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Model Railroad Tips

Model Railroad Academy is here to teach you the best model railroad tips and tricks! We share tips for using common household items in your model railroad…

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Narrow gauge modeler Bob Brown has two staining techniques that he uses on his Tuolumne Forks model railroad. Learn more about them here! Wood Staining Techniques, Staining Wood, Ho Scale Buildings, Leather Dye, Wood Siding, Model Train Layouts, Rubbing Alcohol, Weathered Wood, Model Railroad

Wood Staining Techniques

Ho Scale Buildings

Model Train Layouts

Rubbing Alcohol

Narrow gauge modeler Bob Brown has two staining techniques that he uses on his Tuolumne Forks model railroad. Learn more about them here!

Model Railroad Academy

Model Railroad Academy

Model Railroad Tips

In this video, modeler Martin Tarnrot will paint, assemble and weather a resin and etch model railroad kit. These kits require special attention for cleaning and priming. The model will be a Ford TT truck from the 1920s. The kit contains both from resin modeled parts and etched based parts. He is using a kit from Artitech, a Netherlands brand from his local hobby store.

Model Railroad Academy

Model Railroad Academy

Model Railroad Tips

MODEL RAILROAD TIPS

Model Railroad Academy

Model Railroad Academy

Model Railroad Tips

Model railroaders are reputedly among the most frugal (read: cheap) hobbyists around. Why spend good money for details when you can utilize some very common household items? In the old days some folks swore by used coffee grounds for ground cover until the humidity turned their layout into giant Petri dishes of nasty mold and mildew. Or dryer lint for chimney smoke and who knows what? Wine corks converted into fuel tanks. Everyone has their favorite “free” scenery items and good on ya! Ho Scale Train Layout, Ho Train Layouts, N Scale Model Trains, Model Train Scenery, Model Railway Track Plans, Uses For Coffee Grounds, Ho Trains, Model Making

Ho Scale Train Layout

Ho Train Layouts

N Scale Model Trains

Model Train Scenery

Model Railway Track Plans

Uses For Coffee Grounds

Model railroaders are reputedly among the most frugal (read: cheap) hobbyists around. Why spend good money for details when you can utilize some very common household items? In the old days some folks swore by used coffee grounds for ground cover until the humidity turned their layout into giant Petri dishes of nasty mold and mildew. Or dryer lint for chimney smoke and who knows what? Wine corks converted into fuel tanks. Everyone has their favorite “free” scenery items and good on ya!

Wiring for a model railroad layout – it‘s a subject that can be easy or complicated. I like to manage my wiring so that later on, if need be, I’ll be able to trace each wire back to its source. Toy Train Layouts, Toy Trains Set, Planer

Toy Train Layouts

Wiring for a model railroad layout – it‘s a subject that can be easy or complicated. I like to manage my wiring so that later on, if need be, I’ll be able to trace each wire back to its source.

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Congrats! You've been invited to get instructional model railroad videos, projects, and expert tips & techniques. Sign up for the free Model Railroad Academy newsletter.

Model Railroad Academy

Model Railroad Academy

Model Railroad Tips

Fresh new model railroading videos, tips & ideas from the experts. Join the Free Model Railroad Academy newsletter today! Model Train Display, Model Trains Ho Scale, Lionel Trains Layout, Hobby Desk, Old Steam Train, Toy Trains

Model Train Display

Model Trains Ho Scale

Lionel Trains Layout

Old Steam Train

Fresh new model railroading videos, tips & ideas from the experts. Join the Free Model Railroad Academy newsletter today!

Model Railroad Academy

Model Railroad Academy

Model Railroad Tips

CONGRATS! You're invited to get instructional Model Railroad videos, expert tips, techniques, and inspiration from the Model Railroad Academy. Start improving today! N Scale Train Layout, Scale Models, Instructional Models, Train Projects, Beautiful Forest

N Scale Train Layout

Instructional Models

Beautiful Forest

CONGRATS! You're invited to get instructional Model Railroad videos, expert tips, techniques, and inspiration from the Model Railroad Academy. Start improving today!

Model Railroad Academy

Model Railroad Academy

Model Railroad Tips

Learn expert tips & techniques from our team of professional model railroaders. Improve your layouts, railroads, and skills! Steam Engine Trains, Train Engines, Training Songs, Garden Railroad, Giant Bubbles, Genealogy Chart

Steam Engine Trains

Garden Railroad

Genealogy Chart

Learn expert tips & techniques from our team of professional model railroaders. Improve your layouts, railroads, and skills!

Model Railroad Academy

Model Railroad Academy

Model Railroad Tips

Fresh new model railroading videos, tips & ideas from the experts. Join the Free Model Railroad Academy newsletter today!

Fresh new model railroading videos, tips & ideas from the experts. Join the Free Model Railroad Academy newsletter today!

