Olympia 2, The Log Blog: Part 6 – Track deliberations

David Popp and the Olympia layout

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page David is eager to get out of the basement and enjoy the summer weather! But before heading into the great outdoors, he’s bound and determined to sort out a few track, scenery, and benchwork issues on the expanding Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout. […]

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Easy easements for model train track

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Laying tangent (straight) track is pretty straightforward but those curves can, well, throw you a curve. Equipment that enters a sudden curve is more likely to derail. And even if wheels stay on the rails the sight of a train jolting into a sudden curve can make even the most realistic layout look like a […]

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Olympia 2, The Log Blog: Part 5 – Wide open spaces

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page David is back to the basement for more work on the Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout. In this blog entry, he first joins the two layout sections, and then makes changes to the hardboard fascia and styrene backdrop, giving the display an amazing […]

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Canadian Canyons Series: Part 10 – Helix fundamentals

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Our N scale project railroad is relatively small, but a helix is still a perfect space-saving, mainline-extending feature to include! In this installment of the Canadian Canyons series, David Popp first shares the key design considerations. He then jumps right into demonstrating the […]

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Seneca Falls

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A client asked me to develop a track plan for him that focused on two of his non-train collecting interests: The movie It’s A Wonderful Life, and the Boston Red Sox Major League Baseball club. An odd pairing you think? Not really. What are most toy train layouts but a salute to nostalgia and personal […]

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Canadian Canyons Series: Part 9 – Laying flextrack

David Popp holding flex track

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Trackwork continues on our N scale project railroad. In this installment of the ongoing Canadian Canyons series, David Popp shares techniques for laying down more sections of flextrack, specifically around the curves of the staging yard. […]

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HO scale Claremont Docks RR

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Name: Claremont Docks RR Layout owner: Howard R. Lloyd Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 12 x 17 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by Lehigh Valley Locale: Jersey City, N.J. Era: September 1944 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 39 feet Minimum turnout: no. 4 Minimum radius: 18″ Maximum grade: 3 percent Benchwork: open grid and L-girder Height: 53″ to […]

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Video 101: Shooting on location

Today we hit the road. Our goal will be to make an interesting 3 minute, home video using a readily available action camera, still cameras and homemade accessories. Our raw video will be edited on consumer level software; we will add sound effects, and zippy music. We will make a gift copy for the owner, […]

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