Modeling steers and bulls

DanLewisNscaleMilwaukeeRoadNorthMontanaLine_06

Most N scale bovines offered by figure manufacturers are milk cows, but the Montana cattle industry requires steers and bulls, too. Dan Lewis uses wire and Microscale Kristal Kleer to turn cows into bulls, as well as to model longhorns, on his N scale Milwaukee Road North Montana Line. One problem I encountered with commercially […]

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Modeling tip: Extra flags for locomotives

DanLewisNscaleMilwaukeeRoadNorthMontanaLine_07

A feature one doesn’t see modeled very often is white extra flags. On a line like the North Montana that hosted mostly time freights, extra trains carrying livestock and grain were seasonal. Extra flags can be easily made from .008″ brass wire and small squares cut from white tissue paper. After gluing the flags onto […]

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Tips for identifying modern diesel locomotives

Moderndieselidentification

Many readers have asked how we identify the current crop of big, modern road diesels. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy, as many locomotive designs have evolved into a family of similar looking locomotives. This means modelers have to study the details to figure out what locomotive is represented by a specific scale model. Comparing the model […]

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Video 101: Along the line

boy playing with a Lego train

We continually search for ways to encourage children to interact with the trains on Train Days at the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County (California). While it’s wise to keep the kids and adults at a safe distance from the live steam exhibit, the museum’s large collection of Brio train parts, the ride-on train in the […]

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Video 101: Along the line

boy playing with a Lego train

We continually search for ways to encourage children to interact with the trains on Train Days at the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County (California). While it’s wise to keep the kids and adults at a safe distance from the live steam exhibit, the museum’s large collection of Brio train parts, the ride-on train in the […]

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Video: Andrew Dodge’s scratchbuilt rotary snowplow

Colorado Midland Dodge HO scale snowplow

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In the June 2020 Model Railroader, you’ll learn how Andrew Dodge scratchbuilt an operating rotary snowplow for his Proto: 48 (O fine scale) Colorado Midland layout. Get a demonstration of the model in this short video. […]

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