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August 2011
MRH Exclusive: 2011 National Train Show Report! Nick Muff’s Kansas City Southern Weathering Empty Scrap Gons Build a Gallows Turntable Kit Ballasting N Scale Track and more!
Victor Roseman – Detail your models with realistic rivets Front Cover: Victor Roseman built this diorama to show crews hard at work riv- eng new body panels on freight cars. Victor discusses prototype riveng, vari- ous schemes for embossing rivet detail in sheet metal or plasc, and introduced decal rivets, a new and easy method of Modelers! - Click any of the logos above to visit a sponsor’s web site and adding highly realisc rivets to models. find products that could help with your model railroading projects. Tell them: ISSN 2152-7423 “ MRH sent me ! ” Editorial Sta Joe D. Fugate, Publisher Charlie Comstock, Editor Sponsoring Advertisers - Check out our Hobby Marketplace
Columnists Our sponsors get extra visibility with on page 24 for more model railroading Richard Bale, News and events the MRH web audience (49,000+). products and items. John Drye, N scale Lew Ma, Narrow gauge and shortlines Les Halmos, Modular railroading
Special Correspondents Jim Duncan, Layouts and operaons Byron Henderson, Layouts and track planning
Producon Pay Fugate, pasteup and layout Joe Brugger, copy eding Mike Dodd, copy eding
Technical Assistant Je Shultz
Adversing Account Manager Les Halmos Click here to learn how to become a MRH sponsoring adverser.
IN THIS ECONOMY ONLY A MODEL RAILROADER COULD BE HAPPY WHEN THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL TURNS OUT TO BE A TRAIN
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92 22 Weather Scrap Service Gons! 60 Build a HOn3 Gallows Turntable On30 Cattle Guard Scenery Scene: one evening project! Salina gets a turntable Lite and Narrow by Kevin Kleke by Wolfgang Dudler by Lew Ma All scales HO
27 Adding Realistic Rivets 75 Adding Background Sounds 96 Building a Diesel Using decal rivets Using cheap MP3 players Roster All scales by Rick Wade Getting Real All scales by V.S. Roseman by Joe Fugate
103 44 Prepping a Car for Club Ops 79 X2011W Train Show Report Track Ballasting The Car Shop: one evening project! MRH news bulletin Comme-N-tary by John Drye HO by Joe Brugger All scales by Richard Bale
109 47 Dr. Nick Muff’s KCS Layout 127 Derailments August Model Modeling Kansas City Union Station Humor? Railroading News HO by Charlie Comstock All scales by MRH staf MRH News and Events by Richard Bale
125 Table vs Shelf Reverse Running by Joe Fugate 10 Running in the Dark 17 MRH Q - A - T Editor’s Soapbox by Charlie Comstock Questions, Answers and Tips
12 MRH Staff Notes 24 Hobby Marketplace Returning from X2011W 16 Bonus Downloads
EDITOR’S SOAPBOX: Running in the dark Hey! Who turned out the lights? Superintendent of Nearly Everything as the helper showed up, backed onto Reader suggested running the train back up the hack, then pulled forward to couple Feedback the hill. That’s when things got inter- onto the rear-most reefer. About the esng. It seems there were too many (click here) This me the assault on the 2.8% grade reefers for the move power and we’d Editor succeeded. Joe cut o the helper at need to add a helper. By moonlight. y good friend and ex-yard- Oakhill using more cell phone illumina- master Terry took Amtrak I’ve never run a night session on the on to see what he was doing with his from Klamath Falls to the BC&SJ so there aren’t any ashlights uncoupling pick. The reefers connued M laying about. Uncoupling the caboose on to Salem and the helper returned Portland, Oregon area for a visit. I oered to host a BBQ for him and a and locomoves in the moonlight down the hill to South Jackson. proved a challenge but someone pulled few other close friends. Surprisingly, a good me was had by out a cell phone to use as a ashlight all. Both the crews and the onlookers Aer dinner we ended up in the train and John managed get coupler picks enjoyed themselves immensely. In fact, room. I’d agreed to run foreign power into the coupler knuckles and run it was strongly hinted that I should use that night – normally foreign power is around his train before heading bravely night lighng during a ‘real’ op session excluded during formal op sessions but toward the hill. this was informal. John B. brought over – a request I’d gured would only come two locos, so on the track they went. He Joe B. fetched another throle, dialed once in a blue moon. With a supply up the 2-10-2 helper engine, and set Charlie Comstock has been a ran them around solo for a while before