Karl Bond’s HO scale Mantua 0-4-0 with a new motor and DCC sound

0-4-0 model steam locomotive shown in a rail yard.

A Mantua 0-4-0 is the test bed here. I’ve replaced the original open-frame motor with a can motor. I then added a Micro Tsunami and a KA2 module from TCS. No modifications were done concerning electrical pickup. It still only picks up current on the right from the engine’s two wheels, and the four left […]

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Video Step by Step: Build a water tank part 2

Steven Otte working on a water tank.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page After building the tank and roof in part 1 of this Video Step by Step project, Steven Otte shows you how he completed his model of an HO scale wood water tank. […]

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Modeler’s Spotlight Video–Inside Cody’s Office for July 2013

Inside Cody's Office for July 2013

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Associate editor Cody Grivno shows you how to cut an stain strip wood for a model railroad project. Cody used these same techniques when scratchbuilding the freight house for the Model Railroader staff’s latest project layout. He’ll also show you some new model […]

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Modeler’s Spotlight Video–Inside Cody’s Office for July 2013

Inside Cody's Office for July 2013

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Associate editor Cody Grivno shows you how to cut an stain strip wood for a model railroad project. Cody used these same techniques when scratchbuilding the freight house for the Model Railroader staff’s latest project layout. He’ll also show you some new model […]

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HO scale Lehigh & Keystone Valley

MRRA0913_Lehigh_A

Name: Lehigh & Keystone Valley Layout designer: Lehigh & Keystone Valley model railroading club Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 45 x 60 feet Theme: Eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey Locale: Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley Era: 1950-1970 Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 960 feet Minimum radius: 28″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 1.5 percent in helix […]

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2013 National Train Show new products report part 1

AthearnTrainsHOscaleElectroMotiveDivisionSDP45.Preproductionsamplesshown

Athearn Trains HO scale Electro-Motive Division SDP45. Pre-production samples shown. HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division SDP45. Erie Lackawanna, Great Northern (Big Sky Blue), and Southern Pacific. Four road numbers per scheme. Detailed cab interior, flat or pointed long hood end as appropriate, and railroad-specific brake cylinder placement on trucks. Direct-current model, $189.98; with SoundTraxx Digital […]

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Building Bay Junction part 1

Neil Besougloff next to layout

Beginning in the January 2011 issue you’ll see the latest Model Railroader project layout, the HO scale Bay Junction on the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy. We built this modern junction town as part of our MR&T club layout, but we’ll show you how you can build the railroad as a standalone island or shelf layout. […]

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Thin Branch Series: Making puffball trees

Neil Besougloff holding materials for puffball trees.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Need a lot of tree-covered hills on your layout? In this video, MR’s editor Neil Besougloff shows you how to make common puffball trees. This technique models just the treetops, and it’s a great way to fill background hills with trees quickly. […]

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Thin Branch Series: Making puffball trees

Neil Besougloff holding materials for puffball trees.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Need a lot of tree-covered hills on your layout? In this video, MR’s editor Neil Besougloff shows you how to make common puffball trees. This technique models just the treetops, and it’s a great way to fill background hills with trees quickly. […]

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Thin Branch Series Ballasting a 1950s main line track

Cody ballasting alongside a track.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Cody Grivno, our one-man ballasting crew, shares his tips and techniques for ballasting a well-groomed 1950s mainline track. Cody takes you through the process start to finish on our HO scale Thin Branch project, but his techniques work just as well in other […]

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Thin Branch Series Ballasting a 1950s main line track

Cody ballasting alongside a track.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Cody Grivno, our one-man ballasting crew, shares his tips and techniques for ballasting a well-groomed 1950s mainline track. Cody takes you through the process start to finish on our HO scale Thin Branch project, but his techniques work just as well in other […]

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