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How to deflate your ego

Started by Rick Beatty in Scenery and structures: For me it is take some pictures of your work! For many years I only did buildings that had windows that were glued in. It was easy to paint them before installation. About 5 years ago I...
Scenery and structures 28 12 586 1790299980
How many finescalers are left?

Started by 1471SirFrederickBanbury in General discussion: Its seems the more and more I go around, the more in a vacuum of my micro-niche. While most places I happen to be in have few people who enjoy a good model train (just my luck I guess), of the people...
General discussion 31 5 409 1790299904
What's the status of https://americantieandtimber.com/ - makers of Gap Master PCB ties?

Started by TrainFan in General discussion website: Anyone know if https://americantieandtimber.com/ is still in business? Their web site is up, but emails and phone calls have not gotten a response. I love their Gap Master ties for protecting the...
General discussion website 0 0 0 1790299863
uncoupling options - hands off the layout

Started by Frolin in Track and electrical/DCC: Looking for options for uncoupling Kadee's with a hands off, hands out of the layout, approach... (other than permanent track magnets) . Have looked at the Kadee electro-magnet option. It's kinda big...
Track and electrical/DCC 0 0 0 1790299576
PROTO:48 General Discussion

Started by Andy Reichert in General discussion PROTO:48: Since Proto:48 keeps popping up on topics of other scales, I though it would be good to start up a topic specific to PROTO:48 for those working on it, or even just interested. Andy
General discussion PROTO:48 117 4 2,971 1790297928
Rick's Diner - September, 2026 Edition

Started by Kevin Parson in General discussion: 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷
General discussion 107 2 2,802 1790296490
The Ruphe & Tumbelle Railway Company, What's New

Started by On30guy in Journals/Blogs: Hello all. 📷 I've been posting here for a few years now and have decided that instead of starting separate little blogs for every little idea I have I should consolidate things a...
Journals/Blogs 4,417 25 422,455 1790296210
Barchester, Pennsylvania

Started by Robert (Robin) Mountenay in Journals/Blogs: I haven’t been a regular poster here, though I have shared pictures of several of the layouts I’ve built, including my latest, Barchester. This layout depicted a central Pennsylvania...
Journals/Blogs 904 48 45,031 1790294713
Pokey 3.0 - Scenery

Started by pldvdk in Scenery and structures: With the completion of the fascia on my layout, it's time to start a new chapter in the ongoing saga of the Pokey 3.0! This thread will follow the scenery work (and other odds and ends) that...
Scenery and structures 731 10 19,418 1790292219
Compressing a large bridge (LA River, HO scale)

Started by Yannis in Scenery and structures: Hello everyone! I am composing a scene and trying to figure out compression or omission of specific elements for a prototype bridge scene that i have on my layout. It is the LA...
Scenery and structures 8 3 298 1790283956
Central Valley Model Works health?

Started by Oldiron in General discussion: I am thinking about using CVMW ties and switches on my new layout but in looking around to buy some, most suppliers are showing low or out of stock. The last Facebook post from CVMW in July is...
General discussion 9 1 459 1790283541
Let's See A Model Of... September, 2026 Edition

Started by Kevin Parson in General discussion: 📷
General discussion 131 2 3,550 1790280856
Modeling a Rail to Marine Coal Transfer Pier In the back woods.

Started by Michael Tondee in Journals/Blogs Scenery Structures Freelance: What to do when you’re out of space? Find more. Easier said than done, right, but my Hargetts Hollow removable diorama that sits in front of a not often accessed closet door is one example of...
Journals/Blogs Scenery Structures Freelance 111 12 3,031 1790279022
Buffalo Creek & Western

Started by Denny99 in Journals/Blogs: Buffalo Creek & Western is a freelanced HO scale model railroad layout set in Montana in 1985. Heavily inspired by Tom Johnson's Cass County track plan (and rural setting), the BC&W is an...
Journals/Blogs 36 20 1,900 1790278898
Norfolk Southern - Morristown Airport Industrial District (MAID) in N Scale

Started by rjbokleman in Journals/Blogs: Introduction There exists a wide variety of Model Railroaders who often model railroads of some significance to them from some perspective. That perspective drives and inspires them...
Journals/Blogs 38 8 2,944 1790278494
Limited Modeler: Building Ballville layout update ...

