Celebrating Scale the art of 1:48 modeling MAGAZINE Trains OMay/June 2010 u Issue #50

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R HOBBY SH IN YOU OP TOD T’S AY? HA W ® ATLAS O TRAINMAN U23B LOCOMOTIVE Also avialable in Conrail, Missouri Pacifi c, Delaware & Hudson “Spirit of Freedom”, and LIMITED EDITION D&H “Grey Ghost” Features accurate painting and printing, separately-applied wire grab irons, scale dimensions, directional LED lighting, and more! Available in 3-Rail (Conventional or TMCC ) & 2-Rail DC www.atlastrainman.com/Locomotives/tmou23b.htm *CSX Licensed Product Products bearing Union Pacifc (UP), Missouri Pacifi c (MP), or M-K-T marks are made under trademark license from Union Pacifi c Railroad Company. To fi nd an Atlas dealer, go to http://locator.atlasrr.com Get a copy of Atlas’ Catalogs at your LHS or visit www.atlasrr.com Atlas O, LLC • 378 Florence Avenue • Hillside, NJ 07205 • www.atlaso.com Celebrating the art of 1:48 modeling Issue #50 Scale May/June 2010 Vol. 9 - No. 3 Editor-in-Chief/Publisher Joe Giannovario Trains MAGAZINE [email protected] O Features Art Director Jaini Giannovario [email protected] 4 Denver Society of Model Railroaders — Schmidt & Lindgren The club celebrates almost 75 years running O Scale trains.

Managing Editor 12 Starting Over - Part 3 — Joe Giannovario Mike Cougill With the trackplanning done, construction begins. [email protected] 21 Building A Center Cab Diesel - Part 3 — Capt. Tom Mix Tom starts building the diesel’s frame. Advertising Manager Jeb Kriigel 26 Scratch Buildings — Jerry Zaret [email protected] Custom built-to-fit buildings are easy to make.

Customer 32 Jawn Henry in O Scale — Conley Wallace Service N&W’s steam turbine in O Scale is one awesome model. Spike Beagle 37 Rounding Out A New Roundhouse — Warner Clark Complaints Warner explains the additional details he has added to his facility. L’il Bear 42 In Paul Larson’s Honor — William W. Davis Contributors A scratchbuilt stock car in the finest traditions with a modern twist. Ted Byrne Gene Clements Carey Hinch Martin Brechbiel 53 Lehigh Valley’s Naples Branch Freight Depot — Harold Russell A medium-sized depot to fit any layout needs. Subscription Rates: 6 issues 58 Chicago March Meet Contest Models — OST Staff US - Periodical Class Delivery uS$35 US - First Class Delivery (1 year only) uS$45 A look at O Scale modeling at its finest. Canada/Mexico US$55 Overseas US$80 60 2010 O Scale National — Rod Miller A final roundup of details before the convention. Visa, MC, AMEX & Discover accepted. Call 610-363-7117 during Eastern time business hours. Dealers contact Kalmbach Publishing, 800-558-1544 ext 818 or email [email protected] Advertisers call for info. www.oscalemag.com • ©2010 All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S.A. Departments O Scale Trains Magazine, ISSN 1536-9528, USPS 24457, is published bi-monthly in January, March, May, July, Septem- ber and November by OST Magazine, PO Box 289, Exton PA 19341-0289. Subscription rates: US Periodical Mail, $35 per year, US First Class Mail, $45 per year; Canada or 11 The Art of Prototype Modeling — Mike Cougill Mexico, $55 per year; Overseas, $80 per year. Postage paid at West Chester, Pa., and additional mailing offices. POST- 17 The Modern Image — Gene Clements MASTER send address changes to O Scale Trains Magazine, PO Box 289, Exton PA 19341-0289. 19 Traction Action — Martin Brechbiel Contributors: O Scale Trains welcomes your feature articles, 41 Reader Feedback photos, and drawings. Such material should be sent to the above address for possible publication. If we accept, you will be notified 46 Product News & Reviews immediately. For more information concerning article preparation guidelines, please send an SASE to the above address and 64 Buy-Sell-Trade Ads request our “Guide For Authors” or visit our website at: www. oscalemag.com. 64 Events Listing Cover: The D&RGW’s Royal Gorge crosses Horan Trestle. The trestle was modeled after a curved trestle on the Colorado 65 Advertiser Index Midland’s Hagerman Pass line. The F7 units are by Key and the cars are from Pecos River Brass. 66 Observations — Joe Giannovario

Centerspread: The Union Pacific’s westbound Pacific Limited meets UP Extra East 264 at the east end of Grove siding. The E7s are from Key and the 2-8-0 is a heavily modified US Hobbies model. The passenger cars are a mixture of brass models from Wasatch, PSC, and Sunset/3rd Rail.

May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 3 Denver Society of Model Railroaders A Long History in O Scale

Doug Schmidt, photos by Erik Lindgren A Sunset 3rd Rail CB&Q M-4 Colorado #6310 exits Grove Siding past the station. The station is a Builder’s in Scale model of a former D&RGW Tennessee Pass Station. Denver’s Union Station has long been one of the city’s 3600. It takes almost 30 minutes for a standard gauge train to architectural and historical treasures. The cavernous waiting travel the entire mainline and 25 minutes to travel the narrow area holds countless memories for hundreds of thousands of gauge route. travelers involved in greeting and saying good-bye to friends Much of the track laid in the 1930s and ’40s features ties and family members returning from or leaving to go to world that were nailed to the underlayment as adhesives were still wars, family vacations, college educations and journeys rather primitive and scarce due to the war effort. The track is across the country. In its basement resides a truly marvelous 98% handlaid with code 148 and 172 rail for the standard train layout that has been a part of the Denver model rail- gauge and code 100 for the narrow gauge. The standard roading community for 74 years. It is one of the oldest and gauge curves are 72” radius with a 2-1/2 % maximum grade, largest O Scale layouts in the United States, the Colorado and a 48” radius on the narrow gauge with a maximum Midland. 3-1/2% grade. Army surplus B-25 bomber horizontal trim Union Station was built originally in 1881 and rebuilt after motors were used to power some of the turnouts, and two still a disastrous fire in 1894. In 1933, Cherry Creek flooded and function flawlessly today. filled Union Station with a foot of water standing on the main The scenery is plaster over chicken wire and the layout floor with the basement filled to its ceiling. Lost were all of has been painstakingly scenicked with thousands of trees, the records of the Colorado & Southern Railroad. A small O hundreds of details, and many bridges and trestles. Gravel Scale layout had been on display on the mezzanine, but after and rocks from Colorado railyards, most from the area being the flood, a large storeroom in the basement was offered to modeled, are used throughout the entire layout. Industrial the Denver Society of Model Railroaders to build a much areas, railyards and small towns are spread throughout the larger layout. All they had to do was clean out the mud, muck layout, and the attention to detail, especially on such a large and the remains of the records, which was six feet deep in layout, is quite impressive. Almost all the traditional methods a 75’ x 90’ basement room. The club named the layout the of scenery creation have been used over the course of the Colorado Midland and their handiwork depicts specific and seventy-four year history of this layout. The cottonwood trees, composite scenes from the state. O Scale was the choice of of which there are many, are made of Colorado sagebrush. the Denver Society as not much else was readily available Some pine trees were made by the ”Jack Work” method of in model railroading at that time. Work on the design and drilling sticks to hold caspia branches and then spray painting implementation began immediately after the cleanup was the caspia. Members have also used the ”twisted two wire” completed in 1935. The Colorado Midland is one of the pio- method to create tree trunks. The towns of Sargent, Cerro neering 2-rail layouts. Summit and Marshall Pass are modeled as accurately as pos- There are two separate mainlines, one standard gauge sible to the real thing, and all structures are scratchbuilt. and one narrow gauge. The standard gauge line measures All the rolling stock and locomotives are owned by the approximately 1200 linear feet, and the narrow gauge covers club’s members and on the monthly operating night, club just over 600 linear feet. The yards and sidings add almost members can run a complete California Zephyr, Yampa Valley another 1800 feet, bringing the total trackage to just less than Mail, San Francisco Chief, The Prospector, a long Burlington 4 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 5 The latest addition to the layout, built during the last 10 years, is this scene of standard gauge Leadville in the foreground and Sargent on the narrow UP Extra East 264 passes the Grove station. The crowd on the platform is gauge in the distance. waiting for the next westbound passenger train.

The crew of D&RGW K-36 #489 chat before moving their locomotive away from the Sargent coaling dock. The loco is from MMI and the coaling dock was scratchbuilt using prototype plans. D&RGW K-27 #454 crosses over a trestle in front of a photo backdrop of the real Dallas Divide on the RGS.

The eastbound UP Pacific Limited holds the main while a CB&Q M-4 CB&Q GP9 #289 gets some spot-time as the crew ponders the next enters Grove siding. switching move. The Geep is from Red Caboose with a P&D drive.

Many scenes are visible from any viewing spot. Here the narrow gauge is in the foreground with a UP passenger train leaving a tunnel while an ATSF GFX (Green The eastbound San Francisco Chief splits the signals headed toward Fruit Express) crosses a tall bridge and trestle over the Springs Colorado yard. MacIntosh and then Springs. The locomotives are from Key. 6 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 An MMI K-27 #452 slowly descends a grade trailed by a train of Gramps tanks cars. Minor welding repairs are performed on a piece of work equipment.

CB&Q O5B #5632 passes the Book Cliffs in western Colorado with a train of equipment during WWII. This train is a favorite of the many kids K-27 #452 rolls past the front of the Grays depot. attending our open houses.

”A train of tanks cars is just not a good train to hop, no place to ride. I’ll wait for the next train.”

D&RGW Tunnel motors pull a double stack train under the Book Cliffs in western Colorado.

Construction, reconstruction and improvements have been ongoing for years. This photograph is from the 1960s as a large narrow gauge yard at Grays was removed Rio Grande Southern’s Galloping Goose pulls in for another load of for better access to the trackage underneath. At the same time a new bridge across tourists at Junction. the access aisle is being built. May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 7 A high trestle on the way to Marshall Pass on the narrow gauge is under construction in the 1980s, towering over South Yard, also under construction.

K-28 #473 switching at Junction.

From the 1970s, All Nation F units pass an Amtrak passenger train powered by an US Hobbies FP45

John O’Connel explaining the layout to a group of kids during an open house.

The Colorado Midland’s roundhouse serving Springs and East Yard, photographed in 1954, was scratchbuilt to fit the space and is still in use. The CM #401 is a diecast 2-8-0 kit from the ”blacksmith” era of O Scale.

8 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 Fast Mail, an Amtrak train, and the Exposition Flyer. The Cali- what in question. The entire Union Station complex is under fornia Zephyr consist is made up of cars built and marketed redevelopment with a variety of plans for the station and by club members Ron Keiser and Don Elliott as Midland the adjacent yards currently being discussed. The club has Reproductions kits in the 1980s. received preliminary assurance that it will continue to be able Locomotives range from a classic 1939 Lionel Hudson that to house the layout as it has for the past 74 years. The mem- is used on special occasions to products of US Hobbies, All bers continue to make progress on installing DCC control but Nation, PFM, Sunset 3rd Rail, Overland, Key, P&D, and Red to completely convert a layout this large will take some time Caboose. The All Nation F units were painted with the last and money. gallon of Rio Grande Aspen Gold paint from the railroad’s Visitors are encouraged to attend operating sessions on Burnham Shops in Denver. the last Friday night of each month from 7-9 pm., September Red Caboose, Atlas and Intermountain cars populate the to May. The layout can be accessed by entering the lobby of rolling stock roster with the remainder being made up of Union Station and taking the elevator downstairs. Then look brass units built worldwide in the last 20 years. Models man- for the signs to the Colorado Midland. This is a trip worth ufactured in the 1950s have been removed from the layout making! The locomotives and rolling stock are outstanding due to a lack of detail. in their detail and composition. The scenery and details are An operating session on the standard gauge line requires accurate and complete, and the two hours of operations will three engineers, a dispatcher, a yardmaster, someone in the pass quickly for a visitor who wishes to spend a pleasant eve- staging yard and a floater to move to any trouble spots quick- ning in this historic setting. ly. Other members greet visitors and give tours of the layout More information and pictures can be found on the club’s as the trains move along. The narrow gauge run requires three website at [www.denveroscale.org] or by calling 303-572- to four other members in similar roles. 1015. You can also watch videos of operating sessions by Adjacent to the layout, there is a small meeting room and searching the YouTube website [www.youtube.com] or link- a large workshop with woodworking and modeling tools ing to YouTube from the club’s website. The addition of web- available and several projects are always in various stages of cams so that website visitors can watch operating sessions completion. New members are welcome to join as long as live is in the club’s plans as well. they are willing to make the commitment to work on the lay- Special thanks go to club member Chip Rovetta for his out. The payoff is the chance to run trains on one of the most work in captioning the photos as well as adding his consider- historic train layouts in the United States. able knowledge to this article, and to Erik Lindgren for his What the future holds for the club and its layout is some- tireless photo work. u

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May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 9 East Gary Car Co. Dept OST 3828 St. Joseph Ct When does my Lake Station IN 46405 subscription expire? They’re Back! Former Indianapolis Car Company sides Your subscription expiration are now available from new tooling. Parts #100 & #200 is now printed on your $3.00 each mailing label!

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10 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 The Art of Prototype Modeling Michael Cougill

Go And See For Yourself layouts. Historically, the hobby focused on individual indus- In the culture of a certain well-known Japanese corpora- tries and the more of them the merrier. Each layout had to tion there is a saying: Genshi Genbutsu (gen-she, gen-boo- have a town, or preferably several, that featured one or more tsue, the ”t” sound goes on the last syllable), or in English- go small industries that needed to be switched as the core of and see for yourself. This is a mindset of the company’s operating interest. This often led to the cliché of an industry executives who feel that their knowledge of a situation will that was smaller than the train car spotted next to it. For the often be incomplete and therefore, possibly even inaccurate, past fifty to sixty years, this hasn’t really changed. We always without first-hand knowledge. So they make a practice of assume that more is better and stuff our layouts to the gills going to see for themselves what issues a supplier, or factory accordingly. What I saw last August proved to me that this worker might be facing. There is a parallel in modeling from doesn’t have to be the case. A single large industry, when the prototype. Our knowledge of a car, locomotive or loca- done right can be just as interesting to operate as a bunch of tion will be incomplete or inaccurate until if possible, we go smaller ones, and probably will be more realistic too. I think and see it for ourselves. the implications for O Scale are that we can have a more A case of going to see for myself, involved watching a faithful interpretation of a scene in a smaller space without switching operation at a local plastics plant. It was one of giving up operational interest. This factory is seldom switched those things where I had the time, the camera and the local the same way twice. Traffic levels vary with the production of showed up while I was there. I finally hit a trifecta! What I the plant. Sometimes they are switched twice a week, other learned was how much time and effort it takes for a crew to times it’s less than once a week. sort cars into the right order before spotting them at the plant. I Many times in this hobby, we assume that we know how watched as the locomotive would cherry-pick a single car out things are today or were done yesterday, but do we really? of a cut, park it somewhere and then go after another one and Often yes. However, there’s tons of stuff that I don’t know so on, until they were all in the order specified by the plant’s about trains or their operations and until I genshi genbutsu traffic manager. This took a long time and the ground crew - go see for myself - my modeling won’t be as accurate as it must have walked for miles going back and forth to uncouple could be. cars and throw switches. I watched this for a couple of hours Best regards, and they weren’t even close to being done when I left. Mike u This got me to thinking about how we do things on our

May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 11 shipping the cost per square foot was $5.50 but the end result is spectacular, as you will see. Starting Over While waiting for the backdrops to arrive we mounted hard- board on the walls so we’d have a nice surface to hang them Part 3 — The build begins on. One side of the room has several bump outs and we were Joe Giannovario going to need smooth transitions over those. Photo 2 shows several units mounted in that part of the room. When we left you last time, I had gone through eight major iterations to develop a track plan. Now it was time to start 2 building. I contracted with Tom Thorpe to build the basic benchwork because I wanted a 10-inch drop for a trestle at Creek Junction. I’d seen Tom’s work at shows and conventions and I was convinced he was the right person to do this job. I worked right alongside him during the whole process. Before Tom could start, Jaini and I had to tear out the old layout and prep the room. (I detailed the cosmetic changes we made to the room in Part 1 so I won’t rehash them here.) I tried to salvage track and switches but I discovered that ballasted track does not want to come up nicely. Anything that was bal- lasted on the old layout was trashed. I also discovered the flex track that has had the rails painted rust brown was no longer flexible, so that, too, went in the trash. We saved the factory (OST #41), the coal mine (OST #42) We mounted the hardboard using Liquid Nails and temporary screws. and the block of rowhouses (see the OST Blog “We built this city”). I’m not sure what to do with the coal mine yet but the After consulting with Tom on how much clearance he rowhouses and the factory have a definite place to go. needed for decking, we set our own temporary ledgers With the room bare, Tom came over to start taking mea- above his. We started on the flat wall to the right in the photo surements. You saw a photo of his initial setup in Part 1. (Damascus) and worked our way around toward Whitetop and Tom uses a ledger system to hold up the benchwork along then the other end toward Abingdon. We mounted the hard- the walls. After careful measurements we decided on a lay- board to the drywall with Liquid Nails adhesive. Where two out height of 40 inches off the floor. He installed the ledger boards joined, we pushed them up tight and put temporary accordingly compensating for his benchwork (Photo 1). screws through the hardboard into the drywall until the adhe- 1 sive set. We pushed the hardboard tight into all the corners and were able to maintain a 24” radius. The vertical piece of wood in the photo above helped to keep the S-curve in the hardboard until the adhesive set. After 24 hours I removed all the screws and the temporary ledgers. Finally the backdrop arrived and our next task was to figure out how to mount it. I read all the instructions and a whole bunch of posts online from people who had used these back- drops. The consensus was to use vinyl wallpaper paste and gently squeegee the backdrop in place. Once I coated the hardboard with the vinyl paste the hard- board soaked it up like a sponge! It seems I had missed the instruction to seal the hardboard first. This turned out to be Tom laser leveled a line on the walls and installed ledger boards. a good thing because I also discovered we were hanging the Before we went beyond this point Jaini and I decided to cor- wrong image in the wrong place. rect another error we’d made with the old layout. The time to I thought there had to be a better way. We purchased install/paint a backdrop (if you want one) is before you put up white Velcro hooks and loops with self-adhesive backing. We the benchwork, not after. I looked at a lot of different options. attached the hooks to the top and bottom edges of the hard- We’d reviewed the SceniKing backgrounds (OST #40) which board and the loops to the top and bottom edges of the back- are 8” x 13” which worked out to $4.82 per square foot. While drop sheets. We started by attaching the top edge of a panel the SceniKing backgrounds are very nice we had 56 linear to the top edge of the hardboard and then worked out the feet of wall to cover and I wanted something more than 13” wrinkles while we attached the bottom edge. high. I went to Backdrop Warehouse online and found a pair There is an unprinted stripe along each panel’s top and of backdrops that depict a rolling landscape of the type you’d bottom edges. Scenery will cover the bottom edge, but the expect to see in Virginia where the N&W ran. The Backdrop top edge needed to be covered or disguised. I did not want to Warehouse backdrops are 6 color printed on a vinyl wallpaper attempt to trim it off so I took a section of the panel with sky in stock. The O Scale units are 3 feet high and 12 feet long. We it to a local Home Depot and had them color match a can of choose only two images but by using mirror images we man- paint to the sky. It’s a near perfect match. aged to create a 60-foot long backdrop made of 5 panels. With We also carefully aligned each panel so there would be sev- 12 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 eral inches of overlap at the seams. The backdrops are printed close-up of the Creek Junction benchwork. I should note here with these overlaps. We then used a straightedge and razor that Tom does not use dimensioned lumber in his benchwork knife to trim the vertical edges and glued them together with except for legs. All of the wood used was cut from 3/4” birch stick glue. Photo 3 shows the seamed backdrops in place with plywood. Done that way the front frame rail at Creek Junction the top edge painted to match the sky. is a single piece of wood and is much stronger. Meanwhile, Tom had not been idle. He had been designing Photo 6 shows all of the basic benchwork in place. Note and building the Creek Junction benchwork at his home work- the octagonal opening in the foreground. That’s for the turn- table pit at Whitetop. You can see a similar opening in the 3 Abingdon benchwork in the middle. 6

Backdrops mounted and seamed. This is looking toward Creek Junction. shop. Photo 4 shows a dry fit of the Creek Junction benchwork Looking from Whitetop toward Damascus over Abingdon. while we were still working on the backdrop. You will notice painters tape at seam locations. Also note how the benchwork There was one additional piece of tricky benchwork that I sits on top of the ledger, not up against it. Photo 5 shows a presented to Tom as a requirement. My 2’ x 6’ workbench had to store under Damascus. Tom solved this by building a spe- cial 6.5’ section that is a 1” thick lightweight box spanning the 4 workbench storage area. You can see it in the back of photo 6 where the top edge of the frame lifts up slightly to go over the workbench. There is a 9” clearance on the work surface. Without giving too much away Photo 7 shows the workbench extended into the aisle. The OttLites overhead provide more than enough illumination for my modeling work.

