Building a convincing grade crossing on my HO scale model railroad was something I really wasn't looking forward to. I debated whether to buy a crossing kit at the hobby shop and be done with it, but I decided they were too expensive. I turned to YouTube, the model railroader's best friend. Who am I …
Continue reading Beginner’s Guide to HO Scale Grade Crossing Techniques
I have to admit, my second model railroad was more of a "get a table built so I can run trains" kind of layout than a well-designed plan. I stayed with two mainlines, and allowed for a twenty-two inch radius on the outside. I again used Linn Westcott's book, How To Build Model Railroad Benchwork, …
I have to admit, my second model railroad was more of a "get a table built so I can run trains" kind of layout than a well-designed plan. I stayed with two mainlines, and allowed for a twenty-two inch radius on the outside. I again used Linn Westcott's book, How To Build Model Railroad Benchwork, …
Continue reading Building a Model Railroad: Tips and Lessons Learned
My purpose in sharing these thoughts and photos is to assist you in the development of your HO scale model railroad. If there is a set of rules for model railroaders, I haven't seen it. Rule number one should be, Do Not Hurry! No matter how bad you want to see trains rolling by at …
Hours and hours invested in a model railroad often result in a few moments that make the entire effort worth every moment working. For a model railroader, the work is fun so it's not as though I don't love every minute with my layout. The Maple Valley Short Line Model Railroad is my third layout …
Maple Valley Manufacturing is a large facility just outside of town. Three Tower Bridge stands between the small town of Maple Valley and the factory. Close-up views of the inside of the factory provide detailed scenes on the HO scale model railroad. To create the illusion of depth and detail in the facade, I built …
Continue reading Exploring Maple Valley Manufacturing Details
Maple Valley Manufacturing is a large facility just outside of town. Three Tower Bridge stands between the small town of Maple Valley and the factory. Close-up views of the inside of the factory provide detailed scenes on the HO scale model railroad. To create the illusion of depth and detail in the facade, I built …
Continue reading Detail Scenes of the Maple Valley Short Line HO Scale Model Railroad
Someone, no one knows who, or where, or when, said, "If something bad is going to happen, it will happen first in Maple Valley." I take exception to that notion. There are lots of things that happen in other places first. What generally follows is that the good folks in Maple Valley claim they were …
Continue reading Scandal at Maple Valley – Episode 34: The Christmas Disaster
I understand that experience is a great teacher. With model railroading, however, small mistakes can have a cascading effect that will make operating your railroad a frustrating experience. If you are going to use extruded foam as the base of your layout, be sure to notice the edges of the foam. Undoubtedly, there will be …
Continue reading Two Mistakes to Avoid as You Build Your HO Scale Model Railroad
I understand that experience is a great teacher. With model railroading, however, small mistakes can have a cascading effect that will make operating your railroad a frustrating experience. If you are going to use extruded foam as the base of your layout, be sure to notice the edges of the foam. Undoubtedly, there will be …
A Coffee State of Mind 