How-to Library: Cast your own rock molds, Part 1

Gerry Leone in his workshop

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   In this two-part video series, MRVP Contributing Editor Gerry Leone walks you through the steps for making your own inexpensive rock molds. The resulting rubber molds can then be used to cast realistic rock faces and outcroppings for use on any layout. […]

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Build a raised railroad outdoors

raised_railroads1

1. In Jacques Verdier and Nancy Lagomarsino’s 1950s-era Verdi Railroad, SP’s Daylight snakes around three peninsulas in the front for lots of viewing and access pleasure. They have fitted 250′ of 0-gauge Lionel track in their relatively small yard. A friend visited in his wheelchair and vetted pathway widths and roadbed height. Every 6′, Ficus […]

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Add a cattle chute to your railway

Add a cattle chute to your railway

In the October 2106 issue, Jack Verducci describes how he added a cattle chute to his railway. Here, you can download full-size drawings of a cattle chute for your own line. Note: Because of the size, you will need to print this document out in sections. In Adobe Acrobat, select “Print,” and select “Poster mode” […]

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HO scale Los Angeles Junction Everett Avenue

HOscaleLAJunctionEverettAvenue

Name: Los Angeles Junction Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 5′-0″, x 9′-6″ Prototype: Los Angeles Junction Ry. Era: present day Style: shelf Mainline run: not applicable Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: none The track plan originally appeared in the May 2015 issue of Model Railroader. Click on the link to download a […]

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HO scale Chicago & North Western Ry.

HOscaleChicagoNorthWesternRy

Name: Chicago & North Western Ry. Layout owner: Don Drum Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 27 x 43 feet Prototype: C&NW Lakeshore Division, Ashland District (Eland, Wis., to Ashland, Wis.) Locale: northern Wisconsin Era: summer 1956 to 1960 Style: walk-in Benchwork: L-girder and open grid Height: 49″ to 55″ Roadbed: 1⁄2″ plywood, 1⁄2″ Homasote, and 1⁄4″ […]

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HO scale New York Central, Mattoon and East St. Louis, Ill.

HOscaleNewYorkCentralMattoonandEastStLouisIll

Name: New York Central Layout owner: Mike Havens Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 18 x 25 feet Prototype: NYC Locale: Illinois and Indiana Era: 1950 to mid-1960s Style: walk-in double-deck Mainline run: 360 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 1.25 percent Benchwork: L-girder Height: 45″ Roadbed: Homasote on 3⁄4″ plywood, some cork […]

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Plans for a small town train station

BuffaloSusquehannadepot

Click on the link or image to download the plans. The prototype for this railroad depot is a former Buffalo & Susquehanna train station from Rushford, N.Y. The compact depot would make an interesting lineside addition to a model railroad. Harold W. Russell’s article about the station appeared in the September 2016 Model Railroader. […]

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N scale Geneva Subdivision

NscaleUnionPacificGenevaSub

Name: Geneva Subdivision Layout owner: Daryl Kruse Scale: N (1:160) Size: 25 x 48 feet Prototype: Union Pacific (ex-Chicago & North Western) Locale: Northern Illinois Era: Present Style: single deck Mainline run: 160 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Turnouts: no. 10 (mainline), no. 8 (secondary and yard track) Maximum grade: 0.5 percent Benchwork: open-grid Height: 55″ […]

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How-to Library: Weathering a diesel locomotive

Cody Grivno holding a model train.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this how-to video, MR’s Cody Grivno shows you how quick and easy it is to add realistic weathering to a diesel locomotive of any size or scale. Using an out-of-the -box HO scale model, Cody’s demonstration first walks you through the processes […]

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