New product exclusive from Hasegawa 400276 U.S. NAVY ESCORT CARRIER USS GAMBIER BAY (CVE-73) a Faller Company

HASEGAWA 400276 U.S. NAVY ESCORT CARRIER USS GAMBIER BAY (CVE-73)

We invite you to take a look at this incredibly detailed model. We will offer it with all the upgrades available for it in one package priced at unbelievable low price. Just click on picture to see a detail of the deck of this ship.

You must see the detail on this model. Kit to be assembled. Hasegawa is a Faller Company.

New Store Ready and Open for Business

Finally the new Store is ready for Business. It took a lot more than we wanted but we are hanging on and almost all our stock is on display and available directly from the Store (and of course on the Internet)

We invite you to visit the link to our new store http://www.rocousa.com/hobbystore.htm for you to browse the facility and maybe even see something you need.

We have still work to do but now is under control. At least, now we know where are the things that are not on display yet so we can get them in just one minute.

In other news, we are happy to see the good response that our Customers had for having the prices set in Euros for Marklin, Trix and some other imports for pre-orders in 2010 as then price of Euro has gone down in more than 20% this year and our Customers are taking now advantage on this low cost of Euro translated in a lower price in US Dollars.

Those other we know, that complained about not having some items prices in US Dollars and went to our Competitors because they had a price in US Dollars, now we invite them to compare the BIG difference it made to place the order there instead than here with us. Well, you can not win all then games but we still are receiving pre-orders and calculating the price in Dollars at release time of the new items.

Due the new space we have, we have increased our stock and product lines in more than $ 300.000.00 at cost so the volume of items and Brands is highly larger than before.

We are converting slowly in a true Hobby Store and not only a Model Train Store, however, we are still the LARGEST Marklin/Trix Dealer in USA and maybe the Largest in Faller/Vollmer/Preiser/Viessmann and other European Brands.

There is no doubt about our volume in Tamiya, Kyosho, Traxxas, HPI, CEN. Revell, Forces of Valor, Helimax and others we carry for the General Hobby.

I think that is well worth to visit us if you have then time.

We have moved

Please go to our web site www.rocousa.com for the new address.
Starting April 1st. 2010 will be open to public at:
7564 S.W. 117th. Avenue, Miami Florida 33183 at the TJ-Max Shopping
Plaza at 117 ave.

This blog has moved

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Marklin unveils the TGV French high speed train

Prototype: French State Railways (SNCF) TGV POS (train à grande vitesse) high speed train, in the version for service between Paris and Southern Germany. 2 powered end cars, 1 transition car (R1), 1st/2nd class, 1 transition car (R8), 2nd class. The newest paint scheme. The train looks as it currently does in real life in 2009/2010.

Model: The train is a 4-part set. It has 1 powered end car (TK1) with a motor and 1 powered end car (TK2) without a motor. The train has an mfx digital decoder and extensive sound functions. It has controlled, high-efficiency propulsion in powered end car 1, centrally mounted. 4 axles powered through cardan shafts. Traction tires. The train has factory-installed interior lighting. The triple headlights and dual red marker lights change over with the direction of travel. They and the interior lighting will work in conventional operation and can be controlled digitally. The third headlight for the French headlight code can be turned off separately in digital operation. The headlights and interior lighting are maintenance-free, warm white LEDs and the marker lights are maintenance-free red LEDs. The train has separately applied metal grab irons. It also has inset windshield wipers. The engineer's cabs in the powered end cars have interior details. A powered end car and a transition car are permanently coupled together in pairs and have special close couplings with a guide mechanism. There is an additional guide mechanism in the Jakobs truck. The end cars have a pickup shoe changeover feature so that the pickup shoe at the front of the train is the one picking up power. The interior lighting is powered through a continuous electrical connection through the entire train. Each powered end car has 2 different design single-arm pantographs, one with a wiper for the DB catenary and one with a wiper for the SNCF catenary. The pantographs work mechanically but are not wired to take power. The train is a scale reproduction. The minimum radius for operation is therefore 360 mm / 14-3/16", when there is sufficient clearance on both sides. Length of the 4-part set 101 cm / 39-3/4".

Functions:
Headlight(s) · · · ·
Interior lights · · · ·
Light Function1 · · ·
Electric locomotive op. sounds · · ·
Horn · · ·
Direct control · · ·
Sound of squealing brakes off · ·
Doors Closing · ·
Whistle for switching maneuver · ·
Conductor's Whistle · ·
Station Announcements ·
Stat. Announce. - Fren. ·

Highlights:
Completely new tooling.
Scale 1:87 reproduction.
Factory-installed interior lighting.
Extensive sound functions.
Warm white LEDs for lighting.
The latest paint scheme.

