Just got your latest issue and saw the letter about the tower in Cortland, NY. Here’s a pic I took of it in the early 90s. I haven’t been back through since, so I’m not sure if it’s still standing.
Rich Cobb
via the internet
I’m hoping you’ll take this on as a scratchbuilding project and then send us pictures of the finished project. Fun little projects like this really bring a layout to life!—Ed.
In the August issue you said that there is a 1:26 model of the Trevithick locomotive. About twelve years ago I built a model like this but have lost track of it. I have searched Walthers on-line catalog for “Trevithick” with no results. I would like to build another model of this loco — the kit was an excellent one and builds into a first rate model. Could you tell me who to contact for more information on getting this kit?
Thank you — and thanks for a great publication. It is the only commercial model railroading publication I receive.
Art Armstrong
via the internet
And as it turns out, I have the answer. The kit is produced by Minicraft, and I found it currently for sale from Model Expo at www.modelexpoinc.com. I found my copy at a local hobby shop, so you might check there first. There seems to be some confusion over whether it is 1:26 or 1:38. Since it doesn’t play with the other trains I own, it makes little difference. It would, however, make a dandy flatcar load or a static display beside a station in Large Scale. For a chainlink fence around it, you could use plastic gutter screening spray painted silver. —Ed.
I am remodeling our house right now. We have added a basement room that is 24’x26' with an 8' ceiling. I am installing a line of 36" high base cabinets along one wall. I will have a 3/4" plywood top that is 38" wide and 23' long when I am done. My plan is to build a model railroad to run along this top. I have a 6 year old son who is excited to start a train set with me. I had envisioned having an N scale train that would run up into a mountain range and back down through a small town. My questions are many. The biggest one is, where do I start? Is N scale the way to go? Is my work surface wide enough to build a nice layout?
Jim Jarding
via the internet
If you like N scale, then it is the way to go. First, as to your measurements, building atop a 36 inch base is fine. Most modular layouts are around 42 inches and some even higher. Old guys like myself get a crick in the back if we have to bend over something which is too low. The 38 inch width is about the maximum that an ordinary person can reach. If you are putting one side back against the wall, you’ll have to be able to reach all the way back, something to consider. If you wish to have a continuous loop, you can go to fairly generous 18 inch radius loops at each end. You can do a lot of modeling in 23 feet. As you plan your right-of-way in the mountains, remember that a 3% grade is about the maximum you should allow. That would be 3 inches in 100 inches or less than 9 inches in 23 feet. There are many good books and videos on model railroad building, but you may learn even more from hooking up with your local N-scale model railroad club. Enjoy the planning, thinking, and learning! —Ed.
I need your help once more. I have been trying to locate Herald King decals/Miller advertising to get R F & P decal art work to have some G scale decals made, but the information I got from Bob Rucker via the June issue MRN must have been out of date. I have written two times and have gotten no response and the phone has been disconnected. Hope you can help me.
Don Galloway
Falmouth, VA
Our information isn’t any better than yours. Hopefully one of our readers will either know more about Herald King decals or some alternative source for your artwork. If you get an answer, let us know so that we can inform other, interested readers.—Ed.
I just got through reading the (Life-Like FA/FB) review in the June 2002 issue of MRN. Prior to learning of the recent release of the FA2/FB2, I had purchased two ABBA sets of the 1990/1991 release of the Life-Like Proto 2000 FA2/FB2s. I have been working at adding details to them to match those used by the Pennsylvania Railroad — especially the dynamic brake details on the roof. When the new units were announced, I ordered and received two FA2/FB2 sets in PRR paint. I was pleased to see that the dynamic brake detail was included but displeased with the rendering. The roof is rounded but, like the Life-Like FA1/FB1, it appears they copied the Cal Scale dynamic brake casting and plopped it on the roof. It should follow the contour of the roof, not be cut into it. But the most glaring error is the lack of the oil cooler manifold on the back of the units.
