Product news
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. Here are the products Model Railroader editors have news on for the week of January 28, 2021.
HO scale locomotives
Electro-Motive Division F45 diesel locomotive. Wisconsin Central (maroon and yellow) and Burlington Northern (Cascade Green and black). Three road numbers per scheme. Road-number-specific details, light-emitting-diode headlights, and detailed cab interior. Direct-current model with 21-pin NEM connector, $219.98; with dual-mode SoundTraxx Tsunami2 sound decoder, $309.98. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
HO scale freight cars
Pullman-Standard 50-foot PS-1 smooth-side plug-door boxcar. Bangor & Aroostook (red, white, and blue “State of Maine” scheme), Canadian Pacific (green with Multimark herald), Delaware & Hudson (yellow and blue), Denver & Rio Grande Western (orange, silver, and black scheme), Pennsylvania RR (Freight Car Color with shadow keystone herald), and Southern Ry. (Freight Car Red with “Gives a Green Light to Innovations” and “Insulated Super Cushion Service” slogans). Three road numbers per scheme. Standard or cushioned underframe as appropriate; separate, factory-applied running boards and brake wheel; and body-mounted McHenry scale couplers. $30.98. December 2021. Roundhouse line. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
National Steel Car 50-foot newsprint boxcar. Canadian Pacific (green and white with pine tree logo); British Columbia Ry. (dark green with dogwood flower logo); Canadian National (brown and yellow with large “wet noodle” herald and brown repaint with website); Central Vermont (brown and yellow with large herald and brown repaint with small logo); Minnesota, Dakota & Western (green and white with “Boise Cascade” lettering and logo). Three road numbers per scheme; also available undecorated (flush and exterior post door versions). Separate, factory-applied detail parts; prototype-specific doors; and Symington roller-bearing trucks. $36.95 (undecorated, $29.95). Fourth quarter 2021. Master Line. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, atlasrr.com
Bethlehem Steel Co. 52’-6” 70-ton riveted-side drop-end gondola. Lehigh Valley (1970 United States Railroad Equipment Green and May 1973 gray in six numbers each); Baltimore & Ohio (March and April 1940 class O-59A as-delivered Capitol Dome scheme in six new road numbers [three each for March and April] and 1957 class O-59 repaint in six numbers); Central RR of Pennsylvania (original 1944 scheme, six new numbers); Central RR of New Jersey (1952 restencil in six new numbers); Wellsville, Addison & Galeton (1961 paint in two numbers); and Western Maryland (1980 Chessie System scheme in four numbers). Prototype-specific details, wire grab irons and uncoupling levers, and Kadee scale couplers. $40.95. Tangent Scale Models, 828-279-6106, tangentscalemodels.com
HO scale details and accessories
40-foot high-cube intermodal container. Cosco Shipping (blue), Ocean Network Express (Cherry Blossom Magenta), MSC/Florens (Oxide Red), Maersk (Maersk, Maersk Line, and Pride schemes in single three-pack), MSC (yellow), NYK (blue), and Touax/MOL (Oxide Red). Two three-packs per scheme unless noted. Separate, factory-applied door closure rods and new horizontal front rib front. Three-pack, $36.98. December 2021. Ready-to-Roll. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
Ford C pumper with canopy cab. Chicago (red and black); Highspire, Pa. (American Revolution Bicentennial); Los Angeles City Fire Department (red); Napa, Calif. (American Revolution Bicentennial); Perryville, Md. (American Revolution Bicentennial); and Washington, D.C. (white and red). Molded cab interior with separate steering wheel, clear window glazing, and vinyl tires. $34.98. December 2021. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
Flexible self-adhesive paved roadway. Cobblestone street, $11.98. Bike lane (gray with white bike symbols, measures ½” x 39-3/8”), $7.98. Paved two-lane highway with white dashed centerline and solid white fog line, $9.98. Paved two-lane country road without markings, $9.98. Sections measures 2-5/8” x 39-3/8” unless noted. SceneMaster line. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
Metal industrial fence. Chain link fence kit includes six pieces of wire mesh (each approximately 1” x 2-3/8”), 24 fence posts, two gates, and two gate posts. Can be combined with other kits (sold separately) for larger installations. $14.98. SceneMaster line. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
N scale locomotives
Alco RS-2 diesel locomotive. New paint schemes: Chicago & North Western (green and yellow), Canadian Pacific (maroon and gray), Maine Central (Harvest Gold and green), Lehigh Valley (red, yellow, and black), Southern Ry. (black, Imitation Aluminum, and gold), and Union Pacific (Armour Yellow and Harbor Mist Gray). Two road numbers per paint scheme; also available undecorated. Directional, golden-white light-emitting-diode headlights; dual brass flywheels; and Accumate couplers. Direct-current model, $129.95 (undecorated, $119.95); with dual-mode motor and light decoder, $169.95 (undecorated, $159.95). Fourth quarter 2021. Master Line. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, atlasrr.com
N scale freight cars
