Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line

Name: Norfolk & PortsmouthBelt Line Layout designer: Bob Sprague Scale: N (1:160) Size: 11′-3″ x 13′-10″ with 30″ x 14′-81⁄2″ shelf Prototype: NPBL Locale: southeastern Virginia (Hampton Roads) Era: present day Style: shelf with peninsula Branchline run: 30 feet plus 15 feet Minimum radius: 18″ (9″ on some industrial tracks) Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum […]

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Atlas HO scale trash flatcar

Atlas HO scale trash flatcar

Atlas HO scale trash flatcar Modern era HO modelers can now add a trash train to their operating scheme with this flatcar and containers from Atlas Model Railroad Co. The prototype. Specialized 85-foot flatcars and high-cube 20-foot containers have been hauling trainloads of solid waste since the 1980s. This railroad business came from opposition to […]

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Bowser HO scale C-630M diesel locomotive

Bowser HO scale C-630 diesel locomotive

Bowser HO scale C-630 diesel locomotive Modelers of Canadian roads in HO scale will be pleased with Bowser’s latest Executive Line locomotive release. The manufacturer has modified its Alco C-630 model with prototypically accurate details to represent C-630M locomotives built by Montreal Locomotive Works, Alco’s Canadian division. The M designation indicated that the engine had […]

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Building the HO scale Virginian Ry. part 15

David Popp next to layout

Scenery work continues to progress rapidly on the HO scale Virginian Ry. model train layout. Model Railroader managing editor David Popp works on dirt roads and a river, while editor Neil Besougloff describes his strategy for planting trees on this model railroad. Senior editor Jim Hediger gives you a tour of his kitbashed coal mine […]

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Building the HO scale Virginian Ry. part 13

Neil Besougloff next to layout scenery

Sculptamold and rubber rocks have been installed on the model railroad’s scenery base. Model Railroader‘s editor Neil Besougloff will show you how to make puffball trees to model a forest canopy on a model railroad. Senior editor Jim Hediger describes his kitbashing strategy for the large coal mine planned for the model train layout. Other […]

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Build the HO scale Virginian Ry. part 16

David Popp next to layout

Learn more about the scenery and structures on the HO scale Virginian Ry. built by the staff of Model Railroader magazine. Associate editor Cody Grivno shows you the Virginian freight house and some of the signs he made for the model railroad. Managing editor David Popp also shares his final mix for modeling the muddy […]

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Building the HO scale Virginian Ry. part 14

Hand applying paint to scenery

There’s been a lot of progress on the scenery of this model railroad. Managing editor David Popp will give you an update, and show you how to drybrush rock castings for more realistic model railroad scenery. Associate editors Cody Grivno and Steve Otte will also show you the structures that they’re working on for this […]

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Bachmann HO scale Baltimore & Ohio EM-1 2-8-8-4 steam locomotive

Bachmann HO scale Baltimore & Ohio EM-1 2-8-8-4 steam locomotive A Baltimore & Ohio EM-1 2-8-8-4 is available for the first time as an HO scale ready-to-run plastic model. The Bachmann Spectrum series EM-1 includes a dual-mode Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder that operates on direct-current (DC) and DCC layouts. To add sound effects and […]

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New products for March 15, 2012

Bachmann HO scale Alco S-4 diesel locomotive

Bachmann HO scale Alco S-4 diesel locomotive HO scale locomotives Alco S-4 diesel locomotive. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (zebra stripe paint scheme); Erie RR; New York Central (Pittsburgh & Lake Erie reporting marks); Southern Pacific; Union Pacific (“Dependable Transportation” slogan); Western Maryland (speed lettering). Directional headlights; die-cast metal chassis, fuel tank, gear tower, and […]

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Rail Yard Models closes

Rail Yard Models, a manufacturer of HO scale resin model railroad freight car kits, ceased operations on March 1, 2012. In a statement on the company’s website, owner Gene Fusco wrote, “I have had a great deal of satisfaction designing, manufacturing, and selling my kits to some of the best modelers in the railroad hobby. […]

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Video: Walthers HO scale Pennsylvania RR Broadway Limited

Train riding besides a row of trees

The Walthers HO scale model of the Pennsylvania RR Broadway Limited passenger train is led by two WalthersProto General Motors Electro-Motive Division E8A diesel-electric locomotives. Each locomotive includes a SoundTraxx Digital Command Control (DCC) sound decoder. Watch the model train run on the Model Railroader club layout, the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy. […]

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