Springfield Show Report [Part 3 Added]

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I'm going to keep to N scale (mostly) and only cover show announcements and news.

Iconic Replicas:
New Flyer Xcelsior Transit Bus
(Unknown) Intercity Bus
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I spoke with a rep from Iconic Replicas, makers of limited edition HO scale bus models. I asked if they considered making their RTS bus in N scale and they showed me this. Both busses are fully tooled. They are hesitant on making anything after being sick with a bunch of N scale Rapido New Look busses. In fact they were still selling them and I purchased two for $18 each. The NF is pretty popular in transit these days. I'm not sure what model the  rep said the intercity bus was. I'll certainly get a few to help sales. IF these are successful, they will look into their back catalog of HO stuff and start producing some of it in N. This includes the RTS, Senic Cruiser, Buffalo, lots of MCI variants. All these busses were widely used for long periods of time. Any of these busses would be be at home picking passengers up at your stations. Buy them. Support the hobby. They are also looking for recommendations in N scale. Of course I mentioned the RTS. Add your input too.
https://www.iconic-replicas.com/buses/

Bachmann:
GP38-2
SD40-2
Evans Coil Car
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This GP38-2 has already been released, so why am I posting it? Because Bachmann is improving their tooling. Two big changes from the earlier GP40: cab doors and cab steps. The radiators and fans have also been improved. I would say the shell is every bit on part with Atlas except that fuel tank.


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Their new SD40-2 was on display. 88" nose, mid phase without anticlimber. I think only a few railroads had this configuration such as Norfolk Southern. Unfortunately, the numbers they choose were not the best. The UP engine should be a snoot. SF only used large anticlimbers. But this is a one size fits all style of engine, though it does come with plows and ditch lights when appropriate. These look very nice, especially the HTC trucks. Fuel tank is contoured right.

Part 2....

[daniel_leavitt2000]

The Northeast Caboose looks good in Conrail.
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The Evans Coil Car is at least as good as the Red Caboose model. The trucks are strange, but those are easily replaced. Body mount coupler pockets. Removable and stackable hoods. Removable coils. This is a really nice car. Their new chemical tablet should be out any month and features two dome types. It's visibly sharper than their previous, well received tank cars.

ScaleTrains
SD40-2 and SD40T-2
Well they just added more work to my SD40-2 project!
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[daniel_leavitt2000]

Rapido
Barrel Ore Hoppers
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At least Rapido's vanity project looks good. Too bad they blame 99% of N scale modelers who can't use it for their poor sales.

Rohr Turboliner
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It would have been amazing to see these run all over the eastern US as an Acela expansion. Too bad the real one is just rotting away. This really was a missed opportunity for Amtrak.

MRC's NEXXT DCC system.
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This has me REALLY excited. Uses LLC/Wifi and can operate with TCC and other similar wifi throttles. Full color screen. Descriptive engine and accessory addressing. Full color screen. Adjustable soft key functions (the four keys under the screen can be assigned a duty target rather than a function number. This can be adjusted for each engine in inventory, so you could have the first button always be a horn, even if they are different functions on various engines in your fleet. This fixes a lot of issues I have with multiple sound decoder manufacturers.) memory is expandable with micro SD. Software adjustable min/max amperage per district.


The size is perfect, about 2/3 the size of the Prodigy or NCE ProCab. I actuality like the control layout better than ESU. Throttle lasts 8 hours on a charge. Desk stand and layout cradles will be available. Charging is done by magnetic pins in the cradle and provided by USB-C.

[thomasjmdavis]

If they want to do this in N scale, I'm definitely in.
https://www.iconic-replicas.com/buses/p/187-1952-acf-brill-cd-44-transit-bus-chicago-surface-lines-87-0370

And Daniel- Thanks for the updates. Hoping to see some items for those of us modeling the 1950s.

[GM50 4164]

Bachmann SD40-2's! They look really nice for someone not interested in the most detailed. I'm interested to see how theses do what with the ones from Kato, Intermountain and now Scale Trains on the market.

Daniel, thank you for the update from the show.

[squirrelhunter]

Did Bachmann have any samples of the Evans Coil Cars there? Or any samples of the 19th century 4-6-0 they had in their catalog last year for release in 2024?

[mike_lawyer]

Did BLI announce any new models, or just their "Conductor Club"?

[Jbub]

Did BLI announce any new models, or just their "Conductor Club"?

You have to pay the $29.99 for exclusive access to members only models and announcements. 

[wazzou]

ST handrails are the finest in N Scale, and it’s not even very close.

[daniel_leavitt2000]

Did Bachmann have any samples of the Evans Coil Cars there? Or any samples of the 19th century 4-6-0 they had in their catalog last year for release in 2024?

They had an undecorated Evans in black plastic that was causing some issues to photograph so I left that out. The model looks a bit better than the RC ones, but not as detailed as similar cars from Atlas and ST. The trucks are pretty bad. The rep said that it is early enough in production that they could change the truck, but it would need to be something they already tooled. I can't think of any proper 100T truck from Bachmann, but I still have his contact info if you have any ideas.

It's a good car though.


They also retooled a (ARA I think?) 40 foot boxcar that looked pretty good. It also has body mount couplers, very fine detail and separate ladders. Really the only thing that is holding a lot of the recent Bachmann cars back is lack of research into paint schemes, trucks and coupler size.

Did BLI announce any new models, or just their "Conductor Club"?

BLI didn't have anything new on display or in their flyers. In not that surprised because the show does not usually fall within their typical announcement schedule.

[prr7161]

Did BLI announce any new models, or just their "Conductor Club"?

They had an HO announcement for PRR PB70 combines and PRR business cars, available individually or as part of a set that includes coaches.  No new N scale models yet this year.  If the PB70 does well and comes to N it would be a nice addition, but that will be well into the future if it even happens.

[sd75i]

  Atlas?  Sd45?

[C855B]

  Atlas?  Sd45?

Yep. I ordered 1 SP and 5 undecs the day they were announced. My shop contact said that Atlas has been stingy with undecs* on recent runs, but wished us good luck with it.

* - That they omitted UP from the first run leaves me incredulous.

[squirrelhunter]

Thanks for the update on the Evans coil cars! I'm glad they are bringing them to market, it's need since the Red Caboose cars have been out of production so long.

[kscessandriver]

Turboliner looks great, I'm glad I pre-ordered 2. My wallet, on the other hand, is not.