News: Recent News
This page shows a listing of news entries from the past month or so. Click photos to visit the web sites.
Editorial Note
As the NASG webmaster, I want to be clear that I had nothing to do with the web site-related "comment" in the Pop Valve section of the July/August 2026 issue of the NASG's Dispatch. I do not know who put it there. However, I am 99% sure that the text was generated using A.I. (artificial intelligence); it lists the engine used "claude.ai".
NASG Members Attention! (resolved)
The recent announcement about there being an issue with updating the NASG membership database on the web site, and the delay in processing change-requests, renewals, and new-member applications, has been resolved. Now it is just a matter of getting caught up with the backlog.
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.
Chama or Sublette Log Bunk House by McCarville Studios
McCarville Studios has released this new laser-cut wood kit. When built, it has a footprint of 4" x 5-1/2".
Freelance Critter Switcher Kit
New to this web site and new to S, Phil's Trains, has released a 3D-printed kit for a freelanced critter industrial switcher. The company, based in Woodland, Washington, was started in 2024 and produces a good number of switcher kits for On3, On30, and On18. This is their first S-scale model. The kit comes with the body, chassis, interior and exterior details, thin plexiglass (for windows), and brass wire (for grab irons). The model has been designed to take a single NorthWest Short Line Stanton drive #39812-4 (S-scale drive with 36", code 110, wheels fully DCC-ready). The body was designed for the Kadee 802 couplers. Wire-runs for the headlights are built into the model. View their web site for more photos and to place your order.
TTX FBOX 50-foot High-Cube Box Car Kit by Smoky Mountain Model Works
Ben Trousdale, of Benn Central Shops, designed this model in CAD. In collaboration with Jim King, of Smoky Mountain Model Works, this kit is a "go" and production is scheduled to start in early July. There are no plans for a re-run of this kit in the future, so if you want one or more kits, place your order today. The kit includes the body, decals, and Kadee 802 couplers. Smoky Mountain Model Works has, available separately, the correct Barber 100-ton trucks (sold per pair). See the web site link for details about this kit and how to order.
Start an e-mail message (jimking3@charter.net).
New Photo-realistic Structure Kits by Innovative Hobby Supply
Innovative Hobby Supply has recently added three new kits to their large collection. These kits consist of a proprietary cardstock material called Flexstock which allows for photo-realistic images. The garages are true 3D models so you can park automobiles inside them. The retail stores show a simulated 3D interior with shelves and counters.
Gary Children
We received belated notification that Gary E. Children, of West Allis, Wisconsin, passed away in August of 2025. He was an active member of the NMRA, of the NASG (just shy of 30 years), and of the Badgerland S Gaugers club. We offer our condolences to his family and many friends.
BX Express Box Car Truck by Earnest Trains
Last year the company made available their first S-scale product, the 3D-printed Buckeye Three Axle. This year they have added the General Steel Casting (GSC) BX Express box car truck. These trucks were used under high-speed-service box cars that were included in passenger train consists. This is for a pair of unpainted trucks. Does not include the wheels.
Various Loads by Earnest Trains
The company has several large loads that are bound to draw attention on your depressed-center or general-service flat cars. They don't mention any dimensions on their web site, and the photos are likely of the HO-scale versions. These are 3D-printed unpainted models. They are ready to be primed and painted. Note that the prime movers are available in an array of configurations; see their web site for options (if you want multiple, select the desired configuration, add it to the shopping cart, and then select another configuration, etc.).
(ed: I don't know if the ones recently listed for Model Scenery World are simply a reselling of Earnest Trains' prints, or if they truly are their own).
DT&I Concrete Arches Catenary System by Earnest Trains
The Detroit, Toledo & Ironton used concrete arches to hold up their catenary, but only for a few years (Henry Ford owned the railroad for about ten years, and he started the electrification in 1927). The electrification effort failed in 1930, but the concrete arches remain, even to this day. Earnest Trains has released several versions: large dual-track two posts, small dual-track three posts, single-pole set, half-arch single-pole, and also has matching signal boxes. These are 3D-printed unpainted models. The arches and the posts are not printed as one part, thus allowing you to configure them to fit your needs.
Work Vehicles by Earnest Trains
The company has released their S-scale version of the pipe-laying, derail-rescue Caterpillar bulldozer. It comes with several add-ons. Also available are two trailers. One is used by commercial roofers when they need to transport hot tar to the job site. The second trailer is a portable wood chipper. They also have two traffic barriers available. All are 3D-printed and arrive unpainted, and some assembly may be required.
New NYRS Turntable Indexing System
Jack Walton, owner of New York Railway Supply (NYRS), does a brief presentation of his two new versions of the turntable indexing system coming out later this summer.
Prime Movers by Model Scenery World
Model Scenery World has just released models of two prime movers, in S-scale. These are the Alco 251 and the EMD 645 engines. These are unpainted, 3D-printed models. If you don't have a locomotive maintenance scene on your layout, these will make for an impressive flat car load (that's how they have been cataloged in this web site's Product Gallery). The Alco measures a scale 16'8" long, 12'4" wide, and 9' tall, and the EMD measures a scale 20' long, 5'5" wide, and 8' tall.
Bart's Pneumatics Supersmoke
We have it on good authority that the Strasburg Train Shop has obtained the rights to continue to produce and sell Bart's Pneumatics Supersmoke. The store has a web site, but they don't really list any products on the site. You'd have to call or go by their location. Bob Board produced this steam engine smoke fluid, which supposedly is the closest to what A.C. Gilbert used to produce. Bob passed away sometime in late 2025.
