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To make their future construction efforts a bit easier, David and Bryson work to install the backdrop for the East Troy Industrial Park (ETIP) model railroad now! Don’t miss their tips and tricks for keeping this essential, scene-setting hardboard component in place along the back of the entire layout. Be sure to keep up with […]
In this episode, David Popp continues working on the barn and surrounding farm scene on his Olympia & Sand Creek On30 display layout. Efforts include fabricating and installing a new, detailed barn door, extending and amending the barn’s roof, and even taking time to audit the height, shape, fit, and finish of his background trees! Be […]
Host David Popp and Bryson Sleppy work to raise the wood framework of their East Troy Industrial Park (ETIP) model railroad off the ground. Watch as they share how to plan, construct, and install the legs for a nearly any layout. And don’t miss the simple, yet extraordinarily helpful insights the crew shares in Model […]
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With all the same enthusiasm and expertise demonstrated in previous Model Railroader Project Layout efforts, host David Popp and Bryson Sleppy begin constructing the East Troy Industrial Park (ETIP) model railroad! While it will be just a small semblance of the former Milwaukee, Racine, & Troy HO scale (1:87.1) layout, the all-new ETIP promises to […]
Trains.com host David Popp invites you along for this initial overview of Model Railroader magazine’s emerging HO scale (1:87.1) project layout, the East Troy Industrial Park Railroad! To get things started, David shares how 1:1 scale operations of a Class III railroad (as featured in the Trains.com Video Series “Taking Care of Business: SMS Rail […]
Get ready for a barn burner of an episode, when David Popp jumps into high gear to complete various scenery and structure projects on his Olympia & Sand Creek On30 display layout. Efforts include adding fences, installing the Armstrong-type turntable, and revamping the barn a bit. Be sure to explore the entire Olympia series, appearing […]
In this helpful, introductory effort, David Popp shares simple and easy techniques for adding a scene-extending background/view block to a model railroad. While the planning and painting steps are all demonstrated on his N scale (1:160) T-Trak module, David’s explanations and efforts can certainly be applied to other layouts or displays of any scale! If […]
Trains.com staff set out to prove they could build out a layout one square foot at a time! Now that most of their T-Trak modules are completed, it’s due time to have some fun running trains around Model Railroader magazine’s latest project layout, the N scale (1:160) “Colorado Plains”, as featured in the January 2025 […]
David Popp hosts this extensive recap of the entire Canadian Canyons N scale layout construction effort. In this nearly 45 minute video presentation, David digs deep into the 1:1 scale inspiration for this undertaking (Watch Drew’s Trackside Adventures, episodes 29, 30, and 31). He also examines the challenges of shaping a layout plan that dared […]
Watch as artist Jay Smith, former illustrator (ret.) for Kalmbach Media, concludes backdrop painting efforts on David Popp’s Olympia & Sand Creek On30 display layout. In the course of this video, Jay and David walk you through the entire process, so you can see the amazing visual transition from simple sky colors to majestic mountains. […]
As Jay Smith, former illustrator (ret.) for Kalmbach Media, continues is his backdrop painting efforts on David Popp’s Olympia & Sand Creek On30 display layout, you’ll see several subtle techniques Jay employees to create lighting effects and enhance the detailed appearance of even the most distant landform and structures he paints. Be sure to explore […]