Dry fit of the unfinished Creek Junction benchwork with a 10 inch drop.

5

My workbench stores under the layout at Damascus. I built a special frame with rollers. It works great. The completed Creek Junction framework. The holes are both to lighten the benchwork and provide cable runs for wiring. Next time... decking, sub-roadbed and track. u

May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 13 P&D Hobby Shop 31280 Groesbeck, Fraser, MI 48026 Voice: 586-296-6116 • Fax: 586-296-5642 Open Mon-Fri 10-8 • Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5 www.pdhobbyshop.com Grade Crossing Signal Set For All Your O Scale Needs GradeCS-2 Grade Crossing Crossing Signal Signal Set includes: Set CS-2A SignalCS-2 Grade with Crossing flat cap Signal and Setbasic includes: mast support CS-2BCS-2A Signal Signal with with bell flat cap cap and and junction basic mast box support support Power/Repower Kits for Red CS-2BAWS-1 Signal Advanced with bell cap Warning and junction Signs box (X2) support WPS-1 Whistle Post Signs (X2) Caboose GPs from $160. AWS-1GCF-1 Advanced Flasher/Detector Warning Signs (X2) WPS-1 Whistle Post Signs (X2) $69.95 plus $6.95 S/H in the continental U.S. P&D F Units GCF-1 Flasher/Detector Custom$69.95 Signals plus $6.95 S/H inwww.customsignals.com the continental U.S. Powered A Units - $289 27 Gellatly Drive (877) 523-3236 WappingersCustom Falls,Signals NY 12590www.customsignals.comphone/fax Call Now! 27 Gellatly Drive (877) 523-3236 Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 phone/fax

Subscription Rates: 6 issues US - Periodical Class Delivery US$35 PO Box 289, Scale US - First Class Delivery (1 year only) US$45 Canada/Mexico US$55 Exton PA 19341-0289. OTrains Overseas US$80 voice: 610-363-7117 • fax 610-363-7357 • Office hours are Mon. - Thurs. 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Leave a message and someone will call you back. Closed Fri. thru Sun. • Back issues available are: 32, 40, 41, 44, 45, 46, 47 & 48 @$6.95 ea. Include $5.00 postage for every 5 copies. • Subscriptions which start with the current issue already on the street will be charged $2 extra for postage. Subscriptions and back issues can be ordered at our website. Check our website for free downloadable PDFs of early issues. • OST is published in January, March, May, July, September & November. Issues usually arrive by the second week of the issue month. If your issue is not delivered by the end of the month, call and we will replace it. • Your subscription expiration date is now printed on the mailing label.

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16 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 The Hoggers vs. The Greasers unit. I begin applying engine brakes. At 10 pounds of air, the While this can sound like a sporting event between two locomotives won’t maintain their load and we’re still slowing teams that you have never heard of, you will not find this down. At 20 pounds things begin to go our way. The speed is competition on ESPN or the local cable sports channels. This down to 2.6 MPH when we gain traction and the speed slow- occurs on a daily basis on the BNSF’s Birmingham Subdivision ly begins to increase. We crest the hill at 9 MPH. The grease as well as other national rail systems. The players: ”Hoggers”, almost got us but we made it. If the rail been clean and dry, a slang term for a locomotive engineer, carried over from this train would have pulled the hill at track speed in number the days when steam locomotives were referred to as hogs. 6 throttle. ”Greasers” are the personnel from the Track Department who Flange Lubrication Systems are used on Class-1 rail systems maintain the flange lubricators across the subdivision. and do prevent rail wear. For modeling purposes, commercial Tractive effort is the name of the game. The hoggers must castings may be available from a company such as Keil-Line move their train from one point to another, traveling over hills, Products or they can be scratchbuilt. The photos show the curves and valleys without stalling or causing a service inter- basic design and its installation close to a road crossing to ruption. Greasers, attempting to assist in this process, place allow for service. Heavy deposits of grease and dirt on the flange lubricators to reduce rolling resistance and prevent rail track in the area of the lubricator are proof of its performance. wear. In recent years a High-Rail pickup truck equipped with The flange lubricator in the photos is located in a valley area a lubricating spray system, has been added to the arsenal. between uphill grades in either direction. I’m operating a 3500-ton intermodal train powered by two I did make an attempt to catch up with Greasy in order to GE 6-axle locomotives rated at 8800 total horsepower. With get a photograph of him and his hi-rail greaser truck for this 50 miles left to go, traveling downhill in dynamic braking at article, but unfortunately he tends to avoid hoggers. So until speed; the engines drop their load. I get slack run-out when the next time, ”Keep your rail clean and dry.” u the engines slip and then a little love tap run-in when the train catches up. ”Greasy got us, he’s been through here today.” was the conversation between the conductor and myself. Two major hills are left to climb as we slip and jump along until we reach our first challenge: Quinton Hill. We roll out of the valley at the bottom of Quinton Hill changing from dynamic braking to number 8 throttle quickly. Running at the 35 MPH track speed, we hit the S curve at the base of the hill. The load meter of the lead unit becomes erratic as our speed begins to slow. Out of the curve, the engines settle down into a hard pull as we start the long climb to the S curve at the top of the hill. We enter the curve and once again the engines jump and slip but we’re over the crest at 16 MPH. While it wasn’t pretty, we made it. One hill left, the ”Train Killer” commonly known as Adamsville Hill. Adamsville Hill is 5 miles long, mostly curves with two sections of tangent track. The grade is steepest in the last mile at the top and is known for stalling many a train. Traveling 30 MPH, we power out of the valley at the bottom of the hill. The meter becomes erratic again as the wheel slip and sand lights both flash. It’s obvious Greasy has done a thorough job greasing the hill. Our speed drops as we slip and jump along at full throttle. When we slow to 10 MPH, the conductor grabs his lantern and heads out the back door of the cab to the second unit. No need for conversation, we’ve both been here before. With sanders on the lead unit already running, the conductor operates the manual sanders on the second

May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 17 CITY PEOPLE COWS - BROWN & WHITE COWS - BLACK & WHITE POLICE SQUAD HO Scale • Item No. 33101 • $9.50 HO Scale • Item No. 33102 • $9.50 HO Scale • Item No. 33103 • $9.50 HO Scale • Item No. 33104 • $9.50 O Scale • Item No. 33151 • $13.50 O Scale • Item No. 33152 • $13.50 O Scale • Item No. 33153 • $13.50 O Scale • Item No. 33154 • $13.50

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS MAINTENANCE WORKERS CATS with GARBAGE CAN DOGS with FIRE HYDRANT HO Scale • Item No. 33105 • $9.50 HO Scale • Item No. 33106 • $9.50 HO Scale • Item No. 33107 • $9.50 HO Scale • Item No. 33108 • $9.50 O Scale • Item No. 33155 • $13.50 O Scale • Item No. 33156 • $13.50 O Scale • Item No. 33157 • $13.50 O Scale • Item No. 33158 • $13.50

18 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 Building Traction Flat Trailers – Part 2 3/32” spaced 1/32” thick scribed decking to the top and cut Well, let’s see if we can pick up right where we left off to fit flush all the way around. We’re coming into the home with the last column! Referring back to Photo #3 of the last stretch, and now we need to start looking at the finishing column, we were installing the centersills and as you could details that are in Photo 2. see then, on the one car these were plain and straight while One of the characteristic details for traction freight cars the other set were sort of a fishbelly style. In Figure 1, you are radial couplers. These, combined with the rounded car can get the dimensions that I used for making those parts in 2 section A of the drawing. On that same car with the fishbel- ly centersill, I added a sideboard made from 2”x16”. But, Fig. 1

ends, really promote the ability to get around some very tight corners. In Photo 2 you can see the very nice com- on the other car I thought I’d put a styrene wrapper around mercial ones from Q-Car (Part CB010) and some Kadee it to change the side profile from straight to fishbelly. I took 804 couplers that are wired and soldered to some flat brass some 1/2” wide 0.020” styrene (2 pieces) and wrapped that stock. Precision Scale also sells some nice brass radial around the sides of the car and from that got the end and couplers. Neither of the two commercial radial coupler slope dimensions in section B of Figure 1. I transferred that products provides operating couplers, but they do really directly off the car onto the styrene, cut and hacked, which look nice. The shop-built 804-coupler version is operat- got me to what is in Photo 1. Now, I could have added riv- ing; it is also admittedly not all that attractive. I put one 1 of each option on these cars to illustrate their installation. The Kadee version needs a 3/8”x1/16” mounting pad and a small wood screw to hold it in place. The Q-Car radial coupler unit takes three small screws (and a little Goo). I used some 3/8” #0 blackened screws that I ”shortened”. CITY PEOPLE COWS - BROWN & WHITE COWS - BLACK & WHITE POLICE SQUAD The other interesting detail to add is anti-climbers to each HO Scale • Item No. 33101 • $9.50 HO Scale • Item No. 33102 • $9.50 HO Scale • Item No. 33103 • $9.50 HO Scale • Item No. 33104 • $9.50 end. Q-Car (Part CS334) is a soft white metal casting that O Scale • Item No. 33151 • $13.50 O Scale • Item No. 33152 • $13.50 O Scale • Item No. 33153 • $13.50 O Scale • Item No. 33154 • $13.50 you just bend to conform to the end of the car. A little Goo and CA, and not only are those mounted, but the seam in ets, etc, and you certainly could, but I passed on that exer- the styrene wrapper is gone! cise and moved on to attaching these two wrappers, which After that, there’s not a lot more to do. I’ve added four by the way, do a nice job of covering up our plywood/lead stirrup steps to each car and some stake pockets to sides of assembly. To join these three mixed materials together, I the one car to add a little interest (Grandt Line #83, #89). applied a film of Walther’s Goo to the car side and a bead After that, a brake wheel on some 0.022” brass wire and of medium viscosity CA to the styrene. This seems to work the accompanying ratchet & pawl (Grandt Line #42) pretty close to instant contact cement, so get it right the first time! much wrap these cars up. You are of course free to ”impro- CONSTRUCTION WORKERS MAINTENANCE WORKERS CATS with GARBAGE CAN DOGS with FIRE HYDRANT Going back to the other car, I applied some more 0.020” vise” with detail parts. I don’t bother with any brake details HO Scale • Item No. 33105 • $9.50 HO Scale • Item No. 33106 • $9.50 HO Scale • Item No. 33107 • $9.50 HO Scale • Item No. 33108 • $9.50 styrene in between those straight sides to cover up the on these basic cars and you can easily add stakes to turn O Scale • Item No. 33155 • $13.50 O Scale • Item No. 33156 • $13.50 O Scale • Item No. 33157 • $13.50 O Scale • Item No. 33158 • $13.50 plywood/lead assembly. Cross members, made from the your flat car into a gondola. I generally use Athearn arch left-over 5/32”x1/16” centersills, were added on both cars. bar trucks with Intermountain wheelsets and those go on On the straight sided car these are beveled from 5/32” to easily provided you remembered to drill and tap those car 3/16” to be flush with the 3/16” x1/16” side sills, while bolsters. on the other car these are not beveled but are mortised Next column we’ll get started on mapping out a CERA 3/16”x1/16” to rest on the side sills flush up against the sty- box trailer. The NMRA library came through with yet some rene sides. From there, flip the car back over, and add some more plans for these cars that I have to decipher (FUN!). u May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 19 Hate Sawmills with Nothin’ Inside ? The O Scale Slatyfork Sawmill Interior kit includes all the machinery needed (carriages, rollers, band saws, swing saws, and edgers shown below) for a double band saw mill and a transfer table that is not available separately. In addition, a group of workers are in the kit, and there will be loads of details for the sawfiler's floor including extra saw blades, tools, hoists, benches, and clutter. #18301 O Scale Complete Interior Kit $ 429.95 The Machinery below is Available as Individual Kits

5' Band Saw Log Carriage & Track A cable pulled the carriage from each end and went below the floor to The saw includes a scale 8' the winch drums. The log carriage & track has a footprint of a scale 71' square base. The band saw x 7'. The scale 20' carriage is positionable on the track. The kit includes stands about nine scale feet the rail & spikes. above the base and extends #18306 O Scale $ 59.95 a scale four feet below. A metal blade is included. #18302 O Scale $ 39.95

Rollers Swing Saw Edger The frames have a scale footprint of The swing saw has a footprint of a scale The edger and rollers have a footprint 26' x 3.5'. The lost-wax brass rollers 16' x 6'. It can be built with the saw on the of a scale 37' x 6'. The lost-wax brass are a scale 30" wide. There are two left or right end of the rollers. rollers are a scale 4' wide. sets of rollers. #18305 O Scale $ 49.95 #18303 O Scale $ 49.95 #18304 O Scale $ 29.95 All the above are also coming in HO and S Scales! www.btsrr.com Shipping - $5.00/order in the US All Scale Catalog - $5.00 304-823-3729 Celebrating 30 Years of Service since 1979 Building a Center Cab Diesel Part Three: Capt. Tom Mix, USMC Ret.

If you’ve followed along so far in this series, we’ve looked at up and helps when going through long switches. I also make the basics of brass construction in Part One. Part Two covered homemade wheel wipers as shown in Photo 3. Styrene is used construction of the trucks, and now it’s time to put it all togeth- for insulation and fastened to the truck bolsters with a nylon er and build the chassis. screw. It helps to make sure the brass wiper cannot turn on the Drive Train screw; I used a short section of a styrene channel. Notice that The P&D Hobbies gearboxes work okay, but the plastic the wiper portion rubs on the flange not the tread. The flange tower portion for the drive chain is too wobbly for me, so I doesn’t pick up track crud like the tread does which will inter- made my own from brass stock. Keep in mind the height of fere with electrical pick-up. this tower must fit inside of the hood and there has to be some 3 swivel room. It will be a trial and error process to get the top gear the correct distance from the larger bottom gear, so that the chain will roll without being too tight or too loose. Because the axle span is 7’ you will have to shorten the brass tube that fits over the worm gear shafts between the gearboxes. This tube keeps the two gearboxes squarely locked together horizontally. (If you are using Northwest Short Line gearboxes the set-up may be different). Photo 1 shows the gearboxes and tower with the finished truck sideframes ready to be assembled. Note the bolster has a brass 2-56 screw soldered to it. This screw will be for mounting to the frame with a spring as shown in Photo 2. Electrically, I make the left side insulated, with the right side as the ground on both trucks. This increases the span for pick- 1

Building the frame Now comes the frame. The piece that sets up everything and that says “CB&Q center cab.” In studying the RMC drawing of the diesel, I had to figure out how to separate the hood/cab from the frame for installing and maintaining the motor and electrical system. And what about those handrails? The easiest method I could think of is to solder all of the upper compo- nents to the safety tread decking including the handrails. This sheet would have the center cut out to the fit over the motor, electrical, and speaker enclosure, allowing the complete hood/ cab assembly to be removable (Photo 4). 4

2

The prototype’s frame had an 8” channel along the sides. I used a strip of flat bar, 1/64” X 1/8”, with rivet impressions. Photos 5 and 6 and Figure 1 (page 22) show a homemade rivet punch that I have used for years. It has been written up in Mainline Modeler and on the Proto 48 Yahoo site. I used it 1 to set up the rivet impressions on the 1/64” X 1/8” strip for the side channels. The top of the frame is made from PSC safety tread (GH- 48257, 0.020” thick). The bottom of frame will be a sheet of 0.020” brass. The top and bottom sheets together with the

May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 21 5 strips (think of a brass sandwich) make that 8” channel. The top and bottom sheets extend 3” over the sides, and are flush on the ends. Photo 7 shows this effect. The major por- tion of the frame is a piece of 1/8” thick brass stock milled to a scale 9’ wide by 37’ long. Mark out the truck’s wheelbase, which is 21’-10”, and drill a #44 hole to clear the 2-56 bolster screw. Mill out the open portions of the frame (with the bottom sheet soldered in place) as shown in Photo 8 to clear the tops of the gearboxes. 7

6

8

Fig. 1

My frame also has a large hole in the center for a speaker port. Use a two-flute mill for this as you can drill with it and follow the scribed outlines for the openings. The bolster posi- tion between the gearbox openings can be milled to be thinner than 1/8”. This may be necessary for the required 3’ 8” height from railhead to bottom of the frame. As mentioned earlier, the thickness of the bolsters at the attachment screw will be a fac- tor here too. There will be a hole drilled at each bolster posi- tion to pass the wiper wire to a decoder. I milled out a section on each end of the frame to solder a stiffener piece on the bottom ends of the deck sheet. This stiff- ener will be drilled for the end handrail stanchions and uncou- Spacing pling levers. Photo 4 shows these stiffeners. Note also the short pins in the center of each end. These ensure the screw holes will be accurately aligned when securing the two sections File for rows together. To set these two pins accurately, drill a 0.040” hole close together. centered in the end of the deck plate through the stiffeners. Mark both the deck plate and the frame section so that each 22 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 end can be separately identified. I should mention here that 9 this center cab had a front and rear although both ends look identical. The smoke stack at the cab with the horn is ”front.” The end with the bell is ”rear.” This is important because it affects the detailing and assembly of components during the build. Clamp the deck plate to the frame making sure all is square and even all around. Then drill through the frame using the deck plate hole as a guide. Solder in a short length of 0.040” wire for the alignment pin. Photo 8 also shows all the openings in the frame piece including the holes to attach the hood/cab assembly. If you plan on having sound, a space will be required for a speaker enclosure. I wanted to be able to detail inside the cab, so a speaker couldn’t go there. But, what about underneath the cab’s floor? Some quick measuring showed that a flat 1.5” 10 speaker in an enclosure would fit, but the sound would come out the bottom. What about those fuel and air tanks under the frame, would they hinder the sound passage? I don’t think so. The tank assembly hangs down from the frame with some open space at the top. You could consider drilling holes in the cab floor and have the speaker pointing up. With the cab doors and windows, open the sound would be easily heard. But this might be dangerous for the crew; with all those holes in the floor somebody is going to break a leg! 11 Fuel tanks Time to build the fuel and air tanks assembly underneath the cab. The center fuel tank is made with two sections of 7/16” tube 7’ 6” long soldered side-by-side with a piece of 1/16” spacer between. Wrap them with 0.010” sheet then sol- der on the end pieces and file to give the appearance of one tank. The tank should measure 3’ 6” horizontally. The filler tubes, one each side, is a 3/32” brass rod slightly rounded on the top with a tiny groove machined near the top to look like a cap, then soldered at a slight upward angle. The two air tanks were made from thick walled (.032”) 7/16” tubing also 7’ 6” long. This thick wall allows you to gently round the ends to give the appearance of a manufactured air tank with a crimped end. The center is a solid brass rod all the way through with convex ends and 0.033” hole drilled each end for the air lines. The straps holding the tanks are 1/64” x 1/16” strip. Here is an easy way to get that proper curve in the air tank straps. Chuck JD’s Trains Exclusive Custom Runs a 7/16” thin walled (0.014”) tube and using a cut-off tool Coming Fall 2010 Atlas O Trainman PS-2 3 Bay machine off several rings 1/16” wide. These rings can be cut Covered Hoppers in FIVE new roadnames: and bent with a 0.020 hole drilled for a wire so that it appears Erie, Great Northern, Monon, Rio Grande, & Santa Fe to be a bolt holding the strap sections together. The hangers appear to be somewhat complicated but with a jig as shown in Photo 9 they aren’t too hard to form. Before drilling, measure the position of the suspended tank assembly under the frame. You will note that this assembly is offset 6” towards the engine front. Each car will be factory painted light gray with black 70 ton roller bearing Photo 10 shows the fuel and air tank assembly together with diecast trucks & black pad-printed lettering. Visit www.jdstrains.com to the straps for hanging from the I-beams. Photo 11 shows how see photos of each paint scheme. 2 - 4 road numbers per roadname. the assembly was soldered together with 3/16” I-beams and the Reserve today - only 100 models will be made per roadname. attaching screws. This assembly must be removable in order to 2 & 3 Rail - $45.95 remove the trucks and the drive shaft. The tanks required some DID YOU KNOW? We offer competitive prices on Sunset/3rd modifications because of clearance problems for the drive shaft Rail, Atlas O, Golden Gate Depot, Weaver & Z-Stuff products. and universals. Photo 11 shows what I did. Yours may be differ- ent if another gearbox system is used. JD’s Trains, Inc. 9648 Olive Blvd #384 St. Louis, MO 63132 Phone: 314-409-4451, Email: [email protected] With the frame made and the suspended tanks fitted the Secure ordering at www.jdstrains.com JD’s Trains next chapter will put together the motor and drive system. u May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 23 Jim Hackworth

