Plano Models taking a "break" (now SOLD)

[Mark5]

Plano, the maker of various useful detail parts for HO & N scale, is taking a break. Hopefully, they will return early next year (maybe we can get them to make N scale loco stanchions).


 Please Note, as of November 14th 2025
ALL sales of products from Plano Model products have been temporarily suspended while we take advantage of a little down time. During this short break we hope to make a few updates and also restock some of the "sold out" inventory. We anticipate returning around the first of the year. Your support over the past 36 years has been truly appreciated and we hope your continued support will keep Plano Model Products going for many more years.
Thank you again for your patience and understanding, it is appreciated!

https://www.planomodelproducts.com

[wmcbride]

Maybe that will include F unit grills.

When I talked with him a few months ago, he said they were discontinued because of lack of interest/sales.

[thomasjmdavis]

I thought they went out of business years ago.  I still occasionally purchase their products on eBay.  But when I checked Walthers and N Scale Supply, neither listed Plano (unless I missed it when I looked).

Hopefully, they will indeed be back after the first of the year.  The website still lists E and F grills.  With those and some roofwalks, I might be able to make up an order worth the shipping cost.

[sizemore]

The Plano etched grills for Kato units were dimensionally to tall, if applying them directly over the present grill on the shell. Only way around it is to shave the grill on the shell, but then you lose the rivet detail, since it would be covered by the grill being too tall.

HTH,
T

[u18b]

I wonder if they will fill the void left by Gold Medal Models.    New handrail stanchions with LOOONNNGGG mounting pins would be welcome.

[thomasjmdavis]

The Plano etched grills for Kato units were dimensionally to tall, if applying them directly over the present grill on the shell. Only way around it is to shave the grill on the shell, but then you lose the rivet detail, since it would be covered by the grill being too tall.

HTH,
T

The only loco I've ever done with them was a model of the Monon phase 1 F3 that got an F7 grill after an accident.  I'm was pleased with the result, although I note that it has developed a bit of a 'bulge' where the glue came loose.  And I think you're right also for this installation, as the lower rivets are partly hidden.

My current project would be to replace some grills missing from IMRC shells I acquired some while back.  Will the Plano grills fit the IM shells any better (or worse) than Kato Fs?

[wmcbride]

I put the Plano grills on some BLI F7s I got on the real cheap. The BLI grills are really short (in height) and the Plano grills hide that and really improve them -- from 3 ft away.

[sizemore]

My current project would be to replace some grills missing from IMRC shells I acquired some while back.  Will the Plano grills fit the IM shells any better (or worse) than Kato Fs?

The Plano grills are also too tall for the IM F-7 shells. The Plano Horizontal grill is a smidgeon taller than the FARR grill also. I tried that switch a few years ago (like 10 or more) with Plano FARR grills when IM flubbed the direction of the paintjob on the Western Maryland F-7B units, so I had shells to test on. A lot of work -to make them work. Shave the top, shave the bottom, sacrifice (at Lee's dismay) a Trix F-9 unit to the Train-Gods, etc. Either the IM F-7's or the Kato F-7's are dimensionally incorrect, there are tomes (threads) all over about who is wrong and who is right (when I was younger, I participated in most of them ).

The S.

[Mark5]

I just learned that Plano has been sold.

"Feb. 10, 2026
Time to let everyone know, the Plano Model Products line has been sold and is now part of the growing number of product lines under the umbrella of P.F.& S. Hobbies in Pasco Wa. They are in the process of getting all of the Plano products available again as soon as possible. They can be contacted though the e-mail address planomodelproducts@gmail.com Your patience is paying off, the Plano Model Products will continue to be available."

https://www.planomodelproducts.com

I've never heard of PF&S, so this should be "interesting".

[btrain]

I reached out to those folks last month about ConCor auto rack replacement panels. They had a single set still in stock and it arrived in the mail yesterday. They must be part of Details West and Tomar Industries group, as that was the company name on the return address.

[nickelplate759]

My question is - many of the old Plano N-scale parts have been Discontinued for years.  Will they be brought back, or are they only going forward with the (mostly HO) parts that aren't Discontinued?

[bbunge]

I just learned that Plano has been sold.

I've never heard of PF&S, so this should be "interesting".

PF&S is located in the farm fields north of Pasco, just off the BNSF main.  It has been several years since I visited the place, but it is a collection of interconnected 1:1 boxcars with a lot of rooms to explore and stuff all over the place.  Used to have a lot of new old stock stuff, sometimes at good prices.  Last I was there, it seemed the kids were getting more into running the place and putting inventory up on Ebay. 

An interesting twist if they are getting into manufacturing.  There is an interesting collection of vintage tractors around the property as well if you are into that sort of thing.

Bob

[nkalanaga]

If I remember right, they also own Precision Scale, the brass and plastic detail casting company.

I haven't been back to Pasco since 2011 (live in eastern Kentucky), but they were always worth a stop.

[robert3985]

Way back in 2015 to 2017 when I had moved temporarily back to my hometown of Kennewick as a provider for my terminally ill mom, I visited PF&S quite regularly when I got relieved on Thursdays.

I bought almost all of their Sunrise Enterprises N-scale detail parts that they had on hand and since I had not settled on an era for my home layout in Utah yet, I got a lot of parts that I didn't "need".

Shortly after my mom passed, I decided to establish a pretty strict era, location and season for my layout, which led me to progressively sell off a lot of my collection of Sunrise Ent. detail parts.

In the 9 years since I moved back to Utah, I've ordered quite a few of their Precision Scale brass/plastic air hoses, and brake equipment kits, which are highly detailed, along with a few other detailed investment-cast brass parts, such as their large compressor and I few other things I can't remember right off hand. 

I'll be attending my 60th High School reunion next year in Kennewick, and I plan on making a special trip across the river to the wheat fields north of Pasco to visit PF&S if for nothing else than to reminisce.

Cheerio!
Bob Gilmore