News & Products for the week of February 16th 2026 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of February 16th […]
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 […]
The Rio Grande equipped both ends of the Moffat Tunnel with high-pressure car-washing sprayers to clean windows in preparation for the splendid views ahead. This is a view out the east portal in 1949. W. H. Mitchell photo […]
News & Products for the week of February 9th 2026 Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of February 9th […]
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, […]
Becoming acquainted with Robert Sherman, the talented and kind-hearted artist affiliated with Lionel and Diorama Studios, stands as a highlight of my career at Classic Toy Trains. Though frail when we met in the early 1990s, Bob eagerly shared stories of his contributions to the postwar consumer catalogs as well as his involvement with the […]
Rivers and industries take center stage on the HO scale East Troy Industrial Park layout! This episode, David Popp dives into scenery by pouring a murky resin river for an authentic, deep-water appearance. You’ll also learn the math (I was told there would be no math) behind calculating resin volume for irregular shapes. Finally, we […]
Facts and features Name: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Aurora Branch Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 15″ x 72″ with 36″ extension Prototype: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Locale: downtown Aurora, Ill. Era: early 1950s Style: shelf Mainline run: 6 feet Minimum radius: none Minimum turnout: No. 4 Maximum grade: none Benchwork: 1∕4″ plywood base with frame (1 […]
A 4-8-4 leads a freight east across the Lackawanna Railroad’s colossal Pequest Fill. At more than 3 miles long, Pequest was a major feature of the road’s 28.5-mile cutoff across the rough terrain of northern New Jersey. The line below is the Lehigh & Hudson River Railroad. Wayne Brumbaugh photo […]
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 […]
Most pickup trucks aren’t in perfect condition and show signs of wear. When I received the Atlas O 1973 Ford F-100 pickup truck, I had an opportunity to add weathering and custom features. Follow along as I explain what I did, and I hope it will inspire you to try some – or all – […]
This February 2026 episode of Cody’s Office features an exciting product lineup, essential modeling tips, and viewer questions. Senior Editor Cody Grivno showcases the HO scale Greenbrier five-trough coil car from Rapido Trains and Athearn’s Genesis series GE Dash 9-44CW locomotive. He also reviews the new Firecrown Media book, Tales of the Rails. Cody demonstrates […]
