News & Products for the week of June 3rd 2024
Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more by reading Model Railroader’s frequent product updates. The following are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of June 3rd 2024.
News
Lake Junction Models to produce former American Model Builders caboose in HO, N scale
Lake Junction Models has announced their plans to produce “the complete line of HO and N scale caboose kits formerly manufactured by American Model Builders, Inc. (LaserKIT).” It was announced in February of this year that American Model Builders, producer of the LaserKIT product line, was closing. The Webster Grove, Missouri-based manufacturer has has stated that they intend to bring the caboose kits back “as quickly as (possible).” The kits can be viewed here.
HO scale locomotives
Athearn Genesis Electro-Motive Division GP40-2
Price: Direct-current model, $234.99; with DCC and sound, $334.99
Manufacturer: Athearn Trains, 2904 Research Rd., Champaign, IL 61822; 800-338-4639; athearn.com
Electro-Motive Division GP40-2 features:
- See-through cab windows and full cab interior
- Etched metal fan grilles
- Details include windshield wipers, sanding lines, walkway treads, lift rings, and wire grab irons
Release date: October 2025
Road names: Chessie System; CSX; Denver & Rio Grande; Florida East Coast; Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac; Southern Pacific; and Union Pacific.
Dauphin General Electric box-cab electric locomotive
Price: Direct-current model, $268.00
Manufacturer: Dauphin Ltd., 1F 3-303-1 Kemigawacho, Hanamigawaku, Chibashi 262-0023, Japan, shop@dauphin-mtp.com, dauphin-mtp.myshopify.com
General Electric box-cab electric locomotive features:
- Ready to run model
- Directional headlights
- Black paint scheme with yellow stripes
Release date: Available now
HO scale freight cars
Rapido Enterprise covered hoppers
Price: Single car, $54.95; three-pack, $164.85; six-pack, $329.70
Manufacturer: Rapido Trains Inc., 500 Alden Road, Unit 21, Markham, Ontario L3R 5H5 Canada; 905-474-3314; rapidotrains.com
Enterprise covered hoppers features:
- Separately applied metal wire grab irons
- Detailed body and underframe
- Multiple road numbers per scheme
- Available in New York Central and Canadian National configurations
- Also available undecorated in both styles
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Canada Southern, Canadian National, GFCX, MSGX, New York Central, Penn Central, Revere Sugar, and Texas & New Orleans.
WalthersMainline 60-foot high cube plate F boxcar
Price: $34.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
60-foot high cube plate F boxcar features:
- Prototype-accurate roof
- Separately applied latch bars
- Detailed underbody with cushioned underframe and brake gear with correct angle-mounted reservoir
Release date: Summer 2024
Road names: Norfolk Southern, Ferromex, TTX, Union Pacific, and Wisconsin Central.
HO scale structures
Walthers Cornerstone Victoria Springs station
Price: $27.98
Manufacturer: Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 5601 W. Florist Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53218; 414-527-0770; walthers.com
Victoria Springs station features:
- Victorian era trim and detail
- Separate train order semaphore signal, nonworking
- Molded in light ivory and clear styrene plastic
Release date: Summer 2024
N scale freight cars
Bluford Shops 15-panel gondola
Price: $37.95
Manufacturer: Bluford Shops, P.O. Box 152, Bluford, IL 62814, www.bluford-shops.com
15-panel gondola features:
- Factory dented model in three configurations: lightly dented, medium dented, and heavily dented
- Dreadnaught or Pullman-Standard style fixed ends
Release date: 2025
Road names: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific; Conrail; Erie Lackawanna; Great Northern; New York Central; Nickel Plate Road; Pittsburgh & Lake Erie; and St. Louis-San Francisco.
Z scale locomotives
American Z Line Electro-Motive Division SD70ACe
Price: Contact manufacturer
Manufacturer: American Z Line, 6142 Northcliff Blvd., Dublin, OH 43016; 614-764-1703; americanzline.com
Electro-Motive Division SD70ACe features:
- Antenna package
- Blackened metal wheels
- DCC ready
Release date: To be announced
Road names: Southern Pacific
News & Products is a regular feature of Trains.com for model railroad operators and builders to get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more. Model railroad product news may include HO, N, O, S, and Z scales. Product release dates and prices will vary according to each manufacturer. If you are a manufacturer and have new product releases, please email Senior Editor Cody Grivno at cody.grivno@firecrown.com and Associate Editor Bryson Sleppy at bryson.sleppy@firecrown.com for more information.
