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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HO scale Agawa Yard

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Facts & Features: Name: Agawa Yard Layout owner: Chris Dening Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 4 x 12 feet Prototype: Canadian Pacific Locale: Vancouver, B.C. Era: 1969 Style: Portable sectional layout Mainline run: 30 feet Minimum radius: 20″ Minimum turnout: no. 4 Benchwork: L-girder Height: 48″ Roadbed: cork Track: Peco codes 75 and 100 Scenery: Foam […]

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HO scale Rock Island Lines

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Name: Rock Island Lines Layout owner: Mike Armstrong Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 30 x 40 feet Prototype: Rock Island Locale: Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn., to Kansas City, Kan. Era: 1964 to 1970 Style: multi-deck walk-in Mainline run: 750 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Minimum turnout: no. 6 Maximum grade: 1.96 percent Benchwork: open grid Height: 40″ to […]

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6 Railroads You Can Model

Sometimes finding the space to build model railroads can be difficult. To help combat this problem, we have compiled six railroads that you can model in an apartment-sized room. Download this free 15-page PDF to gain access to detailed information on room-sized plans for both HO and N scale layouts. […]

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Computer desktop wallpaper from the March 2019 Model Railroader

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Click on the links at left to download this trackside photo. Paul Dolkos Baltimore & Ohio class E-24 Consolidation arrives to switch the industries at Winchester, Va., on John King’s HO scale B&O Shenandoah Valley Branch model railroad. Frequent Model Railroader contributor Paul Dolkos shot the photo. Click on the links below to download the […]

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Winter running on the CPR Joy Division

trains running in winter on a garden railroad

Name: Kent Johnson Railroad Name: Canadian Pacific Joy Division Location: Milwaukee, Wisc. Scale: 1:29 Theme: Modern-era branch line in Western Canada Description: The sun was making a weak effort to shine over the CPR Joy Division garden railroad on a cold January afternoon. Even so, I still wanted to capture the inaugural run of my […]

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Rock Island Passenger Train No. 18, “The Plainsman”

Scene on model train layout

Rock Island passenger Train No. 18, “The Plainsman”, passes through Trenton, MO., Des Moines, Nevada, Clear Lake Jct., IA., and Albert Lea, MN., on its journey from Kansas City to St. Paul / Minneapolis. This train is operating on my Rock Island-based HO scale model railroad. Video by Michael Armstrong. […]

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8 Great Track Plans for Small Spaces

Staging, major industries, interchanges between railroads, and prototype inspiration are four characteristics that all successful model railroads tend to have. However, incorporating all four of these characteristics into one small space can be challenging. Download this free 12-page PDF download for HO and N scale plans, waterfront railroad layouts, small shelf Union Pacific inspired layouts, […]

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