Once the primary method of transportation to cross the United States, passenger trains have seen both their share of ups and downs in popularity over the last 150 years. From early wood sided cars with potbelly stoves, to the streamlined domes of the golden era of passenger travel in the 1930s to 50s, the trains …
Create a Convincing Winter Scene in 12 Easy Steps
Modeling any season can be a fun and exciting challenge, however there’s no challenge quite like a winter snow scene. Unlike other seasons, winter is unique in the variety of ways it can be replicated. From a light frost, to a heavy, fresh snowfall, the techniques required to replicate these diverse landscapes are as different …
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Arrowhead Models “Committee Design” Hopper
One of the newest names in model railroading, Arrowhead Models has launched dauntlessly into the high-detailed HO scale rolling stock market with the release of their stunning new Committee Design Hopper. It was only six months ago that Arrowhead models released a teaser video on Youtube in which the previously unheard of Wyoming company claimed …
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Using the New Woodland Scenics Field System
Thanks to Woodland Scenics, gone are the days of just using powdered turf to replicate all types of natural scenery. With the new Field System, you can effectively model fields, meadows, pastures, and more with incredible 3D realism. In this post, we’ll explore everything available in this new range of products. Static Grass Range …
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Lionel Santa Fe Super Chief LionChief Set
Thanks to Lionel, the most iconic train in North American history is back once again, just in time for this year’s holiday season! The Prototype Winding its way from Chicago to Los Angeles by way of Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, the Super Chief was known for its luxurious accommodations and stunning …
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Building a Modern Freight Train
Freight trains are by far the most common type of train that you’ll come across in North America. We have one of the most vast and efficient networks in the world, and freight railroading literally drives our economy in many ways. But what makes a realistic modern freight train, and what types of cars should …
How to Realistically Ballast Your Railroad
For many modelers, adding ballast is one of the first steps in the process of creating realistic scenery for your layout. When planning this stage, traditional gray stone gravel will likely come to mind, but take a closer look at real world railroading, and you’ll notice that each railroad and each type of railroad has …
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Woodland Scenics Built & Ready Rustic Water Tower
When picturing a small North American town, there are several iconic structures which will almost universally come to mind. A white, steepled church, a railroad depot, perhaps a bandstand, and almost always, a water tower. Constructed at a height tall enough to distribute pressurized, potable tap water, water towers are a common fixture of both …
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Moloco FGE 50′ RBL Boxcar
Until recently, unless you were looking for certain detail parts, you might not have heard of Moloco Models. Launched in 1996, the Australian company entered the model railroading market with a line of detail kits for cabooses. It wasn’t until in 2011 that they produced their first ready to run freight car. Now based in …
Realistically Weathering a Freight Car in 10 Easy Steps
If you follow us on our Youtube Channel, you’ve probably seen a couple of different weathering methods shown, from quickly dirtying up a train set with powders, to a meticulous airbrush job on a scale boxcar. In this blog post, we’re going to share another method which lies somewhere in between in terms of time …
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