Watch The Hills Line with James McNab on Trains.com Video
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Back to the ol' Hills Line Mailbag... "Just a quick note to say I’ve noticed that you’ve moved your photo skills into the realm of outrageously great! Totally enjoy them. Keep up the good work." Comments like this are greatly appreciated. And while I plan to continue to produce and provide what I consider publication-ready … Continue reading The 10,000-Foot View
There are several phrases used in this hobby that have long been attributed to the leaders of this hobby. Allen McClelland coined Good Enough, Tony Koester defined Layout Design Elements, and David Barrow brought Dominos to our lexicon. I'm no leader, but I'm claiming Endless Horizons, at least in the realm of model railroading. The … Continue reading Transitions
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
With the completion of the Surroundings Interiors warehouse, I can finally get to work on one of the biggest visual concerns on The Hills Line, the Hill Track. On the prototype, the Hill Track connects the Iowa Interstate's yard in Iowa City with the Maiden Lane interchange on the industrial spur. On the layout, it … Continue reading Now You See It…
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