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May 2008 • Volume 14, Issue 5 • The NewsMonthly for Model Railroaders
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| The May 2008 issue contains the following reviews, and columns: | |
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Special Coverage: • Surprises From the 2008 International Toy Fair • Interview of Broadway Limited Imports' Ken Silvestri and Bob Grubba by John Sipple N-Scale Reviews • Micro-Trains ACF Three-Dome Tank Car • Walthers' Four Cornerstone Series Injection-molded Structure Kits HO-Scale Reviews • Athearn Genesis' EMD MP15AC Switcher Reviewed with NCE's D13SRJ Mobile Decoder • Walthers' Hiawatha 52-seat Coach and Express Car • Walthers/CMW GM PD 4103 Intercity Bus • Masterpiece's 2007 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited • American Ltd.'s Sand Towers and Fuel Cranes O-Scale Reviews • Cover Story: Atlas O's EMD F2/F3s Released in both 2-Rail and 3-Rail plus Unpowered Versions • MNP/Bachmann/NCE DCC Powered Track Cleaning Car Large-Scale Reviews • (1:29) USA Trains offers "Great Lakes" Ore Cars • (1:20.3) Bachmann's Fn3 Side-Door Gondola • Aristo-Craft Redesigns the Rail Joiner Book & DVD Reviews • Book: Piggyback and Containers: A History • DVD: Soo Line: From Michigan to Montana Columns • TAMR Teen Association of Model Railroaders — N-Scale Roadbed Track Comparisons • N-Depth — One Night Project: Installing a FRED from Richmond Controls • At The Grade Crossing — Rocket Science 101: Vehicle selection explained • Thinking of DCC — Consortiums: A Mutualistic Relationship? |
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Special Coverage
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Surprises from Spielwarenmesse, the 2008 International Toy Fair |
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Broadway Limited Imports Interview with Ken Silvestri and Bob Grubba by John Sipple John recently had an opportunity to interview Ken Silvestri and Bob Grubba from Broadway Limited Imports. Given recent developments in their product lines, John looked forward to finding out more about their goals and technologies regarding their different product lines. Find out what he discovered in this month's issue. |
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Reviews
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Athearn's EMD MP 15AC in HO Scale Review by R. Dave Carr and John Sipple • Photos by John Sipple After much anticipation, Athearn has finally given HO modelers the “modern era” switcher locomotives for which they have been clamoring – the MP15AC. Learn about the prototype, along with these models’ appearance, DC, and DCC performance in John’s review. |
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Micro-Trains Line Co.'s Three-Dome Tank Car in N Scale Review and photos by Phil Scandura Micro-Trains’ new three-dome body style tank cars are a welcome addition to the Micro-Trains line of rolling stock, which previously included only single-dome tank cars. Read about the prototype, in addition to details about the appearance and performance of these 1940s to 1950s era cars. |
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Walther's Hiawatha 52-Seat Coach, and Express Car in HO Scale Review and photos by John Sipple • Handrail installation and decal application by R. Dave Carr MRN presents the second pair of cars in Walthers' Milwaukee Road passenger set, the Hiawatha 52-Seat Coach, and the Hiawatha Express Car with Conductor's Window. 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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USA Trains' Hopper-type Ore Car in Large (1:29) Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Ready “ore” not, here comes USA Trains’ operating Ore Cars in Large (1:29) Scale for the garden. See how they perform in John’s review, which prototype he compares the modified cars to, as well as details on how these cars look, and suggestions on a fun way the Christmas versions could be used at Christmas time around your tree. |
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Bachmann's Fn3 Side Door Gondola in Large (1:20.3) Scale Review and photos by John Sipple Bachmann is offering Fn3 Side door gondolas in Pacific Coast Railway and Florence & Cripple Creek versions. Both are truss rod type side dump style gondolas commonly built from 1890 to 1910, give or take. See if you would like to have them haul products in your garden after reading John’s review, which includes prototype information, as well as these models’ appearance and operation. Keep reading MRN as there will be more to come in future issues. |
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Cover Story: Atlas O's EMD F2/F3 Phase 1, 3-Rail, 2-Rail Silver, and 2-Rail Gold in O Scale Review and photos by David Otte Atlas O’s F3s have made their long-awaited debut, and are featured in our center spread, cover story review this month. Learn about the prototypes, and all about these “O-Scale covered wagons” from David, as he shares how these models look, lash-up, perform, and sound. |
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CMW Holdings' Greyhound Buses in HO Scale Review and photos by Bill Cawthon Transition era buses of any sort are tough to find and Classic Metal Works’ models are a welcome addition to the fleet, according to Bill. See if you agree after reading his review of these intercity buses, with destinations of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Union Pacific, and left blank, to help your passengers leave the family car at home and catch a train. |
