Red Oak Series: Weathering freight cars

Fingers hold a small scale model boxcar.

Now that scenes on Model Railroader magazine’s 3 x 7-foot N scale Red Oak layout are nearly compete, MR associate editor Eric White turns his attention to enhancing the rolling stock with realistic weathering effects. In this video, Eric shares his techniques for applying weathering powders on both dark and light-colored freight cars. […]

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Keller Beverage Co. signs for a model railroad

Keller Bier signs for a model railroad

Download signs for Keller Bier and Keller Beverage Co. to use on your model train layout. In the June 2015 Step by Step column, associate editor Cody Grivno shows how to model signs on large model railroad industries. He uses the Keller Beverage Co. on the Model Railroader staff’s club model train layout, the Milwaukee, […]

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Cody’s Workshop: Episode 24 – Weathering with powdered chalks

cody weathering the side of a yellow flatcar

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this episode, Cody shows how to use a Pelle Søeborg weathering technique to add realistic rust spots and scratches to a modern freight car. Plus, he shares a handy use for a nifty new sanding tool. Cody also answers viewer questions, including […]

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Cody’s Workshop: Episode 24 – Weathering with powdered chalks

cody weathering the side of a yellow flatcar

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this episode, Cody shows how to use a Pelle Søeborg weathering technique to add realistic rust spots and scratches to a modern freight car. Plus, he shares a handy use for a nifty new sanding tool. Cody also answers viewer questions, including […]

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Olympia Logging Series: Part 39 – Log car upgrades

Now that David Popp has the Olympia Logging Co. On30 steam locomotives looking good and weathered, he’s turning his focus to the log car fleet on the display-style layout. Follow along as he demonstrates how to use a can of spray paint, various modeling paints applied with a brush, pre-mixed stains, and weathering powders to […]

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Olympia Logging Series: Part 38 – Make a corrugated roof

MR associate editor Eric White shares his techniques for adding a corrugated roof to a wood structure on our Olympia Logging Co. On30 display-style layout. In this video, he shows how to work with styrene sheet material to form individual panels, paint and weather those panels, and then attach them to the building. […]

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Olympia Logging Series: Part 31 – Detail a logging locomotive

In this video, Cody Grivno continues to enhance the appearance of our Olympia Logging Co. On30 Bachmann Climax locomotive by adding select details. After referencing prototype photos, Cody shows how and where to add crew figures, oil cans, chains, tools, and many other details that help make this locomotive look like an authentic logging company […]

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Olympia Logging Series: Part 30 – Steam locomotive weathering

Close view of a steam locomotive's top side.

While we’ve addressed how to weather modern diesel locomotives in other MRVP videos, David Popp takes on the challenge of giving the Olympia Logging Co. steam locomotives an aged appearance. Follow along as he demonstrates how to use an airbrush to apply various paint color effects — all without impacting the performance of our layout […]

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Olympia Logging Series: Part 30 – Steam locomotive weathering

Close view of a steam locomotive's top side.

While we’ve addressed how to weather modern diesel locomotives in other MRVP videos, David Popp takes on the challenge of giving the Olympia Logging Co. steam locomotives an aged appearance. Follow along as he demonstrates how to use an airbrush to apply various paint color effects — all without impacting the performance of our layout […]

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Olympia Logging Series: Part 29 – Custom locomotive lettering

As the layout construction and scenery work progresses, MR’s Cody Grivno continues to prep the Olympia Logging Co. steam-powered workhorse for service. In this video, he demonstrates how to reletter our factory-decorated On30 Bachmann Climax. When an initial technique falls short, Cody cleverly introduces an alternative process using a floor finishing product. […]

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Video Step by Step: Weathering an N scale locomotive – part 1

A modern N scale locomotive.

In this installment of Video Step by Step, Cody Grivno shows you how to model a weather-beaten modern diesel locomotive using acrylic paints. In part 1 of 2, he covers how to disassemble the N scale model, prep it for painting, and apply the characteristic deteriorating paint patches. […]

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Video Step by Step: Weathering an N scale locomotive – part 2

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page This is part 2 of the Video Step by Step covering how to add weathering effects to an N scale diesel locomotive. Cody Grivno shares techniques for applying rust patches and soot effects, painting the trucks, fuel tank, and underframe, blending the various […]

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