of LED ashlights leng crews see to I suggested he couple onto the reefer out aer the under-powered reefers. uncouple and read car numbers, per- regular columnist, author, and editor express in Salem staging. Soon he was The reefers barely made it past haps night operaons would be fea- of Model Railroad Hobbyist heading upgrade to Oakhill with 24 Deschutes Jct. before the power started sible? Of course, the moon did happen to be blue that evening ... Magazine since its inception. reefers and a caboose. slipping wheels. The BC&SJ doesn’t Aer watching a while I thought (or permit pushing on occupied cars, so the perhaps Horace Fithers told me to) I train eased down the hill and set out To learn more about Charlie, should switch to night lighng. John’s the hack on the Mill Bend siding just click here. locos had nice bright headlights. Click, click, click, click, ..... click. Cutting off a helper in Oakhill “Hey! Who turned out the lights!” using a cell phone to augment echoed through the room. The moon- the moonlight. light (blue rope lights in the ceiling) seemed really dim but aer a minute eyes adjusted and we watched head- lights ash on and o while passing through tunnels 2 and 3. Five minutes later the reefers arrived at South Jackson and the Advertisement a. b. c. Are you a Model Railroad Hobbyist guru? Take the MRH who - what - where - when quiz! Select one of the covers (on the right) to answer each question: 1. In which issue did the first Scenery Scene appear? d. e. f. 2. Which issue had two layout tours? 3. Which cover is from January 2010? 4. Which issue had a layout modeling a TV show? 5. Which issue had no layout tour? 6. Which issue presented three ways to build a static grass applicator? 7. Which issue featured Lance Mindheim? g. h. i. 8. Which issue introduced the concept of the Chainsaw Layout ? Bonus: How many issues of MRH have been published as of August 2011? Scoring: 0: That’s sad! 1-3: Do you actually read MRH? 4-5: At least you paid some aention when reading. 6: Lookin’ good! 7: Impressive! 8: Obi-wan has taught you well. 9: King of the MRH foamers! Answers on page 74 Notes from the great modelers, and three days of 4.5 Al Frasch’s N-scale BNSF the Naonal Train Show. Speaking of 4.6 Building a Helix which, the MRH iPad giveaway was 4.5 Speedbashing very popular. There were hordes of MRH Staff people coming by the booth through- 4.5 Home-made lumber loads out the show to sign up for their 4.4 Modular Adventure – Pane of it all - X2011W iPad winner, model chance at the iPad. Late Sunday aer Issue overall: 4.1 or modeler, MRH index, noon Craig Martyn (of BLMA) hap- July’s ratings, and more ... pened to be walking by our booth Please connue to rate the arcles and he was asked (coerced?) to pull – the more people who take a few an entry out of the hat (actually a moments to do so, the beer we are Reader box). Drum roll please! And the happy able to judge what you, our readers Feedback winner is E.W. Czerwinski of Truckee, would like to see. This is your shot at (click here) California! Congratulaons E.W. and leng us know what kinds of arcles E.W. Czerwinski, posing with the iPad enjoy all those issues of our favorite oat your boat (or train)! he won in the MRH giveaway at the model train magazine. And the winner is ... 2011 National Train Show July’s ratings We’ve been back from the X2011W recovered. It was quite a high inten- naonal convenon for a couple of sity week of full immersion trains. The ve top-rated arcles in the July weeks now and we’re almost fully Lots of great clinics, great layouts, 2011 issue of MRH are: Advertisement A D
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I S Nope, that’s not really Craig Martyn in the MRH booth banner, but as E Jeff Shultz put it, “the resemblance is frightening!”
M E Modeler or model? Searching MRH back issues N
T Speaking of Craig Martyn, a funny It seems a long me ago (and yes- thing happened at the MRH booth terday at the same me) we started during the show. If you’ve been with publishing MRH. Did you know August MRH for a while you know how Joe 2011 is our 18th issue? It’s hard to Fugate, our founder and publisher, believe there have been that many! likes to put friendly faces in ads to But that makes for a problem. Tell give them a personal touch. Well, me, in which issue was Computer there were two giant vercal banners Generated Window Treatments pub- at the MRH booth at the Naonal lished? How about LED structure light- Train Show and you’ll never guess ing, Modeling the Modern Era, or the who appeared to be on one of them! SP 4449 Excursion?
