New scenes on his amazing layout p. 52

104 Pages·2013·27.9 MB·English

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www.ModelRailroader.com
EXCLUSIVE!
Rod Stewart!
New scenes on his
amazing layout

p. 52
HOW TO
(cid:116)(cid:1)Expand your
staging yard
p. 68
(cid:116) Put people in

passenger cars,

step by step BONUS
p.34
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CODE PG. 4 2

wall panels
p. 44
December 2013
Soundtraxx® Tsunami® Sound & DCC $259.98 Each
Standard DC $169.98 Each
WALTHERSPROTO FASTFACTS™
Primary Assignment: High-speed passenger service on Northeast Corridor between
New York and Washington. • Limited Edition — One Time Run of These Roadnumbers!
In Service: 1969-82; one preserved Snack Bar Coach. • Based on Equipment in Service 1969-1982
• All-New Tooling for 3 Prototype Car Styles
Developed for the Northeast Corridor (NEC) by the Pennsylvania Railroad, Budd, • One Helical Geared Power Truck & Skew-Wound High Torque Motor
Westinghouse and General Electric, the Metroliner introduced America to high-speed in Each Unit
rail service. Entering scheduled service early in 1969 with Penn Central, the new • Working Headlight, Gyralight, Reversing A-End Red Marker Lights,
electric multiple-unit (EMU) cars were patterned after contemporary airliners, and Number Boards & Interior Lighting
offered similar amenities. A typical six-car train included four Coaches, a Snack Bar • Detailed, Spring-Loaded GE or Westinghouse Pantographs per
Coach and a Parlor, and regularly operated at speeds over 100mph, a considerable Prototype
accomplishment at the time. After 1971, Metroliners became a bright spot in Amtrak • Real Metal Finish Simulates Stainless Steel
operations, handling millions of riders between Washington and New York. By 1982, • Correct A & B End Details
and after years of hard service, the Metroliners had run their last miles on the NEC • All Grab Irons Factory Installed
and under their own power. Keeping their overhead pantographs to power lighting, • Factory-Printed Road Numbers
heating and air conditioning systems, they were reassigned as standard cars on trains • Prototypically Accurate Window Tinting
between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, until finally being withdrawn in 1995. Snack
Bar Coach #860 is preserved at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.
Snack Bar Coach - Amtrak Phase I Parlor Car - Amtrak Phase I Coach - Amtrak Phase I
920-14800 #861 Tsunami Sound & DCC 920-14820 #884 Tsunami Sound & DCC 920-14840 #809 Tsunami Sound & DCC
920-14801 #868 Tsunami Sound & DCC 920-14821 #889 Tsunami Sound & DCC 920-14841 #823 Tsunami Sound & DCC
920-13800 #863 Standard DC 920-13820 #886 Standard DC 920-13840 #822 Standard DC
920-13801 #864 Standard DC 920-13821 #888 Standard DC 920-13841 #830 Standard DC
For the latest on WalthersProto locos and more, sign up for Walthers E Newsletters at walthers.com/signup, or visit your local hobby shop.
To find a shop near you, call 1-800-487-2467 or visit walthers.com
Availability and prices shown were accurate at press time, for updates visit walthers.com. Preproduction models shown, some details and colors may vary. ©2013 Wm. K. Walthers, Inc.

