Product Announcements: 2025 National N Scale Convention Kansas

[Ntrainz1]

N-scale RTR AAR 70 Ton Flat Car #8417 with metal wheelsets. The photo may show a different road number. Otherwise, the model shown is the same.

https://borhs.org/Shopping/index.html

[ski]

I'm not holding my breath. Their tri-color signals have so much over-scale that I cringe every time I see a photo of one. But I know firsthand the difficulties of producing a fully operating signal and keeping everything to scale:

https://vimeo.com/381078133?share=copy#t=0

At about 27:08 of this video

, the signals are shown next some Atlas N and Z scale products. They may a bit overscale, but look halfway decent...at least from what I can tell, which is not much since the person who made the video doesnt seem too interested in them.

[C855B]

At about 27:08 of this video, the signals are shown next some Atlas N and Z scale products. They may a bit overscale, but look halfway decent...at least from what I can tell, which is not much since the person who made the video doesnt seem too interested in them.

I got the interest problem right away, but then, to heck with the modern power, I'd be all over the signals. Didn't look too bad. Masts are a little portly.

Thanks for the clip!

[ski]

I got the interest problem right away, but then, to heck with the modern power, I'd be all over the signals. Didn't look too bad. Masts are a little portly.

Thanks for the clip!

Unfortunately for me, besides modern stuff, I also have a fascination for 1940s-to 70s MoPac so I am all over the map on era related interests!!! Throw in more love of British steam and the London Underground, I find myself constantly distracted. Somebody help me, please.

[GaryHinshaw]

Thanks for posting the video link.  Starting around minute 42 there is ~9 minute segment where @turbowhiz demonstrates the N-Possible couplers.

[BCR 570]

Thanks for posting the video link . . . . . @turbowhiz demonstrates the N-Possible couplers.

Ditto - would like to know more about his uncoupling tools . . .

Tim

[Jimbo]

Ditto - would like to know more about his uncoupling tools . . .

Tim

I THINK that all it is is a blunted pin mounted in a hole drilled into a bamboo skewer.  From other videos I’ve seen, it appears that a skewer by itself may be enough to separate the couplers.

Jim

[pmpexpress]

Announcements from the Manufacturers Breakfast by the participating folks as fast as I could type:

Shane at Scale Trains is giving a free 60' Trinity 7500 BNSF/Convention boxcar to all the breakfast attendees, attendees Brand new locomotives: The GP40 both A and B units. The Fox Valley ES44 was not possible to revive, so it was scrapped and all new GE Wabtech ES44 C4 with 60 variations SD70ACE-and the GP-60 are in tool test. Many products are returning including the Vertipac (need a Chevy Vega to go with it), and the P-S Silver Side gons (former Fox Valley)

While the Vert-A-Pac models are still popular and regularly garner high resale prices, I'm surprised there was no mention of a re-running the ExactRail TTX Trenton Works 67' 11" Bulkhead flatcars.

In my humble opinion, though both models should find a plethora of buyers, from a saleability perspective, re-releasing the Vert-A-Pac cars is a good choice, while re-running the Trenton Works flats is a better one.

[Scottl]

I THINK that all it is is a blunted pin mounted in a hole drilled into a bamboo skewer.  From other videos I’ve seen, it appears that a skewer by itself may be enough to separate the couplers.

Jim

It sure looks like a dissecting probe to me.  They are used in biology labs and should be easy to buy.

[turbowhiz]

Ditto - would like to know more about his uncoupling tools . . .

Tim

It sure looks like a dissecting probe to me.  They are used in biology labs and should be easy to buy.

Its a sewing pin with its head chopped off poked into a bamboo skewer as a handle. I slightly "dull" the end so its not super sharp.

You basically want something with a fine point; Gary has come up with an good option using modified micro brushes which seems very promising too.

Technique is different then the typical "turn the skewer" approach. I find there are two approaches; Either drop the pin right at the joint perfectly vertically, effectively pushing the knuckles out and apart, or approaching at a an angle and catching the knuckle while also catching the mating retainer... Push the couplers knuckle away from you while pulling the retainer forward of the mate. A lateral motion (push/pull) on the tool rather then a rotation of the tool will yield better results. Approaching vertically is great when things are perfectly at height; Approaching at an angle, with the tool oriented to the high knuckle is effective when the joint has a height difference.
 

[samusi01]

In my humble opinion, though both models should find a plethora of buyers, from a saleability perspective, re-releasing the Vert-A-Pac cars is a good choice, while re-running the Trenton Works flats is a better one.

Completely agree with this. ST seems to like the niche models for some reason.

[mu26aeh]

Completely agree with this. ST Rapido seems to like the niche models for some reason.

Fixed that for you.

Then they complain that N scale doesn't sell

[coosvalley]

Its a sewing pin with its head chopped off poked into a bamboo skewer as a handle. I slightly "dull" the end so its not super sharp.

A cool idea for these is instead of the bamboo skewer, attach it to a pen-light. Great for darker areas of the layout!