Video Step by Step: Replacing turnouts

Cody Grivno working on the rails.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Sometimes you need to replace a turnout or other trackwork on your model railroad. In this video Cody Grivno shares his technique for replacing turnouts on Model Railroader’s HO scale MR&T layout, walking you through the project from cutting out the old rails […]

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Cody’s Workshop: Episode 4 – clear coat finish

Cody Grivno standing at his workbench

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this video installment of Cody’s Workshop, Cody shares his technique for applying a clear-coat finish on one of the MR&T’s heritage locomotives. Along the way, he also demonstrates a handy clamp for scratchbuilding structure models, and shows how to remove and adjust […]

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Thin Branch Series: Working with foam rocks

Hand placing foam "rocks" above a raw and unfinished tunnel portal on a model train layout.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page If you want to try a different material to make rocks for your model railroad, try foam. In this video, David shows how he added Mountains in Minutes foam rocks to our Thin Branch HO scale project railroad. […]

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Cody’s Workshop: Episode 3 – April 2013

flatcar deck

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Welcome back to Cody’s Workshop. In episode 3, Cody shows you how to get a realistic weathered finish for your flatcar decks. He also gives you some tips on using punches to make drillbit starter holes, and answers a variety of viewer mail. […]

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Thin Branch Series: Benchwork part 3 – plywood subroadbed

David Popp working with plywood.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   In this video episode of our Thin Branch HO scale project railroad, the layout gets its plywood subroadbed installed. David shows you how to mark and cut the plywood for smooth transitions between the levels and support it with simple risers made […]

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Thin Branch Series: Working with plaster rocks part 1

David Popp casting rocks in plaster.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Whether it’s a mountain face or just a simple outcropping, sooner or later you’ll probably need to model rocks on your layout. In this video, David shows you how he cast rocks from plaster for the Thin Branch project railroad. […]

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Thin Branch Series: Working with plaster rocks part 2

David laying plaster rocks.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Once you’ve cast rocks in plaster, it’s time to install them on the layout. In this video, David shows you how he cut, fit, and cemented plaster rock castings to the Thin Branch project railroad. […]

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Building the HO scale Winter Hill Quarry Branch part 10

Steve Otte next to layout

The asphalt shingle plant is one of the structures on the Winter Hill Branch model train layout. Follow along as Model Railroader associate editor Steve Otte show you some of the modeling techniques that he used to kitbash this HO scale structure. You’ll learn about the models that Steve chose for the project, and get […]

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