New paint on GP38-2s and 50-foot double-door boxcars, and all-new N scale containers!

Cody Grivno in Model Railroader workshop with Atlas GP38-2, Accurail 50-foot boxcar, JRT Model Trains 53-foot container

Cody’s back in the office with new paint schemes for the Atlas HO scale GP38-2, the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy double-door 50-foot boxcar from Accurail, and all-new 53-foot corrugated containers from JTC Model Trains, a modeling tip, and viewer mail. […]

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Walthers second-annual National Model Railroad Build-Off is gaining steam

Gregory Baker, last year's adult individual winner, stands next to his layout.

MILWAUKEE — Despite a global pandemic, the world of model railroading is high-balled to roll on. And now, Walthers is offering builders of all ages and skill levels an opportunity to use this quarantine to show the world what they’re made of — and what they can make — in the model railroad company’s second […]

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Kitbashing a yard office – the finishing steps, Episode 45

Cody Grivno standing at the sink in the MR workshop holding an unpainted model structure in his hands.

To complete the work on his HO scale trackside structure, Cody shares how he primed and painted the assembly. After allowing the finish to dry, he also shows the process for adding details and weathering effects that give the styrene kitbashing project an authentic appearance.     […]

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Kitbashing a yard office – the finishing steps, Episode 45

Cody Grivno standing at the sink in the MR workshop holding an unpainted model structure in his hands.

To complete the work on his HO scale trackside structure, Cody shares how he primed and painted the assembly. After allowing the finish to dry, he also shows the process for adding details and weathering effects that give the styrene kitbashing project an authentic appearance.     […]

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New type of virtual model train show will be held in April

Yellow-black World's Greatest Hobby logo featuring an illustrated steam locomotive and caboose.

 The first virtual model train show to replicate the in-person train show experience, an event dubbed World’s Greatest Hobby Online, will take place on April 17th. The event is sponsored by the World’s Greatest Hobby, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. It will feature digital exhibits and keynote addresses from some of the best-known model train […]

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Layout Visit: Ted Pamperin’s C&O Hinton Division in HO scale

A Chesapeake & Ohio steam locomotive pulls a train of freight cars along on Ted Pamperin's HO scale C&O Hinton Division model railroad

Layout builder Ted Pamperin hosts an exclusive video tour of his HO scale (1:87) layout capturing Chesapeake & Ohio Railway’s steam and diesel-powered Appalachian operations during the early days of winter in 1951. Even in this unique scenery motif, you’ll find Ted’s depiction of West Virginia’s New River Gorge is quite impressive. […]

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Layout Visit: Ted Pamperin’s C&O Hinton Division in HO scale

A Chesapeake & Ohio steam locomotive pulls a train of freight cars along on Ted Pamperin's HO scale C&O Hinton Division model railroad

Layout builder Ted Pamperin hosts an exclusive video tour of his HO scale (1:87) layout capturing Chesapeake & Ohio Railway’s steam and diesel-powered Appalachian operations during the early days of winter in 1951. Even in this unique scenery motif, you’ll find Ted’s depiction of West Virginia’s New River Gorge is quite impressive. […]

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Kitbashing a yard office, Episode 44

Cody Grivno sitting at his workbench in the opening shot of Cody's Workshop Episode 44

In this episode of Cody’s Workshop, our host has returned with a clear focus on custom-building a small trackside structure for Model Railroader magazine’s MR&T HO scale layout – The Jones Island project. Cody tackles the effort by combining three of the same styrene kits into one unique yard building. Examine his planning, prep, and […]

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Kitbashing a yard office, Episode 44

Cody Grivno sitting at his workbench in the opening shot of Cody's Workshop Episode 44

In this episode of Cody’s Workshop, our host has returned with a clear focus on custom-building a small trackside structure for Model Railroader magazine’s MR&T HO scale layout – The Jones Island project. Cody tackles the effort by combining three of the same styrene kits into one unique yard building. Examine his planning, prep, and […]

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Model railroad locomotive, freight car, vehicle, and decal announcements for April 1, 2021

Double door boxcar

Product news Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of April 1, 2021. HO scale locomotives Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 diesel locomotive. New […]

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Eagle River Lines

The layout at a glance Name: Eagle River Lines Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 17 x 17 feet Prototype: freelanced Locale: Detroit area Era: 1950s Style: around-the-walls Mainline run: 55 feet Minimum radius: 36” (main), 24” (branch) Minimum turnout: no. 8 (main), no. 6 (spurs and branch) Maximum grade: 2 percent Benchwork: sectional Height: 42”-46” Roadbed: […]

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Adjusting coupler height on passenger cars

The height of a knuckle coupler on an HO scale passenger car is checked with a Kadee gauge.

It’s important to mount couplers at the correct height and to do so consistently on all cars. Because of their length, passenger cars magnify the chance for unwanted uncouplings when track isn’t perfectly level. Of course, having made the car height accurate, I don’t want to change that, so to adjust coupler height I move […]

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