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December 2007 • Volume 13, Issue 12 • The NewsMonthly for Model Railroaders
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| The December 2007 issue contains the following reviews, and columns: | |
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• Lionel's Hogwarts Express Train Set in O Gauge • Altas Model Railroad Co.'s Trainman Train Set in HO Scale • Walthers, Inc.'s 2008 Model Railroad HO Reference Book • Walthers, Inc.'s 2008 N & Z Model Railroad Reference Book • Walthers, Inc.'s Wayfreight Train Set in HO Scale • Marklin Inc.'s ICE 2 Digital Starter Set and Long Distance Passenger Service Theme Extension Set in HO Scale • Bachmann Industries' Spectrum "Continental" Train Set in HO Scale • Micro-Trains Line Company, Inc.'s U.S. Army Train Set in Z Scale • MTH Electric Trains' Railking Christmas Express Train Set in O Scale • Kato USA, Inc.'s USRA 2-8-2 Heavy Mikato in N Scale • Walthers, Inc.'s PROTO Diesel ALCO RS-2 in N Scale • Walthers, Inc.'s Empire Builder 6-5-2 Sleeper in HO Scale • Bachmann's 4-4-0 Steam Locomotive in HO Scale • Bachmann's Pulpwood Car in On30 • Woodland Scenic's Wayne Recker's Wrecker, and To the Lake Vehicles in HO Scale • Preiser's Farm Tractor with Agricultural Roller in HO Scale • Main Street Heritage Models' Billy's Place Kit in O Scale • Woodland Scenic's Harrison's Hardwater and Fill'er Up & Fix'er Structures in N Scale • Model-trains-videos.com's The Siskiyou Line, Volumes 1-5 DVDs • Signature Press Pullman-Standard Freight Cars • Model Rectifier Corporation's Power Station 8 for DCC • Thinking of DCC — NMRA speaks out on DCC Standards • At the Grade Crossing — Let's celebrate a banner year! • Larger View — Taking a larger view of model railroading • S-Curves — Memories of under the Christmas tree • TAMR Teen Association of Model Railroaders — TAMR.org Re-launched! |
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• • • Model Railroad News' Annual Holiday Train Set and Stocking Stuffers Reviews • • •
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• • • Model Railroad News' Annual Holiday Train Set and Stocking Stuffers Reviews • • • See Train Sets and Stocking Stuffers reviewed in our December 07 issue listed individually below. |
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Lionel Trains, Inc.'s Hogwarts Express Train Set in O Gauge Review by Jennifer Lindsay • Photos by Michael Lindsay Lionel is enabling Potter fans to embark on a magical journey all their own with their new limited edition Hogwarts Express Train Set. Discover details about this set's appearance, performance, plus observations on setting up the FasTrack, power pack, operation, and sound capabilities in Jennifer's review. |
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Altas Model Railroad Co.'s Trainman Train Set in HO Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Atlas is offering you a choice of three roadnames in their new Trainman Train Set line: Santa Fe, CP Rail, and Norfolk Southern. Find out more about this easy-to-wrap set in John’s review, which includes rolling stock, their brand-new snap track system, and power supply. |
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Walthers, Inc.'s 2008 Model Railroad HO Reference Book Review by John Sipple Walthers has released their 2008 Model Railroad HO Reference Book. See why John says this book has been an annual pleasure for many in the hobby, especially during the Yuletide season. |
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Walthers, Inc.'s 2008 N & Z Model Railroad Reference Book Review by Phil Scandura Like its HO-scale counterpart, Walthers’s N & Z Model Railroad Reference Book offers a cornucopia of ideas to keep you filled throughout the year. Read Phil’s review for more highlights. |
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Walthers, Inc.'s Wayfreight Train Set in HO Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Walthers’ Trainline “Wayfreight HO Train Set” bundles five freight cars in with a road grader load, three trucks based on an older Ford design, along with a very nice Proto 1000 F3 diesel locomotive, an MRC power pack, and a 36 by 54 in oval of Atlas code 100 nickel-silver track. See if this set is the gift you’re looking for to start a family in the model railroad hobby after reading John’s review. |
