Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 2 – Hill highlights

Jay Smith painting a backdrop.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In part 2 of our backdrop series, painter Jay Smith starts filling in the background details. In this installment he adds mist to the valleys and small treetops and sun highlights to the mid-ground hills. […]

Read More…

Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 2B – The river

Jay Smith painting a river.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Painting backdrops involves trial and error, even for professional artists. In part 2B of our backdrop series, Jay Smith shows you how he painted the river from start to finish, including changing colors “midstream” several times to get the right look. […]

Read More…

Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 2 – Hill highlights

Jay Smith painting a backdrop.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In part 2 of our backdrop series, painter Jay Smith starts filling in the background details. In this installment he adds mist to the valleys and small treetops and sun highlights to the mid-ground hills. […]

Read More…

Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 2B – The river

Jay Smith painting a river.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Painting backdrops involves trial and error, even for professional artists. In part 2B of our backdrop series, Jay Smith shows you how he painted the river from start to finish, including changing colors “midstream” several times to get the right look. […]

Read More…

Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 1 – basic hills

Jay painting hills.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Need a painted backdrop for your model railroad? Learn the basics of painting with artist Jay Smith as he adds a backdrop to our Thin Branch project railroad. In part 1 of our series, Jay shows you how to work from photos to […]

Read More…

Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 1 – basic hills

Jay painting hills.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Need a painted backdrop for your model railroad? Learn the basics of painting with artist Jay Smith as he adds a backdrop to our Thin Branch project railroad. In part 1 of our series, Jay shows you how to work from photos to […]

Read More…

Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 3 – Foreground trees

Jay Smith holding a paint palette.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this third installment of painting backdrops, Jay Smith tackles the treetops and sun highlights in the foreground. He also shows you how to paint simple “hero” trees, those that have trunks and branches as well as leaves. […]

Read More…

Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 3 – Foreground trees

Jay Smith holding a paint palette.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this third installment of painting backdrops, Jay Smith tackles the treetops and sun highlights in the foreground. He also shows you how to paint simple “hero” trees, those that have trunks and branches as well as leaves. […]

Read More…

Rolling Stones Web Gallery and Map

FULL SCREEN Todd Atkinson CSX Transportation No. 2477, an SD50-2, leads an empty westbound stone train across the Little Kanawha River Bridge at Parkersburg, W.Va., on March 2, 2007. In the background, a loaded CSX coal train crosses the Ohio River bridge that was once part of the Baltimore & Ohio’s main line to St. […]

Read More…

Thin Branch Series: Ballasting turnouts

Cody Grivno ballasting turnouts.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Ballasting turnouts can be tricky because there’s a lot of potential for the little stones and glue to interfere with the proper operation of the points. Cody Grivno shows you an easy technique for ballasting turnouts that keeps the points working just like […]

Read More…

Thin Branch Series: Ballasting turnouts

Cody Grivno ballasting turnouts.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Ballasting turnouts can be tricky because there’s a lot of potential for the little stones and glue to interfere with the proper operation of the points. Cody Grivno shows you an easy technique for ballasting turnouts that keeps the points working just like […]

Read More…

Thin Branch Series: Powering turnout frogs

David installing turnouts.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page You can improve the operation on most any railroad by installing turnouts with powered frogs. David shows you how we set up the Thin Branch project railroad with turnout frogs powered through switch motor contacts. […]

Read More…