The French railroad SNCF purchased the "Train à Grande Vitesse Paris - Ostfrankreich – Südwestdeutschland" (TGV POS) for high speed service between Paris, Eastern France (Strasbourg), and Southern Germany. The core of the TGV POS was initially the new construction of the high speed route, which is planned to connect Strasbourg better with Paris. A trip of four hours was simply no longer tolerable if the railroad was to compete effectively with people driving cars. The new route with a maximum speed of 350 km/h / 218.75 mph was planned to be 430 kilometers / 269 miles long and also make connections to Nancy, Reims, Luxembourg, and Basle. The TGV Est trains were planned to travel at 350 km/h / 218.75 mph. On May 9, 2000, the DB AG and the SNCF agreed on standardization of cross-border cars and powered units, routes, and signals. Due to the short time plan and several disagreements there was no common high speed train. Instead, a mixed operation of ICE and TGV was planned. Both trains had to pass a great many test runs in the two countries in order to receive permission for operation. The TGV POS is not really a generation of cars and powered units that has been developed totally from scratch. The TGV POS is more a mix of new powered end cars and intermediate cars from the TGV Réseau. The new powered end cars are mechanically very similar to those of the TGV Thalys PBKA (Paris - Brussels - Cologne / Amsterdam). The electrical equipment for three current systems (25 kilovolts / 50 Hertz as well as 1.5 kilovolts DC in France, 15 kilovolts / 16-2/3 Hertz in Germany and Switzerland) is being done for the first time using asynchronous technology with IGBT-controlled three-phase asynchronous motors. Two pantographs are located on the roof. The one with a contact strip 1,650 mm / 64-15/16" wide is used for 25 kilovolts / 50 Hertz in France and in Switzerland; the second one with a contact strip 1,950 mm / 76-3/4" wide and metallic plated carbon contact strips is used in Germany. In France the 1,950 mm / 76-3/4" pantographs on both powered end cars must be up under the 1.5 kilovolt catenary due to the high level of current. The intermediate cars come from the TGV Réseau. However, they were extensively modernized and brought up to the laterst technical standard at the workshops in Bischheim; they therefore differ strikingly from the other generations of TGV trains. A train set consists of two powered end cars and eight intermediate cars. The intermediate cars are connected to each other by means of Jakobs trucks and thereby form an operational unit. Five intermediate cars (one with a bar) are intended for passengers in 2nd class and three intermediate cars are for 1st class. The approximately 200 meter / 656 foot TGV POS has seating for 360 passengers. Nineteen units have been purchased with the road numbers 4401 to 4419, whereby road number 4406 was sold recently to the SBB. In France the trains are allowed to run at a maximum speed of 320 km/h / 200 mph; in Germany the maximum speed allowed on the high speed routes is 250 km/h / 156 mph. TGV road number 4402 is a special train. Its powered end cars along with three modified intermediate cars set a new, unbelievable speed record for rail vehicles as World Record Train V150 at noon on April 3, 2007 on the route LGV Est. In 13 minutes this train accelerated to 574.8 km/h / 359.25 mph. The two powered end cars have kept their striking world record lettering, which immediately draws attention to the attempted speed. They can be seen occasionally in the Swabian part of Germany.


The 37790 basic set must be expanded with the 43420, 43430, and 43440 extension sets to a prototypical 10-car unit. SNCF and TGV are registered trademarks of the SNCF. SNCF is the owner of the TGV®. All rights reserved regarding copying and/or reproduction. Sous réserve d'obtention de la licence.


This model can be found in a DC version in the Trix H0 assortment under item no. 22364.

Traxxas many cars and trucks now include battery and battery charger

Traxxas has announced many cars and trucks that will include battery and battery charger, either for the starter or for the electric motors on those versions electric.
Also, the inclusion of the new 2.4 GHz radio that will end the era of radio interferences.

Micro Macro Mundo Inc. is a FULL Traxxas Dealer and we carry the complete line out of models in Nitro or Electric as well as service center for your repairs. (only repairs brought to our Store in Miami)

New Marklin 26351 Adler set

Marklin has unveiled a new Adler set Marklin 26351 replica of the new restored Adler in the Nuremberg Museum.

New Brands will be carried this year

LGB new Brand. LGB is part of Marklin GmbH and will be in stock starting this year.

POLA was bought by Faller so now, as part of the Faller family, will be in our Store. These products are exclusively for G gauge (Garden scale 1:22.5)

KIBRI now this plastic manufacturer of buildings, cranes and vehicles is part of Viessmann. The Company was purchased this February and now will be distributed by Viessmann, so Micro Macro Mundo as one of the largest Viessmann Dealers, will carry the complete line of Kibri products.

In the world of remote control, who can say have never played with a Scalectric slot car? Very few.

Now Scalectric is SCX and we have them already in stock. We have both systems: Digital and analog.

It is important to say that the Digital system from SCX is superb allowing up to 6 racers at the time to participate, with a large sort of accessories to make your driving experience the most enjoyable ever. You must try these incredible cars.

New 2010 items have been posted in our web site

The new items for 2010 are already posted in our web site.

