Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 1 – basic hills

Jay painting hills.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Need a painted backdrop for your model railroad? Learn the basics of painting with artist Jay Smith as he adds a backdrop to our Thin Branch project railroad. In part 1 of our series, Jay shows you how to work from photos to […]

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The HO scale New York Long Branch RR

TheHOscaleNewYorkLongBranchRR

Name: New York & Long Branch RR Layout designer: Kevin Surman Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 21 x 34 feet Prototype: Central RR of New Jersey and Pennsylvania RR Locale: New Jersey Era: late 1950s Style: walk in Mainline run: 190 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Originally appeared in the November 2013 Model Railroader. Click on the […]

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The N scale Missabe Junction Ry. (2013)

TheNscaleMassabeJunction

Name: Missabe Junction Ry. (2013) Layout designer: Steve Miazga Scale: N (1:160) Size: 14 x 18 feet Prototype: Soo Line Lakeshore Division Locale: northern Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota Era: 1960 to 1990 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 110 feet Minimum radius: 15″ (main line), 11″ (sidings and yards) Originally appeared in the November 2013 Model Railroader. […]

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HO scale Eaglecreek & Northern Ry. engine terminal module

EaglecreekNorthern

Name: Eaglecreek & Northern Ry. engine terminal module Layout designer: Flemming Ørneholm’s Size: 2 x 5 feet with 41⁄2″ x 10′-0″ staging track shelf Prototype: Union Pacific Locale: western United States Era: 1955 Style: module Minimum radius: 28″ Originally appeared in the October 2013 Model Railroader. Click on the link to download the PDF of […]

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Calumet & South Chicago RR

CalumetSouthChicago

Name: Calumet & South Chicago RR Layout designer: Michael Sharp Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 12′-0″ x 14′-6″ Prototype: freelanced Locale: Calumet Region of northwest Indiana Era: mid- to late-1960s Style: double-deck shelf Mainline run: n/a Minimum radius: 21″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: n/a Originally appeared in the October 2013 Model Railroader. Click on […]

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HO scale Pennsylvania RR

PennsylvaniaRRupperplan

Name: Pennsylvania RR Layout designer: Bill Hughes Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 23′-6″ x 24′-9″ Locale: New Jersey Era: transition era Style: Walk-in Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Originally appeared in the October 2013 Model Railroader. Click on the link to download the PDF of this track plan. […]

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Thin Branch Series: Ballasting turnouts

Cody Grivno ballasting turnouts.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Ballasting turnouts can be tricky because there’s a lot of potential for the little stones and glue to interfere with the proper operation of the points. Cody Grivno shows you an easy technique for ballasting turnouts that keeps the points working just like […]

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Thin Branch Series: Ballasting turnouts

Cody Grivno ballasting turnouts.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Ballasting turnouts can be tricky because there’s a lot of potential for the little stones and glue to interfere with the proper operation of the points. Cody Grivno shows you an easy technique for ballasting turnouts that keeps the points working just like […]

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Thin Branch Series: Powering turnout frogs

David installing turnouts.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page You can improve the operation on most any railroad by installing turnouts with powered frogs. David shows you how we set up the Thin Branch project railroad with turnout frogs powered through switch motor contacts. […]

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