This is a part that is not available from any of the manufacturers of diesel detail parts. I wrote to Life-Like and related the omission and received a bag of detail parts for the early (1990-1991) FA2 but only enough to do two units. I had mentioned that I had bought four units. I have since paid for an additional bag of parts to insure I have enough manifolds to do all four units.
Donald J Luke
Tucson, AZ
Having visited several model train manufacturers, I can understand how this could happen. At the bottom of this issue is the simple fact that almost every piece of rolling stock gets modified, either when ordered or after delivery, so modeling a given piece of railroad rolling stock is always going to be a study in applied persistence. In over fifty years of modeling, I have seen some very remarkable transformations of basic models into detailed delights. To prepare a model series so that it accurately represents every version ever built or modified would be virtually impossible. In many cases, the model actually follows a single prototype on a single railroad which is then painted for several other railroads. Congratulations on your persistence, and we’d love to see photos of your locomotives when you’ve finished with them. —Ed.
Wow! I’ve received 2 free issues of MRN as advertised in Z Track Magazine and wanted to tell you how impressed I am with your publication. I subscribe to Z Track Magazine and Model Railroader. Other than Z Track, which covers Z scale (which is my scale), Model Railroader does not cover much in terms of Z scale items — and there’s a lot out there.
As I am new to MRN, I want to tell you that your publication is loaded with interesting articles and beautiful pictures. Well worth the price; dollar for dollar, MRN gives a lot to its readers. My only hope is that MRN does not forget Z scale people. We need fine articles and information on new products from Micro-Trains and Marklin and do hope that you will also tend to our needs.
Keep up the great work and thanks again!
Mario G. Daigle
Laval, Canada
P.S. Featuring more layouts in all scales from G to Z / “home visits” and pictures would be A+ in my opinion. Thanks!
We cover as much Z as we can get our hands on, which is not very much, unfortunately. I’ve been to the conventions and have seen the wonderful and tiny layouts in Z, which whets my appetite to cover more. We have reviewed several Z-related products, but rarely more than a half dozen a year, if that many.
As to layouts, they are somewhat outside our mission statement. When we start doing them, then we have to cut down on the current news and reviews which are the main reason most people read MRN. Our layout coverage has been confined to James Powell’s Grand Valley series and to some shots on my Oregon Pine Belt Railway, which is more of a test facility. Bottom line: go to the other magazines for layout visits, kitbashing, and scratchbuilding, but come to us for reviews and news. —Ed.
It’s been a long time since I bought an Athearn blue box kit at a hobby shop. Mostly, I buy undecorated from my supplier or adopt some sorry looking cars from a swap meet for projects. About a year ago, I discovered that the air brake components (control valve cylinder and reservoir) are in the wrong position. It would appear that the die maker was looking down at the drawing instead up from the ground. Wanting to be prototypically correct induced me to run my 494 cars through the work shop. The thing is, if Athearn is planning to continue supplying blue box kits, maybe they will redo the underframes of the boxcars, flats, gondolas, and cabooses (cabooses have two hand brakes working the same levers; look at a drawing). Tank cars are okay, although they present another set of problems due to their open frames. That makes detailing more fun. I haven’t yet acquired any of their new kits yet. From what I read, they sound good.
I have been following your TAMR articles with some interest. There should have been something like this forty years ago.
I would like to mention a suggestion from my track department that you should have suggested the removal of at least two crossties on both sides of the railends (See TAMR column in July 2002 issue). The inexperienced very possibly will apply too much heat and shrivel the plastic ties under the rails. (I still do it.) It is a lot easier to insert ties than to remove melted ones. Also, to allow for the extra thickness caused by the joiner, thin the ties before re-installing them, thus preventing a bump in the joint.
Ken Cloughley,
Jersey City, NJ
There should have been something like TAMR forty years ago. Read this month’s TAMR for a look at how the organization made a change in Peter Maurath’s life. As to the underframes, I’ll solicit comment from our readers about that. Regarding the soldering of track ends, this is a very useful tip. Also, in HO or N scale, use about a 25 to 40 watt soldering pencil as opposed to a big soldering gun. Place the tip right at the joint of the rails under the head on the outside, drop in a small amount of solder, watch it flow into the rail joiner, and then pull away the pencil. Always use rosin-core solder and give the joint time to cool before attempting to work with it. —Ed.