No, that’s not really Craig Martyn, but it MRH is now fully indexed by Rod had us all speculang about Craig hav- Goodwin’s The Railroad Index. Rod ing a secret second career as a model in fully indexes all MRH arcles (unlike addion to being quite the modeler! some other model train indexes). To use the index either click the link of tackling, shoot lots of photos while above, enter you’re working on it, then let us know about it! the-railroad-index.com/rd_item_control.php
in your browser, or go to the Magazine item in We have a new (well not completely the Nav Bar at the top of all MRH web pages new – it’s been running for several (mrhmag.com) and select the Index (Rod months now) website for subming Goodwin) menu item. arcles (and other items) to MRH. Get out your web browser and go Once in the index type “MRH” and your to mrhmag.com. Once there click search string. Entering “MRH” will report only ‘ Authors’ on the top nav bar, then hits in Model Railroad Hobbyist. For example: select the ‘Submit an arcle’ menu item. Fill out the forms and click MRH on30 water car A SUBMIT ARTICLE (at the boom). D The index site wades around in its database Note that we require content to be V for a moment and up pops: submied in a zip le. If you don’t E have a zip ulity try using ZipCreator. R West Side Lumber Co. Wooden Water Tank It’s free and easy to use and it runs T Car; Lew Matt; Model Railroad Hobbyist Apr on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It’s a I 2011 pg 92 VISIT lot easier for us to handle a single zip S archive than to keep track of lots of E Click VISIT and you’re taken to the Reader individual les. M Feedback page for this arcle. Why the reader E feedback page? From this page you get the Do be sure you remembered to N front page of the arcle so you can quickly include your name, address, email T see if this is where you want to be. address , and phone number(s) with each submission. Yes, some authors From there you can return to the index, or do forget this informaon. click “Download this issue!” to download the back issue or if you click on the image We’ll try to get back to you in a week (labeled “Want to read this arcle? CLICK or two but somemes when we’re HERE”) you’ll be taken directly to the arcle really busy it may take longer. If in the read-it-online version of that issue of you’ve not heard from us for several MRH. How cool is that! weeks, send an e-mail asking about your arcle. Calling All Authors ... You don’t have to be ... The number of authors that are sub- ming to MRH these days is grafying. You don’t have to be nuts to work at If you have a camera (and aren’t afraid MRH, but somemes it helps. We had to use it!) and a project you’re thinking a wonderful me at the 2011 Naonal Convenon in Sacramento. Great clin- RPM Conference 2011 ics, good friends, great layouts to visit, (Lisle, IL) - Oct 20-22, 2011 and the California Railroad Museum a Crasman Structure Convenon few blocks down the street. (Manseld, MA) - Nov 2-6, 2011
But it’s always hecc geng ready to go Trainfest to a major show and this me both Joe (Milwaukee, WI) - Nov 11-14, 2011 and Charlie were giving two clinics each. Plus the July issue had to be released Amherst Show (Milwaukee, WI) - before we could leave. Somehow, there (Springeld, MA) Jan 28-29, 2012 wasn’t me to get a head start on If you’re there, drop by the booth and August so aer the 10 hour drive home say hello! we were faced with reality – there are only three weeks before the August Bonus extras A issue is due out! Somehow, we man- D aged to make it happen, but like I said MRH is connuing our new way of V about being nuts ... handling the bonus extras in the E August issue. The bonus extras won’t R Please mention MRH expire, but you will need to be a sub- T scriber and log in to get them. Since I It may seem like a broken record (how subscribing is free we don’t see this S many of you know what a broken as being a big deal. As menoned last E record is?) but please, when you shop M month, increasing the size of our sub- E at one of our adversers, especially scriber base is a big deal. The bigger if you make a purchase, please men- N the beer for us – especially when T on that you saw their ad in Model talking with potenal adversers. Railroad Hobbyist. That lile extra bit of eort on your part helps them know We remain commied to keeping MRH that the money they spend with us is forever free for readers, so even though money well-spent! something may require a subscriber MRH and Train Shows login, it will sll be free. As menoned already, by doing the MRH plans to aend the following bonus goodies this way, we’ll keep them shows over the next six months. available forever – no expiraon date Naonal Narrow Gauge Convenon for back issue goodies. We hope you’ll (Hickory, NC) - Sep 6-11, 2011 agree this is an improvement.
Fine Scale MR Expo We also expect to put other goodies in (Peabody, MA) - Oct 12-16, 2011 the subscriber area from me to me – such as the pdf les of the clinics pre- sented by Joe and Charlie at the NMRA Naonal Convenon in Sacramento.
