iHobbyExpo 2007 preliminary show report

The 2007 iHobbyExpo is being held October 18-21, 2007, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. The following products listed below are just some of the new items announced today. Look for more iHobbyExpo show coverage next week.

HO scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division SD40-2 diesel locomotive. New paint schemes. Burlington Northern (American Revolution bicentennial scheme, 81″ nose), Conrail (with Flexicoil trucks and 88″ nose), CSX (yellow, gray, and blue with 81″ nose), Milwaukee Road (81″ nose), and Union Pacific (116″ nose). Upgraded tooling with see-through fans, railroad-specific details, and Digital Command Control decoder Quick Plug. $99.98. Ready-to-run. Athearn Trains

Electro-Motive Division SD60M and SD60I diesel locomotives. SD60M decorated for Burlington Northern, Burlington Northern Santa Fe (no. 9297), and Union Pacific. SD60I painted for Conrail. Skew-wound-armature motor with flywheels; injection-molded plastic, die-cast metal, and photoetched metal detail parts; and detailed cab interior. Without Digital Command Control (DCC) and sound $139.98, with dual-mode DCC and sound (and handheld remote for operating sound effect on DC layouts) $239.98. March 2008. Genesis series. Athearn Trains

Denver & Rio Grande Western class K-27 2-8-2 steam locomotive. HOn3 (reviewed in August 2007 issue of Model Railroader). Denver & Rio Grande Western, six road numbers (nos. 453; 455; and post-wreck, weathered 464 sold out); Rio Grande Southern, two road numbers; and painted black but unlettered. Prototype-specific details, detailed cab interior, and Kadee no. 714 magnetic knuckle couplers. Without sound $339, with Tsunami dual-mode sound decoder $419. Ready-to-run. Blackstone Models

Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 4-8-4 steam locomotive. Road numbers 3751, 3752, and 3754. Direct-current model with BLI-designed sound system. $269.99. Ready-to-run. BlueLine. Broadway Limited Imports

Electro-Motive Division SD40-2. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Baltimore & Ohio; and six other road names. Undecorated also available. Direct-current model with BLI-designed sound system. $169.99. Ready-to-run. BlueLine. Broadway Limited Imports

General Electric AC6000CW diesel locomotive. BHP Iron Ore, Canadian Pacific, CSX, Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, and undecorated (with CSX and UP details). Direct-current model with BLI-designed sound system. $169.99. Ready-to-run. BlueLine. Broadway Limited Imports

New York Central class S1b 4-8-4 Niagara. New York Central (four road numbers) and painted black but unlettered. Direct-current model with BLI-designed sound system. $299.99. Ready-to-run. BlueLine. Broadway Limited Imports

Southern Pacific class AC-4 and AC-5 4-8-8-2 Cab-Forward steam locomotives. Two road numbers per class and painted black but unlettered. Direct-current models with BLI-designed sound system. $399.99. Ready-to-run. BlueLine. Broadway Limited Imports

Electro-Motive Division F7A diesel locomotive. Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. Five-pole skew-wound can motor; dual-mode Digital Command Control with QSI Quantum sound system; wire grab irons, handrails, and eyebolts; operating Mars light; and railroad-specific details. $189.98. Ready-to-run. Proto 2000 from Walthers

Electro-Motive Division GP7 and GP9 diesel locomotives. GP7s decorated for Algoma Central; Iowa Interstate; Toledo, Peoria & Western; Ohio Central; and North Central Texas. GP9s painted for Cedar Rapids & Iowa City; Chicago & North Western; Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern; Iowa Interstate; Ohio Central; and Soo Line. Both locomotives available undecorated. Five-pole skew-wound motor with brass flywheels, die-cast metal chassis, RP-25 contour metal wheelsets, and magnetic knuckle couplers. Direct current $124.98, with Digital Command Control and QSI Quantum sound system $224.98. Ready-to-run. Proto 2000 from Walthers

Erie 2-8-8-8-2 Triplex steam locomotive. Erie (three road numbers) and Virginian Ry. (one road number). Die-cast metal with MTH Proto-Sound 3.0 sound and control system, 120 speed steps, five-pole motor with flywheel, operating smoke unit, interchangeable RP-25 contour drivers with traction tires, detailed cab interior and tender underbody, and Kadee-compatible magnetic knuckle couplers. $499.95. MTH Electric Trains

HO scale electric locomotives
Pennsylvania RR GG1. Pennsylvania RR (five schemes). Direct-current model with BLI-designed sound system. $209.99. Ready-to-run. BlueLine. Broadway Limited Imports

HO scale freight cars
Denver & Rio Grande Western 3000-series boxcars. Denver & Rio Grande Western (Flying Grande lettering and Royal Gorge herald, three road numbers each). Die-cast metal and injection-molded plastic construction, wire grad irons, and Kadee no. 714 couplers. Ready-to-run. Blackstone Models

Denver & Rio Grande Western 5500-series stockcars. Denver & Rio Grande Western (Flying Grande lettering, six road numbers). Die-cast metal and injection-molded plastic model with wire details, underbody detail, and Kadee no. 714 couplers. Ready-to-run. Blackstone Models

63-foot pulpwood flatcar. New road numbers on cars decorated for Wisconsin Central, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, Georgia Pacific, Southern Ry., and TTX. Single car $17.98, two-pack $34.98. Ready-to-run. Gold Line. Wm. K. Walthers, Inc.

