End details that add realism to heavyweight passenger cars

MRRID0215

Passenger car end details were pretty standard and most followed the pattern used on sleeping cars built by the Pullman Co. The car in the photo is Crystal Point, a Pullman 3-compartment, 2-drawing-room, observation lounge assigned to the Milwaukee Road’s Olympian Hiawatha in 1947. A number of details are visible that appear on most cars […]

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Cody’s Workshop: Episode 31 – Downright Dirty Locomotive

Cody Grivno’s Workshop Part 31

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Cody continues adding realistic weathering effects to a modern N scale locomotive – all without using an airbrush! Follow along as he shares tips and techniques for working with powders (see the December 2017 issue of Model Railroader magazine) to weather the unit from […]

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How-to Library: Airbrushing with Aaron, Episode 11, Realistic Metal Finishes

Aaron Skinner in an airbrushing studio.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   A shiny, natural metal finish looks just as nice on a streamlined passenger car as it does on a vintage airplane! Aaron Skinner walks you through the steps for applying a sleek finish using an airbrush. Plus, he also shares a clever […]

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How-to Library: Airbrushing with Aaron, Episode 11, Realistic Metal Finishes

Aaron Skinner in an airbrushing studio.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   A shiny, natural metal finish looks just as nice on a streamlined passenger car as it does on a vintage airplane! Aaron Skinner walks you through the steps for applying a sleek finish using an airbrush. Plus, he also shares a clever […]

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City Terminal & Transfer Series: Episode 15 Details-o-Plenty

David Popp in front of The Big City.

In this installment of our O gauge City Terminal & Transfer Railway series, David Popp and Jenny Maaske work to add those little details that go a long way towards making The Big City appear more like a bustling metropolis. The two share tips for installing figures, adding stripes to the roadway, and more! […]

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City Terminal & Transfer Series: Episode 15 Details-o-Plenty

David Popp in front of The Big City.

In this installment of our O gauge City Terminal & Transfer Railway series, David Popp and Jenny Maaske work to add those little details that go a long way towards making The Big City appear more like a bustling metropolis. The two share tips for installing figures, adding stripes to the roadway, and more! […]

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Off The Rails: Episode 30

Off the Rails with Gerry Leone Episode 30

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Host Gerry Leone unveils even more “junk” he couldn’t afford to throw out! His latest collection of stuff includes more product packaging that proves to be perfect fodder for model railroad applications. […]

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How-to Library: Airbrushing with Aaron, Episode 10, Applying Decals

Aaron Skinner in an airbrushing studio.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   Host Aaron Skinner is back to show you an important finishing technique that doesn’t have a thing to do with airbrushing! Watch this video to learn how you can flawlessly apply water-slide decals — even on a model with irregular surfaces! […]

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Modeling realistic roads with decals

Streetdecalsmodelrailroads01

Surfaces with complicated textures and colors, like roads, can be difficult to reproduce convincingly on a layout. Lance Mindheim used a digital camera, photo-editing software, and blank decal paper to transfer images of real roads to streets on his layout. Fig. 1 Patchwork pavement. Years of weather, use, and repairs transform roads into a crazy […]

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