News: Recent News
This page shows a listing of news entries from the past month or so. Click photos to visit the web sites.
Mike Rosenberg
Long-time NASG member, Michael Rosenberg of Milburn, New Jersey, passed away on December 5, 2024. Mike was an avid AF enthusiast and could often be found at the York and Springfield train shows. We offer our belated condolences to Mike's family and friends.
2025 NASG Annual Member Car
Annual Member Car chairman, Norman Bos, announces that the 2025 edition of the car will be the Monon 40-foot box car manufactured for us by American Models, with delivery expected around the time of this year's NASG Convention. There will be two road numbers produced, namely the legendary #1 (with 7-panel Superior doors) and the regular #907 (with Commonwealth doors). John W. Barriger III, when he ran the Monon, remembered from his early years as a yard clerk that it was easy to write down the wrong road number for cars with 6-digit road numbers. So, when the Monon ordered 500 40-foot box cars from Pullman-Standard in 1947, he simply had them start with #1. The photo shown below was taken by Norman Bos. It is of road number 907 which by the time of the photograph had been renumbered and was being used as a generator car. However, the 2025 NASG Annual Member Car will have this same paint and lettering scheme. According to our listing in this web site's "Product Gallery" no Monon box car in this paint scheme has been produced in S before. As always, there will be a limited number of these cars produced, and will be available with either hi-rail wheels and couplers or scale wheels and couplers. You can place your pre-orders now by clicking on the photo below.
Please note that we are down to just a couple of the 2024 NASG Annual Member Cars in stock. These are the Mathieson dry-ice reefers. So, if you have been eyeing one of those, now is the time to order yours.
AF Commemorative Program
The NASG's AF Commemorative Program was stopped in 2019, but we still have a number of cars available in our inventory. Clay Buckage took over the program's sales from Dave Blum in 2020. However, Clay recently announced his retirement and closing of Dave's Twacks & Twains. This also means that he is retiring from managing the sales of the remaining AF Commemorative Cars. Chris Crnich, the NASG's Company Store manager, has volunteered to take over the remaining inventory and will be handling the shipping of these cars. Chris will be taking delivery of the full inventory this week and will be ready to make shipments starting on January 24, 2025. So, Chris will now be handling all of the shipping of the NASG's hard-goods.
Please note that we offer online ordering via this web site, with payments made via PayPal (who accept credit and debit cards, as well as other forms of payment). However, if you would prefer to pay for your order of items from the NASG's Company Store, NASG Annual Member Car Program, or the AF Commemorative Car program via a check or money order, please make arrangements with Chris directly. Some items are low in stock, so by contacting Chris before you postal-mail your check or money order, he can set aside the item(s) for you. Especially with the cars, these are shipped on a first-come, first-served basis.
Also note that most of the hard-goods items' prices include the cost of shipping. As we all know, shipping cost have risen dramatically. Chris recently instituted a plan that if you order four or more of one specific item (not four various items) he might be able to give you a reduced price. You will need to contact Chris if you want to order 4 or more of one specific item, and pay via check or money order, as the online shopping cart is not set up to handle such scenarios. Similarly, if you are not in a hurry, but plan to attend this year's NASG Convention, Chris will be able to give you a reduced price on the items if you pick up your order at the Convention.
Start an e-mail message (companystore@nasg.org).
Free-Mo S Scale Web Site
Shane Lambert has started a new web site through which he hopes to build an online community centered around the Free-mo standard for S-scale.
S In The Movies
Back in 2018, Trevor Marshall's previous S-scale layout was recorded as part of an upcoming short movie. The 15-minute film was released in 2019 and after making its rounds in the various film festivals (and winning some awards), it has now been made available for the public to see online. The film is called "Buzzard". It is a drama (with some light humor) dealing with depression after a loss. It is well-acted and well-made. Trevor's layout is featured in this film. I enjoyed watching the movie, but if you just want to skip to where Trevor's layout is featured, fast-forward to about the 7-minute mark.
