Blog and Photos by Dale Parsons Strong model railroad benchwork will guarantee stress-free HO scale, or your favorite scale, railroading for years to come. Linn Westcott's magazine-style book, "How to Build Model Railroad Benchwork" is a great resource for information about a solid structure for your trains and scenery. Whether you plan to use an …
Continue reading How to Build Strong Model Railroad Benchwork
I started working on my backdrop factory two years ago. I don't have enough space on my layout to use the factory as a free-standing kit. I started by cutting the pieces down so they could be glued together side-by-side. I have four inches of space between the wall and the rail siding. I was …
Every artist sees far beyond the simple strokes with which a masterpiece begins.
Sheriff Pete Terkinberry is determined to find out what happened to Sylvia Meisner. She disappeared several months ago. Her car was found under Three Tower Bridge, completely destroyed by fire. No evidence of any use was found in, on, or near the car. In December, while a crew of volunteers was hanging Christmas lights on …
I recently discovered a surprising fact on my model railroad. I don't have enough trees! After setting about thirty more pine trees, I took a good look over my scenery, and, sure enough, I have to make more trees. Thanks to so many great modelers who post terrific videos on YouTube, I have learned how …
Continue reading Easy Floral Wire Trees for Your Model Railroad
When you're making plans to build a model railroad, scenery is going to be a big part of it. If you want your layout to be at all convincing, and I can't imagine starting a project like this without deciding to make it as realistic as possible, trees are going to play a huge role. …
Continue reading Adding Trees to the Maple Valley Short Line Railroad
The Maple Valley Short Line Model Railroad is operational. I have been running trains on the main lines without any major interruptions or catastrophes. From the moment I first drilled holes in the cement blocks, to securing the last piece of HO scale flex-track, this has been an enjoyable journey. But the journey is far …
Continue reading Building a Control Panel for the Maple Valley Short Line Model Railroad
Christmas in Maple Valley has come and gone. Intense anticipation in the weeks before Christmas keeps everyone in good moods and actions with lots of "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Year" greetings in the streets and shops. Hundreds of visitors came to town on The Old General just to take in the sights and sounds …
Continue reading Scandal at Maple Valley – Episode 20: The Bat Suit
It's Thanksgiving Day in Maple Valley. How can there be a scandal hanging over town when it's time to stir a sense of thankfulness for all the good things that people enjoy and take for granted? If only for a day, the folks who are still very worried about Sylvia Meisner are stepping back to …
Continue reading Scandal at Maple Valley – Episode 18: Thanksgiving Day
I really hate to say this, but life has moved on in Maple Valley. Sylvia Meisner has been missing for five months. All the arguing has stopped, thankfully. The summer tourist season everyone looked forward to has ended. The Founders Day Celebration now seems forgotten. The Old General is being prepared to take visitors to …
Continue reading Scandal At Maple Valley – Episode 17: Death in Maple Valley
A Coffee State of Mind 