MTH DCS to DCC Conversion Changing Over an MTH Steam Loco As Detailed by Ray Grosser

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Celebrating Scale the art of Trains 1:48 modeling MAGAZINE O u Sept/Oct 2008 Issue #40

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Managing Editor 15 Powering Up: Block Detection Mike Cougill Ted Byrne looks at the options for sgnaling and other tasks. [email protected] 17 MTH DCS to DCC Conversion Changing over an MTH steam loco as detailed by Ray Grosser. Advertising Manager Jeb Kriigel 38 2008 O Scale National Convention [email protected] Photos from the convention floor.

Customer 41 Boxcar to Caboose Conversion Service Charlie Morrill freelances a caboose based on an SP conversion. Spike Beagle 49 An Introduction to Soldering Complaints Soldering made easier the William Kendall way. L’il Bear

Contributors Ted Byrne Gene Clements Departments Carey Hinch Roger C. Parker Neville Rossiter 13 The Art of Finescale – Mike Cougill Subscription Rates: 6 issues US - Periodical Class Delivery uS$35 26 Traction Action – Roger Parker US - First Class Delivery (1 year only) uS$45 Canada/Mexico US$55 31 The Modern Image – Gene Clements Overseas US$80 Visa, MC, AMEX & Discover accepted. Call 610-363-7117 during 32 Reader Feedback Eastern time business hours. Dealers contact Kalmbach Publishing, 800-558-1544 ext 818 or email [email protected] Advertisers call for info. 34 Modelers’ Showcase www.oscalemag.com • ©2008 All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S.A. 45 The Workshop – Neville Rossiter 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 52 Product News & Reviews PA 19341-0289. Subscription rates: US Periodical Mail, $35 per year, US First Class Mail, $45 per year; Canada or Mexico, $55 per year; Overseas, $80 per year. Postage paid 68 Buy-Sell-Trade Ads at West Chester, Pa., and additional mailing offices. POST- MASTER send address changes to O Scale Trains Magazine, 68 Events Listing PO Box 289, Exton PA 19341-0289. Contributors: O Scale Trains welcomes your feature articles, 69 Advertiser Index photos, and drawings. Such material should be sent to the above address for possible publication. If we accept, you will be notified 70 Observations – Joe Giannovario immediately. For more information concerning article preparation guidelines, please send an SASE to the above address and request our “Guide For Authors” or visit our website at: www. oscalemag.com. Cover: A lone N&W covered hopper waits on the Mill Track for the next local at Sycamore, Indiana on Mike Cougill’s Indiana and Whitewater. Weathering expert Rich Divizio explains how he did the car’s incredible weathering job starting on page 4. Centerspread: This area on John Houlihan’s (The Irish Track- layer) layout is called “Big Bunch” after a siding on the Fresno Interurban Railroad, east of Fresno, a joint ATSF/SP station. The locomotive is Sacramento Northen #652. The packing shed is typical of those found throughout the local area. The overhead is shared by Scarmento Northern and Visalia Electric, both of which serviced a good number of packing sheds in their respective areas. Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 3 Before Photo 1 Weathering an O Scale Hopper Rich Divizio

(Judging by the many photos I’ve looked at, O Scale mod- 3 elers seem reluctant to weather freight cars. The OST staff feels this is an important overdue subject. Therefore I com- missioned weathering expert Rich Divizio to do one of my own cars for this article in our ongoing effort to bring you the best techniques and modeling information we can. Here’s Rich. -Ed.) Fading the Car In looking at the unweathered car (Photo 1), I decided the first order of business was to fade the car down a bit and grime it up before I started to add any kind of rust detailing. I mixed a custom gray color that was slightly darker than the car’s original color using Windsor & Newton’s Zinc White and Ivory Black gouache thinned with Windex, combined with Wind- sor & Newton’s Raw Umber water soluble oil paint from their Artisan line. I mixed these colors keeping a close eye on the con- sistency until I got a dark brownish/grayish tone that would still be transparent as it was applied to the car (Photos 2-3). I quickly applied the custom wash to the side panels brushing up and down until the whole side was covered. Working fast while the 2 side was still wet, I took a wedge shaped cosmetic sponge and dabbed the side of the car left to right, up and down and back again until I achieved the desired, grimy/faded look I wanted (Photo 4). Note: by doing this you’re actually taking off what you just put on, and if more is taken off in one spot than the other, you could reveal more of the cars original color which simulates that the panel’s rusting is slowly taking over the metal. Photo 5 shows a completed side after the first wash has been applied and sponged. Fading the Letters Once both sides were complete, I wanted to tone down the lettering without disturbing the panel color, so I used the

4 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 4 8

same dark gray gouache mixture and a torn cosmetic sponge to carefully dab the color on, touching only the lettering (Photos 6-7). Once the sides of the car were complete, I concentrated on the surrounding areas: the sides of the roofwalk, the lower sills and ladders, and the sloping roof line under the roof walk (Photos 8-9-10).

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The Magic Take-Off Technique The areas I just spoke of were treated with the same wash as the sides were. A couple of minutes after those areas were visibly dry, I took a brush dipped in some rubbing alcohol, 7 and stippled all those same areas to take off what had just been applied. By doing this, it creates the look of built up dirt over time. As far as the finer detailing on panel seams, bolts and where the supports meet their attaching points, we will fine tune those areas later once the whole car has a base layer of grime. End Detailing I approached both ends of the car the same way, by giving them a base coat of grime. I make sure that where the rungs of the ladder are attached, and anywhere the end of the car collects the dirt kicked up from the wheels, that I’m treating those areas with some extra special attention. The grime wash will take care of the basic grooves that need to be filled with collected dirt, but to create the kicked up splatter from the Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 5 wheels, I lightly grimed the end of the car, not going as dark 14 as the sides of the car, since this area is a bit more protected. While the surface was still wet, I took a dry brush with some weathering powder on it and, holding the car vertically, lightly tapped the back end of the car. By doing this, the powder is randomly dropped in specks onto the wet surface and you leave it to dry without touching it. You will seal this later using Dullcote from an airbrush (Photos 11-12). For griming up the hopper bays, bolts and other equipment, it’s the same as before, just dirty up these areas according to what you feel this car has been exposed to over time (Photos 13-14).

11 Roof and Hatches My first step in getting the roof and hatches looking right is to just get them stained a bit lighter than the sides of the car. Using my same grime wash and thinning it out a bit with some alcohol on my brush, I quickly covered the whole top and worked in the wash where I felt that dirt could collect. Taking a cosmetic sponge and wetting it with some rubbing alcohol, lightly dab the top of the car end-to-end to achieve a slightly stained looking roof (Photo 15). 15

I mixed up a small batch of Black and White gouache with water soluble Raw Umber oils for a kind of rusty gray, and sponged the top of the hatches. I let the hatches dry a bit, maybe 15 minutes, then came back and using a brush dipped in alcohol, began to stipple off what I just put on in random dabs. Keep wiping off your brush in between, to keep from transferring the same color back onto the hatch. What you’re trying to do is reveal some of the gray part of the hatch (Pho- tos 16 through 19). Now, almost the same process as above will be done on the curved rooftop in between the hatches. Taking your alcohol dipped brush, we’ll now take away from what we 13 sponged on before, leaving behind the effect you see (Photos 20-21). Now you may notice a pattern here. I’ll put the paint on, then I’ll take it off. Doing this is great because taking it off is easier than putting it on. Artists call this blocking, or getting your basic colors onto the canvas and then worrying about the detailing later. The same approach goes here, as I mixed up some Burnt and Raw Sienna gouache (Photo 22), and applied that to the side of the hopper cylinder and curved roofline (Photos 23-24). Taking my soft dry brush to the surface, as in Photo 24, I will begin to stipple the fresh color, softening the textured pattern I’m creating until I get the look I want (Photo 25). Once that has dried for about 15 minutes, I’ll go back and

6 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 16 22

17 18

24 20

21 25

Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 7 hit the car with the alcohol dipped brush again, and stipple 29 some more to enhance the textured look. What’s nice about this is that you can always work in your color around supports, bolts, seams, etc. and then, go back over those areas and take off the color, leaving behind whatever gets caught in the cracks, etc. for a nice effect of dirt or rust collected over time (Photos 26 through 28). 26

Rust on the Roof Using the same on and off technique, I applied this same mixture to the top of the car and to the hatches, and used my alcohol dipped brush to take off and to soften the rust effect at the same time (Photos 29 through 31). to sharpen it up. If I want to soften the streak, I’ll just use a Rust Pits and Streaks damp brush and dab the streak, which will feather it out a bit Using a blend of Burnt Sienna and Raw Umber water (Photos 34-36). soluble oils, I use a fine brush to place my rust pits (Photo The Ends Get Detailed Again 32), and then slightly soften them with a dry brush. If I intend The ends of the hopper also need some rusting because rusty to have a streak of rust coming down from the pit I will wet rain water drips down over time from the roofwalk onto the the area just below it with Micro Sol, and proceed to paint inside portion of the ends of the car. The wheels from the cars on the streak coming down (Photo 33). I do it this way because either end also kick up water over time and continually take a toll my brush will glide better on a wet surface. Once the streak on the ends of the car. Nothing but some stippling and softening is down, I can make it finer by using a wet brush dipped in of my water soluble oils here, to create the look of rust slowly try- Micro Sol and pass the brush right down along side the streak ing to take over the ends of this car (Photos 37-38). 8 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 Couplers 32 Getting the right color and texture that I wanted for the couplers was a blend of the water soluble oils using Raw Umber and Burnt Sienna brushed on and then, using a cosmetic sponge with the same paint mixture on the end of it, I dabbed it all over the coupler to get a subtle texture. The same goes for the coupler box (Photo 39).

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Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 9 Trucks 44 I took apart the trucks, laid them out and spray painted them with Rustoleum Primer, which actually has a kind of oxide reddish/rust color, to it as my base coat. I then used the same sponging technique as I did on the couplers, using the Raw Umber and Burnt Sienna. To make the trucks have an illusion of realism, character and depth, I sponged the edges and bearing caps with a mixture of white gouache that I toned down by blending it with the mixture I used for the trucks (Photos 40 through 44).

Wheels I first masked the treads by placing my wheels in a kind of jig I created using a threaded pipe coupler that I found at my local hardware store. The face of the wheel sits perfectly into 42 the fitting and another fitting is placed on top, then I spray my base coat of Rustoleum Primer, and stipple brush the wheels with some of the Raw Umber and Burnt Sienna mixture until I get the look I want (Photo 45). When everything had dried and I was satisfied with the results, I sealed the paint layers using a coat of airbrushed Dullcote and reassembled the car. u

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12 • O Scale TrainsBachmann - Sept/Oct Industries, ’08 Inc. • 1400 East Erie Avenue • Philadelphia, PA 19124 • www.bachmanntrains.com The Art of Finescale Michael Cougill

The Odd Couple You can take a commercial car out of the box, but then what? Back in May, I was invited down to an On30 Mini-Meet near Most of us will add some details or weather it up a bit. That Columbus, IN. Al Askerberg and his fellow modelers are having can be satisfying of course, but what then? Go get another and lots of fun building On30 modules and getting them together another, until you’re drowning in cardboard boxes? What do for operating sessions and shows like this one. You never know you do if no manufacturer produces the car or loco you want? what you’re going to see at meets like these; so even though I And maybe they never will, because it is too obscure a proto- don’t model in narrow gauge, I went with an open mind. type? If you’re like many, you complain about it to whomever The meet was well attended. There were more On30 prod- will listen. That’s not going to get you the model you want, is it? ucts and vendors than I ever knew existed and the quality of Learning how to scratchbuild it will. Developing your skills the products was very nice. Several of the group’s modules in this area will free you from the victim mentality of nobody were set up in a corner of the room and the modeling was makes what I want. You’ll never have to worry that ABC Com- excellent. I’ve asked Al for further coverage of the modules and pany is taking forever to get your favorite model to market, or the group’s efforts. that they didn’t do it right when they finally did get around to Combining P48 and On30 may seem like a stretch of the it. If scratchbuilding or kitbashing just doesn’t appeal to you, imagination to some. But I can’t help wondering if the dual then we’re not going to change your mind no matter how many gauge combination might not be feasible. If my history stud- editorials we run. But you’ll never know with certainty until you ies are working, I recall that P48 got its start by a group of at least give it a try. Joe and I are working on a series of projects On3 modelers who wanted a wheel profile that would work that we hope will further your learning in this area. You’ll be for both standard and narrow gauge trackage. I’ve also read hearing more about them in the near future. where the standard gauge wheel profile in P48 is similar to HO That said, we’re always looking for good material. Some Scale’s RP25 wheel cross section regarding the tire width and subjects like weathering freight cars are long overdue. That’s flange depth. The only real difference is, of course, the overall why we devoted so much space to Rich Divizio’s article in this diameter. issue. Rich’s work speaks for itself, and I felt we should run it in The obvious way is to have a stretch of P48 track as a full rather than stopping in the middle and making you wait two non-operating scenic item to simply highlight the contrast in months for the conclusion. Check out his website: [www.mod- size between standard gauge equipment and narrow gauge eltrainsweathered.com] for more outstanding work. Articles on as shown by Al’s photo. More challenging perhaps is to have basic modeling skills like Bill Kendall’s soldering piece also fill operating dual-gauge trackwork that combines the two. I’m a need in our editorial mix. Our objective is to make OST as not knowledgeable about the actual wheel sizes and profiles valuable a resource for your modeling enjoyment as we can. I used on most On30 cars and locos. I assume that it’s the stan- strayed a bit off base this time with these editorial comments. dard HO Scale RP25 wheel for the most part. The main issue Next issue, I’ll get back on topic. is would that small a diameter wheel track through a standard Best regards, gauge P48 frog successfully. I think the individual narrow gauge Mike u car weight would have to be increased for consistently success- Photo by Al Askerberg ful operation. I really don’t know if any of this is feasible or not, but it’s fun to think about. I’m certain somebody has or will experi- ment with it and put us all to shame with the results. Scratchbuilding Lately in the magazine, we’ve spoken a lot about the joys and advantages of scratchbuilding. The economy seems to be in a big hoorah for a whole host of reasons and everyone seems to have the jitters about it. In times like these, a hobby like model railroading can provide a great way to relieve some real world stress. Most of us already know that. What many have forgotten or never learned is that this hobby, more than many, is about doing something, not just having stuff.

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14 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 Block Detection in O Scale to show when they are activated. This helps with installation When O Scale modelers use block occupancy detectors, and debugging. they often use one of the units designed for use with DCC The most complete detector unit of the three is the Dallee for the smaller scales, such as units by Dallee, NCE, and JLC/ TRAK-DT-365 which is on a two by three inch printed circuit Chubb. These units all work fine and you might think that board and includes a double pole, double throw relay that there should be no problems with O Scale because train elec- can control two five amp circuits. It is hard to imagine signal tricity has no direct connection to the detector. But this is not circuitry that needs five amps but you could use this on a quite true. These units do reflect their small-scale birth and streetcar line to stop the following car until the present car has need some special care in O Scale, as I will note. moved out of the block. The toroid has a 0.2” diameter hole Recall that Block Occupancy Devices detect when a train which will barely accept two #14 size power wires. Thought- is in a certain portion of track by detecting the electrical cur- fully, it has holes and spacers for mounting. This unit is part rent drawn by the train. The train’s presence may be used to of a family of detection items and Dallee can provide further actuate a block signal or a road crossing’s light/gate/bell, or a details on them. light at a remote switching center, as is done on the prototype. The NCE BD20 unit is only 0.8” by 1.4” in size but does It may indicate that a train is in a remote staging area or hid- not include a relay. The toroid has a 0.18” diameter hole. It den track, or it may protect a junction or control a reversing can actuate signals directly or its circuitry will drive an out- loop. To be complete, we should note that a train can also be board relay. It also has provision for you to add a control to detected by actuating a mechanical switch or breaking a light decrease the sensitivity. beam, but here we are talking about current detection, which, The Chubb DCCOD unit, produced by JLC, consists of in fact, is the way the prototype detects a train. a 1.75” by 2.85” PC board and a bag of parts which you Model train current detectors go back at least to the assemble. Assembly is pretty easy. It does not include a relay, famous Twin-T detector that Linn Wescott described in 1958. but one can be added. The toroid also has a 0.18” hole. It has But detection is much easier with AC power to the trains a sensitivity control. because a transformer can be used to avoid any connection There are two cautions that O Scalers need to consider between the detection circuitry and the track. Mark Wood- when using any of these devices. First, the instructions say well described block detection in OST #7, Mar/Apr 2003, and to wrap several turns of wire through the toroid for increased I described it in OST #11, Nov/Dec 2003. sensitivity. You would also need several wires for a grade If each of your blocks is longer than the length of a train crossing indicator that protected several tracks. But the hole and each train has either lighted passenger cars or a lighted in the Dallee unit will only accept 2 turns of #14 wire and caboose, then the detection will work properly. If you have the others will only accept 1 turn. Nevertheless, you should longer trains, then you will need to scatter in some other cars not do that because the stress of trying to wrap stiff power that draw electricity. The standard way to do this is to fasten wire may damage or break the contacts to the circuit board. a resistor across a wheel axle to draw some current. Since the So use smaller wire, but not the tiny wire they recommend unit has to recognize both the high current of a locomotive or furnish. I suggest #16 stranded wires (extension cord or and the low current of a light bulb or resistor on the axle, sen- loudspeaker wire) with the insulation stripped off and a thin- sitivity is an important parameter. ner insulator put on. I use gummed labels from my computer The photo shows (left to right) a Dallee (with 2 short pieces of printer because they are thin and they stay in place. Also do #14 wire), NCE, and JLC (with an added relay) units. Each of these not connect this wire to the tiny terminals on the PC board or has a transformer called a toroid that looks like a candy lifesaver connector as they say. Instead connect it to your track wiring with a hole in the middle. One wire (but not both) supplying elec- through a separate terminal block. trical power to the track is routed through that hole. Second, the directions imply that you will place all your detectors in one place, near your block control panel. The companies have connectors and racks to neaten up such an installation. Maybe you will do that and run the heavy power wires to it. But it is more convenient to place the detector unit where it is detecting block current and not have to run longer heavy wires. Then you run the 12 volt power leads to the detector and the output leads to what is being controlled, usually signals or grade crossing lights nearby. If you take these simple precautions, then these units will work fine with your O Scale layout. For additional information All three of these units need 12 volt DC power and this you can reference the following websites: [www.dallee.com], power should have good regulation to keep the unit from [www.ncedcc.com], [www.jlcenterprise.net]. u thinking that a glitch on the power is track detection. Also, they all have an on-board light-emitting-diode (LED) indicator Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 15 Rail-RelatedRail-Related IndustriesIndustries fromfrom B.T.S.B.T.S. !! Cabin Creek Coal Tipple The Cabin Creek Coal Tipple is a freelanced composite of several different tipples located in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Three tracks are serviced here. The tipple kit is laser cut and engineered for easy construction. Detail castings and bulkheads are included. Overall size is about 2’ x 4’ as shown. #18105-L $ 549.95 Slatyfork Sawmill Slatyfork is a double bandsaw mill that can handle the load! This Master Creations’ kit consists of laser-cut basswood, plywood, and detail castings. Interior walls and floors are included. And the standard features ofB.T.S. kits are there... positionable doors and window sashes, slot and tab construction, brass door knobs, and well-engineered construction providing fast and easy assembly. The footprint is about a scale 115’ x 65’.

#18300 $ 850.00 McCabe Planing Shed The McCabe Lumber Co. Planing Shed should be called a planing mill complex since it is more than just a simple shed. The planing complex consists of the transfer shed, two planing buildings, boiler house, water tank, and loads of details, and is a key part of the Slatyfork Sawmill Complex. The Planing Shed can also be used as a stand- alone manufacturing industry such as a box factory.

