Toy train tables are a must-have for almost anyone looking to operate or display their collection — from Lionel and American Flyer to Thomas. Throughout the years, Classic Toy Trains has promoted building tables and Model Railroader has published fine plans for small layouts. But some toy train enthusiasts just want to buy a table […]
Section: Beginners
How to transfer a track plan from paper to model railroad benchwork
This simple method lets you scale up a track plan from a magazine or sketch onto your model train table You’ve managed to find the perfect track plan in a book or magazine, or you’ve spent hours at the drawing table or computer carefully drafting a track plan. The next step is transferring the track […]
How to switch model railroad freight cars
Do you know how to switch model railroad freight cars? Operations, once considered a quirky art practiced by few, has become commonplace on today’s model railroads. As interest in operations increases the need for “boomers” – operators, in other words – has also increased. Therefore you may find yourself pressed into service on a new […]
Beginners
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Ask MR: Where can I find scale drawings of the K-27?
Question: When I was young, my father collected issues of Model Railroader. Some issues were lost when we moved. One of the lost issues contained scale drawings of the Denver & Rio Grande outside-frame narrow gauge 2-8-2 steam locomotive. I’d be very happy to know if such a scale drawing can still be bought. I’ve […]
Thom Radice’s HO scale W&A background images
It’s before sunrise on April 12, 1863, at the Atlanta Car Shed, and Western & Atlantic 4-4-0 locomotive The General is steaming up for its 4 a.m. run to Chattanooga, Tenn. While the crew eats breakfast at the Lacy Hotel, about 20 Union soldiers disguised as civilians will commandeer the train, leading to the events […]
Comparative sizes of large-scale figures
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Desktop wallpaper from the 2020 Model Railroader Trackside Photo Contest
Earlier this year, we put out the call for MR readers to send us their best model railroad photos. We published the winners in the July 2020 Model Railroader. Follow the links below to download the images of all eight winning trackside photos sized appropriately for use as computer screen desktops. Click on the links […]
2020 Model Railroader Photo Contest winners background images
Earlier this year, we put out the call for MR readers to send us their best model railroad photos. We published the winners in the July 2020 Model Railroader. Follow the links below to download the images of all eight winning trackside photos sized appropriately for use as computer screen desktops. GRAND PRIZE WINNER – […]
Ask MR: How best to shrink a structure’s footprint?
Question: I’m in a conundrum and would love to hear an expert’s opinion. I’m planning to build a replica of an Alexandria, Minn., cold storage building for our club’s HO scale layout. If the structure is to fit the space, it will have to be selectively compressed, compromising its accuracy. To remain proportionally accurate, it […]
How to find items in your chosen scale
How to find items in your chosen scale Download the PDF here. Once you have settled on a scale that strikes the right balance for you, you can then begin to assemble the pieces to build your railroad—locomotives, rolling stock, buildings, vehicles, and people. Some manufacturers are good enough to mark the scale of their […]
How to choose a scale: A garden railroader’s guide
This three-rail track incorporates two different gauges—0 gauge and 1-gauge. Trains in 16mm-scale (1:19) and 15mm-scale (1:20.3) are equally at home on these rails. Marc Horovitz Download the PDF here. Let’s look at the various scales available and list their characteristics, with an eye to finding their advantages and disadvantages. As mentioned above, the thing […]
