The N scale Salt Lake Route project layout part 2

Dick Christiansen next to layout

One interesting feature of this Model Railroader project layout are the folding legs that support the benchwork. Dick Christianson, the layout builder and Model Railroader magazine’s former managing editor, gives you a demonstration of how the folding legs work. He’ll also discuss the fascia and backdrop material that he used for the N scale Salt […]

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Video: History according to Hediger 9

Wooden helix with track

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page The HO scale Ohio Southern, built by Senior Editor Jim Hediger, is not only one of the first multi-level model railroads, the layout is also one of the first to use a helix. Listen to Jim recall how he built his first helix […]

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Bachrus speedometer

Bachrus speedometer

Bachrus speedometer If you want to run your locomotives together in a consist, you need to be sure they will go the same speed at the same Digital Command Control speed step. The new Model Train Speedometer from Bachrus Inc. can help you do this. Speed matching involves programming your locomotives so they can run […]

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Kato N scale El Capitan passenger set

Kato N scale N scale El Capitan

Kato N scale N scale El Capitan From their sleek, silver, fluted sides to their detailed interiors, this N scale El Capitan is an accurate model of one of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Ry.’s most famous long-distance trains. The ready-to-run Kato passenger cars make it easy to operate a full Hi-Level El Capitan […]

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Athearn HO scale FP7 diesel locomotive

Athearn HO scale FP7 diesel locomotive

Athearn HO scale FP7 diesel locomotive Whether hauling a passenger train at speed or rumbling along with a local freight, this new HO scale FP7 sounds as good as it looks. Part of Athearn’s high-end Genesis line, the FP7 features many roadname-specific details. The model is available with a SoundTraxx Tsunami Digital Command Control (DCC) […]

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Walthers HO scale Pullman 4-4-2 sleeper car

Walthers HO scale Pullman 4-4-2 sleeper car

Walthers HO scale Pullman 4-4-2 sleeper car The Union Pacific’s classic City trains are the next series of HO scale passen­ger cars coming from Walthers, and the first car to arrive is this Pullman-Standard 4-4-2 luxury all-room sleeper. Unlike earlier releases of this car, this ready-to-run model features factory-installed handrails. Built in 1942, this lightweight […]

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Railfans make a difference on Helmstetter’s Curve

Helmstetter's Curve

John Helmstetter receives a ceremonial check for $40,001 on Nov. 9, 2009. From left to right: Frank Fowler of Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, John Helmstetter, trip promoter Carl Franz, trip promoter Bill Larduskey, and Steve Barry of Railfan & Railroad. Jim Larduskey John Helmstetter’s cattle watch their new home taking shape, as more than 120 […]

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Atlas HO scale RSD-12 diesel locomotive

Unpainted Atlas HO scale RSD-12 diesel locomotive

Unpainted Atlas HO scale RSD-12 diesel locomotive Blane Pebesma The Atlas RSD-12 has some detail; molded-on grab irons, separately applied brake wheel, clear window glazing, places for M.U. hoses, and it sells for about $70.00. Although this model is a discontinued product, it has a Kato motor, twelve-wheel electrical pick-up, twelve-wheel drive, non-directional headlights, and […]

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Compact coved backdrop corners

Good lighting helps Flemming Örneholm hide the compact covered corner in his background.

Good lighting helps Flemming Örneholm hide the compact covered corner in his background. Coved corners help to reinforce the feeling of great distance that’s produced by a good backdrop. Large layouts with plenty of real estate often use wide, gently curved panels to make these inside corners disappear. But modelers with small layouts can’t afford […]

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Scenery

Fig. 6. Ground foam. This trackside hill on the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy has several layers of ground foam on it.

Scenic baseA layout’s scenic base is the foundation for all of its scenery, including roads, grass, trees, and rocks. An inexpensive scenery base can be made using a lightweight support structure, such as cardboard strips glued together, covered with layers of plaster-soaked gauze or paper towels. Another type of base you can use is made […]

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