RMC Product Reviews

Reviews of great new products for the scale model railroader, presented by the staff Railroad Model Craftsman staff and updated monthly. To have your products considered for review, please send samples to:

Railroad Model Craftsman MagazineRailroad Model Craftsman

Attn: Harry K. Wong
P.O. 16673
San Francisco, CA 94116


ScaleTrains ‘Rivet Counter’ EMD SD38-2

April 15, 2023

ScaleTrains ‘Rivet Counter’ EMD SD38-2

Previously, HO modelers had to resort to expensive brass models or kitbashing their own SD38-2s.

Home Shops/Tangent Virginian & Ohio Tank Cars

March 15, 2023

Home Shops/Tangent Virginian & Ohio Tank Cars

These Tangent tank car models sold under the Home Shops brand are some of the most highly detailed cars offered for the V&O.

Atlas Master Line General Electric U36B

February 9, 2023

Atlas Master Line General Electric U36B

Atlas Model Railroad Co. has recently shipped a new production of HO scale GE U33Bs and U36Bs as part of its premium “Atlas Master” product line.

Bachmann Trains’ Siemens Mobility ALC-42 Charger Locomotive

July 8, 2022

Bachmann Trains’ Siemens Mobility ALC-42 Charger Locomotive

Amtrak’s new ALC-42 long-distance service locomotives went into service in early 2022. Now Bachmann is offering a model of the new locomotives in HO scale.

Rapido Trains’ Later Phase F40PH

July 7, 2022

Rapido Trains’ Later Phase F40PH

This latest release from Rapido Trains represents their third production of HO scale F40PH locomotives. Earlier runs featured Phase I F40PHs, Canadian VIA F40PH-2Ds, and F40 “Cabbage” car conversions.

Athearn Genesis 2.0 EMD SD60M “Triclops” Locomotive

June 20, 2022

Athearn Genesis 2.0 EMD SD60M “Triclops” Locomotive

This model has been upgraded from the wheels up with a higher level of detail and a host of other improvements enough for Athearn to rechristen this unit as part of their Genesis 2.0 product line.

Rapido Trains’ GM ‘New Look’ Transit Buses

June 20, 2022

Rapido Trains’ GM ‘New Look’ Transit Buses

The New Look Bus was the face of North American public transit in the latter half of the 20th century, with almost 45,000 built between 1959 and 1986.

Micro-Trains’ Weathered Conrail/ex-Reading 50’ Boxcars

December 8, 2021

Micro-Trains’ Weathered Conrail/ex-Reading 50’ Boxcars

The latest release from Micro-Trains is a pair of ex-Reading 50-foot boxcars patched for Conrail.

WalthersProto EMD FP7 Locomotive

September 15, 2021

WalthersProto EMD FP7 Locomotive

WalthersProto has released a model of one of the most iconic North American diesel locomotives: The FP7.

Walthers Post War Prefab ‘Cracker Box’ House Kit

August 23, 2021

Walthers Post War Prefab ‘Cracker Box’ House Kit

Designed to house veterans returning from the Second World War, these 600-square-foot single-story structures were common in the 1950s and 1960s.