The front headline news this month again is about Marklin / LGB. The question we all want to know, was the rumor about Kader who is known to own Bachman purchase Marklin. That answer looks to be no, it's just a rumor that Marklin was purchased, however thier is a open offer to buy Marklin. One Garden Railroad vendor went to the 25th Garden Railway Convention in Denver, Colorado. Walthers was actually thier displaying 2 DB locomotives, a US Mogul and a new 2009 Chrsitmas coach. It seems as though Marklin was actually able to stable themselves out and the banks will continue to allow Marklin to operate without asking to liquidate. Walthers had recieved containers of LGB products. Now the bad news for all of you LGB diehard fans, Marklin had done what everyone predictied, the container full of new Marklin trains were reviewed for the first time from by Walthers and they noticed that words that were usually stamped under the bottom such as "Lehmann" and "EPI" patentworks have been erased and now they have a Marklin/LGB sticker. Right now every type of track imaginable was delivered, European starter sets, European locomotives and cars were also in the container. AMS: Accucraft has come back out with their AMS 1:20.3 scale ratio Jackson Sharp coaches and they are very nice. Cost = $279.00 per car. Accucraft: Has come out with the "Royal Hudson" 4-6-4 in the as ran in service paint scheme, as it is today paint scheme or Royal Blue as seen in 1939 which will be live steam and built in 1:32 museum scale ratio. Hold on to your wallets as this one will start out at $4,285.00. A 1:32 scale ratio GP-9 locomotive will also be due out soon. AML: Accucraft is moving again forward with thier new 1:29 scale ratio line up which is known as AML or American Main Line. They have PS-1 box cars with 8'6 Superior panle door version, 8' Youngstown door version, and 7' double door. Other releases include a stock car and 40' rebuilt wodside reefer car Eaglewings Iron Craft: Has release a new metal small warfehouse in 1:22.5 scale ratio. J.S. woodcrafts: has come out with a operational motorized conveyor loader. Airwire: has a new decoder for locos called the Ariwire G-2 motion which features protection from over heating, protection against excessive motor current, protected lamp drivers and protected auxilary DCC output. It works with any type battery and will work on voltages up to 28 drive motor voltage, 8 drive motor amps and is compatible with all DCC sound decoders and airwire 900 throttles. Bachman: has finally released Thomas the Tank items, now available is Thomas, Percy, Annie, Clarabel and the troublesome trucks. MTH or also known as Rail King: Has come out with a Baldwin VO 1000 switcher engine in 1:32 scale ratio. Aristocraft: Is having a sale on certain products this month. There will also be limited edtion 2 bay coal hoppers in the C&O and L&N road names. Now in stock is the 3 bay hopper in the CSX road name, GP-40 in the Bulington Northern road name, 2 bay coal hopper in the Illinois Central road name, 2 bay coal hopper in the Great Nrothern Road name and the 2 bay coal hopper in the Milwaukee road name. Is also anouncing the new release of the RDC--3 Cordless Renovations: Has come out with a new CR-1 smart charger which can opertae your train and charge your NiCd, Nimh or Lithium Ion battery pack which fits in a box car, gondolla or tender. Phoenix Sound: The new PB9 sound card has been reviewed and everything was positive with no negatives and was a simple easy install even on the new Aristocraft revolutioin control unit. USA Trains: I know I announced this already, but didn't want to leave USA Trains out of the news. The new center cupola caboose is out and available for purchase in many road names. Please Note: some of the new release Aristocraft products are only available thru certain hobby shops, please PM me for the hobby store names, please don't not leave any hobby store names in the thread, thanx.
More USA Trains updated news USA Trains announces more road names for the Ultimate series 40ft box car and the American Series woodside reefer car. USA Trains also gives us a first hand look at the new pre-production Ultimate Series 60ft box car. I myself would like to get these but don't know iif they would be able to handle 8ft diameter curves. These 60ft box cars are announced to come thru with body mounted couplers only. The USA Ultimate Series freight cars usually came thru with truck mounted couplers making these big freight cars easier to handle tight curves but also came thru with KD body mounted coupler kits for those who chose to run these on wide and large diameter curves. Hopefully USA Trains will have these on display at the ECLS Trai Show in September, I will be asking alot of questions. Now presenting in Pictures #1 & #2, the all new 60ft Ultimate series box car Remember, these are not yet released.
Wait a minute... After I preordered and have on hold my RLD Hobbies Custom Run BN GP40... Aristocraft is doing a mass produced version?! :tb-shocked: Way to go Aristocraft....Way behind the ball again.
DragonFyreGT, I guess you didn't read the bottom of my first post, I mentioned a note that some of the Aristocraft items to be released were only available thru certain hobby stores, what I forgot to mention most of these releases from Aristocraft are special runs and very limited but no numbers of how many of each will be made. You are safe, the Burlington Northern is still a limited piece right now. I'm not sure why your Burlington Northen GP-40 locomotives are still on order, they were actaully released in time for the Spring ECLS Train Show. Page #6 & #7 in my ECLS Spring train show picture album here on train board will show those same Aristocraft Burlington Northern GP-40 locomotives. Check out the locomotive numbers and you will see that they match the limited editions that were supposed to be released earlier this year. The limited release BN road numbers are #3003, #3017, #3022 and #3089. Alhough I see you said you have a hold on them, so maybe you put a deposit down. I seen these in person at the show and you will be happy. One of the 4 BN locomotives did break downat the show, but Aristocraft repaired it right there at the show i time for another run. What a neat train lash up. Looking forward to the Summer ECLS train show in York. Wouldn't it be neat if they held a fall ECLS York show also so you can buy trains for Christmas?
Yeah, I missed the bottom note, but I did hear rumors that in the Second or Third roadname releases AC was considering it. Those rumors is what got me confused. But overall yes I did miss the bottom note, and my unit is in at the local hobby shop on hold. I have half of it paid off and in 2 weeks I'll have the rest paid off.
Bachman getting deeper into F scale ok, yes this is the G scale section basiclly, but I want to support anything that runs on Gauge #1 track. With that being said for those who are not familiar Fn3 scale, it is just one scale ratio which is 1:20.3. The most famous manufacturer of Fn3 narrow gauge scale is Accucraft but also the most expensive. They are trying to get into the more affodable price range by developing the AMS line which is primarily plastic like most commercial made models rather than more expensive brass. Bachman had entered the Fn3 sale maket with their 1:20.3 scale model line up which is different from the "Big Haulers" series which is really not scale specific. Bachman is trying to compete int the Fn3 scale 1:20.3 scale ratio market and thier prices seem to be cheaper than Accucraft but II'm not sure how the quality is. With that being said, Bachman has introduced a new 1:20.3 scale ratio narrow gauge long caboose. For those who priced a Accucraft brass version they cost around $400.00. The Bachman version is designed to operate on DC or DCC or battery power layouts. Thier is a 8 pin socket for a DCC decoder. It also features opening cupola windows, a removable roof, lighted and detailed interior with bunks, seats, stove, piping, and simulated kerosene lamps. This also features diecast trucks with operating leaf springs and metal wheels. Also featuring diecast kadee body mounted couplers.