This kit consists of laser-cut basswood, plywood, and cardstock, tarpaper roofing, brass, urethane, and white-metal detail castings, and loads of character. The tabbed, well-engineered construction provides fast and easy assembly. The footprint is about 70’ x 90’. #18225 $449.95 Elliott and Sons Supply While it is a freelanced structure, the Elliott & Sons Supply was based upon a tomato packing house in Florida. The kit features laser-cut basswood, cardstock and plywood; tabbed, easy construction; loads of Detail Castings; laser-cut, self-sticking shingles & sashes; laser-etched nail holes; optional skylights; and a scale 40’ x 60’ Footprint. #18106 $ 229.95 www.btsrr.com Shipping - $5.00/order in the US All Scale Catalog - $5.00 Celebrating over 29 Years of Service since 1979 MTH DCS to DCC Conversion Ray Grosser

MTH brought a very nice die-cast 2-8-0 to the world of O engine frame and drivers for any of the DCC electronics. Scale. It sounds fair with the DC sound effects, but to operate I also found the tender trucks are isolated from the frame, it one needs to use DCS. I believed that operationally it could and the two trucks are turned 180 degrees apart so that four be greatly improved with dedicated DCC. Also, some of the wheels (only two axles on each truck have wipers) can pick sound effects are toy train like, and are not easily shut off up power from the rails. This means that you may not need without the MTH command system. I wanted to control all a wire from the engine to the tender for pickup but the addi- the sounds and get rid of the smoke generator (actually an oil tional four drivers would help at switches and crossings. The distribution system) too, so this is how I did it. locomotive does not have pickup wipers on the insulated Taking the engine and tender apart is the easy work (Pho- drivers. Obviously, some wipers could be installed that would tos 1-2). Large Phillips head screws attach the superstructure increase pickup to all eight engine wheels if you want to go to the effort. Make sure that when you are installing the new 1 decoders you orient the pickup wires from the tender trucks to the correct terminals. An ohmmeter is an absolute necessity for this project to verify the wires running between the engine and tender. I will attempt to explain this later on. There are two ways of making the locomotive chuff sound: the installation of a SoundTraxx EXH-220 exhaust cam, installed with a wiper on the fourth driver, or using the auto-chuff capabilities of the sound decoders. I used the SoundTraxx exhaust cam with a bronze wire wiper to get a positive four square exhaust sound. Taking the rear driver 2 off the locomotive to install the SoundTraxx disc was a little unorthodox because I could not get a wheel puller between the frame and wheel, but I found a way to do it. (Courage is a necessary component in your make up; I don’t think replacement drivers are all that easy to come by.) Materials I used a NCE D408SR rated for 4 amps for the engine motor and lights. The Pittman motor stalls at a little over 3 amps and I do not want to get too close to the decoder rating for any reason. Another decoder that would work in this to the chassis, and the same for the tender. Once the super- application is the Digitrax DG583S decoder; it is rated for 5 structures are separated, the careful removal of an enormous amps. I have been told that NWSL makes a motor that draws amount of electronic gear is undertaken with a screwdriver, much less amperage, but the mounting of the MTH motor some wire nippers, and a pencil soldering iron. I attempted to was so well designed that I did not want to change it. I am salvage as much of the MTH electronics as possible because I also not sure what the stall amperage on another manufactur- needed to use several pieces in the new installation. Replac- er’s motor is, so going with a higher amperage decoder was ing the electronics with the new DCC decoders was much my best option. For the sound, I chose a SoundTraxx Tsunami easier than taking out the old stuff. TSU-1000 to piggy back on the D408SR. The rating on the Among the first things you will discover is that the engine sound decoder is not affected by the power needed for the drivers are insulated on the right side, not the left. You have motor as we are only driving the sound system. to compensate for this if you intend to take power from the I also chose a 2-inch speaker rated at 8 ohms. The 4 ohm Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 17 MTH speaker might have worked but it was an easy task to replace it. Just unscrew the mounting plate and install the 4 new speaker. Decoder Installation To get power from the tender to the engine, I have his- torically run the wires through some heat shrink tubing and made the connections look like the stoker tube. However this would not permit the engine to be uncoupled from the tender, something that is really needed in O Scale. The problem I found in using a soldered pin and socket assembly was the constant flexing of the wire at the plug eventually caused the wire to fail. A stout connection is an absolute necessity. I chose to reuse the harness and plug from the salvaged MTH electronics because all the wires are color coded through the pins and socket (Photo 3). I turned the 90 degree up- bend of the harness 180 degrees and reinstalled the socket 5 3

upside down in the locomotive frame. This forced the wire easy access. close enough to the drawbar to appear as a stoker tube while I installed the new decoders and the speaker in the tender retaining the ability to uncouple the engine and tender for so the needed wires to the locomotive would be transferred movement or service and hid the elbow in the harness wire. through the MTH harness. Since I wanted the engine to also In order to accomplish this rework of the 10 pin socket, sev- pick up power from the non-insulated side of the frame, I eral things needed to be done. After removing the bracket that ran the red power pickup wire from the engine frame to the holds the socket on the MTH assembly, I had to cut slots under decoder in the tender. the lip of the bracket in order to install the board and socket All of the other wires run from the tender to the engine— upside down, lower and in the right plane to receive the plug two for the headlight on function 0 (The blue common wire from the tender. The slots are easily cut with a band saw and a and the white headlight wire), one for the cab lights on green metal blade. A hacksaw or a backsaw will also work. function 5, one brown for the SoundTraxx EXH-220 cam, and I discovered that the wires would hit the top of the lug that one purple for the marker lights on function 6. Functions 5 is above the drawbar, so it had to be milled down. I do not and 6 attach to the common (blue) wire in the locomotive; so own a milling machine, so I used a motor tool with a carbide a separate wire from the tender is not needed. bit and carefully removed about a 1/8 inch (Photo 4). I used A caution is in order here. The installation sheets clearly Tap Magic (Steco Corporation, Little Rock AR) as a cutting state: “Never, ever make connections to the decoder while it fluid. It was not meant for this kind of milling, but I did not is powered. Never, ever allow the decoder leads to come in want to use something that would not clean off, and this stuff contact with any DCC track wiring except those specifically really works. It keeps the flutes of the mill clean. This cast designed for that purpose.” And then there is the catch all spec- metal will fill them in a hurry and cutting is nearly impossible ification that will void the warranty: “Never, ever remove the when that happens. decoder’s protective shrink tubing.” I cannot be held respon- Once I had the lug milled down, I finished it with a sander sible for anything other than the warning—pay attention. and file, and then coated the top with liquid tape to insure Sound Cam Installation that no shorts were possible between the board and the The frame does not come apart with a cover plate over frame. I then reinstalled the board with the two longer screws the driver boxes as is normally the case with brass model from the third rail bosses (Photo 5). The longer screws were frames, and the use of a NWSL wheel puller was not pos- needed because of the two pieces of 0.060” plastic I used sible because of insufficient clearance between the wheel to lower the socket to the center line of the hole in the cab and frame. This is a die cast frame with no spring rigging or brace. This lined the socket up perfectly, allowing the plug equalization; just a drilled frame for the bronze bearing boxes 18 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 with the axles run through and wheels pressed on after they of the tire to limit the side-to-side play on the bronze bearing, are installed in the frame. I used two flat screwdrivers nar- or preventing the wheel edges from touching the frame. This row enough to go between the inner hub and the frame and method of machining is ingenious but problematic for the a small hammer to successfully remove one driver wheel and installation of the exhaust cam (Photo 8). tire (Photos 6-7). If you pry against the wheel spokes and the Drilling the hole only for the axle size will not allow the frame, there is a good probability you will be looking for a replacement wheel set. The spokes were never meant to take 8 the force of the pull. Even on a prototype wheel, the hub must be engaged. I have no idea what the MTH quartering jig looks like, but 6

cam to be flush with the back side of the wheel, so I actually had to drill the center of the cam out large enough to go over the hub (approximately 3/8”). It is not going to be all that difficult to make the cam work; you just need to insure that you have conductivity between the wheel and the cam. I glued the cam to a piece of wood with white glue, then 7 drilled the hole in the center of the cam with a newly sharp- ened 3/8” bit in a drill press (Photo 9). I then soaked the cam back off the wood block and cut it to the size of the inside 9

I have sufficient experience to get the driver back on close enough to make it run smooth. If you are afraid of removing a driver because you might not get it quartered when you reinstall the wheel, then opt for the auto-chuff feature on the sound decoder. What is the orientation of the cam on the driver? If you want to be perfectly squared, the cam center would be 45 diameter of the tire and it worked like it was supposed to. degrees off the main crank. This will give you an exhaust According to the paper included with the cam, sound for one side of the engine as the valve releases the SoundTraxx says that a conductive paint will work. I finally expanded steam from the cylinders, and then the other side located some GC Electronics conductive paint at a radio parts as the drivers turned. Each turn of the driver will give you four supply business, and this stuff is not cheap ($24 for 2 ounces). exhaust sounds. A locomotive tuned by a master mechanic Clean all the black off of the driver back, hub, and rim with a would be four square, or all of the same length and sound. A wire brush in a motor tool before gluing the cam to the inside locomotive with a worn valve or a worn pin in the valve gear of the driver (Photos 10-11). for example, would have a sound that would be what is best Use the conductive paint to make the connection between described as a “fluff”, a term I heard at the roundhouse in the driver tire and the cam’s metal surfaces. You can paint the Glenwood Minnesota on the Soo Line when I was young. inside edge of the cam and tire, but it would have been bet- What I could not do is solder the SoundTraxx EXH-220 ter had I painted it on before reinstalling the driver. (I got in a exhaust cam to the wheel center or the axle. The wheel cen- hurry and reinstalled the driver before I had the paint.) ter is diecast so soldering would not work. Also, the cam has You have only one chance to put the driver back on the to have a hole of sufficient size to go over the back hub on axle with the SoundTraxx EXH-220 exhaust cam because the wheel, which actually sticks out further than the back side removing it again would possibly destroy the cam. You Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 19 10 12

11 an absolute necessity. Once the electronic board is secured to the frame, bend and shape the bronze wire to fit and solder it in place to contact the cam on the wheel. Photo 13 shows how I made mine. Tender and Trucks 13

have to quarter the driver on the axle first before pressing it back on. This is not as difficult as it might appear. Model locomotives have a lot more slop in the quartering than a real steam locomotive. A real locomotive with the kind of quartering slop that models have would be scrapped. Did I say scrapped? Yes, at the least re-bushed. In a real locomotive this amount of slop would be inches, not thousands of an inch. The normal clearance for a new bushing was a mere 0.030” and was shopped if it got to 0.100”. You have room for a small error in quartering here. Prototype and live steam The original MTH tender trucks had an intermittent short model axles are milled with a keyway 90 degrees apart from on curves, even large radius curves, so I wanted replace them each other on each end of the axle. The wheel hubs have with a pair of Precision Scale Co. tender trucks. The PSC a keyway centered on the axle bore and opposite from the trucks are sprung and have absolutely perfect detail in the crank pin bore. All they have to do is align the wheel on the side frames. Photo 14 shows the original MTH truck on the key and press it on; most models under 3/4 inch scale do not left and the new PSC truck on the right. The copper bracket is have the keys or keyways. a shelf for the decoders. When the cam is installed, reinstall the driver using a The first thing I found was that the PSC outside journal to small C-clamp squarely over the axle with a 0.060” styrene shims over the inside hub of the driver. The shims, one on 14 each side, are needed to flush out the hub with the counter- weight so the clamp faces will fit squarely. Not being square over the axle could potentially put the driver on crooked and you will have a wobble. Line the left side rod so it is lined up with the axle centers, and place the right wheel on the axle to line up with the adjacent driver. Check it several times and if you are satisfied, carefully tighten the C-clamp and the wheel will slide into place (Photo 12). Install the cam wiper wire by first fitting the electronic board to the frame. I used a 00-90 bolt drilled and tapped into the frame to accomplish this. Again, care is needed in tapping the hole and use of Tap Magic thread cutting fluid is

20 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 journal centers are a scale 8’-9” and the king pin is centered the same as the rest of the world. on the center axle. The MTH trucks scale out to be 8’-4” The MTH insulating system is very unique. One truck has outside journal to journal, and the king pin is located 0.125” plastic journals on both side frames, making all the wheels (1/8 inch) off center. This makes the stamped MTH bolsters in insulated from the rail to the frame. Two axles have bronze the frame useless in fitting the PSC trucks. wipers from an insulated pad to the axles, making the power Also, because the drawbar between the engine and tender pick up on those two axles only. The other truck has bronze is not insulated on the MTH engine, a way had to be found to journals on one side, and plastic on the other. This will give insulate the trucks completely from the frame. Rather than try you power off the wheels that are not insulated, but they have to invent a drawbar bushing of plastic, I chose to make new installed wipers on that truck as well even though power is plastic bolsters for the tender and insulate everything from the being transferred to the frame on one side. It is not enough for frame. good operation. Starting with the MTH tender underframe, I found that To wire the new PSC trucks, I secured some #30 gauge the body bolsters were formed in the sheet metal frame with a die and forming tool. The diameter of the punch area is 16 0.5” (1/2 inch) and in order to center the PSC trucks, these formed bolsters had to go. I drilled the underframe at these punched areas with a 1/2-inch bit in a drill press and finished the removal of the whole punched area with a carbide bit in a hand motor tool. The carbide bit cuts metal extremely well, but it makes shavings of metal that fly everywhere. Wear safety glasses, and preferably cover your body with your official tool and die maker’s apron. After cutting off the stamped bolsters from the frame, I enlarged the holes to be able to move the king pins back 1/8- inch on the new body bolsters. I fabricated the body bolsters from a sheet of 0.085” styrene. I cut two pieces 2-1/4 inches long and 1 inch wide and secured them to the frame with two 2-56 flat head screws tapped into the metal frame. This is the 17 foundation for the truck bolsters (Photo 15). I made the truck bolsters using two pieces of 0.085” styrene 1/2” by 5/8” and glued them in the center of the body bolster at the correct distance from the end so that the new kingpin centered the PSC trucks (Photo 16). The king pin hole has to clear the spring that comes with the PSC trucks so the holes were drilled with a 13/64” diameter bit in a drill press. This will clear the spring but you do not want it to go all the way through the bolster, so a bottom must be installed. For that I used a piece of 1/16” styrene cut to the same size, and drilled the kingpin holes with a 9/64” bit to clear the 0.134” flexible wire to the truck side frames and ran it through the diameter kingpin screw but hold the spring in place. The tender bottom through the edge of the new bolsters. This will build up of plastic is 0.250”, which brings the coupler to the give six wheel pickup from the tender to the black wire to perfect height after the trucks are installed (Photo 17). the decoder. The red wure uses the non-insulated side of the The MTH tender trucks are obviously designed for the engine for pickup and is routed through the harness between 3-Rail market, with 2-Rail wheel sets installed. The 2-Rail the engine and the tender. The backup light in the tender only wheels are insulated between the axle and the wheel on one needed to pick up the common (Blue) wire off the decoder side only, just like the rest of the world. After that, nothing is and the yellow lead which lights the bulb when the engine is in reverse. 15 Sound Decoder Installation The SoundTraxx Tsunami decoder is also mounted in the tender, with the two pickup wires going directly to the NCE decoder and two wires to the speaker (Photo 18). The Tsu- nami already has a capacitor installed. If you are using a DSX decoder, you need to solder in a rated capacitor to the plus leg of the speaker. You also need a 33ohm resister rated for a 1/2 amp between the red decoder pick up wire to limit power surges to the HO decoder that might result when power is first applied to the track with the O Scale DCC system. (HO Scale runs on less base voltage than O Scale.) Since I am only using the F-5 (Marker Lights) light function on the Tsunami decoder, I pulled the rest of the wires out of the

Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 21 change something in one and inadvertently changed the other. (Yes, I have experience with that as well.) To make them operate, solder one lead of the decoder wire to the center pin and the other lead to the pick up point on the pin adjacent to it on the same side. This will make a straight SPST switch that is already sized for the screws in the tender bottom. If I could have located SPST switches with holes the same as the tender, I would have used them instead. You will have to turn the tender over to operate these switches, but that is better in my mind than installing the out of scale things on top of the tender where they might be seen 18 (Look at Photo 17). plug, one at a time. If you don’t need them, fix them so they Photo 20 shows a view of the completed wiring in the cannot make a smoke generator out of your decoder. Tying locomotive showing only the wires needed to make the head- them in a neat bundle may not always work. (Yes, I have expe- 20 rience doing that as well. The little bitty wire strand in one lead touched a little bitty wire strand in another lead and poof. It was over before I could say: “Rats.”) It is sometimes necessary to isolate each of the decoders in the event that you want to change any of the CV values, the sound volume for example. These switches are not absolutely necessary if you want to run your pride and joy on a non-DCC equipped layout. The Tsunami will come on and some sound will come out once you achieve 7-9 volts on the track, but it is light, marker lights, and cab light operate. This is a far simpler annoying because the engine will move long before any sound way to make this engine really operate well. comes out. You can shut it off completely with this switch. The marker lights turned out to be LEDs and I managed to I accomplished this by locating exact copies of the DPDT make little smoke generators out of both of them. I replaced slide switches in the MTH assembly, and installed them in the them with 1.5 volt 40 ma bulbs with a 470 ohm resister in tender frame. I wired them up to the NCE and SoundTraxx one leg of each bulb. The locomotive headlight, backup light, decoders to isolate them from one another (Photo 19). The and cab light all work fine on 12 volts, but since O Scale power can be turned off or on to either decoder for changes DCC track power is more than that, I put 150 ohm resisters in in one or the other. That way there will be no crossover one leg of each of those bulbs and toned them down to make between the two decoders on any of the CV values. It is them last longer. I am pleased with the results. possible to end up with some mysterious operations if you The only thing that I found a bit difficult was program- 19 ming the cam operation on the chuff sound. The SoundTraxx manual is 77 pages long, and it took several tries to find someone who knew which page the CV values were located on. Once I found that, everything programmed immediately. There has to be an easier way—possibly an opening for some entrepreneur to write a simple cheat sheet to accomplish what now takes an engineering doctorate to gain control over these things. This is not a difficult conversion, but does take a little time and effort. In the end, it is one that makes the MTH 2-8-0 a much easier engine to program and operate; and frankly, I think the SoundTraxx locomotive sound is the best. Obvi- ously it is a matter of opinion, and now you know mine. u

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Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 25 Traction Action Roger C. Parker