AF Coupler Conversion Kit for Hoppers by Benn Central Shops
Ben Trousdale announces that he has a kit available to allow his Benn Central Shops hopper kits to be coupled to other AF-compatible cars and engines. The kit's contents, priced at $10, are shown in the first photo. The second photo shows how they fit into the Kadee 802 draft gear box for which his cars are designed. These are not available via his 3D Central Trains page, so see his Facebook page, or contact him via e-mail to make arrangements.
Start an e-mail message (ben.benncentral@gmail.com).
MLW Services Express Refrigerator Car Instructions
Andy Malette has provided the instruction sheets, in PDF form, of his CNR 8-hatch express reefer kits. See the "Supplemental" line on the page linked to below.
William Gilliland
We have received word that Bill Gilliland, of Port Royal, Pennsylvania, passed away in August 2023. He was a relative new member of the NASG at the time of his passing, but a long-time member of the TCA.
Tomalco Track Closing Soon
Shane Lambert, who bought Tomalco Track from Larry Morton in 2023, has announced on the company's web site that he is looking to sell the company, and most specifically the rights to the S-scale flextrack. He will close his web site in March 2025. He lists ongoing health issues as the main reason for the sale. We will update this notice when a new owner has been announced.
New Birds by Modelu
The company announces several new birds, available in S-scale. These are unpainted, 3D-printed models. To select S-scale, click on the "Select Custom Scale" option on their web site's pages. You can also place your order via Pierre Oliver's company, based in Ontario, Canada; web site: Yarmouth Model Works. He doesn't stock S-scale items, but he can definitely get them for you.
Introducing Under Construction Replicas
The company was started about a year ago, selling 3D-printed scenery detailing parts in various scales, including S. They started selling on eBay, but have recently added a dedicated web site. They are based in Pikesville, Maryland and attend regional shows, so you can see their products in person.
Railmaster Exports
John Agnew reports that he is now 85 years of age and is seriously considering shuttering Railmaster Exports at the end of March 2025. So far he has not found a buyer for his company's product line. If you are interested in either ordering one or more kits, or are interested in purchasing and continuing this important product line, please contact John a.s.a.p.
Start an e-mail message (john@railmaster.co.nz).
2024 Allentown First Frost Train Show Video
An attendee of this show takes a nice tour of the North Penn S Gaugers's club layout. The layout is featured at the beginning of the video.
Oldest Running S-scale Steam Locomotive?
Carey Williams seems to be able to find those rare pieces of model railroading history and then show them actually still operating on his layout, via his YouTube channel. He recently added a video of a Cleveland Model & Supply Milwaukee Road (MILW) streamlined 4-4-2, a model from 1937. To put things into perspective, this was the same year that A.C. Gilbert bought American Flyer. This is an 88-year old model still running, today!
Sn2 Free-mo Set-up
David Keith took photos and provided a write-up of the 2024 National Narrow Gauge Convention in Pittsburgh, PA. A group of Sn2 modelers brought their modules to the show and set up a very nice layout. On his web page, click the photos to see a larger version.
Introducing Iron Horse Hobbies SMK
Iron Horse Hobbies SMK produces 3D-printed models in a variety of scales, most of which are also available in S. The company is based in Gulfport, Mississippi. The models are available as kits, or, optionally for an extra fee, as pre-assembled models. Please note that all photos shown are of their N-scale version; the S-scale version will likely look different. Also note that some of the models are quite large in S-scale. The company only sells through eBay and Etsy. On their web page, be sure to scroll down in the scale selection list to select S-scale.
Tom's Tile Company Kit by nhmodelworks
nhmodelworks, based in Manchester, New Hampshire, releases their fourth S-scale kit. These are laser-cut wooden kits. This kit has a footprint of 7" x 8" and represents a small industrial shop. The company recently unveiled their dedicated web site (https://nhmodelworks.com/), but this new kit is not yet listed there, so the link is to their eBay listing.
