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April 2008 • Volume 14, Issue 4 • The NewsMonthly for Model Railroaders
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| The April 2008 issue contains the following reviews, and columns: | |
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N-Scale Reviews • Athearn's Pre-Weathered NACC 50-foot Boxcars HO-Scale Reviews • Broadway Limited's "Hybrid" 4-6-4 New Haven I-5 Hudson Steam Locomotive • (HOn3) Blackstone Models' D&RGW 300 Series Boxcars • Cover Story: M.T.H. Electric Trains' 2-8-8-8-2 Triplex Locomotive • Masterpiece Automotive Replicas' 1936 Chrysler Airflow Imperial Eight • Athearn Trains' John Deere Log Skidder • Bar Mills' "Tylick Tool Company" Laser-cut Wood Structure Kit • BRAWA's Pin-Socket Street Lights Illuminate Your Night Scenes O-Scale Reviews • Atlas O's SD40 "Red Baron" Locomotive & Wood Express Reefer • BTS's "Singer Watch Repair" Laser-cut Wood Structure Kit Large-Scale Reviews • (1:29) Aristo-Craft's GP40 Diesel Locomotive with QSI Sound • QSI Solutions' Quantum "Plug-N-Play" Aristo Sound Decoder DVD Review • Charles Smiley's "Great Shortlines West" DVD Columns • Thinking of DCC — It's theToolbox • At The Grade Crossing — German Modelmakers Signal a Change in Direction • TAMR Teen Association of Model Railroaders — Seeing Double (or triple, or...) • Larger View — Loading Up an Fn3 Flat Car • S-Curves — Spotting the S... |
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Reviews
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Broadway Limited's "Hybrid" 4-6-4 New Haven I-5 Hudson Steam Locomotive in HO Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Broadway Limited’s hybrid 4-6-4 Hudson steam locomotive is being offered only in the New Haven roadname because only the New Haven ever owned this particular machine. Discover more information about the prototype, along with details about this model’s appearance and performance, and why this model is called a “hybrid.” |
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Atlas O's SD40 "Red Baron" Locomotive & Wood Express Reefer in O Scale Review and photos by David Otte Atlas O’s top-of-the-line Master Series of O-gauge models continues to expand with new roadnames as well as a new prototype. First up is a limited edition release of their SD40 model, which now has entered its third production run with a number of new paint schemes. This unique Jersey Central offering provides us with a fresh look at an old friend. Following behind this 1960s-era diesel-electric is the latest entry in Atlas O’s Steam Era Classics subcategory, the General American Wood Express Reefer. Read more details on both these offerings in David’s review. |
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Aristo-Craft's GP40 Diesel Locomotive with QSI Sound in Large-Scale (1:29) Review and photos by John Sipple Well, if it looks like a GP40, sounds like a GP40, and runs like a GP40, it must be a GP40, right? See why John feels Aristo-Craft is giving you the whole enchilada here with their diesel locomotive with QSI Sound in his review, which includes details on the prototype, the model’s details, initial DC operation, and adding the QSI Aritsto-Craft DCC/DC Sound System. |
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Athearn's Pre-Weathered NACC 50-foot Boxcars in N Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Athearn is offering the factory weathered N-scale NACC (North American Car Company) boxcars in the same roadnames as the unweathered NACC boxcars: Colloid, ALUMAX, Dresser Magcobar, Trona Chemicals, TP&W, Pearl Brewing, WP, C&NW, Dresser, MPLX, TPFX, and CNJ. Discover why John said he liked these cars right away in his review. |
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Blackstone Models' D&RGW 300 Series Boxcars in HOn3 Review and photos by David Otte Coupled behind Blackstone Models' previously released HOn3 K-27 class Mikado, reviewed in the August 2007 issue of MRN, rolls a string of the Colorado-based manufacturer’s new narrow gauge freight cars that are going to put a big smile on the faces of Denver & Rio Grande Western enthusiasts, according to David. Discover more details on this series of boxcars in his review. |
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M.T.H. Electric Trains' 2-8-8-8-2 Triplex Locomotive in HO Scale Review and photos by David Otte MTH Electric Trains’ Triplex: a revolution in HO Scale? At over fifteen inches in length and two pounds four ounces in weight, this is the busiest looking steam locomotive David has ever seen, especially when in motion with its three sets of eight-coupled drivers spinning around and around, rods and valve gear working feverishly, extolling the power of the prototype. Be sure to see David’s cover story, center spread review in this month’s issue for all the details and photos. |
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Masterpiece Automotive Replicas' 1936 Chrysler Airflow Imperial Eight in HO Scale Review by Wayne Calder • Photos by Bill Cawthon Wayne says it is getting more and more difficult to critique many 1/87 models these days because the detail and quality is by far the best it has ever been. Masterpiece Automotive Replicas are no exception to this standard, in fact they often set the standard. Enjoy the prototype info on these models, and details on these Chryslers in Wayne’s review. |
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Athearn Trains' John Deere Log Skidder in HO Scale Review and photos by Bill Cawthon Athearn announced its new John Deere Log Skidder last August and deliveries began in December. For those who like modern logging as well as those who want an interesting load for a flat car, the Athearn model fills one of the gaps in the HO forestry equipment roster. It’s suitable for any period from roughly the late 1970s to the present. Find out if you might want one to haul fresh-cut timber on your pike, after reading Bill’s review. |
