Product Reviews
Enjoy our in-depth reviews of great new model railroading products in a variety of popular scales, presented by the Model Railroad News staff. Please contact Editor Tony Cook to have your product considered for review.
July 24, 2018
Very, Very Late Steam Era: Illinois Central Ice Reefer in O Scale from Atlas O
A classic example of 20th century North American rolling stock was the ice-cooled refrigerator car. Atlas O offers a 40-foot steel body version of this long-serving type of freight car, decorated for Illinois Central and many other road names.
July 17, 2018
Tip-Up Transfer: Toledo, Peoria & Western Caboose in HO Scale from Bluford Shops
The detail on this HO-scale transfer caboose model is very impressive, as is the excellent application of the various colors. Bluford Shops did a very commendable execution Toledo, Peoria & Western paint scheme, right down to yellow handrail accents and eye-catching silver truck sideframes.
June 19, 2018
A Star is Born: Trix SNCF class 241-A Steam Locomotive in HO Scale
The real SNCF class 241-A is currently the largest restored hand-fired steam locomotive running on European rails. The Trix 241 A 65 pulling a string of Orient Express sleeping cars would look good on any layout.
May 18, 2018
Where There’s Smoke… Built-Up Fire Station from Menards in HO and O
This new Menards Collectibles built-up fire station is available in HO and O scale, and includes figures and vehicles, as well as a number of details that add to the product’s value and enhance the building’s eye appeal.
April 17, 2018
Not Just Another F-unit: Athearn Genesis EMD FP7 in HO Scale
Athearn’s Genesis FP7 isn’t just another F-unit model. As my closer examination of the model reveals, it’s a high-quality HO scale model characterized by accurate road-specific details with high-end decoration and the usual quality Genesis drivetrain.
March 14, 2018
VIA Rail Canada RDC in HO Scale by Rapido Trains
You won’t find a better RDC model that offers such fine detail right out of the box. From its scale proportions, road-specific features, and smooth engineering and performance, this model clearly stands up to its claim of being the “absolute” example of a Budd RDC.
February 16, 2018
Westerfield Models Auto Boxcar Resin Kit in HO Scale
This Westerfield Auto Boxcar kit reproduces an early steel construction example. The provided history included with Westerfield’s kit notes New York Central (NYC) began operating all-steel boxcars with an American Car & Foundry example in 1912.
January 31, 2018
Atlas Master Line Penn Central GE U33B in HO Scale
This husky Penn Central U33B example from General Electric’s U-boat production shows off the stubby pug nose that became common in the 1960s. The model is available from Atlas in standard DC, as well as DCC-sound versions.
January 31, 2018
Penn Central General American 50′ Boxcar from Moloco in HO
Has Penn Central become that popular? Moloco Trains, a maker of high-quality HO-scale freight car models, apparently cannot keep up with the demand for at least one road name offered for its 50-foot boxcar release.
January 8, 2018
Die Cast SD70ACe by 3000TOYS in HO Scale
Diecast Masters offers something unique for the HO market. The company recently delivered an HO-scale SD70ACe Tier 4. Of special note, this 1/87 model includes no drive mechanism, making it a static display reproduction.
