September 2020

Model Railroader has been the leading model train magazine for the past 75 years. Each month, we bring you step-by-step modeling projects, fascinating photo tours of model train layouts, unbiased product reviews, new product announcements, tips from the experts and much more!

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Features

Detailing a diesel locomotive

by Cody Grivno, group technical editor

Group Technical Editor Cody Grivno shares how he detailed and weathered a WalthersMainline HO scale Electro-Motive Division SD60 diesel locomotive decorated for Soo Line.

Short cuts

by Ron Hoess

A scrapbooking cutting machine is an ideal tool for scratchbuilders. Ron Hoess shows how to get the most out of these machines and what to look for when buying one.

West Texas Speedway

by Sammy Carlile

The operation-oriented Santa Fe Hereford Subdivision fills two decks with scenes of mid-1990s mainline action

Subscriber extra: Santa Fe Hereford Subdivision track plan

Kitbashed HO scale department store with illuminated rooms

A department store for Main Street

by V.S. Roseman

Illuminated rooms are visible through the windows of Laing Brothers Department Store. Author V.S. Roseman assembled and detailed the HO scale building using City Classics kits and Roomettes interiors, which come with modeler-installed light-emitting diode lighting.

Freight cars of the '70s

by Eric White

Removing the running boards and related work was often a good time to repaint equipment into a post-merger paint scheme. Eric White shows you how he prepared these transition-era models of New York Central and Chicago Great Western cars for service in the ’70s on the Penn Central and Chicago & North Western respectively.