Quick Look: Fox Valley Models N scale Pullman-Standard coal gondola

MRRPR0919_18

Fox Valley Models N scale Pullman-Standard coal gondola Price: Single car, $27.95; six-pack, $159.95 Manufacturer Fox Valley Models P.O. Box 1970 Des Plaines, IL 60017 www.foxvalleymodels.com Era: 1975 to present (as decorated) Road names: Burlington Northern (four six-packs), Cajon Electric Power (three six-packs), and Fayette Power (three six-packs and one single car) Comments: Modeling unit […]

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WalthersMainline HO scale chop-nose GP9

MRRPR0919_10

The GP9 (CNW sample shown) has drill-starter points for grab irons. Walthers offers a detail kit for the model separately. The layout of the components under the shell is pretty typical, with the printed-circuit board and decoder located above the motor and flywheel. The chop-nose GP9 is equipped with light-emitting-diode headlights. A newly tooled chop-nose […]

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Atlas Trainman Gold HO Alco RS-32 and RS-36

MRRPR0819_04

Atlas Trainman Gold HO Alco RS-32 and RS-36 Lifting off the plastic body shell involves removing the coupler draft gear boxes and disengaging plastic clips above both trucks. The Alco RS-32 and RS-36, four-axle, second­-generation diesel road switchers issued by Atlas Model RR Co. more than 10 years ago, have been upgraded and ­re-released as […]

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ScaleTrains.com N scale GE C39-8 diesel

MRRNP0819_04

ScaleTrains.com N scale GE C39-8 diesel The model has many prototype-specific details, including a retrofitted vertical handrail on the end of the long hood. For the first time in N scale, a General Electric C39-8 is available as a ready-to-run plastic model. Produced by ScaleTrains.com as part of the firm’s Rivet Counter series, the N […]

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ExactRail HO scale GSI 53′-6″ bulkhead flatcar

ExactRail HO scale GSI 53'-6" bulkhead flatcar

Price: $54.99 Manufacturer ExactRail 525 E. 1860 S. Provo, UT 84606 www.exactrail.com Era: 1966 to present (depending on paint scheme) Road names: Rock Island (six road numbers); Burlington Northern (18 numbers); and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy (nine numbers). Comments: A General Steel Industries (GSI) 53′-6″ bulkhead flatcar is the latest addition to ExactRail’s HO scale […]

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Atlas N scale GP39-2 diesel locomotive

MRRPR0719_05

Atlas N scale GP39-2 diesel locomotive Sound or no sound has been one of the basic questions when buying new locomotives. If you bought an engine without sound, but later wanted to add a Digital Command Control (DCC) sound decoder, one of the hurdles was finding a place for the speaker, especially in N scale. […]

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Athearn Ready-to-Roll HO scale SD40T-2

MRRPR0719_01

Athearn Ready-to-Roll HO scale SD40T-2 More prototype-specific detail and a dual-mode SoundTraxx Econami decoder highlight this HO scale SD40T-2 “tunnel motor” diesel from Athearn Trains. The plastic model has many enhancements compared to the previous Athearn Ready-to-Roll SD40T-2 that we reviewed back in the January 2008 issue. Prototype. In 1972, General Motors Electro-Motive Division and […]

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Quick Look: Kadee HO scale early PS-1 boxcar

MRRPR0719_10

Kadee HO scale early PS-1 boxcar Price: $39.95 Manufacturer Kadee Quality Products Co. 673 Ave. C White City, OR 97503-1078 www.kadee.com Era: 1947 to 1980s Road names: Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; New York Central; New York, New Haven & Hartford (with 7-foot door); Southern Ry.; and Union Pacific Comments: Kadee has released an early-production […]

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Walthers Cornerstone N scale bridge kits

MRRPR0719_09

Wm. K. Walthers, which added easy-to-build HO scale railway bridges to its Cornerstone line a few years ago, is now doing the same in N scale. The single-track arched Pratt truss bridge kit is the latest in that line. I assembled and painted the bridge along with its matching pier and abutment kits, which are sold […]

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Quick Look: WalthersMainline HO scale Budd 85-foot dome coach

MRRNP0219_16

WalthersMainline HO scale Budd 85-foot dome coach Price: $39.98 Manufacturer Wm. K. Walthers Inc. 5601 W. Florist Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53218 www.walthers.com Era: 1954 to present Road names: Amtrak (phase 3); Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Southern Ry.; Union Pacific; and VIA Rail Canada. Also available undecorated. Comments: Wm. K. Walthers Inc. has added an […]

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Broadway Limited Imports N scale PRR T1 4-4-4-4

Broadway Limited Imports N scale PRR T1 4-4-4-4

Broadway Limited Imports N scale PRR T1 4-4-4-4 The T1 is equipped with magnetic knuckle couplers. Details like wire grab irons and train-phone system antenna add to the realism. I recently reviewed two N scale diesel locomotives from Broadway Limited Imports (BLI) featuring Paragon3 Digital Command Control (DCC) decoders with Rolling Thunder (March and May […]

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