If you haven’t subscribed to MRH yet, Want to help support now is the me to do it! It’s simple, just the leading eZine click here! devoted to Model Trains and the people It’s YOU! that have fun with Just a quick word of thanks to YOU, them? our readers. Without you, MRH wouldn’t exist let alone have reached Want to help keep 18 issues with more coming soon! MRH forever free? Thank you readers! You make it both A D possible and worthwhile. Shop our advertisers V and tell them, E Reader R Feedback “I saw it in MRH!” T (click here) I
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E August 2011 Premium Extras! N T
Available to subscribers!
D VD and HD quality versions of this issue’s videos
Special, 30 minute version of the interview with Dr. Nick Muff about his terrific HO scale KCS layout. The truth about the F7 cab in the basement!
Click here to access deformaons, since it can experience layers very thin to avoid cracking and MRH signicant shrinkage as it dries. If this wait for it to dry thoroughly before happens, wait for it to dry, then apply sanding and sponging. Drying can be Questions, Answers another, thinner layer on top to ll in sped up signicantly by aiming a fan at any cracks that formed. the wet drywall mud.
and Tips Because it is relavely weak, don’t try Some people have reported luck using it to build thin (or thick) shell using drywall to model waves in scenery. It’s best used as a nishing water, but I’ve not tried that. I have layout over other materials such as however, had excellent results using plywood or pink foam where you can drywall mud to smooth the boom smooth the surface before it dries. of ponds, creeks, and rivers prior to Mud sands easily when it’s dry, BUT painng them and lling them with huge amounts of very ne dust result Envirotex® or some other clear cast- from even minor sanding. Use a vac- ing medium. I use the wet sponge Reader uum while sanding to maintain dust Feedback method to smooth these areas. control. You’ll probably want to mask (click here) 1 o anything that would suer from a When applied in more than a /8” thick layer of whish plaster-like dust on it. layer drywall mud is likely to crack QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS contracon with changes in room tem- When spreading spackle over pink when it dries. This can be used to perature and humidity. foam or other shiny surfaces, paint model roads with cracks in them. But — Mike Dodd Q: Should I solder my flex track rail them with at latex house paint rst. it’s very hard to control how much and joints? Q: Is drywall mud a good material to This will give the surface enough tooth where the cracking occurs. A: Soldering ex track joints isn’t neces- use for building scenery? for the drywall mud to adhere. Thin Drywall is relavely forgiving if you sary if you install power feeder wires layers of mud directly on smooth pink A: The answer is yes and no. Drywall make mistakes. Just add a lile more on every secon, for a reliable electrical foam surfaces will almost certainly mud (oen called spackle) like plas- and re-smooth it. connecon. An alternave is soldering come loose at some point – probably ter, is a gypsum product. But it’s more — Charlie Comstock two secons of ex track together and sooner rather than later. porous, much soer, and much weaker using one set of feeder wires for every Q: I’m geng ready to do a power pair of ex track secons. This halves than plaster. It can also be re-weed The best way to smooth drywall mud the number of feeders, and the sol- and smoothed when dry, an advantage is to apply it with a 6” puy knife, truck conversion project that dered rail joints provide suitable elec- over plaster. taking care to smooth the surface the requires aaching a bracket to best you can. When dry, sand it lightly trical connecvity. If you do this, install Unlike plaster, it dries rather than sets, the chassis with a 2-56 screw. The to remove any major seams, then use the feeder wires near the soldered joint so if you apply a thick layer it can take instrucons say I should use a #41 so the rail’s electrical resistance is split a very wet (but not sopping) sponge a very long me to dry. Keep your nal bit to drill a hole in the bracket, equally in both direcons. 1 to smooth the surface. layers around /16” or less in thickness. then use a #50 bit to drill a hole in 1 Leave the other end of each secon You can apply it up to /4” thick, but I have used this method to build model the chassis for a 2-56 tap. Do I really unsoldered to allow for expansion and expect signicant cracking and surface dirt and asphalt roads. Keep the nal need to buy both drill sizes? A: To make the inial hole in the chas- A: The manufacturer’s website rec- model railroading is to have fun, so you to heavy loads. Wrought iron wheels sis for a 2-56 tap, you will need to use ommends nng and coloring Magic are free to do prey much whatever were used in increasing numbers in a #50 bit. The hole in the bracket must Water using solvent-based products you want with your own rolling stock. regular freight cars from the 1940s on. be larger to allow the threaded