T-TRAK Project Part 7: Gravel, ground foam, and static grass

Small model train set up with gray and black track, green grass and trees, dark gray roads, miniature vehicles, and two buildings of different sizes.

Modelers David Popp, Brian Schmidt, and Bryson Sleppy continue the scenery process on their T-TRAK modules by adding gravel, ground foam, and static grass in an attempt to make them look more like the prairies of Colorado. T-TRAK is a modular N scale railroading system that uses foot-wide boxes plugged together to build tabletop layouts. […]

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News & Products for the week of April 1st 2024

A model tank car in a black paint scheme

News & Products for the week of April 1st 2024   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. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of April 1st […]

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Model Railroader After Hours | March 26, 2024

Model Railroader After Hours | March 26, 2024. After Hours is an informal livestream hosted by Trains.com staff members… after the “work” of the day is done, there’s aways something else fun! Host David Popp is back with a Bryson Sleppy on a special Tuesday night edition. After encouraging Bryson’s efforts to complete his N […]

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Model Railroader After Hours | March 26, 2024

Model Railroader After Hours | March 26, 2024. After Hours is an informal livestream hosted by Trains.com staff members… after the “work” of the day is done, there’s aways something else fun! Host David Popp is back with a Bryson Sleppy on a special Tuesday night edition. After encouraging Bryson’s efforts to complete his N […]

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Five techniques for modeling mountains

Color photo of N scale train crossing bridge in rugged mountain terrain.

Mountains have long been a popular scenic feature on model railroads. Sometimes they’re incorporated to accurately re-create a prototype location. Other times they’re used to help conceal a tunnel, helix, or turnback curve. Regardless their purpose, there is no denying mountains are dramatic and add visual interest to a model railroad. All of the methods […]

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How to keep your model railroad layout clean

It’s all-too-easy to turn your layout into a depository of dirt-carrying items and cover it with cookie crumbs!

Tips for keeping your model railroad layout clean: A clean layout is fun to run, fun to work on, and fun to look at.  Unfortunately, the three D’s – dust, dirt and debris – are in season all year long and can make keeping a layout clean a constant, time-consuming job. Here are a few […]

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Atlas N scale Fairbanks-Morse Train Master

Title screen of Product Review video with N scale locomotive painted gray, maroon, and yellow.

The Atlas N scale Fairbanks-Morse Train Master, a part of the Master Line since 2000, is the subject of our latest Product Review video. Senior Editor Cody Grivno kicks things off by sharing a brief history of Erie-Lackawanna H24-66 No. 1854. Then he points features on the injection-molded plastic shell and demonstrates some of the […]

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Atlas N scale Fairbanks-Morse Train Master

Title screen of Product Review video with N scale locomotive painted gray, maroon, and yellow.

The Atlas N scale Fairbanks-Morse Train Master, a part of the Master Line since 2000, is the subject of our latest Product Review video. Senior Editor Cody Grivno kicks things off by sharing a brief history of Erie-Lackawanna H24-66 No. 1854. Then he points features on the injection-molded plastic shell and demonstrates some of the […]

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Backdrop round-up

Photo of two blue-and-yellow HO scale diesels passing a farm scene.

Backdrops are an important part of any model railroad. Whether you use drywall, tempered hardboard, or some other material, backdrops help operators and visitors focus on the layout and not other distractions in the room. If you’re looking for something beyond basic sky blue, and painting isn’t your game, then this backdrop round-up is for […]

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The Norfolk & Western Pocahontas Division layout in N scale

A model railroad layout trackplan

Facts and features   Name: Norfolk & Western Pocahontas DivisionScale: N (1:160)Size: 36 x 36 feetPrototype: Norfolk & WesternLocale: southern West VirginiaStyle: walk-inMainline run: 290 feetMinimum radius: 18″Minimum turnout: No. 6Maximum grade: 2 percentBenchwork: tabletopHeight: 52″ to 58.5″Roadbed: corkTrack: code 80 flextrackScenery: extruded-foam insulation board and SculptamoldBackdrop: hand-painted on drywall Control: NCE Digital Command Control […]

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The Great Northern Kalispell Division layout in N scale

A model railroad trackplan

Facts and features   Name: Great Northern Kalispell DivisionScale: N (1:160)Size: 29′-7″ x 36′-3″Prototype: Great NorthernLocale: MontanaEra: late 1950sStyle: walk-inMainline run: 238 feetMinimum radius: 18″ (main), 16″ (branch)Minimum turnout: No. 5Maximum grade: 2%Benchwork: box frame, shelf, and L-girderHeight: 421⁄4″ to 501⁄2″Roadbed: extruded-foam insulation board or 1⁄4″ plywoodTrack: Atlas code 55 and 80, Peco code 55Scenery: […]

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