Name: New York, Westchester & Boston Scale: S (1:64) Size: 12 x 39 feet Prototype: alternate history New York, Westchester & Boston Locale: New England Period: 1955 Style: around-the-walls with peninsula Mainline run: 120 feet Minimum radius: 42″ (visible), 36″ (hidden) Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 2.5 percent (main), 3 percent (branch), 4 percent (down […]
For more than 30 years Andy Sperandeo was an integral part of Model Railroader magazine. October 3, 2015 – With a heavy heart, I’m sad to report that Andy Sperandeo, who has been a part of our lives at Model Railroader magazine for more than 30 years, has died. Andy was 70 years old. As […]
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page In part 2 of MRVP’s Winston-Salem backdrop installation series, David Popp demonstrates the techniques used for patching the seams where two hardboard sections abut. He covers everything from preparing the working surface to sanding the joint compound smooth — all of the steps […]
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page MRVP’s David Popp launches into another informative multi-part series. This time he shows why and how to install, finish, paint, and even light a hardboard backdrop along the back of our Winston-Salem HO scale project layout. Part 1 covers the initial assembly process. […]
People, cars, buildings, and trees are part of everyday life. We’ll add all of these important details to our HO scale project railroad. Model trains are a lot of fun, and having a layout to run them on is even better. However, trains and track in isolation don’t look very realistic. While the scenery we […]
Having trouble viewing this video? Please visit our Video FAQ page For the final installment of this kitbashing mini-series, David shows you how to give industrial structures a gritty, weathered appearance. David keeps things simple by using little more than an array of modeling paints applied with a brush and a wash (diluted stain). […]
Name: New England, Berkshire & Western RR Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 33 x 124 feet Prototype: freelanced, inspired by Delaware & Hudson and Rutland Locale: upstate New York and western Vermont Era: 1950 Style: linear walkaround Benchwork: L-girder Height: 51″ to 59″ Roadbed: 1⁄2″ Homasote with molded wood putty shoulders on 3⁄4″ plywood Track: handlaid […]
Name: CSX Southside Spur Scale: N (1:160) Size: 12 x 15 feet Prototype: CSX Locale: St. Petersburg, Fla. Era: 2004 Style: along the walls Mainline run: not applicable Minimum radius: 18″ Minimum turnout: no. 10 Maximum grade: none The track plan initially appeared in the November 2015 issue of Model Railroader. Click on the link […]
Name: Colorado Narrow Gauge Scale: On30 (1:48 proportion, 30″ track gauge) Size: 2 x 15 feet Prototype: freelanced Locale: inspired by the Colorado Rocky Mountains Era: early 20th century Style: freestanding modular display Mainline run: 15 feet Minimum radius: 15″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: none Benchwork: extruded-foam insulation board Height: 48″ Roadbed: Styrofoam […]
The Model Railroader staff reviewed the preproduction engineering sample of the Broadway Limited Imports Paragon3 HO scale Milwaukee Road S3 steam locomotive. The HO scale 4-8-4 Northern type steam locomotive is made primarily of die-cast metal with many plastic and brass detail parts. A famous Milwaukee Road steam locomotive made a stop, albeit in HO […]
Don’t miss the 10 inspiring layouts featured in Great Model Railroads 2016. This special issue of Model Railroader magazine features a wide variety of model train layouts in N, HO, S, and O scales. As a special online bonus, you can download computer desktop wallpaper from each of the featured layouts. Want to see more […]
I completed the HO Wig-Wag crossing using an actual 3mm magnetic actuator on the pole made from a modified coreless motor inside a brass shim-stock enclosure. The 3-phases windings are driven by an Arduino. The wig-wag crossing was made from a kit from Showcase Miniatures and tools from the Small Shop. Yes, this was wired […]
