How-to Library: Turning Spaces into Places, Part 4

Man standing next to multi-level train layout.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   In Part 4, Gerry Leone really starts to cover some ground… or in this case, pink foam insulation board! Watch and learn how easy it is to transform stark construction materials into a natural-looking setting. […]

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Chinese workers and the first Transcontinental Railroad

Workers who built the first Transcontinental Railroad, by hand, in the late 1860s labored through grueling heat, biting winter cold, snow, attacks from Native American tribes, and long, long work days.   Learn how they did it with this excerpt from one of Trains’ newest DVD’s, Journey To Promontory, available from the Kalmbach Hobby Store. […]

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Tunnels on the first Transcontinental Railroad

Workers who built the first Transcontinental Railroad, by hand, in the late 1860s labored through grueling heat, biting winter cold, snow, attacks from Native American tribes, and long, long work days. Learn how they did it with this excerpt from one of Trains’ newest DVD’s, Journey To Promontory, available from the Kalmbach Hobby Store.  EXCERPT TRANSCRIPT: Dave Seidel, […]

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844 Excursion Train

Closeup of model diesel locomotive

Brian Olson’s N scale Union Pacific Excursion Train is now complete. A project more than a year in the making, he started with Kato’s 844 steam engine, later adding the tenders and the Spirit of Union Pacific 1943 diesel engine, and finally, Kato’s 7-car Excursion Car Set. The train in this video is on a […]

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N scale Erie Lackawanna

Scene of n scale model railroad

Henrik Akesson’s N scale version of the Erie Lackawanna RR in Pennsylvania is set during the late 1960s to the mid 1970s. It’s built in a spare bedroom around the walls in a dogbone on styrofoam. It features Peco code 80 track, Digitrax DCC, and a small copy of the Starrucca viaduct kitbashed from several […]

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Ron Hoess’ Eastbound Chestnut Hill & Stifftown Branch PRR

Scene of model train layout

This HO scale layout (13′ x 18′) is a point-to-point switching layout that depicts the Stifftown Branch and the first portion of the Chestnut Hill Branch of the PRR. The setting is North Philadelphia circa 1958. Since this is a prototype layout, all of the structures are scratchbuilt to better match the prototype. Key signature […]

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New model trains for the week of April 18, 2019

ScaleTrains.com HO scale General Electric Tier 4 GEVo diesel locomotives

HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP39-2 diesel locomotive. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (“Kodachrome” and blue-and-yellow warbonnet); Burlington Northern (Cascade Green with nose stripes, four road numbers); CSX (D&H Guilford scheme patchout); Delaware & Hudson (Guilford scheme, four numbers); Missouri-Kansas-Texas (green and yellow, four numbers); and Soo Line (Candy Apple Red). Two numbers per scheme […]

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Broadway Limited Imports N scale PRR T1 4-4-4-4

Broadway Limited Imports N scale PRR T1 4-4-4-4

Broadway Limited Imports N scale PRR T1 4-4-4-4 The T1 is equipped with magnetic knuckle couplers. Details like wire grab irons and train-phone system antenna add to the realism. I recently reviewed two N scale diesel locomotives from Broadway Limited Imports (BLI) featuring Paragon3 Digital Command Control (DCC) decoders with Rolling Thunder (March and May […]

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ScaleTrains.com HO scale GE C44-9W diesel

ScaleTrains.com HO scale GE C44-9W diesel

ScaleTrains.com HO scale GE C44-9W diesel With its myriad roadname- and roadnumber-specific detail variations, this HO scale General Electric C44-9W diesel-electric locomotive from ScaleTrains.com ensures that there’s plenty for all the “rivet counters” out there to scrutinize. And they won’t be disappointed. For this review I tested a Rivet Counter-series model that came factory- equipped […]

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Arrowhead Models HO scale ‘Committee Design’ hopper

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Arrowhead Models HO scale ‘Committee Design’ hopper The slope sheets with their steeper ends are clearly visible on Arrowhead Models’ Committee Design 70-ton hopper. Design by committee isn’t usually a ringing endorsement, but these new HO scale 70-ton coal hoppers from Arrowhead Models could certainly turn the tide. The committee in question included Pennsylvania RR, […]

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Walthers Cornerstone HO scale American Bungalow kit

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Walthers Cornerstone HO scale American Bungalow kit Price: $29.98 Manufacturer Wm. K. Walthers Inc. 5601 W. Florist Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53218 www.walthers.com Era: 1910s to present Comments: The American Bungalow is the latest addition to the Walthers Cornerstone series. The HO scale plastic kit measures 35⁄8″ x 611⁄32″. Introduced more than a century ago, the […]

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