Railroad Model Craftsman Magazine

29/10/2025

Aurora Miniatures has followed up its well-received HO Scale Gunderson/Greenbrier 50’6” FBOX high-cube boxcar with its larger cousin, the 60’9” TBOX, this time for both N and HO scales...

These cars are the inspiration for Aurora Miniatures’ first run of the Greenbrier 7550 cu.ft car in N and HO

27/10/2025

"Micro" layouts pack big action in small spaces... Marc Pitanza's Roselli Bros. scrap yard is a great example of detailing and operating in a compact area.

A detailed HO scale micro layout modeled after an old scrapyard served by Baltimore & Ohio subsidiary Staten Island Rapid Transit.

22/10/2025

November is National Model Railroading Month, a fitting time to reflect on the early years of our hobby. One of its most important organizations, the NMRA - National Model Railroad Association, traces its roots back 90 years to Labor Day weekend of 1935, when members of the Model Railroad Club of Milwaukee laid the groundwork for what would become a national movement. Looking back offers a fascinating window into how the hobby has evolved — and how much has remained the same...

The National Model Railroad Association traces its roots back 90 years to Labor Day weekend of 1935.

21/10/2025

NOVEMBER 2025: Lance Mindheim takes us on a tour of a detailed HO scale layout he built for a client that evokes memories of the Chicago & North Western “Alco Line” in Minnesota in the 1970s. We also look at two approaches to modeling scrap yard operations with Marc Pitanza’s Roselli Bros. Scrapyard micro layout, and Michael O’Keefe’s Southlake Salvage diorama. Bill Botkin shows us how he scratchbuilt a Lackawanna water tank in HO. All this and more in the November issue of Railroad Model Craftsman!

20/10/2025

Bring your layout to life with structures that tell a story. Gathered from the pages of Railroad Model Craftsman, "Structures for Model Railroads" offers ideas and inspiration for modelers of every skill level. Inside, you’ll find a wide variety of projects — from rural train stations and country stores to whole city blocks, plus coal sheds, factories, and more. Whether you’re scratchbuilding a detailed interlocking tower or adding a simple loading dock, each article includes practical techniques, clear photos, and expert tips to help you achieve realistic results. Create scenes that capture the character of the railroad you model and make your layout truly your own!

Pre-publication sale ends January 31, 2026! Free U.S. Shipping during sale. Retail price $34.95 plus shipping.

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03/10/2025

Check out these new Alco C-415 models from Bowser MFG CO INC! And if you want to learn more about the Alco Century series, pick up a copy of our new book... https://shop.whiteriverproductions.com/products/tcsa

26/09/2025

ICYMI: Working at the Salina, Kan., newspaper as a staff photographer during the mid-1980s was one of my favorite jobs. My love of photography was enhanced by the railroad right outside the front doors of our office. Running down the middle of the street was an active branch of Union Pacific (formerly Missouri Pacific) with daily trains running north and south between Salina and McPherson...

How to model asphalt streets so textured you can almost smell them on a hot day.

25/09/2025

The 2025 HO Collector Annual covers more than 50 classic HO rolling stock models released by AHM from the 1960s through the 1980s. This guide includes detailed information on where AHM sourced their models, prototype inspiration, and more. It’s all in here, waiting for you. Get on board!

HO Collector Annual 2025

24/09/2025

Freelanced prototype railroads, such as my HO scale Chesapeake & Ohio Ryder Gap Subdivision, can benefit from a plausible, well-defined backstory. Creating a story with realistic elements helps us think through what would motivate the building of our imagined railroad, what business opportunities existed, and what operational issues needed to be solved..

A deep dive into the plausible backstory of a proto-freelanced HO scale model railroad based on Chesapeake & Ohio operations of the 1970s.

23/09/2025

Packed with stunning layout tours, step-by-step construction projects, and rich prototype insights, this issue will keep your workbench busy and your creativity fi red up all year long. Now in its 17th year, the HOn3 Annual is the only publication dedicated entirely to HOn3 narrow gauge modeling—yet every issue offers something for modelers of all stripes.

The HOn3 Annual 2025 from White River Productions is packed with 116 pages dedicated to great HO scale narrow gauge model railroading!

22/09/2025

October 2025If your goal is to create a model railroad that emphasizes realism, you need to be a highly observant student of the real world around us. Throughout my years of modeling, I’ve found that realism comes from significantly reducing the amount of “clutter” on a model railroad and emphasizing subtle details that may not stand out but are crucial to creating a convincing scene...

These everyday subliminal details, while small, will go a long way toward bringing realism to your railroad.