Selecting N scale track

Black-and-white illustration showing different N scale rail sizes.

Q: I will be starting my first model railroad soon, a small N scale layout. I want to use code 55 track, but I’ve read mixed reviews about it. Do you have any suggestions, or should I stick with code 80 track? — Damien Bouchey A: When shopping for N scale track, you’ll see it […]

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News & Products for the week of November 18th 2024

A black and green model locomotive

News & Products for the week of November 18th 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 November 18th […]

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How railroads identify buffer service cars

Color photo of HO scale covered hopper painted gray with black graphics.

Q: Although I’m an N scale modeler, I read the review of the Milwaukee, Racine & Troy HO scale buffer car on Trains.com. Reading the description brought up a question. Do railroads designate cars to dedicated buffer service? If so, how are these cars identified as used in buffer service only? — Perry A. Pollino […]

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News & Products for the week of September 9th 2024

A green and white model locomotive against a gray background

News & Products for the week of September 9th 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 September 9th […]

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News & Products for the week of September 3rd 2024

A black model steam locomotive

News & Products for the week of September 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 September 3rd […]

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News & Products for the week of August 26th 2024

A collection of model cabooses in various paint schemes

News & Products for the week of August 26th 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 August 26th […]

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News & Products for the week of April 22nd 2024

A model tank car in a white paint scheme with black lettering

News & Products for the week of April 22nd 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 April 22nd […]

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News & Products for the week of March 11th 2024

A model house structure with scenery

News & Products for the week of March 11th 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 March 11th […]

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Tangent Scale Models HO postwar boxcar

Color 3/4 view of HO scale boxcar painted brown with black and white graphics.

A line of Pullman-Standard Southern Pacific Lines 40’-6” postwar boxcars is now available from Tangent Scale Models. Designed from PS blueprints and field measurements of full-size cars, the HO scale models include prototype-specific details, new American Steel Foundries 50-ton A-3 Ride Control trucks, and Kadee scale couplers. The prototype Many railroads looked to improve their […]

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Guide to N scale metal wheelsets

Color photo of N scale wheelsets in packaging

Last month, I wrote about metal wheelsets offered in HO scale. In this guide to N scale metal wheelsets, I’ll cover the options available for those who model in 1:160 proportion. The case for metal wheelsets N scale wheelsets have come a long way since the 1960s and 1970s. For many years, Micro-Trains N scale […]

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New HO hopper from Tangent Scale Models

Color photo of HO scale hopper painted black with orange and white graphics.

Tangent Scale Models kicked off 2024 with a splash by releasing a new HO scale four-bay hopper. The model, based on an Illinois Central (IC) Centralia Shops 3,834-cubic-foot capacity prototype, features injection-molded plastic construction, wire grab irons and uncoupling levers, and road-specific details. Paint schemes Paint schemes on the initial release of the Centralia Shops […]

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Model Railroader’s favorite products of 2023

A model locomotive in a red paint scheme

Model Railroader’s favorite products of 2023: As 2023 draws to a close, and we look forward to a new year, Model Railroader‘s Cody Grivno and Bryson Sleppy take a look back at some of their favorite model railroad products of 2023.   Tangent Scale Models HO scale Burlington Northern International Car Co. wide-vision cabooses For […]

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