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!

Pennsylvania Railroad South Bend Branch in HO

August 16, 2023

Pennsylvania Railroad South Bend Branch in HO

An HO scale proto-freelanced Pennsylvania Railroad branch line shelf layout designed for realistic photography.

Pixels Before Plywood: Using Train Simulators in Layout Design

August 16, 2023

Pixels Before Plywood: Using Train Simulators in Layout Design

Using a train simulator program can help you build and test successful layout designs before you spend money on materials and start construction.

Texas Northern Model Railroad Club

July 15, 2023

Texas Northern Model Railroad Club

Long main line runs are balanced with local switching on the Texas Northern Model Railroad Club HO scale layout.

Backdating Los Angeles Junction

July 15, 2023

Backdating Los Angeles Junction

Inspired by the prototype urban switching district, this compact HO scale shelf layout was backdated to the 1960s.

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.