I would like to compliment you and your staff on the high quality of Model Railroad News. It is a wonderful publication that presents the latest industry information and products in a concise, colorful and reader friendly format. I especially enjoy the detailed, in depth, informative and honest product reviews covering all scales and related aspects of railroading. I believe your reviews are easily the best of any railroad publication I have seen. And the review of the Marklin Union Pacific Big Boy was outstanding and quite representative of the product reviews found in each issue. Thank you for filling that niche of model railroading to which your publication is aimed. You are right on target. BULLS EYE!
Gary W. Cottrell
Milwaukee, WI
I’m a new subscriber to MRN. I found out about your paper at the recent GATS Show here in Portland, OR. I picked up one of your complimentary issues that were given away at the show. After bringing it home and reading it I felt it had something to offer me. My subscription started with April 2002 Volume 8, Issue 4. I would like to get a copy of March 2002 Volume 8, Issue 3 as it has Part 1 of the Hands-On Series on the “Grand Valley” layout. If you could e-mail me info on what I need to do, I’ll be glad to comply.
Dick Endicott
Portland, OR
— Ed.
To Roy Hoffman:
Regarding the letter to the editor “S-Scalers Figure It Out” (March 2002 issue). If you ran On30 on dual gauge track you could put “O” scale buildings and figures on the common rail side and “S” scale building and figures on the dual gauge side. Talk about comments!
Model Railroad News is still the best monthly I have found. Thanks for the fun.
Dapper Dan
Bradenton, FL
— Ed.
Jay Mellon
New Orleans, LA
The past few months have seen some really great model steam locomotives introduced. To think that only a few years ago, most publications were saying that steam modelers had to be prepared to pay big bucks for brass models and that those wanting to model steam were on the way out because of that. Well, the times have changed.
Both of your articles on the 2-6-6-6 Allegheny and the 4-8-8-4 Big Boy were very good. I had already decided to purchase an Allegheny before your feature on the model came out, when your magazine’s feature on the Big Boy came out, it created two sales for Marklin/Trix, as both myself and a friend bought one.
Your publication has been a helpful source of information on new products. I always enjoy the features, even those on items that I would not use on my railroad.
Now both of these fine models reside on my layout. I may even double head them on the four percent grade, now that will be a sight to see.
My only nitpicks on these two locomotive models are the following: I would like to have the rear cylinders connected to the outlet pipes. I know, this was a compromise so that more modeler’s could enjoy these locomotives on their pikes. There is a little too much space under the cab of the Allegheny and I would like to see an undecorated version. Other than these little things, these are great models.
Thanks again for the information, you all do a great service to our hobby.
Robert Sayes
Tallahassee, FL
— Ed.
In the October 2001 issue you reviewed the Aristo Doodlebug. I could not wait for them to arrive on the scene so I made mine. My garden RR has 1600 curves and our club Genesee G Gauge Railway Society uses the same on their models.
Full Aristo cars don’t look right on these curves, so I have cut 6" out of the center of these cars. To power these units I used the new FA1 trucks. With the leftover pieces I enclosed the cab and the front. The combine has been to various shows over the years, by itself or with an idler car behind. The PRO is full size as I haven’t decided where to cut it.
Bill Bantel
Hornell, NY
P.S. The Pacific is now a 4-6-0 and tender cut to size also.
I just picked up a free issue of Model Railroad News at a train show in Columbus, Ohio. I was not aware that it was even published, and this was my first contact with your publication.
I am VERY impressed with the reviews and the quality of the photography. The two top Model Railroad magazines come nowhere near your in-depth reviews, and I hope to be a long time subscriber from now on.
Again, I’d like to say what a great job the staff at Model Railroad News is doing.
George Ardwin
Sabina, OH
Just received my April Model Railroad News and it looks good, keep the changes coming.
Curious, I have had several friends in Maine quoting George Barrett’s letter to you folks as they have had the April issue for a week or so. I live less that 150+ miles from you, and I get the mag later than Maine. What kind of postal system am I supporting? Keep up the good work.
David Stickney
Red Bluff, California
— Ed.
To John Sipple:
I hope you figured out something I didn’t. Otherwise, I’d like to offer to sell you my Kadee G-scale couplers. I’ve tried them all. After spending a ton of money on the Kadee’s, thinking they were going to work, I found out I was wrong.
I found they work great going forward. But in reverse, only on very light cars, like logging skeleton cars, or trains that are very short — about six cars. Both the Kadee and the LGB have springs that are too light to push back relatively heavy cars — even with properly lubricated metal wheels. The couplers swing to opposite sides and cars derail. I left them on the skeleton cars and my short trains, but it was back to the horrendous looking hook and loop.
I have a yard in my garage. So the trains are backed in. They kind of worked on straight track, but still derailed. When I got to curves, forget it.
Check out my web page at: <http://www.WiringForDCC.com>. Click on the snowy train for the Finchfield and Wrensylvania.
Love your paper!
Allan Gartner
Richardson, TX
— Ed.
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