Building the HO scale Winter Hill quarry branch, part 8

Cody Grivno pours plaster into a mold

For the Winter Hill project the Model Railroader staff needed to add rock castings to the scene around the quarry branch. Associate editor Cody Grivno shows you how to make rock castings using molds and a light plaster product called Hydrocal. Cody also provides tips for trimming the castings and applying the finished rocks to […]

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Building the HO scale Winter Hill Quarry Branch part 9

Hand painting scenery

The long rock wall is an important scenery feature on the HO scale Winter Hill Quarry Branch project model railroad. Now that the Hydrocal castings are in place, Model Railroader associate editor Cody Grivno will paint and weather the castings so that they look like real rocks. Cody uses a variety of techniques for the […]

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Kent Johnson’s modern O gauge layout

Senior Editor Kent Johnson used the walls of his basement to create impressive Canadian mountain scenery in a tight space. Learn how to recreate his rocky canyon walls in the March 2013 issue, and see trains traversing the rugged landscape he created in this video. […]

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Building Model Railroader’s Winter Hill Quarry branch, part 5

David Popp and Cody Grivno next to layout

Wiring work begins on the HO scale Winter Hill Quarry Branch, but luckily the Model Railroader staff can reuse much of the old wiring from the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy. Associate editor Cody Grivno shows you how to solder feeder wires to the track, while associate editor Steve Otte describes the benefits of using Peco […]

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Building HO scale Winter Hill quarry branch part 6

Cody Grivno next to layou

Follow along as associate editor Cody Grivno uses an airbrush to weather the track on the Model Railroader staff’s Winter Hill Quarry Branch. Cody will show you his easy technique for weathering the rails and ties of model railroad track. You’ll also learn how to use a microbrush to paint the rails around turnouts. […]

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Building Model Railroader’s Winter Hill quarry branch, part 4

Steve Otte and Eric White next to layout

The Model Railroader staff has used latex caulk to install cork roadbed and lay flextrack on the last few project model train layouts. Follow associate editor Cody Grivno as he shows you this easy model railroading technique as work continues on the Winter Hill project model train layout. […]

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Building Model Railroader’s Winter Hill Quarry Branch, part 2

Hand modeling scenery on model railway

Before any track can be laid or structures installed on the Model Railroader staff’s Winter Hill project, managing editor David Popp makes some adjustments to the existing benchwork. There will be some elevation changes as well as a roadway that will lead down into the quarry. Senior editor Jim Hediger also describes how he determined […]

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Building Model Railroader’s Winter Hill quarry branch, part 3

Hands measuring scenery

The old track and roadbed has been removed from Winter Hill, and it’s now time to see if everything on the new track plan fits. Model Railroader associate editor Steve Otte works on transferring the track plan on to the benchwork. He’ll also temporarily lay some track to test the new arrangement. You’ll also get […]

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Building Model Railroader’s Winter Hill Quarry Branch, part 1

Cody Grivno and Jim Hediger next to layout

Beginning in the January 2013 issue of Model Railroader you’ll learn about the Winter Hill Branch of the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy. Over the next few months you’ll can also watch video journals taken during the construction of this Model Railroader staff project. In part 1, associate editor Steve Otte gives you an overview of […]

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