In this episode, David turns to a new construction technique as he forms the body of a wagon using resin impregnated paper. In his initial attempt with this material, David finds that it cuts, shapes, and assembles in manner similar to styrene. Follow along as he walks through the working limits and shares his valuable […]
A reader’s inquiry to my “Ask MR” column (published earlier on Trains.com) inspired me to sketch a track plan for an HO scale glass factory shelf layout. We published a track plan for a glass factory in our January 2003 issue, but that was a 4 x 8-foot plan, and not everybody can devote 48 square […]
David moves from Episode 1 to the next steps of assembling wagons for the railroad town of his On30 Olympia & Sand Creek model railroad. This time, he starts in by making sure the parts to be assembled are well cleaned, all so the adhesive will properly adhere to the various white metal components. Then, […]
David moves from Episode 1 to the next steps of assembling wagons for the railroad town of his On30 Olympia & Sand Creek model railroad. This time, he starts in by making sure the parts to be assembled are well cleaned, all so the adhesive will properly adhere to the various white metal components. Then, […]
Modelers David Popp, Brian Schmidt, and Bryson Sleppy begin the scenery process on their T-TRAK modules by looking at photos of the Colorado plains. T-TRAK is a modular N scale railroading system that uses foot-wide boxes plugged together to build tabletop layouts. In this fifth installment, the three modelers explain how to build hills and […]
Layout designer: William Holt Scale: S Layout size: 3.5 x 6 feet Track type: MTH S-Trax Minimum curve: R-19 curve Originally appeared in the November 2013 issue of Classic Toy Trains. An S gauge starter set oval with add-ons An S gauge starter set oval with add-ons schematic An S gauge starter set oval […]
I’ve had a fondness for narrow gauge modeling since I was a teenager reading Model Railroader stories by John Olsen and Malcolm Furlow in the early 1980s. So when it came time to build my first real layout, it’s no surprise that I chose HOn3 scale. It’s also no surprise I chose a freelanced route, […]
Host David Popp departs from the On30 layout construction to tackle something he’s never done before. In the railroad town of Sand Creek, David works to build, paint, and install proper horses and horse drawn wagons that folks use to haul goods to and fro. Saddle up for the ride through the entire process…and Trains.com […]
Host David Popp departs from the On30 layout construction to tackle something he’s never done before. In the railroad town of Sand Creek, David works to build, paint, and install proper horses and horse drawn wagons that folks use to haul goods to and fro. Saddle up for the ride through the entire process…and Trains.com […]
While commercial snow-covered trees are easy to come by during the holiday season, here’s an option for you to make your own. I was able to make a lot of snowy trees for our Polar Express layout quickly by using the method shown here. You need just three things: cheap hairspray, a bag or two […]
Design a toy train layout — O, S, or Standard/Wide gauge — it requires above all making one fundamental decision. Each operator must decide what sort of look he or she wants the layout to have. To be specific, each modeler has to figure out the extent to which the layout, regardless of size or […]
Modelers David Popp, Brian Schmidt, and Bryson Sleppy install the wiring power bus and Digital Command Control system on their modular T-TRAK N scale layout. T-TRAK is a modular N scale railroading system that uses foot-wide boxes plugged together to build tabletop layouts. In this fourth installment, the trio demonstrates how to build a portable […]
