The Roundhouse: Episode 23

Hal Miller and Andy Sperandeo

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Hal Miller hosts another “single-stall” edition of The Roundhouse with guest Andy Sperandeo, former editor of Model Railroader magazine. This time the conversation focuses on the late John Armstrong, a prolific MR contributor who was regarded as “The Dean of Layout Design”. Hal […]

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Red Oak Series: Adding ballast

Red Oak Series Adding ballast

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Just a little bit of a ballast goes a long way toward making Model Railroader magazine’s 3 x 7-foot N scale Red Oak layout look more realistic. In this video, David Popp walks you through the steps you’ll need to prepare the trackwork, […]

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Red Oak Series: DCC system installation

David Popp standing at a work table

While a complete Digital Command Control (DCC) system installation might not initially sound like a simple process, MRVP’s David Popp sure makes it seem that way in this how-to video. In his demonstration, David paces you through the steps he used to add a Digitrax Super Empire Builder Xtra system to Model Railroader magazine’s 3 […]

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Olympia Logging Series: Part 41 – Lessons Learned

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this final episode of MRVP’s Olympia Logging Co. On30 display-style layout construction series, David Popp and Kent Johnson highlight the efforts, successes, and shortcomings over the last several months. Enjoy the quick tour, glean helpful insights from the candid conversation, and then […]

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Red Oak Series: Benchwork construction

David Popp under a workbench.

Benchwork for the 3 x 7-foot N scale Red Oak layout didn’t need to be bulletproof, but it did need to be sturdy enough for us to move about the MR workshop and transport to shows. In this video, MRVP’s David Popp shows you how he assembled the lightweight legs, frame, and hollow-core door tabletop […]

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Olympia Logging Series: Part 40 – Layout operation

David Popp show’s you that it really is possible to perform prototypical operations on a layout as simple as our Olympia Logging Co. On30 display. Follow along as he first explains the scheme, makes the essential preparations, and then demonstrates how fun and easy it is to get the layout working like a real railroad […]

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DCC Programming: episode 13 – Basics of Back EMF

Dana Kawala explainng Back-Electro-Motive-Force (Back EMF) control.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   In this episode of DCC Programming, host Dana Kawala explains Back-Electro-Motive-Force (Back EMF) control and how it functions to aid performance on DCC-equipped locomotives. Dana demonstrates how this “cruise control” can be set and adjusted based on some specific ways you might […]

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The Roundhouse: Episode 22

Hal Miller and Tony Koester

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this “single-stall” edition of The Roundhouse, host Hal Miller welcomes Model Railroader magazine contributing editor Tony Koester to the table to chat about this friend, pioneering model railroader Allen McClelland, and his multiple Virginian & Ohio HO scale layouts. Although Allen no […]

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Rehab My Railroad: Episode 5

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page The Rehab crew returns to Chuck Sable’s basement to take on his toughest layout challenge yet. Chuck and David Popp start in on a street lighting project, but quickly get sidetracked troubleshooting a pesky DCC issue. Cody “Two Brat” Grivno keeps his head […]

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