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7 Edgedale Ct, Wyomissing PA 19610 • Phone 610-678-2834 • E-mail [email protected]/June ’10 - O Scale • Direct Trains Sales • 25 Only Scratch Buildings Jerry Zaret

There are some imaginative and well thought-out kits like those shown above. For demonstration purposes, we’ll available for O Scale modelers. However, you may want to use Froggie’s Café as a step-by-step example. put your own stamp of creativity on a building and be able to Step 1 – Supplies point out to visitors that yes, you built it from ”scratch.” Yes, Start with a generous supply of clapboard and board & you can and it’s easier than you think. batten wood sections. I generally use Northeastern Scale There are two starting points. First, you can design your Lumber’s [northeasternscalelumber.com] clapboard (1/8” own building based on your layout’s needs. That takes a little spacing) and various sizes of board & batten. You can also up front planning since you’ll have to work out the details get excellent versions from Mt. Albert Scale Lumber Co. and of the design before ordering materials. If trying to come up Micro-Mark. You should also have a good supply of different with an original building design leaves your brain and piece sized wood strips on hand, (e.g. 1/8” and 1/4” square, and of paper blank, here’s another thought: Check out the vari- 1/8” x 1/32”) for interior bracing and external details like cor- ous HO kit offerings or some of the great HO layouts online. ner molding (Photo 1). There are dozens of wonderful building design ideas that, 1 unfortunately, are not available in O Scale. And if you’re building a large layout, using kits, as wonderful as they may be, can easily break the bank. So what to do? Scratchbuild them yourself. I started this process with some very simple building designs of my own and graduated to more ambitious build- ings. None of these designs are available in O Scale. And, since there are some manufacturers whose instructions leave something to be desired, you’ll avoid the frustrations of try- ing to figure out what you’re being told to do. Believe me, if you follow these steps, you’ll find out you are quite good at scratchbuilding and that all you need are the right materi- als and time. The more you do it, the more efficient you’ll become as your talents develop. Finally, one of the side ben- efits of this is that you’ll become familiar with virtually all the O Scale detail manufacturers that will add the ultimate detail to your building. The other crucial step is to have a handy supply of styrene The principles here apply to virtually any wood building, windows of various types and sizes. There’s no magic to this from easy four-walled buildings to more complicated designs and following an HO design doesn’t mean you have to do 26 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 the windows and doors the same way. In fact, I rarely do. wise, you’ll end up with two walls exactly the same, one of Often you can’t duplicate the HO window/door anyway, but which will be cut wrong. the building will look just as good. You can get as creative as The height is much easier. I use Northeastern Scale Model you want with doors and windows. My favorite suppliers for clapboard sections that are available in 11” x 3” with a 1/8” these are Grandt Line [www.grandtline.com] and Tichy [tichy- spacing (there’s a 24” version but the width is 3-1/2”). Each traingroup.com]. You can also buy many of the Grandt Line 3” section becomes one floor. For a second (or third) floor, selections from Valley Model Trains [valleymodeltrains.com] just glue another section and brace it on the back for stability. at a discount. Tichy offers a much more limited selection but Nail holes, wood cracks, painting and weathering will hide their prices can’t be beat. One thing to remember is to buy the seams. windows with casing. This will allow you some flexibility in Step 4 – Window and Door Openings cutting the openings, as the casing will hide any missteps. Draw and cut in the windows and doors (Photo 2). You Masonry windows don’t have any casings or frames so it’s can measure the back of the window frame or with a small more difficult to get a good fit without some space showing 2 around the windows. On doors, you can experiment with versions without frames since it’s very simple to build a frame around the door to hide any gaps after installation. Step 2 – Sizing & Templates In your search for ideas, you’re just looking for interest- ing designs and shapes. Prototype buildings come in every imaginable size, so model buildings do as well. (Hint: the secret to what really determines the scale of a model are the windows and doors and various details that go on the roof or on a loading dock.) Even those manufacturers that offer a kit in both HO and diameter pen/pencil trace the outline under the frame. Either O Scales vary the measurement scale. The O Scale footprint way, you may want to cut inside the line until you get used to often runs between 60%-80% larger, occasionally more, the process (which will take just a few minutes) so you don’t than the HO model. This seems to be a function of manufac- make the opening too large. Use a metal straight edge with turing, cost and how large the eventual O Scale model might a thick side so your knife doesn’t slip. I like the Micro-Mark be if they scale it up too much. If the HO specs are avail- straight edge which has a small knob handle (item #60916) to able you can use those print measurements as a rough guide hold the edge in place and helps avoid having your hand too but, in truth, the overall size of the building is your personal close to the knife blade if/when the blade slips. preference using the ”what-looks-good” method and your Step 5 - Bracing layout’s space. Once you have all your cuts made, it’s time for some brac- Again, you have some leeway here, so if your space allows ing. This helps avoid warping and also makes assembly easier. for a deeper building or is restricted because your building Glue some 1/4” or thinner square strips on both ends of the is against track or scenery, just make the appropriate adjust- side walls. Don’t go to the top of the building side or you’ll ment. If the building is basically head on to the viewer, the have to cut the bracing to fit in the roof panel. You may also narrower profile will hardly be noticeable, if at all. want to glue a few interior braces on all walls, but watch out If you’re unsure about the measurements, the easiest way for the window and door openings; leave enough room to to avoid having to discard your mistakes is to make a rough insert the castings. cardstock version of the building. This will help determine For flat inset roofs, some interior bracing should be glued the shape and size of the building and confirm that it fits in around all building’s sides, about 1/4” below the roof edge so your designated layout space. Cardstock, scissors, tape and a the roof can neatly slip in and rest on the bracing. Make your few minutes time are all you need. It’s not an essential thing bracing at least 1/2” inch short of the end of the wall to allow to do, since you could eyeball the size pretty well but it does for the bracing of the perpendicular wall to fit when glued come in handy particularly for cutting a roof section that will together. If your building has an overhang or peaked roof, this fit exactly inside a four-walled structure. type of interior bracing is not necessary. However, you may Step 3 – Cutting the Wall Sections want to cut some peaked bracing so the roof sections have Now the fun and fast part where you’ll see the whole more surface area to rest on. Also, run a horizontal piece of thing start to come together pretty quickly. Draw the wall’s stripwood between the front and back bracing, providing outline on the clapboard or board & batten sections. Cut more stability and more gluing surface. each out with a very sharp hobby knife. I like to use an Olfa Step 6 – Painting knife but there are scores, no pun intended, of similar cut- Now for the finishing steps. Spray both sides of the walls ting tools. I prefer the Olfa knife because it is heavier than with some inexpensive gray primer (Wal-Mart’s brand is fine). the usual X-Acto tool with a #11 blade and easier to control. After it’s dry, run a pounce wheel (Micro-Mark again or Dr. They come with multiple blade sections that you just snap off Ben’s) with teeth a little less than 1/2” apart down every wall when one dulls out. to create nail holes. Then randomly use a sharp #11 blade On clapboard, remember to have all the board overlaps to pick up a few individual clapboards by inserting the knife facing down and when you’re cutting opposite walls, to draw under a board and gently twisting. You’ll get the hang of this one section on the back (plain side) so that when you cut and pretty quickly. turn it over it will be the mirror image of the first wall. Other- To finish the wall sections, apply your final paint color. May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 27 Inexpensive acrylic paints are available in dozens of colors a drop of Elmer’s White Glue or Canopy Glue on each corner from craft stores like Michael’s. For a weathered appearance, of the acetate/window shade. After drying, you’ll be ready for apply the paint somewhere between the classic drybrushing final assembly. technique used for weathering (where the paint is virtually Step 8 – Assembling the Walls & Roof wiped off the brush before applying) and a fully covered Glue the front and back to the sides, using a square to painted wall. Basically, you want ”a bad-looking paint job” make sure the walls dry straight. I like Aleene’s Tacky Glue for which of course, allows a lot of flexibility in terms of how this step. It dries clear, has a very quick tack, but takes awhile you want it to look. Using a 1/2” soft flat brush, apply the to fully set so you can make adjustments well before it cures. paint but don’t cover every board perfectly. Let some of the This step is easy since you have the corner bracing on the gray primer show giving a weathered appearance (Photo 3). If walls for more gluing surface area. Add 1/8” x 1/32” painted 3 stripwood to create a corner molding. These can be the same color as the walls or for variation, a complimentary color. Make a roof template from craft paper, and then cut some black cardstock for the roof. To make a tarpaper roof (Photo 4), spray black craft paper with black paint to dull out the fin- ish. Very lightly spray on some gray or white and finally, some 4

you don’t like what you see, either sand back the paint with fine sandpaper or apply more paint where it’s not covering enough. Step 7 – Windows & Doors Paint your windows and doors. I prime them with inex- pensive spray paint then spray paint the final color. By fold- ing some masking tape at the edges and attaching it to scrap tan. Use a sweeping motion for these colors, keeping the cardboard, you can adhere all the windows and doors to the spray can about 10” from the paper and in motion, passing tape and paint them all at once. It will take about 15 minutes back and forth beyond the edges of the paper. The paper can including the time to let the primer dry to the touch. You can be taped on the back so it will stick to a larger piece of card- do this painting by hand, but it will take longer to do. Unless board for easy handling. Cut strips about 1/2” wide and use you’re using a primer color, the spray cans won’t give you a rubber cement to attach them to the roof. Cut a few pieces totally flat finish. The flattest finish you can get is Satin, but a into smaller sections so it’s not all uniform. Also, add a cou- final coat of Testor’s Dullcote will do the job. For some weath- ple of very small patches to suggest repairs on the roof and ering of the windows, add a very light spray of black or a light outline them with thin lines of white glue to simulate tar. For wash of India Ink/alcohol (2 tps. or less to 1 pint alcohol). a final touch, weather with shades of gray, black and even tan When the final coat is dry, glue in the windows and doors. chalk dust. This will further weather the roof’s appearance. Since they have thin frames, you may not want to use CA glue One section of the building has a corrugated metal roof. unless you use a small micro brush for application, which is This material is great for older sections and roof overhangs. a bit frustrating and time consuming, or you like your fingers The material is available from Sodders Enterprises, Builders- glued together. I use G-S Hypo Cement (Micro-Mark or a in-Scale and others. To weather the metal, prime it first then number of eBay sellers) that has a thin needle applicator. The paint it grimy black, and then add weathering powders. Dr. only trick is getting the darn cap back on to the needle to seal Ben’s is a good source for weathering powders and liquids, the tube. If you have trouble threading a needle, you may including liquid rust). want to find another solution like Canopy Glue (available Step 9 – A Foundation (Optional) from many sources). If you want a foundation, add some 1/8” or 1/4” wood Once your windows are in, glue acetate on the back for strips around the base of the building, slightly indented from the window glass. You can use the Hypo or Canopy Glue. You the wall’s edges. These should be painted a concrete color don’t have to cut these to exact size, just make sure you’re (PolyScale Concrete or Aged Concrete). covering the window opening. Use colored craft paper for Step 10 – Final Details window shades, gluing them over the acetate on the back- For a final touch, include some ads (Photo 5) and roof side. Again, any size will work (hint: make them different details. For the ads, sand the backside and apply Elmer’s heights which adds to the realism). If you want to ensure White Glue then press in place. After a few minutes, run your everything stays in place after the building is assembled, add fingernail along the ad, sinking the paper into the grooves 28 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 5 6

Schomberg [schombergscalemodels.com], Turner Model Works [turnermodelworks.com], etc. To find resources, remember the axiom: ”Google is your friend.” While Bar of the clapboard siding. For more weathering, the ad can be Mills no longer makes billboards, many are still available on drybrushed and weathered with an India Ink/alcohol mix or eBay and Blair Line [blairline.com] continues to offer a line with chalk. If you want a tin sign, mount the ad on some thin of O Scale billboards. They’re easy to construct and add ter- styrene or wood painted black. For the ultimate in realism, rific detail to your rooftops. Or, you can make your own bill- drill some very small holes in each corner with a pin vise and boards, but maybe that’s a subject for another time. Garbage insert some nut/bolt castings available from Grandt Line or cans, boxes, newspapers, etc., are also great details to add Tichy. around the base of the building (Photo 6). For the roof, add vents, chimneys, smokestacks, water That’s about it. The principles here will work with most tanks, billboards, etc. as desired. Virtually all these castings scratchbuilt wooden buildings although obviously some are available from various manufacturers like Valley Model building profiles and shapes are more difficult than others. Trains [valleymodeltrains.com], Sodders Enterprises [sod- But, the principles are the same. Have fun and get to work. dersenterprises.com], Model Tech Studios [modeltechstu- You can do it! u dios.com], Berkshire Valley [www.berkshirevalleyinc.com], OST 05-10_Layout 1 3/15/10 9:01 AM Page 1

