News & Products for the week of November 21, 2007

PS2-CD 4,427-cubic-foot-capacity high-side covered hopper

HO scale locomotivesAlco C-424 and C-425 diesel locomotives. New paint schemes on C-424 are Canadian National (black-and-white stripes), Canadian Pacific (Action Red; maroon and gray), and Cuyahoga Valley Scenic RR (special edition). New paint schemes on C-425 are Burlington Northern, Pennsylvania RR (Brunswick Green), and Seminole Gulf (special edition). New road numbers on C-425s decorated […]

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Trainfest 2007 show report

Electro-Motive Division MP15AC

Trainfest was held November 10-11, 2007, at the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park in West Allis, Wis., a suburb of Milwaukee. The two-day show featured more than 130 vendors and manufacturers, 58 model railroad layouts, and 25 clinicians and demonstrations. Attendance for Trainfest was 20,979, a record for the show. Electro-Motive Division MP15AC […]

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American Model Builders Laserkit O scale grain elevator

THIS PRODUCT, part of American Model Builders’ Laserkit line, offers an early 20th-century grain elevator kit in O scale. This is appropriate for the steam and early diesel eras, but driving around the countryside, you could probably find similar structures still in operation today. The kit, modeled on a “Northwestern Line Elevator” plan from a […]

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Atlas O Trainman line O gauge Alco RS-3 locomotive

I’M ON RECORD for both lauding the concept of the Atlas O Trainman line and enjoying its basic, no-frills diesels. Why? Since the Trainman line’s O scale products are very affordable, I think that post-starter set newbies with an interest in scale-sized trains might be likely to plop down their hard-earned bucks for a Trainman […]

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MTH Premier line O gauge USRA 0-6-0 steam switcher

THE SUBJECT OF our attention today is a little steamer that helped us beat the Kaiser and soldiered on through the end of the steam era, providing commendable service to the railroads that operated it: the USRA 0-6-0 steam switcher. America entered World War I in April 1917. In December of that year the U.S. […]

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Rod Stewart and model railroads

Glamour shot of Rod Stewart from 2007.

WAUKESHA, WI — Hall of fame rock-n-roller, Rod Stewart, unwinds after a concert by kitbashing and scratchbuilding. These terms may sound like code words that explain the mysterious antics of a world-famous celebrity, but instead they describe techniques for one of the world’s most popular hobbies: model railroading. The acclaimed songwriter of hits like “Forever […]

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iHobbyExpo 2007 final show report

New York, New Haven & Hartford class I-5 4-8-4 steam locomotive

iHobbyExpo 2007 was held October 18 through 21 at the Donald E. Stephens convention center in Rosemont, Ill. Below are more model railroad items that were featured at the show. Be sure to click on the link at the bottom of the page to view our preliminary show report to see even more new products, […]

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Just Plain Folks Figures

Marc Horovitz Vital statistics 1:22.5-scale figuresJust Plain Folk818 Lincoln Ave.Palmyra NJ 08065Price: $8 each (with some exceptions) Fully painted, cast-resin figures in a variety of natural poses Pros and cons Pros: Excellent detail; nicely painted; realistic colors; expressive featuresCons: Some poses a little stiff; mold lines occasionally visible Marc Horovitz Just Plain Folk is coming […]

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One-touch Critter control system

Alan Olson Vital statistics One-Touch Critter ControlG-Scale Graphics4118 Clayton Ct.Fort Collins CO 80525Prices: Critter Control, rotary style with built-in button, $69; reed switch, $5; power switch, $5; charging jack, $5Web site: www.GScaleGraphics.net Electronic unit to manually control speed and direction of battery-powered engine; 11-page instruction manual covers basics of track-power-to-battery-power conversion, installation, and operation; basic […]

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West Coast Precision Diecast used-car lot kit

Kevin Strong Vital statistics 1:24 scale used-car-lot kitWest Coast Precision Diecast21311 Deering Ct.Canoga Park CA 91304Price $225Web site: www.wcpdi.com Cast resin, “almost assembled” kit of a typical 1960s-70s-era used car lot; includes structure, interior and exterior details, and lighting; everything prepainted. Dimensions (building only): Length, 103/8″; width, 8″; height, 10¼”. Included “tarmac” base measures 24″ […]

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