Winston-Salem Southbound Series: Attaching subroadbed

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Every layout, including MRVP’s HO scale Winston-Salem Southbound Railway, needs a foundation or “subroadbed” for attaching trackwork. In this video, David Popp shows how to install plywood subroadbed over L-girder benchwork. Along the way, he pauses to share helpful tips for making minor […]

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Model Railroad Operations: Trailing and facing point moves

Andy Sperandeo standing at the MR&T HO scale model railroad layout

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Model Railroader magazine’s contributing editor Andy Sperandeo shows how to make trailing and facing point switching maneuvers on a layout of any size or scale. Viewers get to see and hear Andy talking through the steps, as he operates a diesel locomotive on […]

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HO scale Carol Valley RR

HOscaleCarolValleyRR

Name: Carol Valley RR Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 12′-9″ x 18′-6″ Prototype: freelanced subsidiary of Baltimore & Ohio Locale: West Virginia Era: early 1950s Style: around the walls with dropdown Mainline run: 70 feet point-to-point, 98 feet with continuous run Minimum radius: 20″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: open grid, L-girder, […]

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HO scale Cornbelt Northern RR

HOscaleCornbeltNorthernRR

Name: Cornbelt Northern RR Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 30 x 54 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by Chicago & North Western, Great Northern, and Milwaukee Road Locale: upper Midwest Era: early 1950s Style: around the walls Mainline run: 215 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Height: 51″ to 57″ Roadbed: […]

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Red Oak Series: Modeling a farm field

David Popp installing commercial grass mats.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   The farm scene on Model Railroader magazine’s 3 x 7-foot N scale Red Oak layout needed a cornfield. MRVP’s David Popp shows you how he made quick work of this modeling task by installing commercial grass mats using white glue. […]

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How to model a formal English garden

english_garden1

Photo 1 Keith Yundt Photo 2 Photo 3 Keith Yundt Photo 4 Keith Yundt Photo 5 Keith Yundt Photo 6 Keith Yundt Photo 7 Keith Yundt Photo 8 Keith Yundt We wanted to create a sort of English formal garden, with the various patterns and geometric designs that make them interesting (photo 1). The plants […]

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Shrubbery: low-maintenance bushy plants

using_shrubs1

1. The Rhaetian Railway’s (RhB) Bernina Express runs from the Chur area in Switzerland over the Alps to Italy, here modeled with 12 varieties of thyme and other herbaceous perennials from the Mediterranean. Top left, pink fanflowers (Scaevola sp.) hang over pink stems of golden oregano (Oreganum vulgare ‘Aureum Crispum’, Zones 5-9). Underneath, lining the […]

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Red Oak Series: Paving roads

Steve Otte pointing to a paved roadway.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   Model Railroader magazine’s Steve Otte shows how to add a realistic paved roadway to any model railroad, including Model Railroader magazine’s 3 x 7-foot N scale Red Oak layout. The secret behind Steve’s success is the Woodland Scenics Smooth-It road system, but […]

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Arch through-truss bridge model assembly diagram

Bridgeplans

Download plans to build this impressive arch through-truss bridge for a model railroad. Jim Richards Learn how author Jim Richards “scratchbashed” this arch through-truss bridge in the June Model Railroader. Click on the link below to download the assembly diagram that Jim used for the project. Arch through-truss bridge model assembly diagram […]

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Keller Beverage Co. signs for a model railroad

Keller Bier signs for a model railroad

Download signs for Keller Bier and Keller Beverage Co. to use on your model train layout. In the June 2015 Step by Step column, associate editor Cody Grivno shows how to model signs on large model railroad industries. He uses the Keller Beverage Co. on the Model Railroader staff’s club model train layout, the Milwaukee, […]

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