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Category: Prototype Reference for Modelers
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BNSF Dash 9 modeling help

Note, this article is not for the non-rivet counters among us. It picks apart BNSF Dash 9's so that you can identify what you need to make it look "correct".

For those of you who are not familiar with BNSF Dash 9's, and the idiosyncrasies of "rivet counting", check this out for a demonstration.

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Category: Prototype Reference for Modelers
Hits: 89

Phases of Union Pacific AC4400/C44AC-CTEs.

Telling the difference between UP AC4400's (AC4400CW), from SP, CNW & UP, plus UP C44AC-CTE's (AC4400CW-CTE), in short.

Again, in the quest to find myself a UP unit to model, this time a AC4400CW, I've started mapping out the differences and "phases" of UP AC4400CW's and C44AC-CTE's.  This list may be incomplete, please excuse me if something is missing or wrong. I hope to get some input to make the list way more specific.

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Category: Prototype Reference for Modelers
Hits: 86

Phases of Union Pacific SD70Ms

Telling the difference between UP SD70M phases, in short.

In the quest to find myself a UP SD70M to model, I've started mapping out the differences and "phases" of UP SD70M's. This list will be fairly incomplete & quite simple for now. I hope to get some input to make the list way more specific.

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Category: Quick Reviews
Hits: 87

Quick Review: Intermountain Value Line AeroFlo Coal Gondola

Released in 2019, these inexpensive cars herald back to LBF/Hubert's kits, marketed by Intermountain in their appropriately coined "Value Line," these cars are now RTR.

Ages ago, in the 1990's LBF, later Hubert's marketed these cars, and several others.  Those old kit cars are numerous, and easily acquired even today.  Now that Intermountain added the line to their repertoire, they're once again found new in hobby shops, but this time in RTR!  Prices are more than reasonable, under $30 a car.

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Category: Prototype Locations
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L'Anse Michigan in Three Different Eras

Three eras, three different railroads.  From Soo Line to Wisconsin Central, and modern Canadian National.

It might be no secret, or you might not know.  I grew in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, home to great classic railroads such as the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic (DSS&A), Soo Line, and Wisconsin Central.  L'Anse MI played host to all 3 through the eras, and now is home to Canadian National.  I grew up in the Wisconsin Central era.

In 2019, I was home visiting, and by happy accident, happened upon a CN crew servicing the L'Anse area.

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Category: Prototype Reference for Modelers
Hits: 97

Copper Range Diesels

Trying to collect as much info as I can into one place.  Copper Range Diesel Prototype & modeling info.

Being as I grew up in Michigan, where railroads such as Mineral Range, Copper Range, Quincy & Torch Lake, DSS&A, LS&I, and later Soo Line & Wisconsin Central ran (now Canadian National), I figured I'd do some articles on them.

Photographer unknown, slide © Josh Baakko collection

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Category: Quick Reviews
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Quick review: Arrowhead Models HO Scale Greenville 2494 Railgon

This car represents Arrowhead's 2nd production model, shown here in CSXT patch exclusively from Lombard Hobby.

Let me put this out here first, upfront, I like new manufacturers, I get excited to purchase their first models.  Look back though the archives, I jumped on Exactrail when they first arrived on the scene.  When I hear Blaine Hadfield, who was an influential designer at Exactrail had founded his own company, I got excited.  Arrowhead's first release just didn't do it for me, I model always modern, with a -10 year allowance on freight cars, and -5 on locomotives.  That first car was just a little too old for my allowance for error.  July 10th 2020, along comes this accurate representation of a Railgon, hyped to be better than the only other entry, a Walthers MainLine.

Within a few minutes of the Facebook live announcement I had ordered one.  3 were available, but I'm holding out for 2 of the as delivered scheme.  Lombard promptly shipped, and it arrived a day ahead of USPS estimates, (yesterday as I publish this).

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