A Visit with Bill Brandt and His Popular Traction Module Rinks For me, Bill Brandt’s traction modules have always been one The most complex module and the base of operations, Rinks of the highlights of events like the Boston Trolley Meet. The is a two part module covering about 4 x 7 feet. It is modeled action is both riveting and continuous, the scenery is pleasing, after a location on the Lehigh Valley Transit system in Norris- and the modules are at a comfortably high level for viewing the town, PA. It was designed from photos using Cadrail. Bill never trolleys. I’m never alone as there are usually several other mod- visited the actual location until after the module was built. The elers and photographers gathered around. LVT freight station and the apartment house are scratchbuilt, Bill was kind enough to respond to my questions and pro- including doors and windows. The model shop building uses vide me with details about the background, construction, and wall castings for an enginehouse with windows and freight operation of his layout. Although the layout is deceptively doors cut into the castings. Street and sidewalks are Durham’s simple, I was surprised by the complexity of many elements, water putty, carved and painted. The tree is Scale Trees. The such as the electronics. background fence is from Berkshire Valley. The Beginning Because there would be a lot of in-street trackage, no ties Although Bill had some Lionel equipment when he was were used. Thin double sided circuit board was cut in strips growing up, it wasn’t until his first son was three that Bill began and glued to the plywood. Then code 100 rail was soldered modeling in earnest. His first serious layout was a 3’ x 5’ HO to the circuit board. This kept the pavement to about 1/8 of an trolley layout intended for his son’s room. By the late 1970’s, inch in thickness. Despite this, the module’s weight is still mar- Bill was displaying the layout at local hobby shows. ginally too heavy. Switches are handlaid single point, each one Joel Lovitch offered Bill a couple of O Scale end modules made for a specific location. All four are activated by Tortoise that he had. They were just bare wood with cork and track: no switch machines with a spring linkage. Line poles are three overhead, no scenery, no wiring. About this time the HO mod- piece brass rod and tubing. Electrical sections are in the track ule got damaged; so instead of fixing it, he switched completely to avoid the ugliness that a lot of insulators in the overhead wire to O Scale. would create. As Bill puts it: “Two end loops is not much of a layout, even Esses if it’s modular! So, I built a straight module with a pair of side Esses is a variable width module four feet long, which tracks and a crossover between the two mainlines. I named it adapts the non-East Penn single track interface of Rinks to the ‘Yard’. At a local show, a fellow looked at the layout with the two track East Penn modular standard. It has the electronics for three modules and asked if I was looking for company. I said controlling the entry into the single track section (more on this ‘sure,’ and he built a module or two, both straights, to go in the later). The track layout was also done using Cadrail and is han- lineup. We did a number of shows before he was transferred dlaid, using Clover House PC and wood ties with code 100 rail. to Dallas, Texas. About this time, the end modules got scen- The switch is a handlaid two point spring switch controlled by ery; one as a city block called ‘Town,’ the other as country an HO Scale Caboose Industries groundthrow. Line poles are called ‘Remote Loop’ which became ‘Arlop’”. Although Bill made of one brass rod and two pieces of brass tubing so that was following East Penn standards in most cases, he desired an they look like the stepped steel poles commonly used in cities. increased layout height. Having obtained 2x2s in 8-foot lengths On Bill’s layout the overhead is designed for pole only use. for legs, he decided to cut them in half and reduce them later, The shelter was a kit whose manufacturer is long forgot- if necessary. He found, however, that a lot of folks liked the 51 ten. Figures are from miscellaneous sources. The street and inch level. Bill noted, “I think mine was the first modular layout sidewalk are Durham’s water putty, carved and painted. The with the higher height.” bank building is a Les Lewis background printed sheet that was Layout description cut apart and pasted on layers of poster board. The front steps, With several more modules built, the layout evolved to what sidewalls, and roof are added. is referred to as the standard configuration: about 23 feet long Ecks and ranging in width from 16 inches to 6 feet. There are seven Like Rinks, Ecks uses code 100 rails on PC board, three part modules in this loop to loop configuration, with a long section line poles and very plain scenery. It was designed using Cadrail of double track and a short section of single track between the to layout the curves needed in moving from one distance to the loops. All overhead wire is phosphor bronze, one size for the front to the other and to get the switch correct. contact wire and a finer size for the span and pull-off wires. Rocky Ridge From left to right (viewer’s reference) the modules are named. Rocky Ridge is a short straight double track three foot long 26 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 module started by Bill’s sons and finished by Bill. Rocky Ridge utilizes sectional track with code 128 rail. Line poles are wood dowels with double side arm supports of brass rod, brass castings, and wire. Kingston Point Kingston Point is a 5-6 foot straight double track module also modeled after a real location: the trolley stop shelter located in Kingston Point Park in Kingston, NY. This was once the location of an amusement park, which could be reached by the Kingston trolley system, by the Ulster and Delaware (U&D) railroad, and by Hudson River boats. Bill created the shelter from scratch, using measurements made on the still existing (at that time) shelter. Kingston Point uses Atlas flextrack again, without cork roadbed. The line poles are of 1/4 inch welding rod with brass castings on the overhead. Figures are Circus Craft and other, cars are by Ertl. Road is of Durham’s Water Putty, scribed and painted to be like concrete. Wood timbers in the road crossing are also of water putty. Arlop Arlop was one of the first two modules. The track is old Atlas flextrack with code 148 rail and was on cork roadbed. Line poles are wooden 1/4 inch dowels. No brass castings were used at the beginning on this module; some are on the module now as a result of later changes. A construction style suitable for poles and pantographs is used. This was based on observation of the prototype overhead on the Key System. Block insulators are a piece of perfboard with a hole drilled out to 0.060” diameter. Wires are bent up and through the hole and then separated with a piece of toothpick, followed by CA glue. (This method was learned from Dave Cooper, who used it in HO Scale modules.) The trees are from Woodland Scenic, and others. Yard Yard was an early build to give some straight running, along with car storage space and a crossover to allow for reversing the cars without handling. It uses old Atlas code 148 flextrack and switches and no cork

roadbed. A small control panel gives route-oriented, pushbutton-control Drawn for O Scale Trains Magazine Hinch Carey by of switches. Line poles are dowels. Overhead uses brass castings instead of wire to hang the contact wire from the supporting wires. On the two sidings, wooden platforms at track level are used. This makes the placing of cars on the track easier - just slide them sideways till the flanges drop into the flange ways. Electrical and 5-car Operation! The electrical and control system on the modules are basically to East Penn standards. The control panel is located on the Rinks module. A dual power pack is used; one for the mainline, and one for the loop on Rinks (this is not a dual cab system). Switches on the panel control various blocks and the position of the track switches. Because the standard layout is a loop to loop with some single track, there is a possibility of cornfield meets, and only a single car could be run without paying very close attention. An automatic stopping circuit was devised and is located on the Esses module. It uses three Bruce Chubb current detecting circuits on three blocks on the module. When a car goes onto the single track block it picks a relay that removes power from the block of track in front of the shelter. This relay stays picked while the car is in the Rinks loop. When the car comes back onto Esses and clears the single track block, the relay is dropped and a car at the shelter can proceed. With this circuitry, two cars can be run automatically and not collide. If a third car is placed on the track, it may come up behind a car stopped at the shelter and collide with it. To allow still more cars to be automatically run, East Penn standard block stopping circuitry was added to both the inbound and outbound tracks on Rocky Ridge, Kingston Point, and Arlop modules. This created six additional places where cars can be stopped. These operate by using one rail as a signal rail, and when it is shorted to the Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 27 December 2002, the Albany Train Shop: the standard configuration of modules.

Because modern technology (DCC) can make cars all run at the same speed where regular DC cannot, DCC was added to the system a few years ago. A Lenz system is used with the ability to control up to eight cars at one time. The layout is easily switched from DC to DCC and back. This is useful since April 1982: the first two O Scale Modules. The nearer module becomes most guest cars are still DC, while many of Bill’s cars now have “Town” and the far module “Arlop”. decoders in them and are used at non-meet shows. other rail, a relay is picked that opens the connection to a sec- No problems have been found with the Chubb detectors or tion of overhead. Now up to five cars can be run safely and not the East Penn circuits with the use of DCC. Note that these are collide; the operator can talk to visitors. When this many cars the original Chubb circuits and not the newer optimized ones are run at one time, there is a lot of starting and stopping as for DCC. The next time you’re at a traction meet, be sure to one car at a time moves up into the next block emptied by the visit Bill’s layout, and—perhaps—introduce yourself as an preceding car. But only one car is in the Rinks loop and single O Scale Trains Magazine reader. u track at any one time.

East Gary Car Co. BF&M Dept OST 3828 St. Joseph Ct Lake Station IN 46405 Baldwin Forge & Machine They’re Back! Former Indianapolis Car Company sides Box 5, Baldwin MD 21013 are now available from new tooling. How can we help you? Custom machine Parts #100 & #200 work, 3-R to 2-R conversions for steam, $3.00 each diesel or electric. Driver castings machined. General repairs to O Scale locomotives. Call Joe, evenings 7 to 9 PM. Orders under $50 please add $4.50 for postage and 410-592-5275 or [email protected] handling. SASE for updated list.

Nos. 16001-18500 O SCALE/PROTO 48 • Kit #124/124-P … $49.95 •Based on 1917 prototype built by Mt. Vernon Car Co. •Double sheath with Dreadnought ends •Steel underframe •Andrews trucks •Kit includes couplers and decals Also available – SACRAMENTO NORTHERN Boxcar Nos. 2301-2350 Kit #125/125-P … $49.95 Coming soon – SP Sugar Beet Gondola

28 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 Custom Building, Repair & Painting Services Available Buy-Sell-Trade, Consignments-Appraisals, eBay Sales Website: www.alleghenyscale.com • Email: [email protected] 470 Schooley’s Mountain Road, Suite 8-117, Hackettstown, New Jersey 07840 • Voice - (908) 684-2070 • Fax - (908) 684-8911

Steam OMI UP ALCO C-855-A UP New, OMI 0203 ...... $1,295 USH AT&SF 2-10-4 UP New, Assembled, Late Run ...... $1,595 OMI UP ALCO C-855-B UP New, OMI 0204 ...... $1,295 OMI B&O S-1 2-10-2 UP New, OMI O147, Road Pilot, Overfire Jets ...... $1,350 OMI UP ALCO PA-1 UP New, OMI 0322, w/Dynamic Brakes (2 Available) ...... $850 USH C&O K4 2-8-4 UP L/N, Can Motor, New Gearbox ...... $1,395 Car Works CA&E Kuhlman Car UP New, Unpowered, Nos. 311-315 ...... $500 OMI C&O J2 4-8-2 CP L/N, Jerry White Drive, Road No. 543 ...... $1,195 Rolling Stock OMI C&O L2a 4-6-4 FP L/N, Poppet Valves, Road No. 314 ...... $1,575 AM. Std. C&O 12-1 Pullman - George Washington CP L/N, Ken Anz Custom Built, SS 3rd Rail CP T1c Selkirk 2-10-4 FP Mint, 2 Rail, Road No. 5935 ...... $1,395 Interior (2 Available) ...... $595 USH Erie K5 4-6-2 UP Mint, Late Run, Spoked Drivers, 1 of 10, Rare ...... $2,595 AM. Std. C&O Observation - George Washington CP L/N, Ken Anz Custom Built, Max Gray N&W Y6a 2-8-8-2 w/Auxiliary Tender CP L/N, Interior, Cdr. In Chief ...... $595 1 of a Kind Custom Model - Exquisite ...... $5,495 PSC PRR B60 Baggage Car CP L/N, Pro Paint, Porthole Doors ...... $350 Weaver NH I5 4-6-4 FP Mint, 2 Rail, Late Version, Script Lettering ...... $1,095 Calumet PRR P70 Coach CP New, Custom Built Walthers Kit (3 Available) ...... $395 OMI PRR 210P75 Tender for M1b UP Mint, W/Antenna ...... $825 Sunset 3rd PRR P70 Coach FP New, w/Air, Different Road Nos. (3 Available) ...... $250 SS PRR 210F82a Welded Tender CP New, Earlier Sunset 2R, 8 Wheel Trucks ...... $395 PSC Pullman Troop Sleeper/Kitchen Cars UP New, PSC Nos. 16331 and Weaver PRR A5s 0-4-0 FP New, Late Version, 1 of 12 ...... $695 16333 Available ...... $295 Gem PRR F3 2-6-0 UP New, Unassembled, No. ST-506 ...... $425 PSC PRR R50B Express Reefer UP New, PSC 16123, Late Version ...... $350 OMI PRR HH1 2-8-8-2 CP New, Test Run, 1 of 10 ...... $2,595 PSC REA Steel 50' Express Reefer UP New, Late Version, PSC No. 15519 (2 Avail.) .... $225 USH PRR I1sa 2-10-0 UP Mint, Late Run, New Correct Driver Tires ...... $1,495 Div. Point N&W CF Class Wood Caboose FP New, Late Version (2 Available) ...... $425 Key PRR J1a 2-10-4 FP L/N, w/Antenna, Road No. 6498 ...... $3,195 Sunset N&W C2 Class Steel Caboose UP New, Steam/Diesel Eras (2 Available) ...... $215 Westside PRR J1a 2-10-4 UP New ...... $1,695 CNJB PRR N5b Cabin Car w/Antenna UP New, Excellent Model ...... $350 Kohs & Co. PRR K4 4-6-2 FP L/N, Postwar Version, 110p75 Tender w/Antenna ...... $4,195 Kohs & Co. PRR N5c Buy War Bonds Cabin Car FP L/N, Version 2, 1 of 10 Made ...... $645 WSM PRR M1 4-8-2 UP L/N, No Backhead Detail, PSC Detail Kit ...... $975 Kohs & Co. PRR N5c Cabin Car FP L/N, Version 3, Black Roof, Roman Lettering ...... $575 WSM PRR M1 4-8-2 UP New, Last Run, Silver and Black Label ...... $1,395 ALCO PRR Wood N6a Cabin Car UP New, ALCO No. OX-124 ...... $175 Max Gray PRR M1a 4-8-2 UP New, 210p75 Tender, Late Run ...... $1,195 OMI WM NE Steel Caboose UP New, OMI No. 0720 ...... $295 USH PRR M1a 4-8-2 CP New, Lou Boyd Custom Upgrade, Exquisite ...... $1,795 PSC 50' Steel Box Car UP New, PSC Nos. 15463 and 15465 (Several Available) ...... $175 USH PRR M1a 4-8-2 UP V/G, 210p75 Tender ...... $850 PSC AAR 40' Steel Box Car UP New, PSC Nos. 15281 and 15283 (Several Available) ..$175 OMI PRR M1b 4-8-2 UP Mint, 210p75 Tender w/Antenna ...... $2,495 PSC AAR 50' Steel Box Car UP New, PSC No. 15641, Double Doors, Murphy Roof .....$175 OMI PRR M1b 4-8-2 FP Mint, 210p75 Tender w/Antenna, No. 6753 ...... $2,595 Hallmark B&O M-53 40' Wagon Top Box Car UP Mint, Plain Doors, Max Gray PRR N1s 2-10-2 CP New, McCafferty Paint and Weathering ...... $1,695 Limited Edition Made For B&O Hist. Society ...... $325 WSM PRR Q2 4-4-6-4 UP New, KTM Japan ...... $2,195 PSC PRR X28 Box Car UP PSC No. 15483 ...... $175 Sunnyside PRR T1 4-4-4-4 FP Mint, Never Assembled, Modified Version ...... $4,895 PSC Pullman Standard PS-1 40' Box Car UP PSC No. 15767, 6' Wide Doors ...... $245 OMI RDG T1 4-8-4 UP Mint, W/Decals, OMI 0150 ...... $1,695 PSC 40' Steel Reefer UP New, PSC Nos. 15517 ...... $185 PSC SP AC-12 Cab Forward 4-8-8-2 FP New, Road No. 4294, Samhongsa ...... $4,895 Hills/Muir URTX 40' Wood Billboard Reefer CP New, Old Dutch Cleanser, Sunset UP Early Challenger 4-6-6-4 CP EX, Cockerham Drive, Road No. 3939 ...... $2,395 Anson Paint, Rare ...... $450 Sunset UP 9000 Class 4-12-2 UP New ...... $1,350 PSC 70 Ton 3 Bay Hopper Car UP New, PSC No. 16073, Ribbed Sides ...... $225 OMI WM I-2 Decapod 2-10-0 FP L/N, OMI No. 0189.1 ...... $1,795 USH ACF Welded Triple Hopper UP New, USH No. 704 ...... $125 Diesel PSC Composite Twin Hopper UP New, PSC No. 15009, 1942 Design ...... $175 Oriental ALCO C-420 High Hood Phase II UP New, High Adhesion Trucks ...... $750 USH DL&W Offset Side Twin Hopper CP L/N, Peaked End, Clemens Paint ...... $145 OMI ALCO FA-1 UP New, OMI 0356, w/o Dynamic Brakes (2 Available) ...... $595 USH NKP Offset Side Twin Hopper CP L/N, Peaked End, Clemens Paint ...... $145 OMI ALCO FB-1 UP New, OMI 0358, w/o Dynamic Brakes ...... $595 USH Offset Side Triple Hopper UP New, USH No. 701 (2 Available) ...... $125 OMI ALCO RS-11 High Hood UP New, OMI 0206, w/ Dynamic Brakes ...... $695 USH Panel Side Triple Hopper UP New, USH No. 705 ...... $125 Key AT&SF EMD F3 Phase I - A-B-B-A FP L/N, Warbonnet, 1st Run, KMW PRR Gla Twin Hopper UP Mint, S-Series w/Scale Couplers, AB Brakes ...... $375 Samhongsa, Road No. 17 ...... $5,795 Pac. Ltd. PRR H21 Quad Hopper UP Mint, PLTD No. PL-850 ...... $275 OMI AT&SF EMD SD75M FP New, Warbonnet, Lights, Road No. 221 ...... $1,995 PSC PRR H25 Quad Hopper UP Mint, Samhongsa ...... $275 Red Cab C&O EMD GP-9 FP V/G, Custom Built Kit, Replacement Gears (3 Avail.) ...... $265 USH PRR H25 Quad Hopper UP New, USH No. 801 ...... $145 OMI EMD SD-9 Phase I UP New, OMI 0306, w/Dynamic Brakes ...... $795 PSC USRA 55 Ton Twin Hopper UP Mint, PSC No. 15007 ...... $170 OMI FM H-10-44 w/Cab Overhang UP Mint, OMI No. 0433, NYC/NKP/PRR/Frisco $1,095 PSC ACF 70 Ton Covered Hopper UP New, PSC No. 15049, 10 Roof Hatches ...... $175 Sunset FM Trainmaster Phase IB UP Mint, Samhongsa ...... $850 KTM USA UP 50'6 Steel Gondola UP Mint, KTM USA No. 404, Drop Ends, OMI PRR ALCO DL-600B High Hood UP New, w/Antennas, OMI No. 0210A ...... $895 Also PM and C&O ...... $325 OMI PRR ALCO FA-FB-2 - A-B Units CP New, w/Antennas, OMI Nos. 0393-0397, ALCO PRR (NYC) Greenville Well Flat Car UP New, ALCO No. OX-109 ...... $225 Tower Drive ...... $1,795 CNJB Jones & Laughlin Tank Car CP EX, W/Trucks ...... $275 OMI PRR ALCO FA-FB-2 - A-B Units UP New, w/Antennas, OMI Nos. 0393-0397, KTM USA PRR K8 42' Double Deck Stock Car UP Mint, KTM USA No. 234, Rare ...... $425 Tower Drive ...... $1,695 KMW PRR Gla, H21, H25 Hoppers, & GS Gons UP Mint, Different Versions Avail...... Call OMI PRR BLW RF-16 Shark Noses A-B-A UP Mint, OMI Nos. 0425, 0426, 0425 ...... $3,495 Am. Std. Heavyweight Passenger Car Kits - PRR UP New Unbuilt Kits, Key PRR EMD F3 A-B-A Units FP Mint, Last Run, Late F7 Car bodies, Brunswick SS $3,695 Several Types Available ...... $90 OMI PRR P5a Electric - Box Cab UP Mint, OMI No. 0219, Last Run ...... $1,195 Walthers Heavyweight Passenger Car Kits UP New Unbuilt Kits, OMI PRR P5a Electric - Modified UP New, OMI No. 0237 ...... $1,095 Several Types Available ...... $65 CNJB SP ALCO RS-3 CP Good, Black Widow Scheme, Unassembled, As-Is ...... $295 Mid. Div. PRR X-29 Box Cars, H-21a Hoppers FP New, Different Versions, OMI UP ALCO U-50-C UP New, OMI 0201 ...... $1,195 Lettering Schemes ...... $60

Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 29 THE WESTERN RESERVE “O” SCALE TRAIN SHOW CLEVELAND, OHIO Saturday, November 8, 2008 9:00 am - 2:00 pm Admission: $6.00 6’ Tables - $37.00 LAKELAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE I90 and ST.RT. 306 (S.E. Corner) Held in the Auxiliary Gym / Athletic Center 24 Hr. Police • Public Welcome • Free Parking • 2-rail “O” scale only • Please no other gauges SORRY NO PASSES ACCEPTED AT THIS SHOW • THIS SHOW IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE WESTERN RESERVE O SCALE COMMITTEE WHO ANNUALLY PUT ON A SIMILAR SHOW BOB FRIEDEN - 9695 CHILLICOTHE ROAD - KIRTLAND, OHIO 44094 - 440-256-8141 - FAX: 440-256-1749

