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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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Stephen Strum
Oct 151 min read
Can You Weld O Gauge Track?
Sometimes I get weird ideas, and this time it was to see if I could weld, not solder, but weld O gauge track. It was pretty clear from...
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Stephen Strum
Oct 11 min read
Can You 3D Print Your Layout Terrain?
If you don’t like wood working, and don’t want to mess with foam, you might try 3D-printing the terrain for more model train layout. You...
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Stephen Strum
Sep 171 min read
Build a Train Table from a Door
Do you need a table to run your trains or need a base for a train layout in N or Z scale, or maybe a small HO or O scale layout? Grab a...
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Stephen Strum
Jun 41 min read
Model a Big Pine Tree
I built a pine tree for my Big Pine Mine On30 layout that is two feet tall! This tree is made from a piece of bass wood with holes...
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Stephen Strum
Apr 91 min read
Help Me Find More Modelers Selling Goods and Services
I'm working to compile a list of great modelers selling goods and services like the following list. You can view the latest version here:...
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Stephen Strum
Nov 21, 20231 min read
Easy Backdrop Wall Panels
Need some backdrops for your model railroad? Here is how I built some backdrop panels for my 2x4 N scale layout out of cardboard, paint,...
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Stephen Strum
Nov 7, 20231 min read
Make Your Rooftops From Google Maps Images!
If you need a realistic looking rooftop for your structure, try printing out a screen capture of a rooftop you find on Google Maps. Cut...
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Stephen Strum
Oct 31, 20231 min read
Build Simple Model Guardrails for Your Layout
In this week's video, I show a short tutorial on how to model roadside guardrails in N scale or any scale so you can keep the miniature...
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Stephen Strum
Sep 19, 20231 min read
Fast and Removable Scenery Modules
I've been experimenting more with making pieces of scenery easily removable so you can easily change out the look of your layout, easily...
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Stephen Strum
Jul 25, 20231 min read
Converting to O Gauge Kadee Couplers
I’ve converted my two MTH O scale boxcars and my Lionel Legacy SW1 locomotive from the standard Lionel couplers to Kadee couplers. The...
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Stephen Strum
Jul 4, 20231 min read
Will This 72 Year Old American Flyer Train Run?
A look at my dad’s American Flyer set from 1950 or 1951. This 4-4-2 Atlantic still runs, albeit poorly. I plan to give the locomotive an...
730
Stephen Strum
May 30, 20231 min read
How to Fail and Not Fail at Dual DC and DCC Train Control
In this week’s video, I go over how I set up part of my 2x4 foot N scale layout for dual DC and DCC train control. Eventually, I will...
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Stephen Strum
May 23, 20231 min read
Try Mocking Up Your Structures Before You Build Them
Before I build the other structures on the 2x4 foot N scale project layout, I mocked up all of the structures I want to add with blocks...
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Stephen Strum
May 9, 20231 min read
Kitbash Your Way to Model Building Freedom
In this week's video, I look at how I built the Walthers Modern Transload Terminal kit in N scale to fit a specific space on my 2x4 foot...
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Stephen Strum
Apr 18, 20231 min read
Concrete Retaining Walls from Plywood and Styrene
I completed the retaining walls on the lower level of the 2x4 foot N scale layout and have a new video up on how I built them. These...
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Stephen Strum
Feb 25, 20231 min read
Affordable, Great Looking Paper Structures!
I Are you looking for an affordable way to add structures to your layout, try a paper structure kit! The one I build in this video below...
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Stephen Strum
Jun 18, 20221 min read
Build a Scale Model of any Location on Google Maps!
I built a scale model of a ski resort. You can do the same for any location you can find on Google Maps. Watch the new video and find out...
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Stephen Strum
Jan 30, 20224 min read
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...
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Stephen Strum
Aug 18, 20211 min read
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...
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Stephen Strum
Jan 21, 20213 min read
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...
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