HO scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 diesel locomotive. Amtrak (silver and blue with Travelmark herald), BNSF Ry. (blue-and-white scheme in three numbers, solid blue in one number), General American Locomotive Group (black-and-blue scheme), and Helm Leasing (burgundy-and-black scheme). Four numbers per scheme unless noted. Solid pilot face with screw-mounted coupler pockets on both ends, light-emitting-diode headlights, and improved rear number boards. Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM plug for Digital Command Control decoder, $144.98 to $149.98; with full-featured 8-function 21-pin NCE Digital Command Control decoder, $179.98 to $184.98. March 2021. Roundhouse line. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
Electro-Motive Division GP38-2 diesel locomotive. Amtrak (silver and blue with Travelmark herald), BNSF Ry. (blue-and-white scheme in three numbers, solid blue in one number), General American Locomotive Group (black-and-blue scheme), and Helm Leasing (burgundy-and-black scheme). Four numbers per scheme unless noted. Solid pilot face with screw-mounted coupler pockets on both ends, light-emitting-diode headlights, and improved rear number boards. Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM plug for Digital Command Control decoder, $144.98 to $149.98; with full-featured 8-function 21-pin NCE Digital Command Control decoder, $179.98 to $184.98. March 2021. Roundhouse line. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
HO scale freight cars
General American Transportation Corp. 2,600-cubic-foot-capacity Airslide covered hopper. Burlington Northern (Cascade Green, three single cars with large herald and three drawbar-connected two-packs in simplified scheme with reporting marks only), Denver & Rio Grande Western (gray with “Mainline Thru the Rockies” herald on placard, four single cars), General American Transportation Corp. (two-tone blue scheme, three single cars), Penn Central (Deepwater Green, three single cars and one two-pack), St. Louis Southwestern (gray with black billboard lettering, three single cars and one two-pack), and Union Pacific (aluminum with red lettering, three single cars with Western Pacific marks and one two pack [one each with UP and WP marks]). Early or late body as appropriate, see-through metal running board, and body-mounted McHenry scale couplers. Single car, $56.98; two-packs, $107.98. March 2021. Genesis series. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
General American Transportation Corp. 2,600-cubic-foot-capacity Airslide covered hopper. Burlington Northern (Cascade Green, three single cars with large herald and three drawbar-connected two-packs in simplified scheme with reporting marks only), Denver & Rio Grande Western (gray with “Mainline Thru the Rockies” herald on placard, four single cars), General American Transportation Corp. (two-tone blue scheme, three single cars), Penn Central (Deepwater Green, three single cars and one two-pack), St. Louis Southwestern (gray with black billboard lettering, three single cars and one two-pack), and Union Pacific (aluminum with red lettering, three single cars with Western Pacific marks and one two pack [one each with UP and WP marks]). Early or late body as appropriate, see-through metal running board, and body-mounted McHenry scale couplers. Single car, $56.98; two-packs, $107.98. March 2021. Genesis series. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
Wm. K. Walthers HO scale Association of American Railroads modernized 1948 40-foot boxcar
Association of American Railroads modernized 1948 40-foot boxcar. Rock Island (blue), Canadian Pacific (Step Gothic lettering), Chicago & North Western (Boxcar Red with “Employee Owned” ball-and-bar herald), Erie Lackawanna (Boxcar Red with diamond herald), Illinois Central (orange with “Mainline of Mid-America” slogan), National Railways of Mexico (Boxcar Red), and Northern Pacific (Metallic Brown with large “NP” lettering and Northern Pacific Railway monad herald). Three road numbers per scheme. No running boards; short ladders on A end; and long ladder, high brake wheel, and roof-mounted grab iron on B end. Other features include improved Dreadnaught 4-4 end with rectangular top rib, diagonal-panel roof, and 6-foot Youngstown doors. $27.98. June 2020. WalthersMainline. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
HO scale passenger equipment
Amfleet coaches. Amfleet I 84-seat coach and Amfleet II 59-seat coach. Phase 3 and 6 (Travelmark) schemes. One number per scheme. Factory-installed grab irons, inside-bearing trucks with brake shoe detail, and Proto-Max metal couplers. $99.98. August 2020. WalthersProto. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
Amfleet coaches. Amfleet I 84-seat coach and Amfleet II 59-seat coach. Phase 3 and 6 (Travelmark) schemes. One number per scheme. Factory-installed grab irons, inside-bearing trucks with brake shoe detail, and Proto-Max metal couplers. $99.98. August 2020. WalthersProto. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
Menards HO scale J. Shepherd & Sons dog food factory
HO scale structures
J. Shepherd & Sons dog food factory. Painted and assembled structure. Features electronic dog food sign with animated pouring effect, six figures, Jack the German shepherd, water tank, rooftop vents, Dumpster, loading dock with dog food bags, and five blinking red light-emitting-diode warning lights. Lighting requires 4.5V power source (sold separately). Measures 10” x 6” x 6”. $69.99. Menards, menards.com/trains
J. Shepherd & Sons dog food factory. Painted and assembled structure. Features electronic dog food sign with animated pouring effect, six figures, Jack the German shepherd, water tank, rooftop vents, Dumpster, loading dock with dog food bags, and five blinking red light-emitting-diode warning lights. Lighting requires 4.5V power source (sold separately). Measures 10” x 6” x 6”. $69.99. Menards, menards.com/trains
Wm. K. Walthers HO scale modern grocery warehouse
Modern grocery warehouse. Injection-molded plastic kit with one-piece corrugated-style walls with exterior splines; pull-through railcar end walls; industrial electric meters and junction box; truck and railcar loading dock doors with weather bellows-seals; four roof-mounted air conditioners; separate doors, windows, entry ramp and stairway. Measures 16-7/8” x 8-11/16” x 4-1/2”. $59.98. June 2020. Cornerstone Series. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
Wm. K. Walthers HO scale China International Marine Containers Co. Ltd.
