News & Products for the week of October 30th 2023

A model locomotive in a white and orange paint scheme

News & Products for the week of October 30th 2023   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 October 30th […]

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News & Products for the week of October 23rd 2023

News & Products for the week of October 23rd 2023   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 October 23rd […]

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News & Products for the week of October 16th 2023

News & Products for the week of October 16th 2023   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 October 16th […]

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News & Products for the week of October 9th 2023

Three model cabooses in various paint jobs

News & Products for the week of October 9th 2023   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 October 9th […]

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To upgrade to DCC, or not to upgrade, that is the question

A man holds a model train throttle in front of two blue model locomotives.

Digital Command Control, or DCC, is one of two ways most modelers control their trains. Instead of sending current directly to the rails, and making any train that’s receiving that current move, DCC sends packets of information through the rails and to individual locomotives to tell them what to do. For a DCC system to […]

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Modeling diesels that didn’t

Model of a red diesel locomotive

Classic Trains’ series “Diesels that didn’t” explores diesel locomotives that didn’t make it to large-scale production due to a variety of factors. However, some of those diesels made it to mass-production in the scale model world. Let’s take a look at the products offered to those modeling the diesels that didn’t. Electro-Motive Division BL2 HO […]

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How to install a SoundTraxx Blunami decoder in a Lego locomotive

Box showing Lego model of a modern intermodal train and truck

I love Lego, and I love trains. When I first saw the SoundTraxx Blunami decoder being demonstrated inside a Lego locomotive at Trainfest, I knew that I had to install my own decoder in a Lego locomotive. What you’ll need Obviously, you will need a locomotive. Trains.com producer Ben Lake donated his Lego Creator No. […]

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News & Products from the 2023 Railroad Hobby Show

An image of a model caboose

News & Products from the 2023 Railroad Hobby Show With the 2023 Railroad Hobby Show wrapping up, we thought it would be a perfect week to showcase the multiple new products released throughout the show. Model railroad operators and builders can get the latest information about locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, tools, track, and more […]

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SoundTraxx TSU-N18 decoder with narrow profile

Small digital sound decoder on white background

TSU-N18 sound decoder Price: $124.95 Manufacturer: SoundTraxx, 141 Burnett Dr., Durango, CO 81301; 970-259-0690; soundtraxx.com Features: Sound library including 10 exhaust chuffs, up to 12 diesel engines per profile, up to 12 bells, 90 whistles, and more than 40 airhorns Plugs into models equipped with Next18 socket Additional couplers, dynamos, cab chatter, and more Dimensions: 25 x 9.5 […]

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JST-Next18 adapter kit from SoundTraxx

Socket for digital command control decoder

JST-Next18 adapter kit Price: $16.96 Manufacturer: SoundTraxx, 141 Burnett Dr., Durango, CO 81301; 970-259-0690; soundtraxx.com Features: Allows use of TSU-N18 in almost any N scale model Next-18 socket Six functions Solder pads for additional functionality Dimensions: 16 x 9.5 x 5mm Max function current: 100mA per output Release date: Available now News & Products is a regular feature of […]

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SoundTraxx Blunami sound decoders

Computer chip wrapped in white heat-shrink

Blunami sound decoders Scale: HO and small S scale models Price: $169.95 Manufacturer: SoundTraxx, 141 Burnett Dr., Durango, CO 81301; 970-259-0690; soundtraxx.com SoundTraxx Blunami features: Dimensions: 41.9 x 18.8 x 6.8mm Six function outputs 2 Watt, 8-Ohm load audio amplifier 16 sound channels Maximum motor stall current of 2A Maximum function current of 100mA per […]

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