Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 15 | All in the details

In this session, Host David Popp promises to finish the work on the passenger car project! That includes paying careful attention to those tiny details on the passenger car and the layout itself…you know, all of the little things he’d notice if he did not take the time to complete them now, including the addition […]

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Marking 50 years of the Ntrak modular standard

A pencil sketch on graph paper of several model railroad modules following the Ntrak modular standard

To mark the 50th anniversary of Ntrak, I thought I’d take a look at the Ntrak modular standard and sketch up a sample track plan for a couple modules. Ntrak started at an N scalers’ gathering in Signal Hill, Calif., in 1973, where the modelers were discussing ways to get more people into their favorite […]

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Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 10 | Installing Tortoise switch motors

Host David Popp promises to show you the easiest way you’ll ever see to install a Tortoise by Circuitron Switch Motor! Plus, you’ll also see simple techniques for attaching feeder wires, soldering rail joints, and even painting the track for a more realistic appearance. Let’s get started! Curious about alternative installation solutions? Be sure to […]

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Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 9 | On the right track

After host David Popp cleans up a few foibles around the cork roadbed, he turns to the task of modifying turnouts to accommodate Tortoise switch motors. And then his full focus goes to laying down the trackwork! Follow his fastidious process for aligning the main line and gluing into place…to perfection! And be sure to […]

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