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February 2006 • Volume 12, Issue 2 • The NewsMonthly for Model Railroaders
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| The February 2006 issue contains the following news, reviews, and columns: | |
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• Project Railroad — Creating your first Model Railroad using commercially available kits. Part II • Kato's EMD F40PH Diesel Locomotive, Amtrak Superliner Cars, and Amtrak Baggage Cars in N Scale • Bachmann's Amtrak HHP-8 Electric Locomotive in HO Scale • Atlas O's EMD GP9 3-Rail TMCC in O Scale • USA Trains' Alco S4 Diesel Switcher in 1:29 Large Scale • Precision Craft Models' Reading T-1 Northern 4-8-4 Steam Locomotive in HO Scale • JL Innovation Designs' Schmiege's Little Dutch Store, and Picorelli's Ice Cream Parlor in HO Scale • Bar Mills' Tavern Kit in O Scale • B.T.S.'s Kee's Chinese Laundry Kit in O Scale • Stan's Trains' Fast Clock and Mini Clock, Handy Converter, and Visio Stencil for LGB Track Software • Editorial by John Sipple • S Curves — A Column by Roy Hoffman • TAMR: Teen Association of Model Railroaders — A Column by Peter Maurath • Thinking of DCC — A Column by John Sipple • At the Grade Crossing — A Column by Bill Cawthon |
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Special Features
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Project Railroad — Creating your first Model Railroad using commercially available kits. Project Railroad Part II by Stephen M. Priest This is the second installment of a year long project to familiarize you with products and methodologies available to help you build a model railroad. Unlike many of the books and articles that have been written in the past of this subject, we will be featuring a kit-form benchwork system and ready-built structures, cars, locomotives, and scenery materials where available. This month’s installment takes a step-by-step look at building the Mod-U-Rail stands. Read more in this month's issue. |
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Reviews
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Kato's EMD F40PH Diesel Locomotive, Amtrak Superliner Cars, and Amtrak Baggage Cars in N Scale Review by Phil Scandura • Photos by John Sipple Kato has released its new F40PH Amtrak Diesel Locomotive, Superliner Cars, and Baggage Cars. See if they might be a welcome addition to your post 1970s layout after reading this review, which includes prototype info, in addition to details about the models' paint schemes, performance, and DCC readiness. |
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Bachmann's Amtrak HHP-8 Electric Locomotive in HO Scale Review and photos by David Otte Bachmann has released the Amtrak HHP-8 Electric Locomotive. Find out how this HHP-8 could be a great beginning toward high-speed rail service on your modern metropolitan landscape in this review which includes prototype info, along with details about the model's appearance, and operation running under DCC. |
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Atlas O's EMD GP93-Rail TMCC in O Scale
Review and photos by David Otte Atlas O has combined the former Red Caboose shell with their own details, drive system, and electronics to produce their new GP9. Learn about the prototype, as well as details about this model's appearance, performance, and sound capabilities in this review. |
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USA Trains' Alco S4 Diesel Switcher in 1:29 Large Scale Review and photos by John Sipple USA Trains has introduced their new S4 diesel switcher to the Large Scale Market. Read about Alco's turbocharged switchers, along with details about the model's appearance, DCC, and other operational improvements. |
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Precision Craft Models' Reading T-1 Northern 4-8-44 Steam Locomotive in HO Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Precision Craft Models has released a new line of plastic models including the Reading T-1 Steam Locomotive, available with and without LokSound DC/DCC sound decoder. Read more about this colorful steam locomotive, and its details including prototype info, new sound decoder system, DC operation, and more in this review. |
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JL Innovation Designs' Schmiege's Little Dutch Store, and Picorelli's Ice Cream Parlor in HO Scale Review and photos by Dick Foster JL Innovation Designs has added two kits to its growing number of interesting and innovative offerings of HO structures. Benefit from Dick's experience building and detailing this store and ice cream parlor, which might be a welcome addition to your rural layout. |
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Bar Mills' Tavern Kit in O Scale Review and photos by Rich Cobb Bar Mills Models has released its Saulena's Tavern in O Scale kit, typical of older wooden buildings found throughout the country. Get details about the kit, in addition to Rich's advice on construction and decoration in his review. |
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B.T.S.'s Kee's Chinese Laundry Kit in O Scale Review and photos by Rich Cobb B.T.S. has created a kit to represent one of the businesses which were started up by Chinese workers after their western railroad jobs ended, Kee's Chinese Laundry. Read more about this laser-cut wood kit, and Rich's suggestions for painting and assembling it, in this review. |
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Stan's Trains' Fast Clock and Mini Clock, Handy Converter, and Visio Stencil for LGB Track Software Review by Phil Scandura Stan's Trains has released new software utilities, Fast Clock and Mini Clock, which will allow you to compress daylong operating sessions into just a matter of hours. Handy Converteer provides a host of conversion calculations for scratch-builders, and layout-designers. Their Visio Stencil for LGB Track allows you to plan your next garden scale empire on your computer. Read more about these useful tools in this review. |
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Opinions
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Editorial online
Click to read and respond to this month's Editorial e-mail Editor John Sipple at Editorial |
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Letters online
Read all the letters that appear in our February 2006 issue. |
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Columns
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S-Curves A Column by Roy Hoffman New laser-but kits and rolling stock add to a "S"uper scale This month Roy shares some exciting new structure kits, detail parts, reefers, hoppers, and roadbed for S Scale.. e-mail Roy at Scurves |
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Teen Association of Model Railroaders (TAMR) A Column by Peter Maurath Feedback on Amtrak Why can't Amtrak be successful? Should we try and fix this mess or eliminate Amtrak altogether? Read some answers to these questions in this month's TAMR column. e-mail TAMR tamr visit TAMR www.tamr.org |
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Thinking of DCC A Column by John Sipple Upgrading your DC Layout to DCC: Are You Ready? This month Phil considers the typical model railroader's fascination with command control, and technical readiness. e-mail John at dcc |
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At the Grade Crossing A Column by Bill Cawthon Understanding "Trade Dress" This month Bill explains U.S. intellectual property laws, including trademarks known as "trade dress". e-mail Bill at Gradecrossing |
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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. |
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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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