• 13:48

    Upgrading Rolling Stock from Swap Meet to Layout

    What can we do with older cars to make them great additions to our fleets on our model railroad layouts? Model Railroad Academy Editor Ron Marsh recently attended a model railroad swap meet and picked up a few older cars. In this video, he shows ways to upgrade new old stock cars with mechanical upgrades…

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  • 6:36

    Paper Print Building

    Does your layout have some horizontal spaces that are too narrow to fit 3D buildings? Martin Tärnrot gives a tutorial on how to work with model railroad paper buildings to create depth in narrow spaces. Martin uses an area on his own layout where the rail line is very close to the backdrop, only two…

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  • 3:44

    Modeling a Forest Hill with Martin Tarnrot

    In this video, modeler Martin Tarnrot will demonstrate how he models a forest hill without making any actual model railroad trees. Martin makes them smaller than they would normally be to enhance the forced perspective. To begin, Martin shows a forest that is close to where he lives. One can notice that there is a…

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  • 4:55

    Modeling Oak Trees with Martin Tarnrot

    In this video Martin Tarnrot demonstrates how to make model trees from scratch, specifically, a miniature oak tree. He pulls inspiration from the oak trees on Avery Island, which are excellent eye catchers for a layout. The trunk and branches are made from .07 millimeter steel wire. Martin cuts them into ten inch pieces, twisting…

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  • 2:48

    Overview of the Canandaigua Southern

    The Canandaigua Southern model railroad belongs to one of the hobby’s most famous riders, railfans, and modelers. John Armstrong is the layout’s president, the hobby’s premiere track planner, and the originator of many ideas and inventions that we take for granted today. The idea of modelers walking with their trains, and only allowing a train…

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  • 8:58

    Touring the Canandaigua Southern

    Beginning our tour of John Armstrong’s Canandaigua Southern model railroad, PA-1, the express refer to Pittsburgh exits Tunnel Number 5. It’s powered by a 484, Number 914. PA-1 is headed for the New York Central Interchange. High Bridge is the home of an amazing trestle bridge. John says that some civil engineering dispute has kept…

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  • 11:55

    Operations on the Canandaigua Southern

    Operations on John Armstrong’s Canandaigua Southern model railroad start with the passenger train – the Golden Triangle – entering the scene from a hidden connection. Essex Junction is the interchange. There is a delayed pursuit of the Golden Triangle to catch the unusual 4666 at the Central Power Plant. Finally at Slug Island the 464…

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  • 14:39

    Owner Inspiration & Techniques on the Canandaigua Southern

    John Armstrong’s Canandaigua Southern is a freelance line running between Canandaigua, New York and Pittsburgh in the 1960’s. John is avoiding picking an exact date and route for his railroad, because he doesn’t want to have to represent specific locations. The specific time period of the railroad will remain rather flexible, other than the fact…

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  • 1:34

    Vertical Turnouts on the Canandaigua Southern

    John Armstrong is credited with inventing the vertical turnout. On his Canandaigua Southern model railroad, they connect the verge with the hidden ore tracks. It’s a manifestation of the empties in, loads out. The empties just got hauled in by the mine switcher from verge, which is the end of the run ready to be…

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