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 July 29, 2021.
HO scale locomotives
Canadian National GP9RM diesel locomotive kit. With 36” and 48” fans (both styles offered in three versions: with louvers on cab’s left side, without louvers, and raised utility box on right side). Kit includes 3-D printed locomotive shell and detail parts; etched-metal steps, fan grills and blades, stanchions, windshield wipers, and door handles; formed wire grab irons, handrails, and lift rings; and two types of class light assemblies. Designed to fit WalthersMainline GP9 chassis. $109.92. Maple Leaf Trains, +972-52-621-6455, mapleleaftrains.com
General Electric B36-7 diesel locomotive. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (“Kodachrome” scheme, one road number); Conrail (blue with white sill stripe and Quality scheme, three numbers each); and Southern Pacific (scarlet and gray with speed and Roman lettering, two numbers each). Railroad-specific details, metal side handrails with plastic stanchions, and metal couplers. With ESU LokSound sound decoder, $339.95. 2021 delivery. Rapido Trains Inc., 905-474-3314, rapidotrains.com
HO scale freight cars
Assorted freight car kits. Chicago, Burlington & Quincy single-sheathed twin hopper, $18.98. Burlington Northern American Car & Foundry 2,970-cubic-foot-capacity two-bay Center Flow covered hopper, $20.98. Canadian Pacific 40-foot riveted-side boxcar (step gothic lettering and “Newsprint Service Only” shield), $19.98. Illinois Central 40-foot double-sheathed refrigerator car (yellow and brown with “Central Despatch” lettering), $20.98. Nickel Plate 36-foot wood boxcars (Fowler, double-sheathed with fish-belly underframe, and double-sheathed with straight underframe: single car, $19.98; three-pack, $58.98). Injection-molded plastic kits with plastic wheelsets, trucks, and Accumate couplers. August/September 2021. Accurail, 630-365-1173, accurail.com
40-foot double-sheathed refrigerator car. Canadian National (brown with maple leaf herald); Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (yellow and brown with “Burlington Refrigerator Express” lettering); Chicago & North Western (white with “North Western Refrigerator Line Company” lettering); Harding Cream Co. (yellow, brown, and black); Kahn’s (yellow, silver, and black); and The Meriden Creamery Co. (yellow, brown, and black). Seven road numbers per scheme (three single cars and one four-pack). 50-ton solid-bearing trucks with 33” metal wheels; separate, factory-applied brake wheel; and McHenry scale couplers. Single car, $34.99; four-pack, $119.99. August 2022. Roundhouse series. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
40-foot single-sheathed boxcar. Ann Arbor; Baltimore & Ohio; Central Railroad of New Jersey; Chesapeake & Ohio; Chicago & Northwestern; Milwaukee Road; Delaware & Hudson; Maine Central; Norfolk & Western; New York Central; Pennsylvania (Youngstown and Creco doors); Reading Co.; Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac; and Southern Pacific. Six road numbers per scheme unless noted, also available undecorated. Wood, Youngstown corrugated, or Creco panel doors as appropriate; KC or AB brakes; detailed underbody with separate brake rods and piping; and Rapido semi-scale couplers. Single car, $49.95; six-pack, $299.70. Release date to be announced. Rapido Trains Inc., 905-474-3314, rapidotrains.com
TTX (yellow with DTTX reporting marks and old logo, new logo, new and Railbox logos, and patched with new logo and “Forward Thinking” slogan). Three road numbers per paint scheme. Weld line details and separate, factory-applied grab irons and brake gear. Can hold 20- and 40-foot containers in well and 40- to 53-foot containers in top position. $39.98. August 2021. WalthersProto. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
HO scale passenger cars
