News: Recent News
This page shows a listing of news entries from the past month or so. Click photos to visit the web sites.
NASG Membership Secretary
Dick Kramer has been the NASG's Membership Secretary for 13 years. He is looking to retire, and so we are looking for someone to fill his shoes.
We had found an excellent candidate, but due to unexpected extenuating circumstances, he has had to withdraw his candidacy.
The Membership Secretary position is one that aids the NASG Treasurer in maintaining the NASG's membership database, accepting and reviewing new-member applications, notifying members of renewal deadlines, sending out renewals notices (via e-mail and postal mail), handling member's requests and changes-of-address, etc., and maintaining the list of active members to whom NASG Dispatch magazines are to be mailed.
The position requires an active membership in the NASG. Behind the scenes, you will be working with the NASG Treasurer and the NASG webmaster. The ability to handle e-mail (most interactions as done this way) and willingness to contact members via telephone (especially for those for whom we have no e-mail address) is necessary for this position. Ideally, you will be able to handle e-mail on a daily basis, but at least several times per week. The ability to enter and review data in a database application on a laptop computer is necessary for this position. However, no "programming" is needed, as everything is already set up and has been working well for more than a decade. Dick Kramer will be able to train you and help you with all of the necessary steps. Ideally, you live in the Connecticut area, but that is not a requirement (it might just make training easier).
Please contact the NASG's President, Jim Whipple, if you are interested in helping the NASG with this important position.
Start an e-mail message (president@nasg.org).
Barbara Rudnicki
We have been notified that Barbara A. Rudnicki, of Naples, Florida, passed away on June 12, 2026. She was an NASG member for more than 20 years. Barbara was born a Pennsylvanian and attended Plymouth Whitmarsh High School. She then attended East Stroudsburg University before a career at IBM where she trained managers. In retirement Barbara relocated to Naples, then Raleigh, North Carolina, and back to Naples where she dedicated her life to helping non-profits with Communication Seminars along with Strategic Analysis and Planning Sessions. Barbara also entertained residents at senior residences by organizing jigsaw puzzle clubs and activities, together with her piano skills and beloved Steinway B. Barbara's other love, of course, were her American Flyer trains and the construction of her layout, the "AAA Atlantic, Appalachian & Allegheny" where she was modeling November 10th, 1958 with both steam and diesel. The layout was A.C. Gilbert American Flyer-based, included a piece of her childhood layout and her original 324AC Hudson locomotive, but with many added details, and even a forced-perspective scene including Gilbert HO- and Kato N-scale trains. Barbara became an expert at repairing AF as well. Barbara also served the S community when joining Dave's Twacks & Twains as a co-owner with a mission to help as many people as she possibly could. We offer our condolences to her family and friends.
Shipping Container Chassis by Hexagon
Hexagon is a manufacturer listed on the 3D Central Trains 3D-printing service company's web site. They have been producing items for HO-scale. They have recently released, in S-scale, two different types of shipping container chassis, and an add-on component used by refrigerated shipping containers. Note that the container chassis can be ordered with your choice of wheels. These are unpainted, 3D-printed items. The "S-scale" version is linked to, below (select the wheel choice by clicking to the desired one before adding the item to the shopping cart).
Microform Models Web Site Has Online Ordering
We have had Microform Models listed in this web site's "Resources" section for several years now. While their product line is still the same, their web site has been greatly improved by recently enabling online ordering (previously, you had to call or write them to place an order). This company makes products for architects. They have a number of figures, some chairs, and a few automobiles that are flagged as "1:63" scale. While these figures aren't very detailed, they are very affordable, and so they make it possible to model a large crowd of people (not too close to the front of the layout) without going broke trying to do so. They also have metal, foldable (not scale-specific) tree armatures. The link below takes you directly to the filtered 1:63 page.
New Trucks by Die Cast Promotions
3000toys.com announces these models. Note that these are highly-detailed models. They feature an opening hood with authentic engine detail, accurately-detailed cab interior, poseable front wheels, pivoting fifth-wheel for trailer attachment, rolling wheels, working suspension, working landing gear, and a detailed chassis and undercarriage.
