Review: Bachmann GG1 with Sound Value (SoundTraxx) HO Scale

How To Clean HO Scale Train Trucks 5-1-11 Podcast

Rolling the Freight on the Chicago & North Western System - American Rai...

C&NW Weber branch Sept 1989

C&NW Weber branch Sept 1989

Schalchia shops, Iraq, March of 2008

Schalchia shops, Iraq, March of 2008.. a great place if you were into heavy Ukrainian Lugansk Diesl Works locomotives and a Bryansk Russian TEM. A friend took these... I was back in the IZ at my desk.

ScaleTrains.com's Big Blow Turbines

Lombard Hobbies is Chicagoland's exclusive distributer for Scale Trains and Jeff the owner is saying there's only a short time left to get your reservation in for the new UP GTEL Turbine.

This is going to be a fantastic model. Don't wait.

Plano Products Roof Walks added to an Accurail Hopper - part 1

Last weekend I started adding Plano Product's Roof Walks to one of my Accurail Hoppers.  The plastic is soft and I didn't find removing the original walk much of a problem  Plano provides a template for drilling holes for new supports.  

Here's how things look after adding the new supports from Plano.

Next I shaped the new walk and used canopy glue to add the new walk.  I used an old door stop as weight.

Haven't made up my mind yet on replacing the ladders.  I'm thinking of just using some black paint to make them look a little thinner.  Otherwise it's drilling a bunch of holes.

TEM1 / TE10M CCCP HO russian model ( scale:1/87) Русский тепловоз

REE Modeles Product Review New HO French PLM Class 231 Pacific

My wife wouldn't be keen on the smoke in the house but it's otherwise a perfect model and on my wish list.

 ....and more on REE Coaches also available at Reynaud's.

 

Nearly realistic model train layout from France

Pretty impressive...what else can I say.  Go watch

Review: Budget Friendly Athearn RTR SD40 w/ RTR Sound

I like this guy's youtube channel.  Here's his review of Athearn's new RTR SD40 w/ sound.

Louisville & Nashville 2551-2563 Smoothside Modernized Heavyweight 48-Seat Coaches

From the folks over at Brass Car Sides comes a nice modernized L&N coach.  I'll want a couple of these.

Sides for Louisville & Nashville 2551-2563 Smoothside Modernized Heavyweight 48-Seat Coaches.  We have been commissioned by Michael Welborn to produce HO brass sides and separate door pieces for this distinctive series of modernized heavyweight cars.  These sides will represent the cars in their earliest years of service and will feature the original full skirting.  Jerry Lachaussee has kindly provided these photos.    

Because the prototypes were only 70 feet long at the sills, both the Atlas/Branchline and Walthers HO heavyweight plastic cars must be shortened 5-6 feet to be used for the structure.  Models from other manufacturers may also be candidates.  See L&N 2551 parts for drawings of the left and right sides as well as door pieces sized for both the Atlas/Branchline and Walthers models.  Skirt details are rendered as both partial etchings and openings but this difference cannot be seen in the drawings.  The material is 0.010" spring brass and the parts are tabbed together.  Extra doors are included.  Modelers interested in sides with partial skirting could be accommodated since the center skirting can be removed, either by the modeler or by request by us for modest additional charge.  

The design and engineering of these brass parts are well along and we expect to begin the first etching run in August and deliver these sides in September.  Michael has generously agreed to make these HO sides available to other modelers and Brass Car Sides is soliciting e-mail reservations at this time.  The price for these sides on a special-order basis is $39.75 per set, plus flat-rate shipping of $4.50 for any quantity.  These items are covered by our quantity discounts (see catalog listing below.)  Reservations for an N-Scale version that would cost about $30 per set are also being accepted.  Please contact us if you are interested in either the HO or N-scale versions of these sides.

CB&Q Rapido Cabooses

I've got a couple for sale out on ebay.

Morning Sun Railroad Books on Sale at Lombard Hobbies

Lombard Hobbies selling a huge selection of Morning Sun Books at a nice price of thirty four bucks.  I picked up four of them yesterday and will probably be back for more next week.  Here's some pictures of what's offered.

Baureihe VT18.16 Kato ( VT 18.16 05 DR ) 1/4

I picked up the last one of these Eurorail Hobbies has sitting around.  They were able to track down a set of the two add-on cars too and those are on their way.  Here's a video set to music of the Kato set.  Very classy model and the start to my East German prototype collection.

Accurail's Pullman-Standard 4750 CuFt Grain Hopper

Jeff over at Lombard Hobbies had some of Accurail's new PS Hoppers in CNW green.  I was a little skeptical how these would come out but note they shot these in green plastic so the paint covers very well and the decal of the herald is very crisp.

I'll be back for more once the budget recovers from Jeff's Athearn Genesis deals.  Here's a pic.  Not bad for around fifteen bucks.

Lombard Hobbies: Broadway E Units

A picture of some of the Broadway E Unites on Sale at Lombard Hobbies.

more Lombard Hobbies Deals: Athearn Genesis GP9s at $100

More stuff on sale.....



And Broadway California Zephyr cars...



And Branchline Freight Cars for $6.99

Lombard Hobbies Deals: Athearn Southern Pacific Cabooses $34.99

 Was over at Lombard Hobbies and took some pictures on some of the deals going on for the Holidays.

 

Branline Passenger Car Sale at Lombard Hobbies

Lombard Hobbies offering Banchline Pullman and Coach kits for $9.99.  Hard deals to pass up.  Kits only available in the store or by mail with check payment.  They won't be available on their Website.

Here's about have the inventory (I think).  They were unpacking yesterday and I think about half way through it.  They have 150 different road schemes available.

 

And here's my haul. A lifetime of building ahead of me 'cause I'll be back for more.