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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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
Many readers have asked how we identify the current crop of big, modern road diesels. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy, as many locomotive designs have evolved into a family of similar looking locomotives. This means modelers have to study the details to figure out what locomotive is represented by a specific scale model. Comparing the model […]
We continually search for ways to encourage children to interact with the trains on Train Days at the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County (California). While it’s wise to keep the kids and adults at a safe distance from the live steam exhibit, the museum’s large collection of Brio train parts, the ride-on train in the […]
We continually search for ways to encourage children to interact with the trains on Train Days at the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County (California). While it’s wise to keep the kids and adults at a safe distance from the live steam exhibit, the museum’s large collection of Brio train parts, the ride-on train in the […]
Layout at a glance Name: Frisco Lines Layout owner: John Peluso Scale: HO scale (1:87.1) Size: 16 x 30 feet Prototype: St. Louis-San Francisco Ry. (Frisco) Locale: St. Louis to Springfield, Mo. Era: late 1950s to late 1960s Style: double-deck walk-in Mainline run: 400 feet Minimum radius: 30″ (main), 26″ (staging) Minimum turnout: no. 8 […]
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page Host Aaron Skinner takes up the task of adding realistic weathering effects to make the trucks and machinery on your layout appear like they’ve been working hard. Follow along to learn his techniques for modeling chipped paint, adding dirt and grime, getting a […]
When you live in an apartment, as I did when I designed the Southern Ry. Spartanburg Subdivision, you might think you have no space for a layout. But where there’s a will, there’s a right-of-way. My N scale Spartanburg Subdivision is 3′-0″ x 5′-6″ and less than a foot in height. Rather than legs, the […]
Marc Horovitz Marc Horovitz This 1:20.3-scale figure may look right for this 1:32-scale locomotive but if you tried to put him into the cab you’d quickly realize your error. Marc Horovitz These three models are all of similar prototypes—3′-narrow-gauge boxcars. In the foreground is an early Hartford Products car in 1:24 scale; in the middle […]