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(All sizes) Dry Dirt, $55.95* $59.95* $65.95* $69.95* Rich Dirt (Darker), Sand Box *Shipping: $6.95 for 1 car Beige (Brighter) Coal - All Sizes. $1.00 for each additional car All items shown are available in four road numbers WE NOW TAKE VISA, M/C, and AMEX Additional Atlas O Special Runs Coming Soon: Bewind Coal 55 Ton Coal Hopper Phone: 330-825-3673 PRR Anchor Lines 40’ Wood Reefer NYC X-29 Box Car am-hobbies.com Fax: 330-825-0214 6 Delmar Ridge Drive • Wellsboro, PA 16901 200 23rd St. NW • Barberton, OH 44203 PayPal (570) 723-1824 [email protected] email: [email protected] 30 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 Feeding the Red Birds For those of you who follow the magazine, or in particular “The Modern Image” in Issue #30, Jan/ Feb, 2007, the column was based on the servicing of locomotives in run-thru coal train service. In prototype operations there can always be that unusual situation where common practice just does not work. Keep in mind that thought as I describe a situation that shop at Birmingham for fuel? Simple answer: Time. It took an occurred a couple of weeks ago on a high priority intermodal hour to fuel at Amory. A trip to the shop at Birmingham for fuel, train and how to model a prototype operation. and a once over by the shop personnel and return to the train On Friday May 30, 2008 I was called at 2:30 p.m. for Train could take two to four hours or more. After four hours without a Q-CLOATG3-28F, a high priority stack train from Clovis N.M. charged train line, the train would be required to have an initial to Atlanta Ga. The train has two Locomotives, BNSF #757 and terminal brake test. On a guaranteed service train, time saved BNSF #888, both GE Dash 9-44-CWs hauling 72 loaded stack equals money saved and improved performance. cars weighing 5,449 tons with a total train length of 6,678 To model this scenario on a layout, all you should need feet. This is a step-off, step-on crew change at Memphis. A would be the fuel truck, figures for the truck operator and train quick conversation between the inbound engineer and myself crew, and a location on the layout that would allow the fuel revealed the engines were working properly and handling the truck access to the locomotive(s). Currently I do not have a train very well. Standard procedure for this train is to check fuel tanker of the type shown in the photographs, but I have the fuel reading of each engine and report the readings to the seen varieties of this type truck for sale on E-Bay. I would think yardmaster prior to departure. In this case, #757 showed 1500 shortline operations would use this same scenario to supply gallons and #888 had 1400 gallons of fuel. Cleared by the fuel to their locomotives as a dedicated service and storage yardmaster to leave, we departed Memphis at 3:30 p.m. facility would not be necessary. About a half hour out of Memphis, the dispatcher contact- Now you know how the prototype handles the situation when ed us via radio and advised the Corridor Chief had ordered a engines need fuel and a trip to the fuel rack is not practical. You fuel truck to meet us at Amory, Miss. and to split the fuel load simply bring the fuel station to the engine. Until next time, check between both locomotives. Fueling engines between service the fuel. It’s embarrassing to run out on the main line. u facilities is not that uncommon so it was southbound to Amory where we arrived at 6:30 p.m. (Photo 1) Pulling into Track One at Amory yard, we proceeded to 1 the south end of the yard and stopped next to the waiting fuel truck. The truck operating out of Vernon AL, is a 4000-gallon tanker that belongs to a private fuel supplier who contracts with the BNSF to supply fuel to the railroad. Set and centered, we stepped off the lead unit and advised the truck operator that the train belongs to him, to split the 4000-gallon load between each locomotive and to start fueling when ready (Photos 2 & 3). It takes the truck operator about an hour to empty the tank- 2 er between both locomotives. During that time we talked with the operator, flagged the crossing for a couple of northbound trains and took a few photos. After completing the fueling process, we checked the readings and called up the dispatcher on the radio to report the new readings and advised we were ready to go. The #757 now showed 3150, and the #888 had 3000 gallons. The dispatcher advised he was ready to move us south and gave a clear signal out of Amory yard. It was now about 7:45 p.m. Back out on the main, we met several northbound trains and arrived at Birmingham yard at 01:05 a.m. On our arrival at Birmingham, we were instructed to pull through track IC-01 3 to the east end where the outbound CSXT road crew would meet us and swap out. Once again this is a step-off, step-on crew change. We took a few minutes and exchanged information about the train and engines. Crew change complete, the crew van transported us to the yard office where we tied-up. It was now 2:00 a.m., 11 hours and 30 minutes on duty and the train was leaving BNSF’s Birmingham yard headed for the CSXT main line and the final leg of its cross-country journey to Atlanta, Ga. You may wonder, why not take the engines to the diesel Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 31 Lost art form... at with some basic tools. A magazine did that over here; it Your latest editorial touches upon an important point worked well as they sorted out the brass castings as part of regarding the future of Chinese ready-to-run models and their the series. The only problem with a USA engine would be price. It would be great to see a rise in the kit business in the getting wheels. I would be happy to undertake doing this and US. This would stimulate the small suppliers who offer things making the patterns for castings, etc., if you think it would like detail parts, decals, wheels and the other essential mod- work. eling items. My other idea would be to show how to make an etched I am afraid the art of model building is being lost. Model brass kit for freight stock. There is a company over here that railroaders are more willing to part with cash to get some- makes some US freight cars. Anyway keep up the good work. thing that is ready to pop on the track. Basic skills like solder- Lee Marsh (UK, via e-mail) ing, fabrication and painting are becoming a lost art form. (Lee: We are currently developing scratchbuilding mate- Gene Deimling (via e-mail) rial, some in brass, some in plastic. These will be published in (Gene: We are dedicated to maintaining those skills as future issues. Wheels are not as problematic as you may think. evidenced by the weathering and soldering articles in this With all the 3-Rail models now available, they’ve become a issue. — Joe G.) great source for drivers. Of course, they need to be converted to 2-Rail but that is not a problem. — Joe G.) Model vs. RTR I can’t agree more that kit building is a dying art; some Electrical pick up say a lost art in a few hobbies/scales. Fortunately, there are Those of us who think that O Scale is 7mm = 1ft (1:43.5) enough folks who still “model”, versus just plopping a RTR have to build most of our locomotives from etched brass and/ car on the track and watching it roll, to keep some of the cot- or whitemetal kits. We regularly use ”plungers” for electri- tage industry manufacturers in the black. cal pick up. These are essentially identical to Ray Grosser’s I was not so fortunate in O Scale, possibly because of spring loaded power pickup described in OST #39. Person- the prototypes selected (both Southern Ry.), but I believe the ally I think that they work much better than phosphor bronze reasons are much deeper. O Scale has been blessed over the wipers. There are several plungers available commercially years, particularly within the past 20 or so, with a wealth of in Europe. The ones that I use are manufactured by Slater’s goodquality products to pick from. To some extent, I believe as their part number 7157. From the photos in the article, that O Scalers might feel a bit overwhelmed when they open the Slater’s units appear to be smaller than Ray’s. They are closet doors and storage boxes to find kits that haven’t seen normally installed by drilling a hole in the locomotive frame daylight in at least 20 years. I know I had that feeling with behind each driving wheel and installing the plungers before HO, hence my decision to change to O about 7 years ago inserting the axles and mounting the wheels. They should and to start producing resin kits. Another factor is the RTR work equally well when mounted as Ray suggests. prices are usually about one half the cost of a resin kit, and Slater’s products are available in the USA from Interna- lack of time, funds, poor eyesight, etc. further contributes to tional Hobbies, 10556 Combie Road, Suite 6327, Auburn, CA buying RTR over spending time building kits. 95602. (Usual disclaimer - I have no connection with either My discouragement with the O Scale resin market fol- of the above firms.) lowing the dismal sales of these two kits prompted me to look Thanks for an excellent magazine. I look forward to receiv- elsewhere: S Scale. ing each new issue. I am convinced, however, that if I’d received similar sup- Glen Suckling (via e-mail) port from O modelers and dealers, I would have continued offering kits in that scale. It’s not an easy hobby to be part of from a manufacturer’s perspective, but it is FUN and that should be one of the driving forces to any hobby. Jim King Smoky Mountain Model Works, Inc.

Scratchbuilding Series? I really enjoyed issue #39. Pity that Hobo D has had to go, I enjoyed his thoughts and maybe he can return as Boomer D!! It will not be an easy job to convince people that learning to solder and build loco kits is a good idea. In the UK we are starting to get some RTR models now and folks are happy to buy these rather than build kits, one problem being that many etched kits are terrible!! It might be a good idea to have a series on scratchbuilding a small Porter, that even a total beginner could have a bash

32 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 Introducing Turntables from Ross Custom Switches! Our new turntables are ready. After two years of development and testing RCS proudly introduces our new line of turntables.

Product# Description Price Manually Indexing Turntable (line up tracks by eye) TUTA18M 18” Turntable with manually indexing motor $949.95 TUTA24M 24” Turntable with manually indexing motor $1149.95 TUTA27M 27” Turntable with manually indexing motor $1199.95 TUTA33M 33” Turntable with manually indexing motor $1299.95

Automatic Indexing Turntable TUTA18A 18” Turntable with Automatic indexing motor $1349.95 TUTA24A 24” Turntable with Automatic indexing motor $1549.95 TUTA27A 27” Turntable with Automatic indexing motor $1599.95 TUTA33A 33” Turntable with Automatic indexing motor $1699.95

Shipping on these items are as follows: 18” and 24” turntables: $100 • 27” and 33” turntables: $125

Precision made using a CNC cut 3/4” cabinet grade, no-warp, 13 ply baltic birch frame and pit, 7 ball and roller thrust bearings, 1” ground center shaft, CNC cut 18” drive gear, mated to an automotive type, no- stretch, timing belt for perfect grip all the time. Stepper motor with electronic controls and power supply for automatic indexing with speed (rpm) set by you, or heavy duty gear reduction motor with manual and infinite low speed control and power supply. Full bridge with detail will accept many types of two and three rail track. Track spacing at 7.5 or 15 degrees. Pre-wired with an industrial turntable track power connector and will transmit remote train controller commands of various manufacture. A square hole 6” larger than the bridge length is required. Motor drive hangs down appx. 10.5” Below table.

Don't forget our line of auto indexing transfer tables as well! See www.rossswitches.com for full details on all our products.

Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 33 Lounge - Café Car 323 is an extra fare trailer car featuring plush lounge chairs and limited menu dining such as cold sandwiches, on Gerald Brothers Rapid City, Black Hills & Western. The car is made from plastic castings from East Gary Car Company with Q- Car trucks and body details. In the left side of the close-up, you can see the window where the food is dispensed and some of the dining tables and chairs from Keil-Line.

Today’s transfer from Penn Central’s Meadows yard was particularly heavy and necessitated the use of 2 SD35’s. The PC crew has come down from their power discuss the next move with EL’s Croxton Yard crew.

The transfer from the B&O included 2 gondolas of treated pilings from the sunny south. The Croxton yard crew prepares them for a run down to the Hoboken waterfront where they will be used for a wharf repair project. Both photos are from Don Smith’s layout.

34 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 Here are two shots from John Houlihan’s excellent traction scene. See the Centerspread and caption for more details.

This Executive Car was built by Jean Deschennes for our Traction columnist Roger C. Parker. The car is based on a LaBelle kit. Note the oversized rear windows for inspection trips, guests, and prospective shippers to view the property.

The Cape Ann Electric is the “line that never was” that ran from an independent subway station under Haymarket Square in Boston and extended to Beverly, Mass., where one line went to Ipswich, Mass., and another line extended to Rockport. This is a long- established Boston & Maine route that Roger always felt should have been electrified. He was always intrigued by the double-track junction at Beverly.

Photos by Gene Paltrineri.

Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 35

2008 Convention Highlights Contest Winners

First Place Diesels: Jim Stevenson’s D&H RS3.

First Place Freight: Jack Tracy’s PRR Caboose with full interior.

Other Awards Not Shown: First Place Steam: Joe Giannovario, N&W G1 2-8-0. First Place Traction: Gary Cliborn, powered Corgi Birney. First Place Passenger: Gary Cliborn, UP 5 bdr Club car.

First Place Non-Revenue: Jack Tracy’s PRR Tool car.

First Place Structures: Rameesh Bishop’s Civil War diorama.

38 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 2008 O Scale Hall of Fame Inductees Lou Cross Right-O’-Way track products Dave Waddington Trolley parts manufacturer Joe Giannovario Publisher, O Scale Trains Magazine

The Southern New England Model Rr Club hosted the 2008 convention.

This is a scene from the SNEMRRC’s modular layout. This fuel facility is based on an expanded Wal- thers Phoenix Fuel kit. The scene was built by Phil Ginkus.

The East Penn Trac- tion Club had their modular layout at the convention.

In all, there were nine modular layouts on display.

This scene is from the Narragansett Bay Railway & Navigation Co. modular layout. It’s On30 and features many interesting scenes based on narrow gauge railroads that ran on Martha’s Vineyard, Nantuckett, and the standard gauge Providence, Warren & Bristol.

The group is based in Rhode Island.

Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 39 VALLEY MODEL TRAINS PO BOX 1251, Wappingers Falls, N.Y. 12590 The Public Delivery Track Locomotives - 2 rail Sumpter Credit Card Orders Welcome Order/Info(845)297-3866 Fax(845)298-7746 Atlas..New U23B; RSD15, GP-15, RS-3..$179-$199 RS-1..GMRR, NYC, G&W, WT, CNJ, NYSW..$299-$404 Valley Laser-Art Structures O Laser Cut kits F-3's..DLW, RG, SF, SOU, GMO..$399P, 189D Kit includes appropriate A comfortable, signs and coal bin. convenient C424/425/628..L&N, CN, EL, PRR, ACL..$299-$415 462 401 cottage home SD-40's, GP-60's, GP-9's..$379-$419P, $189-$215D Depot of six rooms, Depot with Tower SW's..RR, LV, Rdg, CNJ, NYC, Erie..$249-$299 135 NW Greeley Avenue, 0-6-0's..PRR, CNJ, RI, B&O, UP, unlettered..$499-$565 Bend OR 97701 MTH..PRR K-4, CNJ P-47..$599. SD-70 or SD-45T..$409 Brass..C&O Greenbrier, SP MT-4..$995 ● Specializing in O Scale 2-rail PRR O-1 electric single unit..$449. GE 44t..$299 Williams and Weaver steamers....call model trains since 1985 Weaver..RSD-12, U25B, VO1000..$199-$249 462 Flagstop Station O... 5" x 6" x 4" ...... 39.98 36.00 Shaft drive RS-3's, FA/FB's, GP-38...$99-$150 ● We buy or consign brass model 401 Tower House O.. 10" x 7" x 12" ...... 179.99 161.98 The prototype Passenger and Head End collections 480 for the kit was Golden Gate..Head end 3 car sets..$359 built at Clark’s, Sleepers..SP, SF, PRR, Pullman, Erie, DLW..$99-$110 ● Model reservations gladly near Campbell Coachs..Erie, Rdg, B&O, RG, C&O..PRR..$99-$110 Hall, NY on the 80' Alum streamilners..SF, NYC..6 pk/$529, 2 pk/$249 accepted New York, Ontario & Atlas..Horizon cars..Amtk, NJT, MNCR, more.. $83 ● Prompt, courteous service Western RR. Weaver..60' Baggage..$60-$80. RPO..$65-$85 PRR, NYC, NH, Erie, B&M, SF, CNJ, CN, N&W, others Box Cars - 2 rail valleymodeltrains.com Now order online! Pecos River..SF, WAB, NYC, T&P, NKP, SP..$35-$45 Check our website for latest 40' Wood..20+ roads, old and new..$45-$55 480 The Creamery O.....12" x 7" x 5"...... 199.98 179.98 Atlas.. Steel..Erie, NH, PRR, NYC, CNW, GN, more..$50-$55 ....Crafstman kits 40' O Scale Listings Crow River Products O Trainman or 1970's refurbushed..15 roads..$32-$37 Includes additional This kit consists of CRP 305 Sylvester 40' walls to increase Supply Co. and the 305D Barrett & X-29's..PRR, MEC, Erie, RDG, CNJ, more..$55-$62 www.sumptervalley.com the size of the Sharp Diorama Kit. HyCubes..60'..SF, WP, SP, MP, NW, CR..$60-$75 main building. Includes 307 ..MILW, NYC, DSSA, RI, L&N..20+ roads..$50-$60 (Tree not 50' [email protected] Stainless Steel ..Evans..$35-$50 Modern..Rbox, CSX, more..$37 included) Industrial 53' 50' Smoke Stack 60'..C&O, MKT, B&O, EL, RG, Sou, NW, WM..$45-$55 Tel: 541/382-3413 and an Weaver..40', 50', steelside..30+ roads.. $25-$40 Eyebrow Monitor for Refrigerator Cars - 2 rail Fax:541/389-7237 roof detail Weaver/Crown..Old and New, 25+ roads..$25-$40 57' Mech..PFE, BN, WFE, Trop..10+ roads..$35-$55 .36' & 40' wood..Erie, NYC, CNW, SF, PFE, Hours: 305B This kit makes an eye-popping diorama Atlas. Meats, beers, foods..25+ billboards..$50-$79 Mon. thru Fri 8:30 AM - 5PM 305B Barrett and Sharp.16"x16" approx .....265.00 225.00 40' steel..IC, NYC, ART, DLW, PFE, NP, more..$50-$55 Twin Drum Hoisting Winch O… The hoisting 40' plug door..NH, PRR, WM, WP, BAR, REA and sometimes on Saturdays 315 unit is based on a unit built by American Hoist FGE, CNJ, NP, ATSF, NYC, SSW, ART, more..$32-$37 & Derrick. Although not 53' express..REA, WP, MP, SOO, RG..$69 an exact replica of the unit it's best features K-line..PFE, MDT, CNW, 15+ billboards..$35-$45 are included in this O56 unpainted model kit. Electric Winch / Car Covered Hoppers - 2 rail Sale 62.60 Puller O - 12.00 Weaver PS-2 and AC-2..Old and New..$25-$40 Bar Mills Models O.. Laser Wood Kits with details 50' Centerflow or Grain..Old and New..$25-$40 Atlas..3 bay..UP, CBQ, BN, Jack Frost..$37 934 944 ACF..Erie, DLW, GN, SP, WM, UP, SF, SSW..$55 Airslide..LV, D&H, UP, SP, LV, Erie, SF, RG..$45-$55 Hopper Cars - 2 rail Atlas..3 bay..WM, SOU, BN, NH, Rdg, RG..$37 Ore cars..CN, UP, DMIR..$30; H21a..PRR..$50-$60 New Panel side..$55 USRA 2 bay..$47-$52 Visit Visit our website to see hundreds of HO and O Scale Kits Craftsman 934 Saulena's Tavern O.... 5 3/4" x 11" net 99.98 Weaver..2 bay, 3 bay, and 4 bay..20+ roads..$25-$40 944 Majestic Hardwar & Feed O 9” x 12”net 169.98 Tank Cars - 2 rail Rusty Stumps.. HO Limited Edition Kits Weaver...40' & 50', new & old, 20+ roads...$30-$45 The Fall Creek Freight Depot Atlas..33K..CNTX, ACFX, GLNX,, Sub Propane..$50 K4502 is a laser cut craftsman kit. 17K..ACF 50' or Trinity 40' corn syrup..$55-$65 22' x 46' Footprint 5-1/2x11-1/2 8K..Staley, Wolfs, Bakelite, Dow..10 roads..$50-$55 11K..SHPX, UTLX, Hooker, Solvay..10 roads..$50-$55 Flat Cars, Stock Cars Atlas..Double stacks..$125-$169. Front runners..$47 Containers..40/45'..$25. Wvr 20'..$14/pr K-line..$10 K4503 40' Stock cars..CNW, RG, B&O, GN, MKT, more..$37 Wvr 40' & 50' flats..$25-$40. Atlas 52' flats..$37 K4502 Backwoods Water Tower O ...... net 79.95 Gondolas - 2 rail K4503 Fall Creek Freight Depot O...... net 69.95 Atlas..40' composite..PRR, NYC, C&O, SP..$55 Downtown Deco.... 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(prices are subject to change w/o notice) PO Box 2637 • Paso Robles, CA 93447 www.valleymodeltrains.com 610-259-4945 or 805-226-0320 40 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 A BOXCAR-TO-CABOOSE CONVERSION Charlie Morrill

frame members. The assembly was kept clamped down overnight to make sure the styrene glue joints were fully cured before releasing it. The long steps under the side doors are made from styrene strips. The two styrene support straps for the step are reinforced with 1/16” by 1/64” brass straps secured with During the steam era, many railroads had occasion to epoxy on the back side. I also changed the K brake assembly convert some of their obsolete boxcars into cabooses. Most of to have the cylinder and reservoir together. the railroads included such common caboose paraphernalia Because I wanted to have lighted markers, metal trucks as cupolas or bay windows and end platforms, which made were a necessary replacement for the San Juan plastic trucks. for a very “caboose” looking car. However, the Southern These cast brass archbar caboose trucks of unknown manufac- Pacific railroad chose not to do this with their version. The ture came from my junk box. The truck bolsters were tapped SP’s cars left no doubt as to the car’s origin with the boxcar for 0-80 brass screws to connect the wires to a voltage regu- doors and even the capacity and dimensional data often still lator circuit. I also replaced the original wheelsets in these in place. Many of the SP’s conversions also kept the original trucks with some better looking wheels from North West Short freight car trucks with coil springs instead of leaf springs. The Line with axle ends that matched the original wheelsets. SP converted over 100 double sheathed boxcars with steel Body Bashing under frames in the late 1920s through the early 1940s. These Step 8 in the San Juan kit instructions begins the car body cabooses served on locals and helper districts almost to the assembly. It is easiest to make all the alterations to the side end of steam on the SP. Photos and other information on these and end castings, hole drilling, and as much of the door and cars are included in the book SP Freight Cars, Vol. 2 Cabooses fittings assembly as possible before gluing the body together. by Anthony Thompson, Signature Press. Figures 1 and 2 (page 36) show where the window and door At present, an O Scale model of the boxcar class the SP openings are cut. The dimensions for the window openings used for these conversions will be mostly a scratchbuilt proj- were made to fit the Grandt Line caboose window castings. I ect. On the other hand, the San Juan Car Co. styrene kit for copied the existing grabiron spacing for the grabs next to the the Sacramento Northern wooden end boxcar appears to be a side door going to the car roof (Figure 1). There are also addi- good candidate for an easy kitbash, which, though freelance, tional grabirons on the ends for the brakeman to use when follows the SP’s practice. Good friend, Carl Robart, is building hanging the marker lamps and grabs on each side of the end a freelance model railroad he calls the Cascade Northern Rail- door (Figure 2). I decided to substitute 0.019” diameter wire way (OST, issue #24). I’m too far away to help with the layout for the kit’s 0.015” wire to gain the extra strength. A #76 drill construction, but maybe a piece of rolling stock for the CNR was used to enlarge the existing holes as well as drill for the will do. added grabs. Underframe After completing the drilling of all the grabiron holes, the The frame and floor assembly (Photo 1) follows the San boxcar doors, window frames, caboose doors and door fram- Juan Car Co. instructions (steps 1 through 4 in the kit). To ing were glued in place. Evergreen car siding was used for the make sure the floor stayed flat, I clamped it upside down to a doors and the space above the side doors. Note in Photo 2 flat surface while attaching the center and side sills and other (page 36) that the doors are inset from the outer siding about the thickness of a double sheathed car side. In this kit, the 1 floor casting has floorboards extending over the bottom of the boxcar door opening in the side. I preserved this feature when installing the doors in order to lock the body to the floor and still permit easy removal for installing the window glass and wiring after painting. This worked well enough that it was not necessary to add screws to hold the body to the floor. The grabirons were formed using the bending jig included in the kit and secured with CA. A very small dab of epoxy was Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 41 2

