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Magazine Articles By Brooks Stover

A Call for American Flyer Photos

How to take good photos of an A.C. Gilbert-base layout.

A Website Designed for BC&G Modelers Becomes More

The author built a web site to document his S-scale layout, and it becomes a central repository for prototype research information with many people all over the country contributing data and photos.

An Update On The Buffalo Creek & Gauley

The author has been working on his layout for 10 years. It measures 44'x25' and based on the BC&G in West Virginia. Includes several photos of the layout, as well as a track plan.

B&O Alco RS-1 - Twice

Wanting to occasionally operate his layout in a more modern setting, Brooks decides to add an RS-1 to his layout. However, with one currently not available (Railmaster Hobbies makes a kit but they are currently out of production), he converts an American Models RS-3. Not happy with his initial attempt, he rebuilds it to where the body is essentially scratchbuilt. Many construction photos of both attempts are shown. He also covers the installation of DCC and sound and how he painted and lettered the model.

B&O Class L-2 0-8-0 Switcher

The author describes how he modified an S-Helper Service 2-8-0 model into a 0-8-0 switcher. Includes full and close-up photos of the changes made.

B&O I-1 Caboose Laser Kit

The author reviews the kit manufactured by Lake Junction Models and sold through The Supply Car. He used it to model a caboose for the Buffalo Creek & Gauley railroad which he models.

B&O Wood Chip Hoppers

The author describes how he converted American Flyer 3-bay offset hoppers to become representative models of the B&O wood chip hoppers used by the Elk River Coal & Lumber Company's sawmill at Swandale, West Virginia. Includes construction photos.

Basics of Layout Photography

The author wrote a 30-page document for Model Railroader magazine called "Model Railroader's Guide to Digital Photography". The document is available on the NASG web site for free (see link). In this article, he describes the selection of a camera, lighting, and the 14-steps to taking a good photograph.

BC&G Consolidation #4

The author describes how he modified an S-Helper Service B&O 2-8-0 locomotive to model the Buffalo Creek & Gauley engine #4. Includes some model and prototype photos.

Building a B&O M-25 Box Car Using Traditional Old School Methods

The author describes his process of converting an A.C. Gilbert American Flyer box car into a reasonable likeness of the B&O car. Includes several close-up photos.

Building a Simple Layout for 4-year-old Noah

Too young for electric trains, the author removed the motors from some AF steam locomotives, to allow his grandson to hand-operate the layout they built for him.

Building the New BC&G Part One

The author describes tearing down his old layout, packing the various details, and introduces the new layout's design and his objectives.

Building the New BC&G Part Three

In this installment, the author starts building the Appalachian Mountain scenery on his new layout. He also describes his method of dealing with backdrops (only sky and clouds, thanks to the mountains).

Building the New BC&G Part Two

This installment covers the benchwork, roadbed, track, and DCC.

Building the New Buffalo Creek & Gauley Part IV

This final installment covers the "story line" of the layout and how he operates it. A little bit of prototype history is covered, including the lines' demise. On Brooks' layout, the line is doing well. He describes the car card routing system he uses, as well as the NCE DCC system he uses to run the trains. The locomotives are using the Soundtraxx Tsunami decoders.

Coffee with Brooks Stover

Brooks describes the shortline he researched and models, and what he enjoys in this hobby.

Detailing an American Models GP35

The author starts off with an American Models GP9 chassis and a GP35 shell, to build a model representing the B&O GP35. Many close-up construction photos are shown, including the final result.

How to Build an Abandoned Mine

After ten years of staring at an empty spot on his layout, the author has finally built an abandoned mine in the space. Brooks describes how he modeled the abandoned building and the techniques he used for the materials he chose. Includes a good number of close-up photos.

Interpreting A B&O P1-d Pacific

The author takes an American Models 4-6-2 and details it for a B&O locomotive used for passenger railfan trips into his BC&G layout. Includes on prototype photo and many model photos indicating the details and changes he made to the model. The project also includes installing DCC and sound, and painting and weathering the model.

Interstate All-'S' Operating Weekend

Brooks Stover, Gaylord Gill, and Dave Held each had their layouts open for an operating session at each layout over a Friday and Saturday in April 2008 to local S-scale modelers and a group from Minnesota. Includes several photos of the layouts and the group of operators.

Lessons Learned

The author asked several modelers about what they consider to be top lessons learned in their decades of modeling, and he summarizes them in this article. Includes photos of the layouts built by these modelers.

Making Motor Vehicles Better Supporting Actors

The author describes the three things he does to every vehicle, at the least, before it is placed on the layout. Includes many photos of examples.

Marathon Oil, 322 Hudson, a 6-year Old Windmill

The author has hung on to a few A.C. Gilbert items he has had since childhood, and still uses them on his current layout, including the #322 Hudson, shown in photos of his layout.

Modeling a Not So Handsome and Rather Unusual Caboose

The author describes how he modeled the B&O I-5d caboose, starting with a kit of the I-1 model produced by Lake Junction Models.

Modeling a Not So Handsome and Rather Unusual Caboose

A re-run of the May 2021 article in the Dispatch, because the editor had made many mistakes in the original version. The author describes how he modeled the B&O I-5d caboose, starting with a kit of the I-1 model produced by Lake Junction Models. Includes several model photos, as well as one prototype photo.

Phone Photography

How to use your cellphone to take good-quality layout photos.

Prototype Freelancing an Old Style Kit

The author describes how he built a 50-foot Southern Pacific box car out of two 40-foot Ye Olde Huff 'n Puff box car kits (now owned by LaBelle Woodworking). Includes construction and final-model photos.

RMC/Dremel Kitbashing Award

Modeling a Buffalo Creek & Gauley Railroad caboose in the 1970s era. The author started with a C&O American Models caboose, and added many details, including an interior.

Seaboard Bulkhead Flat 47109

The author describes how he built this bulkhead flat car from various parts, starting with an American Flyer flat car.

Teens Enjoying Trains

The author's grandkids came by and had a blast operating their grandpa's new, under-construction layout. This also was the layout's first "operating session".

The BC&G at 50

The author shares his insights after having had 50 operating sessions on this home layout. Includes several photos of the layout, as well as a track plan.

The Buffalo Creek & Gauley R.R.

A beautiful rendition of the standard gauge shortline in West Virginia. It still used steam in the early 1960s. Includes layout photos, track plan, and structure sketches done by the author to capture the flavor of a structure before building it. Includes information about the BC&G today.

The Buffalo Creek & Gauley Railroad Part II

The article started in the June issue continues by covering operations on the BC&G, it provides a description of the author's S-scale layout, and includes both prototype and layout photos. A track plan of the author's layout is also included.

The S scale Buffalo Creek & Gauley RR

The real Buffalo Creek & Gauley was an 18-mile West Virginia short line. Brooks has modeled that using S-scale hi-rail track and large flanges, but you have to look long and hard to see that through all of the scenery and details that are on this 22'x28' layout. The layout is set in 1962, three years before the BC&G went out of business. The article includes lots of photos, and a full-color track plan.

Upgrading AM's B&O Bay Window Cabooses

The author describes how he modeled two wide-vision cabooses from American Models to represents models from two different eras of the B&O.