How to build and paint model railroad backdrops

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Don’t miss the backdrop special in the June 2018 Model Railroader. If you’re looking for more backdrop-related projects, check out this digital collection of previously published articles. Whether you’re looking for a simple sky-blue scene divider or a detailed mountain vista, adding scenic backdrops to your layout isn’t hard with help from some experts featured […]

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HO scale St. George

HOscaleStGeorge

Name: St. George Layout owner: John Ottman Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 12 x 16 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by Louisville & Nashville, Norfolk & Western, Southern Ry., Wheeling & Lake Erie Locale: Appalachian Mountains Era: steam-to-diesel transition Style: walk-in Mainline run: 70 feet Minimum radius: 22″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 3 percent Benchwork: […]

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HO scale Leadville & Red Cliff RR

HOscaleLeadvilleRedCliff

Name: Leadville & Red Cliff RR Layout owner: Bill Brown Scale: HO and HOn3 (1:87.1) Size: 25 x 40 feet Prototype: Union Pacific, BNSF Ry. (lower level); Denver & Rio Grande Western, Rio Grande Southern, and Silverton RR narrow gauge lines (upper level) Locale: central Colorado Era: present day (lower level), 1949 (D&RGW and RGS), […]

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Oregon, California & Eastern RR

Name: Oregon, California & Eastern Ry. Scale: HO scale (1:87.1) Size: 60 x 96 feet Theme: freelanced, bridge line based on the OC&E Locale: central, southern, and western Oregon Era: Fall 1975 Style: double deck, point-to-point with connecting staging yards Mainline run: 1,353 feet (20.5 scale miles); Sycan Branch, 118 feet; Coastal branch, 72 feet […]

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Canadian Canyons Series: Part 34 – Rock coloring and more

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page The flexible foam, rubber, and Sculptamold rocks are now set on our Canadian Canyons N scale layout! Kent Johnson now shows you how to blend these bits using liquid pigment washes and subtle drybrushing techniques. And to keep the progress rolling, David Popp […]

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PDF: Build Gull Pond Station

Download the plan to build a 1:22.5-scale station. To learn more about converting this to another scale, see our free conversion chart.Click on the icon to download this PDF project.Part 1 Part 2 Note: This PDF is formatted to print on your home printer. Most pieces are formatted to fit on a 8.5″ x 11″ […]

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Napa Valley Wine Train drive by

Napa Valley Wine Train

In the April and June 2018 issues, Raymond Parent shows you how to make a Napa Valley Wine Train Super Dome car using 3D printing. John Cushman thoughtfully provided this video to share with our readers of the prototype train. Enjoy! […]

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Realistic weathering tips for freight car models

Pelle Soeborg freight car weathering tips

This view of the Daneville Yard on Pelle Søeborg’s HO scale Union Pacific layout shows a variety of equipment with weathered roofs. He completed all of the weathering with powdered pastels, hobby paints, and an airbrush Years ago, when I became interested in weathering model trains, I found it extremely difficult to find roof photos, […]

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HO scale Chester Branch

HOscaleChesterBranch

Name: The Chester Branch Prototype: Morristown & Erie Ry. Era: 2016 Scale: HO (1:87) Size: 10′-0″ x 12′-4″ Minimum radius: 24″ main line, 20″ branch Minimum turnout: Peco no. 5 Maximum grade: 3 percent This track plan originally appeared in Model Railroading: The Ultimate Guide. Click on the link to download a PDF copy of […]

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O scale Olympia Logging Co. v.2

OscaleOlympiaLoggingCov2

Name: Olympia Logging Co. v.2 Scale: On30 (1:48 narrow gauge) Size: 1’-10” x 13’-0” Minimum radius: NA Minimum turnout: Peco On30 code 100 Maximum grade: 6.9 percent Height: 40” This track plan originally appeared in Model Railroading: The Ultimate Guide. Click on the link  to download a PDF copy of this track plan. […]

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