Three GP9s head a freight across the Nickel Plate Road’s double-track lift bridge over the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland in the late 1950s as the caboose of another train leaves the bridge. Herbert H. Harwood Jr. photo […]
This episode is all about scenery on the HO scale Jones Island layout section, but first, David Popp and Ben Lake share progress updates on the freight house and Hoan bridge projects. David works on roads and grade crossings. Meanwhile, Cody demonstrates a three-step process for ballasting a freight yard. Then David switches gears to […]
What’s in my dream 4-by-8 model railroad? A yard, continuous operation, and lots of places to switch. Just because you don’t have a lot of room for your model railroad doesn’t necessarily mean you need to give up on your dream layout. You might just need to scale your dreams back a bit. While that […]
A printed backdrop installation might be the focus of this episode, but first, David Popp shares how he protects the new toggle switch installation along the fascia of the HO scale Jones Island layout section. Meanwhile, Eric White works to trim and secure a printed paper backdrop installation to the wall behind the industrial tank […]
This time around, our intrepid host lets anxious viewers see all the progress he’s made to prepare the O scale (1:48) Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout for the next big step! From backdrop to tabletop to trackwork to scenery, David shares the extent of his off-camera efforts — all to get things into place for […]
After touching up the highway texture and color, Gerry Leone takes the construction off road! In this episode, he works to install abutments and wing walls along the underpass, before building out the adjacent scenery base. Off course, Gerry makes the best laid plans, and then promptly calls an audible. Follow along to see how […]
The new year brings a fresh look at the ongoing reconstruction of the Jones Island HO scale layout section. In this video, Cody and Eric get you up to speed on the grain and cement industry structure projects they’re finalizing. […]
After touching up the highway texture and color, Gerry Leone takes the construction off road! In this episode, he works to install abutments and wing walls along the underpass, before building out the adjacent scenery base. Off course, Gerry makes the best laid plans, and then promptly calls an audible. Follow along to see how […]
This time around, our intrepid host lets anxious viewers see all the progress he’s made to prepare the O scale (1:48) Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout for the next big step! From backdrop to tabletop to trackwork to scenery, David shares the extent of his off-camera efforts — all to get things into place for […]
Weathering structures with drybrushing: Drybrushing is one of the easier weathering techniques in modeling. I’ve used this technique for years on structure roofs, such as this HO scale motor car/work shed produced for the Northern Pacific Ry. Historical Society. However, I’ve also used drybrushing successfully to weather locomotive truck sideframes (covered in the April 2010 […]
Buying collectible toy train items can be enjoyable and rewarding if you proceed carefully and patiently. Be sure to do your homework on them and the person or business selling them. Once you’ve established personal guidelines about what you want, do some research about the item and its value in different levels of condition. Price […]
How to weather with powdered pastels: Powdered pastels have long been a popular choice for weathering locomotives, freight cars, and buildings. There are several firms that offer ready-to- use weathering powders, or you can make your own by scraping pastel sticks with a hobby knife. I started work on this N scale Micro-Trains boxcar by […]