Model Railroad Academy

Model Railroad Academy

Model Railroad Tips

Oftentimes when building a model railroad layout, it’s beneficial to utilize a stacked scene with multiple levels. Multilevel model train benchwork offers a number of unique advantages to a scene, one of which being the illusion of grander scale. For instance, you might employ the layout of the multilevel model train benchwork if you were attempting to create a scene that depicts large-scale projects such as the Nickel Plate Road, which connects New York, St. Louis and Chicago. N Scale Layouts, Railroad Art, Hobby Trains, Model Railway

N Scale Layouts

Oftentimes when building a model railroad layout, it’s beneficial to utilize a stacked scene with multiple levels. Multilevel model train benchwork offers a number of unique advantages to a scene, one of which being the illusion of grander scale. For instance, you might employ the layout of the multilevel model train benchwork if you were attempting to create a scene that depicts large-scale projects such as the Nickel Plate Road, which connects New York, St. Louis and Chicago.

Model Railroad Academy

Model Railroad Academy

Model Railroad Tips

Gerry Leone is a member of the National Model Railroad Association, and is a Master Model Railroader. In this video, he will demonstrate the use of a unique but effective material he uses to make model grass. Using the right materials can make a great impact on how real a model’s scenery can appear. Fake fur is the material Leone uses for long grass on his models. It’s a man made material used to line the inside jackets.

Gerry Leone is a member of the National Model Railroad Association, and is a Master Model Railroader. In this video, he will demonstrate the use of a unique but effective material he uses to make model grass. Using the right materials can make a great impact on how real a model’s scenery can appear. Fake fur is the material Leone uses for long grass on his models. It’s a man made material used to line the inside jackets.

Model road layouts add interest and realism to a model railroad. Just like in real life, roads can almost always be found near a railroad track. In this video, Gerry Leone, National Model Railroad Association’s Master Model Railroader gives his tips for creating model train roads. Leone starts by building a gravel road. His gravel roads are made from 60 grit sandpaper which is coarse and textured. Ho Model Trains, Model Railroader, Asphalt Road, Ho Scale Trains

Ho Model Trains

Model Railroader

Ho Scale Trains

Model road layouts add interest and realism to a model railroad. Just like in real life, roads can almost always be found near a railroad track. In this video, Gerry Leone, National Model Railroad Association’s Master Model Railroader gives his tips for creating model train roads. Leone starts by building a gravel road. His gravel roads are made from 60 grit sandpaper which is coarse and textured.

Modeler Lou Sassi demonstrates how he uses real dead leaves as ground cover for forest floors, lawns, and tree lines in his model railroad scenery. He starts by breaking off stems of dead leaves he has gathered and adds them to a blender, filling it about halfway. Water is added, filling half the blender. The setting on the blender is turned to frappe and blended for a few seconds. Model Planes, Scale Model Building, Model Train Accessories, N Scale Trains, All The Small Things, Modeling Techniques

Scale Model Building

Model Train Accessories

All The Small Things

Modeling Techniques

Modeler Lou Sassi demonstrates how he uses real dead leaves as ground cover for forest floors, lawns, and tree lines in his model railroad scenery. He starts by breaking off stems of dead leaves he has gathered and adds them to a blender, filling it about halfway. Water is added, filling half the blender. The setting on the blender is turned to frappe and blended for a few seconds.

Perhaps you have a scene or series of scenes on your layout that have not aged well. They may be covered in dust or just generally need a little touch up. You’d be surprised how easy it is to clean up an old scene on your model railroad layout. In this post, I’m going to demonstrate a cleanup on this diorama that has been covered in dust for some time. Lionel Trains, How Do You Clean, Clean Up, Old Models

How Do You Clean

Perhaps you have a scene or series of scenes on your layout that have not aged well. They may be covered in dust or just generally need a little touch up. You’d be surprised how easy it is to clean up an old scene on your model railroad layout. In this post, I’m going to demonstrate a cleanup on this diorama that has been covered in dust for some time.

In this video, Allen Keller sits down with Rick Rideout as he demonstrates ways that a modeler can modify Rideout’s own Rix Products Inc house standard kits. Rideout first describes how to change the roofline on the houses to create one continuous roof instead of the two tiers that come standard. Using an extra house kit, the first step is to build the house up to the roof. Offset the normal roof piece by about eight shingles forward and fill in open spots on the given roof section with an... Train Tracks, Kit Homes, Tiers, First Step

In this video, Allen Keller sits down with Rick Rideout as he demonstrates ways that a modeler can modify Rideout’s own Rix Products Inc house standard kits. Rideout first describes how to change the roofline on the houses to create one continuous roof instead of the two tiers that come standard. Using an extra house kit, the first step is to build the house up to the roof. Offset the normal roof piece by about eight shingles forward and fill in open spots on the given roof section with an...

