Winston-Salem Southbound Series: Weathering freight cars, Part 1

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Now that we’ve marshaled the locomotive and rolling stock for our HO scale Winston-Salem layout, it’s time to make them look like they’ve been busy haulin’ freight! In this initial video, David Popp shows how to apply realistic weathering effects to composite freight […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 13

David Popp wearing a Hawaiian shirt and holding up a small piece of foam board.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Not even triskaidekaphobia can prevent host David Popp from addressing a slew (but not 13) of your model railroad-related questions in the May edition of Ask MRVP! From inquires regarding layout construction through walls to working with specific types of track to adding […]

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DCC Programming: episode 19 – From smart phone to DCC throttle

"What you will need; Any required cables" label with fingers touching cables.

In this episode of DCC Programming, hosts Dana Kawala and Ben Lake walk through the steps required to turn your smart phone into a wireless DCC throttle. The guys use MR’s MR&T HO scale layout to demonstrate the essential components, connections, and JMRI DecoderPro (WiThrottle) setup. You’ll even get to see how universal consisting works […]

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Rehab My Railroad Sidetrack Series: Madison Depot, Part 10 – Window Dressing

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Walls and windows are painted on David Popp’s HO scale Madison depot. Now see how he installs the panes, and then adds glazing to complete the windows for this signature structure from MRVP’s Rehab My Railroad series. […]

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Rehab My Railroad Sidetrack Series: Madison Depot, Part 11 – Just one more thing

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page MRVP’s David Popp puts finishing touches of paint on the passenger shelters and platforms surrounding the Madison depot. And then, in this final installment of the Rehab My Railroad Sidetrack Series, you’ll see how the finished components will all fit together on Chuck […]

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Rehab My Railroad: Episode 15

In this episode of Rehab My Railroad, the crew’s efforts are headed for the homestretch on Chuck Sable’s HO scale model railroad. Things are shaping up in a cozy corner of the layout, as the entire crew (Drew, Chuck, Cody, David, Ben, Jenny, and Kent) looks to see how the waterfront turns out. Also, in […]

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MRVP Video Vault – Layout Tour: Bruce Chubb’s HO scale Sunset Valley

Bruce Chubb's HO Scale Sunset Valley Railroad.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page   Follow along with host Allen Keller as he tours Bruce Chubb’s HO Scale Sunset Valley Railroad, a freelanced basement layout that’s fully signaled and well-suited for realistic operations! […]

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Building a trestle over a dry wash on the Eagle Mountain RR

Scene on Eagle Mountain Railroad

A dry wash is a common scenic element in a desert landscape. Associate editor Steve Otte added this scenic element to the Model Railroader staff’s Eagle Mountain RR, as he describes in the June 2016 issue. In this video Steve describes scenicking the dry wash and building a Blair Line timber trestle for the main […]

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History According to Hediger: Anchors not aweigh!

Large boat on water

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this encore appearance, Model Railroader magazine’s retired senior editor Jim Hediger pops back into the MRVP studio to re-tell a story about Ann Arbor Railroad’s Viking car ferry concluding one particular trip across Lake Michigan. Related Topics: railfan […]

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Winston-Salem Southbound Series: Hero Trees – Adding foliage

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this final segment on making well-detailed foreground trees for our HO scale Winston-Salem project layout, David shows how to add a lush, realistic canopy to the plastic armature he assembled in the first video. […]

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Ask MRVP: Episode 12

David Popp on a camera monitor in the MR&T layout room at Kalmbach Media.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Ask MRVP’s answer man David Popp, steps up to address your specific questions regarding the World’s Greatest Hobby of model railroading! In this April edition, David talks coupler spacing for passenger cars; how we prime our project railroad construction; other topics related to […]

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Winston-Salem Southbound Series: Hero Trees – Adding and shaping branches

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Every layout needs a hero — hero tree, that is! Even MRVP’s industry-oriented HO scale Winston-Salem project layout can use a few well-detailed or “heroic” trees in foreground areas. In this first of two videos, David shows the initial steps for building, shaping, […]

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