David Popp

Wisconsin

Producer at Trains Magazine

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Articles

Model Railroader Tips & Tricks | Working with suitcase connectors

6 days ago | trains.com | David Popp

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The latest developments in United States tariffs and the model train industry

1 week ago | trains.com | David Popp

The following is a series of edited excerpts from an interview conducted by David Popp with Jason Shron, owner and CEO of Rapido Trains Inc. on May 20, 2025 on the subject of United States tariffs in relation to the model train industry. You can find the complete interview on Trains.com Video by clicking here. – Ed. David: Still a hot button topic, last week the tariffs on model trains manufactured in China changed from 145% to 30% for a 90-day period.
Model Railroader Tips & Tricks | Track selection and tracklaying insights

2 weeks ago | trains.com | David Popp

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Olympia & Sand Creek, Episode 25 | Details and ground cover

3 weeks ago | trains.com | David Popp |Sand Creek

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Legs and bracing for the East Troy Industrial Park

3 weeks ago | trains.com | David Popp

Once we had the L-girders built, it was time to turn our attention to adding the legs and support bracing for the layout. We constructed the legs as simple subassemblies with their own cross bracing. It all bolts to the L-girder frames using ¼” carriage bolts, wing nuts, and washers. We used more dimensional lumber for these parts, including 2 x 2s for the legs, 1 x 4 boards for the bottom leg connectors, and 1 x 2s for all of the angle bracing.
Benchwork for the East Troy Industrial Park

1 month ago | trains.com | David Popp

From tabletop, to shelf, to open grid, there are a lot of different methods you can use to build model railroad benchwork. For our HO scale East Troy Industrial Park project layout, we used a combination of two methods, cookie cutter and L-girder, to make solid, stable benchwork.
Which type of subroadbed is right for me?

1 month ago | trains.com | Lucas Iverson |David Popp

“Which type of subroadbed is right for me?” It’s a question that is especially asked by beginners. The subroadbed is the material that you place under your roadbed, track, and often scenery. It serves as the foundation for your model railroad, so choosing the correct material is very important. Before evaluating good subroadbed options, let’s cross off one material that you certainly don’t want to use, and that is particle board.
The ongoing effect of United States tariffs on the model train industry

1 month ago | trains.com | David Popp

The following is a series of edited excerpts from an interview conducted by David Popp with Stacey Walthers Naffah, president and CEO of Wm. K. Walthers, Inc. on April 21, 2025. It is part of Trains.com and Model Railroader‘s ongoing coverage of U.S. tariffs. Click here to watch the complete video interview on Trains.com Video.
Model Railroader Tips & Tricks | Choosing roadbed

1 month ago | trains.com | David Popp

This content is available to Trains.com Unlimited Members only. Want unlimited access to Trains.com? Learn More Start Your Free TrialYou’ll get complete access to all content on Trains.com from our family of brands, PLUS thousands of issues in the archives, video series and workshops, live webcams and more!Already a member? Sign In
United States tariffs and their effect on the model train industry

2 months ago | trains.com | David Popp

The following is a series of edited excerpts from an interview conducted by David Popp with Jason Shron, owner of Rapido Trains on March 25, 2025. You can find the complete interview on Trains.com Video by clicking here. – Ed.David: The word on everybody’s minds in the hobby as of late is tariffs. Jason Shron, the owner of Rapido Trains, agreed to talk with Model Railroader about the current tariff situation and what it means for hobbyists and manufacturers alike.