Engines & rolling stock
Accucraft, 3260 Central Ave, Union City CA 94587, is selling Aster’s live-steam British Railways Standard Class 4-6-0 5MT in 1:32 scale. The engine is brass and stainless steel construction and features a Walschaerts valve gear, two safety valves, reverser handle, pressure gauge, water level gauge, and much more. The engine is available in two colors (black and green), and in kit or ready-to run versions. Prices: $3,500 (kit) and $4,600 (RTR). The firm also announced a 1:29 scale Talyllyn Railways Dolgoch 0-4-0T, also in live steam. The engine will be butane fired, with two cylinders, a safety valve, lubricator with drain value, pressure gauge, and more. It will be offered in six versions: TR Green, Atlas Red, and TR red in both 32 mm and 45 mm gauges. Delivery is expected in late summer. Price: $1,600. Website: accucraft.com
PIKO America, 4610 Alvarado Canyon Rd., Ste. 5, San Diego CA 92120, has a DB IV BR 360 Diesel Switcher. The Deutsche Bahn switcher has a 5-pole can motor with white LED lighting. It has both modeled-on and separately-applied details. This engine is also DCC ready. Price: $439.99. Visit piko-america.com for more information.
Star Hobby, 1564 Whitehall Road, Annapolis, MD 21409, released a custom Conrail three-bay hopper car manufactured by Bachmann Trains for the 2019 East Coast Large Scale Train Show. The hopper is 1:22.5 scale and available in four different road numbers. Price: $60 each; free shipping with purchase of four or more cars. Website: www.shopstarhobby.com
Electrical & control
LGB (Märklin), P.O. Box 2649, Lake Ozark MO 65049, announced a new Radio Handheld Controller and RC3 Radio Receiver, which enables wireless control by means of radio communication via the firm’s Central Station 2 (60226) or Central Station 3 (60653). The Radio Handheld Controller (L55017) has a large range and a graphic display with a high level of contrast to view in the sunlight. It also has backlighting for operations during dusk and dawn. Two different locomotives/units can be controlled at the same time. The RC3 Radio Receiver (L55057) works with the 55017 handheld controller either via CAN Bus cable in your CS 2/3, or via an analog controller (51079). Delivery is expected in the third quarter of 2019. Price: $309.99 for the controller and $189.99 for the receiver. See your local retailer or visit lgb.com for more information.
Details and accessories
GLX Scale Models Inc., 911-2759 Carousel Crescent, Ottawa ON, K1T 2N5, has an assortment of 3-D printed replacement parts for Aristo-Craft’s Pacific engine. These include: Marker lights (3DSA-214104-02, $9), Pilot mount (3DFA-21421-01, $18), Bell harp (3DSA-21414-01, $6), Reverse main cam (3DFA-21414949-20, $18), Rear brake shoe set (#21400-49, $9), Whistle, (3DSA-21412-01, $6), Bell, (3DSA-21325-01, $6), Stanchions, (3DSA-21409-14, pack of 14, $18), and Main eccentric crank (3DFA-214144-02, pair, $4.50). Website: glxscalemodels.com
Electronics & software
RailModeller Pro, www.railmodeller.com, has released version 6.1 of its layout-design software. This version includes a new Quick Filter for the library catalog, improved aspects of the Community Layouts feature, and much more. The software runs on Mac OS (10.11 and up) only. Price: $39.99. Learn more at the firm’s website.
Books and media
Octopus Books USA has released a revised edition of the American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Gardening Techniques. This 480-page book contains hundreds of illustrations and photographs on a variety gardening topics, including microclimates, amending soil, greenhouse gardening, water gardening, container gardening, propagating plants, and much more. Price: $45. Website: octopusbooksusa.com
Miscellaneous
Vilas County Lumber Company, 12306 Lakeview Trail, Homer Glen IL 60491, has an American built Shingle Mill set of CAD-designed drawings in 1:24 scale (other scales are available). The set includes 12 pages of 13” x 19” drawing printed in color and suggested materials/parts lists. Price: $17. Website: clco.com