Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 2 – Hill highlights

Jay Smith painting a backdrop.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In part 2 of our backdrop series, painter Jay Smith starts filling in the background details. In this installment he adds mist to the valleys and small treetops and sun highlights to the mid-ground hills. […]

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Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 2B – The river

Jay Smith painting a river.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Painting backdrops involves trial and error, even for professional artists. In part 2B of our backdrop series, Jay Smith shows you how he painted the river from start to finish, including changing colors “midstream” several times to get the right look. […]

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Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 2 – Hill highlights

Jay Smith painting a backdrop.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In part 2 of our backdrop series, painter Jay Smith starts filling in the background details. In this installment he adds mist to the valleys and small treetops and sun highlights to the mid-ground hills. […]

Read More…

Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 2B – The river

Jay Smith painting a river.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Painting backdrops involves trial and error, even for professional artists. In part 2B of our backdrop series, Jay Smith shows you how he painted the river from start to finish, including changing colors “midstream” several times to get the right look. […]

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Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 1 – basic hills

Jay painting hills.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Need a painted backdrop for your model railroad? Learn the basics of painting with artist Jay Smith as he adds a backdrop to our Thin Branch project railroad. In part 1 of our series, Jay shows you how to work from photos to […]

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Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 1 – basic hills

Jay painting hills.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Need a painted backdrop for your model railroad? Learn the basics of painting with artist Jay Smith as he adds a backdrop to our Thin Branch project railroad. In part 1 of our series, Jay shows you how to work from photos to […]

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Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 3 – Foreground trees

Jay Smith holding a paint palette.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this third installment of painting backdrops, Jay Smith tackles the treetops and sun highlights in the foreground. He also shows you how to paint simple “hero” trees, those that have trunks and branches as well as leaves. […]

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Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 3 – Foreground trees

Jay Smith holding a paint palette.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this third installment of painting backdrops, Jay Smith tackles the treetops and sun highlights in the foreground. He also shows you how to paint simple “hero” trees, those that have trunks and branches as well as leaves. […]

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History According to Hediger: Riding the Auto-Train

Passenger train models

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Planes, trains, automobiles, and even a tornado, this episode has it all! Jim recounts his trip to Florida in the 1970s on the then-new Auto-Train, but half the adventure proved to be just getting to the station! Related Topics: history according to hediger […]

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The HO scale New York Long Branch RR

TheHOscaleNewYorkLongBranchRR

Name: New York & Long Branch RR Layout designer: Kevin Surman Scale: HO (1:87.1) Size: 21 x 34 feet Prototype: Central RR of New Jersey and Pennsylvania RR Locale: New Jersey Era: late 1950s Style: walk in Mainline run: 190 feet Minimum radius: 30″ Originally appeared in the November 2013 Model Railroader. Click on the […]

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The N scale Missabe Junction Ry. (2013)

TheNscaleMassabeJunction

Name: Missabe Junction Ry. (2013) Layout designer: Steve Miazga Scale: N (1:160) Size: 14 x 18 feet Prototype: Soo Line Lakeshore Division Locale: northern Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota Era: 1960 to 1990 Style: walk-in Mainline run: 110 feet Minimum radius: 15″ (main line), 11″ (sidings and yards) Originally appeared in the November 2013 Model Railroader. […]

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Reflections on the N scale convention

ReflectionsontheNscaleconvention

Each person who attended the N scale convention banquet received a special souvenir car compliments of Micro-Trains. That’s one mighty big wheel of cheese! The National N Scale Convention came to town this past June, so I spent a busy spring in the basement getting the layout ready for visitors. As usual, I made a list […]

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