How to strip paint from plastic models

Piece of a train car being dipped in chemicals and scrubbed with a toothbrush

Eric White couldn’t find a Northeastern style caboose painted for the Lehigh Valley, but a vendor at a train show had several models in another paint scheme. In less than an hour, Eric had a model that was ready for new paint. Watch this video to see how he stripped the original paint. VIDEO TRANSCRIPT […]

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Ask MR: Should wood running boards be painted?

The roofs of several freight cars are seen in a black-and-white photo of a rail yard

Q: My N scale layout is set in 1933. Several years ago, someone whose railroading knowledge I respect told me that running boards on early freight cars weren’t painted since they would be dangerously slippery when wet. However, all the models I see sold now have the running boards painted the same color as the […]

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Fixing Wobbling Boxcars

Model boxcar on tracks

In this quick how-to video, Eric White shows you how a little bit of filing can go a long way when trying to fix the pesky wobble on a boxcar. VIDEO TRANSCRIPT BELOW: Ready to run models can be great, but sometimes you need to do a little tuning. Take a look at this. You […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, structure, detail, tool, and book announcements for May 27, 2021

Refrigerator car

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 May 27, 2021. HO scale locomotives  Electro-Motive Division SD40-2 diesel locomotive. Atchison, […]

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July 2021

July cover

Also in this issue: ON TRAINS.COM, pg. 6 The latest features on our website FROM THE EDITOR, pg. 8 Making a plan and sticking to it NEWS & PRODUCTS, pg. 12 Hobby industry news ASK MR, pg. 18 Tips on modeling from a wheelchair REHAB MY RAILROAD, pg. 22 Building Cargill Salt, part 1 DCC […]

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Walthers HO scale Railgon gondola

Railgon gondola

A Railgon 53-foot gondola has joined the growing lineup of freight cars in the HO scale WalthersMainline product range. The plastic model, based on a Thrall prototype, features a mix of molded and separate, factory-applied parts; 36″ metal wheels mounted on plastic axles; and body-mounted Proto-Max metal couplers. The prototype. Railgon Co., a nation- wide […]

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Rapido Trains HO scale MLW M420 diesel

Rapido locomotive

Rapido Trains is bringing the comfort, Canadian style. We recently received a sample of the company’s new Montreal Locomotive Works (MLW) M420 loco- motive, and it’s a beauty, eh? The prototype. When Alco locomotive production ceased in Schenectady, N.Y., in 1969, locomotives continued to be built in Canada by former subsidiary Montreal Locomotive Works until […]

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Bachmann N scale NYC J-3a 4-6-4 Hudson

Bachmann N scale locomotive

Bachmann’s latest N scale locomotive is a classic. New York Central’s J-3a Super Hudson, designed to lead the railroad’s top streamlined passenger trains, incorporated all the best steam technology available to the Central’s designers. The result was an iconic locomotive that would epitomize the idea of steam power for generations to come. Bachmann’s N scale […]

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N scale UPRR Geneva Subdivision

Overview of track plan

The layout at a glance Name: UPRR Geneva Subdivision Scale: N (1:160) Size: 60′-6″ x 33′-6″ Prototype: Union Pacific Locale: northern Illinois Era: 2014 Style: walkaround Mainline run: 250 feet Minimum radius: 36″ Turnouts: no. 10 (main), no. 8 (secondary and yards) Maximum grade: 0.5 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: 55″ Roadbed: 3⁄16″ cork (main), […]

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