RMC Extra Board

Welcome to Craftsman Extra Board! This section is updated periodically with short features contributed by our readers, as well as some recent favorites straight from the pages of Railroad Model Craftsman. Check back as we continue to add new articles!

Michigan Interstate Railroad

June 16, 2023

Michigan Interstate Railroad

Greg McComas’ freelanced HO scale Michigan Interstate delivers immersive modern regional operations in a limited space, and will be on the NMRA Convention tour this summer.

Kitbash a Rio Grande Steam Generator

June 16, 2023

Kitbash a Rio Grande Steam Generator

A Proto2000 Alco PA B-unit is the base for a kitbashed Rio Grande steam generator car in HO scale.

Harvest Time: Modeling a Modern Midwestern Wheat Harvest

May 15, 2023

Harvest Time: Modeling a Modern Midwestern Wheat Harvest

Using faux fur as the base to make a convincing Kansas wheat field in HO scale as part of a scene depicting the summer harvest.

Rock Island Mid-Continent Route

May 15, 2023

Rock Island Mid-Continent Route

Based on the old Rock Island route between Kansas City and the Twin Cities, this HO scale layout will be on the NMRA convention tour this summer.

Lakehurst Industrial Park: A Modern HO Switching Layout

April 17, 2023

Lakehurst Industrial Park: A Modern HO Switching Layout

A proto-freelanced HO scale switching layout inspired by modern Conrail Shared Assets operations in New Jersey.

Rebuilt Santa Fe SF30C in HO

April 17, 2023

Rebuilt Santa Fe SF30C in HO

Santa Fe rebuilt 70 General Electric U36Cs to extend their life into the 1900s. Modify and detail an SF30C in HO scale.

Mill Gap on the Chesapeake & Ohio Ryder Sub

March 17, 2023

Mill Gap on the Chesapeake & Ohio Ryder Sub

This proto-freelanced HO scale layout is inspired by elements of Cass, West Virginia, firmly in the Chesapeake & Ohio era of the mid-1970s.

Prototype Modeling Cass, West Virginia in HO Scale

March 17, 2023

Prototype Modeling Cass, West Virginia in HO Scale

Have you ever considered scratchbuilding an entire town? Steve Funsten models Cass, West Virginia, in the modern excursion era.

The Legendary Virginian & Ohio Railroad

February 16, 2023

The Legendary Virginian & Ohio Railroad

Allen McClelland’s legendary HO scale empire pioneered many concepts in model railroad design and operation still employed today.

90 Years of Craftsman History

February 16, 2023

90 Years of Craftsman History

When it comes to publishing the best in scale modeling month after month, we did it first, and nine decades later, we still do it best.