FEBRUARY2014

Online Content Code: MRR1402
Volume 81, Number 2
Enter this code at: www.ModelRailroader.com/code
to gain access to web-exclusive content
IN THIS ISSUE 78
38
52
38 A compact layout in a living room 68
Gritty urban scenes and challenging switching action 34
highlight the N scale Toledo Industrial RR
by Lou Sassi 44
44
Make a big building even bigger without
adding parts On the cover: A streamlined NYC Hudson
A clever reconfiguration helps raise a common Atlas leads a passenger train over the harbor on
structure kit to new heights rock star Rod Stewart’s spec tac ular HO
by Alan Blair scale model railroad. Steve Crise photo
48
Build a resin gondola kit IN EVERY ISSUE
Construction tricks that turn a craftsman kit into a real
standout
6 74
by David Karkoski Digital MR DCC Corner
The latest features on our How to add LEDs and
COVER STORY: GRAND STREET & THREE RIVERS CITY
52 website by Dana Kawala improve sound in a decoder-
Rod Stewart reaches a milestone equipped Athearn SD70ACe
8
The rock ‘n’ roller puts the finishing touches on his HO scale From the Editor by Pelle Søeborg
layout’s city centerpiece Waterfront modeling
by Carl Swanson by Neil Besougloff
60 10
Build a 5 x 8 harbor railroad MREXTRA News & Products
Part 2: Benchwork and track for our Rice Harbor project New models at Trainfest
80
railroad by Cody Grivno Product Reviews MREXTRA
by David Popp HO scale EMD GP50 from
24
68 Railway Post Office Athearn’s Genesis line,
Expand a staging yard into the aisle Letters from our readers Blackstone Models HOn3
Structure, simple scenery make this utilitarian addition an by Eric Stelpflug 2-8-0 and track, and more
attractive scene by Dana Kawala
26
by Bob Wundrock Information Desk
87
88 Weathering on hot metal Trains of Thought
Trackside Photos cars reflects their tough jobs A gallon of purplish-orange
by Steven Otte by Jim Hediger paint, please!
▸ Online bonus ModelRailroader.com by Tony Koester
30
Workshop Tips
101
NEXT ISSUE 6 tips for choosing a realistic Index of Advertisers
car fleet by Jim Hediger and Cartoon
34 102
You’ve seen bits of MR Step by Step The Operators
contributing editor Pelle How to add figures to a When and how to use
Søeborg’s new layout in passenger coach helping orders
how-to articles. In March, by Cody Grivno by Andy Sperandeo
get your first full look at
the HO scale Union Pacific MREXTRA
www.ModelRailroader.com subscriber extra
Daneville Subdivision.
MRVP Video on www.MRVideoPlus.com
Model Railroader (USPS 529-810, ISSN 0026-7341) is published monthly by Kalmbach Publishing Co., 21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612. Periodicals postage paid at Waukesha, Wis., and additional offices.
POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Model Railroader, Kalmbach Publishing Co., 21027 Crossroads Circle, P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612. Printed in USA. Canada Publication Mail Agreement # 40010760. Z
ARRIVING NOW AT YOUR
LOCAL HOBBY STORE!
Here are some of the Atlas products that are in your hobby store this month. For a more complete shipping schedule, please
visit www.atlasrr.com. To find an Atlas Authorized Dealer near you, visit http://locator.atlasrr.com.
AtlAs ClAssiC Ho Rs-3/RsD-4/5
loComotives
www.atlasrr.com/Holoco/hors3classic7.htm
Available in both Gold and Silver series!
• New! Improved tooling on turbo exhaust stack!
• New! DCC/Sound version available with LokSound™ by ESU
• Over 20 sound effects are available, including engine start-up
and shutdown, prime mover sounds through all eight notches,

bell, air horn, air compressor, dynamic brakes and more!
NEW PAINT
SCHEMES &
Canadian National
rOAD NuMbErS!
AtlAs tRAiNmAN® Plus Ho NRe GeNset ii
loComotive
www.atlastrainman.com/Holoco/tmhogenset1.htm
• NEW! Finer scale handrails
• Replacement handrails for earlier models are arriving soon. Visit
http://www.atlastrainman.com/HOLoco/tmhogenset-handrail.htm, for more info!
• NMRA 8-pin plug for DCC
• True scale dimensions with accurate details
• Separately applied grab irons NEW
• Ditch lights • MU cables
MODEL!
• Cab roof details (air conditioners, GPS, antennae)
• Realistic die-cast underframes National Railway Equipment
• Equipped with AccuMate® Couplers
AtlAs ClAssiC N Rs-3/RsD-4/5
loComotives
www.atlasrr.com/Nloco/nrs3c.htm
• Golden-white LEDs
• Directional lighting
• Separately-applied painted handrails (where appropriate)
• Blackened metal wheels
• Scale Speed™ motor
• Factory-installed AccuMate® magnetic knuckle couplers NEW PAINT
• Accurate painting and printing Penn Central (HO model shown) SCHEMES!
• AccuMate® couplers are made under license from AccuRail, Inc.
Atlas Trainman N 42’ Gondola Atlas Master N Evans 53’ Double Plug Door Box Car
ALSO Atlas Trainman N 50’ Flat Car with 40’ Trailer Atlas Master N 40’ PS-1 Box Car with 8’ Door
ARRIVING! Atlas Trainman N & HO Cupola Caboose Atlas Master N & HO 5701 Plastics/Grain Hopper
Atlas Master N 23,500 Gallon Tank Car Atlas Master HO 40’ AAR Postwar Box Car
Atlas Master N 89’4” Flat Car
Shop for these & other Atlas models, track & accessories at shop.atlasrr.com!
DON’T MISS THE LATEST PRODUCT ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM ATLAS!
Subscribe to The Atlas E-News Flash at www.atlasrr.com to receive our All-Scales Monthly Catalogs.
ATLAS MODEL RAILROAD CO, INC. • 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205 • www.atlasrr.com
▸▸Visit us online for more
DIGITALMR Dana Kawala
Subscriber Extras ▸▸ How To ▸▸ Videos ▸▸
News & Reviews ▸▸ Community ▸▸ Shop ▸▸
New product review videos New video series
MREXTRA
Build a 5 x 8 MREXTRA
harbor railroad
Our staff project layout series
continues on page 60. Throughout
the series, Model Railroader
subscribers get a behind-the-
scenes look at the building of Rice
Athearn Genesis GP50 and Blackstone HOn3 2-8-0 Harbor. Find
links to all the
Model Railroader subscribers get to see the videos under
latest locomotive models in action. This Online Extras
month we run the Athearn Genesis GP50. on the MR

