In the September issue, managing editor David Popp begins his series on adding the Waterbury industrial district to his N scale New York, New Haven & Hartford layout. He’ll give you tips for building benchwork and working with foam board.
Video: Building the N scale Waterbury Industrial District part 1
By Angela Cotey | July 19, 2008
| Last updated on November 23, 2020
Benchwork for the N scale Waterbury Industrial District on David Popp's Naugatuck Valley RR
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I have been collecting RR items for 8 years now with the thought of building a layout but sadly no build to date. Now it is time and as I am a 100% newbie with nothing built at all yet, I appreciate these videos! Thanks very much!
this is an excellent vignette. i learned a lot. thank you, larry
Just starting my train dream (at 70 something) and I appreciate your help very much. I have attended two model railroad club meetings seekiing ideas and how to information but didn't find much help. Your video has given me the most help so far and I look foreword to more as I continue building that dream railroad I have stored up in my head.
Because of my maturity and fingers that are not what they once were I am building a O gauge, and since I have much of the train bought already I had better do it if I want peace in this house! I just bought a HO set that a fellow had out grown and I will build it on a 4×8 platform. The O might end up being a garden RR.
Keep the help coming! I look and learn better than I read and do.
Larry Hughes
Spartanburg, (The Hub City) SC
Keep up the good work
Great video Dave, and it gives the simple approach on how you achieved your layout, and such.
Just starting my benchwork, and basically clearing out the basement section where I want to set up.
These videos are great in the professional approach to get some great results without alot of frustration, and/or wasted time, money, and energy.
Keep up the great work, and I am just starting to open these type of helpful sites. Thanks also to Model Railroader Mag. for the great articles.
Rick Orem
Red Lion, Pa.
While there are many great articles that cover various subjects and include helpful photographs of the techniques used, videos like this one are extremely helpful to the inexperienced modeller. Watching someone actually showing the techniques really provides the encouragement to try it yourself.
Thanks Dave. I always enjoy watching and viewing what other modelers have done.
I just use screws to put bench work together. Makes it much easier to take it apart.
mr. popp is definitely one of the future model railroad icons. i remember reading on his layout awhile back.
thanks dave i keep learning and having so much fun. now that my girlfriend is involved it is more lot more fun. we enjoy all of guys keep going do not run out of tips. crt
Recently I've been finding "free" foam board along the highway. Seems it gets torn off delivery trucks and just sits there until the state crews come along and remove it. I've found enough that I've saved more than $100 by not having to buy it. I still find more every week when I'm out on other business.
Just be very careful about traffic, though, since you often have to park on some narrow roadsides! Make sure you leave room to prevent any potential problems with passing vehicles!
It was a good video and I learned a lot, thanks
David Popp is a very talented writer and model railroader. This video series is very helpful since I live nearly juxtapose the former New Haven Railroad line and the land where the railroad line's roundhouse was in Pittsfield. I have started to model the New Haven Railroad taking historical structures from the Western RR in the 1860s up through to the 1970s. This video series helped me understand how to incorporate operation as well as continues operation. I followed this series when I was constructing my bench work and connecting DCC. Again, a very nice video series. Hopefully, Popp and his colleagues from MR will soon video tape an operating session for the website so we can see it in its entirety.
-A. Archambault
TWO THUMBS UP DAVE. THE VIDEO IS VERY CLEAR AND THE AUDIO IS GREAT.
David's got a mouth-watering layout going there, and it's so inviting to jump right in and do a job his way. But how does the foam block build-up integrate into the the total layout? How does the diorama factor apply?
I'm glad that I am not the only one that uses foam to build layouts and scenery. It makes it a lot easer and faster. I have found out that if I make a mistake in my cut, I can alter my scene a little and it comes out better than I thought. Good series, very helpful for beginers.
Always love to see your railroad you've done a fantastic job on it.