Model railroaders are reputedly among the most frugal (read: cheap) hobbyists around. Why spend good money for details when you can utilize some very common household items? In the old days some folks swore by used coffee grounds for ground cover until the humidity turned their layout into giant Petri dishes of nasty mold and mildew. Or dryer lint for chimney smoke and who knows what? Wine corks converted into fuel tanks. Everyone has their favorite “free” scenery items and good on ya!

Model railroaders are reputedly among the most frugal (read: cheap) hobbyists around. Why spend good money for details when you can utilize some very common household items? In the old days some folks swore by used coffee grounds for ground cover until the humidity turned their layout into giant Petri dishes of nasty mold and mildew. Or dryer lint for chimney smoke and who knows what? Wine corks converted into fuel tanks. Everyone has their favorite “free” scenery items and good on ya!

Model railroaders are reputedly among the most frugal hobbyists. So why spend good money for details when you can utilize some very common household items?

Model railroaders are reputedly among the most frugal hobbyists. So why spend good money for details when you can utilize some very common household items?

Four Classic Model Railroad Tips Easy Model, Standard Gauge, Train Depot

Four Classic Model Railroad Tips

Any proficient modeler knows, if you take your time and apply the necessary effort to build good, sturdy model railroad track, your layout is going to last you a long, long time. Conversely, if you rush through the process of designing and installing model railroad track and you don’t pay attention to the details, you’ll find yourself pulling up and redoing the tracks sooner rather than later. Picture Editing Software, Building Images, Making A Model, Top Toys, Classic Toys

Picture Editing Software

Building Images

Any proficient modeler knows, if you take your time and apply the necessary effort to build good, sturdy model railroad track, your layout is going to last you a long, long time. Conversely, if you rush through the process of designing and installing model railroad track and you don’t pay attention to the details, you’ll find yourself pulling up and redoing the tracks sooner rather than later.

The nonlinear model railroad layout has largely become the preferred choice for modelers in recent decades, as it allows for more involved scenes and tends to better keep the viewer’s attention. However, there are still many loud proponents of the linear design who tout its unique benefits and, oftentimes, realism. Design Model, Realism, Linear, Railroad, Cool, Farmland

The nonlinear model railroad layout has largely become the preferred choice for modelers in recent decades, as it allows for more involved scenes and tends to better keep the viewer’s attention. However, there are still many loud proponents of the linear design who tout its unique benefits and, oftentimes, realism.

When it comes to creating a model railroad, what you do on your layout after it’s complete is equally as important as before. Regularly scheduled maintenance helps ensure that your hard work in the design, planning and construction stages pay off, and that your operations continue to run smoothly. Railroad Tracks, Train Information

Railroad Tracks

Train Information

When it comes to creating a model railroad, what you do on your layout after it’s complete is equally as important as before. Regularly scheduled maintenance helps ensure that your hard work in the design, planning and construction stages pay off, and that your operations continue to run smoothly.

Don Cassler’s layout uses hidden staging yards during its operation. Hidden components on a layout can be an operator’s nightmare, but it has worked for Cassler and his team. In this video, not only will you learn about the hidden staging yards, you will also learn about the various modelers’ contributions to the layout, and what inspires Cassler about modeling. Building Layout, Orange Line

Building Layout

Don Cassler’s layout uses hidden staging yards during its operation. Hidden components on a layout can be an operator’s nightmare, but it has worked for Cassler and his team. In this video, not only will you learn about the hidden staging yards, you will also learn about the various modelers’ contributions to the layout, and what inspires Cassler about modeling.

Douglas Hodgdon of Model Railroad Academy and Track Talk Live and Michael Swiridow the Curator of Pine County History Museum Model Railroad Club discuss how to clean model railroad track in this video. First Hodgdon shows the different track cleaners that are available. He first demonstrates with a Bright Boy. This is an abrasive block that has been around for over 50 years. Hodgdon uses the Bright Boy on brass track which oxidizes quickly and loses conductivity. Model Training

Douglas Hodgdon of Model Railroad Academy and Track Talk Live and Michael Swiridow the Curator of Pine County History Museum Model Railroad Club discuss how to clean model railroad track in this video. First Hodgdon shows the different track cleaners that are available. He first demonstrates with a Bright Boy. This is an abrasive block that has been around for over 50 years. Hodgdon uses the Bright Boy on brass track which oxidizes quickly and loses conductivity.

Every modeler has their preference for how they like to control the turnouts on their layout. Some like to go through the trouble of installing wires for automatic switches, while others opt for the less complicated method of building manual throws. Master modeler David Holl is one of the latter; he likes to utilize built-in manual throws to operate the turnouts on his HO scale recreation of Penn Valley Railroad. Penn Valley

Every modeler has their preference for how they like to control the turnouts on their layout. Some like to go through the trouble of installing wires for automatic switches, while others opt for the less complicated method of building manual throws. Master modeler David Holl is one of the latter; he likes to utilize built-in manual throws to operate the turnouts on his HO scale recreation of Penn Valley Railroad.