Leave trucks loose on model railroad freight cars

A screwdriver tightens a screw holding a truck to the bottom of a green boxcar

Q: I’ve been a reader for several years, but don’t recall reading about the tightness of truck screws before your November issue. In “How to weather a covered cement hopper,” Cody Grivno writes, “One [truck] screw should be tight enough that the truck rotates freely but doesn’t wobble. The other should be loose enough that […]

Read More…

How to cut track

David Popp in the studio

Join David Popp in the studio as he shows you how to tackle the tricky subject of cutting track, demonstrating proper technique and explaining the best tools to use!     […]

Read More…

Fixing free floating wheelsets

Ask Trains logo

Ted Zieger says that he has two steam engines, a 4-6-0 and a 4-4-0, that the front wheelsets like to derail very easily in switches. The front wheelsets are free floating, and he needs ideas to fix them. Cody Grivno offers a solution. […]

Read More…

Model railroad locomotive, freight car, passenger equipment, and detail announcements for October 28, 2021

Baltimore & Ohio Electro-Motive Division F7A and F7B diesel locomotives.

Product 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 October 28, 2021. HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division F7A and F7B diesel […]

Read More…

Tangent HO scale Greenville 86-foot high-cube boxcars

Tangent HO scale Greenville 86-foot high-cube boxcar

High-cube boxcars seemed to be everywhere in the 1970s, and thanks to Tangent Scale Models, highly detailed models of Greenville Steel Car Co. 86-foot high-cubes can roll on your HO layout, as well. These monster cars were products of the 1960s, when bigger was better and efficiency was the watchword of corporate America. Earlier methods […]

Read More…

December 2021

December issue cover

Also in this issue: ON TRAINS.COM, pg. 6 The latest features on our website FROM THE EDITOR, pg. 8 Know-how plus imagination equals success NEWS & PRODUCTS, pg. 12 Hobby industry news ASK MR, pg. 18 Santa Fe’s NCX: A freight you can model REHAB MY RAILROAD, pg. 24 Upgrading the MR&T with Walthers’ new […]

Read More…

Favorite Projects

Favorite Projects 2022 issue cover

Plus much more: IMPROVE YOUR LAYOUT TODAY!, pg. 7 Introduction by Carl Swanson INSTALLING A LAYOUT SKIRT ON CURVED FASCIA, pg. 8 A simple, inexpensive method helps complete a flowing layout edge by Jeff Sargeant BUILD BENCHWORK FOR A SECTIONAL LAYOUT, pg. 11 A way to prepare for disassembly or a household move by Pelle […]

Read More…