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Marklin Inc.'s ICE 2 Digital Starter Set and Long Distance Passenger Service Theme Extension Set in HO Scale Review and photos by David Otte Marklin’s ICE 2 Digital Starter Set and Long Distance Passenger Service Extension Set include everything you need to get started: track, locomotive, passenger cars, power pack with digital controller, a CD-ROM product catalog, and an extensive set-up/operations manual. See why David says Marklin sets create a conducive atmosphere for welcoming the new railfan into the model railroad hobby in his review. |
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Bachmann Industries' Spectrum "Continental" Train Set in HO Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Bachmann has added the Amtrak “Continental” Train Set to its quality Spectrum line. Read about the F40PH locomotive, Amfleet cars, power supply, track, and DCC advantages, along with some surprises you may appreciate, all in John’s review. |
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Micro-Trains Line Company, Inc.'s U.S. Army Train Set in Z Scale Review and photos by Bill Cawthon Micro-Trains’ latest Z-scale train set is a special edition collector’s package decorated for the U.S. Army. Like their Navy series in N scale, Micro-Trains’ Army train is not based on real-world prototypes; it’s designed to commemorate America’s armed forces. See if you want to enlist this Army set into your collection or roster after reading Bill’s review for more details. Hooah! |
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MTH Electric Trains' Railking Christmas Express Train Set in O Scale Review and photos by Bill Cawthon MTH ’s Christmas Express Train Set has arrived just in time for Christmas and includes a locomotive, tender, three illuminated Overton passenger cars, (each named for one of Santa’s reindeer), track, a controller, and power supply. Find out for yourself why Bill says the MTH Christmas Express is everything a holiday train set should be and more in his review, which includes set up, track assembly, operation, and detail suggestions. |
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Kato USA, Inc.'s USRA 2-8-2 Heavy Mikato in N Scale Review and photos by Phil Scandura Kato’s USRA 2-8-2 is the only North American prototype steam engine they produce. Their updated Mikato includes all the features of the original model, as well as all-wheel electrical pick-up, operating knuckle coupler on the tender, and functioning side rods. Get prototype info, as well as the model’s appearance, and performance details in Phil’s review. |
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Walthers, Inc.'s PROTO Diesel ALCO RS-2 in N Scale Review and photos by Phil Scandura Walthers' new PROTO RS-2 locomotive is a welcome entrant to the N-scale market. If you model the transition era, you will find Phil’s review of special interest. Be sure to pick up the December edition to read about the model’s features, prototype info, appearance, performance, and how to covert it to DCC operations. |
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Walthers, Inc.'s Empire Builder 6-5-2 Sleeper in HO Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Walthers’ Empire Builder 6-5-2 Sleeper Car completes the series John did earlier this year. Get prototype history, as well as details about the model’s appearance, performance, and suggestions for additional details in John’s review. |
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Bachmann Industries' 4-4-0 American Steam Locomotive in HO Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Bachmann’s Spectrum line has released its Modern 4-4-0 American in both wood and steel cab versions. If you need a small steam engine instead of a giant one, check out John’s review, which includes prototype background, as well as details on the model’s appearance, operation, and DC operation. |
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Bachmann Trains' Pulpwood Car in On30 Scale Review and photos by Pete Birdsong Bachmann’s new On30 pulpwood car comes “fully loaded” with a nicely done load of logs cast in resin. Benefit from Pete’s research on pulpwood car prototypes, and his opinion on the model’s appearance and operation. This could very well be the missing piece you’ve been looking to add to your logging operations. |
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Woodland Scenics' Wayne Recker's Wrecker, and To the Lake vehicles in HO Scale Review and photos by V.S. Roseman Woodland Scenics’ Auto Scenes have been on the market for a couple years now. Get a look at two of them through Victor’s review of Wayne Recker’s Wrecker, and To the Lake to see how these ready-to-make scenes can improve your layout. |
