Bar Mills Scale Model Works (www.barmillsmodels.com) had a number of built-up structures on display at NTS including their new American Seltzer Company shown here. The HO scale kit features laser-cut wood construction with cast resin and cast metal detail parts. The wagon and horse are included in the 1-500 kit that is available direct at $145. The finished structure has a footprint of 8 x 12-inches.

As a result of strong pre-orders, Bowser (www.bowser-trains.com) has increased the production run of its HO scale 100-ton class H-11 triple-bay hopper car. The prototype cars were built in the shops of PRR, B&O, C&O, N&W and RDG using kits prefabricated by Bethlehem Steel and American Car & Foundry. Bowser does the molding in the USA and sends the plastic components to China for painting and assembly. In addition to the Wheeling & Lake Erie car shown here, road names will include NW Bicentennial, BNSF, PPLX (single yellow end), PPLX (double yellow ends), NS, Pennsylvania Power & Light (Reddy Kilowatt logo), Chessie WM, Chessie C&O and Chessie B&O. Several unnumbered road names will be available with a matching decal sheet of numbers.

Bowser will reissue its Baldwin AS-616 locomotive as a fully upgraded, ready-to-run, Executive series model equipped with a Soundtraxx Tsunami digital sound decoder. It will be ready for delivery early next year at $280. Upgrades include a new die cast frame with a new fuel tank and numerous new body details including brass air hoses, steel grab irons, operating headlight, window glass, can-motor and metal knuckle couplers. A DCC-ready version will also be offered with an NMRA 8-pin decoder plug at $170. Road names on the initial run include C&NW, PRR, NS, SP, DSS&A and Milwaukee Road.

MRH’s roving reporter, Jeff Shultz, visited with Jared Ireland in the Blackstone/Soundtraxx exhibit booth at the National Train Show. To see Jeff’s interview during which Jared discusses several new products including a turbine decoder and mini-motor non-sound decoder, visit model-railroad-hobbyist.com/MRHT_2010_NTS_SOUNDTRAXX

BLMA (www.blmamodels.com) announced plans for both HO and N scale versions of a TrinityRail TrimCool™ 64-foot refrigerated car. For a look at the starkly-modern Trinity prototype visit www.trinityrail.com/productdetails.aspx?ID=17&catid=29. BLMA’s Craig Martyn told MRH reporter Jeff Shultz that delivery of the excess-height plate F car is tentatively scheduled for next summer with the initial road name of Union Pacific ARMN available in 24 different road numbers. Visit model-railroad-hobbyist.com/MRHT_2010_NTS_BLMA to see Jeff’s interview with Craig at the National Train Show.

Chooch Enterprises (www.choochenterprises.com) has an O scale kit for a SOO Line single-sheathed wood boxcar with Dreadnaught ends that features angled side-braces that extend below the side sill, creating a saw-tooth look. Several experts leant their talents to developing this prototypically accurate kit including Dennis Storzek who served as technical consultant, Ken Soroos who created the decals and Gene Deimling who crafted the patterns for the cast resin model.

CMT-Canadian Model Trains (www.modeltrains.com) is taking reservations now for an HO scale Canadian National Pointe St. Charles caboose that will be manufactured by Rapido Trains. The first release will be decorated for CN with the familiar orange body, black roof and cupola in 12 car numbers. CMT executive Tom Tomblin said the new model will feature the same standard of quality and authenticity Rapido achieved with its acclaimed Transcona Yard wide-vision caboose. Modelers who reserve early will receive a discounted price. Complete details on the project including pricing and early reservation benefits can be found at www.modeltrains.com/WEB%20-%20CMT/Rapido/Pointe%20St%20Charles/rt-pointe-st-charles.htm. For more insight on this project see MRH’s exclusive NTS interview with Tom Tomblin at model-railroad-hobbyist.com/MRHT_2010_NTS_CMT.

Eastern Seaboard Models (www.esmc.com) reports that the N scale class G26 Mill Gondola project has been canceled due to inadequate reservations. Meanwhile, tooling has been completed on the Magor/AC&F 40-foot class XIH insulated plug-door boxcar. It is in production now, however, the first release date has been delayed until late summer.

The week after the National Train Show, ExactRail (www.exactrail.com) announced a new N scale CP Rail 65-foot gondola with six different road numbers. The company released an HO scale version in May which quickly sold out. ExactRail also released a second run of its N scale Trinity 50-foot HyCube Car. New road names included TTX/FBOX in twelve car numbers and three numbers each for CAN, SRY (red), SRY (brown) and DWC. As we have previously noted, factory supplies of ExactRail models have a habit of selling out quickly, however, modelers may be able to find inventory at authorized dealers listed on ExactRail’s web site. In an added note for HO scale modelers, ExactRail announced that all future products would be equipped with Kadee couplers.

To see the video interview MRH conducted with ExactRail’s Chris Clune and Blaine Hadfield during NTS visit model-railroad-hobbyist.com/MRHT_2010_NTS_ExactRail.

Imagine That Laser Art Products (www.imaginethatlaserart.com) displayed this impressive S scale structure at the National Train Show. Aptly named “La Wow”, the $500 kit has an assembled footprint of 21w x 10-inches and stands 16.5-inches tall. During a video interview with MRH, company official Mark Williams explained that all of the components are laser-cut wood including the café table, chairs, fencing, spiral fire escape and decorative lions. The structure is available as shown or as a shallow scenic flat. An HO scale edition is planned for later this year. To see the MRH interview with Mark visit model-railroad-hobbyist.com/MRHT_2010_NTS_IMAGINETHAT.

MRH staff member Les Halmos conducted a video interview at NTS with iwata-medea, a manufacturer of premium quality air brush equipment. To see the interview visit model-railroad-hobbyist.com/MRHT_2010_NTS_IWATA.

Jeffrey Spike Models (www.jeffreyspikemodels.com) is selling a kit for this O scale Adobe Store at $39. The structure has a foot print of 2.5 x 5-inches and features walls and floor cast in Hydrocal. Other components include Mt. Albert Lumber, Grandt Line doors, metal roofing material, special signage and a variety of details. The instructions include suggested paint and weathering ideas.

Kadee (www.kadee.com) has scheduled an August delivery date for this 40-foot SOO Line boxcar that is equipped with an 8-foot door. The HO scale model is painted in the original 1959 as-new boxcar red and comes with Kadee’s new two-piece self-centering trucks.

Kadee exhibited a fascinating new remote control coupler system at the National Train Show. G scale couplers were being demonstrated with a hint that once perfected, smaller scales would follow. Pricing and release dates are pending. A demonstration video can be seen by clicking “check out our video” at www.remoteuncoupling.com.

Microscale Industries (www.microscale.com) has issued several new N and HO scale decal sets of interest to prototype modelers including New Haven 53-foot 6-inch flat car with 35-foot trailer; Milwaukee Road steel caboose circa 1950-1980; Milwaukee Road Evans and Pullman Standard-built covered hoppers circa 1960-1980; CN diesel locomotives with North American map logo circa 1992-1995; and Pacific Fruit Express 40, 50 and 57-foot peaked roof mechanical refrigerator cars circa 1960-1970. The PFE set replaces previous set 87-17 and includes updated class data and nicely executed medallions.