Before starting Step 9 (the car body’s final assembly), I made two copies of the lateral roofwalks from styrene strips matching the dimensions of the kit’s castings. One of the castings was used as a drilling guide to locate the grabirons. These extra lateral roofwalks go above the row of grab irons next to the side doors. I wanted to use a brass brake wheel soldered to brass rod instead of the plastic assembly furnished in the kit. There was a used to simulate the mounting bolts on the added grabirons. I problem here though. The top of the brake staff is in the ratchet did not have any Grandt Line or Tichy nut/bolt/washer castings casting on the roof. The bottom of the brake staff is in the small enough to match the San Juan cast-on fittings. bracket and brake chain assembly attached to the bottom of The hole for the stove’s smoke stack was drilled in the roof the end sill. Normal construction casting prior to attaching it to the body assembly. The ends of the for a freight car, but I wanted to carlines were clamped to the underside of the roof casting and have the body removable to have the glue joints were allowed to cure before unclamping to make access to the interior. This meant sure the roof pitch would later match the ends exactly. After com- the hand brake had to be remov- pletion of the roof subassembly, the sides and ends were fitted able from the car’s floor assembly. onto the floor and glued to each other, but not to the floor. I then I solved this issue by making the glued the roof to the sides. Attaching the kit’s corner braces and brake staff in two sections and some pieces of styrene angle for the marker brackets finished this using a short piece of 0.047” diam- 3 assembly. I found (too late) that it is better to glue the smoke stack eter brass tubing at the end sill to onto the roof after all of the assembly is finished. connect the two sections (see Photo 3 of the car end). 42 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 4 5

Photo 4 shows the car just prior to painting and illustrates lowed for printing and sealing the decals. A couple very light the major modifications. The window glass, markers, and volt- coats of the spray fixative on the decal worked best. Heavier age regulator circuit for the marker lights will be added after coats caused the edges of the decal to curl up when wet and painting. I chose not to put an interior in this model because of interfered with the decal setting solution (I used Micro Set and the very limited view inside with only two windows per side. Micro Sol). A final light coat of the thinned Micro Satin and a Finishing little weathering with an alcohol/india ink mixture completed The completed car only weighs about seven ounces, includ- the model. u ing the metal trucks and couplers. I secured sufficient weights to the floor on the inside to bring the overall weight up to List of Parts Used about 12 ounces. The model was then airbrushed with Floquil San Juan Car Co.: SN Boxcar kit #122 paints. The chimney colors and grab safety colors were applied Grandt Line: stove pipe #143, brass brake wheel #1088 with Poly Scale paint. After painting, the lighted markers and Trackside Specialties: Adlake markers #40230 the window glass were installed. To provide a good surface Evergreen Scale Models: styrene car siding #4067 and assorted for decals, a thinned coating of Microscale Micro Satin was styrene strips brushed over the portions of the sides and ends where lettering Detail Associates: 0.019” dia. brass wire #2506 Miniatronics Corp.: 1.5 volt lamps #18-701 would be applied and blended with the rest of the model. Micro-Mark: Decal Try-It pack #82859 The boxcar caboose model is an acceptable representation Misc.: Cast brass caboose trucks, NWSL 33” wheelsets, Micro- of a “temporary” caboose with just the reporting marks let- scope slide glass, Voltage regulator circuit reference from OST tering, but I wanted to try my hand at making a herald decal. #13, p.36 for parts and schematic, cast lead fishing weights. Carl had a pencil design of a herald for his railroad that I had downloaded as a JPEG. Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0, was used to clean up the drawing and convert it into the emblem shown in the lead photo and Photo 5. The actual decals were made by printing black on Micro-Mark’s white decal paper for inkjet printers. Micro-Mark’s decal kit instructions were fol-

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44 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 poured plaster floor (Photos 3 and 4) with discharge pits between the tracks. The dimensions are as follows: 10-1/2 inches long by 5 inches wide by 5 inches high, sloping down to 4-1/2 inches high. The corrugated iron is English ”Wills” brand HO asbestos sheeting Ideas for Creating New Industries which will give a realistic rep- On my Bay Ridge Harbor Railroad I am always thinking of resentation of O Scale corrugated iron. The compressor shed ways to increase the traffic flow during an operational ses- was scratchbuilt and the tank is a German Faller brand HO sion. This article is the first in a series about industries I will Item shortened to suit (Photo 5). describe here and in future issues. They will not be piece-by- Th facility is painted a primer grey color weathered with piece how-to articles, but rather ideas to hopefully encourage Floquil Rust. The inside is weathered with white paint to rep- readers to have a go at scratchbuilding simple structures for resent spilled flour. The facility took two enjoyable evenings to operation on their own railroads. build. I hope to show the rest of the Biscuit factory complex in First up is a Biscuit Factory complex which consists of the future issues. u following structures: 1 Main Factory building. 3 2 Flour unloading facility. 3 Powerhouse. 4 Powerhouse Smokestack. The freight cars used are the following: Boxcars for deliver- ing packaging, and for shipments of the finished products; covered hoppers for flour deliveries, plus open hoppers for coal deliveries. Flour Unloading Facility This simple structure is the first building to be described. I have chosen this structure first as it is likely that it could be fitted into already established industries on readers’ layouts. Photos 1 and 2 show the basic building. One sixteenth-inch thick (2 mm) styrene was used for the walls and roof with a 4

5 2

Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 45 Jim Hackworth

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LSASE for Complete List Estates⁄Liquidations Layaway Available Shipping 6% - $6.95 Min., $15.00 Max Collection Reductions Ohio Residents Add 6.75% Sales Tax 46 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 Craftsman Grade Products & Services O Scale Trains Deichman’s Depot Repairs - Sales - Installations Issue # 40 DCC Equipment & Decoders • Sound ATLAS O Scale 2-Rail Couplers • Figures • Building Kits • Tools 3513-1 WM SD-40 Cab #7445 DC/DCC $407.75 Wood • Styrene • Lubes • Glues Sale Date : 9/08 3518-1 Conrail Saving Bond SD-40 DC/DCC 407.75 Berea, OH 10/4-5 Timonium, MD 10/11-12 Due: 7/15/08 0459-1 D&H RS-3 Cab #4110 195.45 New Paltz, NY 10/17-18 Syracuse, NY 11/1-2 0464-1 Reading RS-3 Cab #488 195.45 Allentown, PA 11/8-9 Mansfield, MA 11/13-15

7766 WM Fishbelly Hopper 45.00 Call or email for further information Orders can be delivered to all show locations 7780 PC (MOW) H21a Hopper 55.20 Credit Cards • Mail Orders • Gift Certificates 7781 Virginian H21a Hopper 55.20 Standard & Narrow Gauges 7782 PRR H21a Hopper (Black) 62.65 7680 Pitts. & Lake Erie NE-6 Caboose 63.70 C r u s a d e r 7635 RF&P EV Caboose 63.70 R A I L S E R V I C E S 7631 Chessie EV Caboose 63.70 5920 Houghton St., Phila. Pa. 19128 7519 Bend Mill Works 53' Evans Box 55.20 215-482-7530 [email protected] 7487 Roscoe, Snyder & Pacific USRA Box 49.25 7342 WM 40' Airslide Hopper 50.95 9277 Cargill 17,600K Tank Car 63.70 9403 NH 50' PS-1 Box Car 55.20 9851 B&O 50' PS-1 Box Car 59.45 9855 Schmidt's 50' PS-1 Box Car 59.45 9802 NYC 40' USRA Gondola 53.50 9519 Santa Fe 40' Steel Reefer 53.50 9103 Merchant Biscuit 40' Wood Reefer 53.50 NEW from the SILFLOR® Studios, 9146 LaCrosse Breweries 40' Wood Reefer 53.50 Buffalo Grass Tufts... These new tufts have young seasonal tone grasses growing at the base with last years longer dead and dry growth sprouting from the center. Tufts are mounted on an invisible base using Deichman’s Depot the secret SILFLOR® process that causes the tuft to 110 Ivyside Dr, York PA 17402 stand up and feather outward. Tufts may be placed Ph: 717-755-1108 • Fax: 717-840-9650 individually or peeled off in random clusters. Set [email protected] includes two sizes: 2 - 4mm medium and 4 - 6½mm tall. www.deichmansdepot.com Each 6”x 9” sheet contains over a hundred tufts. All colors are compatible with our regular SILFLOR® mats. Etched brass numbers SP-style, MSRP: $15. The Tall Shaft Dead grass shafts from the previous years growth. New Growth Fresh grass blades sprouting from the tuft base. Spring Green Buffalo Grass Spring tone base tuft with beige tone dry grass shaft. Short and medium tuft set. MN73791 ...... $24.99 Summer Green Buffalo Grass More brass numbers coming soon! Rich deep Summer tone base tuft with burnt green tone dry Field parts for your interlocking tower: pipe grass shaft. carriers, crank stands and cranks. Visit our MN73792 ...... $24.99 web site for details. Late Summer Buffalo Grass Burnt green tone base tuft with tan tone dry grass shaft. MN73793 ...... $24.99

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The Irish Tracklayer © 2008 Gorilla Glue Company SF6HD2 175 Sheffield Drive #100, Delmont, PA 15626 2682 W. Palo Alto Ave ™ Fresno CA 93771 FOR THE TOUGHEST JOBS ON PLANET EARTH. Order: (724)468-3106 • FAX: (724)468-3879 www.irishtracklayer.com Visit our Web Site: www.scenicexpress.com 1-800-966-3458 WWW.GORILLATOUGH.COM Please add $8.49 Shipping. PA res add 6% tax. Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 47 403001 SOO Line Caboose with single window cupola� $120.00 403002 SOO Line Caboose with two side window cupola� $120.00 ullet River O Scale 403003 DSS&A Caboose� � � $120.00 odel Works 403004 C&NW Caboose with no end windows� � $120.00 118 Huson Ct. • Plymouth, WI 53073 403005 C&NW Caboose with end windows� � $120.00 M Caboose Models 403006 C&NW Caboose with all wood underframe� $120.00 Phone 920-892-8159 403007 Big Four Caboose� � � $120.00 > Laser cut plywood body with working windows 403008 Milwaukee Road Caboose with tall cupola�� $120.00 WWW.mulletrivermodelworks.com > Full interior with roof ribs and purlins > Separate doors can be modeled in the open position 403009 CB&Q 28' Caboose� � � $120.00 > Working windows 403010 CB&Q 30' Caboose� � � $120.00 > Etched brass underframes 403011 SOO Line 34' Caboose� � � $120.00 � 403012 Central of Georgia Caboose with tong and groove side�$120.00 403013 Yosemite Valley Caboose� � � $120.00 403014 Central of Georgia Caboose with plywood side� $120.00 403015 Colorado & Southern Caboose standard gage� $120.00 403016 C&NW Bay Window Caboose tong and groove side� $120.00 403017 C&O-Pere Marquette Caboose� � $120.00 New 403018 Southern Pacific C-30-1 Caboose� � $120.00 New 403019 Southern Pacific CS-15 Caboose� � $120.00 New 403020 Grand Trunk Western Caboose� � $120.00 New 403021 New York Central Caboose� � � $120.00 New 403022 Boston & Albany Caboose� � � $120.00 See your dealer or our web site for more photos EXCLUSIVE PIECES

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48 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 An Introduction to Soldering William Kendall So few people work with brass and solder these days that these are not needed right away. I am exaggerating a bit here, it is very difficult to find a teacher. I believe that an article on but in reality your tool box will grow as you gain experi- soldering is the first step to working with brass. Personally, I ence. Watch out for Chinese drill bits, they are cheap but dull firmly believe that building a kit is the best way to learn the basic techniques, but there are few brass kits made in the 3 USA these days. Pictured in Photo 1 are two which I have

quickly and break easily. Buy American. Soldering became much easier for me once I discovered Carr’s products (Photo 3). Carr’s sells solders ranging in melt- ing temperatures from 70 degrees through 243 degrees Cen- been working on: Precision Scale‘s doodlebug in On3, and a tigrade. Prior to this, with only 50/50 or 60/40 solder, the use beginners 0-4-0 from England. The British do marvelous kits of heat sinks was necessary and a bit complicated to do, but in etched brass. The only problem is that very few are of US if you did not want part A to fall off when you were applying prototypes. A few of their kits can be readily Americanized, part B you had to have heat sinks between them. This was and if you have one of those pretty SMR “Generals“ there are frequently a Kleenex tissue soaked in water, an ice cube, or many short wagons which go with that era. metal tweezers applied to the area which you wished to keep cool. I still use them occasionally, but Carr’s allows you to 2 start with 243, go down to 224, 188, 160, 70 and thus not have the first bits fall off as you solder on the later bits. Some of the soldering supply houses will sell you various temperature solders, but you can get Carr’s in the small quantities which modelers use. The packets are available from International Hobbies in Auburn, California, or direct from C&L Fine Scale (the manufacturer) in England (look on the web). International Hobbies also supplies some etched brass kits. The etched brass kit in Photo 4 is for a circa 1900 US hopper car. 4

You will need a soldering iron (40 to 50 watts is okay to start with) and a handheld torch (Photo 2). A torch will rapidly heat up fairly large pieces of brass, whereas the iron is better for attaching smaller pieces. I have seen Harry Heike do marvelous things with a torch at an O Scale National workshop. He is a professional, but you will soon be able to do accomplished soldering work even if you do not have the same finesse. Honestly, perhaps after five small projects you will feel and be very competent. It is just not that hard if you follow the rules. Besides the above items, you probably have a decent set of Soldering actually does make a molecular bond between tools already. Hobo D. HiRailer set out a fine list in issue #34, the joined metals. It is quite strong when done properly. (Sept/Oct 07). Micro-Mark (the tool supply company which is So how do you do it properly? The old saw, practice makes mentioned in the article) will also provide soldering irons and perfect applies. But you can begin by following a few rules. torches. You will also need a good set of needle files, excess The first rule is cleanliness. The metal must be clean, clean, solder removing tools, broaches, reamers, etc. but most of and clean. Wash the parts in plain soap and water to make Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 49 sure no grease, fingerprints, or other contaminants are on together is called tinning or pre-tinning them. In many situa- the surface before you even begin. Some people use various tions, especially with small parts, this makes the work easier. types of sandpaper but I prefer the fiberglass scratch brush for Sweating parts together is another example of useful pre-tin- my final cleaning just before soldering. The second rule is do ning. To double the thickness of two large pieces, if you just not skimp on flux. Flux is applied after the final cleaning and go around the edge the joint won’t be very strong, so you tin prior to the application of the solder. For me, a Q-tip applica- both sides, clamp them together, and play your torch over the tor is very useful. Most metal to metal fluxes are acidic. Keep assembly until the solder flows. them away from steel wheels or you will have very rusty steel To get started, try soldering a brass wire to a piece of sheet wheels. And, of course be careful around your person. Flux is brass. Apply the tip to the wire, and touch the solder stick or marvelous stuff, and you can, for practice, lay a path of flux coil to the area; almost immediately the solder will flow onto and then watch solder flow right along it. There are several the wire, the wire is now pre-tinned. First lesson: Do not hold types made especially for different purposes. The one thing the wire with your bare fingers. Solder and metal get very hot to remember is that after you have finished a section wash it and will burn you good. Gloves, wood clothes pins, clamps off with soap and water. Really, each evening when you fin- etc. are a necessity in holding pieces to be soldered. Hold ish for the day the last thing you do should be to rinse off the the wire against the metal. Flux both. Apply the iron to the project. If flux is left in the crevices it will eventually seep out metal next to the wire and wait for the solder to flow. Once and ruin your paint job. So when soldering, continue to keep it flows, remove the iron and let the joint cool. If you apply the project clean. the iron to the wire instead of to the big piece of metal, you The third rule is, apply proper heat to the metals first and will probably get a cold or dry joint. The solder will flow from let the solder flow onto them. (Obviously, there are some the wire and form a puddle on the metal which will look like exceptions to this rule.) Do not heat the solder only. That is a good joint, but is not. In reality, since the metal never got the recipe for a failed, dry joint. A soldering gun is fine for hot enough there is not a good molecular bond. If you wiggle soldering wires, but not for brass work. Save it and the rosin the wire it will probably pop right off. With a proper joint, flux for wire work, but use acid flux and a torch or iron for the wire will bend before it comes loose. Remember, if you metal. Remember, you are transferring heat to the metal and do not like your solder joint, just reheat and do it over again. so (up to a point) bigger is better. The tip should be as wide as That is another joy of solder: it is easy to start over. A little possible, but not so wide as to interfere with your work. practice will give you the confidence to tackle tougher jobs; You start with a tinned iron. That means the tip of the iron so practice. is already covered in solder. You must keep the tip tinned. Fundamentally those are the basics. If you wish to begin, (Oops, this is another rule.) Otherwise it will get pitted very check out the etched kits at Tower Models (ask for begin- rapidly and then become useless. With a new tip, before you ners kits). Blackpool in the UK, or International Hobbies in even heat it up dip it into a jar of solder paste (another form California. Both are on the web, as are several other British of solder), or some of the solder containing tip cleaners. As it dealers. After you have built a couple of simple kits, and if heats up the flux in the paste will prevent oxidation until the you desire to try a locomotive, I highly recommend that you solder has flowed over and thus nicely tinned the tip. Also, contact Jim Megowen at Connoisseur kits to obtain one of his once tinned the heat flows much more rapidly from the tip to beginners 0-4-0 locos. Good luck, and display your solder the item. burns with pride. u Putting solder on parts before actually soldering them

CLOSE OUT! Pecos River Brass Cement Plant

66 imported — only 8 left! Original retail: $2250 — Close out @ $750 plus shipping. Contact: [email protected]

50 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 Left: Matthew Bushong started with an Atlas O undecorated double-sheathed box car and custom- decaled for his Brisbane and Bushong Railroad.

Right: Bill Nesbitt sent this photo from his layout. The CNJ car is a reworked All Nation kit and the ATSF box is painted and lettered using Champ decals. The Hanson Storage warehouse in back is scratchbuilt based on a Model Railroader article back in the 1990s.

Buy Direct! ASSEMBLED TWIN WHISTLE SIGN & KIT CO. BUILDINGS ARE 31 Turnberry Drive, Arden, NC 28704 (828) 684-6785 AVAILABLE! The Classic! Kit: $54.95 • Pre-Cut Basswood Body • Complete Instructions • Assorted Castings • Wide Selection of Graphics • Grandt Lines Doors & Windows Footprint: 10” x 4.5” • Scribed Interior Flooring

Buy Directly from our e-store! e-mail: WWW.TWINWHISTLE.COM [email protected] Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 51 NEWS: O Scale Track Cleaning Car; MSRP: $234.95, Free O Scale boxes. Aztec Mfg. Co., 2701 Conestoga Dr., #113, Carson City NV 89706 775-883-3327 • www.aztectrains.com

Aztec Manufacturing has announced the “Typhoon” track cleaning car for O Scale in both 2 and 3-Rail versions. The car is a reworked Weaver 2-bay hopper with a fluid reservoir, a magnet and two canvas covered rollers. The first dents need to add 7.125% sales tax. Visa and MasterCard roller scrubs the rails while the second does cleanup. The are accepted, along with checks and money orders. magnet removes any magnetic metal debris. Aztec is also giving away O Scale boxes in assorted sizes. Shipping is free on orders over $99 within the U.S. Ship- These scale boxes are printed on card stock which you cut, ping to Canada is $8 and all others add $13. Nevada resi- fold and glue. Send a #10 SASE to receive these boxes.