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White Drive, Pro Paint, Sunset, GN S2 4-8-4, CP, EX, Glacier Park Scheme, Lights, Road No. 2588 ...... $1,295 Yellow/Stripes, No. 1112 ...... $1,150 Sunset 3rd, LIRR (PRR H6sb) 2-8-0, FP, New, 2-Rail Version, Road No. 301 ...... $775 OMI Nos. 0304/0305, EMD E8 A/B Units, UP, L/N, Per Unit ...... $595 USH, L&N M1 "Big Emma" 2-8-4, CP, L/N, Pro Paint, Road No. 1970 ...... $1,095 Oriental, EMD GP-9 Phase III, UP, New, Samhongsa Korea ...... $825 Precision Scale, NYC F-12 4-6-0, UP, New, PSC #16267, 7,000 Gallon Tender ...... $1,295 OMI Nos. 0393-0397, PRR FA-2/FB-2 - A-B Units, CP, New, w/Ant, Tower Drive ...... $1,595 OMI No. 0109, NYC J1E Hudson 4-6-4, UP, L/N, Original Version ...... $1,695 OMI No. 0201A, PRR DL600B High Hood, UP, New, w/Antennas, 2 Available ...... $695 Westside, NYC J1E Hudson 4-6-4, CP, EX, Can Motor, Road No. 5330 ...... $1,195 OMI Nos. 0425, 0426, 0425 PRR BLW RF-16 Shark Nose A-B-A Units, UP, Mint ...... $2,995 Kohs, NYC J3a Hudson 4-6-4, FP, New, Scullin Disk Drivers, Road No. 5425 ...... $3,795 Atlas O, P&LE GP7 Units, FP, L/N, 2 Rail DCC/Sound, Powered and Dummy Units ...... $575 Westside, NYC J3a 4-6-4, CP, L/N, Pro Paint, Original Version, Rd#5405...... $1,095 Atlas O, SRR F3 Phase 1 A/B/A Units, FP, L/N, 2 Rail DCC/Sound, Freight Scheme ...... $895 Westside, NYC J3a 4-6-4, CP, L/N, Pro Paint, Fully Streamlined, Rd#5447 ...... $2,295 OMI No. 0201, UP ALCO U-50-C, UP, New, $1,025 Westside, NYC J3a 4-6-4, CP, L/N, Pro Paint, Mod. Streamlining, PT-4, No. 5451 ...... $2,295 OMI No. 0354, UP Standard Turbine, UP, Mint, Round Tender, Rare ...... $2,695 USH, NYC J3a Destreamlined 4-6-4, CP, EX, PT-4 Tender, Road No. 5447 ...... $1,095 Atlas O, WM F3 Phase 1 A/B Units, CP, Gold DCC, Fireball Scheme, Nos. 51A/B ...... $695 Sunset, NYC K5 Pacific 4-6-2, CP, L/N, Pro Paint, Jerry White Drive, Road No. 4931 ..$1,195 Rolling Stock USH, NYC L2a Mohawk 4-8-2, CP, L/N, Pro Paint, Can Motor, Road No. 2730 ...... $1,250 PSC, GN HWT Empire Builder 9 Car Set, FP, New, PSC #16981 ...... $7,595 USH, NYC L4b Mohawk 4-8-2, CP, EX, Can Motor, Road No. 3148 ...... $1,025 Beaver Creek, C&O Old Time Passenger Car Set, CP, L/N, Pro Paint, Combine, PSC, NYC S1b Crown Niagara 4-8-4, CP, New, Pro Paint, Rd#6021, Exquisite ...... $4,095 2 Coaches, Business, w/Interiors ...... $1,250 Sunset, NKP USRA 2-8-2, CP, L/N, Pro Paint, Extra Details, w/Box Car and Cab...... $1,250 Custom Brass, PRR B60 Baggage Car, CP, EX, CNJB No. 702-O ...... $295 PSC #15699, N&W Class S1a 0-8-0, UP, L/N, Road Nos. 200-244 ...... $1,595 Sunset 3rd, PRR BM54, P54 Commuter Cars, FP, New, 2 Rail, Baggage, Combine, Glacier Park, NP S-4 4-6-0, FP, Mint, 11C Tender, Road No. 1369 ...... Reserve Coaches, Price Each ...... $250 Overland, NP Z8 2-6-6-4, CP, EX, Coal Version, Weathered, Road No. 5130 ...... $2,295 Sunset 3rd, PRR B60, P70, Baggage, Coaches, FP, New, 2 Rail, Price Each ...... $275 Gem-Heike, PRR A5s 0-4-0, CP, EX, Extensive Custom Rebuild, Road No. 94 ...... $2,895 PSC #16389, SP Business Car "Los Angeles", FP, New, Two Tone Gray, WBM Korea ...... $595 Williams, PRR B6sb 0-6-0, FP, EX, 2 Rail Version, Lights, Road No. 6380...... $425 Sunset 3rd, SP Lines 70' Harriman Baggage, Coach, FP, New, Plmn Green, Each ...... $295 Sunset-Heike, PRR H9s 2-8-0, CP, EX, Extensive Custom Rebuild, Road No. 1145 .....$2,595 Sunset 3rd, UP 70' Harriman Baggage, FP, New, Two Tone Gray, #3030 ...... $295 Key, PRR H10 2-8-0, FP, L/N, Pro Details, Weathered, Road No. 8014 ...... $2,495 The P. Co., PRR X-42 Mail Storage Car, CP, New, Shadow Keystone, Rd#2541 ...... $350 Overland, PRR HH1 2-8-8-2, CP, New, OMI No. 139, 1 of 10 Produced ...... $2,595 Overland, GPEX 47' Pfaudler Steel Milk Car, UP, New, OMI No. 0700 ...... $295 Westside, PRR J1a 2-10-4, UP, New, 210F84 Tender w/Custom Antenna, ...... $1,695 PSC #16089, Hoods 41' Pfaudler Wood Milk Car, FP, L/N, Road No. 802 ...... $350 ALCO, PRR K4s 1938 Strmlnd, CP, L/N, Pro Paint, Rd#3768, Broadway Limited ...... $1,095 RY Models, B&O USRA Steel Gondola, CP, L/N, Black, Road No. 255416 ...... $325 Kohs, PRR K4s 4-6-2 Prewar Version, FP, New, 130P75 Tender, Rd#3863 ...... $4,195 Div. Point #104, C&NW Wood Side Door Cab, FP, New, 4 Window Cupola, #11401 ...... $350 PSC-Heike, PRR K4s Postwar Ver, CP, L/N, Ext Custom Rebuild, Rd#1329, Unique .... $2,795 Div. Point, N&W CF/CH Cabooses, FP, New, Several Versions Available ...... $395 Westside, PRR M1 4-8-2, UP, New, Last Run, Full Backhead ...... $1,495 W&R, NP 24' Wood Caboose, FP, L/N, 2nd Run, Version 3, Interior, Road No. 1644 ...... $295 Max Gray, PRR M1a 4-8-2, UP, Mint, Late Run, 210P75 Tender ...... $995 Overland, Palace Poultry Car, UP, L/N, OMI No. 0055, W/Trucks ...... $575 Overland, PRR M1b 4-8-2, FP, Mint, 210p75 Tender w/Antenna, No. 6753 ...... $2,295 NJCB, PRR Class N5 Cabin Car, UP, New, w/Antenna, PRR Caboose Trucks, Korea ...... $325 Max Gray, PRR N1s 2-10-2, CP, New, McCafferty Paint and Weathering ...... $1,695 RY Models, PRR GLca Fishbelly Twin Hopper, UP, New, AB Brakes ...... $275 Westside, PRR Q2 4-4-6-4, CP, EX, Pro Paint, Weathered, Road No. 6148 ...... $1,495 Overland, PRR H32 5 Bay Covered Hopper, UP, Mint, OMI No. 0015 ...... $425 Westside, PRR Q2 4-4-6-4, UP, New, KTM Japan ...... $1,995 Overland, UP CA-1 Wood Caboose, UP, New, OMI No. 0797 ...... $225 Sunset 3rd, PRR S1 6-4-4-6, FP, L/N, Deskirted Version, Lt. Weathered, #6100 ...... $1,195 Hallmark, B&O M-53 Wagon Top Box Car, UP, Mint, Plain Door, No Tarnish, Korea ...... $350 Weaver-Heike, RDG G2sa 4-6-2, CP, L/N, Complete Rbld, Exceptional, Rd#112 ...... $2,495 PSC #15117, Berwind (PRR) Glca Twin Hopper, CP, L/N, RYM Trucks, Scale Cplers...... $295 Overland, RDG T1 4-8-4, UP, Mint, w/Decals, OMI 0150...... $1,595 Hallmark, B&O Wagon Top Covered Hopper, UP, Mint, No Tarnish, Korea ...... $325 Westside, SOO Line (B&O P7) 4-6-2, CP, V/G, Early Version, Lights, Rd#2726 ...... $1,095 Car Works, Marion Model 40 Shovel, FP, New, O Scale, Steam Powered ...... $550 PSC #16915-1, SP F-4 2-10-2, FP, New, Postwar, Road No. 3679 ...... $2,195 Keystone, PRR Hopper and Gondola Cars, U/P, Mint, H21, H25, GS, Others ...... Call PSC #17347-1, SP GS-4 4-8-4 Postwar Version, FP, New, Black, Road No. 4436 ...... $2,695 Various, New Collection - Brass Rolling Stock, CP, Pacific Ltd, PSC, etc...... Call Sunset /3rd, SP MT-4 4-8-2, FP, New, 2-Rail, Daylight Scheme, Skyline, Rd#4352 ..... $1,395 Various, Intermountain - Red Caboose Kits, FP, Box Cars, Reefers, others ...... Call Various, Craftsman Structure Kits, UP, T. Yorke, Stoney Creek, Others ...... Call The Jawn Henry in O Scale Conley Wallace Ever since Julian Cavalier’s drawing appeared in the Octo- railroad has the same requirements so I happily have no ber, 1976 issue of Railroad Model Craftsman, I’ve toyed with problems running the turbine. the idea of scratchbuilding the Norfolk and Western steam I made the loco’s body of styrene in three separate sections turbine Jawn Henry. Thirty years later I bought a copy of Rails (Photo 1). That piece of plywood in the photo is the template Remembered, Volume 4, The Tale of a Turbine by Louis M. Newton and after reading it from cover to cover, I decided it 1 was about time to get started. Lewis Newton was an employee of the motive power department at the N&W and spent a year at Baldwin-Lima- Hamilton overseeing the construction of the new steam tur- bine (completed in 1954), and the next year riding along as an observer. He took volumes of detailed notes that allowed him to write his excellent book. The railroad designated the loco class TE-1 for turbine-electric and numbered it 2300. It was generally referred to as John Henry or Jawn Henry. The TE-1 burned coal to produce steam from a 600psi boiler. The steam powered a turbine, which turned generators to produce electricity for traction motors. One can quickly I used in testing for track clearance. The body’s sides are see the differences and similarities between diesel-electric 0.040” styrene glued to a number of interior bulkheads for and turbine-electric. strength. The horizontal and vertical ribs are applied styrene Testing of the locomotive began in 1954 and was con- strips and the louvers are cut from styrene clapboard sheets. ducted over the various divisions of the railroad. I was in the After the basic carbody was assembled I added another layer fourth grade and living in Keystone, West Virginia when the of 0.040” styrene to the inside of the sidewalls for strength. If testing began on the Pocahontas Division. This allowed me I were doing this again, I would simply use 0.080” styrene. to see it pulling a freight train every day for a short period of The 0.040” material was just not rigid enough. time. It really was an impressive sight. Photo 2 shows the method I used to achieve a uniform The success of the experimental loco was mixed. It per- curve to a very long roof. That black piece is the clerestory formed well in most respects, but its complexity and frequent section of a plastic passenger car roof. It was cut into short breakdowns caused the railroad to abandon the project after sections and glued between each set of bulkheads. All ribs three and a half years. TE-1, number 2300 was retired and were filed away and an overlay of 0.020” styrene was used scraped in 1957. As I contemplated the construction of such a long loco, I 2 wondered if it could ever run on my layout without its over- hang destroying everything along curved track. I made a foot- print of the loco’s carbody of 1/4” plywood and mounted it on four passenger trucks with span bolsters that were spaced the same as the loco. As I pushed this contraption around the layout, I was surprised to discover that it cleared everything! Later I read that the prototype was designed to have no more outside overhang than the largest N&W articulated or more inside overhang than an eighty-foot passenger car. My model 32 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 for the finished roof. sel trucks and were manufactured by Kemtron/PSC. The The series of vents along the upper part of the loco were chain drive system and trucks are available as kits from P&D fashioned from material used on F7 vents and the rear vents Hobbies. The two outside axles on each truck are powered were brass-screening material (Photo 3). The trickiest part of while the center axle is an idler. The trucks are connected by the basic body’s construction was the nose. I used a table saw homemade span bolsters and mounted on a brass frame that fits into the body. It runs well but it is noisy with two chains 3 (Photos 7 & 8). 7

8 to cut a blank with the proper 4 angles, using a piece of cherry because it is tight grained and stable. Photo 4 shows the blank and the completed nosepiece. The door and screens are made of styrene and aluminum screen. The wood was carefully chiseled 5 out to accept the door and The headlight is battery powered, operated by a switch screens. The top was cut and hidden in the firebox grate. The tender was made of sheet sanded to match the roof, then brass. I chose brass over styrene because of the sharp bends sealed with sanding sealer between the sides and top (Photo 9). I was afraid the styrene so the grain would not show would break down in time along the bend. The water treat- when painted. The installed ment equipment (Photo 10) was made of styrene as a sepa- nose and other detail may be rate assembly and screwed to the tender deck. The treated seen in Photo 5. water tank was made from two PVC pipe caps I picked up in When I began to add a plumbing supply store. The trucks are from MTH, the ones details to the loco, I real- used on their N&W Class A. ized that I did not have enough information to complete the I painted the loco and tender with Floquil’s Loco Black roof or the interior of the cab. I belong to the N&W Histori- with some white added to show details better. Lettering is cal Society so I contacted John Snidow to arrange a visit to from Microscale. The cab interior is a shade of tan similar to the society’s archives in Roanoke, Virginia. My biggest treat the tan found on an ordinary metal file cabinet. That’s the way came when he arranged for me to meet Louis Newton who Mr. Newton described the color to me and he should know! is now retired and living in Roanoke. Mr. Newton was able u to answer a number of my questions and I remain indebted to him. 9 The cab’s interior is 6 detailed with all the equip- ment I could identify. It has the fireman’s console, the engineer’s console, and a cabinet, brake stand and three chairs. The third chair was original and was desig- nated for the observer (Photo 6). The cab roof is removable and was made from a piece of aluminum flashing. I used this instead of styrene because it is easily curved and will stay curved without gluing. The pilot for this loco is identical to the pilot used on the N&W Class A but I could not locate one. I bought a UP Big Boy pilot from PSC and soldered a brass sheet over it. I filed the overhang flush with the casting and added a door for the coupler. The loco is powered with two Pittman can motors with flywheels via a chain drive. The trucks are Alco freight die- 10 May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 33

SMR TRAINS Virginia & Truckee In stock now!

Photo by Get Real Productions

Your source for: Model Building Services Models built by Stu Gralnik Motive power, rolling stock 264 Marret Rd • Lexington MA 02421 Ph: 781-860-0554 and structure plans [email protected] (since 1975) Tell our advertisers that you saw their Quik-Signs sign sets Coal Mine by Scale industry directory ad in O Scale Trains K&P Brick and Building Paper Creek Models Magazine. We’d Send $2.00 for catalog appreciate it! Assembled buildings from any manufacturer’s kit. Underground Railway Press Kitbashed, painted and detailed...“Just Like Real!” P.O. Box 814OS Brevard, NC 28712-0814 www.modelbuildingservices.com 36 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 Rounding Out A New Roundhouse Warner Clark, photos by Rich Bourgerie

In OST #45 I talked about the new roundhouse for my P48 Clover Leaf Route. In this issue I cover the support facilities 1 that are often found nearby on the prototype. Most model railroads have an engine facility. If steam locomotives are involved, then you will need water service plus coal and sand delivery at a minimum. Cinder dumps, covered inspection pits for servicing inside bearing locomo- tives, along with the means for starting fires and repairing running gear will be added touches along with the use of compressed air and steam to run various items. If diesel loco- motives are involved, all you need is a fueling, water and sand delivery plant. The one I built is constrained by limited available space, and by my childhood memories. By the mid-Forties, Toledo had become a backwater termi- nal for the NKP. The facility provided running repairs (bear- ings, tire shimming, brake shoes, bulbs, gaskets, bushings, and change outs of boiler jewelry); and on rare occasion, boiler washes and 90 day locomotive inspections when the facilities at Delphos and Frankfort were not available. The 2 storeroom was always stocked with several grades of lube oils, grease sticks, cotton waste, bearing brasses, etc. Starting with the roundhouse, I added interior lights and metal forming machines from OMI. Western Scale Models supplied the belt driven radial drill press, engine lathe, and 50HP electric motor. All the figures are by Arttista. In the front office, enginehouse foreman, John Hoeger is giving the ”kid” the latest engine line-up while machinists Pat Bends and Ore Swan work on returning NKP 597 to service (Photos 1-2) To round out my compact facility, I added a small car department repair shop to do wheels, draft gear, brakes and safety appliances (Photo 3). Remember, it wasn’t until die- sels and roller bearing trucks were well established that the industry changed from joining steel with rivets to welding and Huck bolts. The building itself is a limited edition of Stoney

May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 37 3 6

4 The inbound enginehouse track has an 11’ X 20’ cinder pit that is 8’ deep (Photo 7). I cut a metal running board from a forty-foot boxcar in half to run on the outside of the running rails. The rails are CA’d to 2 ft. high I beams. On the right side of the pit is a tool rack for cinder hoes and steam cleaning lines. To the right of this is an underground utility box hous- ing air and steam connections. 7

Creek Designs kit #4, light industrial building. I had a friend make a decal/sign for the front, and I added a lean-to on the back. The jack stands, bottle jack, Whiting trolley crane and truck dismantling trestle were made from styrene shapes and CC Crow castings (Photo 4). Water service is provided by a column that serves both the enginehouse lead and the mainline (Photo 5). I pasted an enlarged photo of an early 20th Century water tower onto the four sides of a square column that holds up the dining room floor. The water treatment plant, a single story brick building, Just beyond the cinder pit is the sandhouse, which started nestles up to one corner of the tower/pillar. out as a Model Tech Studios kit. I changed it around to be 5 like the one I remember from my childhood. It will require a line from the compressed air plant (Venturi) to move the sand from a rail car to the ”green” sand storage, then to the stove 8

Coal service is provided by a locomotive crane with a clam shell bucket that transfers coal from gondolas to the tenders. The crane also cleans out the cinder pit, and with its block and tackle, can also remove/replace parts on a locomo- tive. A most versatile machine to have around a service facil- ity (Photo 6). 38 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 and into the tower. The entire structure could also be scratch- built. No two were exactly alike from what I’ve seen (Photo 11 8). A small wood rack is found on the outbound ready track. I cut up a bunch of flat toothpicks to represent the four-foot long freight boxes split up by the personnel at central stores in Lima, Ohio. The wood along with oil soaked cotton waste is used for restarting fireboxes when making locomotives ready for service (Photo 9). 9

12

The elevated steam, condensate and air lines can be sited at a number of points (Photo 10). On my layout, the steam plant is in the roundhouse, while the air plant is in the lean-to behind the car department building. Both these facilities used 10

steam and air along with the sand plant and the drops to each side of the ready track (for cleaning and Alemite lubrication). The condensate/water line is 1/16” styrene rod. The air line is .045” brass wire. I used elbows, globe valves, and joints 13 from a Walther’s Cornerstone Series #933-3105, HO gauge piping kit to detail the lines. The poles are 12” square bass- wood strips about 20’ high and spaced about 25 to 29 feet apart. They hold a 4’ long cross arm about a foot and a half from the top, with the water/steam lines hung under the cross arms using 0.010” wire hangers and bails, with the air line resting on top the cross arms. The steam and water lines were painted a light color and the poles and air line were painted a grimy black. Be sure to paint the lower part of the poles a dirty white color so employees don’t drive into them (Photos 11-12-13). The steam line is a 3/16” styrene tube (Evergreen #426). The expansion loop is formed on the jig shown in Photo 14 (page 40). The steam line expansion loop jig is made of 1inch PVC pipe cross-sections. A hot air gun set on low heat was May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 39 14 RY Models

Arch Bar Once common under freight equipment, the Arch bar truck was banned from interchange service in December 1939. $30/pair O Scale

used to bend the styrene tubing around the jig. The last item is the diesel fuel stand, which I built from a photo of a home- built one found in a Classic Trains Magazine (The M&StL at Peoria). Near the stand is a cabinet housing the pump controls and metering device for fuel stored in a nearby 8,000 gal. company owned tank car (Photos 15-16). Other details Andrews L Section include fireplugs, fire hose cabinets and three-phase electric service. Andrews trucks were produced from 1910 through the 1930s. Many roundhouses also had a bunkhouse (usually from an old double- A single-walled truck, the big selling feature of the Andrews sheathed boxcar) available to visiting train crews. The track department might design was that journal boxes from older Arch Bar trucks could also be present, storing snowplows, camp cars, tool cars and emergency track be reused in new Andrews trucks. $30/pair O Scale or Proto:48 materials. Be judicial in the junk and scrap you leave around. No tripping or falling hazards, and small enough that you don’t need a 250-ton wrecking crane to lift the pieces off the ground. Another rule of thumb offered by our assistant vice president of grunge, Rich 15 Bougerie: ”If it is a light color – give it a liberal dose of alcohol thinned India Ink, and if Vulcan it is a dark color, Vulcan cast trucks were produced in the 1920s. The re-use of drybrush it with journal boxes from Archbar trucks was an economical way to upgrade a freight truck, and the Vulcan sideframe was a an off-white paint commmon choice. $30/pair O Scale to bring out the detail.” u

16

Andrews Caboose Trucks This style came onto the scene in 1910 and remained popular through the 1930s. $33/pair O Scale Other Trucks Also Available Bettendorf Caboose $33/pair O Scale 50-Ton Bettendorf $30/pair O Scale, $32/pair P:48 National B1 $30/pair O Scale, $32/pair P:48 7 Edgedale Ct, Wyomissing PA 19610 richyodermodels.com E-mail [email protected] Phone 610-678-2834 Direct Sales Only 40 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 The Right Stuff use a file to open out the slot. My grandniece likes the ”doggies” on the magazine Lee Marsh, UK masthead. I like the mix of prototype, craftsman, and reflections on the future of the hobby articles. You are Rivets Part II going in the right direction. Money is tight these days but I One other answer to the rivet issue with the Mullet am ”voting” with my subscription renewal. River boxcar frame is the rivet decals by Archer. They work Richard Swart, WA well, are easy to use, and I highly recommend them for areas where wear is not a problem. Got this idea from Jim Small Is Beautiful Zwernemann, young man full of ideas. FYI, Joe, read your piece on the redesigned layout. Reality Jesse Patton via e-mail does set in after awhile, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, it is usu- ally after we have spent a small fortune pursuing illusions Going P48 or 3-Rail? of grandeur. I have done some layout redesign of my own. I, and others at the O Scale Club, am concerned about Small is beautiful, especially if you don’t want to spend the direction OST seems to be going: P48. It’s a free coun- every free hour working on the layout or running trains. try to choose this but as one of the more articulate mem- When I was single I could do that. Not now. Not only bers said: ”O Scale is such a small market, why fracture it does a small layout take less time, money and space to more, and all for what, about 1/16th of an inch?” Most of build and maintain, but it also can have variety by differ- us build models, run trains, and a few of us do prototype ent periods and by changing industries, thereby justifying style operation (me included). a wider selection of cars, with one limitation: 50 footers So, I’m going to ”wait and see” (before renewing) which just don’t work, nor do locos with long wheelbases. So the is too bad because you have the best photos and some early ’60s is as far as I can go with this layout. Which is really good modeling. okay. I go back to the 1950s and remember steam engines Frank Hillman, OR in my youth. This is as much about nostalgia as it is about (Joe responds: My goodness! Where do folks get these realism. ideas? First, people accuse us of going 3-rail. Now they So that raises for me one question about the layout accuse us of going P48! Neither is true. you settled on. Will it afford you enough switching inter- While it is true that Capt. Mix’s article is about building est? Since it isn’t a loop you can’t be into just running a P48 center cab diesel, it’s focus is the scratchbuilding, trains, so what’s the justification for moving freight from not the P48 part. Mike models in P48 and writes about one place to the other? It looks a little thin in that regard. I prototype modeling, which anyone can learn from regard- will be looking forward to what comes next. less of the track gauge. If you have read my Starting Over Sarah Flynn, VT series, you know I’m building the new layout using Atlas O (Joe replies: That’s a great question and I will answer track and switches. The last I checked, they’re not P48. it in detail in the series when I discuss the track plans at What we are doing is attempting to provide a balance Abingdon, Damascus and White Top. I spent a lot of time for all O Scalers. looking at maps of the areas and I have this great booklet put out by the N&W called Along the Right Of Way that lists every stop on every division where the population was great-  
  er than 100. The descriptions tell you what was going in and out at that depot. That’s Our Servo Decoders Can what drives the freight out and back. • Switch Turnouts Animate Semaphores A Riveting Suggestion • I was reading your review of the Mullet • Lower Crossing Gates River kit [in OST#49]. This simple tool [www. • Anything that Moves mike.calvert.btinternet.co.uk/RiveringTool. DCC/DC/AC htm] is good for etched kit rivets. For fold- All Scales ing etched parts, sometimes it helps to open up or deepen the fold lines. To deepen, use a See the Review scrawker [a.k.a. a scriber-Ed.]. Olfa makes one in this Issue! for scribing plastic sheet, but it works fine on brass. Pull along the half etched line until you www.tamvalleydepot.com see a faint ridge on the other side, then it will Great Electronics for Great Model Railroads fold easily. If it does not fold to a 90° bend, May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 41 In Paul Larson’s Honor

