New detail-rich, road-specific GP60 locomotive series in HO announced at National Train Show
Fox Valley Models took a turn from its usual focus on N scale products and announced Friday at the National Train Show in Cleveland a new GP60 locomotive series in HO.
FVM will run GP60Ms and GP60B diesels in Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; BNSF Heritage and Maersk. GP60s will be released in early and late versions of Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Norfolk Southern; Southern Pacific and St. Louis Southwestern..
N scale models will also be offered.
All are expected to begin arriving in the fall.
Fox Valley Models announced at the National Train Show in Cleveland on Friday new production of an HO-scale GP60M diesel locomotive. Above is a pre-production model. – Courtesy Fox Valley Models
FVM released GP60M and GP60B locomotives in N scale last year. After their releases, the model maker received numerous inquiries to produce the model in HO scale, says President Matt Gaudynski.
The models feature numerous separately applied parts and details that include metal grab irons and lift rings, see-through fans, MU hoses and cables, brass bells and horns and detailed trucks and underbodies. Models will be available in DC (DCC Ready) and DCC/Sound.
FVM also is releasing eight versions of the GP60 in HO and with the same details, plus road- and era-specific details.
The GP60 series joins the company’s small line of HO-scale products. Since its inception a few years ago, Illinois-based FVM has focused on producing mostly non-mainstream N-scale products with only a small presence in the HO-rich market. FVM’s previous HO selections have included B&O boxcars, Southern gondolas and Milwaukee Road rolling stock.
But Gaudysnki said that FVM will always consider HO-scale offerings based on demand and that more releases could be on the horizon.
“We do not do wide spread HO stuff,” Gaudynski said in an email. “The market is so crowded, it is hard to find good projects to do. As we find good specialized projects, we will do them. There even may be another western model next year.”
ATSF GP60B. – Courtesy Fox Valley Models
While the GP60s have been produced in the past by Railpower, Athearn and Walthers, Gaudynski believes the FVM models offer a fresh look.
“I do not think anyone had a program to detail them to specific roads/eras like we are doing,” he said. “We were the first in N Scale on the GP60M and B – as long as you don’t count brass.”
The new models contain a load of road-specific details and will go for $199.95 to $299.95. Depending on build years and roads, the models will feature details like rounded dynamic brake housing, nose lights, small plow and fuel tank and roof top details including AC & antennas, and ditch lights.
N Scale units are DC (DCC Ready) and will sell for $130.
Just in time for the Fourth of July, Athearn announced it is producing another Norfolk Southern SD60E diesel locomotive, this one No. 6920, “Honor Our Veterans.” The run follows one in 2017 that included NS’s traditional black and white diesels and one honoring first responders.
