Custom Traxx and the Southern California Traction Club (SCTC) were proud to be selected to review the pre-production model of the MTS Imports, Inc brass model of the San Diego Siemens SD-100 LRV, series 2001-2052 early last month. Fifty-two of these vehicles were placed into service in San Diego in 1993, complementing the 71 Siemens-Duwag U2 vehicles placed into service in 1980, 1982, 1986, 1988 and 1993. In 2004, 11 Siemens S70 Light Rail Vehicles were added to the fleet, bringing the total fleet to 134 cars. This is believed to be the highest number of electric railway vehicles ever used at one time in San Diego! The next photo is of the production sample as evaluated!

This is one of those rare occasions where we have access to the prototype and provided data to MTS Imports, Inc. along with photos that we took on a recent trip to San Diego, so we can say that this model is really prototypical. The model arrived painted in the correct red color with black roof which appears to be extremely accurate for the latest paint scheme shown on car 2011 below.

The model seems to follow the prototype dimensions accurately (76.71 ft long, 8.7 ft wide and 12.4 ft high). Our model arrived minus any markings. According to MTS Imports, Inc, the San Diego Metropolitan Transportation System (SDMTS), who had previously allowed the use of their herald on the SDMTS U-2 model produced in 1992 without paying "tribute", changed its mind and citing budgetary concerns, demanded what amounted to an exorbitant amount per model. Decals containing numbers and all other non-herald markings will be provided by Custom Traxx. Contained with this model were mirrors to be attached by the modeler and plastic window inserts. These inserts have protective covering on both sides to ease in the installation. Modelers may prefer heavier tint for the side windows.

While this model looks and runs great, there were minor discrepancies that will need attention. The front windshield and destination sign do not have the black rubber grommet noticeably present on the prototype. Some detail on the roof is missing. The pantograph also needs considerable work. The hold down is rigid and will eventually break off after several pantograph raising and lowering cycles. A small spring on the base of this hold down might have been better idea. The upward spring pressure is insufficient per NMRA Specification S-5. S-5 requires between 0.2 and 0.3 ounce upward pressure. The geometry of the pantograph does not allow both contact blades to ride on the wire correctly. Both slide shoes should be parallel to the ground or the wire at all times or there could be some serious fouling of the pantograph with the overhead wire in normal operations. The contact blades on this pre-production model were painted black which would make overhead operation impossible.

A revised pantograph is in the works and is shown in the next photo:

The vehicle was operated on the SCTC test track and it ran smoothly but there is a restriction in the ability of the third truck to swivel. This lack of mobility in that truck and the prototypical closeness of the main body sections will most likely limit the car to curves of slightly more than 12" radius. The sides of the two main body sections touch each other at that point, eliminating the negotiation of any tighter radius turns. We could not get the car around any of the 12" radius curves without the the last axle of the rear truck derailing. Modelers will find it difficult to get the model to traverse smaller radius curves without increasing the distance between the main body sections. We are not aware of the actual minimum radius for the prototype SD100 but would not be surprised if the prototype, like all light rail vehicles, has similar restrictions. We also would recommend that .5 to 1.0 ounce of weight be added on the power truck end and another .25 to .5 ounce on the non-powered end to improve tracking on curves. Power pick-up is from the eight non-powered wheels in the center and rear trucks. There is a slide switch under the floor adjacent to the center truck that allows the user to chose between overhead wire and track power. This switch merely transfers power from the four wheels on the left side to the pantograph. We did get the car to operate via overhead wire on the SCTC test track.

MTS Imports, Inc. emphasizes that all discrepancies will be addressed prior to issuance of the production models.

Delivery of the first production models should be happening as you are reading this. By the way, technology may cause this to be among the last of the HO scale brass traction models so you may want to own one. Consider the value of these models in five years.

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Woodland Classics Trees
[A Product Review]
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In early May, Custom Traxx received the following items from Woodland Scenics for review as to their applicability on traction layouts and modules:

The trees evaluated are shown from left to right above:

Woodland Classics TR3534 3" to 5" Waters Edge Trees (3/pkg)
Woodland Classics TR3569 3.5" to 5.5" Blue Needle Trees (3/pkg)
Woodland Classics TR3513 5" to 6" Sun Kissed Trees (2/pkg)
Woodland Classics TR3511 4" to 5" Cool Shade Trees (3/pkg)

All trees are advertised for N, HO and O scale but we estimate some of them, especially the larger ones are really too large for a typical N scale application.

