News: Recent News
This page shows a listing of news entries from the past month or so. Click photos to visit the web sites.
Product Gallery - Product Notes
The next step in improving the "Product Gallery" section of this web site is actually a side-step. With the completion of listing all locomotives and all railroad cars, it was time to tackle the "Product Notes", since most of them are related to locomotives and cars. The "Product Notes" sub-section holds such things as instruction sheets, historical information, tips from modelers, and much more. The notes we had before have now been migrated to the new format, and a good number (~150) of new notes have been added.
The main "Product Gallery" page has been changed slightly as well, as part of this update:
1. The "Quick Jump" at the top of the page has been made smaller, so that it isn't wasting space.
2. A new "Miscellanous" section has been added near the bottom of the page, which now holds the listing of 3D-printer files, the link to the new "Product Notes" page, and the recently added "Model Manufacturers Overview" page.
3. Each of the product sub-categories that have not yet been converted to their new format, now have a link under their "Coming Soon" stand-in image that takes you to the old-format (but still current, data-wise) listing of their product entries.
4. These changes take us closer to my (the webmaster's) vision of what the final Product Gallery main page is going to look like when it is all done.
What's Next?
The "Product Notes" are not finished yet, so over the next several weeks incremental updates will be made.
Nitty-gritty Details:
- the old version of the Product Notes was hand-edited over the years, and so had an inconsistent look-and-feel to it.
- the old version of the Product Notes has been removed, with this update, to avoid confusion.
- however, many model entries in the main Product Gallery have supplemental links to the old version of the Product Notes, so those links will not work (for a little while).
- the new version of the Product Notes needed to be made available to make it easier to update the model entries' supplemental links.
- model entries' supplemental links will be updated, next (as time permits).
- Don Thompson has been providing a ton of information, files, and documents over the years. Many are already integrated, but there are still a good number that have yet to be added, so that will be done, after the above.
- I (the webmaster) am not 100% happy with the last-pages of the new format for the Product Notes, so I suspect there will be some minor look-and-feel changes in due time.
- the rest of the main Product Gallery sub-categories' conversion (from old format to new) will continue after all of the above has been completed.
2026 NASG Convention Update
The 2026 NASG Convention, the S Event of the Year, is rapidly approaching (in less than a month!). The Convention's web site has been updated with the initial batch of planned clinics. Also updated are the planned Open House self-guided tours (with photos and links), and the Schedule page has been updated to include when the layouts are open to Convention attendees.
New England Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet Photos
Jeff English, a former NASG Eastern VP, took a couple of models to this year's New England Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet, held at the end of May in West Springfield, MA. Eric Hansmann, an HO-scale modeler, took photos of most of the models on display at the event, including of Jeff's models.
New Structures by Frisco Factory
These are 3D-printed, molded-in color but unpainted models, available fully built or in kit form.
NASG, Inc. Needs Insurance Agent
On behalf of the NASG's President, Jim Whipple:
Are there any insurance agents out there amongst the NASG membership who are knowledgeable about 501(c)3 organizations?
The NASG treasurer and myself would appreciate the opportunity to talk about the organization's insurance needs, this week if possible.
Start an e-mail message (president@nasg.org).
Dwarf Signals by Scale 3D Productions
Scale 3D Productions releases S-scale single- and double-head dwarf signals. These are 3D-printed models (printed and shipped by 3D Central) and include the "concrete" bases and back covers. They are designed to use three-color LEDs (green/amber/red). Their web site offers a link to where you can get the LEDs appropriate for these models. HO-scale version shown in their ads. The links below are to their S-scale variant.
NASG BOT Meeting Notes
Andy Malette, the NASG Secretary, has made available the March, April, and May 2026 NASG BOT meeting notes. The PDF files can be viewed by active NASG members via the "Members Only" portal.
July/August 2025, 2026 Dispatch PDFs Available
The digital PDF file of the July/August 2026 Dispatch issue is now available on this web site via the "Members Only" portal. Also, the July/August 2025 Dispatch issue is now publicly available (its articles have also been indexed).
(as an aside, 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., i.e. artificial intelligence; it lists the engine used as "claude.ai")
Hunterline Closed
The Canadian company Hunterline, which, in S-scale, produced wooden bridge kits, tunnel liners, fences, and roof shakes, has been closed due to the sudden passing of Rick Hunter. Maureen Hunter posted on their Facebook page that he passed away on May 10, 2026. She sold the "Weathering Mix" product line of stains to HobbyTools.com, but the wooden kits part of their business has now come to an end.
New Farm, Racing, Construction Equipment by Ertl
3000toys.com announces these models.
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.
Scalecoat Paints
Scalecoat has updated their web site with information about their product line. They also offer a set of how-to questions-and-answers that you might find interesting, if you paint your models yourself. Their paints aren't in stock yet, but they have started to list their thinners for both versions of their paints.
New Structures by Frisco Factory
These are 3D-printed, molded-in color but unpainted models, available fully built or in kit form.
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".
Be sure to see all, or other, products announced over the past year via the main News page.