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Masterpiece Automotive Replicas' 2007 Jeep Wrangler in HO Scale Review by Wayne Calder • Photos by Bill Cawthon Masterpiece Automotive Replicas is offering a 2007 Jeep Wrangler in stone white, flame red, or rescue green metallic, and with three different tops. See how they measure up to the prototype in Wayne’s review, which includes a history of the Jeep’s prototypes. |
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Golden West Books' Piggyback and Containers by David J. DeBoer Book Review by Steven Goehring David DeBoer, an experienced expert in the intermodal business was asked to write a history of his field of transportation before too many of the intermodal pioneers passed away. Piggyback and Containers is the result. If you’d like to learn more about how containers and trailers move on today’s railroads, and what developments led up to today’s systems, you may want to check out Steven’s review for more details. |
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Prairie Works' Soo Line: From Michigan to Montana DVD+CD Review by John Sipple The focus of this DVD from Prairie Works is on the Soo Line before the merger with the Milwaukee Road and features many steam locomotives, diesels (including early models), depots, railfan specials, iron ore mines and lake docks, and scenes along the right-of-way. Most are from private collections that have not been seen before. The DVD is 95 minutes long, narrated, and has a menu. The self-starting CD has depot photos, scenes inside Shoreham Yard, and memorabilia images in a "book" style presentation. Get John’s opinion on this set in his review. |
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American Limited Models' Sand Tower and Fuel Cranes in HO Scale Review and photos by Dick Foster Railroad sand and fuel facilities have been around as long as there have been railroads. American Limited Models has brought out a new modern-day version of a sand tower and fuel cranes in HO Scale based on a Snyder Equipment Company design. Get Dick’s take on this kit, and benefit from his advice on placement and set up before you add this kit to your layout. |
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Walthers' Four New Cornerstone Structure Kits in N Scale Review and photos by Phil Scandura Walthers has released a Modern Water Tower Kit, a City Water Tower Kit, a Yard Office and Shed Kit, and a Gateman's Tower Kit in N Scale. All are typical shake-the-box kits, relatively easy to build, and require painting. Read Phil and Art’s review for constructing and painting details on each of these transition-era kits in this month’s edition of Model Railroad News. |
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Many New Products' Track Cleaning Car in On30 Scale Review and photos by Pete Birdsong, MMR The Track Cleaning Car from Many New Products (MNP) takes a Bachmann On30 Boxcar as a base, and retrofits components to turn it into a DCC controlled scrubber, with spring-loaded pads, each driven by its own geared electric motor, with both controlled by an NCE decoder. Read about the prototype, as well as the model’s appearance and cleaning performance in Pete’s review. |
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Aristo-Craft's Rail Clamps in Large Scale Review and photos by John Sipple What makes perfect rail clamps perfect? Some of the best possible features have gone into Aristo-Craft’s new rail clamps, according to John. See if you agree, after reading his review, which includes their advantages, limitations, and recommended use for everything from the permanent garden railway to temporary layouts. |
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Opinions
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Editorial online Click to read and respond to this month's editorial Conformance Testing for the NMRA by John Sipple e-mail John at Editorial |
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Letters online
Read all the letters that appear in our May 2008 issue. |
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Columns
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Teen Association of Model Railroaders (TAMR) — A Column by Steven Goehring N-scale Roadbed Track Comparisons This month Steven compares three different brands of his tracks for strengths, durability, reliability, ease of use, appearance, and product availability to help you decide which track may best suit your individual needs. e-mail TAMR tamr visit TAMR www.tamr.org |
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N-Depth — A Column by Phil Scandura Installing a FRED from Richmond Controls On more than one occasion it has been pointed out to Phil that a FRED (flashing rear-end device) protecting the end of the train should be installed. Read details about Phil's easy one-night project installing a FRED from Richmond Controls in his N-Depth column this month. e-mail Phil |
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At the Grade Crossing — A Column by Bill Cawthon Rocket Science 101: Vehicle selection explained Bill shares details how as a product development advisor, he researches new products, determines which ones can be licensed, figures out how to get the necessary information to make a model, and submits his recommendations to manufacturers of HO-scale vehicles for their final decisions. e-mail Bill at Gradecrossing |
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Thinking of DCC — A Column by John Sipple Consortiums: A Mutualistic Relationship? This month John discusses how an association of several businesses create a consortium of sorts in relation to manufacturers of locomotives, and manufacturers of DCC sound decoders. e-mail John at dcc |
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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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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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