Now that the scope has widened beyond the shores of the USA I'll have to take it beyond trains as well and add the Tomytec Moving Bus System. http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10157060a/20/1
Scary thought... that in our lifetime we may be seeing N scale trucks and autos in motion as well. The bus system really cool... but... with everything else being static... the effect is not complete. The day that all the vehicles on a layout can move will really be a sight to see!
Everything has to start somewhere and it's a darn sight cheaper than the Faller system. I'm putting one on a quad T-TRAK module where the bus runs through a small town where it's the only thing moving, it'll be garanteed to get crowds around the layout at shows.
I donno if they were 2011's or not (prolly not), but I didn't buy much N this year. My vote goes to Trainworx for their 86' auto parts boxcars. Love them!
Intermountain's KCS 5161 Trinity Hopper. Try to find any of these on ebay. Big $. Also the Kato Amtrak Superliners in phase IVb.
For me it was the Fox Valley Models PS 5344 Boxcar. And for me the Texas Mexican Railway ones in particular.
There are a ton of items I really liked from last year. 1. The Bachmann 4-6-0 has the perfect blend of details, price and performance. 2. BLMA spine cars would be top if the fit/finish was just a tad better. 3. Kato Amfleet cars would be topps if they came in phase III Honorable mentions go to the Bachmann NE cab and 70 tonner, Tranworx trailers, BLMA ACF gon.
I truly do love this model and feel it was a huge financial risk that I hope paid off. Ya, I have to agree with this one and that the BLMA in general and THE ARMN Reffer is a very very close second, (even though I haven't seen it in person). I have never seen a product from BLMA that I didn't want to own.
