Introducing the all-new Trains.com Forum! Become a part of our Community! >>VISIT NOW
Trains.com and Model Railroader magazine unite to launch an all-new project railroad! Series host David Popp leads the way into the initial overview and planning of this N scale (1:160) layout. This mid-sized, stand-alone model railroad draws inspiration from the legendary HO scale Milwaukee, Racine & Troy, so you’ll see plenty of new and familiar […]
The layout at a glance Name: Campbell Road Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 11 x 30 feet Prototype: freelanced, Norfolk & Western, and Louisville & Nashville Locale: Cincinnati, Ohio, to Appalachia Era: autumn 1942-1945 Style: around-the-walls Mainline run: 82 feet Minimum radius: 22″ (main), 18″ (sidings) Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 2.5 percent Benchwork: open […]
Back on Track gets back to the track! In this episode, host Gerry Leone shares his plans and process for adding a staging yard and switching area, including where and how to place key track switches to save valuable layout space. […]
Series host Gerry Leone is definitely playing catch up in this episode, as he works to patch up a minor oversight. Watch to see how he corrects and simplifies the helix construction, and then presents a clever suggestion for looking back in time when building a new home or layout. […]
Bound and determined to build it better than his previous layout, Gerry walks through his evolved process for handling the installation of a hardboard backdrop. Plenty of neat tips and trick can be found in this and other episodes of Back on Track, an exclusive Trains.com series! […]
Facts & features Name: Uncle Dave’s Indoor Garden Ry. (UDIG) and East & Beyond (E&B) Scale: N (1:160) Size: 28 x 40 feet Theme: Route of the California Zephyr Locale: California to Chicago and points east Era: 1960-1999 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 380 feet Minimum radius: 21” (UDIG), 15” (E&B) Minimum turnout: no. 8 Maximum […]
Our humble host, Steve Brown, shows how he planned and “paved” the roads to success on his N scale layout. Follow along to see why an application of drywall mud is his preferred beginning of a sensational dirt road. […]
Steve “Regular Guy” Brown focuses on a kitbashed building that represents a signature structure on his N scale depiction of the Winston-Salem Southbound Railway. Explore the various techniques he used to form and fit this key component of the layout scene. […]
The layout at a glance Name: UPRR Geneva Subdivision Scale: N (1:160) Size: 60′-6″ x 33′-6″ Prototype: Union Pacific Locale: northern Illinois Era: 2014 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 250 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Turnouts: no. 10 (main), no. 8 (secondary and yards) Maximum grade: 0.5 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: 55″ Roadbed: 3⁄16″ cork (main), […]
As the world and Gerry’s helix continues to turn, he deals with its ups and downs. See how he works to avoid wavering levels on each turn of the helix. And you won’t want to miss the first running train on the new layout. […]
Even with a little help from a friend, host Gerry Leone still struggles with benchwork construction. But after setting joists straight and level, he jumps right into raising the grade along the helix. Discover a few new track tips and tricks along the way. […]
With design issues behind him, Gerry begins building the components of a four-turn helix. Even though math is involved in this stage, our host is up to the task. And he’s clever enough to use and share a number of helpful resources that make the process easy to understand and follow. […]
