Cripplebrush Valley Models HO scale cast-rubber urban scenery Price: $20 (oil drums), $50 (urban outcrop) ManufacturerCripplebush Valley Models264 Saddlemire Hill Rd.Sloansville, NY 12160www.cripplebush.net Comments: Cast-rubber scenery details have been around for several years now, but most model rock formations that are found in nature. Cripplebush has introduced two castings that model urban industrial settings. The […]
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF POWER COMPANY COAL TRAINS, there are only two firms that pop to my mind as having business-specific unit trains – fast freighters operated for United Parcel Service and Tropicana. And while a UPS train contains trailers with thousands of individual packages, the Tropicana Juice Train carries just one commodity: orange juice. […]
SWITCHERS HAVE AN ESSENTIAL PLACE IN PROTOTYPE RAILROADING and a venerable spot in model railroading. Switchers are used to move cars, build freight trains, and even make short freight hops and deliveries. The Electro-Motive Division’s MP15 series of 1,500-horsepower switchers (built 1974-87) is a mainstay of modern yard power. More than 400 units were built […]
Frateschi model HO scale 4500 Turntable This is a nice looking turntable with good pit detail and molded in a gray plastic. The bridge is made to look like steel with wood ties and guide rails, it is molded in plastic. The bridge is 22cm or 8 and 5/8 inches long. There are a few […]
IMEX Model Company N scale trailer home models Dennis Murphy We’re all looking for the most realism we can create when working with our “Train World.” This includes everything from the trains, the structures, and the scenery. And what do we use for a pattern for our miniature world? Well, real life of course! In […]
Atlas offers number 8 HO scale turnouts with code 100 and code 83 rail. This review considers its appearance and functionality. Appearance On the plus side, the turnout is made of Nickel/Silver rail with black plastic ties which have molded spikes on every tie (the code 83 turnout comes with brown plastic ties). Simulated wood […]
M.T.H. HO scale 4-12-2 steam locomotive An HO model of the world’s largest rigid-wheelbase locomotive is available from M.T.H. Electric Trains. The HO 4-12-2 has realistic sounds and smoke that make it a lot of fun to operate, especially on a Digital Command Control (DCC) or M.T.H. Digital Command System layout. And the engine can […]
Walthers HO scale “Michigan” ore cars Price: 12-car limited-run sets, $169.98 ManufacturerWm. K. Walthers Inc. P.O. Box 3039 Milwaukee, WI 53201 www.walthers.com Era: 1942 to present day Comments: These short ore cars were designed and built in large numbers to haul heavy loads of iron ore in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Even though their 24-foot length […]
Atlas N scale GE Dash 8-40CW N scalers who model the modern day should be happy with Atlas’ new release, General Electric’s Dash 8-40CW road engine. Atlas’ offering is a well detailed, crisply painted model with a smooth, flywheel-equipped drivetrain and an optional Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder. The prototype. Seen by some railfans as […]
Rapido N scale Canadian National lightweight passenger cars Price: $47.95 each ManufacturerRapido Trains Inc. 140 Applewood Crescent, Unit A Concord, Ont., Canada L4K 4E2 www.rapidotrains.com Era: 1952 to present day Comments: These new N scale lightweight passenger cars from Rapido Trains are some of the best-detailed commercial models I’ve seen. Each plastic car comes assembled […]
BLMA Models HO and N scale Norfolk Southern class G85R Top Gon coal gondolas A Norfolk Southern class G85R Top Gon coal gondola is the first freight car offering from BLMA Models. The ready-to-run cars are available in HO and N scales and have road number-specific load limit, light weight, and “rebody” date stencils. Prototype […]
Train Control Systems drop-in N scale Digital Command Control decoder Price: $39.95 ManufacturerTrain Control Systems P.O. Box 341 Blooming Glen, PA 18911 www.tcsdcc.com Comments: This drop-in Digital Command Control (DCC) decoder from Train Control Systems fits the Kato N scale SD70ACe, GG1, and SD40. The TCS K1D4-NC decoder controls motor and lighting functions and has […]
