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July 2008 • Volume 14, Issue 7 • The All-Scale NewsMonthly for Model Railroaders |
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| The July 2008 issue contains the following reviews, and columns: | |
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Special Coverage: • MRN Says Good Bye to Art Director • How to Modify Your Old Roundhouse Box Cab • Project DCC Part 2 — Introduction to DCC All-Scale Reviews • ESU Loksound Decoder with Railmaster Hobbies Ported Speakers N-Scale Reviews • ICOM TMC400 Motorcar • Micro-Trains 40-foot Drop Bottom Gondola with Woodchip Extension • ICOM Park Set, Park Institution, and Bulldozer HO-Scale Reviews • Cover Story: Con-Cor's GM Aerotrain Set • Walthers Milwaukee Road Hiawatha Passenger Cars • Athearn SD40T-2 Tunnel Motors • River Point Station F-350 Duallies • First Gear International TD25 Crawler with Side Boom O-Scale Reviews • Bachmann On30 Baldwin 4-4-0 American Steam Locomotive • First Gear International TD25 Crawler with Blade and Ripper Large-Scale Reviews •(1:24) USA Trains Fairmont Speeders Book Review • Book: The Brass Train Guide Book Columns • N-Depth — Operations in N Scale, Survey Results • At the Grade Crossing — Grade Crossing Upgrades • S Curves — 2008 NASG Preview: Convention Time is Here • Thinking of DCC — Consisting Blueline Locomotives • TAMR (Teen Association of Model Railroaders) — On Small Layouts...It's the Idea that Counts |
| Special Coverage |
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MRN says Good Bye
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How to modify your old Roundhouse Box Cab Article and Illustrations by John Maughan John Maughan rebuilt John Sipple’s old Roundhouse Box Cab using the method he now reveals in this month’s issue. When John got it back, he installed a decoder and working headlamps in each end. Not only is it a much better running loco, it’s also cuter than the dickens with its headlamps working under DCC. John wrote about the DCC conversion process in “Thinking of DCC” back in October 2007. Letters to the editor overwhelmingly wanted to know how the chain drive conversion was done, so he asked John Maughan to give us a master class on it. This article is his step-by-step approach. |
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Project DCC Part 2 Integrating Operation and Automation — Part 2, Introduction to DCC by Phil Scandura Last month “Project DCC, Integrating Operation and Automation” was introduced. This month we continue with the basics of DCC and the history of its inception. |
Reviews |
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ICOM Company's TMC400 Motor Car, Power Car Set in N Scale Review and Photos by Phil Scandura ICOM Company is a Japanese manufacturer of N-scale locomotives and scenic accessories Phil recently discovered. Their TMC400 is based on a small Japanese locomotive that is used primarily as a switcher on the grounds of private industries. Find out more about their Caramel Nine series, and how these models appear and perform in Phil’s review. (Note: In the article, we incorrectly classified the TMC400 as Japanese N-scale (1:150) in our By-The-Numbers. According to ICOM, its actual dimensions measure out to US N (1:160). |
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USA Trains' Speeder in Large (1:24) Scale Review and Photos by John Sipple USA Trains' has reintroduced the speeder to garden railroading. In the heyday of the speeder, these small section cars were sent out daily to inspect the track and make minor repairs or call in problems that would require major repairs. Read prototype info along with details on these ready to go models to see if you would like them to help keep things running smoothly on your garden layout. |
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Walthers' Milwaukee Road Express Car in HO Scale Review and Photos by John Sipple In this third of six installments, we get to study two more passenger cars in Walthers' Milwaukee Road Hiawatha passenger set: the Express Car and RPO Car. Get details on these models’ appearance and performance, as well as prototype background in John’s review. Stay with us, as he plans to give you a pair of cars every other month until he finishes up with a pair of E7 diesel locomotives next fall, just in time to wrap up your collection. |
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Micro-Trains' 40-foot Drop-Bottom Gondola with Woodchip Extension in N Scale Review and Photos by Phil Scandura Micro-Trains has taken their Drop Bottom Gondola a step further by adding side extensions, transforming the model into a woodchip car. Phil’s review covers prototype info and details on the model’s appearance and performance. Discover for yourself why modelers of sugar beet and lumber operations will enjoy this new body style. |
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Baldwin 4-4-0: American, with DCC in On30 Scale Review and Photos by Pete Birdsong Pete takes a look at Bachmann's On30 model, which follows Baldwin prototypes for the 1890s or 1920s. Discover details about the prototypes present at the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869, and see what he thinks of this model's appearance, DCC capabilities, and operation in his review. |