William W. Davis

Like so many of us I grew up in the 1950s and early ’60s 1 and I had my heroes. You may remember the Lone Ranger, Superman, and Mickey Mantle just to name a few. But I also had some other heroes that most kids didn’t. These were guys floor by scribing the ends of the floorboards on the edge so who built model trains. You know, John Allen, Jack Work, Bill the sandwiching wouldn’t show. This took a little time, but this Livingston and Bill Clouser. I was lucky enough to meet a kind of attention to the details makes a finished model look couple of these guys but that’s another story. better. As an added bonus, the sandwich construction gave a There was another guy that greatly influenced my model- strong flat surface for building the rest of my car. For the ends ing. I’m speaking of Paul Larson. His HO models and layout I simply cut two pieces of scribed sheeting and put a piece of in ’50s was in many ways, ahead of its time, but it was his 0.010” brass between them, using CA to adhere everything modeling after he made the switch to O Scale that influenced together. Since the edge of the finished end wasn’t going to me most. Recently there was a discussion about Paul on the show I didn’t need the strips (Photo 3). P48 list and this got me to dig out the old articles from Rail- The next step was to detail the ends. This was really a fun road Model Craftsman. Among them was an article in the April 1967 issue on building a ”Super Stock Car.” This car was 2 exceptional for the times and I decided I’d build one based on his car and letter it for his railroad (Photo 1). Now much has changed in the 42 years since that article was written. At that time styrene was just coming into vogue and they didn’t have the sizes and shapes we have today. He didn’t have the castings either, so he labored under a disad- vantage compared to us, and yet built a spectacular model. With today’s advances I could only hope to build one as nice. I would suggest you get a copy of the April 1967 RMC to learn more about how he built this car. You can get a copy from the library of the NMRA for a small fee. Getting started 3 For me the first step in building the stock car was to decide how I was going to add weight. Since the sides are open, I just couldn’t add a washer or other type of weight inside as I would on a boxcar. That just wasn’t going to work! Paul filled the centersill with Cerro Bend but I want an open design there so that also was out. To solve my problem I made a sandwich type construction for the floor and ends. To build it I cut two pieces of Evergreen 0.020” thick x 1/8” spaced scribed sheet- ing a scale 36’ long x 9’ 2” wide that would represent the floorboard’s tops and bottoms. Next I added 0.015” x 0.188” styrene strips around the edges and filled the middle with a piece of 0.015” brass sheet (Photo 2). Finally I finished the 42 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 part of the project because I got to try something I have never decal rivets. I also added the bearing plates and side bearers done before. I built the Z braces by cutting a piece of 0.010” x to the body bolster at this time. I built two other channels that 0.060” styrene strips, gluing them 12” from each side of cen- go between the body bolster and center frame supports using ter. I also cut pieces to form part of the corner angles on the 0.010” x 0.125” strip and 0.010” x 0.080” strips to form a edges of the ends. Next, I added two pieces of 0.060” angle to channel. These were located in line with the side post loca- complete the Z bracing and a piece of 0.100” channel for the tions between the center post and body bolster. I added the sway braces. I cut a piece of 0.030” thick for the end fascia angled channels in the corners after cutting out the frame ends area with a piece of 0.080” strip at the bottom (Photo 4). from a sheet of 0.020” styrene. The poling pocket was piece of Rivets are always a challenge and I hate doing them. styrene tubing. Lastly I added the supports for the brake cylin- der and all the brake rigging, and then gave the underframe a 4 coat of boxcar red paint (Photo 5). Car sides 5

Now I was ready to build the sides. I knew this part of the project would be the most challenging as I had to drill for all the carriage bolt heads on the Z bracing and I wasn’t look- ing forward to that. I drew a very rough drawing of the board spacing and glued it to a piece of foam core to which I’d space and pin the sideboards to for assembly. I built the car sides from pieces 0.015” x 0.100” styrene strips, held together with 0.010” x 0.060” strip for the flat part of the Z bracing. Just like the ends, I added the 0.060” channel to complete the braces. I added a strip of 0.060” x 0.100” for the fascia area. For the carriage bolt heads I used Tichy 0.030” rivets. To However my friend David Reed came to my rescue. He sug- complete each side I added grab irons, ladders, doorstops; the gested I try using a product from Archers Fine Transfers [www. door track and the letterboard. You’ll note in Photo 6 some archertransfers.com] that would give me the needed rivet temporary pieces across the bottom of the door openings, details but are actually decals. Decals? Could there be a solu- which hold the sides together until they’re installed on the tion that simple? underframe. Well the answer is yes and it turned out to be the perfect The doors are 6’ wide x 8’ 4” tall, built the same way as solution. They were no more difficult to use then decal let- tering and once set they leave a little bump that represents a 6 rivet. These aren’t for every rivet application and I didn’t use them everywhere on this project. However, I can see that I’ll be using them and other surface details from this company on many other projects in the future. (See the product review on page 48.) Underframe Next I started detailing the underframe by cutting out the locations for the sidewall supports so that the finished under- frame would be 8’ 9” wide. I made the sidesills by cutting two the sides using the Tichy rivets pieces of 0.188” styrene channel the length of the floor, gluing 7 to represent the carriage bolt them on edge at the cutouts. Next I made the centersill chan- heads. I added Grandt Line nels from of 0.020” x 0.250” styrene strip for the web with D&RGW door hangers for two pieces of 0.010” x 0.080” for the top and bottom flanges mounting them on the door for the two channels that make up the centersill. I centered track (Photo 7). I waited until them on the underframe 12” apart with the flanges facing out. installation to complete some I made the body bolsters by cutting eight pieces of 0.020” x of the end details for the cross 0.250” that matched the angle between the centersill’s height braces and the door handle. and the sidesill’s height. I located the body bolster five feet Okay, we have the ends, on center from the car end. I also cut four pieces for the two the underframe, the sides and cross bearers near the car’s center, located 3’ from the center doors all built. It’s time to put to correspond with the doorposts. I covered these with pieces this all together. Now this was of 0.010” styrene sheet cut to size and shape and added the bit tricky. I decided to assemble May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 43 a side and an end to form an L and then glue these to the x 0.100” strips to represent the side and end fascias. I built the underframe and each other. This actually worked out very running board end supports out of 0.010” x 0.040” styrene well. I also at this time added the decal rivets where the side’s strips. With this my car is basically finished and ready to head Z braces meet the underframe. Next I finished the brake wheel for the paint shop. platform and installed the doors after I cut out the support bar, Painting and weathering which was no longer needed (Photo 8). I added the door lock Let the fun begin! I like building models with that been- details and was ready to move on to the roof. on-the-road-working-hard look. Not that they are abused, but have been out in the elements and it shows. The first part 8 I wanted to paint was the roof. I wanted it to show the most wear from the steady beating of the sun over the years and I wanted that to be obvious. So after priming, I sprayed the roof with a coat of Testor’s Model Master # FS33613 Radome Tan (a military color). Once dry, I gave it a wash of Folk Art #476 Asphaltum, again, allowing that to dry overnight before giv- ing the roof an uneven coat of boxcar red leaving many areas bare. The next day I sanded the roof and running boards with 100 grit sandpaper, which evened out the colors making it appear like the paint had peeled over the years. I gave the roof a wash of Rustall’s Blackwash, which really gave me the effect I was after (Photo 10). 10

Roof After I had painted the carbody I needed to get the rest of Since the subroof wasn’t going to be seen, I built a simple the car to look like the roof. I knew I couldn’t do the sanding support system from six pieces of 0.060” x 0.250” styrene method I used on the roof because of all the details. I decided strips and 0.080” x 0.080” strips lengthwise, doubling the to paint the weathering! I did this by drybrushing the car sides center strip (Photo 9). and ends with the Radome Tan and the Asphaltum. After I was happy with how it looked, I gave the car a wash of the Rustall 9 Blackwash (Photo 11). For lettering, I used a Champ stock car data set and an alphabet set I got from my friend Mickey. I let-

For the roofing I glued 0.020” thick by 0.100” spaced scribed sheets back to back so I’d have board detail top and bottom. This turned out to be a waste of time, as the underside didn’t show. So I could have simply used a piece of 0.040” x 0.100” scribed sheeting. Oh well live and learn! 11 However I did have an advantage doing it this way. I cut the top piece the full 10’ 3” width of the car. I then glued the lower pieces so there was a very slight space between them at the center. This actually worked out quite well when I bent the roof and glued it to the car body. For the running boards I used Simpson supports (I believe) I had in my parts bin. Lastly, I added the 0.030” x 0.188” boards and two 0.010” x 0.040” pieces across the walk to represent the metal joint cover details. I felt I needed a better fascia, so I added 0.015” 12 44 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 tered the car CMR&P, which was Paul’s road name and gave it and who greatly affected my modeling. I hope that you might the number 41967, which is the month and year of the article also be able to build a car that will maybe honor a fellow by Paul. I weathered the lettering with a light wash of the model railroad hero of yours. u Asphaltum so it wasn’t so white. At this point it was looking really good but the underframe need some weathering. I had 14 noticed that Gene Deimling had gotten some very nice effects by over spraying his cars with flat lacquer and then using the Rustall Rust color and Blackwash. I’m no chemist but the Rust- all products don’t like the lacquer and created a weathered chalky effect that looks like weathered metal, so I thought I’d give this method a try. It works great! (Photos 12-14.) Well that’s it! This was a challenging but fun project. One that has given me a unique car for my railroad and also an opportunity to honor a man who gave so much to the hobby 13

May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 45 NEWS: Norfolk Southern Coal Cars on CD; MSRP: $19.95 NEWS: O Scale Figures; MSRP: $21.99 and $22.99 plus s&h Woodland Scenics, PO Box 98, Linn Creek MO 65052 Highlands Station, LLC, 600 Dudley St, Lakewood, CO 573-346-5555 • www.woodlandscenics.com 80215-5407 www.HighlandsStationLLC.com Woodland Scenics® is introducing two new O Scale Sce- nic Accents, shipping in April. Scenic Accents scale figures, Highlands Station, accessories and animals are sculpted and hand-painted LLC, has just released its in fine detail and add color, detail, personality and life to 15th digital book, Norfolk any layout, project or diorama. The new O Scale Scenic Southern Coal Cars, by Accents are: David Casdorph. The digital publication features 440 pages of new, never before published, information detailing Norfolk South- ern’s current coal car fleet, including those from prede- cessor roads that were still A2759—People Sitting: This set includes two women on the roster as of late 2009 and four men. One man sits on the ground with his back (Conrail, Norfolk & West- to a wall. A man and a woman sit reading books. One man ern, Reading and Southern). and woman seem engaged in friendly conversation, while With over 200 high- another man sits close by, arms crossed. MSRP: $21.99 resolution color photos and extensive historical data, this book provides the most comprehensive examination of NS’s coal fleet ever pub- lished. Casdorph documents the physical characteristics and dimensions of all of the various types and classes of NS coal gondolas and hoppers. Also included is a brief overview of available HO and N Scale models. This CD is a valuable research tool for both modern-day Norfolk South- ern modelers and rail historians. Presented in PDF format (Adobe® Reader® 5.0 or later required), all text is fully searchable, and all the 600 dpi high-resolution color photos can be zoomed in on for close examination of every detail. The CD requires a computer with a CD drive and cannot be played on a DVD player for A2760—Shootin’ Hoops: Six boys enjoy a street game viewing on your TV. Pages may be printed for personal use. of hoops. Set includes backboard and hoop. MSRP: $22.99 Retail price is $19.95 plus $4.85 S&H per order (US). S&H via International Priority Mail to Canada and Mexico is $10.45, $13.45 for all other countries.

46 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 Book Review: Alco Locomotives, by Brian Solomon; The Text MSRP: $40.00 That being said, let’s look instead at what’s offered in the Voyageur Press, 400 First Avenue North, text. The publisher’s blurb states in part, ”This comprehen- Minneapolis, MN 55401 sive history includes a collection of …photos and…images 800-458-0454 • www.voyageurpress.com complimented with primary research examining the gamut of Alco locomotives…”. Given that, I found myself looking Reviewed by Brian Scace first at the bibliography, which tells a different tale; most of the sources are previously published works and periodicals, With the possible excep- not primary material in the traditional sense. That’s not a bad tion of the Civil War, there is thing, really, for there is always opportunity to go for a fresh probably no field of Ameri- interpretation and advance some new conclusions. can History so replete with After giving the book a good read (Remember the snows books as railroading. For us of February?), I had to conclude that no risks were taken here. as modelers, a photo book What I held in my hand was a good thumbnail summary of the showing hitherto unpub- chronology of American Locomotive, as good as any out there lished images of a favorite if one is looking for a single volume as a general treatment of prototype or locale (in the a very broad subject. Perhaps I was expecting too much, but I vein of Morning Sun) is of found precious little in the text not already advanced by oth- great value. For the rail his- ers. Here also, I’ll advance the idea that perhaps the publisher’s torian or the student of the history of technology, if a work blurb, in its zeal, had far overstated the author’s intent. I’ll admit isn’t a personal reminisce in the vein of John Orr’s Set Up disappointment, here, for American Locomotive is a subject Running and Stuart Leuthner’s The Railroaders, a treatment of that, thus far, has only been touched on in the narrow confines some narrow subject in great depth (Bill Edson’s books come of the railfan interpretation and really could have used the treat- to mind) really is the useful ground to cover. Today, I would ment Hirsimaki gave Lima Locomotive. argue that there are far too many ”light” railroad books being As an example, the book addresses Alco’s exit from the US mar- cranked out (not unlike Thomas Kinkaid prints) for any one ketplace, but loses an opportunity by merely repeating the same person to digest. interpretations as have been advanced before. There could have Overall Impressions, Layout, and Organization been some real gold for the digging, here. A look at the events in the It is with this preconceived notion perhaps too firmly in context of Alco’s overall business model compared to its competi- mind that I review Brian Solomon’s Alco Locomotives, pub- tors and of the health of the customer base as a whole might yield a lished by Voyageur Press. The book is organized in chrono- far different (and more balanced) interpretation of the events leading logical order, starting with a snapshot of the formation of to Alco’s exit from the marketplace. As it is, the blame is laid on the Alco, vignettes dealing with the author’s cull of significant usual suspects. War Production Board allocations during WWII steam types, and a similar treatment for diesel production. allowing EMD some sort of permanent advantage over Alco is one More of the book is spent on diesel production than on all such conclusion, repeated here. Just how the ”WPB advantage”, other subjects combined and some significant areas, such which casts Alco (and Baldwin, for that matter) as the Johnny-come- as Alco’s wartime activities and export models, beyond a lately in the road-diesel game to its permanent detriment, really touch of Canada and Mexico, are unexplored. The quality bears up is questionable especially in light of subsequent history of the printing and of the photographic reproduction is very seeing GE (the Johnny-come-even-later) jumping in the road-diesel nice. My only real comment about the layout is with regards game, much to GM’s detriment. A fresh look at this one, pro or con, to the occasional printing of photos across the spine, a pet would have been worth it. peeve of mine in a book, and the swapped assignment of a Also given a quick re-polish is the notion that permanent caption or two. damage was done to Alco by the rush to get the 244 prime- The Photography mover into production. Comparing Alco’s 244 experience Although well presented, one asks what sets this book with EMD’s survival of similar teething issues with new mod- apart from the vast number of railroad books out there such els (the turbo-charging of the 567, the initial problems with that it deserves a place on the shelf? Given the breadth of the the frames on the GP40, and the issues with the 20-cylinder subject, the modeler probably won’t find the photos as useful 645 in the SD45 come to mind) would also have been an for their purposes as a photo/caption book on their favorite interesting area to explore. Alas, not here. locale. Sure, there will be one or two from a favorite railroad, Conclusions but not much more. Once the time period shifts from steam From a modeler’s perspective (unless one is collecting or (and the detail clarity of the black-and white 3/4 perspec- building examples of significant Alco models over the years) tive or builder’s shot of the era) to diesel, color creeps into one will not find the wealth of photos for a particular project the book. While quite a few of the color shots from the ’50s he would find in a region or railroad-specific photo book. Also are historically worthwhile and interesting from a modeler’s not to be found is anything like the dry but useful tabulations viewpoint (ever seen a photo of the rear of a DL109?), the of orders, dates, and builder’s numbers that railroad modelers photo selection gets a bit ”art-sy” by the time we start looking and historians dearly love, as one finds in Hirsimaki’s Lima at the survivors in the ’90s and beyond. While lovely to look book or as the Dolzalls presented in their Baldwin diesel book. at from an aesthetic point of view, many of the modern-era From a historian’s perspective, this is a fine compilation of photographs (in the reviewer’s opinion) are more in keeping popular interpretation (and I can’t help but think this was the with a casual reader’s coffee-table book rather than what is author’s true intent), however there is precious little new ground touted by the publisher as a ”comprehensive history”. explored.

May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 47 Review: Decal Rivet Details; MSRP: $14.95 per sheet Alternative Center Rivets for freight cars with thinner sides and Archer Fine Transfers, PO Box 1277, Youngsville, NC 27596 (#AR88035) offset rivets commonly found on tank cars. These 919-570-1026 • www.archertransfers.com decal sheets cost $14.95 each plus shipping on orders under $50.00. Orders over $50.00 are shipped free. They also have Reviewed by William W. Davis rivets in N and HO Scales. Yes I know that this is a review for Anyone who has scratchbuilt or kit- O Scale modelers, but I mention the other scales because rivets bashed a locomotive or piece of rolling come in many sizes and spacings and the smaller scale rivets stock knows that one of the more dif- will work for situations with a closer spacing on our models. ficult parts of the project is adding the I actually used a sheet that was not scale specific on my stock rivet details. Over the years there have car project as the ones I needed weren’t available at the time I been many different ways to create built my model. these rivets. There are pounce wheels, This is a relatively new technology that I had never seen commercial rivet machines, converted before. It is molded three dimensional resin details on clear sewing machines or drilling holes and decal film. You apply these details like any other decal but the placing individual rivet castings to difference is you have a raised detail such as a row of rivets when name just a few of the methods avail- finished. A standard sheet of rivets contains at least 116 inches of able. All of these methods have their three-dimensional cast resin rivets in four different spacings most strengths and weaknesses. commonly found on railroad equipment. One of these sheets is Recently I took on the challenge of building a stock car enough to do a typical piece of railroad equipment. from scratch (See page 42). I was discussing my frustration with Unlike the other methods of adding rivets to a model, you making the rivets with a friend who said he had a solution to add these toward the end of the building process. I built my the problem that would ease construction. He suggested I try basic subassemblies from styrene. When completed, I sprayed Archer Fine Transfers’ decal rivets and sent me part of a sheet these with a primer coat and then applied the decal rivets. he had for me to try. I had never heard of Archers Fine Transfers Once they were applied I set them with a typical decal setting before, however this isn’t a new company as they have been solution. Then I completed the assembly process and painted producing both dry and wet transfers since 1989 and until the final color on my car. I have to say that the end results were recently their products were designed only for military model- impressive and greatly reduced this otherwise difficult part of ers. building the model. This changed when they expanded their line to include sur- This is a very unique product that has a wealth of uses for us face details of various types. In addition to the aforementioned as model railroaders. I have only used the rivet details so far but rivets, they also have various types of weld beads, wood grain I know I’ll be using some of the others as well, especially the (both distressed and non-distressed), diamond plate, fabric weld line details, which is another very difficult item to repro- weave and raised panel lines. All these details are useful to us duce. I highly recommend this product. I know that there are a as railroad modelers. couple tank car projects that have moved up on my “to do” list They have four sheets of rivets available in O Scale: because of these rivets. If you are a diesel person, Archer just (#AR88032) 7/8” Rivets (#AR88033) 5/8” Rivets, (#AR88034) added 3 different sized louvers to their line.

