Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Articles by Scale
HOn3 Articles

A Last Look at Thatcher's Inlet Part 4

This last installment focuses on creating the atmosphere in the main street and the dockside fish warehouse complex. It covers how one might design structure layout by constructing temporary cardboard mockups. Many close-up photos.

Buffalo Rock

The author had a hard time building a full layout, so he decided to join a club and built this module. Includes a trackplan.

Building a Model of a Model

The author built a 1/4th-scale model of his planned W-shaped layout, so that he could test the ideas and see what the end result might look like. Includes the current track plan, and photos of the model built out of 2" foam board.

Building Vance Junction in HOn3

This photo essay article describes the author's recently completed Vance Junction on his layout. He completely finishes one scene before even laying track in the next area. It is a 9' x 24', double-deck layout where the upper level has already been completed, as described in the July/August, 2006 issue of NGSLG. The article includes construction photos.

Coal Mines Along the East Broad Top

The author describes how he researched coal movements on the East Broad Top. The layout is 24' x 33', with some of it on two levels. It is set in the 1940s. There is lots of research material available on the EBT.

Consider Narrow Gauge

The author describes narrow gauge modeling and compares it to standard gauge modeling.

Denver & Rio Grande Western Spreader OU

The author built models of all four versions of the D&RGW spreader OU.

Doing It With Mirrors

On a 2'x4' module, the author was able to create the illusion of greater depths by using a mirror.

East Meets West - Modeling the Rio Grande Southern and East Broad Top

This three-level 23' by 47' and 20' by 17' layout features two of the owner's favorite narrow gauge lines set in 1957. Includes a trackplan and many photos of this beautiful layout.

Franklin Junction on the Rio Grande Southern

A spare-bedroom-sized layout features an embellishment of the junction on the RGS around 1941. The layout features nice scenery and expansive-looking backdrops.

Fred Gill's Diamond Valley Line

This Australian layout is a freelanced model based on the American narrow gauge prototype.

Fred Oster's HOn3 Denver & Rio Grande Third Division

Photos, and track plan.

Freelanced Narrow Gauge Flatcar

Using strip wood, the author built this narrow gauge flat car. With some adjustment, this car could also be built to fit standard gauge.

Freelanced Three Footers

Based on the D&RG design, these four-wheeled cars were made from various commercial parts. The article include model photos, scale drawings, and a parts list.

Kitbashing Narrow Gauge Hopper Cars

The author built accurate models using the Tichy Train Group's standard gauge hoppers.

Modeling Eastern Narrow Gauge Steam Using the Roundhouse 2-8-0

The author shows how he modified this locomotive to work reliably on narrow gauge track. He also briefly discusses the 4-6-0 he converted.

More Mears' Madness

The old layout (featured in RMC June 1987) was moved from a 225 sqft space to a 652 sqft space. The layout is mostly around the wall with do duck-under bridges in a 40 by 26 foot space. The layout is private, but is being build with a group of 9 people. Has a sidebar on "Flangesaurus Rex", an in-place wheel cleaning section of track.

My HOn3 Rio Grande Lande

The author describes his 4' by 10' layout as a large diorama. Beautiful scenery set in the 1950s Colorado.

Narrow Gauge Snowplow

The author kitbashed a snowplow from a Northeastern kit.

Narrow Gauge Track Cleaner

The author took an N-scale Life-Like GP18 diesel frame work and build a HOn3 self-propelled track cleaner. Detailed discussion and photographs describe how the wheels were adjusted to gauge, how the trucks were modified, and how the cleaner was installed. Finally, the car body was made to look like a doodlebug.

Narrow-gauge Rotary

Rotary plow model on the author's Pelican Bay Railway & Navigation Company layout. The model was made from an Athearn rotary blade and a Roundhouse side-door caboose body.

One Module Challenge Chama Division of the San Juan Extension, 1937

The author describes the prototype he designed the module after, how he built it, and how he used just that one module and two staging yards on either end to operate the module, allowing for individual stages to grow the layout into the final full-room design.

Painting Brass Models

The author describes his steps for painting a brass steam locomotives, in this particular case a HOn3 C-16 model as a Bumble-Bee.

Re-writing History: Passenger Cars for My Maine Three-footer

The author describes how he kitbashed these wood-sheathed passenger cars. Includes finished model photos and a materials list

Rock Trains on the EBT

This layout models the East Broad Top in Pennsylvania, with connections to the standard gauge PRR. The layout was started in 1978 when the original part was designed by John Armstrong. Some prototype photos and lots of layout photos are included. Also included is the track plan for the HOn3 section of the layout.

Small Layouts Can Be Fun

The author's small layout is used as an example of how one can have quite a bit of operation on such a layout. Includes many layout photos.

Steam Whistles and Drumbeats: The Kootenay River Railfair and Pow-Wow

This article makes a good argument for true free-lancing. The author and his sons are building dioramas that will be placed in a real-world boxcar.

Still Snowing at Summit

The author presents a switching puzzle on his layout.

The Kootenay River Scenic Ry's Otterlodge Division

The author and his children handbuilt two modules that are planned to be connected with a future larger layout. The modules are set up in the author's real rolling stock.

The Ria Grand & Southwestern

14' by 25' island layout in a dedicated building with workshop, featuring Colorado prototype modeling.

Three Foot Caboose EBT-style

The author describes how he built this model out of Strathmore bristol board, after he measured the prototype car. Includes model photos, an exploded diagram of the parts to build the model, and two prototype photos.

What's Neat

Ken starts a HOn3 modular layout (shows screen captures of the YouTube video), and he interviews Bachmann's Larry Harrington.

What's Neat

Ken continues to work on his HOn3 modular layout (shows screen captures of the YouTube video), and he interviews Bachmann's Matt Stern.

What's Neat

Ken starts work in an HOn3 layout that started out as a run-by scene. Also photos of upcoming Bachmann products.

What's Neat

Ken continues work in an HOn3 layout that started out as a run-by scene. Also photos of upcoming Bachmann products, and installing sound in a BLI locomotive.