Olympia 2, The Log Blog: Summer Camp 2

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page More Summer Camp fun on David’s O scale (1:48) Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout. Today’s activities start with a stock car modeling project, before shifting to a layout scenery effort. […]

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Stuff We Use: Pliers and cutters for model railroaders

Assortment of pliers on a workbench

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page A Xuron Modeler’s tool kit includes sprue cutters, microshears, and tweezernose pliers. All of these tools get a lot of use down at the Model Railroader workshop. In this quick demo, editor Hal Miller shows you some of his favorite tips for using […]

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HO scale CSX Philadelphia Subdivision

HOscaleCSXPhiladelphiaSubdivision1

Click on the image to download a PDF copy of this track plan. Name: CSX Philadelphia Subdivision Layout owner: Bruce Friedman Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 42 x 56 feet Prototype: CSX Locale: Philadelphia to Baltimore Era: modern day Style: multi-deck walkaround Mainline run: 1,000 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2.25 […]

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Toy Train Basics: All about track

Toy Train Basics logo

To continue this informative series of videos from Classic Toy Trains magazine, David Popp shares info and insights on the wide array of O gauge track systems, sizes, and styles you can use to build a toy train layout! […]

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HO scale Conrail’s Onondaga Cutoff

ConrailOnondagaCutoff1

Click on the image to download a PDF copy of this track plan. Name: Conrail’s Onondaga Cutoff Layout owner: Dave Abeles Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 20′-8″ x 30′-6″ Prototype: Conrail Locale: upstate New York Era: 1990s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 250 feet Minimum radius: 30″ (main), 22″ (yards and sidings) Minimum turnout: no. 8 (main), […]

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HO scale Rice Lake, Dallas & Menomonie RR

HOscaleRiceLakeDallasMenomonie

Click on the image to download a PDF of the track plan. Name: Rice Lake, Dallas & Menomonie RR Layout owner: Bob Wundrock Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 17 x 24 feet with a 2 x 9-foot interchange yard Prototype: Soo Line Locale: northwestern Wisconsin Era: 1950 to 1955 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 100 feet Minimum […]

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HOn3 Chama Yard

HOscaleChamaYard

Click on the image to download a PDF of the track plan. Name: Chama Yard Layout owner: Kim Nipkow Scale: HOn3 (1:87.1, 30″ gauge) Size: 1m x 10.5m (40″ x 34′-5″) Prototype: Cumbres & Toltec Scenic RR Locale: Chama, N.M. Era: present day Style: modular Mainline run: no main line Minimum radius: 55mm (21.6″) Minimum […]

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Anatomy of a water feature

water_illustration_v2

Nancy Norris/Rick Johnson Water goes down to ‘seek its own level’. Hygroscopic tension forces water sideways when moisture follows the underside of a spill rock or fallen branch. Soil wicks water in all directions by osmosis. Splashing bounces up. Water evaporates into thin air and we wonder if the reservoir is leaking. Water needs to […]

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Waterscape your garden railway

train on trestle

Waterscape your garden railway: Swirling water stirs the imagination. Splashing shuts out city sounds, and viewers remember seeing famous falls at national parks or smaller watercourses near home. Bridges over brooks urge us to see connections to the land and how plantings create the habitat for a popular scenic attraction. There are countless reasons why […]

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Build a steel-frame snow plow

snowplow_project

Follow along with author Mike Lafond as he builds a steel-frame snow plow in the Fall and Winter 2019 issues. Download a full-size version of his CAD drawings here. Please note: Check your printer settings before printing. Uncheck the “scale to fit” box. You may need to tile these pieces into two pages. See gray […]

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Scratchbuild a freight truck

scratchbuilt_truck_lead

Mike Lafond Figure 1 Mike Lafond Photo 1 Printed templates glued on the aluminum. I left the templates stuck on the alumimum until I had drilled out all the holes. I “cheated” here and used a bandsaw to cut these pieces from the main sheet. The two upper pieces are the outer bolster parts, cut […]

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