Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Articles by Scale
On30 Articles

"Punta Cayo"

The author is starting to build a small layout following a theme of a Banana-Sugar cane plantation-to-seaport railroad with switching. Includes lots of construction photos.

A Steam Dummy for My On30 Owen Thurteah & Weystead

This model was constructed from a Hawk Model Company cable car kit fitted with HO 0-4-0 mechanism. Includes model photos.

An On30 Docksider

This article describes how the author used a Bachmann 2-4-4T Forney to create a 0-4-0 Docksider. Includes construction photos, how to convert the engine to DCC, and how to detail it.

Colorado Southern in On30

A layout set in 1924 New York fits in a 22' x 26' garage. Includes model photos, a rough track plan.

Drover's Caboose

Creating a one-car train with a caboose that has been converted to carry both passengers and baggage. The article shows how the author scratchbuilt this model. Also includes a drawing and a decals master.

Five Businesses for Strong

The author describes five businesses for his On30 South China & Sheepscot layout. They include a general store, a gas station, a garage, a fast-food place, and a post office. Prototype and model photos are included.

FOMA Meets TOMA

The author describes how he built a long module using 2-inch thick insulation foam only. Includes lots of construction photos.

Imagineering Column

The author shares ideas, using his home layout as an example, of how he has broken the model railroading rules to make a unique layout.

Ocean Spray Boxcars

The author provides some prototype history, and then shows how he scratchbuilt the box cars, mostly out of wood, just like the prototype. Contains lots of photos, as well as scaled drawings.

Revisiting The Cooncreek & Tumbleweed Springs

Photos and description of a remodeled section of the layout.

Tall Timber and Ground Cover for the Forest

The describes how he makes the tall trees of western forests using balsawood dowels and a plastic fern material called plumosa. The ground cover section of the article describes his technique for making a junk pile on the ground, but doing it with plant materials.

Tall Timber Railroad Part 3

This installment covers backdrops, including construction, photo backdrops, and painting the backdrop.

Tall Timber Railroad Part 5

This installment covers how to build the switches using Fast Tracks' kits.

Tall Timber Railroad Part 7

This installment of the series covers scenery. It includes plastering the "ground", installing rock castings, ground foam, trees, roads, and pathways.

The Intricacy of Textures

Presented as a photo essay, various topics related to scenery texture are covered by taking a closer look at some of the author's small layout. The layout also includes an On18 line. A complete track plan is provided as well.

The Jemez & Rio Grande

This 12'x16' layout is more of an exhibition layout, although it is operated from time to time. The article includes a track plan and many photos.

The Lite and Narrow: Building an On30 Speeder

Using a HO-scale Bachmann San Francisco Cable car, the author built an On30 speeder. Includes a side-bar on the history of speeders.

The Scenery Clinic Pt. XVII

This last installment covers the final details of the diorama. The author covers debris, adding vehicles, and grass tufts.

The Tuscarora & Keuhn Creek

This layout models the T&KC circa 1939 in a 6 by 10 space. In addition to layout design, the author also discusses his construction method, his structure design philosophy, and how he applied the scenery, all to create a lot of vertical height to the small layout.

Waynesburg & Washington On30 Rail Truck

The author describes how he built this freelanced model and includes scale drawings and construction photos. He used a modified Bachmann HO engine for the mechanism