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. […]
Section: Layout Builds
Thin Branch Series: Working with cork roadbed
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Cork is one of the common materials used when adding roadbed to a layout. In this video David Popp explains how to get the best results with cork, and he shows you how to lay one of the more difficult pieces of roadbed […]
Thin Branch Series: Laying track
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Time to lay the track on our HO scale Thin Branch. In this video David Popp shows how he starts with the complex stuff first, making the entire tracklaying project a breeze! […]
Thin Branch Series: How to soldering rail joints
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Metal rail joiners are a poor conductor of electricity. As shown in this video, soldering the rail joints improves electrical conductivity and provides more reliable locomotive operation. […]
Thin Branch Series: Switchmotor part 1 – installation
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page To operate the turnouts on your layout by remote control requires some sort of switch machine or motor. In part 1 of this series, we show you how to install the motor mechanism onour Thin Branch layout. […]
Thin Branch Series: Switchmotor part 2 – wiring
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page To operate the turnouts on your layout by remote control requires some sort of switch machine or motor. In part 2 of this video series, we install a DC power bus, connect the motors and toggle switches, and align the mechanism to work […]
Thin Branch Series: Wiring a model railroad for DCC
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Wiring for your model railroad depends upon the type of control system you wish to use. When working with Digital Command Control, you’ll need a power bus and feeders. In this video we show you how we installed those items on our Thin […]
Building the HO scale Winter Hill Quarry Branch part 11
Model Railroader senior editor Jim Hediger built the gravel loader for the HO scale Winter Hill Quarry Branch project. In this episode Jim describes some of the kitbashing techniques he used as well as how he fit the structure into the scenery and over the model railroad track. You’ll also hear from associate editor Steve […]
Building the HO scale Winter Hill quarry branch, part 7
As the Model Railroader staff continues to work on the scenery for the HO scale Winter Hill quarry branch, it becomes apparent that they need to add the illusion of distance to the scene. An easy solution to this common model railroading problem is to add a distant treeline along the layout backdrop. Follow associate […]
Building the HO scale Winter Hill quarry branch, part 8
For the Winter Hill project the Model Railroader staff needed to add rock castings to the scene around the quarry branch. Associate editor Cody Grivno shows you how to make rock castings using molds and a light plaster product called Hydrocal. Cody also provides tips for trimming the castings and applying the finished rocks to […]
Building the HO scale Winter Hill Quarry Branch part 9
The long rock wall is an important scenery feature on the HO scale Winter Hill Quarry Branch project model railroad. Now that the Hydrocal castings are in place, Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno will paint and weather the castings so that they look like real rocks. Cody uses a variety of techniques for the […]
Building Model Railroader’s Winter Hill Quarry branch, part 5
Wiring work begins on the HO scale Winter Hill Quarry Branch, but luckily the Model Railroader staff can reuse much of the old wiring from the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy. Associate editor Cody Grivno shows you how to solder feeder wires to the track, while associate editor Steve Otte describes the benefits of using Peco […]