Though this is an additional comment regarding the letter sent in by “Frustrated” that you printed and answered in the June 2002 issue, I first want to “tell William” and everybody else just how much I enjoy MRN! You guys (and gals!) got the guts to take a product and tear Huck Finn out of it to make sure your reviews are honest and true so the model railroader will be assured he or she won’t get ripped off by shoddy quality.
The model railroader has never been offered so much in the history of model railroading, be it a simple toy train in 027 or the finest fine art craftsmanship in every price range. Indeed, not a single model railroader can complain that he or she hasn’t got the money to build and operate a toy or model train nowadays! Every scale from Z to G offers everybody something with many model railroaders running tinplate indoors in the winter and working on the garden railroad in the summer. We are in the Golden Age of model railroading!
In regards to Mr. Frustrated and his problems regarding our hobby, perhaps he should look into the trials and tribulations of owning and running a train store or hobby shop before he gripes too much. We are afforded just about everything we want from Z to G scale, and it is impossible for any train shop or hobby retailer to stock all the model trains and what it takes to run and maintain them under one roof. The inventory alone would cost well into the millions of dollars, and I wonder if Mr. F would want to tie up his life savings in a train shop?
Many train shops and hobby retailers are authorized Walthers dealers, and everything in their catalogs can be obtained almost overnight with UPS and in the model railroader’s hands within 48 hours or less in most cases. In regards to the phone call he overheard regarding the owner giving advise to a potential customer, first it is none of his business, he only overheard (very rude if you ask me!) half of the conversation, and he doesn’t know just what kind of layout would be best suited for the person who made the call.
It depends where a layout will be built as to what material one will need. If the poor person in question has ten thumbs like me, he may need to have someone build his layout for him and then he would expect the hobbyshop owner to build it according to the conditions in question like in a den, attic, basement, or outdoors!
Many new model railroaders start off with a simple loop of track that comes with most train sets only to discover he or she wants to run trains like the prototypical railroads, and it is in his or her best interest to be properly informed in the beginning to prevent additional cash to be spent in vain. A new model railroader not only wants but expects professional advice from the shop owner and if he or she didn’t, everything would be mail ordered in the first place.
Mr. F is the perfect example of some of the bad apples that have entered our hobby only to criticize everything from the manufacturers to the train shop owners. This is why I read and have renewed my subscription to MRN! I receive professional advice and know that you have a direct connection with the model makers and through your reviews know in advance if a product offered on the market is well suited for my needs or not.
We do not need Mr. F in our hobby, and I do not think MRN needs him as a subscriber either! I don’t think anybody forced him into the model railroad hobby and the sooner he leaves the better off we all will be! Keep up the great work MRN! I am an old head model railroader (Baby Boomer born 7-4-46, Dallas, Tx) and have dropped my subscription to another model railroad magazine because it didn’t offer half the news and reviews you do despite the fact it has well over 100+ pages every month!
How you can offer us a quality plus publication for a $2.95 (US) cover price is beyond me. You must be ripping yourselves off in the process? It is to our advantage, and I for one thank you very much and look forward to the day you can turn out a magazine-sized publication, though I am happy with the way it now is. MRN can only get better and you have my support now and in the future!
Joseph Toth, Jr
Ansbach, Germany
You raise some interesting issues, including the difficulty of properly stocking the shelves of a model shop. But I don’t agree that Mr. Frustrated needs to go. His frustration is real, and he very likely echoes complaints that others have. By speaking up, at least some of his concerns may be addressed and the situation can improve. We are glad to have both of you as subscribers, though right now it is probably well that the Atlantic Ocean separates you.
Our cover price is based upon our business model. We don’t have a large publishing business with corporate headquarters, executives, and the other trappings of big business. We are a small, struggling publication with one simple goal: to put out the best doggone magazine we can. Nobody’s getting rich at MRN, but we sure are having fun! —Ed.
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