Episode #19 - Hurdles in Model railroading. The crew discusses overcoming obstacles. What has been in your way of a better layout, models, engines, or anything else? You may not become the Edwin Moses of Model Trains, but hopefully, you can overcome some difficult portions of this hobby. 

This episode is sponsored by The Local Model Railroad Club. We also feature a Gripe from the Curmudgeon.

This episode features Greg Dahl, Dan Dossa, Mike Jordan, Luke Lemmens, William Sampson, and Thomas Gasior MMR.

What things from the prototype inspire your modeling. What have you learned about prototype operations that have changed your mind about things on your layout?  If you stick to what real railroads did in certain eras, your entire layout will improve, even if you model a freelanced railroad. 

Join the crew as we discuss how modeling prototype practices have helped our modeling, building, and even narrowed down our choices.  Do you follow prototype practices? Please let us know. 

This episode is sponsored by: The Gruesome Casket Kit

Joe Binish, Eric Boone, Lawrence Eggering,  David Hamilton, Mike Jordan, William Sampson, ken Zieska, and Thomas Gasior MMR.

Planning your next layout, or want to redo your current one? The crew discusses some things that went well for them and things that did not go well. The voice of experience is a great teacher. What three things would you tell others to include or avoid?
We also have a new intro and our first sponsor. Blue Tubs!
Join the crew of Eric Boone, Thomas Gasior MMR, Mike Jordan, Luke Lemmens,  and  Ken Zieska.

This episode is about improving your locomotive performance. Focusing on Mike Jordans attempts at making the Bachmann 70 Ton GE run better. Adding an NWSL Stanton drive and other fixes suggested by the crew.  We discuss bad gears and some solutions. Join Eric Boone, Thomas Gasior MMR, David Hamilton, Mike Jordan, and William Sampson as they discuss locomotive improvements and frustrations. 

The crew discusses building a large home layout. What are the advantages and disadvantages. What is the cost, the time, the skills you will need? How are operations set up for a large layout different from a medium-size or small layout? Many more topics are touched on in this intriguing conversation focused on building the layout that is the right size for you. Join David Hamilton, Mike Jordan, Luke Lemmens, William Sampson, Ken Zieska, and Thomas W Gasior MMR in this episode. 

Mistakes happen, and how you deal with them will define you as a modeler. Do you redo the whole project? Do you push it away and wait for an epiphany to sort it out? Do you move on and sell it or even trash? Or are you a "Sucker for hope?" and will cling to this for a long time.
Join Joe Binish, Thomas Gasior MMR, Dave Hamilton, William Sampson, and Ken Zieska as they discuss their mistakes and favorite recovery method. 

Do you choose an industry and then purchase rolling stock, or do you create an industry to fit the cars you have on hand? The crew discusses how they find and fit industries on their layouts using everything from a phone book to an Internet search engine. Join Joe Binish, Greg Dahl, Thomas Gasior MMR, Dave Hamilton, Mike Jordan, and Ken Zieska as they discuss industries and their value to layouts operations.

In this episode, we dig deep in the resin with Eric Jon Boone. Join Joe Binish, Greg Dahl, Dave Hamilton, and Thomas Gasior MMR. Eric has been working with CAD for many years. He has now combined that skill with the new 3D printers available to all of us and is producing one-of-a-kind boxcars and more for his Pere Marquette layout.  The crew discusses the future of 3D printing plus how it might affect layout planning and building in the future. The real question is, do we all want 100 miniature Joe Binish figures on our layout? 

Episode #11 -  3D printing, layout design advice, roads and highway lines, plus more unsolicited advice. We welcome Eric Jon Boone to our crew. Eric is a CAD artist and likes to use his skills for 3D printing, laser cutting, and other hobby interest. He is also building a new layout based on the Pere Marquette in Michigan. Mike Jordan, Ken Zieska, and Thomas Gasior MMR offer plenty of advice on layouts and operations. Remember friends don't let friends build a helix.

Do you have a stash of projects that just can't find the light of day? Blue Tubs filled with someday items? Projects hid behind the layout skirting in shame? Does looking at them bring you happiness or despair? Our panel discusses these projects and how we have dealt with them in the past and currently. Greg Dahl, Dan Dossa, Thomas Gasior MMR, David Hamilton, Mike Jordan, and Ken Zieska join in the round table discussion.