How to model fallen rock

rocky scene on garden railway

When gravity, earthquakes, or water pull the rug out from under a cliff face, its strata and fracture lines burst open. Solid slopes suddenly turn fluid. Rocks bounce and roll, creating talus, which settles in a pile at the foot of the cliff—possibly damming a waterway. Garage-size boulders split from slopes and tumble to the […]

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Bachmann Big Hauler reissue

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Marc Horovitz Gauge 1, steam outline 4-6-0 Bachmann Industries1400 East Erie AvenuePhiladelphia PA 19124Price: $399Website: www.bachmanntrains.com Reissue of Bachmann’s “Anniversary Edition” 4-6-0; mostly plastic construction; metal gearing; smoke unit with initial supply of smoke fluid; sound system; updated diecast lead truck; diecast frame; all-metal wheels; various metal detail parts; dummy knuckle on pilot; working knuckle […]

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Brewer Railroad Plans coaling tower plans

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1:22.5-scale coaling-tower plans Brewer Railroad Plans1825 Evergreen DriveAgassiz BC V0M 1A3CanadaPrice: $26.95 + $5 s&h to the USWebsite: www.brewerplans.com Full size, detailed plans for the D&RGW coaling tower at Chama, New Mexico; three sheets 24″ x 36″, 1 sheet 20″ x 36″; four pages of construction notes included Pros: Full size, beautifully drawn plans; highly […]

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Hartford Large Scale Products trucks kit

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Alan Olson 1:20.3 scale, gauge 1 trucks kit Hartford Large Scale Products 6224  Acorn Ridge Trail Hillsborough NC 27278 Price: $59.95/pair + s&h Website: http://www.hartfordproducts.com Wood and white-metal kit (#T-17) for gauge 1, 1:20.3 scale, narrow-gauge Thielsen trucks, as used by the Southern Pacific Railroad; wheelsets by Sierra Valley; instructions supplied Pros: Good product for […]

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Wee Bee Loco Parts locomotive fittings

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Marc Horovitz Live-steam locomotive fittings Wee Bee Loco Parts6757 W. Jackson StreetIndianapolis IN 46341Prices: See textE-mail: weebeelocoparts@comcast.net Brass parts and fittings for small scale, live-steam locomotives; water-injection valve; safety valve; safety-valve adaptor; gas-filler-valve conversion fitting; butane-gas filler adapter Pros: Beautifully crafted parts for live steamers; accurately made; nicely finished Cons: None Marc Horovitz Wee Bee […]

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A tribute to Peter Jones

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Peter Jones, 1944-2009 As many of you know by now, Peter Jones has passed on. He leaves behind a sparkling legacy, having provided inspiration for so many of us. Peter had a uniquely brilliant approach to garden railroading and a compelling, evocative way of presenting his ideas. I have had the pleasure and privilege of […]

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Gateman’s tower drawings in 1:29 scale

Gateman's tower drawings in 1:29 scale

Download the PDF of this project here. This PDF is formatted to print on your home printer. Most pieces are formatted to fit on a 8.5″ x 11″ piece of paper. For larger parts of the plan, you will see “break lines.” Line up the break lines to create the larger piece. Despite our best […]

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Ten tree-like plants to try on your railroad

miniature trees

Trees are as essential to a landscape as mountains, hills, and rivers. Those of you living in (and/or modeling) the desert, will have to overlook my exuberance for trees. In this article I’d like to add to my previous discussions of conifer, deciduous, and wannabe trees, to pursue my favorite subject further. (See the list […]

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Aristo-Craft 2-8-0 Consolidation

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Kevin Strong 1:29 scale, gauge-1 2-8-0Aristo-Craft Trains698 S. 21st St.Irvington NJ 07111Price: $891Website: www.aristocraft.com Plastic model of a 2-8-0, based on the Baltimore & Ohio E-27-class Consolidations. Dimensions: length, 29″ over couplers (70′ scale); width, 4″ (9.6′ scale); height, 6.5″ to top of stack (15.7′ scale). Minimum radius, 4′ (8′ diameter) Pros: Smooth, quiet motor […]

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Aristo-Craft Class 66 diesel-electric locomotive

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Kevin Strong 1:29 scale, gauge 1, Class 66 diesel-electric locomotiveAristo-Craft TrainsAvailable in the US exclusively from: Trainworld751 McDonald Ave.Brooklyn NY 11218Price: $799.99Website: www.trainworld.com Plastic model of Canadian-built Class 66 locomotives, produced for the UK and Europe between 1998 and 2008. Dimensions: length, 29″ (70′ scale); width, 3.5″ (8.5′ scale); height, 5.5″ (13.3′ scale). Minimum radius, […]

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DCC Bitswitch automatic station stop control

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Kevin Strong Automatic station-stop control for DCC-controlled railroads (all scales)DCC BitSwitch31190 Eagle Crest LaneEvergreen CO 80439Prices: Timed-stop station control, $89.95; DC brake generator (needed in conjunction), $25Website: www.dccbitswitch.com Circuit boards to provide automatic station stops for DCC-powered railroads Pros: Wiring diagrams clear and easy to follow; simple installation Cons: Only works on track powered, DCC-controlled […]

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