Kevin Strong 4-amp DCC motor/sound decoder ECO-400 Soundtraxx “Econami” Soundtraxx 210 Rock Point Drive Durango CO 81301 Price: $149.95 Website: www.soundtraxx.com Size: 2 3/4″ x 13/16″ x 5/8″ Pros: Excellent motor control; choice of sounds allows for a good degree of customization; good sound quality; plenty of volume Cons: No external trigger for synchronized chuff—must […]
Strata-Domes and streamlined diesel locomotives highlight the HO scale Capitol Limited passenger train from Walthers. Each passenger car and locomotive is prototypically detailed. Both E unit diesels are powered and include SoundTraxx Tsunami Digital Command Control (DCC) sound decoders. See and hear this magnificent passenger train as it makes a run along the Model Railroader […]
This HO scale General Motors Diesel Division (GMDD) models a Canadian-built version of the SD40-2 diesel-electric locomotive. The model accurately depicts its CP Rail prototype, including functioning classification lights. An ESU LokSound Select decoder provides realistic sound and lighting effects and operates on Digital Command Control (DCC) and direct-current (DC) layouts. Watch the locomotive run […]
For the first time in plastic, a General Motors Diesel Division SD40-2F is available as an HO scale model thanks to Bowser Trains. We tested a version that came factory-equipped with an ESU LokSound decoder. Watch as we put this Canadian freight hauler to work on the Model Railroader staff’s layout, the Milwaukee, Racine & […]
This HO scale Electro-Motive Diesel SD70ACe from Walthers models a modern era workhorse. Part of the WalthersMainline series the locomotive model includes a SoundTraxx Digital Command Control (DCC) sound decoder. Get a demo of some of the locomotive’s features as it hauls a model train on one of the Model Railroader staff’s project layouts. […]
See and hear the N scale Baldwin DR-12-8-1500/2, better known as the “Centipede,” in action on one of the Model Railroader staff’s N scale project layouts. Both units of the A1-A2 are powered and feature Paragon2 Digital Command Control (DCC) sound decoders. […]
CD review 20 Years of the Blue Ridge Stemwinder Chris Ford 928 Landing Oaks Drive Collierville TN 38017 Price: $42.50 Website: http://cfordart.com You may not have heard of the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina Railroad but, if you’ve got a Bachmann 4-6-0, you’re running a model of one of their locomotives. The ET&WNC was […]
Marc Horovitz 1:32 scale, gauge-1 passenger cars Accucraft 33268 Central Avenue Union City CA 94587 Price: $340 ea.; $2,040/set of six Website: www.accucraft.com Set of six mostly metal streamlined passenger cars; plastic floor and underbody; smooth sides; glazed windows; metal trucks; full interiors; soft plastic or rubber diaphragms; set includes baggage car, coach (2), diner, […]
Marc Horovitz Hand-held remote throttle Model Rectifier Corporation (MRC) 80 Newfield Avenue Edison NJ 08837 Price: $42.98 Website: www.modelrectifier.com Hand-held walk-around throttle (#0001325) to be used with MRC 9900 and 9950 powerpacks. Dimensions: length, 41/2″; width, 23⁄8″; thickness, 7⁄8″. Weight (not including cord), 2 1/2 oz. Pros: Lightweight, hand-held device gives walk-around capability for controlling […]
Marc Horovitz Gauge 1, 1:32 scale, GE Dash 8 MTH Electric Trains 7020 Columbia Gateway Drive Columbia MD, 21046 Price $749.95 Website: www.mthtrains.com 1:32 scale, gauge 1, plastic and metal GE Dash 8 diesel locomotive; analog DC, AC, DCC, and MTH DCS-compatible control. Dimensions: length, 26″ (excluding couplers); width, 4″, height, 57⁄8″. In 1:32 scale, […]
Marc Horovitz 1:22.5 scale, gauge 1, animated cattle cars Bachmann Industries 1400 East Erie Avenue Philadelphia PA 19124 Price: $129 Website: www.bachmanntrains.com Cattle car with openings through which horse or cow heads appear; opening doors; plastic construction; plastic arch-bar trucks; metal wheelsets; working, truck-mounted knuckle couplers installed; hook-and-loop couplers also supplied; two road names available […]
Marc Horovitz 1:29 scale, gauge-1 trucks Kadee Quality Products Co. 673 Avenue C White City OR 97503 Price: $49.99/pair Website: www.kadee.com 1:29 scale, gauge 1, Barber S-2, roller bearing, freight-car trucks; cast-metal side frames; metal wheels and axles; plastic brake detail; equalized Pros: Mostly-metal construction; weight of trucks will lower the car’s center of gravity; […]
