My daily commute to our former Kalmbach Media offices at 21027 Crossroads Circle in Waukesha, Wis., conveniently crossed the Union Pacific, Canadian National, and Canadian Pacific. Most days I didn’t encounter a train. If I did, I was usually stuck too far back in the cue of traffic to get any meaningful photos. But the […]
In this episode of the HO scale East Troy Industrial Park project railroad construction series, David Popp demonstrates how to transform natural Super Trees into convincing scale vegetation. You’ll master the essential preparation process: cleaning delicate branches, grafting parts to fill sparse areas, and using a matte medium solution to prevent long-term degradation. We’ll also […]
Q: While thinking through the operating scheme for my World War II-era (1944) model railroad, I wondered where troop trains sat in timetable priority. Obviously they were extras, but were they bumped up in priority to first class due to the war effort? — Callum Day A: I reached out to our former On Operation […]
News & Products for the week of February 23rd 2026 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. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of February 23rd […]
The world of O-gauge, 3-rail track comes in three main choices: tubular, roadbed, and realistic. The next challenge is selecting the right brand from the many manufacturers — some still in business, others long gone — that will fit your wants and desires. Atlas Model Railroad Company, Inc. Address: 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205 […]
If you’ve followed Model Railroader’s Facebook page, you’ll probably know that periodically over the past several years, I’ve made posts called “Lunchtime Reading,” which are simply my musings on products, articles, and innovations as found in past issues of Model Railroader magazine. For this expanded installment, I chose to do a deep dive on the […]
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Q: I want to simulate the type of roof that uses rubber, tar, and then stone. I was thinking of painting the roof with a glossy black and then putting cinder ballast on it to simulate the rocks. Has anyone done this type of roof? If so, how did you do it? — Rick, via […]
Talk about inspiring dreams of greatness! Sepia-tone photographs sprinkled about in the opening pages of Lionel’s consumer catalog for 1940 couldn’t have done a better job of persuading kids and their fathers to buy an electric train and build a model railroad. Especially convincing was the picture on page 11, the companion to one on […]
Follow David Popp, as he works to add essential scenery to the HO scale (1:87) East Troy Industrial Park project! Learn how to protect detailed strip wood with masking tape before pouring a custom passenger platform. And then explore helpful tips and tricks for applying Woodland Scenics Smooth-It, tinted with slate gray pigment to mimic asphalt. […]
News & Products for the week of February 16th 2026 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. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of February 16th […]
Our host Gerry Leone continues working on his HO scale Bona Vista layout, transforming the upper deck with a brand-new water feature. See how he uses Shaper Sheets to protect against resin leaks, harvests real limestone for perfectly matched river rocks, and even overcomes a bit of a misstep using clear coat spray. Plus, you […]
