Scale Model Railroading

Always my favorite catalog to leaf through, the Walthers 2010 HO Scale Catalog is now available. This year’s catalog has 1008 pages filled with products from 300 different manufacturers. It’s available for $12.99 on Amazon. Think I will go get mine now and start circling.

Atlas will be introducing a new standard cupola and extended vision caboose models.

The models feature:
Thin endrails
Window glazing
Separate brake cylinder
Open smoke stack
Triple valve and air reservoir
Roller-bearing caboose trucks
Roofwalk where appropriate
Accurate painting and lettering

And will be available in the following roadnames
1900 Undecorated (w/o roofwalk)
1999 Undecorated (w/ roofwalk)
20 000 553 British Columbia Railway (Green/White/Yellow) 1856
20 000 554 British Columbia Railway (Green/White/Yellow) 1876
20 000 555 BNSF (Green/Yellow) 12362
20 000 556 BNSF (Green/Yellow) 12366
20 000 559 Detroit, Toledo & Ironton (Red/Yellow/Black) 141
20 000 560 Detroit, Toledo & Ironton (Red/Yellow/Black) 143
20 000 561 Maine Central (Harvest Gold/Green) 651
20 000 562 Maine Central (Harvest Gold/Green) 653
20 000 565 Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac (Blue/White) 901
20 000 566 Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac (Blue/White) 907
20 000 569 Rock Island (Maroon/White) 17011
20 000 570 Rock Island (Maroon/White) 17020
20 000 557 Chessie System* (Yellow/Vermillion/Blue) 3189
20 000 558 Chessie System* (Yellow/Vermillion/Blue) 3194
20 000 563 Milwaukee Road (Orange/Yellow)† 992300
20 000 564 Milwaukee Road (Orange/Yellow) 992301
20 000 567 Rio Grande (Orange/Silver/Black) 01503
20 000 568 Rio Grande (Orange/Silver/Black) 01509

Pricing: $22.95 undecorated, $35.95 decorated Current road names of this model are running about $20 at Amazon.com.so they might be cheaper there when they become available.

Estimated Delivery Date: December 2009

A highly detailed railroad layout built by Pop’s Custom Model Railroads.

Atlas is introducing a new model to it’s Trainman line, the NRE Genset Locomotive. The Genset is a newer locomotive introduced in 2006 as a more environmentally friendly locomotve.

Available in the folliwng road names:

Undecorated
BNSF
CSX
Norfolk Southern
Pacific Harbor Line
Union Pacific

Pricing: $109.95

Estimated delivery date January 2010

The “Scenic Model Railroad” at Smoky Mountain Trains located in Bryson, NC. High level of detail with this layout, including a working playground and sawmill. Check out the light board at the 2:20 mark.

This video is a collection several how-to shorts into chapters that give you techniques on modeling a real-life railroad in miniature.

A nice video of the East Bay Model Railroad Museum layout. Looks to be a huge layout in multiple gauges.

Model Rectifier Corporation has released their Throttlepack AC controller unit.

From the web site:

“The THROTTLEPACK AC provides feature rich control that’s compatible with just about every AC powered model locomotive and their sounds.

With more than 60 years of industry leading design and perfecting power packs and sophisticated DCC controls and sound systems, MRC has developed another world beating power pack to enable AC model railroaders to get maximum enjoyment from their hobby. The THROTTLEPACK AC features advanced sine-wave circuitry so onboard locomotive sounds will function no matter what the brand. You can activate the whistle/horn and bell from the control panel. The large, ergonomic throttle provides remarkably precise slow-speed control for exceptional realism, enhancing enjoyment and railroad capabilities. If added power is ever needed because of inclines or adding heavy freight loads, simply push the special Power Boost button, and keep right on rolling!

• Special sine-wave output circuitry provides plenty of controlled power
• Separate, UL Listed power supply keeps the THROTTLEPACK AC footprint small
• Whistle/horn & bell buttons included
• Special “Booster” button for added power when needed
• Precise, slow-speed throttle control for realistic performance
• Direction button “

The unit retails for $129.98, but can be found for around $80-$90 at Amazon.com.

Atlas will be introducting a new USRA steel rebuilt boxcar model in December of 2009.

The model be RTR and will feature:

Highly detailed 10-Panel body
7-8 or 5-5-5 panel ends as per the prototype
Accurate painting and printing
Brake detail
AccuMate® couplers
Opening door
Fishbelly or Straight underframe as per prototype
Separately applied wire grabs and side ladders

It will be available in the following road names:
6400-1 Undecorated (5-5-5 End, Fishbelly Underframe)
6400-2 Undecorated (5-5-5 End, Straight Underframe)
6400-3 Undecorated (7-8 End, Fishbelly Underframe)
6400-4 Undecorated (7-8 End, Straight Underframe)
6401-1 Atlantic & Danville (Brown/White) 2226 6-30 9-59
6401-2 Atlantic & Danville (Brown/White) 2269 6-30 9-59
6402-1 Kansas City Southern (Brown/White) 15550 – 9-49
6402-2 Kansas City Southern (Brown/White) 15599 – 9-49
6403-1 Pennsylvania (Brown/White) 104888 9-19 11-55
6403-2 Pennsylvania (Brown/White) 105007 9-19 11-55
6404-1 Roscoe, Snyder & Pacific (Orange/Yellow/Black) 31 5-26 3-63
6404-2 Roscoe, Snyder & Pacific (Orange/Yellow/Black) 32 5-26 3-63
6405-1 Santa Fe (Brown/White) 149975 – 10-59
6405-2 Santa Fe (Brown/White) 149989 – 10-59
6406-1 Vermont Railway (Green/White) 505 – 9-63
6406-2 Vermont Railway (Green/White) 524 – 9-63

Pricing: undecorated $26.95, decorated $32.95

Estimated Delivery date: December 2009

In June, Wired.com profiled the Walnut Creek Railroad. The layout was apparently been in development since 1974 and features some old tech controls (check out the photo of the wiring!, all old phone relays!, no DCC apparent there!).