How to cast plaster rocks for model railroad scenery

Pouring Hydrocal into a rubber rock mold

Rubber rock molds and hydrocal plaster make it easy to add exposed rockfaces and other dramatic scenic elements to your model train layout   Nothing says “impressive” quite like a rugged mountain range full of jagged rock faces. Though mountains appear solid to us, many are just individual layers of rocks, stacked one on top […]

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DIY rock molds from Play-Doh

Hands packing Play Doh into rock mold

Use this quick tip to make custom rock molds for realistic model railroad scenery Want to make unique rock castings? Here’s an interesting method that was featured in the March 2002 Classic Toy Trains. Play-Doh, a children’s modeling toy, is a great one-time-use mold-making material. It’s water-soluble, easy to work with, and reproduces crisp details […]

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Social distancing comes to the DD&C/M

Social distancing comes to the DD&C/M

Name: John Barrett Forum User Name: JohnniebGoode Railroad Name: DD&C/M Location: Sacramento, CA Scale: 4 yr old’s imagination Theme: Was western, but now Disney thanks to 4 yr old Granddaughter Description: Social distancing comes to the DD&C/M.   […]

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Video: Coshocton Model Railroad Club layout

Coshocton Model Railroad Club layout

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Featured in the July 2020 Model Railroader, the HO scale Toledo, Walhonding Valley & Ohio fills a 50 x 150 building with a freelanced layout inspired by scenes of southern Ohio. The impressive model railroad was built and is operated by the Associated […]

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Video: Coshocton Model Railroad Club layout

Coshocton Model Railroad Club layout

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Featured in the July 2020 Model Railroader, the HO scale Toledo, Walhonding Valley & Ohio fills a 50 x 150 building with a freelanced layout inspired by scenes of southern Ohio. The impressive model railroad was built and is operated by the Associated […]

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Tips for better Lionel Fastrack

fastrack_tips1

Charles Angelo Irace Lionel’s FasTrack system sectional track features a built-in molded plastic roadbed. It looks good right out of the box, but there are a few things I like to do to make it look even better. I start by bluing the center rail (above left photo) with Birchwood Casey Super Blue, using the […]

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