Midday Modeler 03.16.2022, Kitbash challenge updates

A partially assembled structure with hands.

Midday Modeler 03.16.2022 — In this week’s Midday Modeler episode, David Popp hosts from Studio B at Kalmbach Media. This week, Gerry Leone and Seth Puffer appear LIVE via remote from Minnesota to show off their depot dash kitbash challenge projects. In house, David has his project to show off while Jenny, Steve, and Nastassia […]

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Walthers presents National Model Railroad Build-Off competition

Third-annual National Model Railroad Build-Off logo

National Model Railroad Build-Off: Every modeler has a project to do. From ballasting track to painting scenery to building structures, each intricate part of model railroading leads to a completed project that one can be proud of. After two years, the Walthers National Model Railroad Build-off 2022 competition is off again and gaining momentum. With […]

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Sketching with Steve: Planning a structure kitbash

A rough isometric sketch of a small creamery is surrounded by kit parts and a book about railroad milk traffic.

When I’m planning a structure kitbash, I often start with a sketch. Scribbling down rough ideas, erasing what doesn’t work, and replacing them with things that help me visualize my plan and avoid false starts. With this technique I can figure out what parts I need and more clearly imagine what the structure will look […]

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Tunnel under a town prototype: Bellows Falls, Vermont

Bellows Falls tunnel under a town prototype: Black and white image of a freight train exiting tunnel underneath a town.

Tunnel under a town prototype: Yes, there is at least one U.S. example of railroads going underneath small towns. And here it is: Boston & Maine’s single track line through Bellows Falls, Vermont. Kalmbach Media’s David P. Morgan Library has three photos in the Boston & Maine tunnels folder that show off this specimen in […]

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Products & News for the week of March 17, 2022

Photo of HO scale 36-foot 3-dome tank car painted silver and black with black, orange, and white graphics on section of track with white background.

Products & News Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of March 17, 2022. HO scale locomotives Pennsylvania RR class E6 4-4-2 […]

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Gerry walks a fine line | Back on Track, Episode 15

Gerry walks a fine line…the recently completed main line of his HO scale Bona Vista layout, that is! Our host, with assistance from his wife, has driven the Golden Spike into the trackwork of his double-deck model railroad. That’s a great time to take a walking tour of the construction progress. Following the tour, Gerry […]

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Trackside Photos: A reefer train rolls, two coal trains meet, a caboose is serviced, and more

A green-and-yellow diesel pulls a train of red Swift Meats reefers

Send us your photos Trackside Photos is a showcase for the work of Model Railroader readers. Send your photos (digital images 5 megapixels or larger) to: Model Railroader, Trackside Photos, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612; or upload them to fileupload.kalmbach.com/contribute. For our photo submission guidelines, contact senior associate editor Steven Otte at sotte@kalmbach.com.   […]

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Midday Modeler 03.09.2022 hosted by Cody Grivno

Two men near a model railroad layout, talking.

Midday Modeler 03.09.2022 — In this week’s Midday Modeler episode, Cody Grivno hosts! Cody speaks with Model Railroader’s Eric White about the latest progress on the industries in the Jones Island area of MR’s MR&T model train layout. Cody then checks in with Steve Otte to gauge his progress on the kitbash contest during the Midday […]

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