The HO scale Virginian Thin Branch

VirginianThinBranch

Name: The Thin Branch Layout designer: David Popp Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 30″ x 72″ Prototype: Virginian Ry. Locale: West Virginia Era: spring 1955 Style: portable Mainline run: 7 feet Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: Atlas 22″ radius Snap-Switch Maximum grade: 3 percent (switchback) Originally appeared in the August 2013 Model Railroader. Click on the […]

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The N scale Aroostook Valley RR

Name: Aroostook Valley RR Layout designer: Geoffrey T. Smith Scale: N (1:160) Size: 7′-0″ x 16′-6″ Prototype: Aroostook Valley RR Location: Northern Maine Era: 1950s Style: Point-to-point (shelf) Mainline run: 23′-6″ Minimum radius: 14″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: none Originally appeared in the August 2013 Model Railroader. Click on the link to download […]

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Thin Branch Series: Build a Bridge part 4 – installation

David building a bridge with foam scenery.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page We close our four-part Build-a-bridge series by installing the model on our Thin Branch HO scale layout. In this video David shares some techniques for building foam scenery and working with plaster abutment castings to support our through-girder bridge. […]

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Carlyle Division

MRRA0713

Name: Carlyle Division Layout designer: Tom Basterash Scale: N (1:160) Size: 10 x 11 feet Prototype: freelanced, based on Great Northern Locale: Rocky Mountain foothills Era: 1945 to 1955 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 65 feet Minimum radius: 15″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Originally appeared in the July 2013 Model Railroader. Click […]

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New England & Western

MRRB0713plan

Name: New England & Western Layout designer: Bill Robertson Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 24 x 46 feet Prototype: freelanced Locale: New England Era: 1940 to 1950 Style: linear walkaround Mainline run: 170 feet Minimum radius: 32″ (main) Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Originally appeared in the July 2013 Model Railroader. Click on […]

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Thin Branch Series: Working with foam rocks

Hand placing foam "rocks" above a raw and unfinished tunnel portal on a model train layout.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page If you want to try a different material to make rocks for your model railroad, try foam. In this video, David shows how he added Mountains in Minutes foam rocks to our Thin Branch HO scale project railroad. […]

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Thin Branch Series: Working with foam rocks

Hand placing foam "rocks" above a raw and unfinished tunnel portal on a model train layout.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page If you want to try a different material to make rocks for your model railroad, try foam. In this video, David shows how he added Mountains in Minutes foam rocks to our Thin Branch HO scale project railroad. […]

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