Episode #259: White Rose Hobbies
a ModelersLife
Have you ever wondered what would happen if two guys with beards that worked for the Norfolk Southern joined forces to create a destination hobby shop in York, Pennsylvania?? The same question occurred to us and after an exhaustive search we stumbled across Ryan and Tom who just so happened to own White Rose Hobbies, a full-line hobby shop located at 4401 W Market St. in York, PA. Ryan has been a life-long model railroader and Tom has been a life-long entrepreneur with a desire to be part of a successful business. Together they turned Ryan original dream of owning a prosperous model...
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Tariffs, Tariffs, Tariffs !!
a ModelersLife
Until recently, most model railroading products were imported from countries like China, Germany, or Japan under a specific harmonized tariff schedule. The tariffs were typically low and often duty-free under most trade agreements. For many imports valued under $800 shipments could often enter the country duty-free But all that’s changed so we here at the ole’ AML Network decided it was time to find out as much as we could about this new world by visiting our friends Tom and Ryan at White Rose Hobbies in York, Pennsylvania to try and get as much of the inside scoop as possible. We were...
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Episode #258: Linda Eskin
a ModelersLife
Getting started in model railroading can be an overwhelming experience, with questions like what scale to choose, who makes the best products, do I need to be a skilled carpenter, will there be a need for a vast knowledge in electronics?? The questions are endless and in today’s world of social media the places to find answers can be almost as confusing. But being a woman in model railroading can be both a rewarding and unique experience, though it sometimes comes with challenges due to the hobby’s historical male dominance. The good news is that the landscape is changing, with more...
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Episode 257: Chris Wolfe
a ModelersLife
Our next guest may not be well known in the world of model railroading but he’s the son of Larry Wolfe, AMA Hall of Fame member and world-renowned RC jet pioneer. Chris Wolfe grew up in the back room of Jet hanger Hobbies while being exposed to all aspects of the radio control hobby. His passion for the hobby started at an early age when he began building plastic models, by age eleven he was flying RC aircraft. Chris has built numerous award-winning competition scale aircraft and loves to build as much as he loves to fly. Sharing his knowledge and techniques he’s developed and honed on...
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Episode 256: Bill Ford
a ModelersLife
Getting back into the hobby after a long hiatus isn’t as simple as it might sound, things have changed, prices are different, tools are better, the models run so much more smoothly, and the AML Nation is now here to help. On this episode, we talk with Bill Ford who’s always been a Model Railroader, but took time off for to pursue his career in punk rock and becoming an licensed electrician. Bill never actually lost his enthusiasm for the hobby but as with so many things, life got in the way and laying track was put on the back burner for a while. This is a great podcast about...
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Episode #255: Spikey Bits
a ModelersLife
Turns out there’s other hobbies besides model railroading, who knew??... So here at the ole’ World Headquarters in downtown Busted Knuckle, Kentucky have decided that for the second decade of “a ModelersLife” we’re going to occasionally explore life outside this great hobby of ours. The hobby of wargaming has been growing in popularity over the last several decades, and we decided to strike up a conversation with someone that has an excellent website, a great YouTube channel, lots of tutorials and a personality that fits perfectly into the AML Nation. “Spikey Bits” a.k.a. Rob...
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Episode 254: David Lund
a ModelersLife
It’s always fun when we talk to somebody for the very first time and on this episode, we head to the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois to talk with David Lund an avid model railroader, brand new dad of beautiful twin girls, son of a full-time railroader and a man that understands the finer things about hotdogs. If you’re interested in anything other than model railroads as David has been for most of his life, this is a great discussion about plastic plane modeling and some of the crossover techniques that might be used when working on any model railroad. So grab yourself a big bowl of...
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Andy Zimmerman: Mr. T-Trak
a ModelersLife
One of the great things about this hobby of model railroading is the ability to meet people from all walks of life and while we’ve talked with Andy Zimmerman before, it’s always interesting to start the discussion talking about life on an aircraft carrier and around the world. But after that, there was plenty of talk about T-Trak, the evolution of Kato Precision Railroad Models, advancements in DCC decoders over the years and some of the best model railroad benchwork money can buy. So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded locomotive wheels, a tall cool glass of warm sea water and...
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Joe Desmond Part Two
a ModelersLife
It’s part two of the Joe Desmond chronicles, and in this episode we discover some very cool 3-D printed pick-up truck models at Showcase Miniatures, from the original Mad About Cars series. There’s also a great discussion and some excellent instruction on how to paint these particular models while Joe introduces us to the Army Painter series of paints and supplies. Joe also tells us how he learned to curve wood and make his fabulous control panels look like they were built directly into the layout facia. So grab a big bowl of shredded paint brushes, a tall cool glass of thinned...
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Waz' Happenin' with Joe Desmond
a ModelersLife
It’s been a while since we checked in with our friend Joe Desmond, an N- Scale modeler with a passion for the hobby, Conrail and connecting with other hobbyists through social media. There’s a great discussion about the pros and cons of spending valuable modeling time making YouTube videos versus working on the layout. Joe has for some years now publicized his Central Jersey Conrail layout on TikTok and other social media avenues. There’s some good discussion on why the layout isn’t finished yet, life’s curveballs and never sacrificing quality for speed or getting the layout...
info_outlineWe’ve interviewed so many folks over the last decade sometimes it’s hard to remember who we’ve missed over the last little while, but thanks to the modeler simply known as “Kelly,” we’ve once again teamed up with one of the most prolific and imaginative folks we’ve ever met on our travels throughout the model railroad world.
Smokin’ Joe D’Amato has for over two decades been a key element in the design and production of the fabulous N-Scale line from Micro-Trains in Talent, Oregon. Never at a loss for words or ideas, Smokin’ Joe has been a big of N-Scale scene since the early 2000’s. Lately he’s even helped the company branch out into HO-Scale with a great line of weathered cars from Accurail. It’s a great podcast and as always, Joe doesn’t disappoint!!