Minitrix Glaskasten with light, Zimo sound and stay alive
The old Minitrix PtL 2/2 "Glaskasten" is one of the smallest N scale models around. This was one of my most challenging sound DCC conversion... The challenge The Glaskasten, along with the famous small "Köf" engines is very small (less than 5 cm long in N scale). This...
Minitrix TVT 6251 Mz railcar: could have been great…
I am starting to be very disappointed by expensive models that can't actually run correctly. The Minitrix Turmtriebwagen TVT 6251 Mz (part no 16992) is one of them The joy of auto-registration at the command station I mentionned in my last article that I went back to...
BB 900: A french classic in N, with added sound (Hobby66)
A small locomotive criticized for its low traction power in N scale, yet also unique and iconic: the BB 900 from Hobby66. Let's give it a little digital & sound makeover. Sound installation, But How? Digitizing locomotives, especially in N scale, always presents...
SNCF “Picasso” (X3800) railcar: a great N scale model
Here is the legendary SNCF "Picasso" railcar in N Scale from Trains160. Brief overview of the model, which I've enhanced with sound and more, of course! SNCF "Picasso", the original The X3800, widely known as the Picasso, is an iconic DMU in France. Its unique design,...
Sound and light on an N-scale SNCF Artrain ABJ3 unit
So, adding sound and light is always fun! This time for a French old man from the SNCF: the ABJ3 in N-scale from Artrain. The ABJ3 model This model is from Artrain, a brand from Transmondia, a well known French N retailer that used to be in Paris. It uses a base of...
The mother of German high speed – part 2
It's time to finish a digital conversion of a train that had been pending since...2012. Yes, the Lufthansa Airport Express BR403 "Donald Duck" is now fully digitized, with bells and whistles! A long time awaiting The first article I posted was in 2012, just after I...
Unboxing: Arnold BR 02 0201-0 (HN2428)
Quick unboxing of this nice steam engine, not having access to one's layout is no excuse to not buy trains is it? I didn't have many oil-tender steam engines, it was time to change that. While visiting my favorite store in Paris, I stumbled accross this newer model...
Unboxing: SNCF BB75000 Prima Infra (Rocky Rail N scale)
Quick unboxing of an odd-colored French SNCF diesel engine: the BB75000 Prima Infra from Rocky Rail. Original This engine is part of the common BB75000 SNCF diesel engine, with a livery of the former SNCF Infra. SNCF Infra was an SNCF subsidiary in charge of network...
Hobbytrain BR 363 Cottbus DCC converted with extras
The Hobbytrain BR 363 Cottbus, converted to DCC with cab driver light and capacitors. Original This little shunting locomotive is part of the DB V60 family, this one belongs to the 363 series of the DBAG. There are many of those small (yet aging) Diesel locomotives...
Old Arnold ES88 railcar DCC conversion
A very old Arnold N model that used to be on the frontpage of some '90s catalog deserves a small update... The original The ET88 was an old EMU produced in the 1920's for the Deutsche Reichsbahn and retired after WWII. More details (Wikipedia in German) here. Model...
