Ask Trains.com March 2025| Join Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he addresses your questions…regarding both model railroading and 1:1 scale railroading too! In this installment, Cody discusses how to replicate short line operations on a model railroad; what a hypothetical MR&T steam era might have looked like; wire choices for a DCC layout; plus […]
Building L-girders| Watch and learn as David Popp demonstrates how to assemble one of the most essential and versatile components of a model railroad! You can learn more about benchwork construction in the East Troy Industrial Park project layout video, “Building a frame”. Plus, you’ll want to be sure to find other helpful videos like […]
In this episode, David Popp continues working on the barn and surrounding farm scene on his Olympia & Sand Creek On30 display layout. Efforts include fabricating and installing a new, detailed barn door, extending and amending the barn’s roof, and even taking time to audit the height, shape, fit, and finish of his background trees! Be […]
Host David Popp and Bryson Sleppy work to raise the wood framework of their East Troy Industrial Park (ETIP) model railroad off the ground. Watch as they share how to plan, construct, and install the legs for a nearly any layout. And don’t miss the simple, yet extraordinarily helpful insights the crew shares in Model […]
Adjusting leg height| In instances where the floor isn’t quite as flat as it looks, David Popp shows how to install adjustable feet or glides on layout legs…and then use them to level out any troublesome height discrepancies across your model railroad! You can also read about this technique in the Trains.com article, “How to […]
Selecting lumber for your layout| With a wide array of wood grades available at major home improvement centers, it’s important to know what works best verses what is the most economical. Making the wrong choice of lumber can lead to issues in benchwork construction…and even in trackwork, scenery, and layout operation too! No worries. David […]
Host Gerry Leone is back for more work on his double-deck model railroad, specifically targeting the lower-level yard recently featured in Spaces to Places VII. Follow along as he finishes out the scene by restoring and recycling ballasted track from his previous HO scale Bona Vista layout! Want to see more of Gerry’s work on […]
Scott Kremer’s Great Northern Ry. Cascade Division in HO scale | Trains.com video staff captures Model Railroader Editor Eric White as he tours Scott Kremer’s 30 x 42-foot HO (1:87) scale basement layout. Catch a sneak peek months before crowds arrive to visit and operate the impressive model railroad set for display during the 2025 NMRA […]
With all the same enthusiasm and expertise demonstrated in previous Model Railroader Project Layout efforts, host David Popp and Bryson Sleppy begin constructing the East Troy Industrial Park (ETIP) model railroad! While it will be just a small semblance of the former Milwaukee, Racine, & Troy HO scale (1:87.1) layout, the all-new ETIP promises to […]
Rotary tool cutoff techniques | Trains.com Director David Popp demonstrates how a rotary motor tool can be used for a variety of applications when building model railroad benchwork. In this instance, David shares how a rotary tool and a cutoff disk make quick work of errant nails protruding from wood frame components. You can also […]
Replacing a circular saw blade| In this instance, David Popp shows Bryson Sleppy how installing a new, sharp blade yields clean, smooth edges when cutting benchwork components. Putting safety first, David shares the proper process, along with insights for maintaining a saw for years of reliable use! You can also read about this technique in […]
Trains.com staff writer Lucas Iverson chats with Stephen and Liz Nelson, owners/operators of Mr. Muffin’s Trains in Atlanta, Ind. Throughout this remote-video interview, you’ll glean behind-the-scenes insights into the past, present, and future of the growing online operation with an intriguing brick-and-mortar location too! You can also read the transcript of this insightful interview with […]
