Things I leave out when modeling N scale

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These cattle on Jim Kelly’s N scale Tehachapi layout are content to loaf among the trees, and that’s a good thing, as there’s no fence to keep them off the railroad. Bet you didn’t notice. Jim Kelly photo The more I look at photos, the more I realize the images of place I’ve stored in […]

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How to photograph a model train layout

Howtophotographamodelrailroad

Brooks Stover has had many articles and photos published in Model Railroader magazine. In this easy-to-follow guide Brooks will give you some tips for taking better digital photos of model trains and layout scenes. Click on the link below to download the free model railroad digital photography guide. How to photograph a model train layout […]

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Project plans: Build a crossing guard’s shanty

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Click on the image to download the plans. Before the invention of automatic crossing gates, railroad crossing guards protected grade crossings. Usually holding a flag, lantern, or stop sign or operating a manual crossing gate, the crossing guard would warn motorists of an approaching train. A simple wooden shanty provided shelter for the crossing guard. […]

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HO scale Fremont & South Park RR

HOscaleFremontSouthParkRR

Name: Fremont & South Park RR Layout owner: Lynn Draper Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 14 x 51 feet Prototype: freelanced Locale: Colorado Era: 1930s to 1940s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 280 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: Peco no. 4 Maximum grade: 4 percent Benchwork: open grid and L-girder on I-joists Height: 52″ to 65″ […]

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HO scale Western North Carolina RR

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Name: Western North Carolina RR Layout owner: Northern Virginia Model Railroaders club Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 21 x 50 feet Prototype: Southern Ry. Locale: North Carolina Era: summer 1957 Style: walk-in with duckunders Mainline run: 468 feet Minimum radius: 32″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 (main), no. 5 (yard) Maximum grade: 3.75 percent Benchwork: wood composite […]

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How to model a greenhouse in your railroad garden

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1. Working late. Lake Phillips’ traveling terrarium was commissioned by the author for her 7/8″-scale agricultural railway. The greenhouse element is a Tumdee (see “Sources” sidebar) kit, glued and pin-nailed onto a scratchbuilt flatcar, including custom LED lighting. Air plants (Tillandsia sp., Zones 9-11) inside and in the boxes bring it to life. When not […]

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Model Railroad Operations: Caboose Operations

model trains on a layout

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page The extensive legacy of Contributing Editor Andy Sperandeo continues in his final episode of this series. In this MRVP exclusive video, he imparts information about the prototype, before demonstrating how to perform specific caboose movements on a model railroad of any size or […]

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