FEBRUARY 2026: This month we visit Art Lort’s exceptional HO scale Rio Grande Gunnison Division, where standard and narrow gauge railroading come together in the mountains of Colorado. Ben Maggi walks through scratchbuilding a wood enginehouse from scale drawings, while Steve Lee shows how to modernize classic brass Pacific Electric “Red Cars” for reliable modern operation. Wayne Wesolowski tackles the challenge of building Nashville Union Station in HO scale using custom castings, and Caldwell Butler revisits the Vest-Pocket Turbine with a fresh take on a classic freelanced design. All this and more in the February issue of Railroad Model Craftsman!

This Month

February 2026

Vol. 95/No. 2


Features:

Rio Grande Gunnison Division

by DOUG GEIGER, MMR – A detailed HO layout that combines standard and narrow gauge operations.

All-Purpose P-S 89’ Flatcar

by JAMES KINKAID – This fleet of utility flatcars was built by Pullman-Standard for Itel Industries in 1978-1979.

Scratchbuild a Wood Enginehouse

by BENJAMIN MAGGI, MMR – Working from scale drawings to build a detailed structure from stripwood.

Rebuilding Classic Brass ‘Red Cars’

by STEVE LEE – Upgrading details and drivetrains of older brass models of Pacific Electric freight motors.

Building Nashville Union Station

by WAYNE WESOLOWSKI – Scratchbuilding a large-city passenger terminal using custom castings in HO scale.

Vest-Pocket Turbine Revisited

by CALDWELL BUTLER – A freelanced locomotive kitbash inspired by Jim Allen and Bob Boudreau.


Departments

Safety Valve – Letters from our readers

Receiving Yard – Product and industry news compiled by Harry K. Wong

Test Track – Product Reviews

Railbooks – Book news and reviews

Craftsman Timetable – Scheduled events and notices

Perspective

Craftsman Workshop

Collector Consist

Painting & Weathering

Company Photographer

The Layout Doctor

Diverging Points – Opinion by Jason Shron

Editor’s Notebook- Commentary by Otto M. Vondrak


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