The O scale Buckeye RR

TheBuckeyeRR

Name: The Buckeye RR Layout designer: Herm Botzow Scale: O (1:48) Size: 37 x 56 feet Locale: northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania Era: June 1956 Style: walk in Mainline run: 368 feet Minimum radius: 54″ Minimum turnout: no. 5 Maximum grade: 1.5 percent Originally appeared in the April 2014 Model Railroader. Click on the link […]

Read More…

Rice Harbor Series: build a swing-up staging section

David Popp with his hinged layout.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In addition to boasting a unique sectional design, MR’s 5×9-foot Rice Harbor HO scale layout also features a swing-up staging section topped with a car float. David Popp shares how he assembled and then installed this hinged section to the layout. […]

Read More…

Rice Harbor Series: Installing benchwork alignment pins

David Popp holding pins.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Are you building a sectional or modular layout that requires precise alignment of adjoining sections? If so, then you’ll want to see how David installed benchwork alignment dowels, also called pattern maker pins, on MR’s HO scale Rice Harbor. These steel dowels make […]

Read More…

Basic Training: Modeling damaged trees

Kent Johnson in front of layout

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Add a touch of realism to your modeled forest or wooded grove by including decaying or damaged trees. Kent Johnson demonstrates a quick and easy technique for making plague pines using plastic tree kits available for layouts of any size or scale. […]

Read More…

Realistic model railroading with Pelle Søeborg

yhst-22106725251441_2124_80215382

Pelle Søeborg is a model railroader known for his ability to create ultra-realistic scenes. His main modeling focus is modern-era railroading in the California desert, but his techniques are useful whatever your modeling subject. This article collection includes two track plans: one for a shelf layout and another for Pelle’s 11′-6″ x 22′-0″ Union Pacific […]

Read More…

Handcar shed drawings

Handcarshed

Check out these plans for a handcar shed from Model Railroader magazine. Every railroad needs myriad small storage sheds along the right-of-way and in engine terminals and yards. When I required a small trackside shed for my freelanced On30 (also known as On21⁄2) North Cariboo Ry., I decided it should show its age. I figured the shed would […]

Read More…

HO scale Sebring Model RR Club

SebringModelRRClub

Name: Sebring Model RR Club Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 25 x 75 feet Prototype: freelanced Locale: eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania Era: late 1940s to late 1950s Style: walk-in Mainline run: 1,100 feet Minimum radius: 42″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 1.5 percent Originally appeared in the March 2014 Model Railroader. Click on the […]

Read More…

HO scale Union Pacific Daneville Division

UnionPacificDanevilleDivision

Name: Union Pacific Daneville Subdivision Layout designer: Pelle Søeborg Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 11 x 22 feet Prototype: Union Pacific and BNSF Locale: freelanced, inspired by the Mojave Desert in Southern California Era: present Style: walk in Mainline run: 59 feet (excluding hidden staging) Minimum radius: 33″ (main), 31″ (sidings) Minimum turnout: no. 8 (main), […]

Read More…

Olympia Logging Series: Selecting lumber and hardware

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page David and Kent head to a local home improvement store to collect the building materials they’ll need to start an all-new On30 project layout. Inside the store they’ll share insights for selecting quality lumber, essential hardware, layout lighting, and more. […]

Read More…