Since the earliest days of railroading, boxcars have been used to transport goods and materials across North America. Today, boxcars continue to play a vital role in the shipment of bulk materials, with thousands operating in regular service. While basic designs have stayed close to their roots, there are several key details to take into …
Bringing the Super Chief to Life in N Scale
There are several named trains throughout history which have transcended both the railfan and railroading world, making a lasting impression in popular culture. There’s the Orient Express; made famous by Agatha Christie’s mystery novel of the same name. The 20th Century Limited; remembered as an icon of the art deco era. And there’s the Super …
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Adding Grass and Greenery to Your Layout
While not indigenous to every region, many layouts typically feature natural scenery dominated by lush greenery and grass cover. As the first signs of Spring begin to appear here on the east coast of the United States, we figured we’d take the opportunity to examine several methods for adding traditional spring or summer grass to …
Tangent Scale Models HO General American 4180 Airslide Covered Hopper
Now in their 12th year of operation, Tangent Scale Models continues to bring quality and exceptional prototypical detail to their HO and N scale freight car lines. Their objective from the start was to create a line of rolling stock which would rival the levels of detail often reserved for locomotive models. Their latest release …
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Amherst 2019 Show Report
The largest model train show in the country, the Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show takes place each January at the Eastern State Exposition Center in West Springfield, Massachusetts. With this year’s show now complete, we thought we’d look back and give an overview on the biggest news items and highlights from the show. Unmatched …
Building a Modern Passenger Train
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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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 …