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Athearn's SD40T-2 Diesel Locomotives in HO Scale Review by Mike Acker • Photos by Mary Acker The new Athearn Ready-to-Roll (RTR) HO-scale SD40T-2 locomotives are the latest in a series of upgraded releases of previously produced Blue Box models. Mike covers the changes and improvements of three different retooled, varying nose length locomotives, each representing different time periods. |
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Con-Cor's GM Aerotrain Set in HO Scale Review and Photos by David Otte Cover Story: Con-Cor honors this failed, but unique knight-in-shining-armor with their new HO-scale set, restoring the Aerotrain to its former glory as conceived by its GM designers. Read this extensive 10-page review for all the details on the "City of Las Vegas" train set. |
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River Point Station's Ford F-350 Super Duty Pickups in HO Scale Review and Photos by Bill Cawthon River Point Station's newest release is a variation on their previously released Ford Super Duty pickups. Get Bill's opinion of these upgraded trucks for the modern-era layout. |
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First Gear's International TD-25 Crawlers in HO and O Scale Review and Photos by Bill Cawthon First Gear has produced another version of their HO-scale International TD-25 Crawler Tractor and it’s a style of particular interest to model railroaders. Discover details about these upgraded crawler tractors ready to work on your 1960s to modern layout. |
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ESU Loksound Decoder with RailMaster Hobbies Ported Speakers for DCC Review and Photos by Pete Birdsong, MMR We’ve paired up a review of an impressive sound decoder by ESU/LokSound, a German manufacturer, and some new ported speakers from RailMaster Hobbies; the speakers are offered in versions for use with LokSound, which uses 100-ohm speakers, and with other sound decoders, which use primarily 8-ohm, and some 32-ohm (Digitrax) speakers. |
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The Brass Train Guide Book by Dan Glasure • Published by Publishing Partners Intl. Review by Jan M. Willard The Brass Train Guide Book covers just about everything you’d need to know about Brass, and comes with a free copy of Brass Model Trains Price & Data Guide Volume I (to be featured in our August edition). The Brass Train Guide volume includes over 700 pictures comprising of a diverse array of model products and narratives on various Brass importers/exporters. Read more in Jan's review. |
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ICOM Company's Park Set, Bulldozer, and Park Institution in N Scale Review and Photos by Phil Scandura ICOM Company, Ltd. is a Japanese manufacturer of N-scale locomotives, vehicles, people, and scenic accessories. Phil reviews three of their offerings, a Park Set, a Komatsu Bulldozer, and a Park Institution Set in this month's issue. Read about their Micro Life Series, N-gauge Maniac Series, and Etching Reconstruction Parts Series to see how these products could help bring your layout to life. |
Opinions |
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Editorial online Click to read and respond to this month's editorial Electric Platform Vehicles by John Sipple e-mail John at Editorial |
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Letters online
Read all the letters that appear in our July 2008 issue. |
| Columns | |
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N-Depth — A Column by Phil Scandura Operations in N Scale, Survey Results Back in January Phil asked for your experiences with N-scale operations to help answer a reader's questions about its pros and cons. In this months' column he shares some of your thoughts and opinions. e-mail Phil |
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At the Grade Crossing — A Column by Bill Cawthon Grade Crossing Upgrades Bill shares the dangers of grade crossings out in the real world and how modern technology is being put to use to save lives. In the world of modeling, Bill shows off some hot new offerings from Athearn, Masterpiece Industries, and Models11. e-mail Bill at Gradecrossing |
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S-Curves For and About S-Gauge Model Railroading — A Column by Roy Hoffman 2008 NASG Preview: Convention Time is Here Roy gives you a preview of the National Association of S Gaugers (NASG) national convention to be held August 5-10th in Lowell, Massachusetts, and also shares some S Club news. e-mail Roy at Scurves |
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Thinking of DCC — A Column by John Sipple Consisting Blueline Locomotives John sets out to solve problems some people were having building multi-unit lashups — using Broadway Limited's Blueline series locomotives as an example. e-mail John at dcc |
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Teen Association of Model Railroaders (TAMR) — A Column by Steven Goehring On Small Layouts...It's the Idea that Counts Model railroading often forces modelers to find creative solutions to problems, especially when it comes to space limitations. This month, Steven introduces us to a new N-scale layout that takes small dimensions to the extreme. 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 how to send us your Event info. |
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