AIS 708 runs around an empty Wisconsin Central boxcar for spotting at City Carton at the north end of the IAIS Hills Industrial Spur. Video by James McNab. […]
Section: Modeling
Westbound double-stack train at Caliente
Removing shell of model locomotive Watch this double-stack train as it travels around Horseshoe Curve at Caliente, Calif., on this N-scale model railroad. Video submitted by Eugen Hänseler. […]
MRVP Insider: MRVP Underground with David Popp, Episode 5 – Wood choppin’ workshop
David gets back to the workbench for a couple quick-hitter projects. First, he shows how to add a realistic, rusty patina to metal roofing material. And then, David shares his technique for chopping up scale chunks of firewood to be stack in the shack. Feel free to ask questions, and he’ll look to address them […]
Tips for better Lionel Fastrack
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 […]
How to choose a scale: A garden railroader’s guide
This three-rail track incorporates two different gauges—0 gauge and 1-gauge. Trains in 16mm-scale (1:19) and 15mm-scale (1:20.3) are equally at home on these rails. Marc Horovitz Download the PDF here. Let’s look at the various scales available and list their characteristics, with an eye to finding their advantages and disadvantages. As mentioned above, the thing […]
MRVP Insider: MRVP Underground with David Popp, Episode 4 – Putting parts together
After checking the bond of the previously glued components, David moves to the next step — building the laser-cut pieces and parts into an O scale structure for the Olympia Logging Co. display-style layout. Along the way, you’ll see that even David has to make do with the tools and materials he has available at […]
MRVP Insider: MRVP Underground with David Popp, Episode 3 – Some assembly required
David Popp is now working weekends to give MRVideoPlus.com subscribers an exclusive episode from his basement bunker. See how the parts and pieces of the wood kit start to come apart…all to come together again! But even in the midst of offering great tips and tricks, our expert builder must still manage a few unexpected […]
The N scale Milwaukee Road North Montana Line
When I cut a hole in the living room wall in order to expand my N scale railroad into the hallway beyond, I thought that was as large a model railroad as I would ever own. I was just happy that my wife agreed to my bizarre suggestion (see “Harlowton, Montana, in N scale,” Model […]
Modeling steers and bulls
Most N scale bovines offered by figure manufacturers are milk cows, but the Montana cattle industry requires steers and bulls, too. Dan Lewis uses wire and Microscale Kristal Kleer to turn cows into bulls, as well as to model longhorns, on his N scale Milwaukee Road North Montana Line. One problem I encountered with commercially […]
Modeling tip: Extra flags for locomotives
A feature one doesn’t see modeled very often is white extra flags. On a line like the North Montana that hosted mostly time freights, extra trains carrying livestock and grain were seasonal. Extra flags can be easily made from .008″ brass wire and small squares cut from white tissue paper. After gluing the flags onto […]
How-To Library: Spaces To Places II: Building Eagle Lake, Part 3 Road Construction
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Gerry Leone is back on the streets again. In this episode, he shares how to scribe cracks into concrete roads; apply a realistic, aged concrete color; include brick pavement; and add a dirt alley between buildings. […]
How-To Library: Spaces To Places II: Building Eagle Lake, Part 3 Road Construction
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Gerry Leone is back on the streets again. In this episode, he shares how to scribe cracks into concrete roads; apply a realistic, aged concrete color; include brick pavement; and add a dirt alley between buildings. […]