90-ton three-bay hopper. New road numbers: Burlington Northern (black and white); Canadian National (Oxide Red and white with Chicago Central reporting marks); Chessie System (black and yellow with Chesapeake & Ohio marks); Conrail (brown and white); Denver & Rio Grande Western (black with “Flying Grande” lettering); Norfolk Southern (black and white); Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern (black and red); Rock Island (black with ROCX lettering); and Union Pacific (brown with yellow billboard lettering). New paint scheme: Pittsburgh & Shawmut (black and white with “Shawmut Line” lettering). Three road numbers per scheme; also available undecorated. Plastic wheelsets and Accumate couplers. $20.95 (undecorated, $15.95). Fourth quarter 2021. Trainman series. Atlas Model Railroad Co., 908-687-0880, atlasrr.com
N scale passenger equipment
Lightweight coaches. City of Miami coaches (Atlantic Coast Line no. 247, Central of Georgia no. 663, and Florida East Coast Canal Point). $44 each; three-pack, $122. Great Northern (nos. 1211 and 1212 in Big Sky Blue scheme). $46 each; two-pack, $84. Painted molded grab irons on sides, plastic interior, and truck-mounted couplers. RailSmith Models, lowellsmith.net/railsmith/
N scale details and accessories
40-foot high-cube intermodal container. Ocean Network Express (Cherry Blossom Magenta), Cosco Shipping (blue), MSC/Florens (Oxide Red), Maersk (Maersk, Maersk Line, and Pride schemes in single three-pack), MSC (yellow), NYK (blue), and Touax/MOL (Oxide Red). Two three-packs per scheme unless noted. New horizontal front rib front. Three-pack, $36.98. December 2021. AthearnN. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
Metal industrial fence. Chain link fence kit includes ultra-fine aluminum screening (23-5/8” x 5/8”) and 32 fence posts. Can be combined with other kits (sold separately) for larger installation. $11.98. SceneMaster line. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
Z scale locomotives
Alco RS-3 diesel locomotive. St. Louis Southwestern (Cotton Belt). Two road numbers. Phase I body; Alco Association of American Railroads trucks; body-mounted number boards; three-chime airhorn; 1,400-gallon fuel tank; twin-beam headlights; 7.5mm coreless motor with dual flywheels; traction tires; built-in pilot; directional light-emitting-diode headlights; and body-mounted couplers. American Z Line, 614-764-1703, americanzline.com
Z scale freight cars
Gunderson Maxi-I five-unit articulated well car. BNSF Ry. (Mineral Red with circle-cross herald). Four road numbers. Well car features metal chassis with etched-metal details, add-on parts, Auto-Latch couplers, roller-bearing trucks, and metal wheelsets. Each set includes five Genstar 40-foot intermodal containers. American Z Line, 614-764-1703, americanzline.com
Electronics and controls
The Motorman. Automatic reversing train shuttle controller. Includes control unit with liquid-crystal display and buttons, faceplate and hardware (pre-installed), 12V/3A power supply, and two TrainSpotter infrared detectors with eight-foot cables. Stores settings for up to 15 locomotives. Adjustable acceleration and deceleration rates and built-in track short circuit protection. Supports intermediate stops (with additional sensors). Compatible with direct current and Digital Command Control. Measures 4-1/2” x 4” x 1-1/8”. $99. Iowa Scaled Engineering, iascaled.com
Track
Code 83 and code 100 nickel silver HO scale rail. For do-it-yourself and custom track projects. Compatible with Cornerstone Series bridge kits with molded ties and other structures (sold separately). Same rail as used on new WalthersTrack products. Each package includes 17 36” sections of rail (51 feet total). $34.98. WalthersTrack. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
Decals Washington & Old Dominion diesel locomotive decals. HO scale set covers post-1948 Whitcomb 65- and 75-ton diesels and General Electric 44- and 70-ton diesels. Dulux Gold artwork, updated by Robert Wingo, includes road names, revised heralds, and full set of road numbers. $4.39 postpaid. Virginia residents add sales tax. Bill Mosteller, Great Decals, 3306 Parkside Terrace, Fairfax, VA 22031; greatdecals.com
Tools
Abrasive cleaning disc. For cleaning clogged hobby files and abrasives. Can remove metal, wood, plastic, and other residue without damaging abrasives or dulling tools. ¼” thick, 2” diameter. $6.99. Produced by Alpha Abrasives, available from Kalmbach Hobby Store, KalmbachHobbyStore.com
Fine precision trimmer. Flat blade design for cutting plastic parts from sprues. Will also work with resin and composite materials. $17.99. Produced by Flex-I-File, available from Kalmbach Hobby Store, KalmbachHobbyStore.com
National Model Railroad Association standards gauge. Mark V version. Sheet metal gauge allows users to check track gauge; wing rail, guard rail, and frog spacing; turnout points; wheel gauge; clearance; and coupler height. Includes two-sided sheet with NMRA Recommended Practice RP-2, which describes and illustrates how to use the gauge. $16.95. Produced by National Model Railroad Association, available from Kalmbach Hobby Store, KalmbachHobbyStore.com
TK3200 Pro-Modelers tool kit. Set includes Model 2175ET sprue cutter; Model 9180ET scissors for photo-etch cutting; Model 450 TweezerNose pliers for forming, holding, and inserting parts; and canvas storage pouch. Tools are made of high carbon steel with non-glare finish, Light-Touch return springs, and Xuro-Rubber soft cushioned rubber grips. $73.75. Xuron Corp., 207-283-1401, xuron.com
Weathering supplies
Vetero Solutions. Aged Barn Wood, Burnt Sienna, Light Amber, Medium Cherry Brown, Murky Brown, and Raw Umber. Can be used on wood, cardstock, paper, plastic, plaster, Hydrocal, and other surfaces. 6.7 ounce bottle. $14.95 each, six-pack (one of each color), $74.75. Bollinger Edgerly Scale Trains, veterosolutions.com
