DCC Programming: Epsiode 20 Steam Locomotive Drift

Title screen for DCC Programming, Episode 20: Steam Locomotive Drift

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Dana Kawala, senior editor for Model Railroader magazine, is back with more digital command control (DCC) tips, techniques, and insights. In this episode, Dana examines a realistic steam locomotive sound effect that’s barely audible! On the MR&T HO scale layout, Dana shows how to […]

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N scale Wet Mountain RR

Diesel locomotive on model layout

The great thing about N scale is you can do so much in a small space — in this case, 2 x 4 feet. It’s a layout that got me back into the hobby some years ago. Although I now have a much larger layout, this is still physically attached to it. I purchased the […]

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Design a layout you’ll love in 6 easy steps

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Some of the brightest minds in our hobby are gifted with the ability to put pencil to paper and whip up an original track plan. Even though I’ve designed a fair number of plans for Classic Toy Trains magazine, I can assure you that I’m certainly not a person with that kind of raw talent. […]

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How to build floating shelf benchwork for a model railroad

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Without any legs, brackets, or other visible means of support, floating benchwork keeps all attention focused on the model railroad. Follow along as author Lance Mindheim shows how to build these lightweight, yet sturdy shelves. Lance designed his benchwork for a 16″ shelf width. Use as many benchwork segments (shown above) as needed to match […]

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Canadian Canyons Series: Modeling a Burnt Forest

David Popp next to layout scenery

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page David Popp and Drew Halverson work to add a signature forest fire scene to the Thompson River Canyon on our Canadian Canyons N scale layout. Even without incorporating animated fire or smoke effects, the guys show how use of subtle color and scenery […]

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Canadian Canyons Series: Modeling a Burnt Forest

David Popp next to layout scenery

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page David Popp and Drew Halverson work to add a signature forest fire scene to the Thompson River Canyon on our Canadian Canyons N scale layout. Even without incorporating animated fire or smoke effects, the guys show how use of subtle color and scenery […]

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Modeling realistic roads with decals

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Surfaces with complicated textures and colors, like roads, can be difficult to reproduce convincingly on a layout. Lance Mindheim used a digital camera, photo-editing software, and blank decal paper to transfer images of real roads to streets on his layout. Fig. 1 Patchwork pavement. Years of weather, use, and repairs transform roads into a crazy […]

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How to model realistic modern-era structures

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Adding mundane and non-revenue structures to your layout can enhance the authenticity of a scene, as demonstrated in these two scenes from the author’s Miami-based HO scale CSX Downtown Spur layout. The gray and salmon structure at the center of the top photo is 10th Avenue Tires in Miami. Structure building is one of the […]

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