Flexi-Van flatcar with two trailers. Illinois Central, Milwaukee Road, New York Central, Seaboard Air Line, Southern Ry., Western Pacific, and undecorated. New tooling. Includes two 40-foot trailers. Based on Mark III version. Single car $42.95 to $45.98, two-packs $81.98 to $86.98 each. Ready-to-run. Gold Line. Wm. K. Walthers, Inc.

National Steel Car 50-foot newsprint boxcar. British Columbia Ry.; Canadian National (three schemes); Canadian Pacific (three schemes); Central Vermont; and Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific (two schemes). Injection-molded plastic model with non-magnetic blackened-metal wheelsets and magnetic knuckle couplers. Single car $17.98, two-pack $34.98. Ready-to-run. Proto 1000 from Walthers

HO scale passenger equipment
Milwaukee Road baggage-express car with conductor’s window. Injection-molded plastic model with detailed interior, Nystrom trucks with 8-foot wheelbase, Proto Max magnetic knuckle couplers, and car name and number decals. For 1955 Twin Cities Hiawatha. $44.98. Ready-to-run. Wm. K. Walthers, Inc.

New York Central ex-troop sleeper express boxcar. New York Central (1947-1948 and 1960 schemes), Erie, Lackawanna, and Rock Island. Injection-molded plastic models with RP-25 contour metal wheelsets, magnetic knuckle couplers, and modeler-installed grab irons. Single car $24.98, two-pack $49.98. Ready-to-run. Wm. K. Walthers, Inc.

HO scale train sets
Trainman train set. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; CP Rail; and Norfolk Southern. Set includes Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 diesel locomotive, three freight cars, matching Northeast-style caboose, 36″ x 45″ oval of Atlas Nickel Silver True-Track, power pack, Atlas True-Track layout instruction book. $175. Figure eight True-Track expansion set $24.75. Trainman line. Atlas Model Railroad Co.

HO scale structures
Chip’s Icehouse. Factory-assembled, painted, and weathered injection-molded plastic structure with separately applied details. $69.98. Built & Ready Structures. Woodland Scenics

Derrick. Laser-cut microplywood kit with timber ramps; positionable doors, windows, and boom; removable roof; detailed upper level interior; rafter tails; and roofing material. $69.99. GC Laser

Fuel stand. Laser-cut microplywood kit with two Grandt Line 55-gallon drums and generator pallets. $9.99. GC Laser

Hobo lean-to. Laser-cut microplywood kit. Two-pack $15.99. GC Laser

Produce loading platform. Laser-cut microplywood kit with positionable doors, roofing material, and laser-etched nail and bolt detail. $69.99. GC Laser

HO scale details and accessories
John Deere 2010 crawler. New tooling. Die-cast metal with operating rubber tracks. $10.98. Athearn Trains

Archbar freight car trucks. HOn3. Plastic sideframes with blackened metal wheelsets and cast-on brake shoe detail. Black (no. B370103) and Boxcar Red (no. B370104). $7.95 per pair. Blackstone Models

Tender brakeman’s cabin (“dog house”) for Denver & Rio Grande Western K-27 steam locomotive. Injection-molded plastic. Price to be announced. Blackstone Models

Snowplow for Denver & Rio Grande Western K-27 steam locomotive. Price to be announced. Blackstone Models

Barricades. Two styles. Laser-cut microplywood kit. Twelve-pack $8.99. GC Laser

Bleachers. Laser-cut microplywood kit. $14.99. GC Laser

Detail kit for Jordan Highway Miniatures Erie B-2 steam shovel. Laser-cut microplywood coal shovel, crate, platforms, doors, and more. $9.99. GC Laser

Corn or coal truck bed. Laser-cut microplywood kit. For Classic Metal Works International Harvester R-190 or White dual-axle trucks (not included). $14.99. GC Laser

Claas Ares 657 ATZ tractor. Die-cast metal tractor with rolling wheels, rubber tires with tread detail, detailed cab interior, and window glazing. $20.95. Norscot Scale Models

40-foot Flexi-Van container on bogie. New York Central, Illinois Central, Louisville & Nashville, Milwaukee Road, Seaboard Air Line, Soo Line, Southern Ry., Western Pacific, and undecorated. $12.98. Wm. K. Walthers, Inc.