Please visit the link above to see what's new from Marklin, Trix, Minitrix, Brawa, Vollmer, Faller, Viessmann and Preiser.
Also this year, we will carry LGB, POLA and Kibri as result of purchases from some of our Manufacturers of these new Brands.

Marklin 31860 3 Crocodile set some more available

We have managed to get just a few more units of this set Marklin 31860.

Only 500 units were made so this is very scarce and we are proud to be one of the largest Dealers that have get and sold this item in a pretty large quantity due the rarity of it.

Marklin announces price hike

We have received an e-mail from Walters signed by Tim Wickerham that reads as follows:

"Price Adjustment on February 1, 2010
Märklin Germany has announced a price adjustment will take effect February 1, 2010 on Märklin, Trix and LGB products. Prices have been held stable since October 1, 2008 despite rising costs of raw materials. At this time we have not been informed of the percentage of the increase. We are giving you advance notice so you will have the opportunity to review your present inventory and place fill-in orders prior to the February 1st date. "

This is a joke. Prices held since 2008? Where? Not at Walthers as they increased substantially the prices in February 2009 and not at Marklin GmbH. Do they think Dealers do not keep price lists from one year to an other or what?

But what is a reality is that prices will go higher AGAIN and with an Euro rising daily, this will bring very high values to products from Marklin, Trix/Minitrix and LGB.

While other Manufacturers are struggling to keep prices down to fight against the drop on sales they had, Marklin is doing all what they can to once for all remove the Brand from the face of the Earth because their extreme high prices.

It is clear that Marklin (and all their Brands) have converted in elite only products. There is no more "kids" that can afford these prices nor parents willing to pay for their kid's toys enormous amounts of money required to buy Marklin products.

The new "set of..... (how many?)" is now a common policy from Marklin that make sets of 10, 20 and up to 40 cars. Who the hell can have 40 cars pulled by one locomotive? What has to be the size of that layout?. Oh yes, some of them say "can be sold separately" so everyone wants the car # 1 and # 3 but nobody wants the car # 2 for example, so Dealers will lose a bunch by being stuck with products they can't sell. Why Marklin does not allow Dealers also to but the cars they want from that particular set?

The average Marklin Customer is well over 55 years old, so what is Marklin doing? waiting a few more years to see all Collectors die and then close the Company for lack of Sales?

Widows do not buy Marklin, they sell the wonderful collections their late husbands had for pennies on eBay or given for sale as states to Lawyers that have no idea what they have on hand and also trow away for nothing (other than their fees) immense collections.

If Marklin does not start producing GOOD QUALITY cheap models as entry level where kids and parents can afford to buy them, the future of the Brand is very dark.

If Marklin also does not see that has to eliminate all sources of extra expenses such as subsidiaries that have nothing to do or Distributors that only make a lot more expensive and complicated to provide products from them, then also this will be a problem down the road to recovery and again, future is not bright at all.

It is clear, from the results, that only those Countries where Marklin has sold direct at a global unique price scheme had success during 2009 while all others, went down substantially including USA.

So let's see what the new Nuremberg Fair brings to us but I'm not too confident that will be good news.

In fact, all those not released items from 2009 have new prices as each year they rise prices for non released items.

We will be moving soon

Thanks to all our Customers that have made us to grow much beyond the capacity of our actual Store located at 7138 SW 117Th. Avenue, we have signed for a new Store 3 times larger just one block south of the actual Store.

Our new address will be 7564 S.W. 117Th. Avenue, Miami FL 33183
This location is inside the TJ-Maxx Plaza shopping center next to Winn-Dixie and across the street from the United States Postal Service at 117Th. Avenue and Sunset Drive.

Same phone 305-279-8033

During March/April 2010 we expect to have ready all the new construction and permits to open the largest Hobby Store in South Florida with the largest World wide stock in our main Brands such as Marklin, Trix, Minitrix, Brawa, Preiser, Faller, Vollmer, Viessmann, Tamiya, Kyosho, Traxxas, HPI, CEN, OFNA and all others we carry.

We also will increase our line out of Brands with several well known Brands in the Model railroad and Models area.

We have already reach the largest stock on plastic Models from Revell and Tamiya and new Brands will be included such as Trumpeter and Italeri ( a Faller Company ). Revell/Monogram is slowly growing right now and some can be found in the links for REVELL of Germany.

Wooden Models from Artesania Latina and Constructo are all included now in our product line and next will be added Artesania Latina Wood Doll Houses.

Kibri will be added this year 2010 as well as the Car System by Faller.

A new exciting Brand arriving mid January is SCX, the best Digital Slot cars system in the market. We will be publishing soon the page for SCX in our web site, keep looking for it.

So keep looking for the official opening day we will post on this same blog.

We thank all our Customers for giving us their business and for the trust they have placed in our Organization. Without you, we would not have been able to grow to this new level and had, including the recession of 2008/09 one of our best years ever.

Happy New Year 2010