When to splurge and when not to splurge

Photo of six HO scale freight cars on white background

Let’s admit it, model railroading isn’t the cheapest hobby. Whether you’re a collector, operator, or both, trains and accessories can add up quickly. I’m not a financial advisor, and I can’t tell you how to spend your money, but here are some points to think about when you question when to splurge and when not […]

Read More…

Canadian Canyons Series | An N scale Project Layout Overview

David Popp hosts this extensive recap of the entire Canadian Canyons N scale layout construction effort. In this nearly 45 minute video presentation, David digs deep into the 1:1 scale inspiration for this undertaking (Watch Drew’s Trackside Adventures, episodes 29, 30, and 31). He also examines the challenges of shaping a layout plan that dared […]

Read More…

Attaching buildings to a layout

Color photo showing abandoned brick building on HO scale layout.

Q: What is recommended for attaching buildings and other structures to the substructure of a model railroad? — Byron Christmas A: There’s no one-size-fits-all way to attach a building to a model railroad. One of the most common methods for anchoring buildings to a layout is with white glue. The key attribute of white glue […]

Read More…

News & Products for the week of October 28th 2024

A black model steam locomotive with tender car and a yellow model caboose pictured below

News & Products for the week of October 28th 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 28th […]

Read More…

Atlas N scale SD60E

Screen capture of title screen from product review video.

The Atlas N scale SD60E diesel locomotive is now available in the company’s Master Line. In this video, Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno shares a brief history of the prototype diesels, rebuilt by Norfolk Southern at its Juniata Locomotive Shop in Altoona, Pa.; points out the various freestanding and molded detail parts; and demonstrates […]

Read More…

Atlas N scale SD60E

Screen capture of title screen from product review video.

The Atlas N scale SD60E diesel locomotive is now available in the company’s Master Line. In this video, Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno shares a brief history of the prototype diesels, rebuilt by Norfolk Southern at its Juniata Locomotive Shop in Altoona, Pa.; points out the various freestanding and molded detail parts; and demonstrates […]

Read More…

Resurrecting unused locomotives

Photo of weathered dark blue six-axle road unit on white background

There are many reasons you might need to bring a locomotive back to life. Here are some tips for resurrecting unused locomotives. Disassembly The first thing you’ll need to do is to get inside the locomotive shell. Maybe you’re lucky enough to have an exploded-view diagram of your model. If not, you can check the […]

Read More…

News & Products for the week of October 21st 2024

An orange and green model locomotive with yellow lettering against a white background

News & Products for the week of October 21st 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 21st […]

Read More…

5 tips for great urban scenery

Color photo HO scale train with assorted brick buildings in background.

Contrary to popular belief, modeling an urban scene doesn’t require a bunch of space. Want proof? Check out the Winston-Salem Southbound, our 2018 project layout, shown in the photo above. The 2’-9” x 8’-2” HO scale shelf layout depicted the railroad’s Tar Branch in Winston-Salem, N.C. It featured more than a half-dozen rail-served industries, as […]

Read More…

Model steam locomotive driver flanges

A black model steam locomotive

Q: Why are the flanges on model steam engine drive wheels so much larger than on the prototypes? Is it because the models don’t weigh very much? Or is it because they have to navigate tight curves? And do larger scales (like G scale and live-steam models) have flanges that are closer to the prototypes? […]

Read More…

News & Products for the week of October 14th 2024

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 […]

Read More…

Horizontal versus vertical track cutters

Color photo of hand holding cutting tool with orange handles.

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 […]

Read More…