Assorted figure sets. Miners, Backyard Basics, Backyard Barbeque, The Founders, Loading Dock Details, and Wedding Banquet Toss. Factory painted. $14.98 to $15.98 each. ScenicAccents. Woodland Scenics

Vehicle and figure sets. Rocky’s Road Repair, $21.98; Born to Ride, $19.98; and Carburetor Chaos, $21.98. AutoScenes. Woodland Scenics

N scale structures
Farm house. Laser-cut microplywood kit. $34.99. GC Laser

Farmer’s Co-op elevator. Laser-cut microplywood kit. Available with and without office (office kit also offered separately). Price to be announced. GC Laser

Structures. Fill’er Up and Fix’er ($59.98) and Harrison’s Hardware ($49.98). Factory-assembled, painted, and weathered injection-molded plastic buildings with separately applied details. Built & Ready Structures. Woodland Scenics

N scale details and accessories
Barricades. Two styles. Laser-cut microplywood kit. Twelve-pack $7.99. GC Laser

Assorted figure sets. Picket Line, Campers, Canoers, and Playtime. Factory painted. $12.98 to $13.98 each. ScenicAccents. Woodland Scenics

Vehicle and figure sets. Wayne Recker’s Tow Service, $24.98; Billy Brown’s Coupe, $11.98; Family Vacation, $13.98; Felix Fix-a-Flat, $12.98; Hall and Duke, $12.98; and Lubeners Loading, $12.98. AutoScenes. Woodland Scenics

O scale train sets
Trainman train sets. Delaware & Hudson and Great Northern. Includes Alco RS-3 diesel locomotive, 40-foot steel refrigerator car, 40-foot stockcar, wide-cupola caboose, and circle of track (power pack not included). $429.95. Trainman line. Atlas O

O scale details and accessories
Assorted figure sets. Workers with Forklift, Chain Gang, Factory Workers, and Rail Workers. Factory painted. $21.98 to $22.98 each. ScenicAccents. Woodland Scenics

Large scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division GP40. 1:29 proportion. Chicago & North Western; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; and nine other railroads. Two 2-axle ball-bearing power trucks, one motor per truck, modular printed-circuit boards and electronics, operating smoke unit, and railroad-specific details. $352. Ready-to-run. Aristo-Craft Trains

Denver & Rio Grande Western class K-27 2-8-2 steam locomotive. 1:20.3 proportion. Denver & Rio Grande Western (five versions), painted black but unlettered with green boiler, and painted black but unlettered. Die-cast metal frame, valve gear, side rods, and counterweights; 24V Pittman motor with brass flywheel and thrust bearing; constant light-emitting-diode headlight; floating gearbox; and positionable cab windows and wind deflectors. Open interface for direct current, Digital Command Control, remote control, and battery operation. Price to be announced. Bachmann Trains

Large scale details and accessories
Assorted figure sets. Rail Workers, Law and Lawless, and Polly’s Postal Pursuit. Factory painted. $24.98 each. ScenicAccents. Woodland Scenics

Z scale structures
Farm house. Laser-cut microplywood kit. $24.99. GC Laser

Z scale details and accessories
Barricades. Two styles. Laser-cut microplywood kit. Twelve-pack $6.99. GC Laser

Multiple-scale details and accessories
John Deere 520 tractor. New tooling. Rolling wheels with rubber tires. HO scale $5.98, 1:50 proportion $9.98. Athearn Trains

John Deere 7820 tractor. New tooling. Rolling wheels with rubber tires. N and HO scales $8.98, 1:50 proportion $15.98. Athearn Trains

Electronics/controls
E-Z Command Dynamis Digital Command Control system. Wireless infrared operation; joystick control for locomotive selection and speed; 14, 21, and 128 speed steps; 9,999 locomotive addresses; turnout and accessory control; and allows 40 consists of up to five locomotives each. $300. Bachmann Trains

Prodigy Advance wireless Digital Command Control system. Duplex radio control system enables operation and programming of locomotives and associated track accessories. Includes a receiver unit, wireless handheld transmitter, rechargeable batteries, built-in charger, and short cable for recharging wireless handheld. $599.98. Conversion set for Prodigy Express and Prodigy Advance $289.98. Wireless walkaround $189.98. Model Rectifier Corp.

Sounder. For use with any HO scale diesel non-sound decoder. Twenty-eight National Model Railroad Association functions, six dynamic lighting effects, and multiple sounds and volume control. $35.98. Model Rectifier Corp.

