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Model Railroading in Small Spaces
My focus is on building small and portable model railroads, usually in N scale. Come explore some of my recent projects.
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2x4 Foot Layout Benchwork Preview
I have most of the benchwork done on the 2x4 foot N scale layout, and have moved onto laying track and installing the initial wiring....
Stephen Strum
Feb 7, 20231 min read
322
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Exciting New 2’x4’ N Scale Project Layout!
I'm starting work on a few new N scale project layouts, the largest being 2x4 feet. While still small, this layout will feature four...
Stephen Strum
Jan 13, 20233 min read
3,129
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Progress on the Portable N Scale Switching Layout in a Case
In the video below, see how I added some roadway areas and structure bases that have various metal brackets and washers embedded within...
Stephen Strum
Dec 3, 20221 min read
416
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N Scale Switching Layout in a Portable Case!
This is the first post in a series on building an N scale switching layout in a portable wooden case that runs on DCC and contains a...
Stephen Strum
Jun 1, 202216 min read
2,351
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1’x5’ N Scale Switching Layout in a Wooden Case Sneak Preview
I’ve been working on a new N scale switching layout built into a nice wooden case that I made. Once I have the wiring finished, I’ll...
Stephen Strum
May 4, 20221 min read
565
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3x5 Layout Build From Start to Finish
There are four main blog posts for this layout going over the entire construction process. Part 1 Benchwork: https://www.steves-trains.co...
Stephen Strum
Feb 7, 20221 min read
3,423
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Athearn 50' PS-1 Plug Door Boxcars and a Quick 5-Minute Weathering Technique
A few months ago I had a post on some new Athearn 50' PS-1 boxcars: https://www.steves-trains.com/post/new-athearn-boxcars-and-3x5-n-scal...
Stephen Strum
Jan 30, 20224 min read
316
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A Tiny Winter Scene Micro Layout
I built this tiny winter scene in N scale on a serving tray (flipped upside down). Check out the video below of the tiny layout and a...
Stephen Strum
Dec 25, 20211 min read
958
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Building a 3.5' x 5.5' N Scale Layout Part 4: Adding trees, water features, and final details
The 3.5' by 5.5' N scale layout is finally done! Here is the 4th and final part of the construction of this layout. Ok, so when we left...
Stephen Strum
Dec 19, 202112 min read
1,936
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New Athearn Boxcars and 3x5 N Scale Layout Update
I recently posted a video on some nice Athearn 50' N scale boxcars that are now available as well as an update on the 3x5 N scale layout...
Stephen Strum
Oct 26, 20211 min read
470
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Building a 3.5' x 5.5' N Scale Layout Part 3: More Scenery, Structures, Signals, and Lighting
This is the long-overdue part three in a four-part series on building this three and a half by five-and-a-half-foot N scale project...
Stephen Strum
Sep 24, 202120 min read
2,138
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3x5 N Scale Layout Update
A quick update on the 3x5 N Scale Layout Project. I hope to have the full Part 3 of this 4 Part series out in a couple of weeks. I've...
Stephen Strum
Aug 27, 20211 min read
551
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Roomettes: Cheap, Easy, and Fast Interiors for Your Structures
I recently purchased a Roomettes kit so I could add some interiors to a couple of structures on my N scale project layout. The kits are...
Stephen Strum
Aug 18, 20211 min read
451
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Athearn Big Boy!
I just posted a video review of the N scale Athearn Big Boy which you can see at the bottom of the post. This is a fantastic locomotive...
Stephen Strum
Jun 2, 20211 min read
272
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Athearn N Scale Airslide Hopper Cars
Athearn recently sent me three of their new 2600 cubic foot Airslide covered hopper cars to take a look at. One was a GATX modeled after...
Stephen Strum
May 25, 20212 min read
137
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Building a 3.5' x 5.5' N Scale Layout Part 2: Track and Wiring
A lot has been completed on the layout and will be covered in this post (once I have all of it finished in a week or two): All track has...
Stephen Strum
Apr 3, 202115 min read
3,745
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Building a 3.5' x 5.5' N Scale Layout Part 1: Benchwork and Base Scenery
Ok, so this new 3.5" by 5.5" foot N scale project layout you can see here features a double track, twice around design. The size of this...
Stephen Strum
Feb 23, 202110 min read
6,327
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Athearn 53' Bulkhead Flatcars and How to Make Easy Lumber Loads
In this post, we are going to take a look at the Athearn 53' bulkhead flatcars in N scale as well as an easy and basically free way to...
Stephen Strum
Jan 21, 20213 min read
1,065
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The Executive Switching Layout
A very simple, easy to build, and fun to operate, N scale Inglnook switching layout that you can put together with about an hour of work....
Stephen Strum
Jan 12, 20214 min read
4,313
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Colorado Loop Layout Build
A 2x3' N Scale Mountain Layout Ok, so this project started back in the spring as part of a simultaneous build of four layout projects....
Stephen Strum
Oct 23, 202013 min read
3,803
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