Donald Haney shares video of the overhead layout he built for his infant son. Get instructions and a diagram in the Fall 2025 issue of Classic Toy Trains! […]
Building an overhead layout
Layout Size: Medium Layouts
East Troy Industrial Park, Ep. 18 | Shaping the roadway right-of-way
Host David Popp continues to make progress on the roadway scenery he started in Episode 17 of the HO scale (1:87.1) East Troy Industrial Park project layout series. In this episode, David shares techniques for working with the foam material he selected to create sloped landforms along the inclined roadway. Then it’s back to the […]
Building an underground copper mine
For well over a century, copper mines and their structures dotted the landscape in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. I was born there and several generations of my family worked in the mines. The last one closed in the late 1960s, marking the end of an era for thousands of people. Most of the facilities were removed […]
East Troy Industrial Park, Ep. 17 | Working with switches, bridges, and roads
While David and Bryson allow the previously painted rail (Episode 16) to dry, they take a moment to focus on installing a switch motor…and they made an electrifying discovery! Follow along as they reveal the issue and the simple remedy that kept the project on the rails. Of course, other efforts must continue as the […]
East Troy Industrial Park Sidetrack | Building a glass plant, Part 3
Eric White, Editor of Model Railroader magazine, continues his HO scale glass plant project for the East Troy Industrial Park Project Railroad, now focusing on building chimneys with intricate brass details. Discover the secrets to flawless metalwork as he shares tips and tricks for soldering metal parts in a manner that yields a seamless finish…and […]
East Troy Industrial Park, Ep. 16 | Painting Track
Watch as Cody Grivno, Model Railroader Senior Editor, sets out to paint the rails on the HO scale (1:87.1) East Troy Industrial Park project layout. Learn how to prepare the layout, clean the tracks, and apply paint for a realistic, rusty appearance. Be sure to keep up with the construction progress by linking into the Trains.com […]
Trains.com Insider | 2025 NMRA National Convention, Train Show Highlights
2025 NMRA National Convention, Train Show Highlights | Tour with Model Railroader Editor Eric White, as he makes the rounds to visit with small vendors and major manufacturers at the 2025 National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) Convention and Train Show recently held in Novi, Michigan. From new model announcements and releases to helpful modeling products […]
Trains.com Insider | 2025 NMRA National Convention, Layout Visits
2025 NMRA National Convention, Layout Visits | Tour with Model Railroader Editor Eric White, as he discovers a diverse collection of model railroads from the 2025 National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) National Convention recently held in Novi, Michigan! Explore Steve Smith’s HO scale freelanced Sierra Valley & Harbor Junction; Dan Lewis’s nostalgic N scale Milwaukee […]
East Troy Industrial Park Sidetrack | Building a glass plant, Part 2
Eric White continues his efforts to construct an HO scale glass plant. In this second episode of the Sidetrack Series, he uses cardboard mockups to help envision and shape the structures, meticulously measuring and comparing pieces with prototype photos for accuracy. Eric then shares how he tests the mockups on the East Troy Industrial Park […]
East Troy Industrial Park Sidetrack | Building a glass plant, Part 1
In this all-new Sidetrack Series, Model Railroader Editor Eric White begins building an HO scale (1:87.1) glass plant for the East Troy Industrial Park project layout. See how Eric studies prototype photos and Google Maps to inspire design ideas, and later confirms operational insights with an plant employee. Eric then reveals the Walthers and Pike […]
The Buffalo & Susquehanna to Wellsville, Addison & Galeton in HO scale
Facts and features Name: Buffalo & Susquehanna to Wellsville, Addison & GaletonScale: HO (1:87.1)Size: 12′-4″ x 32′-0″Prototype: Buffalo & Susquehanna and Wellsville, Addison & GaletonLocale: north central PennsylvaniaEra: spring 1910 and spring 1950Style: multi-deck walk-inMainline run: 96 feetMinimum radius: 22″Minimum turnout: No. 8Maximum grade: upper level and lower staging, 2%; middle level, noneBenchwork: wall mountedHeight: […]
East Troy Industrial Park, Ep. 15 | Installing Switch Motors
David and Bryson share the steps they used to install a complete Walthers Switch Machine system on the HO scale (1:87.1) East Troy Industrial Park project layout. To get things started, the pair first explains the features and function of each component. Then it’s straight to the task of installing the parts used to pivot […]
