How-to Library: Turning Spaces into Places, Part 2

Gerry Leone in front of his multi-level layout.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   Work on Gerry Leone’s HO scale Bona Vista Rwy. layout scene continues. In this episode, Gerry takes on roadway planning. To make it easily to visualize exactly where the highway and rustic roads will go, he shows how to make a simple […]

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HO scale 59th and Rust

HOscale59thandrust

Click on the image to download a PDF of the track plan. Name: 59th and Rust Layout owner: Raymond O’Neill Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 18 x 96 inches Theme: freelanced urban switching Locale: northeast New Jersey and New York Era: 1965 to 1975 Style: Shelf Mainline run: 14 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. […]

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HO scale Baltimore and Ohio Southwest, Ohio Division

HOscaleBaltimoreOhioSouthwest1

Click on the image to download a PDF of the track plan. Name: Baltimore & Ohio Southwest Layout owner: Carl Griffin Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 14 x 29 feet Prototype: Baltimore & Ohio, Chesapeake & Ohio, New York Central Locale: Southeastern Ohio Era: 1964 Style: multi-deck walkaround Mainline run: 243 feet Minimum radius: 24″ Minimum turnout: no. […]

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How-to Library: Designing a layout, Part 8

David preparing to design a layout.

Time for the big track plan reveal…well, almost! David first shares some additional historic photos that help complete our overall view of Crystal Lake, Illinois, the community that inspired his design. Finally, aided by Ben Lake’s 3-D renderings, David walks and talks you through the entire plan for the C&NW HO scale layout. […]

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Canadian Canyons Series: Lessons Learned

David Popp and Drew Halverson next to benchwork

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this final episode of our Canadian Canyons N scale (1:160) layout construction series, David Popp and Drew Halverson highlight the efforts, successes, and shortcomings over the last year of planning and assembling the model railroad introduced in the January 2019 issue of […]

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Olympia 2, The Log Blog: Part 23

David Popp holding a logging railroad book

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page David hits the books to inspire projects in this episode of the Log Blog. Historic photos prompt him to complete a skid shack, assemble realistic lumber loads, and consider plans for expanding the Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout even further. […]

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How-to Library: C&NW Suburban Service, Part 1

Cody Grivno building a signature fleet of suburban service commuter cars.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   Now that David Popp has shared his fine design for a Chicago & North Western HO scale layout, it’s time for Cody Grivno to start building a signature fleet of suburban service commuter cars. Cody gets things started by showing you how […]

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Free World’s Greatest Hobby model train booklet and pamphlets

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Get copies of the 24-page booklet (left) or tri-fold pamphlet (right) for your next model train show or event. The World’s Greatest Hobby, Inc. (WGH) is a non-profit educational program to promote the enjoyment and benefits of model railroading. As part of that initiative the group developed a  24-page booklet Getting Started in Model Trains, […]

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A guide to plant-hardiness zones

Garden Railways

To a novice gardener, the topic of plant-hardiness zones can be as confusing as gauge and scale terminology is to the beginning model railroader. With gauge and scale, there are different standards used by various manufacturers. In gardening, growers and publishers utilize different hardiness-zone ratings. The main confusion comes from the fact that there are […]

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Prototype drawings of Union Pacific Big Boy 4-8-8-4 steam locomotive

Bigboy1954

Click on the image or link to download a PDF of this drawing of the Union Pacific Big Boy In 1941 the Union Pacific RR took delivery of its first 4-8-8-4 single-expansion articulated steam locomotives. Aptly named “Big Boy,” these 7,000 hp, 386-ton locomotives were the heaviest and among the most powerful simple articulateds ever […]

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How-to Library: Airbrushing with Aaron, Episode 12, Water Effects

Aaron Skinner in an airbrushing studio.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   In this episode of AWA, host Aaron Skinner is making BIG waves! Follow along to learn an easy technique for making a realistic seascape atop a foam insulation base. […]

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