Model railroading offers the exciting opportunity to be approached in the same way as any other branch of the art world. As such, the same principles can be applied to elevate your modeling efforts to new levels. Follow along as we delve into scene composition, color treatment theory, weathering, backdrops, layout room preparation, photography, and more!

Any modeler who wants to paint, decal, or weather locomotives, rolling stock and structures will find plenty of in-depth, how-to techniques in this updated edition! New prototype photos, current manufacturers, and the latest products are featured along with several new projects that include making your own decals with an inkjet printer and a multi-color painting project for a locomotive.

Perhaps you know that in Germany the world’s largest model railway exhibition exists. It is a permanent model railway exhibit with thousands of model trains, and there are several model railroad layouts, displays and sections, for example Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Switzerland, Germany and the famous model airport in HO scale. In September 2016, a new section was opened. This new layout is called “Beautiful Italy”, and it is a masterpiece in model building. It is the state of the art of model railroading. The entire country of Italy is represented on an area of approximately 300 square meters. There are the volcano Vesuvius near Naples, Pompeii, the ancient Roman town-city, the beautiful Amalfi Coast along the coastline of the Salerno Gulf in Southern Italy, South Tyrol, Liguria, Tuscany and of course, the capital city Rome with its St. Peter’s Basilica and with the Colosseum or Coliseum, also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre. This new model railway layout is a work of art in the field of rail transport modelling. It is located at the so-called “Wonderland of Miniatures” in Hamburg, Germany. Visitors of this model railroad exhibit will be a little overloaded because there are amazing, impressive and loving details on every square meter: There are hundreds of little stories which a told by the sceneries. Furthermore, the day and night illumination in Liguria and on the Amalfi Coast is absolutely impressive.

Model Railroader's managing editor David Popp tells the complete construction story of his N scale Naugatuck River Valley layout using techniques any model railroader can use! More than 30 short projects from building benchwork to realistic operation.

Develop realistic operating sessions and operate your model railroad like a full-sized one. The book covers how to forward cars, move trains, and use signal systems.