Blue star juniper

blue_star_juniper

Nancy Norris Common name: Blue Star juniper Latin name: Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’ Plant type: Dwarf conifer USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-9 Cultural needs: Moist, well drained, neutral or slightly acidic soil; sun or part shade Plant size: 2′ x 3′, spreading Blue Star juniper is a selection from Asian parentage, the Himalayan juniper. A plant […]

Read More…

Video 101: Talking pictures

filming an outdoor model railroad with a phone

We can do something with our videos that frontier photographers could not. We can make our pictures talk and make the trains rumble. With sounds, our videos can have mood and a speaking voice. We can make “talkies.” Learning how to add sound to video can be done in under an hour using basic consumer-level […]

Read More…

Video 101: Talking pictures

filming an outdoor model railroad with a phone

We can do something with our videos that frontier photographers could not. We can make our pictures talk and make the trains rumble. With sounds, our videos can have mood and a speaking voice. We can make “talkies.” Learning how to add sound to video can be done in under an hour using basic consumer-level […]

Read More…

Canadian Canyons Series: Part 31 – Surfacing with Shaper Sheet

Kent Johnson and Drew Halverson next to layout scenery

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Drew and Kent have relied on paper-based Sculptamold to fill in the sloped mountainside thus far. In this episode, they demonstrate another scenery surfacing technique that utilizes a relatively new and versatile product from Woodland Scenics. Watch and learn how easily Shaper Sheet […]

Read More…

HO scale Johnstown & Gerryville

HOscaleJohnstownGerryville

Name: Johnstown & Gerryville Layout owner: John Travis Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 13 x 37 with 5 x 17 staging area Prototype: freelanced, inspired by Pennsylvania RR Locale: southwestern Pennsylvania Era: 1953 Mainline run: 240 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 2.5 percent Benchwork: L girder and open grid Height: 42″to […]

Read More…

HO scale Sierra Pintada & Western RR

HOscaleSierraPintadaWestern

Name: Sierra Pintada & Western RR Layout owner: Willem Van der Hoeven Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 10′-0″ x 34′-10″ Prototype: freelanced, inspired by old-time western United States railroads Locale: Arizona Era: 1880s Style: shelf Mainline run: 40 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: shelf on consoles Height: 40″ […]

Read More…

Plans for a passenger shelter

PlansforaRochesterEasternRapidTransitRypassengershelter

The prototypes for the passenger shelters in these plans originally served the Rochester & Eastern Rapid Transit Ry. This interurban line ran from Rochester, N.Y., to Geneva, N.Y. Models of these compact trackside structures would also work well as flagstop stations on a model railroad. Click on the link to download a PDF of the […]

Read More…

HO scale Chester Ridge & Pennebrook

HOscaleChesterRidgePennebrook

Name: Chester Ridge & Pennebrook Layout owner: Paul Tartaglia Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 12′-6″ x 20′-0″ Prototype: freelanced, inspired by the New York Central RR Putnam Division Locale: southeastern New York State Era: 1947 to 1965 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 150 feet Minimum radius: 22″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 2.5 percent Benchwork: L-girder […]

Read More…

HO scale Paraqua Mountains & Shawnee River

HOscaleParaquaMountainsShawneeRiver

Name: Paraqua Mountains & Shawnee River Layout owner: Pat Driscoll Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 9′-6″ x 16′-0″ Prototype: freelance Locale: southwestern United States Era: late 1800s to early 1900s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 164 ft. Minimum radius: 20” Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 7 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: 43″ to 53″ Roadbed: Homasote […]

Read More…