The local runs down the switchback to pick up an empty at the Miami Produce Center on my Downtown Spur layout. This was a tricky move for the crews because they had to cross 12th Avenue to do so. “Twelfth” is a busy, four lane, boulevard through the heart of town. For whatever reason, there…
When he was up here last weekend, Tolga Erbora filmed what was probably the best video ever produced of my Downtown Spur layout. It’s amazing to me that he filmed this…while operating..with a cell phone. Throttle in one hand, phone in the other. Great job my friend! I have to say I’m very happy with…
My new, and long awaited, view block to control sight lines when walking into the layout room. The layout room environment matters and it matters a lot. A big part of that relates to sight lines. By that I mean what you see as you stand in the room and take the layout in. Of…
No matter how much of a prototype modeler we’d like to say we are, the reality of our limited space is such that everything we do is ultimately somewhere on the “proto-freelance” spectrum. Since we can’t copy actual scenes exactly, decisions need to be made with respect to composition. One of the key principles of…
A pair of boxcars sit in front of A-1 Farmers Choice on the switchback segment of my Downtown Spur layout. A successful model railroad design is one that provides a platform for several hours a week of relaxing hobby time…recreational time…..fun time. It doesn’t really matter how those minutes or hours are spent. If there…