“Pop Gracins” tire store and repair shop is the latest 1 in 500 kit from Bar Mills ( http://www.barmills.com).
The HO scale craftsman kit features interior walls with printed details, positionable doors, roof skylights, lattice-style steel roof trusses, white-metal castings and piles of tires. As seen in this small diorama “Pop Gracins” reqires about 7 x 11-inches. The craftsman style kit is sold direct only at $100 plus shipping.
Bowser ( http://www.bowser-trains.com) will begin delivering its updated HO scale General Electric U-25B diesels this spring. In addition to the Chessie version shown here the ready to run model will also be offered for Maine Central, Frisco and Conrail. The models are part of Bowser’s premium Executive Line and incorporate such features as a new die-cast frame with a redesigned fuel tank with fuel fills and site glass, brass MU and air hoses, brass windshield wipers, steel grab irons, steel coupler-lift bars, operating headlight, window glass, a precision can motor with brass flywheels, nickel silver wheels with RP25 flanges, metal knuckle couplers, DCC ready plug and a white LED headlight. Also new, and fully installed, are redesigned handrails. Locomotives with sound will be equipped with SoundTraxx Tsunami Digital Sound Decoders.
Clever Models from Chicago sells high-quality paper, cardstock textures and structure kits on CDs that can be downloaded and printed at home. The printed material can be cut and folded by the hobbyist and assembled into attractive three-dimensional miniatures that are said to rival the appearance of traditional wood or plastic models. Disk collections are currently available in HO scale with textures being offered in N, HO and O scales. The firm occasionally offers free downloads on line. Visit http://www.clevermodels.squarespace.com for more details.
New decals from Dan Kohlberg ( http://www.home.mindspring.com/~paducah/ga01.htm) include HO and N scale sets for Boston & Maine GATC 2600 Airslide Hoppers. The set will letter up to three cars.
ExactRail ( http://www.exactrail.com) announced the availability of an HO scale Evans 4780 3-bay covered hopper in mid-March.The car is part of the company’s Evolution series and may be purchased direct or through authorized dealers. In addition to the MKT car shown above, the ready to run model is also available decorated for B&M, FMC, ERES, Far-Port/USLX, ADM, Louis-Dryfus/USLX and UP/MKT, plus an undecorated kit. Spotting features of the relatively common prototype include the distinctive Youngstown corrugated roof and the Morton-style roof walk which ExactRail has replicated in photo-etched stainless steel. The model comes with ASF 100-ton Ride-Control trucks equipped with 36-inch wheels. This is the 21st new freight car ExactRail has introduced since the company entered the market just 14 months ago.
In a related note, ExactRails’ policy of not accepting orders until the product is on hand and ready for shipment, has been slightly modified for the next run of its HO scale Southern PS 50-foot waffle boxcar and the Milwaukee Road rib-side boxcar. The factory is accepting preorders now for these cars. The regular on-line order system cannot process preorders - preorders must be entered by calling 801-342-5436.
With the Liquor Depot shown here, Fos Scale Models is introducing a new series of HO scale craftsman kits called Mainline Modern. The series will focus on modern-era structures from the 1960s through today. This structure has a finished footprint of 4.5 x 7.5-inches. The walls and roof features tab and slot construction with pre-cut corner trim. Windows and doors are all laser-cut. The kit comes with many details including the dumpster, ice machine, roof-top sign, all color signs and the sidewalk. The kit is available now at http://www.foslimited.com.
