Q: Can you provide a simple procedure for pairing locomotives in a consist? One locomotive is pulling or pushing the one in front. – Stephen J. Szypula A: An important part of making your consist work is speed-matching the locomotives so they don’t fight each other. If your locomotives respond to the same throttle speed step […]
Actor Michael Gross shares hobby insights | Yes, that @actormichaelgross is engaged to present a keynote address at the Gateway 2022 National Model Railroad Association’s (NMRA) convention banquet on Saturday, August 13, 2022. Prior to this St. Louis, Mo., event, Michael graciously took time out of his busy schedule to talk with Eric White, Editor […]
Electro-Motive Division SDP40F diesel locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $239.99; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, $339.99. Era: 1970s to 1990s (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822, 800-338-4639, athearn.com Electro-Motive Division SDP40F diesel locomotive features: Body-mounted McHenry knuckle couplers Celcon handrails Detailed fuel tank with […]
Rapido Trains HO scale barrel ore hoppers Join Senior Editor Cody Grivno as he reviews the new HO scale National Steel Car barrel ore hoppers from Rapido Trains. The models are offered in 35- and 42-foot versions and are decorated for Canadian National and Ontario Northland in various paint schemes. The ready-to-run barrel ore hoppers […]
RailSmith Models N scale lightweight duplex sleepers RailSmith Models N scale lightweight duplex sleepers: Senior Editor Cody Grivno takes a look at pre-production samples of the new 8-duplex-roomette, 6-roomette, 3-bedroom, 1-compartment lightweight sleeper from RailSmith Models. See cars decorated for Northern Pacific’s 1947 and 1953 North Coast Limited and in Great Northern’s Big Sky Blue […]
Midday Modeler — 08-03-2022 — This week Cody Grivno hosts from the Model Railroader workshop. Special guests include Eric White, Brian Schmidt, David Popp, and more! Cody shows off the latest from PIKO America, a Model Railroader freight car in N-scale, plus all the modeling items you might pick up if you are already out back […]
40-foot American Car & Foundry boxcar Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $31.98 (undecorated, $29.98) Era: 1960s to 1980s Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com 40-foot American Car & Foundry boxcar features: Injection-molded plastic 10-panel body Tall ladders on the B (brake wheel) end Short ladders on the A […]
Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy steam locomotive Scale: HO (1:87.1) Price: $869.99 Era: 1940s to present (varies depending on scheme) Manufacturer: Broadway Limited Imports, 9 East Tower Circle, Ormond Beach, FL 32174; 386-673-8900; broadway-limited.com Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 Big Boy steam locomotive features: Die-cast metal boiler, tender body, and chassis Synchronized puffing smoke with chuff sound […]
Pullman-Standard 5,820-cubic-foot capacity covered hopper A Pullman-Standard 5,820-cubic-foot capacity covered hopper was unveiled at the ScaleTrains booth during the St. Louis Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet in Collinsville, Ill., on July 29. The HO scale freight car, scheduled for release in February 2023, will be offered in the company’s Rivet Counter and Operator lines. Road names […]
Building your first kitbash I’ve worked for Model Railroader for about six months now with no previous hands-on experience with model railroading. When an opportunity came up for me to enter a kitbashing “contest” among fellow Model Railroader employees, I plunged right in. Note: Fellow employees have been modeling for years. My skill level is […]
In this episode, Host Gerry Leone departs from work directly on the layout itself. Instead, he shares his techniques for customizing an HO scale Walthers grain elevator kit into much larger structure for a specific space. Getting to know Gerry Leone Back on Track host Gerry Leone is just as clever as he is comedic! […]
Jerry Braet, whose HO scale Granger, Denrock & Southern layout was twice featured in Model Railroader, passed away on February 19 in East Moline, Ill. He was 82 years old. Jerry started work on his model railroad, which was inspired by John Allen’s Gorre & Daphetid, in 1973. The layout was first featured in MR […]
