Our host continues working on the upper deck of the Bona Vista V HO scale layout, turning his attention to the brand-new town of Smithtown! Watch as he customizes a classic Art Deco movie theater and reworks a structure kit to fit the town’s scale. Plus, discover expert techniques for bringing buildings to life using […]
Walt Hiteshew’s O gauge layout Dimensions: 8½ x 17½ feet Track: Menards (diameters range from 31 to 42 inches) Switches: Marx Motive power: American Flyer, Hafner, Henry Katz, Hoge, Lionel, Marx Rolling stock: American Flyer, Hafner, Henry Katz, Hoge, Lionel, Marx Controls: Lionel, Marx transformers Accessories: Lionel, MarxStructures: Byron Molds, Chein, Hafner, Hornby, Kibri, Marx, […]
Clem Krzeczkowski’s O gauge layout Dimensions: 22 x 36 feet Track: GarGraves flextrack (diameters range from 96 to 122 inches) Switches: Ross Custom Switches with Caboose Industries and Tortoise machines Motive power: Lionel, MTH Rolling stock: Atlas, Golden Gate Depot, K-Line, Lionel, MTH, Weaver Controls: Lionel No. 85226 180-watt PowerHouse “brick” (4) with MTH Digital […]
Facts and features Name: Chicago, Peoria & Western Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 30 x 44 feet Prototype: CB&Q, EJ&E, and IC Locale: Chicago to Galesburg, Ill. Era: 1940s Style: walk-in Mainline run: approximately 230 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: No. 8 (main), No. 6 (industries and yards) Grade: less than 1% Benchwork: open grid […]
Tour the HO scale (1:87.1) Chicago, Peoria & Western, John Brennan’s masterfully designed model railroad depicting the flatlands of Illinois in September 1940. Housed in a dedicated 35 x 45-foot building, this expansive walk-in empire features a 230-foot mainline modeled after the CB&Q, EJ&E, and Illinois Central. The open-grid benchwork supports meticulously handlaid code 70 […]
Our host Gerry Leone continues working on his HO scale Bona Vista layout, transforming the upper deck with a brand-new water feature. See how he uses Shaper Sheets to protect against resin leaks, harvests real limestone for perfectly matched river rocks, and even overcomes a bit of a misstep using clear coat spray. Plus, you […]
Facts and features Name: ZigZag Valley RR (ZZVR) Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 23′-6″ x 44′-5″ Prototype: BNSF Ry. and Mt. Hood RR Locale: Pacific Northwest Era: June 1998 Style: around-the-walls Mainline run: 460 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: No. 6 main line, No. 5 yards Maximum grade: 2% Benchwork: a combination of studwall, L-girder, […]
You can make the best models in the world, but as soon as you can see the layout room wall behind them, they tend to lose their feeling of realism. Adding a backdrop behind your layout is a great way to extend the miniature world beyond what you’ve modeled. Back in part 2 of our […]
Gerry Leone is goin’ to town… More precisely, the Smithtown site on his HO scale Bona Vista layout efforts to transform a drainage ditch into a scenic river! Watch as he uses clever caliper tricks to make precision-cut abutments, and then shim them for perfect track alignment. You’ll learn how to upgrade plain plastic with […]
Wm K. Walthers Inc., the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based hobby manufacturer and distributor, has announced it will not publish its annual reference book in 2026, marking a shift for the nearly century-old company. In a statement to customers, Walthers acknowledged the importance the printed reference book has held for hobbyists over the years. “For many years, the […]
Gerry Leone is back at Smithtown on his HO scale Bona Vista layout for Part Two of his river expansion project! Watch as he converts two single-track plate girder bridges—including a forgotten scratchbuilt gem from his Master Model Railroader certification efforts—into one massive double-track span. You’ll learn clever tricks for dissolving clogged glue, scoring styrene […]
Many of us dream of a model railroad empire on a massive scale. While the time, space and resources required usually dictate whether or not that dream becomes a reality, it never hurts to be inspired. Whether you’re daring to dream or have what you need to dare yourself, explore these monster track plan recommendations! […]
