2021 Index & Road map

At ModelRailroad.Info I hope to provide inspiration, ideas, and more about the great hobby of model railroading. 
  • Union Pacific Diorama
  • National Model Railroad Build Off
  • Shelf layout from scratch
    • Design
    • Hand laid track
    • DC & DCC Design
    • Sensors
    • Scenery
      • Lumber Yard

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Billboard

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Billboards are common in many places, sizes, and era's  In this article I'll walk you through creating an older style wooden billboard from a styrene For Sale sign.  The size of our billboard will be 12'x24'. Pieces Cut the following pieces. Dimensions are given in scale feet/inches. 1@ 12' x 24' - billboard 2 @ 2" x 6" x 24' - trim 2 @ 2" x 6" x 12' - trim 4 @ 2" x 6" x 23' - sign backing 1 @ 2" x 6" x 23' - lateral brace 8@ 2" x 8" x 9' - platform support 8@ 2" x 6" x 23' - braces 8@ 2" x 6" x 24' - uprights 3@ 2"x 8" x 24' - planks Directions Glue pairs of 2" x 6" x 23' braces together to make 4 braces.  Glue pairs of 2" x 6" x 24' uprights together to make 4 uprights. Glue the 2" x 6" x 24' and 2" x 6" x 12' pieces around the edge of the billboard. Some will need trimmed to length. Evenly spa
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DCC Speed Matching Assistant Scratch Build

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This project was inspired by some discussion over at  https://modelrailroadforums.com/forum/index.php?threads/speed-matching-locomotives.35010/#post-543957 Overview:  Create a simple car that can be attached to any locomotive and used to obtain speed matching data. Arduino based with no need for a computer attached but possibility to integrate with DCC possibly through I2C. Speed = Distance / Time Parts: Hopefully you will already have a lot of these parts.  9" straight section of Bachman EZ Track or similar. + enough track to get the engine to the desired speed. Arduino Uno/Nano 1306 LCD Screen (128x32 pixels). Train throttle (DC or DCC) Train engine Car:  Styrene sheet. I used a "For Sale" sign (Lowes) with a 0.015" thickness 3/32" (2.4mm) round styrene tube Evergreen Scale Models #223 1/8" (3.2mm) round styrene tube Evergreen Scale Models #224 5/32" (4.0mm) round styrene tube Evergreen Scale Models #225 3/16" 4.8mm) round styrene tube Evergree
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EMD SW1200, Plymouth W-Series 35-ton, & Plymouth ML-8 Switcher Comparison

Note: This post is currently a work in progress. I recently acquired the following engines and thought it would be helpful to review them for anyone else looking into getting one of these switchers for their layout.  First they are significantly different from each other in price and quality.  Great Northern EMD SW1200 by Rapido is a great little engine. I got the version that came with DCC and sounds.  The Undecorated Walther's ML-8 has had 2 runs and is not currently in production but if you dig around enough online you might be lucky enough to find one. I was able to find two 1 DC and the other DCC.  The Broadway Limited Imports Plymouth W-series 35-ton switcher is currently available in DC/DCC.  Broadway Limited Imports Plymouth W-series 35-ton switcher My only complaint about the three is that the BLI Plymouth Switcher's couplers are to floppy, that is have to much play in the vertical direction which effects how well it pulls something heavy. The DCC features include cont
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