Started by MRH in Magazine feedback: 📷 Buy this issue! Share this: 📷 📷 📷 📷 Please post any comments or questions you have below. ◄ Back to issue home page 📷 Want more articles like this one?...
Magazine feedback 30 12 554 1790278382
Brass Stuff in Videos

Started by Ken Meade in Locos and rolling stock: I've posted a few videos recently of my new brass additions to my empire. It occurred to me, there are few to none videos by other modelers of their brass stuff. Why is that? I would think they...
Locos and rolling stock 10 3 249 1790277094
Sherline is Closing its Doors

Started by Glenn Butcher in In Memoriam: https://www.sherline.com/an-important-message-to-our-sherline-customers/ This makes me quite sad. I've discussed them as an example of what a US company can do; maybe that can't be done,...
In Memoriam 35 7 1,160 1790276193
Looking for recommendations for an electric pin vice

Started by dperry in Benchwork and roadbed O scale Handlaying: I need to make a lot of tiny holes (sad story included) and a manual pin vice is not going to cut it. When I say tiny, I mean about a #78 drill bit and by a lot I mean several hundred. I am...
Benchwork and roadbed O scale Handlaying 14 3 333 1790274920
What’s on your workbench? September 2026

Started by Eric Hansmann in General discussion Workbench: Here we are in the last few weeks of summer! I’ll bet there are several layout and workbench projects that are nearing completion. A big thanks go out to everyone who has been contributing to this...
General discussion Workbench 162 4 6,166 1790274164
Tracking Shipments with Shop

Started by Ken Meade in General discussion: I placed an order with Model Train Stuff a couple weeks ago. Now I have a tracking notice but its with an agent called "Shop". It's a QR code that ya scan with your phone. In this case, it...
General discussion 53 3 928 1790273601
Making homemade decals

Started by cduckworth in Scenery and structures: I had this in another thread but wanted to share it on a separate posting so it wasn’t buried. I’ve made multiple decals using this method. The only issues noted was spraying...
Scenery and structures 12 19 264 1790273230
How to create a backdrop on a sloped wall?

Started by blhs569 in Scenery and structures: The room designated as the train room is in the half story potion of the house. That is the walls start to slope inward about half way up. Three walls of the room each has an access door to crawl...
Scenery and structures 8 5 163 1790271379
Marshfield. A developing story

Started by Railman284 in Scenery and structures early rail: Before we visit Marshfield let us visit Miller's Slough with a view of the Mill from the slough; 📷 and the community that developed around it. 📷 Following the tracks...
Scenery and structures early rail 86 27 3,390 1790270813
A New Begining for the freelance Arcata & Mad River

Started by Arcata & Mad River R.R in Journals/Blogs: 📷 The Arcata & Mad River RR was one of the first railroads in California.. though the real railroad is now long abandoned, As the forests of Humboldt Cycle to maturity, The Simpson Timber...
Journals/Blogs 68 21 2,591 1790268920
Juanfran's huge, massive freight trains

Started by Juanfran in Locos and rolling stock: One day, when I was a teenager, I discovered an illustrated book about American trains at the local library in Paris/France, where I grew up. I remember the pics of very colorful locomotives and...
Locos and rolling stock 21 5 702 1790268240
A Branchline in the Rural South

Started by SouthlandModeler in Journals/Blogs: 📷 Hello everyone. I’ve decided to document my ongoing layout build in a blog. While I don’t know if any layout is ever complete this layout is very close to having its scenery done...
Journals/Blogs 348 67 20,694 1790265635
What's your model railroading tunes?

Started by BBQdave in General discussion: So as not to derail another thread, I'm starting a separate thread on music you listen to while at your workbench or running your trains. My layout is in the corner of the family room. My...
General discussion 76 5 1,069 1790265513
Indian Rock 6 axle road units

Started by Indian Rock in Locos and rolling stock: Heres where my 6 axle road power will be posted for my EMD, GE, and Alco power will be posted finish one then move on to the next Now to see which 6 axle road unit gets the first nod and on...
Locos and rolling stock 20 4 529 1790263777
Pin or glue flex track

Started by glarson52 in Track and electrical/DCC: When laying flex track do you prefer pin or glue? Or some other method? Why?
Track and electrical/DCC 34 2 733 1790262825
The Iron Range: DSS&A and LS&I ore country in N scale

Started by Jonathan T Parsons in Journals/Blogs N Scale new layout Planning layout design: I've wanted to build this railroad since I was a kid, and this year the room for it finally exists — mostly. The garage is 21' × 19', ceiling just under 8'. Layout goes in as the room finishes, so...
Journals/Blogs N Scale new layout Planning layout design 1 4 85 1790262672
Dutch Country Conrail

Started by Mitchell Schuessler in Journals/Blogs Reading Railroad Operations Planning: I figured this would be a good place for a supplemental blog to my article “Dutch Country Conrail” in the April 2025 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman. I have a few threads floating...
Journals/Blogs Reading Railroad Operations Planning 313 18 12,694 1790257650
Prototype Photographs 2026

Started by Nick Santo in Prototype railroading Photos: Hello! I enjoyed all your photographs from 2025 and before! Thank You for posting them!!! Please feel free to add photos when you have them! I’m sure I’ll have more to add this...
Prototype railroading Photos 429 6 14,145 1790251145
N scale custom painters mid-alantic area?

