Let’s Make A Scene: Episode 4

Let’s Make a Scene with Kathy Millatt Part 4

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Host Kathy Millatt shows you what you need to make an impressive conifer tree that’s perfectly suited to place front and center on any layout. From building the trunk to adding needles to the branches, Kathy walks and talks you through all of […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 33

David Popp wearing a winter hat, bright yellow jacket, and cross country skis outside in the snow.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this Olympic-themed episode, host David Popp goes for the gold answering as many of your toughest hobby questions as possible! Specific viewer inquiries relate to trackwork, wiring, scenery, modeling, and more! […]

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HO scale Johnstown & Gerryville

HOscaleJohnstownGerryville

Name: Johnstown & Gerryville Layout owner: John Travis Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 13 x 37 with 5 x 17 staging area Prototype: freelanced, inspired by Pennsylvania RR Locale: southwestern Pennsylvania Era: 1953 Mainline run: 240 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 2.5 percent Benchwork: L girder and open grid Height: 42″to […]

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HO scale Sierra Pintada & Western RR

HOscaleSierraPintadaWestern

Name: Sierra Pintada & Western RR Layout owner: Willem Van der Hoeven Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 10′-0″ x 34′-10″ Prototype: freelanced, inspired by old-time western United States railroads Locale: Arizona Era: 1880s Style: shelf Mainline run: 40 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: shelf on consoles Height: 40″ […]

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Big Boy versus Allegheny

COAllegheny

This C&O 2-6-6-6 strains mightily to get her 70 loads of eastbound coal moving at Thurmond, W. Va., in 1956. The Balky 1624 had slipped down, then cut off and run ahead to put down sand, and is now trying again. A full third of her tremendous engine weight rests on her lead and trailing […]

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Where to find Big Boy locomotives

UPBigBoy4004Cheyenne

With clouds overhead mimicking steam, Big Boy No. 4004 sleeps in October 2013 at Cheyenne’s Holliday Park, just a few blocks from UP rails. Jim Wrinn No. 4004 • Holliday Park, Cheyenne, Wyo. BUILDER’S DATE: September 1941 SERIAL NUMBER: 69575 HISTORY: The fifth Big Boy constructed seems to have had an uneventful career. LIFETIME MILEAGE: […]

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Southern Pacific AC-5 Cab Forward at Skykomish

Model cab forwad locomotive

Southern Pacific AC-5 Cab Forward at Skykomish: By accident, I have a car about 2/3rds into the train where it sounds like a prototypical flat wheel on one of the cars. The light at the back top of the engine was for the fireman to check, at night, the exhaust to see how efficient his […]

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New model trains for the week of February 15, 2018

Atlas Model Railroad Co. HO scale Alco RS-11 diesel locomotive

Atlas Model Railroad Co. HO scale Alco RS-11 diesel locomotive HO scale locomotives Alco RS-11 diesel locomotive. New paint schemes: Apache, California Western, Conrail (Penn Central patchout), Delaware & Hudson (large numbers), Nickel Plate Road (broad stripes), and Norfolk & Western (blue “half moon” scheme). New road numbers: Missouri Pacific (blue and gray) and Southern […]

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