Voie Libre international

Trains de Rêve continues to expand its range: after a first locotractor and a bogie wagon in 0-16.5, the brand has released its CFD BB 400 in 0 scale metre gauge. The model is in 1/43.5 scale for 22.2mm gauge (compatible with 22.5mm gauge). It is designed in a very fine and sturdy photopolymer material, around a machined brass base. Both bogies are driven, with transmission of the motion via the coupling rods to the second, balanced, axle. The window seams and flush machined glazing are particularly neat! The lights and cab lights are operated by the factory-fitted ESU LokPilot V5 decoder. In a first phase, the CP 402, Vivarais 400.003, and CFC 404 and 405 versions are available for reservation. In September 2025, the model will also be available…

Eight units of this type were built between 1934 and 1941, for the MEG network, by Waggonfabrik Gotha. Railcars T1 to T8 could carry 33 passengers seated and 27 standing. This new version comes in red livery, with the early-1960s Jägermeiβter advertisement. The model is supplied pre-fitted with a NEM 662 Next 18 socket, but to digitize it, the inside lighting wire must be desoldered and connected to an AUX terminal on the decoder for the latter to operate; the Next 18 sockets only have four usable amplified outlets, all are already taken up by the white and red lights. TILLIG REF. H0-12: 02948 REF. H0-9: 02958 PRICE OBSERVED 280 TO €310…

Here is a new Era III version (overhauls dated November 1962 and May 1963) of two Harz railway carriages stored at Wernigerode. They are numbered n° 900-484 (construction Wismar 1926) and 900-489 (Wismar 1929), long before their rebuilds in the mid-1980s. The liveries are green with black roof, and the models are supplied with add-on parts that must be fitted: brake hoses, reproductions of the central buffers with side-mounted couplers, should the modeller so wish. TILLIG REF. H0-12: 13996 REF. H0-9: 03996 PRICE OBSERVED: FROM 105 TO €120…

Designed around a length of 9mm gauge Kato track, these small modules are supplied in a rigid blister and contain almost everything needed to create a layout. Provided, of course, they are assembled end-to-end! The baseboard, made out of 1mm thick laser-cut aviation plywood, fits together with tabs and glue. The next stage consists in laying the length of track and creating the scenery all around it. The scenic items – flock materials, sand or cut-out paper building – are supplied. This approach is minimalist, but might just inoculate the modelling bug to a girlfriend, a mate, a neighbour, a nephew, niece, granddaughter or grandson! Eight curved modules are required to form a circle. The kits are supplied with a small and very recreational brochure (in English), which demonstrates clearly…

Following on from ROCO and its Z21 central unit, some European manufacturers have released ‘blind’ central units, fairly affordable and that can be controlled from a smartphone or a tablet via the Z21®LAN protocol. The Z21 app has become chargeable (19.99€) for owners of a central unit of a different brand. However, there are a number of clones that can be downloaded. The Polish brand Rail Box supplies their own app for 4.39€. It is compatible with a ROCO central unit. Just like the Z21 app, rolling stock and itineraries can be programmed and controlled via three thumbnails. The programming thumbnail contains the profiles of the brand's decoders, as well as a generalist ‘NMRA’ profile that gives access to the main CV's of the standard. Where the Z21 app gives…

The Romanian electronics manufacturer Train O Matic has just added to its range a new ‘stay alive’ device, an energy reserve that is described as one of the smallest on the market. Called SPP nano, its PCB measures 13mm by 6 and the two 0.3 F supercapacitators 12mm by 4! Juste enough to supply a sound decoder for 5 to 7 seconds and avoid sound interruptions when passing over a power gap. The PCB is supplied wired. It must be connected to both capacitators, paying attention to their polarity, and to the + and – terminals of most decoders. TRAIN O MATIC HTTPS://TRAIN-O-MATIC.COM SPP-NANO AVAILABLE FROM TRAMFABRIEK WWW.TRAMFABRIEK.COM PRICE: CA. €18…