NEWS: Etched Brass Numbers, SP-style; MSRP: $15 NEWS: Timerline Scenery material in large volumes; MSRP: The Irish Tracklayer, 2682 W Palo Alto Ave, Fresno CA 92771 $9.59 to $24.95 www.irishtracklayer.com 970-785-0321 • www.timberlinescenery.com

John Houlihan of The Irish Tracklayer sent along some Timberline Scenery has announced new larger contain- etched brass numbers based on SP-style markings. The “6” ers of their ground cover and forest floor products. Both and “9” are different in that the top and bottom margins products are now available in 60 cu. in. shaker bottles, 120 are unequal. John is making a holder that will allow the cu. in. junior jugs, and 240 cu. in. super jugs. The ground numbers to be changed. The numbers can also be used as cover is available in 20 colors and 3 grades, while the forest stencils for freight cars. John has a boatload of interesting floor comes in four colors. They sizes are priced as follows: cast and etched parts for sale. Visit his website to see offer- 60 cu. in. shaker, $9.59; 120 cu. in. junior jug, $12.98; 240 ings and new items. cu. in. super jug, $24.95.

NEWS: Etched Trackside Details; MSRP: $4.25 Mullett River Model Works, 118 Huson Ct, Plymouth WI 53073 920-892-8159 • www.mulletrivermodelworks.com Glen Guerra of Mullett River had these beautiful etched brass details for sale at Chicago last March. These are not catalogued on the Mullet River website so you can only get them if you contact Glenn directly or see him at a show. Mullett River makes beautiful laser cut O Scale structures and rolling stock kits with finely etched brass details. Check their website for a listing of what’s available.

NEWS: Milw. Rd 50’ Smoothside Auto boxcar; MSRP: $95.00 These cars were the pioneer welded, lightweight cars Rails Unlimited, 126 Will Scarlet, Elgin IL 60120 that lead to the development of the ribside boxcars starting 847-697-5353 • railsunlimited.ribbonrail.com in July 1937. The ribs strengthened the sides, but also added 1300 pounds in weight. Ted Schnepf was showing several new urethane kits at All the Rails Unlimited kits are sold less truck and cou- the Chicago March Meet. Among them was a Milwaukee plers. The brake gear, ladders, grabs and decals are extra Road 50’ smoothside automobile boxcar cast in quality ure- too, although Rails Unlimited can supply all these items thane from hand-crafted masters. at extra charge. Ted is also offering the first fully accurate This prototype group of 500 boxcars was made of high Milwaukee Road decals. All of the Rails Unlimited urethane tensile welded steel yielding a car weighting only 47,300 bodies are made in the USA. pounds. Pressed Steel provided the dreadnaught type ends. The A end had an 18” x 16” lumber door. A Hutchins roof and corrugated doors were used. The trucks were Barber Stabilized style of Bettendorf. These cars were numbered 13000 to 13499 and classed XA. Latter some cars had Evan Auto Loaders added and were classed XMR.

52 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 SPECIAL REPORT: MRC O Scale should handle any 2-Rail single or dual since I’ve been on an SD or F-45, but Universal Sound Decoder, Diesel motored diesel locomotive currently the turbo charged whine is correct for # 0001818, Steam Sound Decoder on the O/G Scale market. To test and these locomotives as well as the high #0001819; MSRP: $99.98 evaluate this decoder, I used a Weaver RPM output of the EMD MP-15 sound Model Rectifier Corporation, 80 O Scale GP-38 dual vertical motor unit file. Newfield Avenue, Edison, NJ 08837 as the test engine. Photo 1 shows the One thing I did that made a major 732-225-2100 •model rectifier.com test installation. impact was to construct a speaker box The decoder was easy to install; all 2 inches square by 1/2” deep from motor and pick-up wiring was attached 0.060” styrene. I cut a 1-3/8” hole in one side of the box and attached the speaker with clear silicone. The speaker and box were then mounted to the inside roof of the F-45 with double- sided foam tape. This produced a dra- matic change in the sound quality and The Diesel Decoder clarity. Photo 2 shows the completed Reviewed by Gene Clements F-45 installation and the speaker box ready to be installed in the roof. The #1818 G/O Scale Universal at the screw terminals of the decoder. In conclusion, try one; I think you’ll Sound Decoder is a new release from I soldered the 12 VDC front and rear be impressed. I plan to try out the MRC MRC in its line of decoders suitable for headlight bulbs to the headlight har- #0001817 decoder in my MTH SD-60s O and G scale diesel locomotives. The ness supplied with the decoder. I did and Atlas GP-60s soon. unique features of this decoder are its not test any auxiliary lighting. The two prime mover sounds: EMD’s SD-45 speaker was installed in the fuel tank, or MP-15 Diesel locomotive. This using clear silicone to secure the decoder also comes preprogrammed speaker housing. with 8 types of bells and 34 different After a trip to the program track for types of air horns, which are selectable the long and short address numbers, according to the prototype used on the the unit was placed on the main and locomotive that applies to the decoder put through various scenarios as both installation. a single unit and as a unit in an m.u. The decoder also supports DCC consist. The decoder performance headlight effects: Directional/Rule 17/ was excellent. By “Programming on off-dim-bright cycle, and accessory the Main”, the prime mover, horn and lighting effects: ditch lights/Mars light/ bell sounds were changed and volume Steam Sound Decoder #0001819, gyro light /strobe light and prime strobe regulated with ease. The only problem Reviewed by Capt. Thomas Mix, USMC on/off. I encountered was a vibration in the Ret. Compatibility speaker. This turned out to be my fault This decoder is compatible with and not a problem with the decoder or When reading the instruction sheet any DCC system, as well as being speaker. I was impressed with the possibilities of fully controllable on a DC system by Conclusions this decoder, for example, there are 34 using MRC’s BlackBox Control Unit In my opinion, MRC has what (!) whistle types, 8 bell types, 50 bell ring (#0001050). The unit comes with the should be a hit in the O Scale market- rates, 12 types of chuff sounds, and the necessary two pin plugs and harness place. We now have a full function list goes on for other sounds like cou- for auxiliary lighting and a 40mm DCC/DC decoder that supports light- pling, fire door and rail clack. All of these (1-1/2”) round, 4 ohm speaker. The ing variables, plus auxiliary lighting sounds have a volume control which you prime mover sound files are unique options and selectable sound all in a can be assured you will need. in the fact they are digital recordings single package at a reasonable cost. Set up and Installation of actual locomotives adapted for the The only thing I would ask for, as a The size of the decoder, 1-3/8” decoder’s program. consumer, is the release of more prime wide by 2-3/4” long, requires that it be All sounds, including the accessory mover sounds for the various model installed in the tender. I used a piece and locomotive support sounds, can locomotives currently on the market, of 0.060” styrene sheet to mount the be turned on/off or have the volume other than the #0001817 Alco244/ decoder using double sided tape. This regulated according to the operator’s SD-60/ SD-70 and EMD 567B prime sheet can also be used as a central preference. In DCC mode, all standard mover sounds, also available from point to fasten the wires coming from operation and performance tuning MRC. the insulated side (black wire) of the according to NMRA DCC standards is Since testing this decoder, I have locomotive then to the decoder as you available. removed it from the Weaver GP-38 can see in the photo (Photo 3). The Performance and re-installed it in a U.S. Hobbies Rated at 5 amps, this decoder re-motored F-45. It’s been a long time (continued on page 54) Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 53 continued from page 53 plug connector would be used for the the loco was placed on the track to see screw securing the sheet to the tender accessory lighting. Photo 5 shows how just what this new decoder will do. floor doubles as the wire contact (red) I wired for the front and rear lights. I When power is turned on, right for the grounded side and then to the did not wire for the accessories at this away the engine comes alive with time but that firebox flicker is too good pop valves releasing, the air pump thumping, and there is some hissing too. (The generator maybe?) Now, my hearing isn’t the best but the first thing I had to do is program down some of the CV values dealing with the volume. It was way too loud for me. Then a trip around the track loop. decoder. On each side of the terminal Starts and stops were gradual and strip are the lighting connectors, one smooth with the big Pittman motor. for the headlight and rear light, and the There are whistle sounds that are real- other for accessory lights which are a ly clear and sound like some of the Mars light and firebox flicker. These are to not use in the future. actual whistles I remember as a kid. plug in terminals. The instruction sheet The wiring required for operation But there are some that do sound a clearly shows each point for these con- is not hard to set up but you will need bit strange. I did not try all 34 sounds. nections so it would be pretty hard to to do some soldering for the connec- The bell is sharp and clear and also make a mistake. The speaker plug in is tions. The connection between the has a couple of odd sounds, but on the rear. tender and engine alone will have to with eight bell tones, you will have a The speaker is just a flat 40 mm have two wires for the motor, two for choice of what sound best to you. diameter but already wired with plug. the headlight, and two for left/right The 12 types of exhaust chuff As Gene mentions, and as pointed pickups (Photo 6) depending how you included a double chuff enabling out in the instruction sheet, this open have your locomotives set up for track feature for an articulated locomotive. speaker will require an enclosure to contact. My engines have the loco and Again there are some sounds you may properly hear those realistic sounds tender the same polarity, grounded on not care for but most of them sound of a “live” locomotive. If you have a very prototypical. There is one that sealed tender with an opening for a sounds like it might be for one of those speaker I suppose that might work industrial locos that ran on compressed but for me it was easier to use a piece air that were used around factories of 1-1/2” vinyl plumbing pipe I had that manufactured flammable prod- on hand to make a simple enclosure ucts. There is no provision for a cam (Photo 4). You can make an enclosure operation but the chuff rate is program- in most any shape: square, round, or the right with wipers on the left tender mable and works just fine. The chuff whatever, as long as it is sealed. There trucks and a wiper on a left set of driv- rate increases/decreases with applied is a lot of info out there dealing with ers. The drawbar is not insulated; it is power and as you come to a stop this particular subject. One odd thing part of the right side pickup. there is a brake squeal and then an air Operation release. When the loco is standing, the Now came the interesting part of air pump thumps on occasion and a testing this decoder. The instruction pop valve will release now and then. sheet lists 40 CV settings and their This decoder is programmable with values. But what is nice with this all of the usual CV settings such as decoder is that MRC pre-programmed speed steps, 2-digit or 4 digit address- the settings with default values so that es, acceleration/deceleration rates, kick you can fire it up and your locomo- start voltage, etc. tive instantly comes to life ready to do Summary with this speaker is that it is 4 ohm its bidding! Chuff, whistle, bell, brake I can definitely recommend this rather than the usual 8 ohm. squeal, pop valves, air release, etc., decoder. The set up is not too hard, the The 2-8-2 I installed this decoder in is all ready to go. A NCE Power Pro sounds are suitable for engines large has a rear tender light in addition to the system is my DCC system. I don’t use and small, and the sounds are realistic. head light. The lighting plug-in on the a programming test track as recom- You will have fun trying out the differ- decoder board has three contacts, one mended. I do set the loco with tender ent sounds that are available to find the side is for the rear light, center is the attached, tender shell removed, on combination you like. This is a quality blue common, and other side is for the blocks on the work desk by the layout. product. headlight. MRC furnishes two wired I then use clips on the two track con- plug connections each with three col- tacts. Some preliminary tests are made ored wires, yellow, center blue, and with the ProCab for motor control and white. The second furnished wired a few sounds to ensure all is well. Then

54 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 REVIEW: AtlasO 55 Ton Panel Side Hopper; MSRP: grab irons were not oversized, the airlines looked right on $57.95AtlasO, LLC, 378 Florence Avenue, Hillside NJ 07205 and overall, it appeared close enough to scale size for me. 908-687-9590 •www.atlaso.com Note for Atlas: Put up a QuickTime movie on your website to show us how these are built. Reviewed by Richard A Madonna Jr. Fidelity I thought the paint was evenly sprayed. Atlas covers the Prototype car with a nice flat finish, but I’m planning to add a little In a world where the laptop I’m typing this on is two weathering to age this car. The lettering is very clear and the years old but is already yesterday’s technology, the story paint is not too thick. This car came with scale couplers and of the 55 ton hopper is one of continued reuse. The 55 ton metal wheels which were very shiny. The wheels need to hopper came from the USRA designed World War I 50 ton be painted rust brown as do the couplers. The only criticism hopper. These were 30 feet long and had a capacity of 1880 of the car was that the truck side frames appear to be quite cubic feet. The bracing was on the exterior and consisted of thick. I may be wrong, so feel free to correct me on this. seven posts. The panel sides came later as they were called Performance in for rebuilding. Railroads were looking to expand the In terms of rolling characteristics, I didn’t test for friction capacity of these hoppers, and modified them by applying of the bearings, but this car rolled smoothly on any surface, panel sides between the vertical posts. This gave the cars even off the track. As for weight, the car is quite heavy and their unique look and increased the capacity by 5 tons. will not require any additional weight to keep it on the track The Model in pushing or pulling operations. A nice long, weathered I was quite eager to see this model in person. Having string of these would go great with a coal facility, dock, built many Intermountain hoppers in the ‘90s, I was curious small factory, yard, etc. The uses for this hopper are limited to see how AtlasO was able to match the details of the kits. only by your imagination. I was never able to completely build one of these kits without breaking some detail part. The box was quite large. I’d say Atlas could save some natural resources by going with a smaller box; although, in their defense, the car was well protected and was held securely in place. Trying to unpack the car took a couple of minutes as Atlas takes great care to get it to you safely. On pulling the car out of the foam, I did hear a “crack” and realized I pulled out a brace on the inside of the car. There goes my hope for having a complete hopper with no damage. I let it sit on the kitchen table for a general overview. I was quite impressed by the level of detail. The

REVIEW: The Railroad Never Sleeps: 24 hours in the Life of East to the West coasts and many points in between. The Modern Railroading; MSRP: US$35, Can$38.50, UK £25 rail systems represented vary from the Class 1 systems like Voyageur Press, PO Box 1, Osceola WI 54020 the Union Pacific and BNSF to commuter lines such as 800-826-6600 •www.voyagerpress.com MARC and MetroLink, as well as shortline operations like the Green Mountain Railway. While the trains may be the Reviewed by Gene Clements center of attraction, special attention is given to the people and crafts behind the scenes that keep the trains moving, “The railroad never sleeps.” giving the reader an overall look at what it takes to keep any How true this statement. As I start rail system operating. my thirty-second year of railroad The book and clock starts at 00:01 a.m. with photog- service, I can personally attest to raphers in place to capture operations at various locations the truth of this book’s title. and continues chapter by chapter through the 24-hour Composed by popular rail- time period until 23:59 p.m. While some photographers road author Brian Solomon, maintained their location through this day, others moved to who has written more than 30 different locations to present an overall view of the area. A books about railroads and motive unique feature of this book is a set of photographs taken at power, and who has also given 12:47 p.m. MDT across the country to commemorate the us many articles and photographs in railfan publications time the telegraph buzzed with the announcement that the such as Trains, Railway Age, Passenger Train Journal and United States was now joined by rail from coast to coast. Railnews. The chapters of the book continue through the evening This book is a 176 page hardbound photographic jour- commuter rush into the night operations until the day ends nal of American and Canadian railroading taken by a large at 23:59 p.m. group of rail photographers over a 24-hour period on May This book gives us a unique look at modern day railroad- 10, 2007. Does the date ring a bell? May 10, 2007 was the ing on a commemorative day of the not so distant past. 138th anniversary of the Golden Spike Ceremony at Prom- Loaded with fantastic photographs, this book would be a ontory, Utah. welcome addition to any modeler, railfan or railroad histo- The photographers literally covered locations from the rian’s collection. Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 55 Review: Crossing Signals, Model CS-2; MSRP: $ 69.95 Custom Signals 27 Gellatly Dr, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 845-592-1302 • www.customsignals.com

Reviewed By Gene Clements

The Prototype Custom Signal’s CS-2 crossing signals are modeled after the prototype signals currently in use all across this country. Photo 1 shows a residential crossing on the BNSF

Compatibility I happened to have an older version of the CS-2 signal on hand. Photo 2 shows the older CS-2 flanked on either side by the new versions. Take a moment to view the dif- ferences. While similar in concept and construction, the new CS-2 is much-improved with a detailed flasher hous- main line not far from my home that protects a two-lane ing and the correct light diffusion pattern built-in. road. The only additional items you would need to model Performance a scene like this would be an instrument case that houses The GCF-1 control board is designed for a prototypi- the electronics, power supply and battery back-up for the cally slow flash rate with the “Ramp up-Ramp down” crossing system and the guardrails protecting each mast. effect of the real low voltage lights. Connections are made The Model through plug-in and screw down terminals. Connections The CS-2 set comes with one GCF-1 (Grade Crossing are provided for multiple zones and detection circuits as Flasher/Detector) for 3-rail, two AWS-1 (Advanced High- well as output terminals for a bell or other external acces- way Warning Signs) and two WPS-1 (Whistle Post signs), sory. While the board has a built-in detector for 3-Rail and two 4-light (bi-directional) crossing masts. One mast operation, the unit can be used in a 2-Rail application has a bell the other does not. (As a note, the CS-2 set is by installing a “Start & Start” current sensing detector in modeled with a mechanical bell. Prototype mechanical each direction, for each track that the system will protect. bells are currently being exchanged for the new electronic Optical-sensing or Infrared detection appliances can be bell.) The signals come with an RJ-12 plug on the end of used as well and would simplify the wiring and detection a 22 inch lead wire which should allow the signals to be necessary for a multiple track installation. The GCF-1 is positioned for a multiple track crossing. The crossing mast designed to operate on either 12-volts AC or DC. Included appears to be metal with attached metal and plastic cast- is a detailed set of instructions for all board connections ings to complete the assembly. As with the searchlight and information on various detection circuit scenarios. signals, each flasher housing contains an LED with a dif- Conclusions fused red lens. You can even see the white flash of the sig- Once again Terry Christopher and the people at Cus- nal head as you would on a locomotive approaching the tom Signals have given the O Scale marketplace a highly crossing. detailed and prototypically functioning model of a cross- Fidelity ing signal appliance. The CS-2 signal set is only the begin- The signal stands approximately 16 scale feet above its ning as a CS-1 (Single Set of Flashers) and CS-3 (Triple Set simulated concrete base. Each flasher head is a detailed of Flashers), for use with a roadway that parallels the track casting of the newer, large target housing in use today. to an intersection at the crossing, is also available and The unit is pre-painted in a Silver/Aluminum color with can be substituted for one of the units in the CS-2 set for flat black target rings. The crossbucks and track plate have a minimal fee. A CS-4 (Quad Set of Flashers) is slated for a white face with black lettering (an industry standard). future production. The track plate (which designates the number of multiple As an O Scale Modeler, if you’re in the market for a set tracks) is removable, but decals are included when the of crossing flashers to protect those 1:48 scale motorists at signals are used to protect up to five tracks. No track plate your road crossings on the layout, then check out Custom means the signal system protects a single track. Signals and their line of products. I can promise, you will not be disappointed.

