Acrylic paints for airbrushing

Two skinny paint bottles, one dark gray, the other gold, next to each other in front of white background

Acrylic paints for airbrushing While there are many different areas of the model railroading hobby that we can all explore, one common theme involved in almost all of these areas is paint. Whether you are painting entire backdrops, buildings, vehicles, or even figures, paint is a product that is necessary for model railroading. If you’re […]

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HO scale number 6 turnouts

Group photo of HO scale No. 6 turnouts

HO scale number 6 turnouts HO scale number 6 turnouts. Running trains in a circle or oval may hold your attention for a little bit, but eventually you’ll want your trains to go somewhere beyond that basic loop. That’s where turnouts enter the scene. Turnouts let you split one line into two, design yards, model […]

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Eight Burlington Northern freight car one-offs

Black-and-white photo of boxcar in white paint with black lettering

I recently wrote “Burlington Northern locomotive one-offs”  featuring five Electro-Motive Division diesels, including unique paint schemes, rebuilds, and test subjects. This time, I dug through my negative collection and found eight Burlington Northern freight car one-offs. Most of the photos are from family travels throughout northwest Minnesota and northeast North Dakota between the early 1980s […]

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Choosing a modeling scale

Photo of modern passenger units in five scales

Q: I want to get back into model railroading, but I’m stuck on choosing a modeling scale. I don’t know whether to go with HO or N. Please give me the pros and cons of each. – John Sala A: Choosing a modeling scale is one of the most consequential decisions a modeler faces, right […]

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Eastern Seaboard Models HO scale insulated boxcars

two freight cars painted in red, white and blue stripes

Eastern Seaboard Models HO scale insulated boxcars  Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $84.50 Era: Early 1950s to 1980s Manufacturer: Eastern Seaboard Models Corp., P.O. Box 301, Waldwick, NJ 07463; esmc.com Insulated boxcars feature: Etched-metal running board and brake wheel platform More than 100 freestanding plastic detail parts Hi-Tech Details flexible rubber air hoses Underbody charcoal heater […]

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Broadway Limited Imports HO SD45

Screen shot of product review video

Add some flair to your layout with the Broadway Limited Imports HO SD45. The six-axle road locomotive, based on an Electro-Motive Division (EMD) prototype, is offered in both high and low short hood versions in eight paint schemes. The Broadway Limited Imports HO scale SD45 has an injection-molded plastic body, a die-cast metal frame, all-wheel […]

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Pullman-Standard 2,750- and 2,960 cubic-foot capacity three-bay hoppers from Atlas

a black three-bay hopper car in the foreground and a red three-bay hopper car in the background

Pullman-Standard 2,750- and 2,960 cubic-foot capacity three-bay hoppers from Atlas Scale: N (1:160) Price: $24.95 Era: 1954 to 1990s (depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-678-0880; shop.atlasrr.com Features: 15 body panels and 16 exterior posts Die-cast metal hopper and center sill construction Optional heap shields Solid- or […]

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Broadway Limited HO scale Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Blue Goose

a light blue model steam locomotive

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Blue Goose Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $899.99 Era: 1938 to 1956 (depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Broadway Limited Imports LLC, 9 East Tower Circle, Ormond Beach, FL 32174; 386-673-8900; broadway-limited.com Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Blue Goose Features: Synchronized puffing smoke with chuff sound Variable puffing smoke intensity and timing Dual-mode Paragon4 […]

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Atlas Ford F-250 and F-350 pickup trucks from Atlas

Two green Ford pickup trucks

Atlas Ford F-250 and F-350 pickup trucks Scale: N (1:160) Price: Two-pack, $32.95 Era: 1992+ Manufacturer: Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; 908-678-0880; shop.atlasrr.com   Features: Trim packages for XL and XLT trucks Semi-detailed chassis Clear window glazing Release date: Now available Road names: Burlington Northern (green), Amtrak (white with arrow […]

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Rapido Trains HO scale E8

Screen capture of product review video

The Rapido Trains HO scale E8 diesel locomotive decorated as Amtrak No. 4316 paid a visit to Model Railroader’s Milwaukee, Racine & Troy layout. The six-axle passenger locomotive is decorated in Amtrak’s “day one” paint scheme. Features on the Rapido Trains HO scale E8 diesel locomotive include an injection-molded plastic body; a passenger pilot; separate, […]

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Electro-Motive Division SD40 from Broadway Limited

A navy blue locomotive with yellow detailing

Electro-Motive Division SD40 Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $399.99 Era: 1966+ (depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Broadway Limited Imports LLC, 9 East Tower Circle, Ormond Beach, FL 32174; 386-673-8900; broadway-limited.com   Electro-Motive Division SD40 features: Paragon4 sound & control System Integral dual-mode decoder with back-EMF ABS plastic body with die cast chassis Separately-applied details including handrails, grab irons, […]

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C&O K-2 Mikado from Broadway Limited

A black locomotive with yellow text

C&O K-2 Mikado Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $899.99 Era: 1940s+ Manufacturer: Broadway Limited Imports LLC, 9 East Tower Circle, Ormond Beach, FL 32174; 386-673-8900; broadway-limited.com   C&O K-2 Mikado features: Paragon4 Sound & Control System Synchronized puffing smoke with chuff sound Variable puffing smoke intensity and timing Integral DCC Decoder with back-EMF 5-Pole Can Motor with […]

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