Hobby News – Notes on Designing, Building, and Operating Model Railroads

Special runs – L&N ventilated box car

As I’m focused on modeling the Twenties, I keep an eye open for special run models that may fit my time frame. The recent Norfolk & Western box car produced for the N&WHS is an example. Sometimes an email arrives with a prototype question as a project comes together.

RPM season!

I think many of us are ready to shake off the winter weather. I hope you have been keeping busy pushing projects forward on your workbench and layout. Railroad Prototype Modeler (RPM) season is just around the corner!

Rapido Trains X23 box cars and R7 reefers

Rapido Trains recently released a couple of HO scale freight cars that fit right into my 1926 modeling focus. These models reflect Pennsylvania Railroad prototypes built in the Teens.

Rapido Trains Pennsy X23 box car and R7 reefer

The latest Rapido Trains HO scale model announcement has created quite a buzz among railroad modelers, especially for those modelers focused on the 1912-1940 years. Model production has started on the Pennsylvania Railroad X23 class box car and R7 class refrigerator car. These are distinctive prototypes that had many years of service.

Zenith Model Works

Sam Anderson has been working on new HO scale projects as Zenith Model Works. Above is a Saint Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Swing Motion Arch Bar truck with a 4-foot, 9-inch wheelbase (ZMW 7001). He sent the following details for a new line of HO scale 3D printed freight car trucks that follow prototypes from the 1900-1930 years. Here’s Sam with more details.