34-foot Overton passenger cars. Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (yellow, green, and red); Boston & Maine (red and black); Canadian National (green and yellow); Denver & Rio Grande Western (yellow, black, and silver); New York Central (green and yellow); and Southern Pacific (green and black). One coach and four-pack (baggage, combine, coach, and observation car) per scheme. Clear windows and green-tinted clerestory windows, machined metal RP-25 contour metal wheels, and body-mounted McHenry scale couplers. Coach, $36.99; four-pack, $129.99. August 2022. Roundhouse series. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
HO scale structures
Chicken coop and farm buildings. Injection-molded plastic kits with a chicken coop/hen house, machine shed, lean-to (partial structure), and gravity fuel tank. Structure footprints: chicken coop 2-1/2” x 1-1/4” x 1-3/8”, machine shed 2-7/8” x 3-7/8” x 2-7/8”, and lean-to 3-1/2” x 1-7/8” x 1-1/2”. $24.98. August 2021. Cornerstone Series. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
Machinery storage shed. Injection-molded plastic kit. Measures 9-3/4” x 4-1/2” x 2-3/4. $19.98. Cornerstone Series. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
HO scale details and accessories
40-foot parcel trailer. UPS (with and without logo, with red ends, with red stripes, and with yellow stripes). Three trailer numbers per scheme. Vinyl tires, painted wheels, and injection-molded plastic body. $37.99. August 2022. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
N scale structures
Trackside structures set. Injection-molded plastic kits with interlocking tower, handcar shed, and crossing shanty; two positionable crossing gates; and motor car. Interlocking tower measures 2” x 1-1/4” x 2-1/4; handcar shed measures 2-1/2” x 1-3/8” x 1-1/8”; crossing shanty measures 1” x 3/4” x 7/8”. $24.98. August 2021. Cornerstone Series. Wm. K. Walthers Inc., 414-527-0770, walthers.com
N scale details and accessories
40-foot parcel trailer. 40-foot parcel trailer. UPS (with and without logo, with red ends, with red stripes, and with yellow stripes). Three trailer numbers per scheme. Vinyl tires, painted wheels, and injection-molded plastic body. $34.99. August 2022. Athearn N. Athearn Trains, 800-338-4639, athearn.com
O scale freight cars
Gunderson Multi-Max auto rack. BNSF Ry. (orange), Canadian Pacific (white with red “CP” lettering and Soo reporting marks), Kansas City Southern (yellow with Kansas City Southern Lines and Kansas City Southern de Mexico heralds), Norfolk Southern (yellow with Thoroughbred herald), and Union Pacific (yellow with shield herald and “Building America” slogan). Four road numbers per scheme. New superstructure, flatcar, and truck tooling; positionable end doors; and removable interior deck (additional deck available separately to convert from bi-level to tri-level). $144.95. Fourth quarter 2021. Master Line. Atlas O, 908-687-8857, shop.atlasrr.com
O gauge structures
Wilson’s Gas & Go service station. Injection-molded plastic kit with modern and vintage gas pumps, positionable garage doors, and waterslide decals. Measures 11-3/4” x 8-1/8” x 4-5/8”. $72.50. Fourth quarter 2021. Atlas Hillside Structure line. Atlas O, 908-687-0880, shop.atlasrr.com
Large scale freight cars
Betsy Ross 40-foot refrigerator car. Hook-and-loop couplers; separate, factory-applied brake wheel, running boards, and stirrup steps; and plastic wheels. $119.99. October 2021. American Traditions series. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com
Christmas 2021 40-foot boxcar. Hook-and-loop couplers; separate, factory-applied brake wheel, running boards, and stirrup steps; and plastic wheelsets. Model will only be offered once. $119.99. September 2021. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com
Large scale sets
Christmas freight remote-control starter set with analog sound and smoke. Includes a 2-6-0 “mini-Mogul” steam locomotive and tender, three freight cars, radio control power system, power clamps, circle of indoor/outdoor R1 track, track clips, track magnets for bell and whistle sound activation, smoke fluid, uncoupling wand, and transformer. Models feature hook-and-loop type couplers. Can be upgraded to digital sound using PIKO Digital Steam Sound kit (no. 36220, sold separately). $874.99. October 2021. PIKO America, 619-280-2800, piko-america.com
