News column - 8
became the standard MP caboose until the arrival of steel
cabooses at the close of WWII. Designed from authentic proto-
type drawings, the kit consists of laser-cut wood body compo-
nents with both photo-etched and cast urethane detail parts.
The kit is priced at $52.98. Couplers, decals, and trucks are not
included. Some of the wood cars were modified with one win-
dow removed to accommodate radio equipment. Lake Junction
is developing a separate kit for this variation.
Mokelumne River Models
) has
introduced Maine Prairie
School, an HO scale craftsman-
style kit. The rural school house
follows a prototype built in
California in 1862 that survived
into the late 1980s. The kit
includes laser-cut basswood,
peel and stick trim, paper shingles, and Grandt Line windows,
doors, and stovepipe. The kit comes with a 28-page manual
with step-by-step instructions, plenty of photos, and sugges-
tions for weathering the finished model. Visit the above web-
site for ordering information and pricing.
Monroe Models
has an HO scale kit for
a Duluth Missabe &
Iron Range standard
wood caboose. In
addition to laser-cut
body components, the kit comes with a cast metal smoke jack,
latrine vent, and marker lights. The kit includes a simulated
metal frame and modified sidewall with a generator access
hatch for modelers who want to build a modernized version of
the DM&IR caboose. The kit is available direct from Monroe at
$49.95. Decals, trucks, and couplers are not included.
Monster Models
continues
to expand its selection of laser-
engraved components that
realistically simulate natural
textures such as wood, stone,
concrete, and brick. The lat-
est release from Monster are 1/16'' thick basswood sheets
engraved with wood grain and knot holes in 6'' horizontal sid-
ing. All popular scales are available in 12'' x 4'' sheets at $14.99
and 12'' x 6'' sheets at $19.99. Visit the above website for addi-
tional details including tips on staining, painting and weather-
ing laser-engraved basswood.
Rapido Trains
has announced plans to pro-
duce Budd prototype passenger cars featuring a special stain-
less steel finish called Superior Stainless. According to Rapido’s
MRH-Nov 2013