56 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 REVIEW: Dr. Ben’s Realistic Weathering Stains, Set #1; MSRP: $44.95 DEBEN LLC, PO Box 465898, Lawrenceville GA 30042 area with some denatured alcohol and dropped the stain 770-985-2896 • wwwDEBENLLC.com into the wetted area. The alcohol allowed the pigments to disperse at random, letting them do what nature and chem- Reviewed by Mike Cougill istry dictate they do. Similar to laying down a watercolor wash in a painting (something I have a bit of experience Back in with), the effects are marginally controllable by the amount the 1950s, of alcohol or wetness the area has. The How-To Guide John Allen suggests pre-wetting plastic models, then dropping or dab- rocked the bing on varying amounts of the appropriately colored stain, world of letting the area dry for a few minutes and seeing what the model rail- results are. (You’ll likely be pleasantly surprised.) The Guide roading by book stated that the weathering effects do not have to be modeling sealed, but be aware that the colors aren’t permanent on the effects nonporous materials like styrene. I was able to completely of age and remove the color from my test piece, even after several days weathering had passed, by rubbing it vigorously with an alcohol damp- on objects ened paper towel. However, I did successfully apply another such as layer of color without disturbing the previous one. structures and rolling stock. Since that time, a model doesn’t A use I hadn’t planned on was coloring the existing look complete without some dust, grime, peeling paint or scenery on the layout. I use sisal twine extensively for tall rust. Today, weathering of models has become an art form grass and wintertime weeds. The sisal has a natural yellow in its own right (see our feature article on page 4). tan color that works okay but can be a bit boring en masse. Award winning modeler and dioramist Richard “Ben” Bendever has created a line of weathering stains and products based on his NMRA Clinic techniques. I’ll give you the bottom line up front: I have no idea what this stuff is, but I like it. This particular product is designed to be a matched replacement for the long defunct, but much loved, Floquil weathering stains. My samples consisted of a thick liquid pigment base of some kind in a 70% alcohol solution. Colors are: Aged Driftwood®, Hardwood Maple®, Knotty Walnut®; Natural Basswood®, Natural Pine®, Nauti- cal Teak®, Realistic Oak® and Rustic Barn Red®. A 12 page How-To Guide #1 was also included. These stains can be handled in a variety of ways. You can brush them on full-strength like a heavy bodied opaque wood stain or as a transparent wash which enables many Trying the Natural Pine® and Realistic Oak® Stains gave a transparent layers to be built up. Wood or some other convincing color to the twine that I really liked. porous material is the obvious first choice for these stains, The twine soaked up the colors in a random fashion. and I tried them out on a piece of scrap wood siding with Some areas were more intensely colored; other spots had excellent results. However, I mainly use styrene as a model- the natural color of the sisal showing through, giving the ing medium and I was curious about how they’d respond on effect of grasses going into dormancy for the winter. Vig- a nonporous surface. orously shaking the container will put the pigment into suspension just like a bottle of regular paint, but it doesn’t stay in suspension long. This can be used to advantage by dipping the brush to the bottom of the jar to pick up the full strength pigment or just slightly dipping it to get a weaker semi-suspended coloring. I also used a spray mister filled with isopropyl alcohol to dilute areas of the grass where the stain was too dark for my liking. Once I got going, I colored half of the existing grassy areas on the layout in short order. They now blend in with the rest of the scenery and look much more natural to my eyes. I’m certain that I’ll find a use The photo above shows two applications to a sheet of for this product on other parts of the scenery too. styrene. On the left, I simply brushed on the full-bodied I think Dr. Ben has a winner with these products. Other stain with a soft bristled brush. As you can see, the coverage products in the line include weathering powders, building is spotty with a bit of streaking since the stain is just lying materials and scenery items. Check them out. on the surface and not soaking in. To the right, I pre-wet the

Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 57 REVIEW: USRA 40’ Single-Sheathed Boxcar 20-933XX, MSRP: $49.95; and 2-Rail Bettendorf Freight Trucks #20-89001, 3-Rail trucks. The 2-Rail trucks were screwed into place and MSRP: $12.95 the floor re-installed. The whole process took less than 20 M.T.H. Electric Trains, 7020 Columbia Gateway Drive, minutes. Just for grins, I attempted to replace the wheelsets Columbia MD 21046 in the 3-Rail trucks. After an hour of scrounging for flying 410-381-2580 • www.mth-railking.com springs, I concluded that for the same cost as NWSL wheelsets, the MTH 2-Rail trucks are a bargain. Reviewed by Joe Giannovario The 3-Rail trucks have the brake gladhand attached to them. I clipped these off and screwed them to the underframe The Prototype next to the scale coupler boxes. By now, most every model railroader should know that the Fidelity U.S. Government took over America’s railroads during World The MTH model is a very accurate. Every dimension I War I and operated them under the United States Railway checked was spot on or within acceptable tolerances. Even Administration (USRA). USRA committees were tasked to the ride height of the car was correct with the 2-Rail trucks design standardized locomotives and rolling stock that maxi- installed. mized the use of common parts in order to make the most The roof on the car seemed to deviate from the draw- efficient use of materials at the time. These designs were so ings but it matched the roof on the double-sheathed cars. In well-executed that the railroads continued to use them after checking around I found that many roof designs were used on the government ceded control back to the individual roads. these cars, so I cannot say this roof is incorrect. Among the designs produced were a steel underframe The only thing I can find really wrong on the car is the 50-ton single-sheathed 40’ boxcar and a steel underframe dimensional data. At least it is incorrect on the Reading R.R. 40-ton double-sheathed 40’ boxcar. The carbody designs car I have. Not only is the dimensional data incorrect, so is were identical in dimensions except for the extra layer of the capacity data. A 50-ton car should have a capacity of sheathing on the 40-ton car. The 50-ton car had a straight 100,000 lbs. and a volume of 3098 cu. ft. The Reading car steel underframe while the 40-ton car had a fishbelly under- has a stated capacity of 135,000 lbs. (70 tons?) and a volume frame. of 5100 cu. ft., clearly at odds with the prototype. If you don’t Plans and elevation drawings for the single-sheathed car look too closely, you won’t notice it. were published in the December 1986 Model Railroader. Compatibility Elevations for both the single and double-sheathed cars may I checked the wheelsets with the NMRA O Scale stan- be found in Gregg’s Train Shed Cyclopedia No. 3 (Box, Stock dards gage and they pass. Coupler mounts for Kadee® style & Refrigerator Cars from the 1931 Car Builders’ Cyclopedia). boxes are provided and, once installed, the scale couplers The Model were at the correct height without the need for shimming. The MTH model of the single-sheathed car is made of Conclusions mostly plastic with separately added details, such as hand Overlooking the dimensional data inconsistencies, MTH grabs and brake staff. The underbody of the model is also has done an excellent job of reproducing a very common plastic with die cast metal 3-Rail trucks and couplers. boxcar found on just about every railroad in the U.S. Both the MTH also makes 2-Rail Bettendorf trucks to convert this single and double-sheathed cars will be right at home on any and other MTH rolling stock to 2-Rail. The truck conversion layout since they were used into the 1970s. requires removing four screws from the underframe (one in each corner) and then removing the floor to unscrew the

58 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 REVIEW: SceniKing R017 Treeline Background; MSRP: $46.95 left margins. Photo 2 shows how we placed one image to BPH Enterprises, 4 Palmer Dr, Barrie, ONT Canada L4M 6V9 overlap the previous one. 705-739-4878 • www.sceniking.com

Reviewed by Joe & Jaini Giannovario

Making Backgrounds When we ran the article on Andy Romano’s Ironbound R.R. (OST #33), many people asked about Andy’s backgrounds and how they were made. Andy treated us to his method in OST #38. I am sure there are some that feel they don’t have the skill or time to make their own backgrounds. That’s where SceniKing Backgrounds can save the day. Les Mavor of BPH Enterprises was kind enough to send us two sets of their Treeline continuous background (#R017) for this review. The Images The SceniKing backgrounds are all made the same way. High quality photographic images are inkjet printed on 24 We used solid stick glue to hold the images in place. This pound legal size paper. Each image overlaps the previous was a little messy but worked out fairly well. Jaini remarked and succeeding image by a fair margin. You choose how that if we still had our waxer from the “old days of pre- you want to mount the images and where. We used the press” it would be the perfect tool for applying the images. entire package and one sheet from a second set, but you A waxer puts a thin coat of sticky wax on the back of copy can use any subset of images. The background we assem- and images that were stuck to large boards in the days bled was a hardwood forest. SceniKing backgrounds range before computers and desktop publishing. We could also from pastoral settings, to suburban, urban and heavy indus- have used a spray adhesive, but that would require extreme- trial scenes. Prices vary according to overall length. Almost ly good ventilation or spraying outside. As it was still winter all SceniKing backgrounds can be made into very long con- when we did this, working outside was not an option. tinuous scenes, either by combining them with other kits or The only real difficulty was handling 10 continuous feet simply using multiple copies of the same kit as we did. of flexible board. The Crescent board was sturdy enough Assembly that it did not break or crack while we slid it around and car- We decided to mount the images on a continuous sur- ried it back to the layout. face as the wall along the area of the OST layout we wanted We placed the assembled background up against the to cover is not flat. We purchased several sheets of Crescent wall. The right side is wedged behind a piece of scenery that brand cold press illustration board. This is a heavy card- you’ll see in a later issue. The left side is not attached at all board that runs 0.050” to 0.060” in thickness. We trimmed but we plan to secure it with hook-and-loop tape for easy the boards to be 13 inches high to match the image area of removal. each image panel. We butted the boards end-to-end and Photo 3 shows the background in place with an AtlasO used hot glue with the board trimmings to make lap joints. MP15DC (see the review in this issue) in the foreground. We ended up with a continuous flexible board just a tad Check out the tree immediately to the right of the MP-15. over 10 feet long. Photo 1 shows the board test fitted in We think it looks real. place on the layout.

We took the board to a large table and supported both Conclusion ends with chair backs. We then started to assemble the We were very pleased with the way the treeline back- images. BPH recommends taping images together in groups ground worked out for us and we’re looking at the rest of of three and then assembling these into the final image. We the SceniKing line to use on other parts of the layout. Even started this way but found it awkward handling the three though we have the capability of making our own inkjet sheet modules. So we started placing individual sheets. BPH prints, we would still buy the SceniKing backgrounds since also recommends trimming the right and left sides of the BPH has taken out all of the hard work by making sure the images before placement. We ended up trimming just the images overlap one another.

Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 59 REVIEW: AtlasO 2-Rail Gold Series MP15DC; MSRP: $479.95 trucks that kept the model from moving at all in its box. AtlasO, LLC 348 Florence Ave., Hillside NJ 07205 Beggars can’t be choosers but I’d have rather had almost 908-687-9590 • www.atlastrainman.com any other paint scheme than the Alaska R.R. It is rather gar- ish but then that’s how the prototype looks. The paint was Reviewed by Joe Giannovario applied smoothly and the lettering was crisp. Some of the details are quite delicate. The horns are can- The Prototype tilevered from the roof and a careless swipe will knock them The EMD MP15 succeeded the SW1500 with the notable off. I broke a wing window on the cab but was able to glue exception that the MP15’s rode on standardized Blomberg it back in place, one advantage of plastic models. The hand- trucks like those found under road engines such as Geeps. rails are sturdy yet did not seem overly large. This allowed the MP15s to operate at road speeds so they At one point during the review process, the center of the could be used outside of yard limits. This was part of EMD’s hood came off. I snapped it back in place and then could continual upgrade program and the MP stands for Multi- not figure out how to get it off again. I finally realized that Purpose. gently squeezing the hood sides below the removable sec- The MP15 made its debut on the Missouri Pacific in tion is what allows it to be removed. 1974, making it a relatively modern locomotive. The MP15s Fidelity were bigger and longer than their SW sisters allowing for Using the plans published in the MR article cited, the an additional 300 gallons of fuel (1400 gal. max.). An MP15 model appears to be an accurate rendition of an EMD is 48’ 8” over the couplers and has a wheelbase of 24’ 2”. MP15DC in every respect. I could not find any significant The MP15 is also boxier than its SW siblings and looks more deviation in any dimension I measured. There may be some modern. out there reading this that have more info and know more MP15s came in three classes having major to minor inter- about MP15 than I was able to dig up. If there is something nal variations: DC Type 1, DC Type 2, and AC. The Type amiss with this model, let’s hear from you, please. 1 and 2 designators are arbitrary labels applied by writer J. Compatibility David Ingles, an assistant editor at Trains magazine. The dif- The model checked out on the NMRA O Scale Standards ference between Type 1 and 2 is an improved air filter box gage. The Atlas couplers mate with Kadees® but not always on the Type 2 housed directly in front of the cab. The AC with success. As this is a Gold Series locomotive, it is oper- designation refers to a unit that generates and uses Alternat- able on both straight DC as well as DCC. ing Current. Performance Some of the major roads that purchased MP15DCs were: The MP15, like the AtlasO SW-series, has one can C&NW, Conrail, KCS, L&N, MoPac, P&LE, Frisco, Southern, motor mounted horizontally driving both trucks from dual and SP. shafts. I ran the MP15 on straight DC at first. Even with all For a more detailed discussion of MP15s please see J. the electronics on-board, the loco started up (i.e., the sound David Ingles’ article on page 83 of the October 1978 issue came on) at 5 Volts DC and 400 mA. The slowest reproduc- of Model Railroader. If you go to the MR Magazine Index ible constant speed under DC control was at 9 Volts and [index.mrmag.com] and search on MP15 you will get 12 600mA which calculated out to 1.25 smph. This is excellent additional references. speed control. The Model Running at 12 Volts DC under load (towing 12 freight As you can see in the photo, the model Atlas sent for cars, 11 lbs.), the current draw ranged from 900 mA on level review is a Type 1 without the air filter box. However, Atlas track to 1100 mA on grade. The speed at these settings was does offer the Type 2 if you pick the correct road. You’ll 16 smph. need to refer to the Atlas catalog to figure out which road is Running under DCC, the slowest speed (on 128 steps) which type. was 6.5 smph. I am not sure why I could not get a slower I was impressed with the packaging for this locomo- speed under DCC. Even at that speed, I had no trouble tive. Besides the standard expanded Styrofoam pack- doing switching moves around the yard area. ing, there were two heavy plastic inserts around the I coupled every car on the layout (16 in all) and ran the

60 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 MP15 around the layout until it was in the middle of the gear noise at all. With the sound turned on, I could hear the 3+% grade and stopped it there. The locomotive had no prime mover labor on the grades and ease off on the down trouble starting up again and pulling the train through the slope which made operating it a lot more fun. rest of the grade. Conclusion What I really like most about this locomotive was the Reviewing a Diesel is a stretch for me, so be kind if I sound. I am not at all familiar with Diesel sounds so I cannot made a mistake somewhere. I had so much fun running this tell you whether the model really sounds like an MP15DC model I actually toyed with the idea of bringing the Coal or if the horn and bell are correct. What I can tell you is that Creek Railway from the 1940s and ’50s into the ’70s and under both DC and DCC, sound makes all the difference ’80s. Then, I regained my senses, but I would seriously con- for me when running a Diesel. In my way of reasoning, if sider adding a Gold Series SW1500 to the CCR roster. you have a soundless steam locomotive at least you get to The MP15 ran extremely well under both DC and DCC watch the rods and valve gear move while it’s running. With while the addition of sound made the experience that much a Diesel, there’s nothing. I turned off the sound on the MP15 better. Atlas hit a home run with this one. and it glided around the layout effortlessly with almost no

Product Review: Bachmann’s Easy Command® Dynamis® address, consists and altering CV values. Wireless DCC System; MSRP: $300 Installation Bachmann, 1400 East Erie Ave. Philadelphia PA 19124 Hooking the system up couldn’t be simpler. All that’s www.bachmanntrains.com needed is a 110VAC outlet for the transformer and two wires connected to the layout. My layout was wired for DCC from Reviewed by Mike Cougill the beginning, so all I did was pop the supplied batteries in to the handheld controller, disconnect my temporary power supply and hook up the Dynamis® base station to the layout using one of the supplied wiring clips. The system picked up my decoder equipped loco instantly and I was off and running. My Impressions The system does what it says it will do. Running a train was simple, just as you’d expect with any other type of control system. The joystick took a bit of getting used to The System along with the awkward shape of the controller itself. One Bachmann has introduced their Dynamis® System, a thing I discovered quickly was the line-of-sight requirement wireless DCC command control system that uses infrared between the controller and the base station. Even though I technology to communicate between the handheld control- had placed the base station in a central location, it was still ler and the base station. possible to lose the signal unless I was careful to keep the Rated at 2.3 amps and touted as a full-fledged DCC controller pointed towards the base station. The train would system, the box consisted of: a base station, various wir- simply stop when the signal loss happened. The first time it ing clips, a wall transformer, and four AAA batteries for the happened I had no idea what was going on. Looking at the handheld controller which utilizes a joystick to control the LCD display showed zero bars, no signal. The emergency speed and some menu navigation functions. The control- stop feature would engage and I’d have to point the controller also includes a lanyard or neck strap, an on/off switch, ler at the base station to re-acquire the two-way commu- buttons to activate the various decoder functions, a button nications. For a large layout or a linear design, this aspect to reverse direction, menu buttons and an emergency stop would likely prove frustrating. I wanted to focus on the train button that will stop a train immediately. A large LCD dis- and its operations, not worry about which way I was point- play shows which functions are active, the loco or consist ing the controller. Another feature built into the system is a number currently in use, along with a speed graph and bars time delay between sending a command and the response. I showing the signal strength. The size and shape of the con- discovered this when trying to switch cars. I’d back a cut of troller is similar to those used in video game consoles and cars into position, stop to reverse direction and then open suggests two-handed operation. the throttle again. There would be a five second or longer The base station is self-contained with jacks on the rear delay before the engine responded. The instructions indi- for the track power and the 110v. wall transformer with two cated this could be switched off, but weren’t really helpful in LED indicators on top. The left-hand LED will flash when telling how. I never have figured it out. However, in all fair- the STOP Button is on, or a short is present, and remain ness to Bachmann, I’m not an electronics person. I had no constant when the base station is powered. The right-hand trouble in changing decoder functions like the loco’s address LED will flash when command signals are received from the or number of speed steps. controller. Both will flash when the controller is out of range Overall, I have mixed thoughts about this system. For a of the base station. small layout or one where the operator will tend to stay sta- The 28 page instruction manual covers the system setup, tionary, the system would be fine. For a larger walk-around each button’s function and the programming sequences type of layout, the limitations of the infra-red signal may for changing things like the number of speed steps, a loco’s prove frustrating.

Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 61 Review: MTH DCS Commander; MSRP: $149.95 the other PS2.0 locomotive’s DCS features. The system and MTH Electric Trains, 7020 Columbia Gateway Drive, engine configuration are where we added PS2.0 locomo- Columbia MD 21046 tives to the system by turning on the block containing the 410-381-2580 • www.mth-railking.com unit we wanted, switching the Commander to DCS mode and then pressed Add. Within a second the engine will Reviewed by Mike Pitogo appear with a numerical address designated to that unit. Dealing with address numbers instead of names can get a The DCS Commander is bit confusing, so it’s best to write this information down if MTH’s entry level command you will be working with more than a handful of units. One system targeted mainly at HO issue I found with this system, the addresses are automati- modelers to accompany their cally chosen and in one case I had two locomotives using recent foray into HO Scale the same address number. The addresses of individual loco- locomotives. Its main audience motives can be changed after they’ve been added but do is those who wish to unlock pay close attention to this one step. some of the basic features of With all the locomotives added, move onto the middle MTH’s ProtoSound 3.0 equipped locomotives under DCS and right button areas where all the fun is controlled. On/ mode. The unit is specified to operate conventional DC and Off toggle control of smoke, headlights, Doppler and pas- DCS locomotives and DCC with a pass-thru option. Similar- senger/freight yard sounds are in the main center panel with ly, MTH’s current HO offerings, such as the PRR K4 and Erie LCD display symbols of their status. The big bell and whistle Triplex and soon to be announced SP models, feature three buttons and the Aux1 for short, SC1 and Aux 3 for SXS used modes of operation: DC, DCC and DCS, making the system on newer sound sets are the most used sound buttons. If an easy fit into any power system. you are familiar with DCC, DCS or TMCC these areas are The Commander itself is a fairly small unit requiring an where most of the control takes place and are similar to the external power source to power both the unit itself and the other command systems except for a couple buttons dedi- track. Power can be a combination of DC or AC or DCC; cated to PS2.0 or PS3.0 only features. however, in order to use the DCC pass-thru option, the Taking DCS control of a PS2.0 locomotive involves two unit must be initially powered by a DCC system or a DCC basic steps: turn the toggle for the block(s) the locomotive booster output to enable the pass-thru mode. The unit has is in and set the Commander to “DCS” mode. If you wish a five amp rating suitable for most small to medium sized to operate more than one unit, the best method to do so HO layouts. The DCS Commander is also advertised to be would be to turn the toggles on for each PS2.0 locomotive capable of powering and running O Scale ProtoSound 2.0 and then press the DCS button. This will ensure all of the equipped locomotives. units you wish to operate will start up in command mode. For this review all testing and evaluations took place at The startup sequence includes a watchdog signal the DCS the New York Society of Model Engineers O Scale railroad. Commander presents to operate in command. Additionally, The Commander has been installed and operates a medium- the Commander reads the locomotives from the track and sized engine maintenance yard, turntable and freight pass- puts it in the active list of engines. If startup is not done in through line where engines are swapped at the NYSME’s this manner, simply turning the toggle on will immediately Union Connecting Railroad. The Commander’s operation present the locomotive with constant voltage minus the was mainly in DCS and DC, unfortunately no testing of DCC watchdog signal. The unit will accelerate to Mach 1 speeds was performed (see Addendum). However, this review will and it also won’t be available to the DCS Commander since also compare the DCS Commander against its older sibling, it wasn’t “read” during the initial startup. the full DCS system, TIU and remote (version 4.0) to get an With the active list of locomotives added and in the idea of how they differ. normal state of command operation, we can select a loco- The basics of wiring any command control system are as motive from the active list of addresses and start it up. simple as getting power into the unit and onto the track. The Describing the rest of what the buttons do is best left to DCS Commander was in fact just that simple. The block and your imagination... notch the throttle up, blow the whistle toggle switch topology, the mainstay of 2-Rail DC, made and you’re down a path to locomotive bliss. Past the startup it easy to wire since it conforms to most of the necessary sequence, the intuitive layout and ease of use make it a nat- requirements of a good DCS signal. The star or home run ural extension of the DC throttle. One fellow NYSME mem- to each block ensures one signal path to the rails. The other ber commented: “The DCS Commander makes it easier to small item to add is the DCS signal enhancing light whose perform switching operations.” Utilizing a single direction purpose is letting the operator know there is current going to button, there are no toggles to move. In command mode the rails. you also benefit from a finer degree of control versus con- DCS Features and Controls ventional DC. The PS2.0 units are able to achieve nice slow Control of most of the features that make the PS2.0 loco- speeds. You set the dial and you are assured the locomotive motives fun to operate are included in the interface of the will try to move at that speed setting without fear of stalling. DCS Commander. There are three main button areas of the I tested models with smooth slow speeds as low as 1smph Commander. The left section is dedicated to system and from large steamers and 3smph with most diesels. engine configuration, the middle is dedicated to locomotive DC Features and Controls control and visual status and the right section is dedicated to The next best thing of the DCS Commander is the abil-