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Charles Smiley's "Great Shortlines West" DVD Review by John Sipple You don’t have to be a resident or native of California, Oregon, or Texas to enjoy this video. This eclectic collection of shortlines demonstrates the spirit of shortline railroading that is found everywhere in North America. Get more details on what this DVD features, and how it may enhance your railroading experience, in John’s review. |
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Bar Mills' "Tylick Tool Company" Laser-cut Wood Structure Kit in HO Scale Review and photos by Rich Cobb The Tylick Tool Company kit is not based on a specific structure; however, it is an industry that could easily be located in most towns. According to Bar Mills, the kit was inspired by a Model Railroader article and developed by their designers. It’s named for Michael Tylick, the well-known model railroad modeler, author, and clinician from Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Benefit from Rich’s experience constructing and detailing this kit before you build yours. |
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BTS's "Singer Watch Repair" Laser-cut Wood Structure Kit in O Scale Review and photos by Rich Cobb The O-scale version of BTS (Better Than Scratch)’s Singer Watch Repair kit was introduced in July 2006 as part of their Cabin Creek Project series of mining and lumber town structures. No prototype is specified, but the structure is typical of the false-front wood buildings in small towns. The kit is also available in HO- and S-scales. Give your town a new business after reading Rich’s review. |
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QSI Solutions' Quantum "Plug-N-Play" Aristo Sound Decoder in G Scale Review and photos by John Sipple QSI Solutions offers three different methods for synchronizing the chuff to the locomotive’s rotation, among other points of interest for G Scale. Read about installation in the K-27, chuff syncing, installation of the Aristo-Craft GP40, common sound features, and other issues covered by John in his review. |
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BRAWA's Pin-Socket Street Lights in HO Scale Review and photos by Dick Foster Light up your night scene with working vintage U.S. lights from German company, BRAWA. BRAWA offers two familiar Cobra-head single and double light standards, gaslight style, and wooden pole fixtures. Let Dick enlighten you on the possibilities for your layout in his review. BRAWA Lights are Imported by Reynauld's Euro Imports, Inc. |
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Opinions
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Editorial online Click to read and respond to this month's editorial So what's wrong with narrow gauge? by John Sipple e-mail John at Editorial |
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Letters online
Read all the letters that appear in our April 2008 issue. |
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Columns
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Thinking of DCC — A Column by John Sipple It's the toolbox This month John compares various technologies that offer to control trains on your layout as a DCC toolbox, with an operations drawer, sound and lights drawer, and layout drawer. e-mail John at dcc |
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At the Grade Crossing — A Column by Bill Cawthon German Modelmakers Signal a Change in Direction Bill shares future trends from German model makers he learned while recently attending the 59th International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, Germany. Read about new offerings from Busch, Herpa, Wiking, Rietze, Brekina, and Universal Hobbies in Bill’s column. e-mail Bill at Gradecrossing |
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Teen Association of Model Railroaders (TAMR) — A Column by Steven Goehring Seeing Double (or triple, or...) This month Steven attempts to answer the question of why he has numerous sets of several of the same locomotive type in his collection, and what his motivations were in purchasing them. e-mail TAMR tamr visit TAMR www.tamr.org |
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Larger View — A Column by John Sipple Loading Up an Fn3 Flat Car This month John shares how he spent an afternoon creating a finished lumber load for one of his Fn3 flat cars. e-mail John at Largerview |
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S-Curves For and About S-Gauge Model Railroading — A Column by Roy Hoffman Spotting the S... Roy shares his pastime of looking for the elusive “S” in model railroad-oriented ads, his opinion on S Scale for kids, some highlights from the Springfield, Massachusetts Show, and controversy on prototype modeling in S Scale. e-mail Roy at Scurves |
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Events & Activities online
This monthly department is packed with plenty of model railroading events and activities. Make plans to attend one in your area. You’ll be glad you did. Read this month's Events, or send us your Event info. |
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Classified Ads online
Model Railroad News offers free noncommercial classified ads, and paid commercial ads. |
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Archives - Back Issues
Click to see the main contents of Model Railroad News' past issues, Archives, and information on how to order back issues. |
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