Glenn Ritter
We have been notified that Glenn A. Ritter, of Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, passed away on March 1, 2026. He was an NASG member for 30 years. Glenn was an architect for nearly 60 years, specializing in churches, but he also did other special projects and custom homes. We offer our condolences to his family and friends.
2026 NASG Convention Update
The 2026 NASG Convention, the S Event of the Year, is less than 3 weeks away. We are happy to announce that the Convention web site's list of planned clinics, and the list of local open layouts (open to attendees only), have been fully updated. The Convention web site's Layouts page includes photos of most layouts, as well as any links to web pages and/or YouTube videos that feature the layout. Note the final details about the layouts will be provided to you when you register or pick-up your registration packet at the Registration desk.
Important: online Convention registration and online Convention Car purchasing will be halted at approximately midnight July 31, 2026. You can, of course, walk into the hotel and register at the Convention's Registration desk in the hotel lobby. Note that Convention Car purchases are limited, and when bought in-person will be $75 each.
Dispatch Articles
Attention NASG members! The NASG Dispatch magazine is running low on articles. Please consider writing something about your current or recent S-related activities. Ideas are: a progress report on your layout's construction; a kit you have been building; a car or engine that you have been super-detailing or gotten to work again; a scenery tip that you would like to pass along; a review of a recent train show that you attended, etc. While your article can be long, a short product review and a simple tip can be sufficient to fill an empty spot in the magazine. Photos are great, if you can take them, but if not, that's fine, too. We have two assistant editors on stand-by who can work with you to get you the article that you envision. Please see the linked-to page for who to contact and for possible submission deadlines, if your article is time-sensitive.
Neil Stanton & S-CAB
While this information is not necessarily S-specific, a good number of S-modelers (including narrow-gaugers) are using Neil Stanton's S-CAB system. Briefly, S-CAB is a system that is installed in locomotives that allows direct communication between the throttle and the engine. On top of that, the system is designed to be fully powered by an internal battery that is installed in the engine. This makes an engine completely independent of the track as far as its power and its control system is concerned. This takes us one step closer to mimicking the real world, i.e. on-board "fuel".
While there are several systems on the market that offer similar features as the S-CAB system, none offer the complete solution that Neil's does; most require you to source one or more items from other manufacturers or do your own research on the Web.
Some of you may be aware of Neil's other significant contribution to model railroading and that is the "Stanton Drive" (a completely self-contained motor and gearing system built into a powered truck) that is sold by NorthWest ShortLine (available for S-scale as well).
Neil just e-mailed those of us who have been his clients and customers for years that he just turned 91 years old. He stated that he is still doing well, but is no longer able to do custom installs. He still has a good-sized inventory of the items he sells, but he will no longer take orders from new customers, effective today. He will continue to offer products to his existing customers. Neil also stated that he will continue to offer consultation to those who are interested in battery power for their locomotives. He covers HO-, S-, and O-scales.
Neil has been looking, for several years now, for someone or some company to take over his business and product line. So far he has not been successful. Considering the fact that just about everyone world-wide is walking around with a cellphone that contains a similar or the same battery that battery-powered engines use, you would think that the general "fear" of lithium-ion batteries should be subsiding, but apparently it isn't.
So, the plea is, if you or someone you know has an interest in a small business, is willing to accept some risk (the fundamental "feature" of a small business), and has the ability to produce electronic parts or can contract with someone or some company that can do that, you might want to consider contacting Neil.
Start an e-mail message (neilstanton@msn.com).
Product Gallery - Product Notes
The next step in improving the "Product Gallery" section of this web site is actually a side-step. With the completion of listing all locomotives and all railroad cars, it was time to tackle the "Product Notes", since most of them are related to locomotives and cars. The "Product Notes" sub-section holds such things as instruction sheets, historical information, tips from modelers, and much more. The notes we had before have now been migrated to the new format, and a good number (~150) of new notes have been added.
