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Card2026-01-02T20:30:46+00:00monthlyhttps://dakotamodelers.com/2025/07/21/layers-of-detailed-weathering/https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1000015206-1.jpg1000015206https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1000015207.jpg1000015207https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1000015151.jpg1000015151https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1000015211.jpg1000015211https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1000015209.jpg1000015209https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1000015121.jpg1000015121https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1000015115.jpg1000015115https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1000015116.jpg1000015116https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/1000015118.jpg1000015118https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20250718_202411.jpg20250718_2024112026-01-02T20:29:17+00:00monthlyhttps://dakotamodelers.com/2025/07/13/traction-action-in-fort-collins/https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/dsc00130.jpgDSC00130https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/dsc00132.jpgDSC00132https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ft_collins_municipal_railway_timelapse.gifFt_Collins_Municipal_Railway_timelapsehttps://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/fort-collins-municipal-trolley-2.pngFort Collins Municipal trolleyhttps://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/fort-collins-municipal-trolley-1.pngFort Collins Municipal trolleyhttps://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/fort-collins-municipal-trolley.pngFort Collins Municipal trolleyhttps://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/dsc00131.jpgDSC00131https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/dsc00122.jpgDSC001222026-01-02T20:28:36+00:00monthlyhttps://dakotamodelers.com/2025/07/06/weather-an-open-hopper/https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20240714_092813-1.jpg20240714_092813https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20240714_092638-1.jpg20240714_092638https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20240714_092240-1.jpg20240714_092240https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20240714_092027-1.jpg20240714_092027https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20240714_091756-1.jpg20240714_091756https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20240714_091701-1.jpg20240714_091701https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20240714_091756.jpg20240714_091756https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20240714_091701.jpg20240714_091701https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20240714_153443-01-1.jpeg20240714_153443-01https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/20240714_153616-01.jpeg20240714_153616-012026-01-02T20:28:07+00:00monthlyhttps://dakotamodelers.com/2025/04/28/weather-prototypically/https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20230916_202802.jpg20230916_202802https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20230916_202858.jpg20230916_202858https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20230916_202818.jpg20230916_202818https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20230916_120623.jpg20230916_120623https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20230916_095846-1.jpg20230916_095846https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20230916_095846.jpg20230916_095846https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20230916_205031.jpg20230916_2050312026-01-02T20:27:35+00:00monthlyhttps://dakotamodelers.com/2025/03/23/weather-an-autorack-kit/https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/1000008435-1.jpg1000008435https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20240128_184738-01.jpeg20240128_184738-01https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20240128_184433-01.jpeg20240128_184433-01https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20240128_184417-01.jpeg20240128_184417-01https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20240128_184657-01.jpeg20240128_184657-01https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20240127_232834.jpg20240127_232834https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20240124_192307.jpg20240124_192307https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20240124_192315.jpg20240124_192315https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20240127_120519.jpg20240127_120519https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20240125_120026.jpg20240125_1200262026-01-02T20:26:45+00:00monthlyhttps://dakotamodelers.com/2025/03/07/5-reasons-to-build-a-small-layout/https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/image_50732545.jpgimage_50732545A doe and her twins take a quick glance at the trestle near Pierpont Lake. With the exception of the weekly train rolling over once each way, this spot is quiet most of the time.https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/image_16901633.jpgimage_16901633Engine 206 leads a loaded coal train eastbound through Andover. It is bound for the power station in Big Stone City, SD, on the Minnesota border.https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/image_50436865.jpgimage_50436865Milwaukee Road Bicentennial Unit 156 leads westbound hotshot #201 from Chicago. It will stop in Aberdeen for a new crew and fuel before continuing west to Tacoma.https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/image_16835073.jpgimage_16835073https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/image_16891137.jpgimage_16891137https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/image_16870913-1.jpgimage_16870913https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/image_50426113.jpgimage_50426113SDL39s 586 and 583 take the weekly branchline job south towards Andover.https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/fb_img_1741371469965-1.jpgFB_IMG_1741371469965The "clean" look at the benchwork before Mike began laying track and placing structures. The benchwork is primarily made of 1x4s in an open grid pattern topped with 1 inch extruded insulation board.https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/465991591_1111427584319469_996017222786528711_n-1.jpg465991591_1111427584319469_996017222786528711_nhttps://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/465791859_1110399271088967_4436618200112289127_n-1.jpg465791859_1110399271088967_4436618200112289127_n2026-01-02T20:26:02+00:00monthlyhttps://dakotamodelers.com/2025/02/23/what-is-hon3-and-how-do-i-get-started/https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/img_2398.jpgIMG_2398https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/img_20220818_154841719.jpgIMG_20220818_154841719https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/img_1628.jpgIMG_1628https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/img_1629.jpgIMG_1629https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/img_2576.jpgIMG_2576https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/img_2575.jpgIMG_2575https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/img_2574.jpgIMG_2574https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/grabill-collection-bhfp-rr-in-elk-canyon-1980-1.jpgGrabill Collection BHFP RR in Elk Canyon 1980https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/p1__6262.jpgP1__6262https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/img_20230408_143904463.jpgIMG_20230408_1439044632026-01-02T20:25:20+00:00monthlyhttps://dakotamodelers.com/2025/02/20/layout-tour-the-black-hills-and-fort-pierre-in-hon3/https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/bhfp-trackplan.jpgBHFP trackplanHere is the original track plan for the layout which features tight curves, steep grades, and a very narrow gauge feel to it.https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/img_2393.jpgIMG_2393https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/img_2408.jpgIMG_2408I prefer slow speed switching to mainline train action and this layout is designed to meet that desire. Four turnouts make up an entire town and will serve a sawmill, general store, post office, and passenger station.https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/img_2448.jpgIMG_2448This section called "Nemo" has had the most progress in the last few months.https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/img_2153.jpgIMG_2153https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/img_1791.jpgIMG_1791I've made substantially more progress from when this photo was taken, however it shows off the design of my benchwork quite well. It is composed of 3/4 inch plywood cut into strips then glued and nailed together into an open frame design that is (almost) square!https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/img_1939-1.jpgIMG_1939To go along with the compact nature of the layout is compact equipment. Narrow gauge trains are typically much smaller than their standard gauge counterparts. In fact, planning out the track for this HOn3 layout isn't terribly different from N scale projects I've done in the past.https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/bhfp-uncle-sam-mine.jpgBHFP Uncle Sam Minehttps://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/img_1587.jpgIMG_1587https://dakotamodelers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/img_1937.jpgIMG_1937Steep grades and tight curves will be ever-present in the more mountainous sections of the layout. 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