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


Tangent Scale Models’ General American 4500cf Covered Hopper

June 20, 2023

Tangent Scale Models’ General American 4500cf Covered Hopper

Now available from Tangent Scale Models are highly detailed fine scale replicas of this GATC-built 4,500-cu.-ft. covered hopper.

Micro-Trains Southern Pacific Air Repeater Cars

June 8, 2023

Micro-Trains Southern Pacific Air Repeater Cars

This offering is provided as an easy-to-assemble kit that includes two cars with separate 3D-printed rooftop details.

Scale Trains’ EMD GP30

June 8, 2023

Scale Trains’ EMD GP30

For this inaugural release of Rivet Counter GP30s from ScaleTrains, three different sub-phases of Phase I GP30s and GP30Bs are offered.

ClassOneModelWorks.com Thrall Intermodal Well Car

May 4, 2023

ClassOneModelWorks.com Thrall Intermodal Well Car

ClassOneModelWorks.com recently delivered its first three products to HO modelers, including a Thrall-built well car.

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.