ABOUT US

Chris Coarse is the founder of Conowingo Models, based in Conowingo, Maryland, just three miles from the historic Conowingo Dam and the Norfolk Southern bridge over Octoraro Creek — an area steeped in railroad history. Once home to the Octoraro Branch of the Pennsylvania Railroad, the region played a vital role serving local factories and transporting recruits to the Bainbridge Naval Training Base.

Chris’s passion for trains began as a kid with a Tyco Silver Streak train set, and was rekindled in 2012 thanks to his daughter’s love for The Polar Express. In 2019, he turned that lifelong interest into Conowingo Models. The company’s logo, inspired by Pentaquod from James Michener’s novel Chesapeake, nods to the local heritage that shapes his work.

When he’s not crafting kits, Chris serves as a C-130H Loadmaster in the Air National Guard. He lives in Conowingo with his wife and their two daughters — and still plans to someday model the Rutland Railroad.

Conowingo Models specializes in distinctive kits that highlight overlooked details like roofs and foundations. Some structures are inspired by real buildings, others by pure imagination — but all blend history with creativity. Each rolling stock kit includes fictional Conowingo Railroad decals, sharing his “imaginary railway” with modelers worldwide. The Crunge Bridge kit, for example, pays tribute to John Allen’s legendary slopeback stock car.

Chris combines modern techniques like laser cutting and 3D printing with high-quality parts from trusted brands including Broadway Limited, Kadee, LaBelle, Rail-Scale Models, Tichy, and Tomar. His kits are designed to spark creativity — rather than overwhelm with castings, they invite modelers to personalize their builds with parts from their own stash, online finds, or local hobby shops.

In 2024, Chris acquired Sugar Pine Models, with plans to modernize its classic kits with laser-cut wood, 3D-printed parts, and thoughtful updates — giving timeless designs a fresh, Conowingo touch for a new generation of modelers.

We look forward to meeting you at an upcoming train show! Typically, we make an appearance at the Great Scale Model Train Show in Timonium, MD, whenever Chris's work schedule permits. Furthermore, we are regular attendees at Amherst and have plans to explore additional shows when time, location, and opportunities align. 

Additionally, we have hosted and plan to continue offering educational clinics in the future. 

To stay updated on our latest news and occasional special offers, please visit our "Contact Us" page and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

You can also view our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2lXpPDzCCay4CxJl4kKzZw

For more information, e-mail us at conowingomodels@yahoo.com or visit the website. 

Also, you can find us on Facebook -  http://www.facebook.com/ConowingoModels/ 

There's also an Instagram account  https://www.instagram.com/conowingo_models/