Athearn Ready-to-Roll HO scale SD40T-2 More prototype-specific detail and a dual-mode SoundTraxx Econami decoder highlight this HO scale SD40T-2 “tunnel motor” diesel from Athearn Trains. The plastic model has many enhancements compared to the previous Athearn Ready-to-Roll SD40T-2 that we reviewed back in the January 2008 issue. Prototype. In 1972, General Motors Electro-Motive Division and […]
Kadee HO scale early PS-1 boxcar Price: $39.95 Manufacturer Kadee Quality Products Co. 673 Ave. C White City, OR 97503-1078 www.kadee.com Era: 1947 to 1980s Road names: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; New York Central; New York, New Haven & Hartford (with 7-foot door); Southern Ry.; and Union Pacific Comments: Kadee has released an early-production […]
Wm. K. Walthers, which added easy-to-build HO scale railway bridges to its Cornerstone line a few years ago, is now doing the same in N scale. The single-track arched Pratt truss bridge kit is the latest in that line. I assembled and painted the bridge along with its matching pier and abutment kits, which are sold […]
WalthersMainline HO scale Budd 85-foot dome coach Price: $39.98 Manufacturer Wm. K. Walthers Inc. 5601 W. Florist Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53218 www.walthers.com Era: 1954 to present Road names: Amtrak (phase 3); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Southern Ry.; Union Pacific; and VIA Rail Canada. Also available undecorated. Comments: Wm. K. Walthers Inc. has added an […]
Broadway Limited Imports N scale PRR T1 4-4-4-4 The T1 is equipped with magnetic knuckle couplers. Details like wire grab irons and train-phone system antenna add to the realism. I recently reviewed two N scale diesel locomotives from Broadway Limited Imports (BLI) featuring Paragon3 Digital Command Control (DCC) decoders with Rolling Thunder (March and May […]
ScaleTrains.com HO scale GE C44-9W diesel With its myriad roadname- and roadnumber-specific detail variations, this HO scale General Electric C44-9W diesel-electric locomotive from ScaleTrains.com ensures that there’s plenty for all the “rivet counters” out there to scrutinize. And they won’t be disappointed. For this review I tested a Rivet Counter-series model that came factory- equipped […]
Arrowhead Models HO scale ‘Committee Design’ hopper The slope sheets with their steeper ends are clearly visible on Arrowhead Models’ Committee Design 70-ton hopper. Design by committee isn’t usually a ringing endorsement, but these new HO scale 70-ton coal hoppers from Arrowhead Models could certainly turn the tide. The committee in question included Pennsylvania RR, […]
Walthers Cornerstone HO scale American Bungalow kit Price: $29.98 Manufacturer Wm. K. Walthers Inc. 5601 W. Florist Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53218 www.walthers.com Era: 1910s to present Comments: The American Bungalow is the latest addition to the Walthers Cornerstone series. The HO scale plastic kit measures 35⁄8″ x 611⁄32″. Introduced more than a century ago, the […]
Bachmann HO scale test weight car Price: $39 Manufacturer Bachmann Trains 1400 East Erie Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19124 www.bachmanntrains.com Era: 1930s to present Road names: Burlington Northern, Baltimore & Ohio, Canadian National, and Union Pacific. Also available painted black but unlettered. Comments: Used for calibrating track scales, test weight cars (also called scale test cars) […]
William Zuback O GAUGE AMERICAN CAR & FOUNDRY BOXCAR FROM ATLAS O Price: $59.95 Min Curve: O-31 Features: Sprung, die-cast metal trucks with rotating bearing caps; sliding doors; factory-applied brake wheel; crossover platforms; and end ladders. Road names: New paint schemes – Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (Railbox patchout); Berlin Mills; Green Bay & Western; […]
Eric Siegel photo MTH PREMIER LINE GP9 ROAD DIESEL Price: $499.95 (20-20864-1) Min curve: O-31 Cmd low: 3.1 smph Cmd high: 78.2 smph Drawbar pull: 2 lb., 2 oz. Features: ProtoSound 3.0 sound and Digital Command System, ABS plastic body, metal chassis, detachable snowplow, two hand-painted crew figures, remote-controlled couplers, illuminated numberboards and classification lights, […]
A Big Boy for small layouts Several models of the Union Pacific Big Boy have been produced for the O gauge model railroaders, including a selective-compressed model from MTH Electric Trains RailKing line. MTH recently announced a new production run of O gauge Big Boys in its RailKing Imperial line. The model will be available […]