Narrow gauge fans can see a video of home page.
Blackstone Models’ HOn3 2-8-0. Both
locomotives are equipped with SoundTraxx
Digital Command Control decoders. Weekly e-newsletter
Don’t miss another
Download desktop wallpaper
online extra
Make sure you’re
getting the latest
online extras by
registering on the MR
home page. You’ll get
a free e-newsletter
with direct links to
new product
announcements and
online extras.
Get inspired by this Trackside Photo
Save 30% on this
Model Railroader contributor Brooks Stover took this photo of Ed Nottage’s featured download
N scale New York Central Boston & Albany Division. ModelRailroader.com
visitors can download the image to use as a computer screen wallpaper.
More ideas for building
a harbor railroad
Trainfest 2013 show report
Learn how to add
rail-marine opera-
tions to your layout
with this download-
able article collec-
tion. You’ll get track
plans as well as tips
for modeling
structures and harborcraft.
Download Railroading along the
waterfront before February 28 and
save 30% off the regular price.
Video: Friday Product Showcase
MREXTRA Model Railroader
Don’t miss the Trainfest show report on page 10. In this bonus video, you can
web extra
follow staff members Cody Grivno and Kent Johnson as they show you some
Visit www.ModelRailroader.com for bonus
of the new products and operating layouts featured at this year’s show. material — It’s exclusive to Model Railroader
subscribers. Go now!
6 Model Railroader • www.ModelRailroader.com
HHoowwaarrdd BBrrootthheerrss
FFeeeedd && GGrraaiinn CCoommpplleexx
The Howard Brothers have been in the
grain business for decades storing and
shipping the local farmers' crops. This
complex is laser cut and engineered
for easy construction. Naturally, an
ample supply of brass and white metal
detail castings, including workers, are
included. See more photos on our web
site. This kit consists of laser-cut
basswood, plywood, and cardstock.
The footprint is a scale 180’ x 100’;
overall height is a scale 82 feet
www.btsrr.com .
#27107 HO $ 189.95
1782 Trinity Rd
Belington, WV 26250 #17107 O $ 379.95

