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March 2008 • Volume 14, Issue 3 • The NewsMonthly for Model Railroaders
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| The March 2008 issue contains the following reviews, and columns: | |
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N-Scale Reviews • Atlas’ ALCO C420 diesel loco available in DC or DCC configurations • Walthers’ PROTO Heritage DCC-ready USRA 0-8-0 Yard Goat steamer • Atlas’ rolls out 1978 Ford Fairmont sedans in both N- and HO-Scale • Woodland Scenics’ releases vehicle/figure sets for ’50s era layouts • Kato introduces Yard Crew figures in six-piece set • Kato’s new Superelevated (Banked) UNITRACK set for hi-speed rail HO-Scale Reviews • Walthers’ Hiawatha Milwaukee Road passenger car set debut • Broadway Ltd.’s Blue Line EMD SD9s with DC sound are DCC-ready • Atlas’ rolls out 1978 Ford Fairmont sedans in both HO- and N-Scale • Athearn launches Maxi I Well Car five-car set with new detailing • Sidetrack Laser’s laser-cut wood structure kit for Classic Ice House • Atlas offers plastic Truss Bridge kit O-Scale Reviews • M.T.H. Railking Imperial USRA 2-8-8-2 Mallet features ProtoSounds 2.0 and DCS control • Banta Modelworks’ new (old-fashioned) laser-cut Gas Station kit • Large (1:20.3)-Scale Reviews • 1:20.3 – Bachmann’s unusual two-bay hopper for Fn3 • Cover Story...1:20.3 – Bachmann’s Fn3 K-27 Mudhen is a BIG hit Multi-Scale and Misc Reviews • DVD: C. Vision Productions releases Windy City Rails, Volume 3: Blue Island Junction • Book: John R. Signor’s new book from Signature Press: Southern Pacific’s Salt Lake Division Columns • At The Grade Crossing — A Few Early Sneak Peaks... • Larger View — The Tunnel of Love • TAMR Teen Association of Model Railroaders — Brushing Up On Weathering Techniques • Thinking of DCC — A New Standard for Large Scale? • N-Depth — Creating a Signature Scene |
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Reviews
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M.T.H. Electric Trains' Railking Imperial USRA 2-8-8-2 Mallet in O Scale Review and photos by David Otte MTH Electric Trains’ Imperial Series model, the 2-8-8-2 is now not only equipped with the latest version of ProtoSounds 2.0 and DCS, but boasts an array of new separately applied details and a finish that brings this prototype out of the depths of mediocrity and into the light of current O-gauge expectations. Read more details in David’s review. |
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Walthers' Hiawatha Milwaukee Road in HO Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Walthers is labeling this offering as the “1955 Twin Cities Hiawatha.” 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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Atlas Model Railroad Company's ALCO C420 Diesel Locomotive in N Scale Review and photos by Phil Scandura Now, thanks to Atlas, you can enjoy the ALCO C420 (C for Century, 4 for four-axle, and 20 for 2,000 hp) on your N-scale railroad empire, available in both standard DC and DCC-equipped versions. Learn details about the prototype, along with the model’s appearance, performance, and where to get Atlas’s DCC programming instructions, from Phil’s review. |
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Bachmann's 2-Bay Narrow Gauge Hopper Car in Large (1:20.3) Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Bachmann’s Spectrum line now includes their new East Broad Top two-bay hopper car. Find out about their prototypes, originally created to haul coal to market, along with many details about Bachmann’s follow up to their new Fn3 hopper. |
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Broadway Limited's EMD SD9 Diesel Locomotive with NCE Corporation's N14IP Mobile decoder in HO Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Get the difference between the SD7 and SD9, as well as prototype info, and many details about Broadway Limited’s Blueline EMD SD9 diesel locomotive, equipped with NCE Corporation’s N14IP mobile decoder in John’s review. |
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Walthers' PROTO N Heritage Steam Collection in N Scale Review and photos by Phil Scandura Walthers has released the classic USRA 0-8-0 Heavy Switcher in their PROTO N Heritage Steam Collection, which comes with a treasure chest of information. Discover history about the prototype, as well as details on the model’s appearance, performance, and DCC conversion in Phil’s review. |
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Bachmann's Fn3 K-27 Steam Locomotive in Large (1:20.3) Review and photos by John Sipple Garden modelers won’t want to miss our coverage of Bachmann’s Fn3 K-27 Steam Locomotive the feature story of this month’s issue. Read all about how the “Mudhen” got its nickname, its prototype history, the model’s appearance, and performance in John’s colorful center-spread review. |
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Athearn Trains' Maxi I Well Car in HO Scale Review by Mike Acker • Photos by Mary Acker Athearn’s Maxi I Well Cars are the newest edition to their Ready-to-Roll (RTR) rolling stock catalog. How is it not just another container well car set? Mike lets you know in his review, as he discusses these models’ appearance, performance, and a serious look at the prototype. |
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Atlas Model Railroad Company's 1978 Ford Fairmont Sedans in HO and N Scale Review and photos by Bill Cawthon Atlas has added the Fairmont Ford sedan to its fleet of economically priced HO- and N-scale vehicle models. Get prototype info from Bill, as well as his take on these models’ detailing and paint jobs to see if you’d like to add them to your vehicle collection. |