O Scale West
The "O Scale - S Scale - Narrow Gauge West" annual event on the west coast has been taken over by the original founder of the show, and he renamed it back to just "O Scale West". However, on the web site he explicitly states that both narrow-gauge and S-scale will continue to be a fundamental part of the show. If you are in or near Santa Clara, California in late May 2025, be sure to attend the show.
January/February 2024, 2025 Dispatch PDFs Available
The public version of the January/February 2024 issue of the NASG's Dispatch is now available. Also, the members-only issue of the January/February 2025 Dispatch PDF can now be downloaded via the "Members Only" portal.
Pilot and Draft Gear for American Models SD60 by Benn Central Shops
Ben Trousdale announces that he has 3D-printed parts for improving the look of an American Models SD60. The parts include the front pilot and draft gear with plow, and the rear pilot and draft gear. These are not available via his 3D Central Trains page, so see his Facebook page, or contact him via e-mail to make arrangements. These are $25 per set, plus the cost of shipping.
Start an e-mail message (ben.benncentral@gmail.com).
Replacement Truck Bolster for Lionel Cylindrical Hopper by Benn Central Shops
Ben Trousdale announces that he has 3D-printed replacement bolsters for the Lionel cylindrical hoppers. These are only applicable to Lionel's first run, where the cars ran too high. These are not available via his 3D Central Trains page, so see his Facebook page, or contact him via e-mail to make arrangements. These are $8 per pair, plus the cost of shipping.
Start an e-mail message (ben.benncentral@gmail.com).
Speed Stick
A company by the name of Model Train Technology, located in Orlando, Florida, is introducing their latest product, called the Speed Stick. While not S-specific, they do acknowledge and support S-scale. Place this device near your track, run the train passed it, and see its scale speed reported on the small display screen built into the device. The device uses an internal rechargeable battery, so no wires are needed. It can be charged by connecting it to any 5-volt charger.
Grosvenor Interlocking Tower by Leopard Architectural Models
Leopard Architectural Models has added the Grosvenor Interlocking Tower to their line-up of S-scale kits. This is based on the Grosvenor tower near Athens, Ohio, which used to guard the crossing of the NYC and B&O tracks (the B&O tracks are now gone). The kit arrives as 3D-printed parts, unpainted and to be assembled by the modeler. Interior details are included. Also included are a coal house (not shown in the photo below) and two electrical boxes, to complete the scene. See their web site for more photos. The photos are of an HO-scale model.
Introducing ScaleSigns.com
The company has been around since 1995, but they have recently expanded their product line to include S-scale. They specialize in road and railroad roadway signs. These are very realistic models, with some of them weathered and aged. Their current S-scale product line includes railroad-crossing signs, various roadway stop signs, construction signs, roadway warning signs, mud flap signs for your 1:64 tractor-trailer trucks and trailers, and miscellaneous signs. A few examples are shown here, but they have way too many to list, so be sure to browse their well-organized web site for all that they have to offer. The company is located in Michigan, and they typically have a booth at local train shows (see their web site for the list of shows they are attending). Also, if you see something that they offer in any of the other scales but not (yet) in S-scale, contact them to see if they can add the same item for S-scale. The company is owned by a retired veteran.
Grain Processing Details and Add-ons by Miniature Industries
This company has added a dedicated page to their web site for their S-scale product line. If you model the grain industry, take a look at the many details they offer as unpainted 3D-printed kits.
New Figures by CatzPaw Innovations, LLC
The company adds these items to their product line. These are all 3D-printed and arrive unpainted. Painted examples shown as suggestions.
NASG Library Index Files Updated
Dale Minard, the NASG Librarian, has updated the magazines index spreadsheet files with the latest magazine issues.
Be sure to see all, or other, products announced over the past year via the main News page.