304-823-3729 Shipping - Only $5.00/order in the US
SPRING THA WTM
TRAIN MEET
Allentown Fairgrounds Agricultural Hall
302 N. 17th St. Allentown, PA 18104
February 22 and 23, 2014
Saturday 9-4 ~ Sunday 9-3
OT6av0bel0re s! SwitTcrhaiinng R aancde sO p ~e rTaetsint gT rLaacykouts N gagBeWu Lialadtcy ahon uU ts!
Adults $7.00 ~ Children under 12 FREE! w/adult
ATMA~1120 S. Jefferson St. Allentown, PA 18103~[phone] (no calls after 9 PM)
www.allentowntrainmeet.com
FEBRUARY 2014 • Model Railroader 7
FROMTHEEDITOR
Neil Besougloff
Waterfront modeling
Model railroading is fun!
standing along part of Bernie’s O scale Founder A.C. Kalmbach 1910-1981
layout in the photo at lef.
Bernie, like Monroe, also has a sof Editor Neil Besougloff
spot for ship models. Bernie is mulling a Producer, MR Video Plus A. David Popp
Art Director Thomas G. Danneman
way to get the Civil War ironclad ship
Managing Editor Hal Miller
Passaic, a successor ship to the more Senior Editor Jim Hediger
famous USS Monitor, onto his layout. Senior Editor Dana Kawala
Associate Editor Cody Grivno
If you’re keeping score, that’s three- Associate Editor Steven Otte
for-three among layouts with waterfront- Associate Producer, MR Video Plus Kent Johnson
Assistant Editor, MR Video Plus Ben Lake
modeling features.
Editorial Associate Eric Stelpflug
Coincidentally, our own staf also Editorial Assistant, MR Video Plus Jenny Maaske
There’s an old saying that goes some- chose a waterfront theme for our aptly Contributing Editor Tony Koester
Contributing Editor Pelle Søeborg
thing like “Once is chance, twice is coin- named Rice Harbor 5x8 project layout.
Contributing Editor Andy Sperandeo
cidence, and three times is a trend.” Is Part 2 of that series, focusing on bench- Graphic Designer Drew Halverson
waterfront model railroading a trend? work construction, starts on page 60. Graphic Designer Scott Krall
Illustrator Rick Johnson
Last fall I attended the Mid-Eastern And if that’s not enough, Walthers is Illustrator Jay W. Smith
Region convention of the National re-releasing its waterfront models Illustrator Roen Kelly
Illustrator Kellie Jaeger
Model Railroad Association. I only had including the popular three-track car-
Photography Supervisor William Zuback
time to visit three layouts, and water- foat and apron. Naturally Walthers’ Photographer Jim Forbes
front railroading was a feature of each. announcement came afer stafer David
Kalmbach Publishing Co.
First I visited the sprawling N scale Popp scratchbuilt our own car foat.
President Charles R. Croft
layout of Monroe Stewart. Monroe’s Is waterfront modeling a trend? VP, Editorial/Publisher Kevin P. Keefe
mountains-to-the-sea layout features at Maybe so. In any event, if you are in the VP, Advertising Scott Stollberg
VP, Marketing Daniel R. Lance
least two harbors and there may have midst of planning your next layout, con-
Corporate Art Director Maureen M. Schimmel
been others that I failed to count. He’s sider putting a toe into the water. Managing Art Director Michael Soliday
the only hobbyist I know who has a pas- Group Advertising Manager Scott Redmond
Ad Sales Representative Martha Stanczak
senger cruise liner on his layout. Of the Model Railroader’s new website is Ad Services Representative Cassie Spoerl
many scratchbuilt ship models on the up and running. If you haven’t visited in Production Manager Helene Tsigistras
Production Coordinator Cindy Barder
layout, I asked Monroe which he built a while, take a look.
Corporate Circulation Director Michael Barbee
frst. Te answer was a Soviet tanker. Te tech guys here at Kalmbach call Group Circulation Manager Catherine Daniels
Why? He liked it. our new website “responsive” design. It’s Circulation Specialist Valerie Lane
Single Copy Sales Director Jerry Burstein
Next I visited the HO scale layout of as equally at home on a full-size comput-
Paul Dolkos, who models Baltimore’s er as it is on a tablet or a telephone. Editorial offices
Phone: [phone]
harbor district in the 1950s. Paul is one I’ll let you in on a little trick. Go to
Fax: [phone]
of our regular contributors. His layout is www.modelrailroader.com on a desktop E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.ModelRailroader.com
still under construction, and features a or laptop computer. Grab the lower right
pair of piers and a Western Maryland corner of the web page and slowly drag it Advertising
carfoat operation. back-and-forth toward the upper lef Advertising inquiries: 888-558-1544, ex. 643
Fax: [phone]
Te third layout I visited was Bernie corner while watching what happens to Advertising e-mail: [email protected]
Kempinski’s Civil War layout, also still the various elements on the web page.
Selling Model Railroader
under construction. Bernie models a Tat’s how responsive design works for
magazine or products in your store:
portion of Northern Virginia focusing tablets and smart phones. Phone: [phone], press 3
Outside U.S. and Canada: 262-796-8776, ex. 818
on the railroad line starting at Aquia Fax: [phone]
Landing on the Potomac River. Te line E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.Retailers.Kalmbach.com
supplied the Union’s troops. Tat’s me
Customer Sales and Service
Phone: [phone]
▸▸ Contributing to Model Railroader (Weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT)
Outside U.S. and Canada: 262-796-8776, ex. 421
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
We welcome contributions from our readers, including articles, photographs,
SUBSCRIPTION RATE: U.S.: 1 year $42.95; 2 years $77.95; 3 years
and prototype drawings. For detailed information on submitting material to $107.95. Canadian: 1 year $52.95; 2 years $97.95; 3 years $137.95.
Canadian price includes additional postage and GST, BN 12271 3209
MR, contact our editorial associate Eric Stelpflug at 262-796-8776, ext. 583, or RT, payable in U.S. funds. All other international subscriptions: 1 year
[email protected]. Model Railroader assumes no responsibility for the $d6it2io.9n5a;l 2p oyesatargs e$,1 p1a7.y9a5b; l3e yine aUr.sS $. f1u6n7d.9s5 d. rInatwenrn oanti oa nUa.lS p. rbicaen kin. Eclxupdeedsi taedd-
delivery available for additional $40 domestic first class, Canadian air;
safe return of unsolicited material. We assume unsolicited material is $75 international air. © 2013, Kalmbach Publishing Co. Title registered
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http://proquest.com.
We assume letters, questions, news releases, and club news items are
contributed gratis.
8 Model Railroader • www.ModelRailroader.com
Scale Fidelity. Unmatched Features.
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©2014 M.T.H. Electric Trains, 7020 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, Maryland 21046 phone: [phone] fax: [phone]
NEWS&PRODUCTS
▸▸
New product announcements are posted
on ModelRailroader.com every week
Trainfest
special!