Review: Sensa-Trak II IR optical sensor; MSRP: $9.95/$12.95 units are $9.95 each while the D unit is $12.95. A piece of heat TCH Technology, 1076 41st Drive Chanute, Kansas 66720 shrink tubing is supplied to cut down on extraneous reflections 620-431-7150 • www.tchtechnology.com that might give a false trigger. The board requires the use of a 9-24 VDC regulated and filtered power supply. You cannot use Reviewed by Joe Giannovario the Accessory terminals on most typical DC power supplies. I have been developing a While the Sensa-Trak II is designed to operate an LED panel number of simple control cir- light to indicate when a block of track is occupied, it can be cuits for the new OST layout and used for other devices as long as you do not exceed the current you will get to see these in the limit of the board. If you have any doubt about your application, July issue. My search for off-the- email Tim through his website and he will work with you to pro- shelf components led me to Tim vide an answer. Hatch’s TCH Technology website. My tests showed the Sensa-Trak II units work perfectly TCH has been making IR optical detectors for model railroad although I did have one source/sensor pair that was DOA out of applications since 1995. Hatch is himself an N Scale modeler. the box. Stuff happens. The heat shrink tubing around the source/ The principle behind an optical detector is fairly simple. The sensor pair is a must. Without it, slight changes in illumination or first such detectors relied on visible light. Block the light hitting reflections will trigger the detector. With it, the detector is rock a sensor and the detector would let you know that by lighting a solid and only triggers when the beam is interrupted in its line of lamp or other indicator. That does not work well in dark places sight. If you choose the D unit, make sure the cable is plugged like tunnels or hidden yards, so newer detectors rely on infrared firmly into the main board. There’s no detent on the plug and it’s light supplied by an onboard source. These days that source is an easy to wiggle loose. IR LED laser. I am interested in determining if I can make a slit opening to The Sensa-Trak II optical detector line uses a source/detec- improve the line of sight detection without compromising the tor pair as shown in the photo. The units are available in three sensitivity. At these prices, I can afford to experiment. Other opti- heights (A - 5/8” for N Scale, B - 15/16” for HO Scale, and C cal detectors on the market sell for up to four times the cost of - 1-1/4” for O Scale, shown on the right) or with a 5/8” source/ the TCH units. That makes these a great bargain and you get Tim sensor on a remote cable (D type shown on the left). The A-B-C Hatch’s expertise to boot! 48 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 Review: Mt. Albert Fire Station: MSRP: $170 plus s&h structure. It was also suggested that a doorstop be added Mt. Albert Scale Models, PO Box 1218 Mt. Albert Ontario inside the front main door. This is best done before putting Canada L0G 1M0 the walls and floor together. 905-473-3161 • www.mtalbert.com Instead of the roofing paper included with the two small, attached structures I chose a green paper grocery bag for Reviewed by Dick Nagle this step. I also sprayed the main roof with a matte green chalk spray to get away from the black color which I found overpowering. The Tamiya flat red acrylic paint I used for the door and window trim also gave a brighter ”firehouse” look to the piece. Assembling the tower presented its own set of problems. The ”tabs” proved troublesome and I ended up removing all of them with an X-Acto knife, and sanded the edges to a flat surface and installing as such. It worked fine. I used Minwax wood filler wherever necessary. It dries fast, sands easily and accepts any paint applied to it. I have not added the roof rafter ends as directed because I am still trying to figure out how to model and attach lead- ers and gutters. On my layout it rains several times a month and I like to have a place for the runoff to be directed so I don’t flood the firehouse. Leaders and gutters are not includ- ed in the kit. Neither, for that matter, are hinges and locking mechanisms for the main door. I’m looking in model ship catalogs for the proper hardware to finish off the doors. And how about a flagpole? Every firehouse I have ever seen has a flag flying out front. As soon as I find one I’ll add it. The big sign on the front of the building is a little too ”showy” for my taste. After installing it I realized I had placed it a little lower than where it should be. I will prob- ably change it out sometime in the future, maybe when I add the gutters and flagpole. The fire engine that is included in the kit is great! It is, With over 60 years as a model railroader and 50 years admittedly, just slightly off-scale but it sure looks nice sit- as a firefighter my attention was immediately drawn to an ting on the front ramp of this beautiful, classic, American ad in the Sept/Oct ‘09 edition of O Scale Trains Magazine firehouse. for a fire station kit. This was the fourth in a series of limited This was a great kit, (despite my picky comments), and I edition craftsman kits offered by Mt. Albert Scale Models. It truly enjoyed the challenge. (And it was a challenge!) I have arrived the day after Christmas just in time to do some holi- found that as I age my eyes and fingers have more and more day modeling. difficulty with HO Scale and I find myself now embracing The kit included laser cut plywood and basswood, O Scale. Also with age comes a certain acquired wisdom. which, with one exception, was very well done. Plastic There is no need to rush through a project. Take it a little bit detail parts were also included along with 5 pages of print- at a time, and enjoy the experience of building a structure ed instructions by Roger Malinowski and an accompanying of which you can be proud. Thank you Mt. Albert Scale CD-ROM with construction photos. I had never used a CD Models, for creating a terrific model. in this manner before and it took a little getting used to, but in the end, it worked out fine. While Floquil was the recommended paint, my local hobby shop does not carry that brand. I substituted Tamiya acrylic colors instead. I also could not find Dr. Mike’s Mod- el-n’ Crafters Glue and used Zap’s CA with great results. Assembly went pretty much as described in the printed directions. I did run into a time consuming stumbling block when I came to Photo 21 with the instruction to ”assemble four main walls and floor.” After much back and forth try- ing to match the intersecting ”tabs” on the walls I finally resorted to applying some wood strips in each corner and attached the walls to them (see photo). The instructions suggest attaching the six add-on wall sections to the main building as the next step. I held off on this almost to the end of the project as it made for easier handling of the main

May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 49 Review: Singlet Servo Decoder; MSRP: $18 assembled/$15 kit form of 0.040” brass wire as my switch rod Tam Valley Depot, 4541 Hidalgo Ave, San Diego, CA 92117 (Photo 3). I inserted this through my www.tamvalleydepot.com • [email protected] benchwork and based on its location I mounted the servo and bent the rest of the wire to fit through a hole in the Reviewed by Joe Giannovario adjustable, i.e., one side can throw servo arm (Photo 4). I don’t think the more than the other if that’s required. installation took more than 10 minutes When I started model railroading You can also adjust the speed of the total. in earnest during the early 1970s, throw from very slow to moderately the switch machine of choice was fast. Finally, if you are using a DCC 4 solenoid operated. About the only system, the unit can be programmed way to improve their performance to accept a DCC accessory address was to build a capacitive discharge and function independently of the power supply. Later came the stall push buttons. motor switch machine that seems An assembled unit comes com- to be the current object of favor for plete, ready to use with a micro servo. turnout control. I tripped over Duncan The kit requires you to buy the servo McRee’s Tam Valley Depot website as an extra and solder in the push Once installed, I followed the while searching for something else buttons and LEDs. I opted for the kit instructions to adjust the throw and and discovered what I believe will be because it allowed me to replace the the throw speed. That took another the ”next big thing” in terms of switch push buttons with sockets and do 10 minutes. In my tests, the servo motors. some circuit development that you decoder and servo work great togeth- What Duncan has done is build will see in the next issue. The sockets er. I did not test the unit with a DCC a special board, which makes an also permit you to mount the decoder system but I would be amazed if that RC servomotor usable as a switch board next to the servo while the push did not work as well as the rest of this machine. RC servos are inexpensive buttons can be remotely mounted system does. I was so impressed with and even the micro servos are power- anywhere within reason. how this works and how it looks in ful enough to hold an O Scale switch- 2 operation that I bought enough units point closed. Duncan developed his to power every turnout on the new first controller for use on his own HO layout. Scale layout. I have not seen any articles about The Singlet Servo Decoder (Photo using RC servos as switch machines in 1) is designed for use with DCC sys- the mainstream model railroad press. I 1 do predict, however, that we will hear more about them as more modelers discover how easy they are to use with the Singlet Servo Decoder. Tam Valley Depot also makes Quad, Octopus and Dual 3-Way servo decoders. The Octopus is a DC only device while the Quad and Dual The servo is quite small (Photo 2) so 3-Way, like the Singlet, can be pro- I mounted it to a piece of hardboard grammed for a DCC address. Check it (with the hardware that’s included) for all out online. easier handling. I mounted a turnout to my roadbed and bent up a piece tems but works with straight DC just 3 as well. The Singlet board houses a microprocessor, a pair of miniature push buttons and two yellow LEDs. The microprocessor decodes the push button presses and actuates the servo. The LEDs indicate direction and assist in programming the servo. I was amazed at the functionality compressed into this tiny board. With just the two push buttons you can (and need) to adjust the throw of the servo arm. Each side is independently

50 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 Review: Atlas TRAINMAN 60’ Heavyweight Baggage, RPO, bodies are identical. The underframes and trucks are also Combine and Coach; MSRP: $84.95 identical. The car bodies are a one-piece injection molded Atlas O, LLC 378 Florence Ave., Hillside NJ 07205. design with the side steps cast onto the body. The doors do www.atlaso.com not operate. The rivet detail is clean and crisp throughout. The grabs Reviewed by Tom Houle on the sides and roof are made of stiff wire. The Tuscan

Being a Chicago & North Western fan, I was intrigued paint has a satin sheen and doesn’t obscure the details. The when Atlas added a heavyweight car series based on lettering is crisp and opaque. The black roof is too shiny to C&NW prototypes to their Trainman offerings. The heavy- suit me. A coat of Testors Dullcote will tone down the shine. weight line consists of a coach, combine, baggage and an Both cars have interior floor inserts. The baggage car’s RPO. All cars are 60’ long. Current road names: Boston & interior is minimal. There is a lavatory compartment in one Maine, Chicago & North Western, New Haven, Santa Fe, corner and what looks to be corrugated flooring at the cen- Lackawanna, Lehigh Valley, NYC, and D&R G. This review ter of the car. The RPO car doors have mailbag hooks sepa- covers the RPO and baggage cars. rately applied. Inside are sorting desks and bins. The Prototype Two incandescent lamps provide interior lighting. The I was asked to review these cars from the standpoint of lamps are powered by pick-ups on four wheels of each the C&NW prototype. Joe Pierson and Joe Follmar both of truck. The leads are connected in parallel inside the car. the C&NW Historical Society helped me out here. Joe Pier- Either truck provides power to both lamps. The lighting is son provided RPO car photos and a drawing from the Win- not constant, but a Miniatronics light kit would be easy to ter 1989 North Western Lines magazine. I used an article by install. I’d attach Miniatronics lamps to the lamp towers Joe Follmar that ran in the June 1988 Mainline Modeler plus, inside the car. I found additional photos on the Internet. I did have a problem with the RPO’s interior lighting. Beginning with the baggage car, it appears that Atlas When I set the car on the rails and applied power, my followed the American Car & Foundry cars built in 1910. power supply tripped out, indicating a dead short some- These were equipped with six-wheel trucks. In 1913 and where in the wiring. I discovered I could avoid tripping the 1914, additional cars were built with four-wheel trucks. protector if I used only one truck to power the lighting. That The C&NW subsidiary, Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, and figured out, I reversed the two pick-up leads on one truck, Omaha, rostered six of these cars with four-wheel trucks. which eliminated the problem. The leads are polarized with The original cars were painted yellow and green with dark a white dot on one of the connectors. On the baggage car, red roofs. Later they were painted overall dark green. In the two white dot leads are on the same side of the car. On the Fifties, some of these cars were repainted back into the the RPO, one white dot ended up on the LH side and on the modern green and yellow scheme. The C&NW operated other truck is on the RH side. Compared to the baggage car, these cars in all runs except the Streamliner, Twin Cities, the dots on the RPO are reversed, but it works. and Peninsula 400 trains. The underframe, battery box, air conditioning, and brake Pullman Car Company built the first all-steel RPO cars components are the same casting on both cars. There are for the C&NW in 1911. These cars had six wheel trucks and were also originally painted yellow and green with dark red or aluminum roofs, and later repainted dark green. In the Fifties, some of these cars were painted green and yellow. At least one of these 1911 cars was painted in two-tone gray with white pin striping for service on the Chicago - Omaha route. In 1921, American Car & Foundry built two addi- tional cars with six-wheel trucks for the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, & Omaha. The Model Other than window and door arrangements, the two car

May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 51 shallow fishbelly centersills molded to the underframe. They 3-rail curves. Both cars weighed in at a hefty 1 lb – 6 oz. are not correct for the C&NW cars. They had straight cen- Atlas offers two car numbers for each of the C&NW cars: tersills on the coach, combine, baggage, and RPO cars. Five 8611 and 8619 for the baggage and 9425 and 9429 for the screws hold the car body to the underframe. RPO. These car numbers are correct. Fidelity To Scale Other than the underframes, the car bodies, truck side- frames and wheelbase checked out perfectly with the C&NW and Mainline Modeler drawings and photos. The Atlas cars scale out at 60’ 3” in length, 9’ 9” wide, and 10’ 6’ height. These dimensions are spot on. The only dimen- sional discrepancy I found is both cars are approximately six scale inches lower than the drawings. Coupling the Atlas cars to my scratchbuilt C&NW and Lackawanna head end cars verified this discrepancy. Raising the body 1/8” can be easily done by backing out the truck mounting screws and adding 2 - 3 washers and there is enough bolster material to allow this. The change in car height will also require the addition of 1/8” styrene or basswood shims to the coupler boxes. The trucks are gorgeous, very nicely done. The side Compatibility frames are two-piece die-cast metal, softly sprung, and are a I placed one of the Atlas cars on the rails and lined it up near perfect match to the C&NW photos. The wheel diam- with a Lackawanna baggage car and a C&NW combine eter is 36”. The wheelsets checked perfectly on my NMRA with open-end platforms. Other than the difference in sill gage. All six wheels on each truck are insulated. The outside height, the Atlas diaphragms aligned with my cars. I also wheel faces are blackened. The treads and flanges are natu- coupled the Atlas car to a Walthers baggage car. In this ral bright plating. The trucks rolled freely and easily coasted case, the sill height difference was minimal and the dia- through 36” radius curves. phragms mated perfectly. The Atlas cars should operate fine The Atlas couplers are approximately a 1/8” too low with the other coach and head cars out there. when checked with the Kadee 804/805 coupler height Conclusions gage. When I removed the couplers on one of the cars I Atlas has hit a home run with these cars. They are accu- discovered the Atlas coupler box mounting hole spacing is rately scaled to the prototype, are well built, detailed, let- approximately .030” less than the Kadee coupler box hole tered, and painted. $84.95 might seem like a hefty price spacing. Why the centers don’t match is a mystery. I also for one of these cars, but if I were to scratchbuild this car, discovered the underside of the underframe is right at the which I was considering before I saw these, it would cost Kadee recommended coupler box height. You can easily me at least the retail price for materials, trucks, paint, add Kadee couplers with a minimal amount of rework. decals, and detail parts, not to mention time at the bench. These cars come with long and short diaphragms. The The only negatives for me were non-constant lighting and 2-rail cars come with the long diaphragms attached. When Atlas couplers that should be replaced with Kadees. Both coupled, the diaphragms on my two cars compressed and items are easily corrected. A string of these cars would look mated up perfectly. There was no air between them. When great behind a C&NW class R-1 4-6-0. I ran the cars through 36” curves, the diaphragms stayed in contact. The short diaphragms are intended for the smaller

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52 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 Lehigh Valley’s Naples Branch Freight Depot Harold W. Russell

Background has been modified many times to accommodate the various The Lehigh Valley’s passenger depot in Naples, NY was businesses that occupied it since the railroad’s demise. One located at the corner of Academy Street and West Avenue. can speculate that the south end contained offices while the The separate freight depot (drawn here) was located just north north portion held the freight. There was no evidence of plat- of that. The area also had a small yard, a coal and lumber forms running along the sides of the building. Boxcars were business, facilities for engine servicing and a turntable for probably unloaded with a ramp from the building’s door into turning. We are indebted to Mary Hamilton Dann for the the car and trucks were similarly serviced on the other side. information about this branch that is contained in her book, A small storage shed is located at the north end of the depot. Upstate Odyssey, The Lehigh Valley in Western New York. This was further punctuated by a large privy that rested on the The Naples area is particularly fertile. The region produces ground without a foundation, while the buildings rested on cabbage, pears, beets, carrots and various grains in abun- a concrete slab. When I first measured them, the depot and dance. It has been reported that in the 1890s as many as 700 shed were painted dark green with dark red trim; the privy car loads of cabbage were shipped from Naples to the Sauer- gray with red trim. A later trip revealed that one failed busi- kraut manufacturing plants up the line in Phelps, NY. To get ness had painted the south end blue with maroon trim. u products to larger markets at Geneva and Canandaigua, farm- ers resorted to horse drawn wagons and the steamboats that traveled the lakes. In winter however, such transportation was difficult if not virtually impossible. There was much rejoic- ing in 1892 when the Middlesex Valley Railroad was built northward from Naples to Stanley, a major railroad junction for the Northern Central, the Sodus Point and Southern and the Geneva, Seneca Falls and Waterloo. The Middlesex Valley RR was 21.9 miles long and the running time to Stanley was less than two hours. In 1894 the line was extended to Geneva with an interchange to the Lehigh. Two mixed trains ran two round trips daily. Significant station stops were at West River, Middlesex, Valley View, Rushville and Gorham. As opposed to some railroad’s ”cookie cutter” depot designs, the Middle- sex’s depots each had a distinctive architecture. Business was brisk. Many farmers had their own sidings and small pickup stations were located at many crossroads. This structure served as the freight depot for the Naples Branch of When the Lehigh Valley RR acquired the Middlesex Valley the Lehigh Valley in Naples, NY. The southern end of the building in December 1895, major improvements were made to the contained offices while the northern end held freight. After the line including ballasting the roadbed. The running time was reduced and ridership increased dramatically. By this time the railroad left town, the building has served as home for several Naples annual fair provided an added incentive to ride the business including a food co-op and craft store. line. The Lehigh’s better years prevailed on the Naples branch as well. The line was free from competition and profitable. Eventually however, the public used the highways. Passenger service was discontinued in 1938. The line from Naples to Rushville was abandoned in 1970, with the remainder of the line to Geneva taken out of service in 1972 and dismantled in 1978. Little remains today of the Lehigh’s branch that ran from Geneva to Naples. The depot at Gorham is slowly being taken over by vines that are undermining the stucco. The freight depot at Naples is in decent repair probably because it has been occupied by various businesses from time to time. When I measured it for this drawing, it was vacant. Today the Naples, NY area is noteworthy for its abundance of grape vineyards and wineries. Modeling the Freight Depot Such a small building can be an easy modeling project A small storage shed was added to the depot at a later time. The that can be made from commercial shiplap siding and con- privy is typical of what was still found around some railroad facilities ventional asphalt shingle roofing. The interior of the depot in the 1940s and beyond. May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 53 8'-4" 9'-0" 6'-4"

NOT TO SCALE 10'-4" 12'-4" 12'-0" 3" 9"

54 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 16'-0" 14'-8" 12'-0" 10'-8"

9" 3"

NOT TO SCALE 40'-3" 34'-3"

4'-0"

NAPLES 6'-10"

22'-0" 20'-2 1/2"

28'-5 1/2" May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 55 56 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 ASSEMBLED TWIN WHISTLE SIGN & KIT CO. BUILDINGS ARE 31 Turnberry Dr., Arden, NC 28704 (828) 684-6785 AVAILABLE! Kit: $69.95 Laser-Cut Body 2 Billboards 2 Gas Pumps 1 1934 Guitar 1 Rocking Chair Many Castings Assorted Graphics 12.5”l x 4.5”w x 4”h Buy Directly from our e-store! e-mail: WWW. TWINWHISTLE.COM [email protected]

2010 O SCALE NATIONAL CONVENTION

Why Attend? Up to 300 trading tables of 2-rail O scale items, about 40 home and club layouts open, banquet, Cali- fornia State Railroad Museum tour, contests, clinics, convention cars, O scale layouts on site, videos. Fly to a major western city and drive a DYI Grand Tour between there and the convention, visiting model and real railroads, muse- ums, national parks, and other attractions. Complete information is on the web site (see below). Convention sponsored and managed by O Scale West.

