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painting backdrops

Started by demented-tiger in Scenery and structures: For those of you who paint your own backdrops, what sort of paints do you use for fine details? Craft-store acrylics that come pre-mixed in a variety of colors and are sold in plastic bottles? Or...
Scenery and structures 12 0 179 1794242033
An idea to reduce voltage loss due to limited capacity Digitrax Zephyr and Digitrax PM74 terminal wire size limitations

Started by JimGnitecki in Track and electrical/DCC DCC Digitrax Wiring: I have discovered something that Digitrax does not publicize very well if at all: The Digitrax Zephyr and Digitrax PM74 apparently will not reliably accept any wire gauge larger than 16...
Track and electrical/DCC DCC Digitrax Wiring 117 2 1,156 1794241831
NRV Model Railroad Show Fall 2026

Started by BBQdave in General discussion Train Show model railroad: The Neuse River Valley ( NRV ) Model Railroad Club had their 42nd Annual Fall Train Show this past weekend. It's the largest and longest running train show in North Carolina. The Fall Train Show is...
General discussion Train Show model railroad 0 0 0 1794241478
What’s on your workbench? November 2026

Started by Eric Hansmann in General discussion Workbench Photos project sharing: Holy cow! MRH Forum modelers posted and shared nearly 300 comments and projects to the Workbench thread last month! Thank you for taking the time to comment and post photos and descriptions of your...
General discussion Workbench Photos project sharing 71 5 2,420 1794240327
Boxcar Gulch - Module

Started by Dan Bachman in Journals/Blogs layout construction: When I was 7, my father introduced me to model railroading when he brought home an HO engine and a few boxcars. I was hooked and over the next 5 years we built a layout in our basement. Then my...
Journals/Blogs layout construction 29 25 1,353 1794240274
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 51 9 3,458 1794240060
Another terrible HST crash in Spain. Something went seriously wrong.

Started by Andy Reichert in General discussion: No news at this early stage, but how one train managed to rear end another is indicative of a very serious problem. Andy
General discussion 91 3 2,004 1794239718
N&AC 2.0 Track Planning

Started by anteaum2666 in Dream and design Track Planning layout design Benchwork: Welcome to my Blog! After 10 years of fun I had to take down the Nicholas & Ashley Creek RY for a move to a new home. I saved most of the major scenes and have started planning for the new space....
Dream and design Track Planning layout design Benchwork 253 14 5,194 1794239459
Dutch Country Railroads

Started by Mitchell Schuessler in Journals/Blogs Operations Planning Penn Central Reading Company: 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 Operations Planning Penn Central Reading Company 374 20 15,556 1794239149
VIdor HO micro layout (a PREC switching shortline )

Started by EMD_Rich in Journals/Blogs: I thought I'd create a thread somewhere to share my adventures in creating my freelance small leasing/operating company called Premier Equipment Company and as I world build. The brainchild...
Journals/Blogs 27 13 1,201 1794238984
D&H Penn Division Mainline Expansion

Started by JJankauskas in Journals/Blogs layout construction Dream and Design layout rebuild: With the Vine St branch complete and operating as we intended, my crew and I decided to look at a new project that would improve the overall ergonomics and operations of the mainline. When I built...
Journals/Blogs layout construction Dream and Design layout rebuild 8 2 54 1794238953
Construction issues

Started by Weaver in Locos and rolling stock Repair locomotives: An old friend asked me to repair his very beautiful Austrian steam locomotive—a Class 35 model made by Kleinbahn. The manufacturer no longer exists, yet the locomotive had functioned perfectly for...
Locos and rolling stock Repair locomotives 0 1 11 1794238853
A New Start: Beyond Stonehammer

Started by Deemiorgos in Journals/Blogs CN layout design proto-freelance: Ryan has inspired me to start a new topic about my new layout. The location will still be in the Maritimes/Eastern Canada circa 1956 far up the river from the Bay of Fundy hence the...
Journals/Blogs CN layout design proto-freelance 48 21 1,148 1794238590
JMRI Question

Started by Andy Hauser in Track and electrical/DCC DCC JMRI Windows: Question about the newer version of JMRI running on a Windows 11 machine. It states it requires Jave V11 but works better with V17. Will it work with a higher version of Java, say...
Track and electrical/DCC DCC JMRI Windows 13 0 382 1794238323
Weekly Photo Fun - Nov 8-14, 2026

Started by JC Shall in General discussion photography model railroad photography: It's another week . . . post 'em if you got 'em. There was a late-comer in last week's post . Check him out, then come back here afterward. Please avoid posting photos manipulated or created with AI...
General discussion photography model railroad photography 19 4 398 1794238184
Airbrush Time, Vallejo or MicroMark