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Kleinkunst-Werkstatten Paul M. Preiser's Farm Tractor with Agricultural Roller in HO Scale Review and photos by Bill Cawthon Preiser has released its new Farm Tractor with Agricultural Roller. If you need to mow hay on a farm or weeds for your flood control district, find out more about The John Deere of Germany, and the quality of the Preiser replica in Bill’s review. |
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Main Street Heritage Models' Billy's Place Kit in O Scale Review and photos by Denis Dunning Main Street Heritage Models has released Billy’s Place Kit, a new small one-story brick and stone building of the type that you can still see today in countless towns. Looking to construct a bar, cafe’, or grocery store? This kit might be just the ticket! |
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Woodland Scenics' Harrison's Hardware and Fill'er Up & Fix'er Structures in N Scale Review and photos by Bill Cawthon Woodland Scenics has expanded their line with two new N-scale structures, Harrison’s Hardware and the Fill’er Up & Fix’er service station. Read about all the numerous detail pieces on these ready to enjoy buildings —there’s more to them than meets the eye. |
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Model-trains-videos.com's The Siskiyou Line, Volumes 1-5 DVDs Review by Dick Foster Model-trains-video.com has released a series of five DVDs by Joe Fugate on how he designed and built his Siskiyou Lines railroad in his basement. Not looking to model a Pacific Northwest railroad? No problem, Joe offers plenty of how-to tips that will make designing and building a complex empire an enjoyable experience. Get all the details of this unique series in Dick’s review. |
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Signature Press Pullman-Standard Freight Cars by Edward S. Kaminski Book Review by Phil Scandura Signature Press Pullman-Standard Freight Cars book by Edward S. Kaminski is reviewed by Phil in this month’s issue. If you’re planning a Pullman-Standard rolling stock super-detailing project or just want to learn more about the company, be sure to read Phil’s review first. |
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Model Rectifier Corporation's Power Station 8 for DCC Review and photos by John Sipple Model Rectifier Corporation (MRC) has released its Power Station 8 system for DCC. John explains how it works with the Prodigy Advance and Prodigy Express Command Stations, MRC’s new Prodigy Advance Wireless Conversion Set, and takes a look at lots of thoughtful improvements. If your garden has been waiting for a duplex, radio-control, DCC cab, be sure and check out John’s review. |
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Opinions
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Editorial online Click to read and respond to this month's editorial The Prototype Section of Our Reviews by John Sipple e-mail John at Editorial |
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Letters online
Read all the letters that appear in our December 2007 issue. |
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Columns
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Thinking of DCC — A Column by John Sipple NMRA speaks out on DCC Standards This month John shares a letter from Mr. Didrik Voss of the NMRA, on the subject of DCC standards. e-mail John at dcc |
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At the Grade Crossing — A Column by Bill Cawthon Let's celebrate a banner year! Bill shares his favorite HO-scale vehicles of 2007, some teasers to arrive in 2008, and wishes you a wonderful holiday season and a very happy 2008. e-mail Bill at Gradecrossing |
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Larger View — A Column by John Sipple Taking a larger view of model railroading Larger View is back with John’s quick guide to help you choose the right scale for you. e-mail John at Largerview |
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S-Curves For and About S-Gauge Model Railroading — A Column by Roy Hoffman Memories of under the Christmas Tree Roy shares memories of Christmases past, and the American Flyer trains available now to create new ones. e-mail Roy at Scurves |
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Teen Association of Model Railroaders (TAMR) — A Column by Steven Goehring TAMR.org Re-launched! Steven shares Dane and Matt's reasons for updating TAMR's web site. Check it out! e-mail TAMR tamr visit TAMR www.tamr.org |
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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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