Kitbashing trackside structures for the N scale State Line Route layout is the focus of this episode.
First, David Popp shares his planning and preparation steps, which include finding prototype photos and building mock-ups for this N scale model railroad layout. Next, David uses parts from several model kits to custom build a paint factory and other structures set in the U.S. Midwest. Lastly, he applies a weathering technique to one of the structures to illustrate how to give models a life like look and feel.
Enjoying this coverage of our State Line Route project effort and how we’re kitbashing trackside structures? Watch additional episodes exclusively on Trains.com streaming platform!
The State Line Route in N scale is a mid-sized stand-alone model railroad inspired by the legendary HO scale Milwaukee, Racine & Troy, a large-room layout built more than 20 years ago by Model Railroader staff and their friends. The series began on Trains.com in July 2021 and covers the construction process from initial overview and planning to building benchwork, scenery, and more.
MR&T model kits are available for your layout in HO and N scales a the Kalmbach Hobby Store.
Kitbashing is lots of fun and so often necessary to fit a building/buildings into available real estate. I’ve been working on a long, narrow “downtown” area along the backdrop behind my Union Station and train shed. I knew there would be a LOT of kitbashing necessary. In fact of the 18 buildings I’ve finished so far, ONE was built per the kit instructions. I purchased a bench top minidisk/beltsander from MicroMark. When I have to match corners of existing beveled angles to cut or trimmed parts, I can just set the table of the minidisk to 45 degrees and gently remove enough material to achieve a clean match.
One other thing I noticed was when you braced the new “roof” with the .25x.25 styrene square, you appeared to be perilously close to interfering with the fit of the upstairs windows along that section of wall….
Excellent kitbash, David! Well done. Thanks for modeling tips. One additional idea, is to glue a photo on the styrene wall inside the Pikestuff shed to give it some details. Thoughts?
Great kitbash, David. I really like what you’ve come up with there. Than you for the tips.
On a side note; I spent my young, formative years in Cary, IL. Just a couple of blocks from where the True-Value factory is. Before the plant was built the area was a gravel-pit, where us kids used to do the things that 9&10 year-old hooligans do. Fun memories.
Nice work David, the end result looks realistic and believable. One note, my junior high mechanical drawing teacher warned us about using a scale as a straight edge for cutting material so as to not damage the tick marks on the scale. I noticed that you used the “O” gauge scale edge to cut along, good move since you’re modeling in “N” scale. I like that wash look too.