Started by Joe Circus in Scenery and structures Airbrushing Painting Paints: I have that portable airbrush itching to spray paint. I need to buy some. I'm painting HO scale buildings. My first interest is painting the brick in ( slightly ) different colors....
Scenery and structures Airbrushing Painting Paints 19 2 375 1794236890
Old issue links dead

Started by Ken Rice in MRH magazine help forum bug forum thread dead links: This page https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/photolaminated-structures-12189243 (linked to from https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/photolaminated-structures-12189243 ) has all dead links - you can’t get to...
MRH magazine help forum bug forum thread dead links 7 0 174 1794236241
Let's See A Model Of... November, 2026 Edition

Started by Kevin Parson in General discussion: 📷
General discussion 40 1 1,095 1794236230
Bellows Falls Subdivision build

Started by skiwiggy in Journals/Blogs: This Journal/Blog will showcase the construction and scratchbuilding of structures along the Rutland Bellows Falls Subdivision. Various Scenes starting in Bellows Falls Vermont, heading...
Journals/Blogs 881 20 37,761 1794234242
The Beaver Falls RR

Started by thewizard1 in Journals/Blogs HO scale: This thread probably should be called how to build a railroad backwards. You will understand why I say this as I explain the history. I left the hobby for a number of years, I returned in late 2016....
Journals/Blogs HO scale 1,684 28 45,315 1794234181
ISO Quality Craft Models Kit Instructions

Started by icghogger in Locos and rolling stock: I am in search of the instructions sheets for the Quality Craft Models Kit #358 - Pennsylvania N8 Caboose. Searches on HOSeeker and other sites have not been fruitful. Thank you in advance for your...
Locos and rolling stock 2 1 137 1794234101
Nicholas & Ashley Creek Railway

Started by anteaum2666 in Journals/Blogs: I've been working on my HO Scale Nicholas & Ashley Creek Railway for a couple of years now, but really started in earnest over the past few months. Since my efforts include many topics...
Journals/Blogs 1,064 15 103,992 1794234072
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 789 10 21,387 1794234000
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 51 21 2,444 1794233160
Searching for dry transfer letters (was: Need some help)

Started by herronp in Locos and rolling stock Woodland Scenics Decals Lettering: MRH: Retitled this thread to something more specific. Vague thread titles don't do as well and they give search engines fits. I am searching for some Woodland Scenics Dry Transfer letters...
Locos and rolling stock Woodland Scenics Decals Lettering 10 5 256 1794230792
Airbrush mini compressors

Started by jimcubie1@gmail.com in General discussion: Is there a mini compressor anyone would recommend?
General discussion 71 2 5,378 1794229918
Filing car sides

Started by demented-tiger in Locos and rolling stock: I am looking to replace the sides of a Bachmann full dome coach with styrene car sides from Union Station. Unfortunately, unlike the modular panels of Walthers passenger cars, Bachmann passenger cars...
Locos and rolling stock 7 1 186 1794228656
Blockbuster Video: It's 1999

Started by Dan Sullivan in Scenery and structures N-scale Nostalgia: A true gen-X institution that has, sadly, faded into oblivion. To be resurrected, if I can figure it out, on the New Jersey N scale layout. The windows, and ticket sign look like they will...
Scenery and structures N-scale Nostalgia 18 10 513 1794227501
What's New to You – November 2026

Started by blhs569 in General discussion Scenery scenic materials: Had a pretty good turn out for October for the re-start of this series... Let's keep it going for November... I expecting some Martin Welberg scenic material from Scenic Express tomorrow......
General discussion Scenery scenic materials 11 4 402 1794223566
The Erie Lackawanna Dayton Branch 1964

Started by Jeff Youst in Journals/Blogs: Starting up a blog to chronicle my trials and tribulations for the build of the EL Dayton Branch 1964 has been a long time coming. The past 8 years or so have seen a few fits and starts and some...
Journals/Blogs 164 16 8,151 1794200339
My SP/SSW freight car roster quest

Started by SPSHASTAROUTE in Journals/Blogs Prototype Freelancing: My favorite part of the hobby is prototype modeling of locos and cars. After a move a few years back, I lost my basement layout and kinda lost interest in trains. Our current home is...
Journals/Blogs Prototype Freelancing 15 5 405 1794198807
Rick's Diner - November 2026 Edition

Started by Kevin Parson in General discussion: 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷 📷
General discussion 77 3 1,574 1794197334
Looking For A Bell Bracket USRA-Style?