The main "Product Gallery" page has been changed slightly as well, as part of this update:
1. The "Quick Jump" at the top of the page has been made smaller, so that it isn't wasting space.
2. A new "Miscellanous" section has been added near the bottom of the page, which now holds the listing of 3D-printer files, the link to the new "Product Notes" page, and the recently added "Model Manufacturers Overview" page.
3. Each of the product sub-categories that have not yet been converted to their new format, now have a link under their "Coming Soon" stand-in image that takes you to the old-format (but still current, data-wise) listing of their product entries.
4. These changes take us closer to my (the webmaster's) vision of what the final Product Gallery main page is going to look like when it is all done.
What's Next?
The "Product Notes" are not finished yet, so over the next several weeks incremental updates will be made.
Nitty-gritty Details:
- the old version of the Product Notes was hand-edited over the years, and so had an inconsistent look-and-feel to it.
- the old version of the Product Notes has been removed, with this update, to avoid confusion.
- however, many model entries in the main Product Gallery have supplemental links to the old version of the Product Notes, so those links will not work (for a little while).
- the new version of the Product Notes needed to be made available to make it easier to update the model entries' supplemental links.
- model entries' supplemental links will be updated, next (as time permits).
- Don Thompson has been providing a ton of information, files, and documents over the years. Many are already integrated, but there are still a good number that have yet to be added, so that will be done, after the above.
- I (the webmaster) am not 100% happy with the last-pages of the new format for the Product Notes, so I suspect there will be some minor look-and-feel changes in due time.
- the rest of the main Product Gallery sub-categories' conversion (from old format to new) will continue after all of the above has been completed.
New England Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet Photos
Jeff English, a former NASG Eastern VP, took a couple of models to this year's New England Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet, held at the end of May in West Springfield, MA. Eric Hansmann, an HO-scale modeler, took photos of most of the models on display at the event, including of Jeff's models.
New Structures by Frisco Factory
These are 3D-printed, molded-in color but unpainted models, available fully built or in kit form.
NASG, Inc. Needs Insurance Agent
On behalf of the NASG's President, Jim Whipple:
Are there any insurance agents out there amongst the NASG membership who are knowledgeable about 501(c)3 organizations?
The NASG treasurer and myself would appreciate the opportunity to talk about the organization's insurance needs, this week if possible.
Start an e-mail message (president@nasg.org).
Dwarf Signals by Scale 3D Productions
Scale 3D Productions releases S-scale single- and double-head dwarf signals. These are 3D-printed models (printed and shipped by 3D Central) and include the "concrete" bases and back covers. They are designed to use three-color LEDs (green/amber/red). Their web site offers a link to where you can get the LEDs appropriate for these models. HO-scale version shown in their ads. The links below are to their S-scale variant.
NASG BOT Meeting Notes
Andy Malette, the NASG Secretary, has made available the March, April, and May 2026 NASG BOT meeting notes. The PDF files can be viewed by active NASG members via the "Members Only" portal.
July/August 2025, 2026 Dispatch PDFs Available
The digital PDF file of the July/August 2026 Dispatch issue is now available on this web site via the "Members Only" portal. Also, the July/August 2025 Dispatch issue is now publicly available (its articles have also been indexed).
Hunterline Closed
The Canadian company Hunterline, which, in S-scale, produced wooden bridge kits, tunnel liners, fences, and roof shakes, has been closed due to the sudden passing of Rick Hunter. Maureen Hunter posted on their Facebook page that he passed away on May 10, 2026. She sold the "Weathering Mix" product line of stains to HobbyTools.com, but the wooden kits part of their business has now come to an end.
New Farm, Racing, Construction Equipment by Ertl
3000toys.com announces these models.
New Trucks by Die Cast Promotions
3000toys.com announces these models. Note that these are highly-detailed models. They feature an opening hood with authentic engine detail, accurately-detailed cab interior, poseable front wheels, pivoting fifth-wheel for trailer attachment, rolling wheels, working suspension, working landing gear, and a detailed chassis and undercarriage.
Be sure to see all, or other, products announced over the past year via the main News page.