Track
You spent all that time adding detailed structures and beautiful scenery to your layout, so why not build a track to match? We’ll help you do that with these step-by-step lessons on designing, constructing and maintaining realistic model railroad tracks.
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4:29If you purchase a brand new Tortoise Slow-Motion Switch Machine for your model railroad layout, you will notice there is some assembly required as well as an installation process. Although the process is fairly easy and the product comes with instructions and templates, some modelers learn best from visual instruction. In this video, modeler George… Read more »
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12:40
Among all the decisions required to make when designing a model railroad, the style of track is very influential to the final outcome. There’s a few factors to consider when it comes time to choose between hand laid track versus flex track. Time and cost are two of the major influences on making that decision,… Read more »
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26:58
The quality of track-work on a layout plays a major factor in the overall appearance of a model railroad. A strong roadbed is key for a realistic model. The roadbed is the material between the track and the benchwork. It elevates the track from the basic ground. Creating roadbed can be executed in multiple ways… Read more »
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4:29
Model Railroad Academy provides plenty of tips to picking the best roadbed, but cork is one of the most common methods used. In this video, NMRA Master Modeler Gerry Leone offers helpful advice for using cork roadbed on your layout and presents a step-by-step tutorial on how to install it. Gerry starts off the tutorial… Read more »
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30:36
There are plenty of options when it comes to choosing track for your model railroad. Code 55 or 40 is appropriate for N scale mainline but unfortunately turnouts aren’t widely distributed for either. In this case, factory made track is not always available making hand laid turnouts the only solution for building this particular scale…. Read more »
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2:51
For master modeler and kit builder George Sellios, there’s no big secret or unorthodox technique necessary for creating a realistic scene, it’s all about keeping things simple while adding as much detail as possible. In this segment, host Allen Keller sits down with George Sellios to find out what model railroad scenery techniques he uses… Read more »
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11:10
Track plans evolve over the lifetime of a layout, and often we’re faced with expanding a scene and we need to add model railroad turnouts to our existing model train layout design. As we learn from NMRA Master Model Railroader, Gerry Leone, it’s not that difficult and, in fact, can be relatively easy. How to… Read more »
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3:13
Model railroaders have various methods for creating a model train base for scenery. Stony Creek & Western’s Gil Freitag shares his easy tried-and-true method using sand with Model Railroad Academy’s Allen Keller. In Part 4 of his behind the scenes tour of the SC&W, Gil demonstrates how he was able to create so much mountain-like… Read more »
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4:32
Most model railroaders’ first layouts utilize sectional track of fixed curves and straight pieces. While convenient and easy to install, sectional track is limiting in variety and realism. In this video, learn how laying flex track is easy to do and can take your layout to a whole new level of realistic and reliable track… Read more »
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