Building the 3 x 7 N scale Red Oak model railroad part 3

David Popp and Neil Besougloff next to layout track

The foam scenery base has been cut and roadbed and track are well underway in this installment of the Red Oak video series. MR Video Plus producer David Popp will also discuss the Peco code 55 track and turnouts that he used on the project layout. Associate editor Cody Grivno describes the progress he’s made […]

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Building the 3 x 7 Red Oak N scale model railroad part 4

Steve Otte next to layout

The Model Railroader staff’s N scale Red Oak layout features many interesting structures built from wood and plastic kits. Associate editor Steve Otte shows some of the structure highlights on the layout and provides some painting tips. Editor Neil Besougloff also plugs in a power pack and runs the Zephyr passenger train to test out […]

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Cody’s Workshop: Episode 22 – Layering backdrops

Cody Grivno sitting at his workbench introducing a project

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Show host Cody Grivno is on a mission to enhance a city scene on the MR&T HO scale layout. In this episode, he shows how to prepare and install multiple layers of printed photo-backdrops to give even a narrow scene a greater sense […]

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Rehab My Railroad: Episode 4

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this episode of Rehab My Railroad, MR’s Cody Grivno shows layout owner Chuck Sable how to enhance an open lot by adding a realistic grass mat and fence. Cody makes more improvements to the station parking lot too. Meanwhile, MRVP’s David Popp […]

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Building the 3 x 7 Red Oak model railroad episode 2

Hand measuring off track section

The benchwork is built for the Model Railroader staff’s N scale Red Oak project. Next comes the tricky task of transferring the track plan to the foam tabletop. Get some tips from Model Railroader Video Plus producer David Popp, including a look at the layout’s styrene backdrop and the wiring channel around the tabletop. […]

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History According to Hediger: Interlocking insights

Man with model interlocking machine

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader magazine’s senior editor Jim Hediger returns to the MRVP studio! In this episode, he first explains how a real plant works, before describing how former MR editors Paul Larson and Gordon Odegard engineered a model for use on an HO scale […]

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Cody’s Workshop: Episode 21 – Using etched-metal parts to upgrade freight cars

Cody working on a freight car

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page While Santa’s Workshop hustles to build trains for good girls and boys, Cody’s Workshop stays busy enhancing freight cars with etched-metal parts! Host Cody Grivno shows how he replaced his covered hopper’s plastic roof walkway with a see-through metal component from Plano Model […]

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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 37 – Log pond scenery

In this video, David continues working on the log pond for our Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout. Here, he shows how to prep the layout for pouring the two-part epoxy resin water, tint the resin, and refine the log pond bank after the resin has set. David also shows how to add authentic subtle details […]

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Olympia Logging Series: Part 36 – Build a log pond

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page There’s a place to include realistic water effects on just about any model railroad, including our Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout. In this video, David Popp shows how to build a log pond, starting with the pond banks shaped from foam insulation board, […]

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