News & Products for the week of October 14th 2024 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of October 14th […]
Scale: HO Scale
Rapido Trains HO GE Dash 8-40CM
The General Electric Dash 8-40CM diesel locomotive is back in the Rapido Trains product lineup. The redesigned six-axle road locomotive features a newly tooled fuel tank, cab interior, and trucks; railroad-specific details; and full underbody details. Prototype history General Electric (GE) produced the Dash 8-40CM from February 1990 through March 1994. During the course of […]
Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 20 | Painting the backdrop – Part 3
As Jay Smith, former illustrator (ret.) for Kalmbach Media, continues is his backdrop painting efforts on David Popp’s Olympia & Sand Creek On30 display layout, you’ll see several subtle techniques Jay employees to create lighting effects and enhance the detailed appearance of even the most distant landform and structures he paints. Be sure to explore […]
Horizontal versus vertical track cutters
Q: Please explain how to tell the difference between horizontal and vertical cut rail nippers. — Dave Smith A: To answer your question, I turned to a blog on the Xuron Corp. website. The well-known manufacturer of hobby tools, based in Saco, Maine, recommends using its 2175B track cutters on new installations. The tool, which […]
ScaleTrains, Virtual Railfan support Hurricane Helene relief efforts
Model railroad manufacturer ScaleTrains and railroad live streaming website Virtual Railfan have announced their support for Hurricane Helene relief efforts. Their offices, located at 4901 Old Tasso Rd., Cleveland, Tenn., are serving as a drop-off location for food, hygiene, and supply contributions. ScaleTrains and Virtual Railfan have also pledged financial support for hurricane relief efforts. […]
News & Products for the week of October 7th 2024
News & Products for the week of October 7th 2024 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of October 7th […]
Control a working display case
This project is the continuation of the “Build a working display case” project in our October 2024 issue. This second part details the physical and software infrastructure Randy built to control his working display case using an Arduino Nano. The working part All my locomotives are Digital Command Control, and most have sound. It’s obviously […]
InterMountain HO scale GP16 diesel locomotive
The much-anticipated InterMountain HO scale GP16 diesel locomotive recently arrived at our new Brookfield headquarters. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he provides a brief prototype history of the Seaboard Coast Line-rebuilt engines and United States Army No. 4630, points out the various detail parts, and demonstrates the sound and light features on […]
InterMountain HO scale GP16 diesel locomotive
The much-anticipated InterMountain HO scale GP16 diesel locomotive recently arrived at our new Brookfield headquarters. Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he provides a brief prototype history of the Seaboard Coast Line-rebuilt engines and United States Army No. 4630, points out the various detail parts, and demonstrates the sound and light features on […]
The HO scale Pennsylvania RR Apple Gap layout
Facts and features Name: Pennsylvania RR Scale: HO (1:87)Size: 6′-8″ x 12′-6″Prototype: freelanced, inspired by PRRLocale: northeastern PennsylvaniaEra: changeable between 1870-1915, 1916-1942, and 1943-1959Style: island Mainline run: 31 feetMinimum radius: 36.5″Minimum turnout: No. 6Maximum grade: none (flat)Benchwork: tabletopHeight: 511⁄2“Roadbed: corkTrack: Micro Engineering flexible code 83Scenery: foam board and Kingspan underlayment on 3 ⁄4” medium density […]
Protecting your railroad during home improvements
Next to “we are moving” some of the most disconcerting words a layout owner can hear is “we need home improvements.” Major changes to the house around a layout bring fear to our hearts: while models can be moved out of the way, all our hard work on track and scenery is suddenly in peril, […]
Stencils on the rail
Q: In all my 74 years of looking at train tracks this is the first time I noticed a “No trespassing” stencil on the web of the rail of the Union Pacific tracks that run by my home in Fort Dodge, Iowa. I’m curious if this is standard procedure for the UP or if other […]