HO scale Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe GP7u diesel with the distinct Topeka cab. As appropriate, the models
locomotive. Athearn announced it will be releasing will feature slotted or removed sill skirts, a long or short
GP7u (pre-production sample shown) and GP9u diesel step box behind cab on conductor’s side, and cab roof
locomotives in its Genesis series. The models, based on details. Price and release date have yet to be determined.
Santa Fe prototypes, will be offered in three versions, all Athearn Trains, 310-763-7140, www.athearn.com
Industry news
New models at Trainfest
▪ Investment group acquiring
Horizon Hobby. Hobby products
Trainfest was held in early November include Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe manufacturer and distributor Horizon
at the Wisconsin Exposition Center at Topeka cab Geeps in HO scale from Hobby, maker of Athearn Trains,
State Fair Park in West Allis, Wis., a Athearn (above), F3 diesels in S scale radio-control models, and other hobby
suburb of Milwaukee. Te three-day from MTH (opposite), a 51-foot refriger- products, is being sold to investors,
show, presented by the Wisconsin South- ator car in Z from Micro-Trains (page according to a letter sent to its dealers.
eastern Division of the National Model 12), and a cornfeld in N from Bluford Te investor group is led by current
Railroad Association, featured vendors Shops (page 18). Horizon CEO Joe Ambrose, and includes
and manufacturers, layouts, railroad his- Be sure to visit our recently updated Illinois-based Armory Capital LLC and
torical societies, and clinics. website, www.ModelRailroader.com, to Minnesota-based Mill City Capital L.P.
Several new models were announced see even more new products and watch a Te deal to acquire Horizon Hobby,
in HO, N, S, O, and Z scales. Highlights video from the Friday Product Showcase. of Champaign, Ill., is expected to close in
early January.
According to the letter, the current
Horizon management team will remain
in place and no layofs are planned.
“Our commitment to investing in
developing exciting, innovative products
that have the potential to grow the hobby
has never been greater,” Ambrose said in
the letter to dealers.
You can learn more about Horizon
Hobby at www.horizonhobby.com.
HO scale locomotives
▪ Electro-Motive Division GP38-2
diesel locomotive. Pre-production
sample shown. Five-pole skew-wound
motor with fywheel, light-emitting diode
headlights, and Kadee knuckle couplers.
John Tews of Trainfest, far right, presented the Spirit of Model Railroading Award Road names and pricing to be an-
named in his honor to Kalmbach Publishing Co. and Wm. K. Walthers Inc. during nounced. Direct-current models and
Trainfest’s Friday Product Showcase. Shown from left are Model Railroader models with Proto-Sound 3.0 will be
Editor Neil Besougloff, Publisher Kevin Keefe, Kalmbach President Chuck Croft, ofered. Tird quarter 2014. Ready-2-Rail
Walthers Vice President of Sales and Marketing Stacey Walthers Naffah, and line. MTH Electric Trains, 410-381-2580,
Walthers President Phil Walthers. Dana Kawala photo www.mthhotrains.com
10 Model Railroader • www.ModelRailroader.com