Watch Episodes of The Hills Line with James McNab
Trains.com Video
Purchase the first season on DVD
Trains.com Store
If there's an advantage to modeling a prototype that only features two online industries, it's that the offline industries tend to be rather simple in execution. Generally that's due to having their backsides visible to the railroad, which lack any loading docks or rolling doors, since they aren't rail served. It becomes a rather straightforward … Continue reading Building The Backsides
I'm getting better, or at least more consistent, with using my Cricut Plotter for scratchbuilding on The Hills Line. While my primary structures, especially the rail-served ones, will always require sturdier construction methods, the majority of the buildings can be quickly and efficiently assembled from styrene sheet. Case in point, Iowa Fire Equipment. The small, … Continue reading Fire Sale
Welcome to 2022! Let's start the New Year out with a structure build. J&M Automotive is an independent car mechanic located on East 1st Street in Iowa City alongside the industrial spur. The simple concrete block garage is probably the smallest single structure planned for The Hills Line. However, its small size allows me to … Continue reading Starting 2022
With the annus horribilis that was 2020 done, I'm hopeful that 2021 will be just a little bit better for everyone. As far as The Hills Line is concerned, the start of a new year gives me opportunity to define my goals for the layout over the next 365 days. Producing The Hills Line with … Continue reading Finding Focus
The Hills Line 