Model Railroader has new products announcements from NTS

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Bachmann has some neat stuff. Is that AFC box the same as the Trainman one? I wonder how the N man NE cab will compare to the walthers version. Wish we would see those PS high side coal hoppers in N. Those are everywhere now in scrap service.

[wm3798]

I saw that too.  That's not the same as the 65' shorty they've been flooding the market with...  Too bad they couldn't do the single windows.

Lee

[Guilford Guy]

So what's wrong with the RS3 that you can see from the photos?

The HO version looks a little funky. The hood seems a little too tall which throws you off. Perhaps they've fixed the dimensions on the N scale model, but from the catalog pictures it seems to suffer from the same problem. The HO version also had poorly designed sideframes that looked too long and had too little depth to them (imagine an AAR truck built on an almost entirely flat plane). I don't right now have a use for another RS-3 on top of my Atlas model so I probably won't buy one, but I would like to see how they compare to their big brother.

The coach is a model from the HO line of heavyweights. I don't know if Bachmann has plans right now to make new molds (in both scales, the HO ones broke) for the heavyweights, but it's quite possible.

[up1950s]

The HO version looks a little funky. The hood seems a little too tall which throws you off. Perhaps they've fixed the dimensions on the N scale model, but from the catalog pictures it seems to suffer from the same problem. The HO version also had poorly designed sideframes that looked too long and had too little depth to them (imagine an AAR truck built on an almost entirely flat plane). I don't right now have a use for another RS-3 on top of my Atlas model so I probably won't buy one, but I would like to see how they compare to their big brother.

The coach is a model from the HO line of heavyweights. I don't know if Bachmann has plans right now to make new molds (in both scales, the HO ones broke) for the heavyweights, but it's quite possible.

The HO model end window edges put me off .

[asarge]

Last year Bachmann announced the RS-3 in HO and that found it's way to N. This year Bachmann announced an S4 in HO. Hm?

I'm wondering too. The Bachmann announcements are stunning. Have to say they are making a move across the board!!

[up1950s]

I'm wondering too. The Bachmann announcements are stunning. Have to say they are making a move across the board!!

Well to me and others a well detailed S-4 would be this years check-mate so far .

[Guilford Guy]

Were Bachmann to do an S4 in N scale, it would be less the grab irons, as they've been tooling all current power without them (GP7s, RS3s). This isn't necessarily a bad thing. I'd rather have no grab irons at all when the alternative is clunky molded on ones.

[sirenwerks]

That's not the same as the 65' shorty they've been flooding the market with... 

I haven't been able to find the shorties for a long while. Am I looking in the wrong place (obviously I am)?

For some reason the window row looks like it's situated pretty low. My imagination?

[jmlaboda - RIP]

"For some reason the window row looks like it's situated pretty low. My imagination?"

Not really.  There were a number of roads that had traditional "gothic" window arrangements in the coach section and the trailer's deeper than normal letterboard is representative of such a car that has had the upper transom window covered over with a wider letterboard.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

As far as the Bachmann "Light" USRA Santa Fe goes, the Southern had a good size number of them so in all likelihood I will be using them on part of my freelanced lines as well.  Low drivered (specs at steamlocomotivedotcom show 57") would make them good lower speed haulers and since part of the traffic that will be taken to the east end of my lines involves coal these are perfect for what I am looking for.

Had to so some research in regards to these engines (a previous post having been deleted as soon as I found prototypes) to make sure of what I was looking at but they do seem to be very good choices that I am glad to see Bachmann doing.

Anyone know if more Ten-Wheelers are planned or shipping?  These will play some key rolls on branchline passenger trains (and possibly the boilers on some 2-8-0 Kato chassis kitbashes for branchline freights).

[eric220]

On the train headed home from the show now. Wow, that was a good time! Many thanks to TrainCat for sparing a few minutes to speak with a fellow a$$hat. He actually let me touch the flexi-van sample! Looks like it's going to be one sweet model.

This month's issue of MR drops another bomb...

NJ International is doing their PRR position light signals with scale heads/masts and LEDs, pre-wired and RTR for MSRP of $49.95.

I have some Alkem signals I've still not wired but these will be very tempting of I can get at a discount.  I'm lazy when it comes to wiring.

Unless what I saw was an engineering sample that was received at the last minute, you're going to be just as disappointed as I was. It looks a lot better than the gargantuan-LED version, but the detail is lacking. The hoods and hole placement on the targets were imprecise. Also the holes were very small, and when combined with the depth of the plastic, I have doubts about how much light will actually get through. The one I saw wasn't powered, so I can't be sure. Obviously, they have the advantage of being RTR, but I'm still going to hold out for Bob's (if he decides to go forward with them).

[ArtinCA]

The Bachmann stuff looks good!

I hope someone let's them know the Railbox car should have a black door...

Lots of good stuff coming! But who would have thunkit from Bachmann????

Art

[jmlaboda - RIP]

"Lots of good stuff coming! But who would have thunkit from Bachmann????"

Bachmann's attitude towards N-scale is refreshing, especially in light of a few "C" and "W" folks who seem to be more talk than show.  And, except for FVM, they still are committed to doing some great steam loco models even as some other companiesseem to have given up on the idea.

Stop and consider the announcement last year about the Ten Wheeler.  Yah, availability was a bit limited at the start but checking my preferred dealer all but the undecs are apparently available.  While I don't have the money yet hopefully before the end of the year that will change... and considering the announcements of the Light USRA Santa Fe's I am hoping that finances will improve greatly because there are several of each that I need for various projects.

I am surprised at the photos of the 2-10-2s in the Bachmann flyer that the SOU steamers have the very type of tender I have been looking for for a good many (MANY) years, though the dog house looks to be sitting a bit too high.  I believe that I can justify buying extras if it is possible to do so that other models can also have them but it is at least a plus to me as far as the offerings go.

It really is an exciting time for me to be modeling the late steam era (though I still wish that heavy electrics could be rostered for one of my lines).  It will be my goal to get a few of these beauties in service and I do hope that this will really work out in my favor... just as I hope it will work out for others.  For steam modelers it is a great time indeed.

Oh, before I shut up I want to shout out a "THANK YOU!!!" to all who helped keep us informed on what is coming our way.  I, for one, do really appreciate it... and I suspect that I am not alone in this regard.

[Mark5]

This month's issue of MR drops another bomb...

NJ International is doing their PRR position light signals with scale heads/masts and LEDs, pre-wired and RTR for MSRP of $49.95.

Are they re-tooling them to be N scale size? The ones they've been selling for decades as "N" are not close to 1:160.

Mark

[Dave V]

Are they re-tooling them to be N scale size? The ones they've been selling for decades as "N" are not close to 1:160.

Mark

So they claim...

http://www.njinternational.com/new_items.htm