Started by cooporcooper2061 in Locos and rolling stock custom paint: Hi, I'm quite inexperienced with model painting and I'm wondering if anyone in the mid-atlantic area would be willing to help me paint a custom locomotive fleet for my layout which will depict the...
Locos and rolling stock custom paint 0 0 40 1790248623
HOn30 Ocotillo & Lost Mesa RR

Started by ezlyamuzd66 in Journals/Blogs HOn30: 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷
Journals/Blogs HOn30 84 28 2,889 1790230343
Red Ball Train Master

Started by CandOfan in Locos and rolling stock: Here's another reclamation project, this one with a minor lesson, and arguably with a sadder ending. This is a Kumata model, imported by Red Ball in 1969. I got this one dirt cheap, from memory about...
Locos and rolling stock 8 11 326 1790215719
hobby shops to visit on the road

Started by jacksonjunction in General discussion: Any info for locating hobby shops while on vacation. Like to visit and support brick and mortar stores in different areas. I thought there was a catagory in this forrum but I can't find it
General discussion 16 0 309 1790214100
Unusual tools that make modeling easier

Started by thewizard1 in Scenery and structures: I would love to see tools that are not commonly thought of as model building tools as well as custom made tools.
Scenery and structures 415 6 21,374 1790213649
The Model Railroad Hobbyist Machine Shop

Started by MikeHughes in General discussion Tools Workshop: I recently made a post over on my FM H-16-44 DCC Conversion thread about using a milling machine to shave a locomotive frame a bit to create more room for a decoder. This led to some questions...
General discussion Tools Workshop 931 16 27,387 1790209906
Weekly Photo Fun - Sep 20-26, 2026

Started by JC Shall in General discussion Photos: It's another week . . . post 'em if you got 'em. There were several late-comers in last week's post . Check them out, then come back here afterward. Please avoid posting photos manipulated or created...
General discussion Photos 12 2 612 1790209528
Weekly Photo Fun - Sep 13-19, 2026

Started by JC Shall in General discussion Photos: It's another week . . . post 'em if you got 'em. There were several late-comers in last week's post . Check them out, then come back here afterward. Please avoid posting photos manipulated...
General discussion Photos 67 7 2,590 1790209518
Mercury.....really ?

Started by john holt in Track and electrical/DCC: I saw this on Pinterest. Somehow I just don't see this as a viable solution . 📷 John
Track and electrical/DCC 28 5 689 1790206541
Brushes for figure painting

Started by Rick Beatty in General discussion: What size and shape brushes are best for painting HO scale figures, from clothing to faces and hair?
General discussion 24 1 741 1790204749
I bought a laser cutter

Started by David Emery in General discussion laser cutter laser cutting: Today I pulled the trigger on a laser cutter and some associated stuff. So I'll start a narration here about the experience. For lower cost lasers, there are 2 basic choices: C02...
General discussion laser cutter laser cutting 126 11 3,029 1790203937
Background buildings

Started by cduckworth in Scenery and structures: I took the Walthers warehouse and made it into a background structure by cutting right behind the first set of windows on the sides. The remaining parts were shared with another model...
Scenery and structures 29 40 1,145 1790196543
Additional postage for older preorders

Started by joef in MRH product support: CANADA Additional postage for shipping to Canada ... Pay with PayPal or Credit Card OVERSEAS Additional postage to ship overseas ... Pay with PayPal or...
MRH product support 0 2 147 1790196366
Switch Choice Inquiry

Started by anteaum2666 in Track and electrical/DCC Fast Tracks peco micro engineering: I'm looking for advice and experience here. I've been building my own Fast Tracks switches for over a decade now. I love them, love the quality, enjoy building them, etc. I can't say enough good...
Track and electrical/DCC Fast Tracks peco micro engineering 19 0 385 1790196094
BN 8th Sub (Issaquah Branch) 1/29 Scale (Outdoors)

Started by Craig Townsend in Journals/Blogs: I've never taken the time to draw up a track plan for the layout, but I finally sat down and drew up a track plan of the layout I'm building. Details to follow in next post to keep the lead post...
Journals/Blogs 315 6 13,931 1790195004
Sherline shutting down

Started by john holt in General discussion: From an e-mail I received from Little Machine Shop. Last week, we spent a few days at IMTS in Chicago. While we were there, we received the news that Sherline was shutting down. As we...
General discussion 1 1 104 1790188573
Quincy, a railroad village

Started by BBQdave in Journals/Blogs N Scale Layout DC layout design layout construction: Quincy, Ohio is a small village in the 1800's. Starting with the Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Indianapolis (CCC&I) Railroad built in 1852 - the village began it's railroad...
Journals/Blogs N Scale Layout DC layout design layout construction 47 12 3,141 1790187682

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