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In this class, you’ll see how easy it is to get started with model railroading in any of the major scales using sectional track. The idea of using sectional track is the building block concept with fixed, straight, and curve radius pre-fab sections. It’s hard to go wrong using sectional track, especially as there are…
Model painting and the associated tools are an essential part of our model railroad hobby. In this class, your instructor Doug Hodgdon will show you the assortment of paints, solvents, stains, brushes, and other tools that he uses at his own workbench, and how they may fit into your creative process. Doug’s idea is to…
A key component in turning a model railroad track plan into a layout is realistic scenery. Regardless of what part of the world you model, there is a high probability that the terrain includes some rocks. Whether they are huge mountains, bluffs over a river, or a shallow rock cut through rolling hills, rocks are…
Ah, when spring returns to the Northland, it’s time to refresh acquaintances with the BIG trains in my neighborhood. There are many local locations that I’ve explored for decades and which have fueled my lifelong passion for trains, big and small. A great spot for me is what was Great Northern’s Minneapolis Junction in northeast…
I recently made an inspiring trip to the Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota, that I would like to tell you about. The Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum is an organization that’s been in existence since 1934. At its inception it was housed in the St. Paul Union Depot which hosted the…
I’m going to diverge a bit from my ongoing series of blogs to talk about something that’s vital to the pursuit of our hobby. Glue! We all seem to find our own favorites, and using a glue that doesn’t work for a particular application can be really aggravating. My previous blog about the 1/64 scale…
What about basic detailing? We’ve come a good distance in our blog series, so I think that we’re ready for the really rewarding part! If you’ve read my series (find the links to at the end of this blog), you should get my thought process for building a layout that you’ll enjoy for many years.…
Photo by Doug Hodgdon Model railroad structures are important in many ways, and by “structures” I’m including bridges and other man-made, primarily fixed elements that we include in our layouts. Structures can be assembled from combinations of wood, stone, concrete, or steel. They can be loading docks, a wooden pony truss bridge, a stone retaining…
I’m digressing a bit for this installment. I’ve had many great experiences designing and building model railroads for over fifty years now and met rail modelers from many avocations. For me the most inspiring part of that experience has to be the emotional connection that develops while working and sharing creative ideas with fellow modelers.…
Wiring for a model railroad layout can be easy or complicated. I like to manage my wiring so that later on, I’ll be able to trace each wire back to its source. Years ago, I developed my own personal wiring color codes along with standardized schematics for repetitious situations that I keep in a notebook…
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Doug Hodgdon
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Model Paints and Tools
Creating Rock Scenery Class
Friends of the 261
A Visit to the Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum
An Overview of Glues for Model Railroading
Basic Detailing for Model Railroads: A Day in the Southern Pacific
Creative Ideas for Model Railroad Structures
Ideas for Adding Personality to Model Railroad Layouts
Helpful Tips for Model Railroad Wiring