HO scale details and accessories
China International Marine Containers Co. Ltd. 45-foot corrugated-side intermodal container. CMA CGM (dark blue), American President Lines (dark blue), Cronos (dark blue), Crowley (Mineral Red), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (gray), P&O Ferrymaster (dark blue), and Wan Hai (dark blue). Injection-molded plastic with separate door latch details. $12.98. SceneMaster line. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
China International Marine Containers Co. Ltd. 45-foot corrugated-side intermodal container. CMA CGM (dark blue), American President Lines (dark blue), Cronos (dark blue), Crowley (Mineral Red), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (gray), P&O Ferrymaster (dark blue), and Wan Hai (dark blue). Injection-molded plastic with separate door latch details. $12.98. SceneMaster line. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
Atlas Model Railroad Co. N scale FMC 5,077-cubic-foot-capacity boxcar
N scale freight cars
FMC 5,077-cubic-foot-capacity boxcar. New paint schemes: Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay (orange and black), BNSF Ry. (Mineral Red with circle-cross herald), CSX (dark blue with and without conspicuity stripes, two road numbers each), General American (Mineral Red with WRWK reporting marks), Railbox (pink “On Track for a Cure” car no. 40188 with and without hand prints), and Vermont Ry. (yellow and green). New road numbers: Railbox (yellow and black as-delivered scheme). Also available undecorated. Multiple body styles, X-panel roof, and body-mounted couplers. $25.95 (undecorated [early and late body styles], $19.95). Atlas will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Railbox “On Track for a Cure” cars to the Susan G. Komen foundation for breast cancer research. Third quarter 2020. Master Line. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, atlasrr.com
FMC 5,077-cubic-foot-capacity boxcar. New paint schemes: Atlanta & St. Andrews Bay (orange and black), BNSF Ry. (Mineral Red with circle-cross herald), CSX (dark blue with and without conspicuity stripes, two road numbers each), General American (Mineral Red with WRWK reporting marks), Railbox (pink “On Track for a Cure” car no. 40188 with and without hand prints), and Vermont Ry. (yellow and green). New road numbers: Railbox (yellow and black as-delivered scheme). Also available undecorated. Multiple body styles, X-panel roof, and body-mounted couplers. $25.95 (undecorated [early and late body styles], $19.95). Atlas will donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Railbox “On Track for a Cure” cars to the Susan G. Komen foundation for breast cancer research. Third quarter 2020. Master Line. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, atlasrr.com
PIKO America large scale Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 2-6-0 “mini Mogul” steam locomotive
Large scale locomotives
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 2-6-0 “mini Mogul” steam locomotive. Five-pole can-type ball-bearing motor; separate, factory-applied piping, handrail, and ladders; directional lighting; detailed cab interior with engineer figure; hook-and-loop couplers; and molded brake cylinder and smokestack. Direct-current model can be upgraded with PIKO no. 36220 digital steam sound kit and no. 36142 5V smoke unit, both sold separately. $349.99. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 2-6-0 “mini Mogul” steam locomotive. Five-pole can-type ball-bearing motor; separate, factory-applied piping, handrail, and ladders; directional lighting; detailed cab interior with engineer figure; hook-and-loop couplers; and molded brake cylinder and smokestack. Direct-current model can be upgraded with PIKO no. 36220 digital steam sound kit and no. 36142 5V smoke unit, both sold separately. $349.99. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com
PIKO America large scale Pennsylvania RR flatcar with stakes
Large scale freight cars
Pennsylvania RR flatcar with stakes. Separate, factory-applied brake wheel, brake cylinder, grab irons, and stirrup steps; removable stakes; and hook-and-loop couplers. Two-pack, $129.99. June 2020. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com
Pennsylvania RR flatcar with stakes. Separate, factory-applied brake wheel, brake cylinder, grab irons, and stirrup steps; removable stakes; and hook-and-loop couplers. Two-pack, $129.99. June 2020. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com
PIKO America large scale Deutsche Bahn first-class passenger coach
Large scale passenger cars
Deutsche Bahn first-class passenger coach. Molded interior seats, plastic wheelsets, and hook-and-loop couplers. Can be upgraded with PIKO no. 36132 lighting kit and nos. 36165 or 36168 metal wheels, all sold separately. $324.99. June 2020. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com
Deutsche Bahn first-class passenger coach. Molded interior seats, plastic wheelsets, and hook-and-loop couplers. Can be upgraded with PIKO no. 36132 lighting kit and nos. 36165 or 36168 metal wheels, all sold separately. $324.99. June 2020. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com
I may be too much of a purist or “Rivet Counter”, but Menard’s buildings have always seemed very toy-like to me. Windows, doors and trim a bit heavy, dimensions very downsized for the prototype building portrayed, flashy lights everywhere and a big socket in one wall. Their latest, a small strip mall, should be about 4″ deeper to be realistic, or just be used as a background building against a backdrop. But boy, do they have variety!