Model Railroader July 2021

Sketching with Steve Follow along with Associate Editor Steven Otte in Model Railroader’s first-ever edition of Sketching with Steve. Through the use of hand-drawn outlines, Steven walks you through the process of designing a yard ladder, explaining the importance of arranging turnouts to allow for different car capacities. For more expert advice, check in every month at Trains.com to see what new tips Steven has on the drawing board. Scale it Down Be sure to watch this brand-new, exclusive Trains.com video series, where host Steve Brown is attempting to build an N-scale version of his favorite HO-scale layout, the Winston-Salem Southbound Ry. Scaling down the track plan, which was previously featured in the pages of Model Railroader magazine and on MRVideoPlus, may prove to be more complicated than Steve had originally thought! To…

In his cover story this month, Contributing Editor Tony Koester explores the benefits and drawbacks of modeling a prototype railroad versus a less-rigid freelanced approach. It’s an interesting topic, and Tony shows how some wellknown model railroaders have tackled the subject. Picking an era is another important decision. You’re much closer to creating a believable model railroad if your locomotives, rolling stock, buildings, and vehicles all reflect a given era. I’ll admit to being lazy when it comes to following my era (mid-1960s, in case you were wondering). If a model appeals to me, it’s as good as sold! Consequently, I own rolling stock representative of a broad range of rail history. Now that I think about it, I see how a little discipline would have given me a more useful fleet and…

Electro-Motive Division SD45 diesel locomotive. Give your layout some flare with this road unit from ScaleTrains.com. The HO scale Rivet Counter line model is decorated for Burlington Northern; Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe (warbonnet); Conrail (blue); and Norfolk & Western (high short hood; Pevler Blue and American Revolution Bicentennial schemes). Direct current models sell for $184.99, and versions with a dual-mode ESU LokSound 5 sound decoder are priced at $274.99 (add $5 for N&W Bicentennial units). ScaleTrains.com Inc., 423-299-3689, scaletrains.com…

Broadway Limited Imports announced its new Paragon4 sound and control system with Rolling Thunder. The first two HO scale models with the new technology will be an Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 2-8-2 steam locomotive and Electro-Motive Division (EMD) GP20. Features of the dual-mode Paragon4 system include a built-in GoPack capacitor that’s automatically disabled on the programming track for full compatibility with JMRI’s Decoder Pro, Switcher Mode for low-speed control, Pro Lighting Mode for individual control of all lights on a model, quillable whistle, choice of three air horns, adjustable bell ringing intervals, grade crossing whistle signal, automatic forward/reverse signal, load-based diesel engine sound intensity, individually adjustable sound volumes for each effect, and an EZ Reset Button for quick return to factory default settings. A DC Master, sold separately, is required…

Milwaukee, Racine & Troy Pullman-Standard 4,750-cubic-foot capacity three-bay covered hopper. This custom-decorated Accurail kit is available exclusively from the Kalmbach Hobby Store. The HO scale car is offered in one road number and features a plastic body with a separate hatch cover casting and running board ends; free-standing end cages with a modeler-installed brake wheel, chain fulcrum, end braces, and crossover platform; roller-bearing trucks with plastic wheelsets; and Accumate couplers. The limited-run kit is priced at $27.99. Kalmbach Hobby Store, KalmbachHobbyStore.com…

The Kalmbach Hobby Store recently received several new tools and sets from Excel Blades Corp. Above is a small sampling of the items. To see the full lineup of products, and to place an order, visit KalmbachHobbyStore.com 1 Hobby knife set. This multi-piece set includes K1, K2, and K5 hobby knives and nos. 2, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, and 24 blades. The set, priced at $27.99, includes a wood case. 2 21-piece mini tool set. Included in this assortment set ($19.99) are five hex-nut drivers, six slotted screwdrivers, three hex-key drivers, two Phillips-head screwdrivers, and five open-ended wrenches, all in a plastic storage box. 3 Machine squares. These polished carbon steel tools include markings in inches and millimeters. Available sizes are 4" ($19.99), 6" ($24.99), 8" ($29.99), and 10" ($34.99). 4…