The skeleton of a desert in progress at Scott Kennedy’s East Bay Union Railroad at one end of his dogbone trackplan. A flagstone plateau supports the track and retains soil while a dry creek provides drainage and a footpath. Nancy Norris In the fleshed-out desert, a dwarf, blue-green olive tree (Olea ‘Little Ollie’) flanks the […]
In the December 2018 issue of Model Railroader, Tom Houle shows how he scratchbuilt an exact O scale model of the Soo Line train depot in Dallas, Wis. As an online bonus, download the cutting diagrams featured in the story, as well as the standard plans for a Wisconsin & Northern depot that he used […]
We didn’t have room to publish all the photos from Eric Brooman’s spectacular HO scale Utah Belt, featured in the December 2018 Model Railroader. Check out these bonus trackside images. […]
3D printing has become less expensive and can produce higher-quality prints than ever before. Most people limit themselves to PLA or ABS filaments. These two plastics are quite common and can even be found in your favorite big-box store in the most common sizes: 1.75mm and 3.0mm. There are others out there with advantages and […]
Photo 1 Sun has set but modeling continues in paradise—a building for building railway gear, rain or shine. In this caboose, the author keeps kits under construction, trains ready to run, parts drawers, a tiny fridge, and an electric kettle. A train runs through it. Garden tools hang just inside the end door. Rungs lead […]
Eric Schade Starting in the December 2018 issue, author Eric Schade explains how he built tipper cars from scratch. Download his drawings here and follow along to build your own cars. […]
Nancy Norris Common name: Japanese spurge, Pachysandra Latin name: Pachysandra terminalis Plant type: Groundcover USDA Hardiness Zones: 4-8 Cultural needs: Moist, well-drained soil; full shade to full sun Plant size: 6-8″ high, spreading aggressively Close up of leaves Nancy Norris Sometimes we need a groundcover to simply cover the ground in hardy greenness to prevent […]
LGB starter set Piko electric locomotive Engines & rolling stock LGB (Märklin) is offering several items for the Christmas market. A Christmas Train Starter Set (#L72305, shown) includes a Christmas design, old-timer steam locomotive with Bühler motor, working headlight, and built-in smoke unit; two passenger cars; 12 sections of curved track; power supply and controller; […]
Marc Horovitz 1:32 scale, gauge-1 British passenger cars Accucraft 33260 Central Ave. Union City CA 94587 Price: $275 ea. Website: www.accucraft.com Gauge 1, 1:32-scale British MK I coaches; mostly plastic bodies; full interior detail; rubber diaphragms; metal trucks (equalized) and wheelsets; working knuckle couplers; sprung buffers. Dimensions: length over end beams (per coach), 23 3/4″; […]
Marc Horovitz Gauge 1 electric locomotive LGB (Märklin) Price: $1,099.99US Website: www.lgb.com Gauge-1 model of an RhB Ge 4/4 II locomotive; analog DC or DCC control; multi-protocol DCC decoders; can be run from track power or overhead catenary (analog only); multi-purpose socket; sound equipped; pantographs operate automatically; traction tire on one wheel; 11 electrical track-pickup […]
Murder to Scale by Debra B. Schiff, with Mike Blumensaadt Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble online, or can be ordered from any bookstore; Kindle version also available 4″ x 7″, softbound, 190 pages Price: $7.99 + s&h Cozy mysteries are those that take place within a small, well-defined community, such as a hobby or […]
Marc Horovitz Scroll saw Proxxon Prox-Tech, Inc. PO Box 1909 Hickory NC 28603 US Price: $427.50 Website: www.proxxon.com/us Two-speed scroll saw; cast-iron base; magnesium saw arms; 190W brushless motor; 800 or 1,700 strokes/min.; stroke length, 3/4″; throat depth, 18 1/8″; cutting depth, 2 1/2″, or 1 1/4″ with the table at a 45° angle. Overall […]