Where: Santa Clara, California (San Francisco area) When: June 30 - July 3, 2010 Location: Hyatt Regency Santa Clara Room rate: $109 plus tax for 1 - 4 occupancy, Regency rooms $145 + tax Registration: $35, $40 after April 30, registration includes spouse and children under 18 Table Rentals: 30" x 72" tables are $45, $50 after April 30, electrical hook-ups are free Banquet: Friday July 2, $50 per plate including gratuity and tax, sign up by June 20 Tour: Wednesday June 30, California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, $60 per person includes round trip train ride between Santa Clara and Sacramento, museum admission, sign up by June 1

Overall Schedule: June 27-July 4: layout visits June 30: register, set up, layout visits, videos, clinics, museum tour July 1-3: register, sales/exhibits, contests, layouts, clinics July 4-on layout visits Web Site: www.2010oscalenational.com E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 650-329-0424 please call between 9AM and 8PM Pacific time The registration form can be downloaded from the web site. To receive a paper form, send an LSSAE with 1 oz. of postage to: Registration Form, 2010 O Scale National, 876 Boyce Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301-3003.

May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 57 Chicago 2010 March Meet Contest Photos

Passenger 1st Place: City of Beckley. Ed Bommer built this car from an American Standard Car Co. kit. It has a full interior and added underbody details from Keil Line. The model represents a 1969 appearance.

Passenger 2nd Place: This AT&SF 60' baggage was built by Terry Nelms from an American Standard Car Co kit with a custom screen door. It has a full interior and working lights.

Traction 1st Place: This Chicago Surface Lines 1700 series was scratchbuilt by Wes Moreland from styrene, brass, white metal castings and some commercial parts. Wes did the paint scheme, Traction 2nd Place: This Chicago one of several CSL used to Surface Lines work motor #W14 show support for WWII. Wes was scratchbuilt by Rich Nielsen. also designed and commis- It is made mostly from wood and sioned the decals. powered with NWSL trucks.

Steam 1st Place: Louis Bartig took first place steam with this scratchbuilt N&W Y6b made from nickel silver and brass. Louis has over 4000 hours in the model. He handmade the drivers! The model sports all-wheel drive with helical gearing. It also won Best of Show.

58 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 Structres 2nd Place: This LS&MS (NYC System) tower diorama was scratchbuilt by Randy Swanson from photos using scale aircraft plywood and stripwood. The original was demolished in 1948. The tower features a full interior and lights.

Structures 1st Place: J. Hunter Mercantile was scratchbuilt by Roger Malinowski. Roger built everything you see including the gas pump.

Freight 1st Place: Ed Bommer built this Lehigh Valley M-80 dbl-sheath boxcar with left-opening doors using styrene with InterMountain parts. The flour "sacks" are painted Chiclets. Freight 2nd Place: This Susquehanna & Chesapeake caboose was scratchbuilt by Ed Bommer from Northeastern milled wood, stripwood and brass. The model has a full interior and complete air brake piping and rigging on the underframe.

Diesel 1st Place: Another Ed Bommer winner. This B&O Class DS-13F, FM H10- 44 is a "scale-ized" MTH unit from the early 1990s. Ed rebuilt just about everything on the unit and added an NCE 5-amp DCC decoder.

Diesel 2nd Place: This Conrail GP-10 was kitbashed by Patrick Welch from a Red caboose GP-9. Patrick rebuilt it to match the Con- rail prototype. The model is custom painted, custom detailed and built to Proto48 standards. You will see exactly how Patrick did the rebuild in a future issue of OST.

May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 59 2010 O Scale National successfullyConvention included S Scalers. Their part of the event is called S West. We include HO layouts such as Jack Burgess’s and Jim Vail’s because they are stunning examples of the evolution in layout design Why Attend?2010 Up to 300O Scaletrading tables, National clinics, tourOverview of the California State Railroad Museum, videos, convention car, contests, six O modular layouts and construction that has taken place. Two live steam layouts, one on site, aboutby 40 R homeod Millerand club layouts open for visiting ,fly into/out of a major western city and drive a Grand Tour between there to and/or from the convention and visitThe dozens 2010 model O and Scale real railroads, National national Conventionparks, and other attractions. will be Convention local, sponsored one and managedremote, by Owill Scale beWest. open. Where: Santa Clara, California (San Francisco Bay Area) The other layouts are on the Grand Tour, which is a do-it-yourself When: heldJune June 30 - July 30 3, 2010- July 3 in Santa Clara, California (near tour of layouts, railroads, museums, national parks, and other major Location: SanHyatt Francisco). Regency Santa Your Clara. Roomconvention rate: $109 plus host tax for is 1 -O 4 occupancy Scale West. Registration:Twenty-years $35, $40 after May old 31, registrationthis year. includes O Scale spouse and West children has under the 18 rep- attractions of the West Coast. The area of the Grand Tour layouts Table Rental: 30" x 72" tables are$45, $50 after May 31. Electrical hook-ups are free utation of being fun and well managed. Please see is bounded by a line from Durango, CO to Seattle, another line Banquet: Fri. July 2, $50 per plate including gratuity and tax, sign up by June 20 from Durango, CO to Los Angeles, and the Pacific Coast (none in Tour: theWed. ad Juneelsewhere 30, California in State this Railroad issue Museum, for more Sacto., $60 information. per person, incl train to/from Sacto. and admission, sign up by June 1 Web Site: www.2010oscalenational.comClinics will start on Wednesday and will be Hawaii...) Much more information about the Tour is on the web site, E-mail: [email protected] [www.2010oscalenational.com] The site is frequently updated and Telephone: offered650-329-0424, twice. please Contests call between include 9AM and 8PMfavorite Pacific timemodel, favorite photo, and a juried model contest. We will you can get complete up-to-date information about the convention, A free newsletterhave with movies registration by information Don Olsen will be available of Catenary on the website Productions. for download after Februaryso re-visit1, 2010. To oftenreceive a for hardcopy, the sendlatest an info. If you don’t have Internet access, LSSAE with 2oz. of postage to: 2010 O Scale National, 876 Boyce Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301-3003. It is always entertaining to hear Don’s commentary call Rod Miller at 650-329-0424 between 9AM and 8PM Pacific Time during the movies; he was a railroader and has inter- to get your questions answered. viewed many other railroaders to aid the accuracy of I know for some of you the West Coast is a long way to come. I his products. encourage you to make your convention experience part of a larger The banquet offers four choices of entree, includ- family trip that includes the many attractions of the Western U.S. I ing vegetarian, for $50 a plate including tax and look forward to seeing you at the convention. tip (equivalent to a $40 meal not including tax and tip). The speaker will be Mr. Art Lloyd, a long time railroader and active consultant in today’s railroad- ing environment. We are offering a tour of the world-class California State Railroad Museum. The tour includes a round trip ride on Amtrak’s Capitol Limited, a tour of the museum with possible access to the ”back lot”, and some time to enjoy nearby Old Sacramento. The tour takes the entire day of June 30. At the time I write this, we have 56 local and remote layouts that will be open for you to visit. We are in the process of recruiting more remote layouts (see Grand Tour below), and expect a total of 60+ layouts to be open for visiting before, during, and after the convention! (Local layouts are open dur- ing the convention. Remote layouts are open before or after the convention because their distance from Santa Clara.) Photo 1: ATSF Prairie 1875 leads Northern 3758 across a totally scratch built double Gary Schrader’s layout, shown in the photos, is track curved timber trestle. There are thousands of Grandt Line NBW castings in the one of the many local layouts that will be open dur- trestle. The 1875, a PRB import, was the subject of a super-detailing article in OST. It ing the convention. Gary models the AT&SF and SP is now sound equipped. The 3758 is a much modified Sunset ATSF 3751 brass model. in the 1947-1951 timeframe. The layout’s size is 20’ x 40’. There is a double track mainline, a large yard, Union Station, and a 14-stall roundhouse. All track is handlaid. About 50% of the scenery is done includ- ing a large curved timber trestle. All engines and cars are super-detailed. DCC control is by NCE radio con- trol. Some engines now have Soundtraxx’s Tsunami stunning sound in O Scale. Things to look for are the complete, accurate 14-car Daylight and 11-car Super Chief with lighted drumheads, and several nicely done scratchbuilt and kitbashed bridges. With so many local layouts open, it is a challenge to see them all. We are asking the owners to be open more times and to be open before the convention starts. We expect to have them open as early as June Photo 2: The ATSF&SP engine terminal features a 14 stall 132’ roundhouse scratch 27, the Sunday before the convention. Up-to-date built from ATSF plans, 18 garden tracks, a scratch built sandhouse, PRB ATSF schedules for all layout visits will be maintained on water and oil tanks, a PSC SP water tank, and lots of extremely super-detailed brass the convention’s web site. engines. The turntable is a super-detailed Diamond Scale. The string of tank cars are Some of the layouts are S and HO scale. S because PRB ATSF brass cars with Santa Fe’s colorful banding denoting contents. All track is the O Scale West meets for the last four years have hand laid steel rail on real wood ties. 60 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 Jus Golden Gate Depot K-Line Circus ’09 Williams Trains 2009 Lionel Product Trains IN-STOCK Golden Memories Vision Line Info (302) 453-0465 F-3 AA $239 ABA $335 Orders (888) 453-9742 18” Heavyweight Car 89 Wab,IC,B&O,MR,Sou,NH,RG,CP #70 CT, Advert x2, Obs x 2 WP, SF Red/Sil, SF Blk/Red, TS, NYC PRR 0-8-8-0 CC2s Steam 1399 *Mon-Fri 9-6* 21688 18” Heavywt Coach 2Pk 177 15” Aluminum 4-Pk 229 2-Pk 119 Fax Orders (302) 368-6447 NYC 21” 6-pk 575 2-Pk 259 GG-1 Girls Freight Set 335 215 Newark Shopping Center Steam Girls Freight Set 379 SF 2-10-10-2 Steam 1799 Newark, DE 19711 GG-1 Girl’s Passenger Set 335 Buy both PRR & SF get $300 Most Orders over $200 Free Ship 18” Alum Animal Car 102 2-Pk 199 1520W F-3 Texas Special Set 285 Store open 7 days a week 1464W UP 50th Anniversary Set 320 MC VISA DISCOVER P70 20” Coach 4-Pk 399 2-car add-on $80 Full Set $395 PRR GG-1 Congressional Set 410 18” Aluminum Coach or Shop Car 119 Sunset/Third Rail LIRR, PRSL, PRR 12# 2-car add-on $115 Full Set $515 15” Aluminum Advertising Car 85 No Deposit on Reservations Heavyweight 20” 4-Pk 399 N&W 4-8-4 J Class Steam 259 GG-1 179 PRR x 4 GE ES44AC Evol Hybrid 699 NW-2 C&O, SF, Seabd 155 Die-Cast Shell Gold Unit Replica Tractor Set 38 Combo Flat w/Boxcar & wagon 45 Wood Gondola w/Cicus Equipment 48 22250 Dining Dept Billboard Reefer 65 CNW H-14-8-4 1245 FA-1 AA 225 B 80 ABA 299 UP 3GS21B Genset Switch 539 Combo Flat/Stock Car w/Wagon 38 Die-Cast, 3 smoke units Scale Dining Woodside Reefer 59 B&O, LV, L&N, NYC, PRR, RI, PRR 20” Head-End Set 359 SF,WM,LNE,GN Buy both diesels get $50 K-Line 2009 Product PA-1 AA 225 B 80 ABA 299 Op. Wind Turbine 3-Pk 185 SF, PRR, RG, UP, D&H, NYC, CP F-7 AA 205 B 70 ABA 269 Ethanol Tank 3-Pk, Sound 216 NYC. PLE H-10 2-8-2 1245 Pullman 12-1 Sleeper 109 Am, ACL, B&O, Burl, C&O, GN, Ethanol Tank 3-Pk 152 PRR & Pullman Broadway Lmt 18” 4-Pk 425 Lack, NH, PRR, UP Broadway Lmt 18” 2-Pk 222 PRR Op. Stock Car Sound 120 Shark AA 219 B 75 ABA 289 Can National Coal Train 639 B&O, D&H, PRR x 2, NYC, Demo

Santa Fe 2900 Class 4-8-4 1345 Southern FM Trainmaster 359

Coaling Tower $195 Stourbridge Lion Set 385 Virginian 2-10-10-2, EOB 1899 E-7 AA 245 B 105 ABA 345 Reserve Southern 18” Alum 4-Pk 425 ACL, B&O, Burl, C&O, NYC, UP, 21” SP Daylt Alum 5-Pk 575 Southern 18” Alum 2-Pk 222 Prr Tuscan, Sou, MR, Tex Spec SP Articulated Diner Set 575 Scale Smoking Caboose 59 Dash 9 Power 149 BNSF, CSX, 20” Diner/Observation 2-Pk 249 MR, Southern NS, SF, UP, CNW, Amtrak, Con, SP Anthracite Coal 2-Car 95 Weaver Models 2009 GP38 139 Dmy 80 BNSF, Chessie, Wabash FM, Legacy 415 UP FEF 3 Versions 1199 NH, NS, SF, GT, AK, GM&O, DTI, PC BL-2 Powered 139 BAR, B&M, 21” Alum 2-Pk 259 Coach 132 In-Stock 2 or 3 Rail C&O,C&EI,GMDemo,FEC,Monon, Milw Rd, Grt Northern RI Red/Black, WM-Fire, MP FM Trainmaster 155 CP, JC, N&W GP7, Legacy 419 REA or B&O Express Troop MR, NYC,Rdg,SP,Wabash,N&W NH EF-4 Rectifier TMCC 315 2 or 3 R $70 3/$200 3# NW-2 155 B&O, Con, LV, NYC, 18” Aluminum Business Car 119 PRR,UP,MR,GN,Monon,JC NYC, SF Black Mesa NYC J3a Super Hudson 1245 Scale SF SD-40, TMCC 323 21667 Red River Co. Boxcab 78 Rotary Dump w/Conveyor 499 MR 4-6-4 J6a Baltic, 2# 999 21639 Pan Am Railways Boxcar 37 50,000 Gallon Water Tank 113 21640 UP Modern Steel Reefer 35 U33C Power 149 CSX, D&H, MR Sunoco Industrial Tank 52 21643 PRR Die Cast Gondola 48 SF, SP, UP, NH, PRR, Reading, WP PRR 16 Wheel Flat w/Transform 62 Standard O SP 4-6-0 M-6, M-9 Mogul DEAL! 21645 SP 43’ Alum Mod Hopper 59 UP Bathtub Gondola 3-Pk 139 CP 4-4-4 Jubilee TMCC 999 22414 Linde Box w/Alum Tank 47 Husky 2-Pk Maersk, UP 159 22447 Wabash DC 2-Bay Hopper 42 CA-4 Heritage Caboose 70 Rutland Milk Car w/Platform 111 DRG, SP, CNW Mtn View Creamery Milk Depot 87 SD90 Power 149 BNSF, CSX, Northeast Cab N&W, Wab 67 Demo, NS, BN, Con, Amtrak, SF SF Wedge Plow Flatcar 67 Gargraves UP,MP,CNW,MKT,RG,SP,WP 2-10-4 “Colorado” 2 Heaters Call Troop Sleeper 6# 85 SF Idler Flatcar w/Load 56 Genesis Power & Dmy 219 DMIR, B&LE, CB&Q DEAL! Troop Kitchen 4# 85 O Gauge ATSF Water Tank Tank 52 Troop Hospital 4# 85 37” Flex Tin $5.55 Cs 50 259 SF Tool Car 60 Any 6 for 489 Delivered 37” Flex Stainless Phantom Case 305 WP Heritage 60’ Box 63 MOW Troop Cars 50 2/$95 42, 72, 100” Tin Switch Man 34 Rem 53 Freight $60 SF Tool , N&W 3-Bay Monon, N&W, CB&Q, C&O, Above w/DZ-2500 TMCC $59 DRGW DS Box, DT&I Reefer, RC Uncplr #107 $23 Op. #108 $28 GTW,Erie,WM,L&N,Lack DRGW 40’ Flat, B&M Coke Flat 1938 Dreyfuss Hudson EOB 1175 Gantry Crane Track $20 Stainless $22 Die Cast Scale Hudson 369 Wartime Gondola $25 or 4/$90 4# Katy or MP Heritage Hopper 60 90 Degree Crossing $19 DVD 9 NYC, B&O, GN, SF, JC, CP N&W, MEC, Sou, LN, B&M Wabash PS-4 Piggyback Flat 73 Now with Wood Ties Circle 032/ $39 042/ $45 054/ $59 In-Stock 063/ $62 072/ $67 080/ $85 Mikado WP, UP, SF, MR 699 089/ $90 096/ $92 106/$99 TMCC, Railsounds, Odys SP AM-2 Cab Forward, EOB 1675 New Haven I-5 TMCC/EOB 999 Call on DZ Products GG-1 Scale Electric 255 Transformers PRR x 5, PC, CR Lionel ZW 425 180W Brick 75 2-8-0 Rdg, NYC, B&O, WM 389 NH, CR, MTH Z-4000 385 Z-1000 Brick 59 EF-4 Rectifier 165 TMCC, Railsounds, Fat Boy, Cruise N&W, VGN x 2, PRR Blk 80’ Alum 5-Car $549 DCS System 255 Legacy #990 299 PRR, NYC, NP, GN, L&N, TMCC Cab-1 68 Command Base 68 72’ (18”) Streamline 4-Pk 195 AK. CNJ, CN, GTW, N&W TMCC Command Set 125 72’ Madison 4-Pk 239 2-Pk 120 UP FEF w/Legacy Grey only 989 PRR O-12-Unit Electric, TMCC 899 UP Gray, SLSW, KCS, LV 4-Pk 299 TPC 400 165 TPC 300 124 60’Amfleet3-Pk 155 Amtrak x 2 NYC F-12e 4-6-0 Ten Wheeler 575 MTH 2009 Vol II MTH 2009 Vol II MTH 2008 DAP Atlas 2-Rail 2 or 3 Rail Steam Diesels Power 359 Dmy 169 UP M10000 Diesel Passenger 649 M1000 Coach $85 2#

R-11 Subway 4-Car 449 2-Pk 175 KCS 5pk 335 2pk 137 Vista 75 GP38-2 B&M, BN, CP, D&H NYC 4-4-0 Empire State 639 2111 Reading GP-35, DC 3# 250 Pass Set $222 N&W J Passenger Set 1079 2-Car 137 RPO 77 Vista 77 Alco PA ABA 639 ABBA 755 N&W J Express Mail Set 1079 Orient Express 2-3-1 Pac. 999 Southern, DRG, UP B 139 NH East Wind EP-3 Pass Set 819 Black, Green, Brown re-run Santa Fe 2-10-0 Decapod 899 2113 Savannah & Atlanta 250 FT ABA 639 ABBA 755 Railking Erie, NYOW, Seaboard, MoPac NYC Mohawk 2 or 3 Rail 999 Scale Diesels Pwr 259 Dmy 129 Zephyr 4-Unit Sets 2 types 649 L-3a, 3b, 3c L-4a, 4b FEC SD70M-2 Twin-Stack 649 L-4a Mohawk Freight Set 1079 2114 WM GP-35, DC 250 UP SD70ACe Twin Stack Set 649 DMIR 2-8-8-4 Yellowstone 1299 Maersk GP-60M Twin-stack 649 Yellowstone Freight Set 1399 F40PH 3-R Power 389 Dmy 169 FM VGN, Chessie, JC, SP 4-6-0 Camelback Steam 819 Alaska, Amtrak, CAR, VIA JC, NYO&W, Reading Premier Passenger Cars 5-Pk 335 Amtrak Superliners 335/172 2-Pk 137 Full Vista 77 RPO 77 2115 NKP GP-35, DC 250 GP-35 also in PRR, CNW, GA Sharknose AB $488 A 145 RS-11 LV, Conrail, NH, SP Princess Coronation Steam 1079 NYC, PRR, B&O VO1000 Autotrain, PRR, NKP, CNW London, Midland, & Scot, British GP-7 359 Dmy 169 BAR, Erie MP15DC Am, NS, G&W, BNSF LMS 4-Car 365 Bag/Pass 95 F-3 ABA 425 B&O, MR, Wab, WP 2235 MR Hiawatha Power B 250

