In part 3, David Popp adds details and simple castings to the deck of the two-track car float on MR’s 5×9-foot Rice Harbor HO scale layout, all in preparation for the next step – painting the vessel. […]
Work continues on the car float David Popp is assembling for MR’s 5×9-foot Rice Harbor HO scale layout. In part 2, David shows how to align and install the trackwork on the styrene deck. […]
David Popp shows how he designed and shaped the basic hull for a car float on MR’s 5×9-foot Rice Harbor HO scale layout. He also shares an easy technique for adding trackwork to deck of the vessel. […]
For the past several years I’ve enjoyed building a small toy train Christmas layout for the holiday season. I challenge myself to develop a new track plan every year. By using O-27 tubular track, I’ve been able to come up with a variety of interesting track plans that fit nicely under my Christmas tree. This […]
Solder track feeder wires: Good feeder wires are an important part of building a reliable model railroad. Feeders are the small wires that connect the track to a layout’s power bus and ultimately to its control system. Whether you are using AC, DC, or Digital Command Control (DCC) to run your trains, you will need […]
Car routing with JMRI OperationsPro | The crew continues to prepare the State Line Route N scale model railroad for a prototypical operating session, and the next step is car routing. Instead of the widely used car-card-and-waybill freight-car routing system, David Popp and Trains.com host Gerry Leone use a computer program called JMRI OperationsPro to […]
Signs from swizzle sticks: When my wife, kids, and I visited the General Store Antique Mall in Kewaskum, Wis., I wasn’t really thinking about model railroading (although I did run into a fellow modeler at the store). Instead, I planned on enjoying an hour or two browsing the dozens of booths in the two-story building […]
Tools to cut and strip wire when building a model railroad: When wiring a model railroad, an essential tool is a good pair of wire strippers. I use the two examples of wire strippers shown in fig. 1, and both have served me well over the years. While there are other wire-stripping tools available, these […]
In this episode, Host Gerry Leone acknowledges two areas on his layout where he needs to rethink the track arrangements. He discusses possible solutions and then shows how he rerouted the track on the lower and upper decks to fit his vision. Getting to know Gerry Leone Back on Track host Gerry Leone is just […]
With the HO scale Virginian Ry. benchwork in the Model Railroader workshop, managing editor David Popp begins laying down track and cork roadbed. He describes some of the changes that he had to make to the track arrangement for this model train layout. You’ll also learn how David saved space on the Virginian by using […]
In part one of this video series on building our new sectional project layout, Model Railroader managing editor David Popp shows you how we join the benchwork sections together. […]
Lots of work is taking place on the Model Railroader staff’s Bay Junction model train layout. Associate editor Cody Grivno has installed his United Cooperative grain elevator, while senior editor Dana Kawala describes building the fertilizer plant that will be located in front of the scene. Managing editor David Popp will also show how the […]
