News for first Quarter, 2025

Our News

Heljan’s T21 (this time our loco number 64) continues to irritate! During January further strengthening of the steps has taken place, but now the model looks unsightly. We are considering taking advantage of the delay in getting the new layout started to use the time to build four completely new sets of steps!

Manufacturer News

Jeco announced several new models (not just one) on February 1st, and here is a summary.

  • The TGOJ Bt-loco will be available in three orange versions, and two green. (This was originally available from them as an expensive metal model!)
  • The Ra-loco is to be reissued in two original orange (with blue lining) versions, and three later (with broad white lining) versions.
  • The completely retooled T43 is to be available in several versions; red/white/blue (two to be offered), orange with original ‘skirt’ (two to be offered), orange modified without ‘skirt’, Banverket livery, and IBAB livery.
  • And completely new are two versions of the TGOJ X21 2-car units (in green or orange), and the X22, but which version of the X22 is unclear at this stage (SJ blue is an educated guess).
Jeco’s green Bt-loco [Jeco photo].
Jeco’s orange Bt-loco [Jeco photo].
Jeco’s original Ra-loco [Jeco photo].
Jeco’s later Ra-loco [Jeco photo].
Drawing for Jeco’s retooled T43 [Jeco Drawing].
TGOJ X21 in green [Jeco photo].
TGOJ X21 in orange [Jeco photo].
Ex-TGOJ, here SJ X22 in blue [M Tellerup, from Järnväg.net].

Good news for Saab fans, PCX87 has announced the 900 as a 1981 four-door sedan in the usual selection of four colour versions, plus as a Swedish police car. In the meantime, their model of the 9000 CC from 1985 has now reached the shops. (At the same time, the Alfa Romeo 164 is available; both cars were built upon the same ‘platform’ (along with the Fiat Croma and Lancia Thema), but the Saab had a very different ‘look’ due to the extra safety measures that Saab incorporated.)

Saab 900 4-door proposed from PCX87 [PCX picture].
Saab 900 4-door as a Swedish police car, proposed from PCX87 [PCX picture].
Saab 9000CC from PCX87.
Saab 9000 and Alfa Romeo 164 from PCX, to compare – both cars were built on the same ‘platform.’

Given the reasonably recent production (in 2021) by PCX87 of the Saab 900 in 1986 condition, Minichamps has changed the date specification of their proposed models (cabriolet and 3-door coupé) from 1987 to 1995, which would make them the first GM-era Saab models in H0 scale. Whilst a price in Euros is suggested, no release date is given.

Still with Minichamps, the Volvo 240 sedan and estate models are still awaited, 1986 versions, which would be close to the PCX87 ones. We wondered if they might change the year model with these cars also, but curiously of the eight proposed (each version in four colours), the red estate is marked as anticipated in March 2025.

Other News

2025 is the 100th anniversary of the introduction of the D-loco. It is doubtful that we will be able to mark this achievement here (no layout to do this on), but we’ll see how things turn out. Maybe there will be events on the 1:1 scale railways?

Our next update will probably be sometime during May.