Most traction layouts take so much time with track laying and erection of operable overhead wire that there is so little time for attention to heavy scenic details. Woodland Scenics makes this task easier with their trees, scenery materials, personnel scenes and accents. So we turned these trees over to the Southern California Traction Club (SCTC) to get their reaction. They told us that the first thing that they liked was way that they were packaged so that they will not be damaged until they needed them and you can remove one tree at a time and store the rest. The second thing that they liked were the bases being separate from the tree itself.

The club could install the bases and cover them with grass, weeds, etc and then install the tree. The tree could also be removed for layout or module maintenance so it would not be damaged. Since the club does a lot of city modeling, the base can be cut to fit between sidewalk sections for tree installation as shown in the next photo.

The section of sidewalk has yet to be painted but you can see that with some weeds or grass added around the base, that a very realistic city tree scene could be created. In the final photo, the tree was temporarily installed.

Another thing liked by the club is the fact that when overhead wire repairs are required near any of these trees, the trees can be removed from their fixed base and placed back into their original packaging to prevent damage. Tree lined streets with tracks and overhead wire, especially with span wires, can now be maintained in a much more efficient manner. We like them.
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Bowser Baldwin Pacific Electric VO-1000 Progress!
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Several of the former ex-Newark PCC cars also at Brookville getting completely rewired and having their GE electrical equipment, which is no longer available, exchanged for Westinghouse components which are still available. Below is car 1078 (San Diego), which is one of a few of these cars that actually saw limited service in San Francisco prior to being sent to Brookville.

The next photo shows car 1071 undergoing the same electrical equipment upgrade while new window posts for Car #1 are in the foreground.

Note car 1080 in the background. The first car of the 1070-1080 class is to be delivered around November/December 2010. The second car is scheduled for arrival three months after that. The remaining nine cars are scheduled to arrive every thirty days after that. Speaking of Muni Car #1, the next photo shows the current status of that car's renovation. As Muni intended, this is a complete rebuilding. As originally scheduled, this car was due to return to Muni in June 2010 but Brookville has requested another four months to complete the car.

It appears that this car will have a great second 100 years of life, when this restoration is completed! Someone intends this car and all the other cars to be around for a long, long time!
Hats off again to Muni!
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Bowser Continues to Increase Presence in Traction Market!
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During the recent trip of the Bowser/Custom Traxx team to China, Bowser issued requests for proposal for a future new HO scale conventional streetcar. The car prototype chosen, after evaluating all the inputs provided from trolley lovers, has operated in more than one city and several are currently in service or in museums from coast to coast. To complete this car, the current Bowser traction drive will be modified to accommodate a new truck wheelbase but all the proven features of the current design will be maintained. At this time, Bowser has decided to continue upgrading their 1999 drive because it works, it runs well and is virtually maintenance free. The next Bowser trolley, to be announced at the National Train show this summer will also use an improved version of the 1999 Bowser drive but have an operating trolley pole of a new design with a more prototypically appearing trolley shoe. Consideration is being given to a streetcar in another scale. Work is also underway to develop a PCC sound decoder. The decoder should be able to be used on any PCC car regardless of scale. Also bids are being sought on a new trolley pole and some overhead wire fittings. This could result in increased availability of traction items.
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Next Version of the Train Control Systems M4T now available!
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Last November, Custom Traxx introduced the Train Control Systems M4T decoder specifically for the Bowser San Francisco F-line PCC car. The San Francisco F-line PCC cars obtained from Philadelphia in 1992 had been rewired so that they have automotive type taillights that illuminate when the headlight is turned on. These versions 49 and 51 of the M4T decoder were defaulted for the F-line PCC. Version 52 will be defaulted for the traditional PCC without taillights. It can also be used on some conventional cars that had brake lights such as the Baltimore 6001 series Peter Witt produced in HO scale by Bachmann Industries and should work with the HO scale Con-Cor Air-electric PCC car soon to be released. However, changing CV61 from the default value of 9 to a value of 137 will activate the taillight function for the Bowser San Francisco F-line PCC cars. Version 52 of the M4T decoders have been under test by Custom Traxx for 60 days and found to live up to all expectations. These decoders will be available from Train Control Systems in addition to Custom Traxx. Even more features will be added both the M4T and other Train Control Systems decoders in the coming months. As they become available, we will be reporting them to you.