HERITAGE GOES RAILKING: The wildly popular Norfolk Southern (NS) Heritage series of retro paint schemes joining the RailKing line. The Electro-Motive Diesel SD70ACe is an Imperial line locomotive featuring road names NS applied to this prototype body. The fallen flags include Erie, Illinois Terminal, Jersey Central, Lackawanna (shown above), Penn Central, Reading, Savannah & Atlanta, Virginian, and Wabash. The O gauge locomotives have two can-style motors, MTH’s Digital Command System, and coil couplers, and cost $329.95 each. See your MTH retailer or go to www.mthtrains.com to see the entire product line.
OLD SCHOOL LUXURY I: Diecast Direct carries the 1949 and 1950 Ford Sedans from American Heritage Models. These come in both two- and four-door bodies featuring factory colors. Detailing includes fender skirts on some two-door body cars, whitewall tires, chrome trim rings, Ford script on the chrome hubcaps, outside mirrors, radio antenna, and side-window trim. The cars, which are appropriate for O gauge layouts, also have correct color gray interiors and period license plates. Available colors include Bimini Blue Poly, Black, Cambridge Maroon, Dover Gray, and Sea Mist Green. Models available include the nos. AHM43-401 1950 Ford 2-Door Sedan with Fender Skirts in Black, AHM43-402 1950 Ford 2-Door Sedan with Fender Skirts in Dover Gray, and AHM43-403 1949 Ford 2-Door Sedan in Sea Mist Green. The cars cost $26.95 each, plus shipping. Order from Diecast Direct, 3005 Old Lawrenceburg Rd., Frankfort, KY 40601; by calling 800-718-1866; or for more information go to www.diecastdirect.com/tdm.
CALLING ALL CARS: Atlas has released a series of 1:43 scale police vehicles: a 1985 Dodge Diplomat (left) and a 2011 Chevrolet Impala (right). Both cars are available in a variety of police paint schemes, and the Dodge is also available in Yellow Cab Co. colors. The automobiles cost $29.95 each. For more information see your hobby retailer or see the whole line at www.atlaso.com.
G.I. FLY-BY: The Long Island Toy Train Locomotive Engineers (LITTLE) has announced a custom-run Lionel flatcar with airplane load. The no. 58556 flatcar is an O gauge car molded in translucent blue plastic and bears markings for Bethpage, N.Y., the home of Grumman’s World War II-era aircraft production. Funds raised from the profits of the sale of this car will go toward Honor Flight Long Island, a non-profit organization created to honor America’s veterans. Honor Flight flies our nation’s heroes to Washington, D.C., to visit and reflect at their memorials.
The car costs $70 (shipping and restricted membership included). Orders must be received by May 1, 2013, with delivery expected to be in December 2013. Canadian and foreign orders must add $10 extra for shipping. Please make all checks or money orders payable in U.S. funds. Checks to be made out to LITTLE (Long Island Toy Train Locomotive Engineers) and mailed to: LITTLE, Box 1124, Southold, NY 11971.
For club information visit www.littleclub.org
BOBBING ALONG, SINGING A SONG: MTH’s Premier line adds the New Haven to its lineup of O gauge bobber cabooses. The no. 20-91401 waycar features scale dimensions and detailing, die-cast metal trucks and couplers, wire grab irons, and interior illumination and costs $49.95. See your MTH retailer or go to www.mthtrains.com to see all the bobber cabooses currently cataloged.
FIGURES GONE WILD: Scenic Express offers several new unique figures for your O scale layout. Left to right are hillbilly guy and hillbilly girl, scarecrow, Yeti, and Bigfoot. The injection-molded plastic figures come factory painted and sell for $6.99 each, except the scarecrow which is $7.99. To order call 800-234-9995 or go to www.scenicexpress.com.
GROW THOSE CROPS: Scenic Express is marketing Silflor Summer Soybean Rows. The soybean/potato row base is made of a flexible textured cord to which rich green leaf flake flock is adhered to the stalk, creating crop rows ½ inch-high. Besides bean and potato plants, these leafy rows can be used for such other vegetables as sugar beets and lettuce. Each package contains 20 rows, each measuring 8½ inches long, enough for an area approximately 8 x 8½ inches. To see the scenery products available for multiple scales, go to www.scenicexpress.com.
OLD SCHOOL LUXURY II: Diecast Direct introduces the new American Heritage Models 1941 Ford Super Deluxe Sedans. These are available in two-door bodies featuring authentic factory colors and are upgraded to the Super Deluxe trim level featuring radio antennas, whitewall tires, chrome trim rings, and Super Deluxe trim script. The cars, which are appropriate for O gauge layouts, have a correct color gray interior and period license plates. Available colors include Bimini Blue Poly, Black, Cambridge Maroon, Dover Gray, and Sea Mist Green. Initial releases are available in Lockhaven Green and Florentine Blue. Cars available include the nos. AHM43-201 1941 Ford Super Deluxe 2-Door Sedan in Lockhaven Green (rear) and AHM43-202 1941 Ford Super Deluxe 2-Door Sedan in Florentine Blue. The cars cost $26.95 each, plus shipping. Order from Diecast Direct, 3005 Old Lawrenceburg Rd., Frankfort, KY 40601; by calling 800-718-1866; or online at www.diecastdirect.com/tdm.
RAILROAD POWER, PAST AND PRESENT: Voyageur Press has released North American Locomotives: A Railroad-by-Railroad Photohistory by Brian Solomon. The 288-page book examines more than 70 railroads and their locomotive power from old-line traditional railways like the Rock Island to regional carriers such as the Vermont Rail System and commuter agencies like Metro-North. The hardcover book costs $50 and is available through book and hobby retailers, or go to www.qbookshop.com to order
