of the line from Milwaukee to Williams Bay and is the first in a planned series that will explore the construction and operation of […]

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Layout Visits: David Popp’s N scale Naugatuck Valley

David Popp's N scale Naugatuck Valley

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page David Popp’s N scale Naugatuck Valley has been featured in the pages of Model Railroader magazine for years. In this video tour, David shows your around the nearly completed layout and provides a few design and modeling tips along the way. […]

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Build the HO scale Beer Line: Add lights to a layout

The darkened street of a model town layout.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader’s HO scale Beer Line layout was built to celebrate the magazine’s 75th anniversary. In this video, David Popp shows you how he added miniature lighting to the layout. This is a project that can be accomplished on most model railroads. […]

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Thin Branch Series: Wire a power reversing switch

David Popp holding a switch part.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Power-reversing switches are commonly used when wiring switch motors or creating reverse loops on DC-powered layouts. Learn how to make your own reversing switches using a common double-pole double throw toggle switch. […]

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