Back on Track: Building benchwork and beginning stage of a helix, Episode 5

Even with a little help from a friend, host Gerry Leone still struggles with benchwork construction. But after setting joists straight and level, he jumps right into raising the grade along the helix. Discover a few new track tips and tricks along the way. […]

Read More…

Back on Track: Helix construction prep work, Episode 4

With design issues behind him, Gerry begins building the components of a four-turn helix. Even though math is involved in this stage, our host is up to the task. And he’s clever enough to use and share a number of helpful resources that make the process easy to understand and follow. […]

Read More…

Backdrop painting, Ep. 22

Steve Brown holding a paint brush in his hand while showing how to paint a backdrop for a model railroad

Want a better backdrop scene? Series host Steve Brown desperately desires something other than plain blue sky to grace his N scale layout background, so he jumps right into the process for hand painting his own mountain skyline. Grab your paint, brush, and big ideas, and then follow along the “Regular Guy” way! […]

Read More…

Back on Track: Evaluating track plans, Episode 3

Gerry Leone sitting at his desk and pointing to a track plan on his computer screen

In this episode, our host takes up the challenge of selecting the ideal design for his unique, custom-built layout space. Follow along, as Gerry walks and talks you through his process for auditing the wide assortment of plans he created using computer-aided design (CAD) software. […]

Read More…

Back on Track: Track planning with a helix, Episode 2

Gerry Leone sitting at his computer desk

Off the Rails host Gerry Leone has re-railed and is gaining traction in this Trains.com exclusive series, Back on Track. From his new home in the Upper Midwest, members can follow Gerry as he walks, talks, and works his way through planning and building an all-new, double-deck model railroad in HO scale. First order of business? […]

Read More…

Don Janes’ HO scale Boston & Maine Green Mountain Division background images

A green diesel locomotive leading a string of freight cars crosses a stone arch bridge over a creek

A Rutland freight led by Alco RS-3 no. 201 crosses a stone arch bridge on its way toward North Bennington, Vt. Don Janes of Sarnia, Ont., photographed the scene on his HO scale Boston & Maine Green Mountain Division layout. The RS-3 is a DCC-equipped Atlas model Don superdetailed and custom painted. The stone arch […]

Read More…

Off The Rails: The Missing Kinks, Episode 53

Gerry Leone standing in front of this HO scale model railroad

Just when you thought there couldn’t be any more Model Railroader Construction Kinks left on the planet, host Gerry Leone just unearthed the final remnants — a.ka. The Missing Kinks! Learn from these timeless workbench and layout building insights, and enjoy Gerry’s helpful demonstration of their usefulness. […]

Read More…

John Collins’ N scale Chesapeake & Ohio background images

A steam locomotive crosses a steel trestle above a harbor bobbing with fishing boats

  Chesapeake & Ohio no. 705, a Baldwin 2-8-0 Consolidation, pulls a log train over the bay inlet while workers perform some maintenance on the steel truss bridge. John Collins of Hartland, Wis., photographed the scene on his N scale layout. The locomotive is a DCC-equipped Bachmann Spectrum model; the fishing clipper is a Model […]

Read More…