Freight Car Loads Listing Updated
The loads listing for freight cars has been fully reviewed and updated. Over 100 entries have been added to what our "old-format" listing had. While a handful of manufacturers are no longer active (primarily due to the 2024 bankruptcy of Shapeways), a number of new manufacturers have recently sprung up, such as Amatos Toy and Hobby, Cohn's Custom, jacklynliv, and Depot G Hobbies (all on eBay), and Milwaukee Flyer, Model Scenery World, Phil's Train Layout Store, and Tully Models (all with dedicated web sites). Plenty to explore, and make your freight cars look more "lived in".
GATC 4180 Airslide Covered Hopper Kit by Benn Central Shops
In 2024, Ben Trousdale, owner of Benn Central Shops, released the kit for the General American Car Company 4180 Airslide covered hopper. There were six phases of production of this car from 1963 through 1980. That 2024 kit was for the final, or late-1970 "HC", phase of the car. This time Ben is releasing the "TZH" phase (the second) version of this car. It was manufactured from June 1965 through March 1966. The kit is now available to order from 3D Central Trains. The kit is for the car only, so no wheels, trucks, or couplers. The web site shows pre-production models.
2/1963 to 5/1964: HAT phase:
- full-height ladders at the side corners, hat-section side posts, high handbrakes, Z-section horizontal end braces, and wire-loop roping eyes.
6/1965 to 3/1966: TZH phase (this new kit):
- change to the truck centers, and a change to bolster jacking plates with integral roping eyes.
1/1966 to 6/1966: TZC phase:
- side posts changed to a fabricated square-column style.
9/1966 to 1/1969: TZL phase:
- identical to TZH but with low-mounted handbrakes and half-height ladder grabs (due to regulation changes).
8/1969 to 1/1970: HZ phase:
- identical to TZC phase, but with I-beam style posts.
10/1970 to 10/1980: HC phase (previous kit):
- this final phase featured square tube-style horizontal end braces.
These cars lasted into the 2000s.
NASG Convention Clinics
If you are attending the 2026 NASG Convention in the Detroit area, or you live in the general area, and have some time available to present a clinic at this year's Convention, please contact Culver Anderson.
Presentations need to be railroading related, but do not necessarily need to be specific to S.
Prototype topics might be:
Various railroads
Buildings
Locomotives
RR car types
Modeling topics might be:
Buildings
Locomotives
Railroad cars
Scenery
Electronics
3D-printing
Photography
American Flyer modeling or collecting
Start an e-mail message (culveranderson@msn.com).
2026 NASG Annual Member Cars (update)
As of today, the 2026 NASG Annual Member Cars have all been shipped by the NASG Company Store manager, Chris Crnich. He stated that we did receive a couple of extra orders, but American Models had, luckily, produced a few more than we commissioned, and they are now 100% sold out. This was a popular car. Thank you to all who pre-ordered the cars.
Best Parts Meat Packing Kit by Right On Track Models
Right On Track Models releases their latest laser-cut wooden kit in S-scale, the "Best Parts Meat Packing" building. This will build into a structure about 6-14" x 8-1/2", and includes the water tank, other roof details, plastic windows, signage, and instructions. You can order it as a kit, or fully built as shown in the accompanying photo (with or without interior lighting installed) for an extra fee.
Blockbuster by Frisco Factory
These are 3D-printed, molded-in color but unpainted models, available fully built or in kit form.
New Structure Kits by nhmodelworks
nhmodelworks has released their "Amoskeag Bottling Company" and the "Lemuel's Pipe & Drain" laser-cut wooden kits. Amoskeag measures 6" by 14", and stands 10" tall. The skinny end is only 4" deep. The kit includes the necessary Tichy Train Group window and door frames, roofing paper, and signage, and a 20-page instruction booklet. Also included are 3D-printed bottles, barrels, pallets, lamps, and other details. The Lemuel kit is a shallow-relief/background model that is 2" deep and 13" long. It, too, comes with all of the aforementioned extras.
Relay Boards by Dallee Electronics
Dallee Electronics announces the availability of two relay circuit boards. The #575 1-shot relay operates the relay for a short period of time upon its input coil activation. This allows you to provide a short period of power to throw things such as a coil operated switch machine or some semaphores without burning them out when the input is held "ON". This unit operates from 12VDC coil voltages. The #577, AC/DC relay, can be used with an insulated outside rail for activation in 3-rail layouts. It consists of a double-pole/double-throw (DPDT) 5-amp relay that can be wired for activation via different relay coil voltages of either AC or DC input with various operational ranges. Each board is $39.95.
Web Site Issues Resolved
Together with the head of the web hosting company where our web site resides, we resolved the issue with the aggressive A.I. A bit of coding filters them out, and as these bots discover that we don't want them, they are going away. I will keep an eye on it. There may still be an occassional bot that hasn't gotten the message yet, but they will. This weekend I will start doing regular updates on the site again. Thank you all for your patience!
A.C. Gilbert Flat Car Conversion Kits
The newly-discovered eBay store by the name of "bnoggle1", based in Erie, Pennsylvania, has been on eBay since 2013, and offers a number of scenery detailing parts. Apparently recently, they have introduced a collection of 3D-printed, molded-in-color, conversion kits, to convert A.C. Gilbert general-service (plain) flat cars into bulkhead flat cars or Centerbeam flat cars. They are compatible with those cars that have holes in the deck of the car (which probably excludes the early metal ones). The parts arrive unpainted, but don't need to be primed. You can paint them with either acrylic or latex paints. Note that the cars shown in the photos are for demonstration purposes only and are not included.
Be sure to see all, or other, products announced over the past year via the main News page.