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My last post detailed the start of construction of US Highway 6, a major arterial road in Iowa City and over The Hills Line. As with any scenic element that covers or crowds the rails, I spent time testing numerous trains over the crossing to make sure I wouldn't have electrical or mechanical issues when … Continue reading Curb Appeal, Part Two
Roads and grade crossings on a model railroad are two things that every visitor to our layouts can quickly identify and relate with. That comes from the simple fact that we interact with roads on a regular and ongoing basis. On The Hills Line I've begun construction of US Highway 6, a major arterial road … Continue reading Curb Appeal, Part One
I have a love/hate relationship when it comes to making mockups on a model railroad. On one hand, it annoys me to spend time on something that I know will end up in the trash instead of on The Hills Line. On the other, I really hate redoing things I've already done, so taking the … Continue reading The Case for Mockups
My grand plan of using Google Streetview images for photo backdrops on The Hills Line has, so far, been somewhat successful. To date I've been able to use or modify existing photos from in and around Iowa City, saving me the hassle and issue of traveling east to get what I need... which considering the … Continue reading Something Borrowed
The Hills Line 