Basic Training: Adjusting wheelsets

Hands checking wheel gauge

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page If you have trouble with your rolling stock staying on the rails, you should check the wheelsets. In this video, Cody shows you how to check and adjust the wheels on model trains. […]

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Basic Training: Adhesives and Glues

Kent Johnson next to assortment of glues

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page With such a wide array of materials used in model railroading today, it can be challenging to figure out which glues and adhesives you’ll want to have on hand. Kent Johnson of MR Video Plus takes a quick look at some of the […]

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Build a covered loading platform in 1:29 scale

Build a covered loading platform in 1:29 scale

Download the PDF of this project here. This PDF is formatted to print on your home printer. Most pieces are formatted to fit on a 8.5″ x 11″ piece of paper. For larger parts of the plan, you will see “break lines.” Line up the break lines to create the larger piece. PLEASE NOTE: This […]

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HO scale Lime Ridge & Hercules and Portland & Western

LimeRidgeHerculesandPortlandWesternRR

Name: Lime Ridge & Hercules and Portland & Western Layout designer: Steven Otte Scale: HO Size: 8 x 12 feet Theme: Stone and gravel industries Locale: generic Era: late steam to early transition era Style: around-the-walls Mainline run: 63 feet Minimum radius: 15″ Minimum turnout: Atlas 18″ Snap-Switch (rest are no. 4) Maximum grade: 2 […]

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HO scale Pennsylvania RR’s Middle Division

PennsylvaniaRRsMiddleDivision

Name: Pennsylvania RR’s Middle Division Layout designer: Will Darrow Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 24 x 36 feet Prototype: Pennsylvania RR Locale: Mifflin to Lewistown, Pa. Era: steam-to-diesel transition era Style: walk-in Mainline run: 130 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2 percent Originally appeared in the April 2014 Model Railroader. Click […]

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The O scale Buckeye RR

TheBuckeyeRR

Name: The Buckeye RR Layout designer: Herm Botzow Scale: O (1:48) Size: 37 x 56 feet Locale: northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania Era: June 1956 Style: walk in Mainline run: 368 feet Minimum radius: 54″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 1.5 percent Originally appeared in the April 2014 Model Railroader. Click on the link […]

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Rice Harbor Series: build a swing-up staging section

David Popp with his hinged layout.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In addition to boasting a unique sectional design, MR’s 5×9-foot Rice Harbor HO scale layout also features a swing-up staging section topped with a car float. David Popp shares how he assembled and then installed this hinged section to the layout. […]

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Rice Harbor Series: Installing benchwork alignment pins

David Popp holding pins.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Are you building a sectional or modular layout that requires precise alignment of adjoining sections? If so, then you’ll want to see how David installed benchwork alignment dowels, also called pattern maker pins, on MR’s HO scale Rice Harbor. These steel dowels make […]

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Basic Training: Modeling damaged trees

Kent Johnson in front of layout

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Add a touch of realism to your modeled forest or wooded grove by including decaying or damaged trees. Kent Johnson demonstrates a quick and easy technique for making plague pines using plastic tree kits available for layouts of any size or scale. […]

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Realistic model railroading with Pelle Søeborg

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Pelle Søeborg is a model railroader known for his ability to create ultra-realistic scenes. His main modeling focus is modern-era railroading in the California desert, but his techniques are useful whatever your modeling subject. This article collection includes two track plans: one for a shelf layout and another for Pelle’s 11′-6″ x 22′-0″ Union Pacific […]

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Repair pickup rollers and shoes

This article originally appeared in the December 2003 issue of CTT – click the link above to download! Learn more about how to tune up and rebuild pickup rollers in the February 2014 issue of CTT. Repair pickup rollers and shoes […]

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Handcar shed drawings

Handcarshed

Check out these plans for a handcar shed from Model Railroader magazine. Every railroad needs myriad small storage sheds along the right-of-way and in engine terminals and yards. When I required a small trackside shed for my freelanced On30 (also known as On21⁄2) North Cariboo Ry., I decided it should show its age. I figured the shed would […]

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