SAL B7 (in HO) is in production and should start shipping shortly. The S scale design, created from the HO files, will be tweaked to match available ladders and grab irons sizes, then the patterns will be ordered. Decals have been on-hand for several months.
Spin-off detail parts from the B7 will become available soon after kit production starts later this year. Roller bearing trucks: molding of the wheel centers will start next week but will take several cycles to produce nearly 2500 wheels (at 4 per shot). I have lots of cast urethane sideframes, details and bolsters in stock so as the wheels are molded and assembled to the axles, shipping in batches will occur. New axle assembly fixtures and corrected injection mold ejector pins were required before production could begin. GP38/38-2 project is in its infancy; info gathering has slowed due to a higher-than-expected volume of industrial work. I have all of the NWSL parts here to create a prototype drive train but I'll have to design and pattern a totally new gearbox before those parts can be tested. Since many other diesels that use the same Blomberg truck are planned, this may become an injection molded item. A web page will be created shortly depicting possible future car kits. Your interest will determine if a car becomes a reality or not. Cars that will appear are the Southern 52'6" P-S gon, Tennessee Central 40' boxcar, PRR X29D 40' box and PS-1 boxcars in 40' and 50' lengths with various door styles/sizes. Lastly, I will be injection molding a sprue of A-frame grab irons (Pullman-style) and end sill grabs to accompany the SAL B7 project. These will be molded from polypropylene, a flexible, durable material that is much stronger than ABS parts offered by previous manufacturers. The mold may be expanded to include 1 or 2 ladder styles, possibly the PS-1 box styles (sides and ends are different) so those will be ready when the boxcar kits become available next year. Jim King President, Smoky Mountain Model Works, Inc. Ph. (828) 777-5619 <www.smokymountainmodelworks.com> Trainmaster, Craggy Mountain Line RR <www.craggymountainline.com>
