East Troy Industrial Park, Ep. 14 | Painting the backdrop

Painting the initial backdrop installation a single shade of blue was just fine to get things started on the HO scale (1:87.1) East Troy Industrial Park project layout. However, David and Bryson share an easy technique for blending the background sky color with the adjacent wall color, and set the stage for those stunning photos […]

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Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 26 | Ballasting the rails

In this episode, David shares a proven technique for adding and shaping a rustic course of ballast along the rails of the Olympia & Sand Creek On30 logging layout. But first he works to complete several scenery details, including realistic fencing, water effects, muddy cow paths, and more along the terrain and trackwork too! View […]

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Art Kear’s Wellsville, Addison & Galeton in HO scale

Title screen from layout visit video with title in upper left corner.

In the August 2025 issue of Model Railroader, we featured Art Kear’s HO scale Buffalo & Susquehanna to Wellsville, Addison & Galeton. The 12 x 32-foot multi-deck walk-in layout features a logging line circa 1910 and the steam-to-diesel transition era in 1950. “Once the train room was completed, it was time to get started on […]

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Art Kear’s Wellsville, Addison & Galeton in HO scale

Title screen from layout visit video with title in upper left corner.

In the August 2025 issue of Model Railroader, we featured Art Kear’s HO scale Buffalo & Susquehanna to Wellsville, Addison & Galeton. The 12 x 32-foot multi-deck walk-in layout features a logging line circa 1910 and the steam-to-diesel transition era in 1950. “Once the train room was completed, it was time to get started on […]

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Trains.com Insider Interview | NMRA President Gordy Robinson talks about the NMRA in its 90th year

Listen in, as Model Railroader magazine Editor Eric White interviews National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) President Gordy Robinson about the organization’s 90th anniversary. Hear Gordy highlight various celebrations planned throughout the year, including those at the upcoming NMRA National Convention (and National Train Show) in Novi, Michigan, plus the actual anniversary on Labor Day weekend (August […]

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East Troy Industrial Park EXTRA | Progress Report #1

Now that trains are running on the HO scale East Troy Industrial Park (ETIP) project layout, David Popp hosts this BONUS video to share some of the behind-the-scenes efforts and design considerations the MR crew still needs to tackle. As so many model railroaders can attest, there’s no such thing as “finished” layout…especially when structure […]

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Classic Trains Film Archive | Illinois and Ohio Highlights, J. David Ingles Reel 0050

Classic Trains Film Archive | Illinois and Ohio Highlights, J. David Ingles Reel 0050 – Explore the fascinating world of 1960s Midwest railroading with rare footage and historic action across Central Illinois and Ohio. Visit Jacksonville, Ill., to see legendary trains from Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (CB&Q), Gulf, Mobile & Ohio (GM&O), and Norfolk & […]

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East Troy Industrial Park, Ep. 13 | DCC system installation

Even though track wiring is in place, our hosts still need to install a Digital Command Control (DCC) system before trains will run on the HO scale (1:87.1) East Troy Industrial Park project layout! David and Bryson first examine the components of the NCE PH5R Power Pro DCC system before working to integrate the parts […]

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Cody’s Office | May 2025

Man in gray shirt wearing glasses holding book with model trains on table.

Welcome to the May 2025 installment of Cody’s Office. Thanks for all of the positive feedback from last month’s episode. It’s great to be back! Four new products are featured in the May 2025 episode of Cody’s Office. First up is the Rapido Trains HO scale Electro-Motive Division F40PHM-2 diesel locomotive. The commuter engine is […]

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Cody’s Office for April 2025

Man in tan shirt with stripes wearing glasses holding book with model trains in foreground

All-new episodes of Cody’s Office are back into production! That’s right, the popular Trains.com Video series returns at the Firecrown Media offices in suburban Milwaukee, Wis. The setting may be different, but Model Railroader Senior Editor Cody Grivno returns with all of your favorite segments, including new products, a modeling tip, and viewer mail. Four […]

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