Modeling Foreground Trees | Let’s Make a Scene: Spring & Fall, Part 5

Modeling Foreground Trees | Follow host Kathy Millatt’s Let’s Make a Scene video series on trains.com, to see how she builds up a forest of trees at the front and center of her seasonal scenery dioramas. Even better, Kathy has also documented many of her expert modeling processes in the Kalmbach Media/Model Railroader book, Building […]

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Small O and S gauge layouts have always been part of the hobby

Marx Christmas layout

Small O and S gauge layouts are how the hobby began. To demonstrate the wonders of layouts designed to fit into small spaces, let’s travel back to when most current enthusiasts were youngsters. This most likely means we’re talking about the 25 years immediately following World War II. These men and women can trace their […]

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Modeling Bushes | Let’s Make a Scene: Spring & Fall, Part 4

Modeling Bushes – In this episode of Kathy Millatt’s Let’s Make a Scene video series on Trains.com, follow along as she shares her quick-and-easy technique for shaping low-growth bushes that help fill in the gaps of a forest floor. Even better, Kathy has also documented many of her expert modeling processes in the Kalmbach Media/Model […]

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Final details for Star Industries | It’s My Railroad, Ep. 31

Final details for Star Industries – Host Steve Brown concludes construction of his N scale rail-served industry, by adding scenery and details to the structure and right-of-way, including a proper perimeter fence. Of course, it’s all prepared using Steve’s simple, but effective “regular guy” techniques! It’s My Railroad host Steve Brown states he’s a “regular-guy” […]

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Modeling Background Trees | Let’s Make a Scene: Spring & Fall, Part 3

Modeling Background Trees – Can’t see the leaves for the trees? As noted modeler Kathy Millatt explains, that’s perfectly fine to when you’re modeling background trees on your layout. In this episode of Kathy’s Let’s Make a Scene video series on Trains.com, you can follow along as she shares her technique for shaping a distant […]

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Let’s Make A Scene: Episode 5

Let’s Make a Scene with Kathy Millatt Part 5

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Kathy shifts her attention away from trees to focus on modeling bushes. In this episode, she shares a variety of materials and techniques used to shape the vegetation that grows along the forest floor. Naturally, Kathy also shows where and how to place […]

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Shaping the Diorama | Let’s Make a Scene: Spring & Fall, Part 2

Shaping the Diorama – Kathy Millatt’s Let’s Make a Scene video series first appeared on Model Railroader Video Plus, and now continues on Trains.com. In this episode, you can follow along as she forges ahead with the basic framework, ground contours, and rocks of her spring and fall season scenery diorama. Even better, Kathy has […]

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Making grade crossing signals – State Line Route in N scale, Episode 23

David Popp holding an N scale grade crossing signal at his workbench

Making grade crossing signals: Work is coming to an end on the State Line Route N scale model railroad, but not before adding some final details. In this episode, David Popp shows how to make grade crossing signals using parts from various manufacturers. The modeling tools he uses for this project are available for purchase […]

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Elevate buildings to track height | It’s My Railroad, Ep. 30

Elevate buildings to track height! Work continues on the Star Industries project, a mid-sized industry modeled on Steve Brown’s N scale layout. In this episode, Steve shares how he raises his rail-served buildings to the appropriate track height, simply by adding a foundation. You’ll also see his techniques for making paved roads featuring proper curbing […]

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Spring & Fall, Part 1: Building Bridges | Let’s Make a Scene

You’ve come to love Kathy Millatt as host of Let’s Make a Scene on Model Railroader Video Plus since October 2017. She’s now back with all-new episodes, Spring & Fall Part 1 Building Bridges, of the helpful scenery-making series on Trains.com! Even better, she’s also documented many of her expert modeling insight in the Kalmbach Media/Model […]

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Adding lighting and interior scenes to structures — State Line Route in N scale, Episode 21

Eric White shows how to add interior scenes to an N scale structure

Adding lighting and interior scenes structures on the N scale State Line Route layout is the focus of this episode. First, Eric White makes interiors for Gerry Leone’s and Seth Puffer’s structures using images he found on Google. Then, he adds realistic lighting inside the structures by installing LED lights from Woodland Scenics’ Just Plug […]

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