Micro Tsunami TXU-750 steam locomotive digital sound decoder. Sixteen-bit Digital Signal Processor; 14 functions; more than 22 sounds; and four special effects, including ability to alter exhaust sound automatically in response to changes in engine load. Measures .22″ x .50″ x 1.0″. $139.95. SoundTraxx

Scenery
Clump foliage. Early and late fall;
light, medium, and dark green. $4.50. Bachmann Trains

Foliage fiber. Light, medium, and dark green. $4.50. Bachmann Trains

Grass Mat. Green. 50″ x 100″ $19.95, 34″ x 50″ $7.95. Bachmann Trains

Gravel. Beige, black, gray, tan, white. Fine, medium, and coarse. $4.50. Bachmann Trains

Ground cover. Earth, grass, moss, soil, and straw. Assorted textures. $8.95. Bachmann Trains

Turf blends. Autumn, early and late fall, and green. $8.95. Bachmann Trains

Wire armatures. $9.95. Bachmann Trains

Forest Canopy. Natural plant material for making dense forest canopies, trees, shrubs, bushes, and hedges. Light, medium, and dark green and autumn mix. $21.98 each. Woodland Scenics

Ready Landforms. Factory formed and scenicked tunnels and rock ridges. HO scale straight tunnel (16-1/2″ x 26″), $21.98; HO curved tunnel (15-1/2″ x 25-3/4″), $21.98; N scale straight tunnel (9-1/2″ x 14-1/2″), $14.98; N scale curved tunnel (10″ x 16-1/2″), $14.98; rock ridge, large (9″ x 25″) $14.98; and rock ridge, small (6″ x 14-1/2″) $12.98. Woodland Scenics

Scene-A-Rama. Assorted materials for layouts and dioramas. Autumn trees, $8.98; conifer trees, $8.98; deciduous trees, $8.98; desert oasis diorama, $16.98; desert plants, $8.98; mountain diorama kit, $19.98; palm trees, $8.98; rock casting kit, $8.98; water diorama, $19.98; and winter effects, $8.98. Woodland Scenics

Adhesives
Cyanoacrylate adhesive. Insta-Cure, Insta-Cure Plus, and Maxi-Cure ($4.49); IC-Gel ($6.99); and Super-Gold Plus ($9.99). ¾-ounce bottles with pin in cap to seal bottle and prevent leaking. Extender tips and extra tops available separately. Bob Smith Industries

Video/DVD
RailCam for Model Railroaders. Video camera for creating VHS or DVD film of your model railroad. For N through large scales. Kit $199, fully assembled and mounted on Weaver flatcar $269. Applied Technical Solutions

Storage
Train Boxes Plus. HO scale (four 28″ trays with four compartments each), N and S scales (three 28″ trays with three compartments each), and O scale (two 28″ trays with three compartments each). All boxes include ¼” foam liners. Boxes feature moisture-resistant cardboard with seamless base and side-locking tabs. Box and lid are protected with a non-toxic, biodegradable coating. $36 each. Shipping $18 (fully assembled) or $10 (unassembled) via FedEx Ground. Applied Technical Solutions

Manufacturers featured in the iHobbyExpo 2007 preliminary show report
Applied Technical Solutions, 4205 N. Austin Ave., Chicago, IL 60634; www.railcam.net

Aristo-Craft Trains, 698 S. 21st St., Irvington, NJ 07111; www.aristocraft.com

Athearn Trains, 1550 Glenn Curtiss St., Carson, CA 90746; www.athearn.com

Atlas Model Railroad Co., 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; www.atlasrr.com

Atlas O, 378 Florence Ave., Hillside, NJ 07205; www.atlaso.com

Bachmann Trains, 1400 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19124; www.bachmanntrains.com

Blackstone Models, 210 Rock Point Dr., Durango, CO 81301; www.blackstonemodels.com

Bob Smith Industries, 8060 Morro Rd., Atascadero, CA 93422; www.bsi-inc.com

GC Laser, P.O. Box 621, Genoa City, WI 53128; www.gclaser.com

Model Rectifier Corp., 80 Newfield Ave., Edison, NJ 08837; www.modelrectifier.com

MTH Electric Trains, 7020 Columbia Gateway Dr., Columbia, MD 21046; www.mthhotrains.com

Norscot Scale Models, 1000 West Donges Bay Rd.?Mequon, WI 53092; www.norscot.com

SoundTraxx, 210 Rock Point Dr., Durango, CO 81301; www.soundtraxx.com

Wm. K. Walthers, Inc., P.O. Box 3039, Milwaukee, WI 53201; www.walthers.com

Woodland Scenics, P.O. Box 98, Linn Creek, MO 65052; www.woodlandscenics.com