How to use heat-shrink tubing

Package of small-diameter heat-shrink tubing next to box of multi-colored, pre-cut tubing

Heat-shrink tubing is something you need to have in your wiring toolkit. This material makes neat, insulated soldered joints simple and fast.   What is heat-shrink tubing? As the name implies, the material shrinks when it’s heated. It comes in multiple sizes, some of which are somewhat specialized and are most likely to be found in […]

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“Cabooses” or “cabeese”?

Five colorful model cabooses go into a tunnel on a mountainous train layout

One piece of rolling stock I can bet almost every model railroader owns is a caboose. These cars are a staple in both real life and the model form, to the point where many people who don’t know much about trains at all know what a caboose is. Along with the existence of the word […]

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Rapido Electro-Motive Division E8 Amtrak No. 4316

An image of a black model locomotive against a lbue sky background

Rapido Electro-Motive Division E8 Amtrak No. 4316 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: With dual-mode ESU LokSound sound decoder, $399.95 Era: 1971 Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com Electro-Motive Division E8 Amtrak No. 4316 features: Plastic and etched-metal details Unique nose with missing MU door Correct back ends, […]

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HO scale Bobber boxcar from Conowingo Models

A red model boxcar is shown on model railroad tracks outdoors

Bobber boxcar from Conowingo Models Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $30.00 Manufacturer:  Conowingo Models; conowingomodels.com Conowingo Models Bobber boxcar features: LaBelle truck frame Board-on-board interior deck Can be modeled with open or closed doors Plastic wheels Laser-cut wood Conowingo Railroad decals included Kadee couplers and coupler boxes Release date: Available now News & Products is a regular feature […]

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Athearn Genesis HO scale General American Transportation Corporation 2600 Airslide hopper

A Tuscan Red hopper car is shown from the side, front and back against a white background

Athearn Genesis General American Transportation Corporation 2600 Airslide hopper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $59.99; two-pack, $104.99 Era: 1953+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com General American Transportation Corporation 2600 Airslide hopper features: Three different body styles Detailed underbody including outlet piping Gravity or gravity-pneumatic […]

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Weathering N scale locomotives

A red model locomotive is shown in someone's hand as details are pplied to the nose of the locomotive.

Weathering N scale locomotives: Our Canadian Canyon N scale layout just wasn’t complete without locomotives and rolling stock to bring it to life. Running through rugged mountain terrain, the bright red Canadian Pacific road units quickly accumulate a layer of grime. Road dust on the trucks, fuel tank, side frames, and pilots; soot around the exhaust […]

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Broadway Limited 70-ton four-bay hopper in N scale

Four black freight hopper cars with load against a white background

Broadway Limited 70-ton four-bay hopper in N scale Scale: N (1:160) Price: Six-pack, $139.99 Era: 1930s+ (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Broadway Limited Imports, 9 East Tower Circle, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 broadway-limited.com Broadway Limited 70-ton four-bay hopper features: Detailed bay interiors Removable coal loads Separately-applied details Compatible with code 55, 70, 83, & […]

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What are those gray SPMX covered hoppers?

A new light gray, four-bay, cylindrical covered hopper is seen in a rail yard

Q: What are the gray SPMX covered hoppers for? I see them everywhere, but never moving. – Carol Schuler A: SPMX is a relatively new reporting mark – so new that it doesn’t show up yet on many of the websites I use for reference. But that reporting mark belongs to Shell Polymers. That’s a […]

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Broadway Limited HO scale Electro-Motive Division SD45

A green locomotive against a blue sky background.

Broadway Limited HO scale Electro-Motive Division SD45 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $399.99 Era: 1965 to present Manufacturer: Broadway Limited Imports, 9 East Tower Circle, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 broadway-limited.com Electro-Motive Division SD45 features: Two prototype-specific short hood variations Separately-applied wire grab irons, lift rings, and other details Etched-metal radiator fans and grills Light-emitting-diode lighting with […]

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The Post cereal plant in Battle Creek, Michigan layout in N scale

The N scale Post cereal plant layout

Facts & features Name: Post cereal plant in Battle Creek, Michigan Scale: N (1:160) Size: 12-0′ x 14-0′ Prototypes:  Grand Trunk Western and Penn Central Locale: Battle Creek, Michigan Era: 1970s Style: Single deck Mainline run: Not applicable Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 3 percent Benchwork: L-girder with risers and open-grid […]

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The HO scale Post cereal plant in Battle Creek, Michigan layout

The track plan for the HO scale Post cereal plant in BattleCreek, Michigan

Facts & features Name: Post cereal plant in Battle Creek, Michigan Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 12-0′ x 14-0′ Prototypes:  Grand Trunk Western and Penn Central Locale: Battle Creek, Michigan Era: 1970s Style: Single deck Mainline run: Not applicable Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: L-girder with risers and open-grid […]

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Athearn Genesis National Steel Car 6400 gondola

A green gondola freight car is shown from the side, rear and front

Athearn Genesis National Steel Car 6400 gondola Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Single car, $64.9; two-pack, $109.99 Era: 2012 to present (varies depending on paint scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com National Steel Car 6400 gondola features: Multiple body styles, end variations, top chords, and ladder variations Brass stirrup steps Metal […]

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