On this podcast, we welcome back Ralph Renzetti a.k.a. “The Mudfather.” The Evel Overlord had lots of questions about paint, glues and everything else that’s needed to build an award-winning model. There’s plenty of discussion on the mixing of paints, which ones are best suited for each individual application and lots more.

Ralph Renzetti as well-known among his peers as an expert modeler and extremely knowledgeable about everything that’s required to build that prize running model that’s the centerpiece of your layout. He’s always willing to share his thoughts on a wide variety of topics without hesitation. It’s a great podcast and one we’re sure you’ll enjoy.

RPM Meets have created a community for sharing information and experiences about and around the hobby of model railroading, what others are doing in the hobby, why they’re doing and what each individual is trying to accomplish.

There are many RPM events throughout the country. Some are national conferences like the Chicagoland or St. Louis events, while others are one or two-day local meets with a focus on displaying models and sharing a few clinics. Mr. RPM, Eric Hansmann joins us to discuss what’s happening in the world of RPM meets.

Details, details, details, with today’s HO and N-scale locomotive manufactures delivering engines with just about every detail you can imagine, we here at the old AML headquarters have discovered someone that’s producing even more details for every facet of your layout, including locomotives and rolling stock.

Chris Wallace is like almost everyone else in the hobby having been a model railroader for as long as he can remember but here’s the twist, he’s also a full-time 1:1 railroader that’s discovered 3-D printers and a need for many details that haven’t been available up till now.

Whether it’s trash cans, air conditioners, fire hydrants, tiedown chain, runaround hoses, or a whole host of details for specific locomotives Wallace Locomotives Works is your one stop shop. Tell ‘em Lionel sent you and see if that helps!!

One of the great things about this hobby of model railroading is that it’s always there when you need it, like a faithful companion, whether you choose to work on your current project every day, once a week or just a few times a month, it’s always there ready for the next adventure.

Our next guest, Wally Swaitly is typical of folks who revisit the hobby after years or perhaps even decades away, whilst pursuing other interests. But what makes Wally so interesting is how much he’s accomplished in just a few short years since his return and even more amazing are some of the projects he’s decided to tackle strictly for the enjoyment of it. Whether it’s the N-Scale railroad that runs around the ceiling, his beautiful HO-Scale shelf layout or his On-30 fantasy layout, each one is built with enthusiasm and excitement.

Here at the ole’ AML Nation’s world headquarters in downtown Busted Knuckle, Kentucky… It seems increasingly evident to us that RPM meets are becoming more and more popular with each passing year.

On this podcast, we talk with Jerry Britton and Matthew Hurst about the second edition of the Central Pennsylvania Short Lines RPM. There’s going to be plenty to do on Friday with layout visits in Statesville and operating session at the Bricktown Museum in Mt. Union. Friday evening after dinner will feature clinics that continue all day Saturday. Sunday will offer an opportunity to tour the Everett Railroad’s shops, followed by an  excursion for those who are interested. It’s going to be a great event, and this is a great podcast to tell you all about it.

Imagine the excitement of having your model railroad appear on the cover of the hobby’s premier magazine for the first time?? That’s exactly what happened to Mike Hauk When his Susquehanna and New York, Railroad appeared on the cover of the May issue of Railroad Model Craftsman.

This HO scale railroad is based on a short line located in the central Pennsylvania mountains, north of Williamsport and along the West branch of the Susquehanna River. Mike first discovered this railroad while reading Tom Taber’s series on logging railroads, while more inspiration came from the family hunting camp that wasn’t far from an entire freight yard thick with woods after its abandonment years before. It’s a great podcast and one we’re sure you’ll enjoy!!

After a lifetime of serving a higher calling and a lifelong obsession with model railroading, it was time for our next guest to buy a basement with a house on top of it. Robin Montenay spent most of his life with the Lutheran Church and without a permanent site to build a model railroad.

What he ended with is a spectacular shelf layout called the “Barchester” that appeared on the cover of the 2024 December issue of Railroad Model Craftsman. Without ties to the church Robin has become a free to visit train shows and explore what the hobby has to offer other than through the pages of the most popular magazines. It’s a great podcast and one we’re sure you’ll enjoy.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if two guys with beards that worked for the Norfolk Southern joined forces to create a destination hobby shop in York, Pennsylvania?? The same question occurred to us and after an exhaustive search we stumbled across Ryan and Tom who just so happened to own White Rose Hobbies, a full-line hobby shop located at 4401 W Market St. in York, PA.

Ryan has been a life-long model railroader and Tom has been a life-long entrepreneur with a desire to be part of a successful business. Together they turned Ryan original dream of owning a prosperous model railroad store into a full-service hobby shop and e-commerce business that shows no signs of slowing down. This is a great story, so grab yourself a big bowl of shredded beard clippings, a tall cool glass of clipper oil and enjoy!!! www.whiterosehobbies.com

Until recently, most model railroading products were imported from countries like China, Germany, or Japan under a specific harmonized tariff schedule. The tariffs were typically low and often duty-free under most trade agreements. For many imports valued under $800 shipments could often enter the country duty-free

But all that’s changed so we here at the ole’ AML Network decided it was time to find out as much as we could about this new world by visiting our friends Tom and Ryan at White Rose Hobbies in York, Pennsylvania to try and get as much of the inside scoop as possible. We were surprised by some of the answers we got and came away with a little bit better understanding of what’s happening in the world of importing model railroad products. It’s a great podcast and one we’re sure you’ll enjoy.

Getting started in model railroading  can be an overwhelming experience, with questions like what scale to choose, who makes the best products, do I need to be a skilled carpenter, will there be a need for a vast knowledge in electronics?? The questions are endless and in today’s world of social media the places to find answers can be almost as confusing.

But being a woman in model railroading can be both a rewarding and unique experience, though it sometimes comes with challenges due to the hobby’s historical male dominance. The good news is that the landscape is changing, with more women getting involved and making their mark. Our next guest Linda Eskin isn’t afraid to take on a new adventure and decided to jump in with both feet. Join us we discover what the hobby looks like from the perspective of a complete beginner!!