2-10-0 Russian Decapod 899 GP-9 359 Dmy 169 C&O, UP PRR Modified P5a $489 Erie, Pitt Shaw& N, W. Md SW-1 259 JC, RI, C&O, GN 4-6-4 Royal Hudson 899 Brill Trolley w/PS2.0 199 BC, Southern, CP-Royal Tour NYT, Pitt, Phila Sub Trans, MTA 7890 Ann Arbor RS-1, DC 299 NJ Transit ALP46 399 Dmy 189 PRR FF-1 $599 SW-1 Switcher 259 CNW, MR, Other RS-1: NH, RI, C&O Scale Diesels Pwr 259 Dmy 129 0-6-0 USRA Steam 519 Erie, VGN 2-8-8-8-2 Triplex 1299 7805 Jersey Central SD-35 275 N&W 4-8-4J-Class 999 2 #’s B&O GE I/R Box Cab 399 GP-7 GN, L&N Diesels 2 or 3 Rail NJ Transit ALP44 389 Dmy 169

4-6-4 Royal Hudson 899 7822 CSX SD-35, DC 275 3GS21B Genset 389 Scale 399 BC, Southern, CP-Royal Tour GP-9 Buff & Pitt, CN CSX, BNSF, NS, Army, UP, NRE AEM-7 Electric 389 Dmy 169 Diesels 389 Dmy 169 Scale 399 Amtrak x 3, MARC, Septa Amfleet 4-Passenger 277 2-Pk 142 7823 Penn Central SD-35, DC 275 Septa, MARC, Amtrak x 2 RS-3 Erie, LV, NH, SP&S 60’ Flat w/Trash Containers 57 ES44DC KCS, CSX, CN, NS East Carbon x2, Gen. Am., Joe Trans European Dash 8, DC Und, UP, BC, SP 299 FP45 Maersk,MRL,SF,MR EP-3 Electric 739 NH x 3 Dummy for above 195 SD70Mac AK, BNSF, CSX

AA16 NOHAB 3-R 399 2-R 449 ES44AC 399 385 169 GN, Denmark, GM Demo, Norway, VO1000 Power 259 NP, UP, Demo, CP, UP 7840 BNSF Patch Job -8, DC 299 Dash-8W CN, CSX, SF, UP Belgium, Luxembourg, Hungary Burl, Patapsco & Black Rivers 7841 BNSF Patch Job Dmy 195 Specialty Set 2008 Vol II RailKing Am. Freedom PA Passenger 599 Scale Size Diesel 255 Dmy 129 GE Evolution Hybrid Set 449/479 Dash 8 Conrail, CSX x 2, UP GN 2-8-8-2R-2 Freight Set 1399 NYC J1e Hudson Passenger 999 TRAXX F140 AC2 399 2R 449 7848 GE Demo Dash 8, DC 299 CNW E-4 Streamlined Pass 999 Demo, SBB Cargo, Veolia, Europe SP Cab Forward Freight Set 1389 C628 D&H, LV, N&W, SF U30C Chessie, MR, PRR, SP RailKing – Scale Size th 0-8-0 Steam Switcher 359 GP60M SF, DC 299 Erie Triplex Freight Set 1389 64’ 19 Century Coach 76 IC, Sou, NYC, NKP, NP, PLE LIRR, B&O 3-Pk 225 GP-9 USCG, FEC, PRR, SP 255 All Atlas Rolling Stock $25-$40 GP-35 PRR, NYC, GN, AK, GMO 2009 Dealer Appreciation C&O M-1 Stm Turbine Pass Set 899 Limited Quantities 20-3279-2N&W Class A 2-6-6-4 1150 MP-15AC CP, CSX, MR, UP 255 SD45 MR,GNx2,SF,UP UP DDA40X Diesel Loco 649 RS-11 DW&P, NYC, NP, PRR 255 PRR P5a Beer Train Set 819 R142A MTA Sub 5-pk 369 2-pk 125 ScaleTrax -INSTOCK 10” 3.00 O31 or O54 Curve 3.00 SD70ACe BHP Billiton, KCS, UP UP Pass 5pk 335 2pk 137 Vista 40 O72 3.75 O80 4.45 1 ¾” 4-Pk 7.75 BMT 2500 Subway 3-Car 399/269 30” Rigid or Flex 8.65 ITAD $23 K-Line 2-R Shay $499 90, 45 or 22.5 Xing 16 Op. Track 16 Lackawanna, PLC Remote Switch O31, O54 or O72 $38 SD70M-2 NS, CN R40 Subway 4-Car 445 2-Car 175 Engineering Version Orient 999 Switch #4 $44 #6 $51 Bumper 13 www.justrains.com Just TrainsTM Free Shipping over $200 on all Korber Orders (888) 453-9742 Made in USA www.justrains.com

302 One Stall Diesel Shed w/Shop 69 901 Action Machinery 6 x 8 25 917 Gen Lt & Power Sub Station 32 959 Midland Supply 8x6 35

304 3-Stall Roundhouse, 30”D 189 304A Xtra Stall or 304B Extender 45 960 John’s Cutlery 6x8 25 902 Jaybar Company 6 x 8 27 921 JLC Manufacturing 65

305 Sandhouse, 16 x 6 45 966 Lehigh Engineering 6 x 8 25

903 Skyline Steel 6 x 8 25

950 American Flag Co. 14x9 69 306 2-Stall Diesel Shed 25 x 11 69 306A Extender 12.5 x 11 27

967 Shoe Co. 7 skylts 20 x 9 x 11 69 905 Blackshear Refrig. Transport 59

307 3-Stall Trolley Barn 23 x 11 95

953 Joe’s Pickle Factory 14 x 9 69 968 Freight Terminal 8 x 15 49

908 Shanahan Freight 20 x 8 x 9H 75 308 Quincy Mining Co. 47

954 Buck Island Canning 8 x 12 59 969 Gen Lt & Pwr Office 6x13x12 65

310 Mitchell Textile Co. 39 911 Perfect Tool Co. 8 x 16 55

955 RJK Tool&Die9x14 55 P56 Cut Stone P81 Random Stone 10

912 Roller Bearing Co. 9 x 28 89 3115 Grain Silo, 7 x 34 x 22 H 135 P83 Concrete 10 P57 Double 13 957 Lewis & Sons Machine Shop 25

915 Quaker Foods 9 x 12 49 D929 Roof Top Water Tank D30 12 315 Grain Silo, 7 x 19 x 22 H 85 956 James Company 13 x 8 x 9H 55

New Modular System Kit 74.95 Unlimited configurations 24 walls 320 3-Stall Roundhouse 26” Deep 159 916 General Light & Power 48”L 175 958 Mill Works 11 x 7 w/Tower 49 Just Trains (888) 453-9742 Buy–Sell–Trade Buy-Sell-Trade ads are $5 for 30 words plus your address information. Additional words are $0.25 each. Subscribers are permitted one free ad per subscription cycle . All B-S-T ads are prepaid. You may send ads by postal service with a check or money order. Ads sent by email or called in must use a credit card. See our contact info on page 2.

THE O SCALE KINGS are looking for new drive, $2500. ATSF Pecos River Brass - F/P FOR SALE: Sunset UP 4-4-2, new, $599. Call members. The present members are good but Stock cars; F/P Heavyweight: latest run; 650-759-9054 or mail to James J Herdrich, we need more good members. Send LSASE Horse car, Cafe/Obs, Combine, (2) 70’ 3220 Upper Lock Ave, Belmont, CA 94002- for “O Scale Trains Shows” flyer and “Projects Baggage, Business car, Lounge, diner, earlier 1317 List” flyer to Bob Retallack, Dept. OST, 2224 run: F/P RPO and U/P: (2) A/C chair cars, Adner Ct, Columbus, OH 43220. non A/C partitioned coach. Request prices. WANTED: Rich Yoder “Crown 70-ton Reasonable offers considered. Call Bruce Trucks”. Contact Bill Pierson at 717-766-1234 WANTED: Small N&W custom-built or scratch- Antell,650-347-4402 or email bantell@pac- or [email protected], or Bill Pierson, 133 built steam. Especially looking for N&W 4-8-0 bell.net. Bruce Antell, 50 S San Mateo Dr, Ste Wheatland Rd, Lewisberry, PA 17339-9408 by Bill Lenoir. Also 2-8-0, 4-6-0. Also looking 105, San Mateo, CA 94401-3857 for N&W brass parts, e.g., pilot, cylinders, WANTED: SP steam and diesel, Amtrak domes, tenders, etc. Contact Joe Giannovario, FOR SALE: Berlyn 20-ton gantry crane, F/P Overland cars and diesels, PSC Pullman cars. [email protected] or call 610-363-7117. $725; Sunset NYC S1b F/P, $925;Sunset Email: [email protected] or call 619- USRA 4-8-2, C/P $825; PSC NYC 4-6-0 F/P 593-0886 or mail to Albert E Espinosa, 316 E WANTED: Ambroid special run 50’ Milw. $950; OVL F-3 Phase B C/P NYC $550; Camden Ave, El Cajon, CA 92020-4504 boxcars, Hallmark comp gons, Sunset WWII Weaver VO1000 F/P NYC $225; CB RS-1 WANTED: 1/43rd Autos: Matchbox ‘40 emergency boxcars, PRB WWII comp gons, C/P GN $500; Atlas SW8 F/P NYC $250, Ford pickup, ‘66 Fairlane, Solido ‘36 Ford Lobaugh 50’ reefers, WWII era boxcars what Atlas GP35 DC F/P $325, PFM GN 4-6-0 pickup, ERTL ‘57 T-Bird, IXO ‘56 Ford 4DR, have you? Mail only. Jim Seacrest, PO Box F/P new $1600. WANT Atlas C-424 F/P TINSTOYS Ford Excursion, MAISTO Ford 6397, Lincoln, NE 68506-0397 Wabash. Phone 423-772-4401, or write: Fusion, any vehicle lists. Contact D. Girebel, Norm Reaume, 129 Hamby Rd, Roan Mt, TN WANTED: LTD AMT Steam/Diesel era GN, PO Box 6602 Dherwood AR 72124 37687-0004 NP, C&NW, CM&O engines, passenger cars, FOR SALE: O Scale cardstock buildings, qual- freight cars, MoW, cabooses, What have you? FOR SALE: Kohs GG1, Dark Green, 5 stripe, ity metal and plastic detail parts, backdrops. Mail only please. Jim Seacrest, PO Box 6397, Gold Leaf, Clarendon, Fixed coupler #4821, Free catalog. Pioneer Valley Models, 35 Yale Lincoln NE 68506. TRO, beautiful condition, $2950; Westside St, S Hadley MA 01075, 413-533-5350, or Santa Fe Mikado, mechanically rebuilt by FOR SALE: Southern Pacific by PSC F?P, mint email [email protected]. Gary Schrader, $1100. Bill Pierson, 133 & TRO: AC-12 #4294, $4950; MT-5 #4370 Wheatland Rd, Lewisberry, PA 17339-9408 (latest run), $2750; P-10 (Skyline casing/ deskirted) w/120 C-8 tender & Soufie drive, $2500; P-8 w/120 C-8 tender & Cockerham

Events To ensure your event listing makes it into the proper issue, please note the following deadlines for publication: Jan/ Feb issue: November 1 of the prior year. March/April issue: Jan. 1. May/June issue: March 1. July/August issue: May 1. Sept. /Oct. issue: July 1. Nov. /Dec. issue: Sept. 1

June 2010 11-18: Milwaukee WI October 2010 30th to July 3rd: Santa Clara CA NMRA National Convention & 75th Anniv. 2: Gardner MA The 2010 O Scale National is being held The National Model Railroad Association Southern New England O Scale Model Train in lieu of the 2010 O Scale West. The hotel (NMRA) will be celebrating its 75th birthday Show Show held at Chestnut Street United room rate is $109/night plus 10% room tax, in 2010. As part of the festivities the National Methodist Church, 161 Chestnut Street, for up to 4 people in the room. Registration Convention will be held in Milwaukee 9:30 AM to 4 PM. Admission - Adults $5, is $35, $40 After April 30, 2010. Vendor Wisconsin, the birthplace of the NMRA. Children 5-12 $1, Family Max $8, Tables: tables (72”) are $45, $50 after April 30, We are planning a, rip roaring Midwestern, $20 - 8 ft, $15 - 6ft. O scale, Hi-Rail, NG, 2010. A banquet will be held at 7:30 PM good time for all, both model railroader and P:48, books, videos, food and a layout. Call Friday outside the hotel. For more details, general interest attendee alike. Dates for the or email Larry Grant, 508-337-6661. Contact contact the O Scale National Convention, convention are Sunday July 11th to Sunday [email protected] c/o 876 Boyce Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301- July 18th. On Sunday the 11th, we are going 3003 or call Rod Miller at 650-329-0424 to kick off the week with a Beer and Brat between 9:00 AM Pacific Time and 9:00 PM Fest (a Milwaukee favorite) at Zeidler Union 9: Strasburg PA Strasburg Train Show Two-rail swap meet at Pacific Time. Email: [email protected]. Square Park, just a stone’s throw away from the convention site and hotel. Contact Ken the Strasburg Fire Co., 203 W. Franklin St., 9 July 2010 Jaglinski, Vice-Chair. Contact mjaglinski@ Am to 1 PM. Admission $5 (Wives/Children/ 10: Merchantville NJ wi.rr.com Active Military w/ID, FREE).Tables: $25 first Cherry Valley Model RR Club Open House one, $20 each additional table. Great food, Cherry Valley Open House during the Mer- August 2010 modular layout, clinics. Call John Dunn, chantville Antique Car Show, 1 PM to 7 PM. 7: Strasburg PA 609-432-2871. Contact jdunn8888@hot- At Grace Episcopal Church, 7 E Maple Ave. Strasburg Train Show Two-rail swap meet at mail.com No admission but donations accepted. Con- the Strasburg Fire Co., 203 W. Franklin St., 9 tact [email protected] AM to 1 PM. Admission $5 (Wives/Children/ Active Military w/ID, FREE).Tables: $25 first one, $20 each additional table. Great food, modular layout, clinics. Call John Dunn, 609-432-2871. Contact jdunn8888@hotmail. com

64 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 Advertisers Index Advertisers

2010 O Scale National 57 Just Trains 61, 62, 63 Public Delivery Track 30 AAA Turntables 16 JV Models 10 Rails Unlimited 10 Allegheny Scale Models 31 Keil-Line 10 RGSRR Hobbies 52 Atlas O IFC Key Model Imports 14 Rich Yoder Models 25, 40 Bachmann 18 LaBelle Woodworking Co. 30 Scenic Express 10 Baldwin Forge & Machine 10 Micro-Mark 29 SceniKing 57 BTS 20 Millhouse River Studio 57 SMARTT 56 Bullfrog Snot 10 Model Building Services 36 SMR Trains 36 Custom Signals 14 Model Rail Scenes 10 Stevenson Preservation Lines 10 East Gary Car Co. 10 MTH Electric Trains IBC Sumpter Valley Depot 30 Get Real Productions 65 Mullett River 46 Sunset⁄3rd Rail BC Golden Gate Depot 15 NCE Corp 24 Tam Valley Depot 41 Gorilla Glue 29 O Scale Realty 57 Twin Whistle Sign & Kit 57 Guide to Modern O Scale 16 O Scale Trains 14 Underground Railway Press 36 Hackworth Model Trains 24 P&D Hobby Shop 14 UpBids.net 36 Howard Zane 10 Pieces of the Puzzle 16 Valley Model Trains 30 Irish Tracklayer 29 Precision Scale Co. 9 Weaver 56 JD’s Trains 23 Protocraft 16 Woodland Scenics 45

May/June ’10 - O Scale Trains • 65 Joe Giannovario

A “Golden” Issue Imports. So, will someone please explain to me how a diecast This is issue #50, our ”golden” issue. I think the mix of arti- Lionel Hudson belongs under brass imports? Or for that matter cles in this issue reflects the ”golden” age of O Scale that we’re why plastic tubing, or books, or a plastic freight station is there? living in. Never before have we had access to so many quality I find it most annoying. items for our hobby. Is There Life Beyond Trains? (Gasp!) If you are a ready-to-run fan, there are tons of models for For those of you who live in the Northeast corridor, you you to purchase and plunk down on your layout and begin know we’ve had a record snowfall this season. As of today, operations immediately. If you are a kit-basher, there are tons we’ve hit 7 feet of snow since December. As a result, Jaini and I more models and kits to purchase that you can bend, fold and have spent a lot of this winter indoors with the pups (talk about spindle to your heart’s desire. If you are a scratchbuilder, there cabin fever!). are more materials than you can possible use on any given Between doing OST administrivia all-day and working on model that will yield your desired result. Oh, I know there are the new OST layout, I have to take a break from trains and do some folks who miss the cast bronze doorstops and paper car something else. That something else is video games. sides, but I don’t. Yes, Jaini and I are hard-core gamers. We play virtually The response to Capt. Tom Mix’s scratchbuilding series has every evening for a couple hours. We’re Xbox users (which is been extremely positive. His work inspires people to achieve amazing because I’m a Macintosh computer die-hard). We got more with their own model building. There hasn’t been a series hooked on the Xbox because of a game called HALO, a first- like this since Mel Thornburgh wrote for MR and Tom certainly person shooter (FPS). We have all four HALO games and we’re has earned the right to Mel’s mantle. Tom’s third installment waiting for the new HALO: Reach beta to debut in March. appears in this issue. Other games that we’re especially fond of are: Star Wars: I’ve also been surprised at the positive response to my series Knights of the Old Republic (aka KOTOR I) and KOTOR II both Starting Over. Many of you have sent short notes sympathizing role-playing games (RPG); Mass Effect 1 and 2 (another sci-fi with my situation and expressed a great deal of interest in how RPG); Metal Arms: Glitch In The System (a platformer); and our I developed the new trackplan. In this issue you’ll see how we newest favorite, Borderlands, which combines elements of an prepped the room for the benchwork. Some of you have asked RPG with an FPS. about the operations and I will discuss that in later issues. I’ll But the one game we’ve played consistently for nearly two get specific about each destination. years is Civilization: Revolution. It’s a strategy game that can Bill Davis’s article on scratchbuilding a stock car is a good be played in as little as 20 minutes or as long as three hours, example of the new materials I mentioned above. Bill’s car is depending on the goal and difficulty level. Civ: Rev is about built from styrene, one of my favorite mediums, but he also resource management and problem solving. It’s an easy game uses Archer resin decal rivets. If you have not seen these, you to start playing but it takes a long time to understand all the need to visit [www.archertransfers.com] and check out their nuances of the choices you make during a game. Not to go into complete line of surface details. too much detail but any given game involves 5 of a possible 14 The rest of the issue is more scratchbuilding and kitbash- civilizations, each with unique abilities. You can win a game by ing by the likes of Conley Wallace (Jawn Henry), Warner Clark dominating the others (war), amassing 20,000 gold and build (Roundhouse) and Jerry Zaret (Scratch Buildings). I think there’s the World Bank, create a strong culture and build the United something here for everyone. I hope you enjoy our 50th issue Nations, or with technology by building and launching a star- and I promise well be around for the 100th. ship to Alpha Centauri. A New Venture I bring this up because the choices we make early on in I want to take this opportunity to announce the formation designing and building a model railroad will have consequenc- of a new enterprise; OST Publications Inc. Mike Cougill and I es later on down the road. Playing Civ: Rev has given me an have joined together to create a publishing company that will appreciation for planning and resource management as applied focus on the needs of the intermediate to advanced O Scale to my hobby. modeler in terms of fine craftsmanship. First up, Mike authors So, I’m wondering if anyone else has a non-train hobby that a trackwork book. Our second project will be a Proto48 has lessons applicable to trains? If you do, let us know and we’ll Handbook. There are other titles in the works and when we’ve share them with everyone. decided on the next one we’ll let you all know. In the mean- Another Survey time, watch for the ad announcing Mike’s new book. I’ve set up a second OST Reader’s Survey. I would appre- Pet Peeves ciate it if everyone reading this would take a few minutes to I’ve been meaning to get this off my chest for a while. I’ve complete the survey online. Go to the OST website [www. been a member of eBay since 1998 and while I am not an oscalemag.com] and you will find a link on the front page to eBay ”powerhouse” I do look at it every day for things I am the survey. We’re interested in knowing more about who our interested in buying. One of my pet peeves is people who readers are, how they model in O Scale and what they’d like to cannot seem to fathom the idea of a category. I have O Scale see in future issues of OST. bookmarked and one of the categories under O Scale is Brass Keep Highballin’ u

66 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’10 O Scale Trains mth 06-2010.qxp 3/8/2010 4:30 PM Page 1

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