62 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 ity to run an analog DC throttle. The DCS Commander’s tem was more than adequate to operate the locomotives. throttle is a continuous scrolling wheel with no locking However compared to the full DCS system there is one thing position for max voltage and zero voltage; instead you get the DCS Commander can’t do. It cannot power up a PS2 solid state control. Controlling DC voltage with the wheel locomotive in command mode under DC while the system is very different from DCS where each click gives you is already operating. In DCS AC with the full system, we are incremental movement allowing 1smph changes. In DC able to power up a PS2 locomotive sitting on a dead block. mode each notch moves the voltage up or down in incre- It will power up in conventional AC neutral, perform a shut- ments of one tenth of a volt. This may be both a positive down/startup cycle in DCS and it’s ready to go. In DCS DC and a negative attribute. As a negative attribute, you don’t mode operation, the PS2 locomotive will start then fly off know exactly where you are on the throttle through tactile not sensing the watchdog signal. feedback. Instead you must rely on watching the locomo- The pros to the system are: fast responsive controls, tive and the built-in voltage/ammeter. A positive attribute control of most of the DCS functions, easy to use and the of having the scrolling wheel allows both granular voltage analog DC mode with digital volt and ammeters. Cons are: changes with very small throttle increments and very fast it suffers from the same signal issues as the full DCS system; large voltage changes. Move the throttle slowly and the volt- DC mode momentum doesn’t slow the loco down and age increments slowly, great for getting locomotives started then flip the polarity, it just flips it right away. DCS to DC at a creep. Move the throttle fast and the voltage will also mode switch defaults in max voltage causing flying locos; jump in big increments. This gives you both great control sometimes the panic button is not responsive and there’s no in slow, wide throttle movements and immediate control access to additional soft key features other than aux 1, 2, 3. in fast, short throttle jumps. One of the other positive attri- Comments butes of the Commander’s DC mode is having the voltage I purchased the DCS Commander from a local hobby and ammeters displayed with 0.1 resolutions allowing you shop for $129.99 plus tax. It’s not too bad for what you pay to know when the locomotive is stalled due to no electrical for. As a controller alternative to DCS I think it’s pretty neat. continuity or shorted. In addition to the throttle, the other You don’t get all the bells and whistles of the full system and control feature is the direction button. This button allows it may not be the most full featured but right now its perfect you to change the polarity without the need to toggle all the for basic yard duties in DC or DCS. associated blocks. There is one minor thing to contend with Addendum in operating non PS2.0 equipped locomotives. DC mode I tested the DCS Commander in DCC Pass-Thru mode momentum doesn’t slow the loco down and then flip the and it worked flawlessly. The DCS Commander automatical- polarity; it just flips the polarity right away. With this mode ly sensed that there was a DCC system attached and started of operation, non PS2.0 locomotives will instantly reverse. up in Pass-Thru mode sending the DCC signal from my DCC PS2.0 locomotives sense the polarity change and begin the handheld to a DCC locomotive. The DCS Commander will slowdown sequence, stop and accelerate in the reverse also take a DCC input signal, convert it for use by the Com- direction. Although it is a great feature of PS2.0, it would mander and output it as rectified DC or a DCS signal. In also be nice to have that included in the momentum feature effect, when powered by a DCC system, you have three of DC mode control. different types of control systems in a minimum amount of Comparison to full DCS system volume. You can switch between the control modes as long In DCS mode, the system performs as well as a full DCS as you power down whatever type of model is on the track system but with a much more limited feature set. For opera- at the time before the switch. - Joe Giannovario tions on the engine yard and maintenance facility, the sys-

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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

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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. WANTED: Small N&W custom-built or WANTED: Fred Icken castings for the PRR coaches (B-2) $1250 the set plus shipping. scratchbuilt steam, 4-8-0, 2-8-0, 4-6-0. Also O1 electric - any condition, from running, all Call 626-791-5300. Dennis Bagby, 2233 N. looking for N&W brass parts, e.g., pilot, the way down to missing and cut pieces. I Suree Ellen Ln, Altadena, CA 91001 cylinders, domes, tenders, etc. Contact Joe have one, but they tell me these things run in Giannovario, [email protected] or call pairs! Also looking for a single Lobaugh stock FOR SALE: READ THE FIRST new railroad 610-363-7117. car side to use as a pattern. Bob Turner, 7237 novel in a generation, the exciting story of Werner St, San Diego CA 92122. the great Spirit of St. Louis train wreck on FREE O SCALE LIST: List of O Scale shows September 11, 1950. Read “Smart Boys for 2008. Send LSSAE to Bob Retallack, FOR SALE: Large mint-condition book col- Swimming in the River Styx” by Robert Phillip Dept OST08, 2224 Adner Ct, Columbus, lection. Also, Modular Railroad Structures Bomboy. Get it at [www.amazon.com]. OH 43220. product line for sale. Contact: john@pecosriv- erbrass.com WANTED: Ambroid special run 50’ Milw. FOR SALE: Large Estate Sale of over 400 boxcars, Hallmark comp gons, Sunset WWII models from the late Tony Ambrose. For WANTED: OMI EMD FL-9, new or used, Call emergency boxcars, PRB WWII comp gons, printed lists please send $5 to Bob Anson, Roy, 909-822-5057. Lobaugh 50’ reefers, WWII era boxcars what 2520 Spring Lake Rd West, Jacksonville have you? Mail only. Jim Seacrest, PO Box FL 32210. For a list via email, contact Ron FOR SALE: 2-Rail Sunset/3rd Rail PRR N1s 6397, Lincoln, NE 68506-0397 Dettmer at [[email protected]]. 2-10-2, like new in box, dated 12/99, $1100; 2-Rail Sunset PRR Q1 “A” 9860 4-4-6-4 like new in box, $1200; 2-Rail Sunset/3rd Rail set of five (5) P54 commuter cars: 1xBM62 baggage, 1xPB54 combine, 3xP54 passenger

September 2008 30-11/2: Napierville, IL December 2008 RR Prototype Modelers Meet. Details TBA.

Events 5-6: Indianapolis, IN 5-14: Merchantville, NJ Indy O Scale two day swap. Tables: $60. Holiday Inn Cherry Valley Model RR Club Xmas open Admission/registration $20 per person. Con- house at 7 Maple Ave., Merchantville. Friday tact Jim Canter, 1203 Rotherham Ln. Beech November 2008 nights, 12/5 & 12/12, 6 to 9 PM; Saturdays, 8: Kirtland, OH Grove IN 46107. Phone 317-782-3322. 12/6 & 12/13, Noon to 8 PM; Sundays, 12/7 2008 Western Reserve “O” Scale train show & 12/14, Noon to 6 PM. No admission but and Lakeland Community College, 190 and 6: Merchantville, NJ donations accepted. Info:John P. Dunn, Sr., State Rt. 306. Admission: $6. Tables (6’): Cherry Valley Model RR Club open house: 609-484-8125 email:[jdunn8888@hotmail. $37. Show hours 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Con- 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Admission$5, com]. tables$16. Grace Episcopal Church, 7 Maple tact Bob Frieden, 440-256-8141. Ave, Merchantville, NJ. Model railroad 8: Orlando, FL March 2009 open from Noon to 6:00 PM. Info: John P. Fla. O Scaler’s 9th Annual O Scale 2-Rail 7: Wind Gap, PA Dunn, Sr., 609-484-8125, [jdunn8888@ Meet held at the Airport Holiday Inn, 5750 Eastern O Scalers Swap Meet Eastern O Scal- hotmail.com]. T.G. Lee Blvd which is just off SR-436 (Semo- ers 2-Rail Swap Meet at the Plainfield Fire Hall, 6480 Sullivan Trail – 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 October 2008 ran Blvd) and the Beach Line Expressway (SR-528). Room rate is $99 per night, ask for p.m. Adm. $5; (spouses & children under 14 4: Gardner, MA are free), $16.00 for the first table (includes Southern New England Model RR Club’s code SLR when making your reservation. The swap session will be from 9:00 am to noon. one admission) and $12.00 for each addi- O Scale train show with fully sceniced and tional table. Dealer’s set-up Friday evening signaled, 21’ X 63’, DCC operating modular Set up will start at 8:00 am. Table rental will be $15.00 ea., (6’ x 30”). There is only space 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday morn- layout plus permanent layout under con- ing 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Info/reservations, struction. Hours 9:30 am to 4:00 pm at the for 20 tables so get your reservations in early. Clinics will start about 1:30 pm. Registration SASE – EOS, PO Box 1781, Bensalem PA United Methodist Church, 161 Chestnut 19020; (215) 264-9623. Bring an index card Street, Gardner, MA. Dealers and displays for the meet is $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Wives and children free. Contact: R. with your name, address etc., for $1 off your with available food and beverages. Ample admission. Contact [[email protected]] FREE parking. $5 per Adult, max $8/family. W. Dettmer, 2756 Connie Circle, Orange Dealer tables available. Call Larry Grant, Park, FL 32065, 904-269-2445, roscaler@ June 2009 bellsouth.net 347 Balcom Street, Mansfield, MA 02048, 18-20: Towson, MD 508-337-6661 evenings for table prices and 28: North Haledon, NJ 2009 O Scale National Convention to be availability, [email protected] Model Engineers Railroad Club of North held on the campus of Towson University just north of Baltimore, Maryland. Event 11: Wind Gap, PA Jersey - Annual Open House will be held sponsored by Baltimore O Scalers and the Eastern O Scalers 2-Rail swap meet at the November 28 - 30th, December 5-7, and Baltimore Society of Model Engineers. In Plainfield Fire Hall, 6480 Sullivan Trail, 9 December 12-14th, at 569 High Mountain addition to very comfortable trading halls AM to 1 PM. Adm. $5; (spouses & children Road. Hours will be from 7:00 pm to 10:00 (about 400 tables), convention features under 14 are free), $16 for the first table pm on Fridays; and from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm clinics, layout tours (June 17 through June (includes one admission) and $12 for each on Saturdays and Sundays. Admission: $5, 21), model contests and Friday (June 19th) additional table. Dealer set-up Friday eve- adults; children admitted free with adult. For banquet. Early set-up for dealers on June ning 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm and Saturday 7:00 more information, contact: Paul Harbord, 17. Visits to B&O Transportation Museum, am to 9:00 am. Info, SASE to EOS, PO Box (973) 427-4905 before 9:00 p.m.; or visit: Baltimore Streetcar Museum and much 1781, Bensalem PA 19020; (215) 264-9623. [www.angelfire.coom/nj4/merrcnj]. more. Check [www.oscaleeast.com] often. Contact: [[email protected]]. More information available by email: [info@ oscaleeast.com] 68 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 Advertisers Index Advertisers

AAA Turntables 23 Gorilla Glue 47 Rails Unlimited 63 Allegheny Scale Models 29 Hackworth Model Trains 46 RGSRR Hobbies 23 AM Hobbies 30 Irish Tracklayer 47 Ross Custom Switches 33 AMS Accucraft 64 Just Trains 65,66,67 San Juan Car Co. 28 Arttista 43 Keil-Line 28 Scenic Express 47 Bachmann 12 LaBelle Woodworking Co. 40 SceniKing 50 Backdrop Warehouse 30 Model Building Services 25 SMARTT 44 Baldwin Forge & Machine 28 Model Tech Studios 51 SMR Trains 64 Banta Modelworks 23 MTH Electric Trains IBC Stevenson Preservation Lines 63 Brummy’s Ballast 30 Mullett River 48 Sumpter Valley Depot 40 BTS 16 NCE Corp 46 Suncoast Models 63 Buffalo Creek Graphics 23 O Scale Realty 51 Sunset⁄3rd Rail BC Caboose Hobbies 25 O Scale Trains 14 Toy Trucker 48 Crusader Rail Services 47 Old Pullman 64 Turner Model Works 47 Custom Signals 32 PA Heritage Models 14 Twin Whistle Sign & Kit 51 Deichman’s Depot 47 P&D Hobby Shop 11 Valley Model Trains 40 DM&M Railroad Co. 23 Pecos River Brass 50 Wasatch Model Co. 48 East Gary Car Co. 28 Public Delivery Track 40 Weaver 25 Get Real Productions 69 QSI Solutions 44 Westerm Reserve Meet 30 Golden Gate Depot IFC Raggs to Riches 14 Williams by Bachman 24

Sept/Oct ’08 - O Scale Trains • 69 Standards? Standards!? screws with slotted or Phillips heads. Most locomotive gear “We don’t need no stinkin’ standards!” was held in place with castellated nuts. These would be diffi- In the last six months I have examined four locomotives cult to accurately model but hex head screws would be better that did not meet certain NMRA standards. Three did not than Phillips. meet S-4.2 Wheels, Standard Scales. Two did not meet the Enough about me, what would you like to see as standard S-9 Electrical standard. One did not meet S-2 for couplers. practice on O Scale models? Write to me or Mike and let us Of the four, I declined to review two because of a myriad of know. issues beyond mere non-conformance to NMRA standards. Miscellaneous Musings Does non-conformance pose a serious problem for a man- - Just when I think I’ve got everything in hand, Fate comes ufacturer? No. The three locomotives that did not meet the along and knocks me upside the head with a 2x4 to remind Wheel Standard functioned perfectly fine. The two that did me the Murphy’s Law prevails. Once again the mailing labels not meet the Electrical Standard operated perfectly fine. The had incorrect subscription expiration dates. I thought I’d cor- one that did not meet the Coupler Standard operated perfectly rected the problem after issue #38 was mailed. Turns out I just fine. Why? Because, for the most part, those locomotives will shifted it to other issues. But, I do believe that I have corrected only be operated with others from the same manufacturer. the problem for certain this time. It may take another issue Thus, as long as one is operating engines from only one man- for the correction to work its way through the system but be ufacturer together and those engines are all consistent, then assured that I do have your proper expiration date in the data- where’s the problem? base. The problem is that O Scale is a small market and manu- - You may also recall that last issue I said we would be facturers need to sell as many units as possible. By conform- going to 64 pages as a cost saving measure and here we are ing to existing standards one is assured that equipment from back at 72. We had so much review material for this issue that different manufacturers will operate together reliably. DCC is 72 pages were needed to get it all in. Review material can go a great example of this. One should be able to use any manu- stale if it is not published in a timely manner. So, here’s what I facturer’s decoder with any manufacturer’s base unit. For the promise: we’ll never put out less than 64 pages. When need- most part this is true. If I am assured that a Diesel from Manu- ed, we will bump up the page count, like we did in this issue. facturer “A” will run with a Diesel from Manufacturer “X”, - In case you have not heard, Lionel is going to reproduce then both A and X are potentially going to sell more Diesels. some of their great trains from the 1950s. They’re calling them So, what standards conformance should modelers expect? Postwar Conventional Classics. These trains will run on pure Certainly, S-4.2 for wheels (and drivers) on O Scale models AC, no command control here. Full sets will range in cost that operate on two rail track. That means check gauge, flange from $415 to $610. While this may be good for Lionel’s bot- depth, and tread width. I think S-2 for coupler height should tom line, it’s a poke in the eye to Williams by Bachmann. I’m also be expected. I’ll go one step further and say that Kadee® also not sure it does O Scale, in general, any good either. couplers are the de facto standard for O Scale standard - I read a newspaper article that claimed with fuel prices gauge (not On3, On30, or P48), so any model made for the O so high it no longer made economic sense to have goods Scale standard gauge market should either have provision for manufactured overseas and then ship them to the U.S. With mounting Kadee® couplers or should provide couplers that oil at $140 a barrel, it could be that manufacturing here at are fully compatible. All of the NMRA Standards are available home could get restarted. Toys (and therefore trains) might be online for free at [www.nmra.org]. a good place to start. Of course, if you like your trains made That’s a minimum. If a manufacturer isn’t giving us that I in the U.S.A., nearly all of Weaver Models’ production (except think we’re being short changed. The last thing I want in O for their brass and die-cast) is made right here in Pennsylva- Scale is a manufacturer with a Microsoft mentality who thinks nia. standards be damned, we know what’s good for you! It’s why - I was really surprised we did not get more response to I’m a Mac user. my kit building pieces. To me, kit building, kitbashing, and Now we get to what I’d like to see as standard. I’d like to scratchbuilding are part and parcel of the enjoyment of model see more DCC-ready locomotives. I believe that, eventually, railroading. For me there is no fun in opening boxes of ready all of O Scale will be dragged kicking and screaming into the to run equipment. I want my model railroad to be a reflection twenty-first century and DCC will be the control system of of me and my tastes. I’m not knockin’ how you all enjoy your choice. It would be nice if O Scale locomotives came with a hobby. I’m just sayin’ how I enjoy mine. plug for a DCC decoder. Next I’d like to ban the use of visible Keep Highballin’

70 • O Scale Trains - Sept/Oct ’08 O Scale Trains mth 9-2008.qxp 7/2/2008 11:18 AM Page 1

Premier Line Canadian Pacific Hudson Steam Engine

Royalty on the Rails

Die-Cast Boiler & Tender Construction

Remotely Controlled Operating Coupler

Operates On 2 or 3-Rail Track Under AC or DC Power

Synchronized Puffing Smoke Timed To Driver Revolutions

Locomotive Speed Control In Scale MPH Increments

Digital Proto-Sound®2.0 Sound Effects

1:48 O Scale Proportions, Operates On O-42 Curves

Canadian Pacific (Pilot Train 1939) - 4-6-4 Royal Hudson Steam Engine Canadian Pacific (Pilot Train 1939) - 4-6-4 Royal Hudson Steam Engine 20-3313-1 w/Proto-Sound 2.0 (Hi-Rail Wheels) $999.95 20-3313-2 w/Proto-Sound 2.0 (Scale Wheels) $999.95

SEE IT IN ACTION ON THE WEB

From the Collection of R. Cady Photo by John Ryan

Sunset Models is Proud To Announce The All Brass NYC Dreyfuss Hudson. Coming in Fall 2008 only 70 will be produced in 2 Rail. 20th Century 1938 Train In a coordinated effort GGD will be producing the 20th Century By GGD - Aluminum Construction 1938 Train to scale in Aluminum. Since there are only going to be Full Interior Detail, Lighted, Scale Set A: 70 sets of engine and cars available we suggest you call in your RPO/Baggage 5018 reservation early. The locomotive is $1199.95 and each set of 4 Diner 681 cars are $599.95 + S&H. There are 3 sets to choose from, but we 4-4-2 Imperial Highlands highly recommend getting all 12 cars to have the complete train. Observation Manhattan Is. Come Join The Fun. 1940 Paint Scheme Available. Set B: Dorm/Club Century Club 17-Roomette City of Albany 10-5 Cascade Dawn 13-Double Bedroom Cuyahoga County

Set C: Diner 682 17-Roomette City of Chicago 10-5 Cascade Glory 4-4-2 Imperial Falls

CALL 408-866-1727 TODAY! SUNSET MODELS INC. 37 South Fourth Street · Campbell, CA 95008 · 408-866-1727 · fax to 408-866-5674 · www.3rdrail.com