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. […]
Build plywood tipper cars

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. […]
Location scouting is a vital part of filmmaking. A movie-production company sends an advance team to review scenery, camera angles, lighting, weather, and more. We are one-person studios but we need to include location scouting, too, including scouting the rolling stock, the trains and their stories, structures, and environment; time and lighting conditions; camera locations; […]
Location scouting is a vital part of filmmaking. A movie-production company sends an advance team to review scenery, camera angles, lighting, weather, and more. We are one-person studios but we need to include location scouting, too, including scouting the rolling stock, the trains and their stories, structures, and environment; time and lighting conditions; camera locations; […]
Name: Utah Belt (2018) Layout owner: Eric Brooman Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 22′-8″ x 39′-6″ Prototype: freelanced Locale: northern New Mexico Era: the present Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 173 feet Minimum radius: 39″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 1.5 percent Benchwork: L girder Height: 46″ to 58-1/2″ Roadbed: cork on 3/8″ plywood, with […]
Name: Quisling, CA Layout owner: Brian Moore Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 21 inches x 24 feet Prototype: proto-freelanced Southern Pacific Locale: Central/Northern California Era: circa 1982 Style: modular Mainline run: 24 feet Minimum radius: 42″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: none Benchwork: extruded-foam insulation board sheets, wrapped in plywood Height: 45″ Roadbed: none Track: […]
Click on the links at left to download the image sized appropriately for your computer screen. A General Electric ES44AC leads an eastbound coal train in Furnace Creek Canyon on Eric Brooman’s HO scale Utah Belt. Modern motive power is one of the many recent developments of the ever-evolving UB. This month you can use […]
In this layout wiring walk-through, MRVP’s Ben Lake shares his approach to completing the wiring for the trackwork, block detection system, and planned signal installations. Ben’s technical explanations will help prepare you for the next bold step into MRVP Tech — computer control! […]
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page In an all-new MRVP mini-series, David Popp takes you through the steps for turning an interesting layout concept into a specific plan. In Part 1, David gets things started by revisiting memories of his favorite midwestern fallen flag. He then shows how recollections, […]
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page The series continues as David Popp takes a closer look at historic (Sanborn) maps to consider where and how to incorporate specific railroad trackwork, engineering, structures, industries, and more into his designs for a new layout. […]
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page The series continues as David Popp takes a closer look at historic (Sanborn) maps to consider where and how to incorporate specific railroad trackwork, engineering, structures, industries, and more into his designs for a new layout. […]
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page The series continues as David Popp takes a closer look at historic (Sanborn) maps to consider where and how to incorporate specific railroad trackwork, engineering, structures, industries, and more into his designs for a new layout. […]
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page In Part 2, David turns to his computer to explore how aerial photos and maps can help modelers compose a detailed overview of a region, town, or even a specific railroad site. Follow along as he walks you through the process of examining […]