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Woodland Scenics' New Figure Sets in N Scale Review and photos by Bill Cawthon Woodland Scenics has grown their Auto Scenes line in the past couple of years to include Felix Fix-A-Flat, Wayne Recker’s Tow Service, and Lubeners Loading, each examined in Bill’s review. Read to find out if they are worthy of your consideration before your next trip to your favorite hobby shop. |
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C. Vision Productions' Windy City Rails, Volume 3: Blue Island Junction DVD Review by John Sipple C. Vision Production's tour of railroads in and around the Chicagoland area continues in Windy City Rails, Volume 3. In this program, videographer Marshall Beecher takes his cameras to multiple mainline crossings at the always-busy Blue Island Junction. Get John’s take on this DVD in his review. |
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Signature Press's Southern Pacific Salt Lake Division by John R. Signor Book Review by John Sipple John R. Signor’s book, Southern Pacific Salt Lake Division, continues the rest of the story after the Southern Pacific Railroad, then known as the Central Pacific Railroad, connected to the Union Pacific at Promontory, Utah. John shares more on this book in his review. Available from Signature Press. |
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Sidetrack Laser's Terminal Ice Kit in HO Scale Review and photos by Rich Cobb Help keep your reefers cool with Sidetrack Laser’s Terminal Ice Kit. The kit includes an ice dock, an ice house, and a sign that can be customized. Take advantage of Rich’s experience constructing this interesting structure kit, which is appropriate for a wide time period. |
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Kato USA's Yard Crew Day/Night Figures Set in N Scale Review and photos by Phil Scandura The newest addition to Kato’s growing line of figures, the Yard Crew Day/Night set includes six figures suitable for use from the late 1950s to present day. If your layout could use a few engineers, brakemen, or conductors to add some life to it, you may wish to check out Phil’s review. |
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Banta Modelworks' 1930s-40s Gas Station in O Scale Review and photos by Denis Dunning Modelers working the pre-World War II era have a treat in store with this new Gas Station kit from Banta Modelworks, according to Denis. See if you agree after reading his review of this laser-cut wood kit, which includes construction suggestions. This kit is also available in HO, and S-scale. |
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Atlas Model Railroad Company's 18-inch Through Truss Bridge kit in HO Scale Review and photos by Dick Foster This 18-inch Through Truss Bridge is the first large bridge kit ever offered by Atlas. Benefit from Dick’s experience assembling and painting this kit, which he shares in his review. This detailed camelback-type Pratt truss bridge would look right at home on almost any layout. How would it look on yours? |
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Kato USA's V11 Double Track Set in N Scale Review and photos by Phil Scandura Adding to its ever-expanding UNITRACK line, Kato recently introduced the “Variation II” (VII) double-track set featuring simulated pre-cast concrete ties and, for the first time, superelevated curves! Find out the advantages of superelevated track for high-speed trains in Phil’s review. |
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Opinions
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Editorial online Click to read and respond to this month's editorial It's about responsibility by John Sipple e-mail John at Editorial |
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Letters online
Read all the letters that appear in our March 2008 issue. |
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Columns
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At the Grade Crossing — A Column by Bill Cawthon A Few Early Sneak Peeks... Bill shares some new products coming in 2008, and some that were promised for 2007 that are finally appearing in HO scale. e-mail Bill at Gradecrossing |
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Larger View — A Column by John Sipple The Tunnel of Love John couldn’t wait to put Bachmann’s new Mudhen to work out in the garden and soon discovered a couple of clearance problems with his tunnels. Fixing the problem turned out to be fairly simple; read all about his experience in this month’s “Larger View.” e-mail John at Largerview |
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Teen Association of Model Railroaders (TAMR) — A Column by Steven Goehring Brushing Up On Weathering Techniques Steven revisits the issue of realistically and simply weathering rolling stock. Read about his most recent experiment 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 A New Standard for Large Scale? Unable to resist talking about the new K-27, John takes a look at Aristo’s high amperage decoder, compatibility with Bachmann’s connector, as well as the future of DCC/RC/Battery interoperability in the garden in this month’s “Thinking of DCC.” e-mail John at dcc |
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N-Depth — A Column by Phil Scandura Creating a Signature Scene A “Signature Scene” is one in which a modeler captures a piece of life and recreates it so well that visitors recognize the location. Read about a few such scenes created over the years on Phil’s own layouts in this month’s “N-Depth” column. e-mail Phil |
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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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