Olympia Logging Series: Part 33 – Fixing a hillside flaw

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Uh-oh! We worked ourselves right into a corner this time. After modifying the snowshed and the adjacent terrain on our Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout, we had to go a bit off script to pull the last section of the hillside together. We […]

Read More…

Olympia Logging Series: Part 32 – Installing a DCC system

David Popp holding an NCE Power Cab DCC system box

MRVP’s David Popp takes a casual approach to installing a Digital Command Control (DCC) system on our Olympia Logging Co. display-style layout. Follow along as David guides you from opening the NCE starter system box to adding a wiring bus to watching trains run on the On30 layout! […]

Read More…

Olympia Logging Series: Part 31 – Detail a logging locomotive

In this video, Cody Grivno continues to enhance the appearance of our Olympia Logging Co. On30 Bachmann Climax locomotive by adding select details. After referencing prototype photos, Cody shows how and where to add crew figures, oil cans, chains, tools, and many other details that help make this locomotive look like an authentic logging company […]

Read More…

Olympia Logging Series: Part 30 – Steam locomotive weathering

Close view of a steam locomotive's top side.

While we’ve addressed how to weather modern diesel locomotives in other MRVP videos, David Popp takes on the challenge of giving the Olympia Logging Co. steam locomotives an aged appearance. Follow along as he demonstrates how to use an airbrush to apply various paint color effects — all without impacting the performance of our layout […]

Read More…

Olympia Logging Series: Part 29 – Custom locomotive lettering

As the layout construction and scenery work progresses, MR’s Cody Grivno continues to prep the Olympia Logging Co. steam-powered workhorse for service. In this video, he demonstrates how to reletter our factory-decorated On30 Bachmann Climax. When an initial technique falls short, Cody cleverly introduces an alternative process using a floor finishing product. […]

Read More…

Olympia Logging Series: Part 28 – Installing a steam sound decoder

Micro-Tsunami steam digital sound decoder packaging

We wanted our On30 Olympia Logging Co. display-style layout to sound as impressive as it looks, so David Popp decided to install a DCC sound decoder in our Bachmann Climax workhorse. Follow along as he shows how to disassemble the locomotive, solder the decoder and speaker wires, position and test the unit, and then re-assemble […]

Read More…

Olympia Logging Series: Part 27 – Applying ground cover

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page How could we?! Truth be told, we almost forgot to get MRVP’s Jenny Maaske involved in the construction of our On30 Olympia Logging Co. display-style layout. Lucky for us, she was willing to jump right in and get her hands dirty helping Kent […]

Read More…

Olympia Logging Series: Part 26 – Build a timber retaining wall

After kitbashing a timber snowshed for our Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout, MR associate editor Eric White decided to make good use of leftover kit components. In this video, he shows how to assemble a retaining wall using stripwood and detail parts. Eric also shares insights on adding rust effects with weathering powders. […]

Read More…

Olympia Logging Series: Part 25 – Reworking the snowshed base

Nothing in model railroading is exempt from a do-over, including the scenery we roughed in around the base of the timber snowshed on our Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout. So rather than try to finesse the terrain to better support the structure, David Popp simply used a mulligan to rebuild the area with foam installation […]

Read More…

Olympia Logging Series: Part 24 – Snowshed kitbash

After making a cardboard mock-up of a timber snowshed for our Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout, MR staffer Eric White starts to build the structure kit. Eric demonstrates the complete kitbashing process, ranging from how he stains, measures, and cuts the stripwood to fitting the final structure into position on the layout where it will […]

Read More…

Erie milk and express car drawings

MRRC1114_Amilkcar

The Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum near Rochester, N.Y., took delivery of an Erie-Lackawanna RR steel-bodied milk car, no. 6603, in 1987. It was built by the Greenville Steel Car Co. for the Erie RR in June 1935. At first glance, the car looks like a standard steel refrigerator car. But since it was […]

Read More…

Olympia Logging Series: Part 23 – Make a structure mock-up

Model Railroader magazine’s new staff member Eric White will kitbash a timber snowshed for our Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout. But before construction begins, he’ll first share how to make a useful cardboard structure mock-up. Along the way, Eric shows how a mock-up can immediately reveal issues to address, without needlessly sacrificing kit parts. […]

Read More…