Started by Edmund in Locos and rolling stock: I've recently turned my attantion to a pair of Trix, HO USRA Mikados that I've been wanting to do a little detailing before final weathering and fine-tuning of the decoders. One of the 'glaring' (to...
Locos and rolling stock 10 2 181 1794195350
Building Riverbend

Started by thewizard1 in Scenery and structures: After leaving Beaver Falls heading north through the mountain you come to the town of Riverbend. After crossing the Emerson river is the town of Moosehead. It has taken me awhile to decide...
Scenery and structures 283 20 6,209 1794194618
ET&WNC Stoney Creek branch in On30

Started by p51 in Journals/Blogs: I'm modeling the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina in On30 (yes, using Bachmann locomotives). Knowing I'd never be able to do true justice to the real railroad, I 'protolanced' a fictional...
Journals/Blogs 863 12 99,849 1794190920
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 970 48 48,655 1794190556
Southern Pacific's Ventura Subdivision in Los Angeles

Started by Ray Hamilton in Journals/Blogs Southern Pacific Northridge GEMCO Raymer: My layout planning thread was in Dream and Design. http://forum.mrhmag.com/post/southern-pacifics-ventura-subdivision-in-los-angeles-12675291?pid=1335516651 After much delay, we...
Journals/Blogs Southern Pacific Northridge GEMCO Raymer 290 27 17,271 1794190101
Tilted train in Malawi, Africa

Started by MalawiCarsten in General discussion: Here's a facebook post from Malawi where one of their few trains rolled over Mibawa TV - #MibawaNews Sitima yapa mtunda yagwa kwa Mwana manga... | Facebook Here's Chichewa to...
General discussion 3 2 246 1794189619
Atlas W/ Kato Drive

Started by PaPa Bill in Locos and rolling stock: Pretty simple straight forward question. Do all of the Atlas locomotives use a Kato Drive? All of the ones I have do however thought I'd ask. Locomotive in question a Atlas yellow box Alco...
Locos and rolling stock 12 3 447 1794188780
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 9 11 422 1794188366
How would you build this?

Started by CandOfan in Locos and rolling stock: During WWII, Baldwin/Alco/Lima built something like 2150 2-8-0’s of the S160 class, the majority of which went overseas, mostly to Europe. I’m interested in building a delivery train - a batch of...
Locos and rolling stock 32 7 993 1794187688
Cincinnati West-B&O/PC 1975

Started by RSeiler in Journals/Blogs: Welcome to the Cincinnati West thread! Thanks for stopping by. The photos are hosted here on MRH, so this thread will remain intact as long as MRH exists. Click on 'Read More' for an index with...
Journals/Blogs 4,746 28 536,151 1794187570
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 37 2 1,217 1794187431
Achievable? 28-ton Narrow Gauge Climax

Started by RyanAK in Journals/Blogs Narrow Gauge Scratchbuilding climax proto-freelance: Some here may remember that I have a long interest in the short lines and logging railroads of my native Pennsylvania. Particularly, the White Deer & Loganton has had a firm grip on me for...
Journals/Blogs Narrow Gauge Scratchbuilding climax proto-freelance 127 6 2,016 1794186989
Re-powering questions

Started by Hamms in Locos and rolling stock: I have some older custom BB locos that I want to repower. Goal is to have gentle starts/stops and smooth low rpms; loco's will not be going very fast around the layout (30smph tops). I've read lots...
Locos and rolling stock 24 3 921 1794185858
Your Fallen Flag Pics

Started by Bshoop in Locos and rolling stock: Hi, all! Forgive me if this has already been done on the Forum, and I just have never discovered it, but I thought it would be cool to have a thread where you could post your personal pictures of...
Locos and rolling stock 116 13 3,403 1794185749
Weathering: a praise to Inktense pencils

Started by Denny99 in Locos and rolling stock: Fellow forum member @ezlyamuzd66 suggested Inktense pencils to create rust streaks. Inktense pencils are easy to use and create a realistic effect. This is my first attempt, and I’m quite satisfied...
Locos and rolling stock 12 15 766 1794180949
My Fictional Southern Railway Line

Started by Sauced07 in Journals/Blogs: I don't think I have posted a drawing or plan of my layout. I'm not an artist or computer person so this is all I have. I have spoken about my layout elsewhere but figured I would keep some...
Journals/Blogs 337 21 9,872 1794180912
Isolating track for a wye in an unusual way.

Started by Matt Forcum in Track and electrical/DCC Track Wye Turnout: I have a question that is possible a dumb one, but better to ask the experts than screw things up. I have a wye on a removeable extension. Can I cut a gap at an angle at the point where the two...
Track and electrical/DCC Track Wye Turnout 8 1 157 1794179476
Tight Overland Diesel Trucks

Started by Ken Meade in Locos and rolling stock Repair gears diesel: As I'm putting this DD35 back together, I've noticed that if I tighten the screws to tight on the individual axel gear box, the drive shaft can't turn it. 📷 I opened the gear...
Locos and rolling stock Repair gears diesel 10 0 165 1794177608

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