Video 101: Scouting locations

Location scouting is a vital part of filmmaking. A movie-production company sends an advance team to review scenery, camera angles, lighting, weather, and more. We are one-person studios but we need to include location scouting, too, including scouting the rolling stock, the trains and their stories, structures, and environment; time and lighting conditions; camera locations; […]

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Olympia 2, The Log Blog: Part 20

Company houses on a model pond

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page It’s back to the blog for David! But not before he cleans up his workbench to make room to work on the company houses he’s installing along the pond. In this episode of the Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout expansion series, David shares […]

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A trip on the Erie

eriejerseycityviaduct

Two Erie trains, a doodlebug with a Stillwell coach and a Pacific with four Stillwells, climb the steel viaduct out of Jersey City before entering the “Bergen Arches.” Erie Railroad During the 1930s as I was growing up, my father worked for the Erie Railroad as a machinist. One of the perks of his railroad […]

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Olympia 2, The Log Blog: Part 19 Ponds and Porches

A pond for a model railroad

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Ponds, people, and porches are the prevailing topics for this episode of the Olympia Logging Co. On30 layout expansion blog. David shares his challenges when working with resin water and how he painted figures for the sawmill scene. He also shows how to […]

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How to build floating shelf benchwork for a model railroad

Mindheimfloatingmodelrailroadbenchwork_01

Without any legs, brackets, or other visible means of support, floating benchwork keeps all attention focused on the model railroad. Follow along as author Lance Mindheim shows how to build these lightweight, yet sturdy shelves. Lance designed his benchwork for a 16″ shelf width. Use as many benchwork segments (shown above) as needed to match […]

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Adventures of a rookie brakeman

ApalachicolaNortherndoodlebug

An old GE doodlebug provided passenger services on the Apalachicola Northern in the 1940s. Classic Trains coll. I’m clutching the grab iron on the back of a steam locomotive cab, my feet on the apron between the engine and tender. I’m vibrating head to toe, with the heat from the boiler all over me. How […]

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Video 101: Vignettes and transitions

Santa Fe locomotive

A “vignette” is a small portrait whose edges fade into the background without a definite border, or a brief episode. Vignette is my word for a video scene from a story that is unfinished or only partially told. Al Tillman’s railway was undergoing a major renovation on the day we visited but it had several […]

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Stuff We Use: Get straight cuts with a miter box and razor saw

Hand cutting styrene in a miter box

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Getting straight cuts is a necessary skill for any modeler. That’s why a good razor saw and miter box are essential tools for any model railroader’s workshop. Senior editor Dana Kawala shows you the basics of using this razor saw/miter box set from […]

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Stuff We Use: Get straight cuts with a miter box and razor saw

Hand cutting styrene in a miter box

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Getting straight cuts is a necessary skill for any modeler. That’s why a good razor saw and miter box are essential tools for any model railroader’s workshop. Senior editor Dana Kawala shows you the basics of using this razor saw/miter box set from […]

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How to use a cone-tip sander

Hand using a cone tip sander

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page The Flex-I-File cone-tip sander is a versatile tool for getting into tight corners and odd shapes. Model Railroader associate editor Eric White shows you how he uses the sander and its peel-and-stick pads for his modeling projects. Pick up a sander and a […]

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Stuff We Use: Bachmann HO scale track cleaning car

Bachmann track cleaning car

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page One way to help keep your model railroad running smoothly is to regularly run a cleaning train along the line. Senior Editor Dana Kawala shows you how to make your track cleaning chores easier with a Bachmann HO scale Track Cleaning Car. […]

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