Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 2 – Hill highlights

Jay Smith painting a backdrop.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In part 2 of our backdrop series, painter Jay Smith starts filling in the background details. In this installment he adds mist to the valleys and small treetops and sun highlights to the mid-ground hills. […]

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Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 2B – The river

Jay Smith painting a river.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Painting backdrops involves trial and error, even for professional artists. In part 2B of our backdrop series, Jay Smith shows you how he painted the river from start to finish, including changing colors “midstream” several times to get the right look. […]

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Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 1 – basic hills

Jay painting hills.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Need a painted backdrop for your model railroad? Learn the basics of painting with artist Jay Smith as he adds a backdrop to our Thin Branch project railroad. In part 1 of our series, Jay shows you how to work from photos to […]

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Thin Branch Series: Backdrops part 3 – Foreground trees

Jay Smith holding a paint palette.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In this third installment of painting backdrops, Jay Smith tackles the treetops and sun highlights in the foreground. He also shows you how to paint simple “hero” trees, those that have trunks and branches as well as leaves. […]

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History According to Hediger: Riding the Auto-Train

Passenger train models

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Planes, trains, automobiles, and even a tornado, this episode has it all! Jim recounts his trip to Florida in the 1970s on the then-new Auto-Train, but half the adventure proved to be just getting to the station! Related Topics: history according to hediger […]

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Cody’s Workshop: Episode 8 – Filling holes in plastic

working on the roof of a caboose

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page In September’s Workshop, Cody shows you how to plug holes in plastic models left by running boards. He also shows you how to build a coupler-painting jig, as seem in a recent Pelle Søeborg MR article. And he answers some viewer mail questions […]

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Thin Branch Series: Weathering corrugated metal structures with an airbrush

A hand holds an airbrush tool near a miniature model structure with a corrugated roof.

Although simulated corrugated metal siding on plastic structure kits has good molded detail, it takes some careful painting to make it look realistic. David shows you a simple set of techniques for painting corrugated metal siding with an airbrush as he finishes the coal tipple for our HO scale Thin Branch project layout. […]

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Cody’s Workshop: Episode 7 – touching up resin water and painting locomotive step stripes

Cody Grivno holding a locomotive

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Want to know how to touchup the surrounding scenery after pouring resin water? That’s just one of the projects Cody tackles this month in the MR Workshop. Cody also shares a great tool for neatening up your layout wiring, and he explains how […]

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Thin Branch Series: Ballasting turnouts

Cody Grivno ballasting turnouts.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page Ballasting turnouts can be tricky because there’s a lot of potential for the little stones and glue to interfere with the proper operation of the points. Cody Grivno shows you an easy technique for ballasting turnouts that keeps the points working just like […]

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Thin Branch Series: Powering turnout frogs

David installing turnouts.

Having trouble viewing this video?   Please visit our Video FAQ page You can improve the operation on most any railroad by installing turnouts with powered frogs. David shows you how we set up the Thin Branch project railroad with turnout frogs powered through switch motor contacts. […]

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