screw such as Testors, Modelmaster, Floquil, However, if you are interested in fol- Cast iron wheels, including those with to pass freely. As noted in your instruc- or other oil-based enamels. Indelible lowing prototype pracce, a few facts ribbed backs, were outlawed for inter- ons, a #41 bit is the recommended ink also works. Water-based coloring about freight car wheels will help you change service by the AAR in 1958. As size for the bracket hole. However, you doesn’t dilute as well. make your own decision. the deadline approached, the ban was could probably get by using the same If you desire a transparent water eect, extended unl January 1970. Some #50 drill, then enlarge the hole with From the earliest days of railroading use only a small drop or two of paint railroads connued to use ribbed-back a needle le or a reamer to clear the most freight car wheels were made of in a batch. It’s a good idea to test your wheels on home equipment such as threads of the 2-56 screw. cast iron. Some cast iron wheels had ‘recipe’ before pouring on your layout. spiral ribs designed into the back of cabooses and maintenance-of-way cars — Richard Bale — Charlie Comstock the wheel for added strength. Ribbed- into the 1990s. back wheels were popular from about — Richard Bale Q: I am just about ready to pour Q: I like the looks of freight car wheels the mid-1920s through the late 1930s. some two-part Magic Water resin for with ribs on the back. Is it okay to use Beginning in the 1920s, wrought steel Q: I have a friend who models the the stream. Anybody have sugges- them on my 1980s era layout? wheels, which are stronger than cast early 1900s. He was talking about arch ons for nng it? This should be a iron, gained some usage, especially in bar trucks? What are these? Are they muddy creek. A: First of all, one of the principles of high-speed service and on cars subject sll in use? Advertisement HO scale arch bar truck under a Rivarossi log car. A
D A: Q: I like to operate my layout, but car Arch bar trucks are an older style that V came into use around 1900. Their side card boxes protruding into the aisles E frames were made of riveted-together are a problem. Is there a way to build R metal straps. They lasted in interchange ‘ush’ car card boxes? T service unl the very early 1940s, but I some stayed in home road service into A: Yes! Rick Forn has car card boxes S the 1960s or longer. There are a num- recessed into the fascia of his layout. E ber of model arch bar trucks available in The car cards lie at instead of being M several scales from companies such as vercal. They take almost no space and E Tahoe, Tichy, Kadee, and others. don’t protrude into aisles at all. N T — Charlie Comstock — Charlie Comstock
Recessed car card boxes on Rick Fortin’s HO layout. power to full throle. Allow the locomove to move forward unl one truck is on the wipe and pol- ish. Hold the engine in posion TIPS with wheels slipping, working it In our 7th year with over 40 structures in 4 scales gently back and forth. You will see two lines of black crud on the wipe. Slide the wipe sideways to keep the New in O scale wheels on a clean spot. Repeat for the other truck. Keeping Athearn locomotive wheels clean Repeat the last step with a clean wipe to remove traces of polish. Short of replacing the wheels with Check the wheels, they should be NWSL or other aermarket wheels, I A cleaner and shiny. Repeat if neces- “polish” the wheels using Mother’s Mag D sary. Electrical contact should be and Aluminum Polish. I also have used V much beer and the wheels should Flitz Polish (it’s a bit more abrasive, I use E stay clean, longer. it only for stubborn wheels). DO NOT R — Nelsonb111563 T use this procedure with other brands of I chrome or nickel plated wheels – you’ll L.G.’s Billiards Dave’s Hardwar e S remove the plang. Foot print 4 ½”x 7” Foot print 5 1/2”x 6” GET $25 PER TIP E M including porch Here’s the procedure: We pay $25 USD for each E Both buildings include laser cut board and bat siding tip we publish. So send in Set up a short piece of track on a N on a card substructure, metal and or roll roofing and test stand of sorts. I tacked 2’ of your modeling tips to Model Railroad T ex track on a 1”x3” board and Hobbyist and we’ll get your payment at least 3 name choices. to you upon acceptance. added a couple of wires to hook up a good power pack. I used an old Just think, for only a few minutes All in stock Aspen N, Nn3 and Z products MRC Tech II 1500 for this. If you use effort, you could fund your next piece are 10% off for the month of August. DCC, set CV29 to dual mode per of rolling stock – or even pay for an See web site for list your decoder manual. entire train if you send in several tips and we publish them! Get some Handi-wipes or If you include any photos with your Custom Laser Cutting equivalent. tip, we pay a bonus of $10 per photo For Price List Send Large SASE Dealers welcome we use with the tip. www.RSlaserkits.com Put some polish on a Handi-Wipe 5145 Gaffin Rd. SE and place the wipe on the track. Salem, OR 97317 Reader PH: 503 371-4290 Fax 503 585-0850 Place your engine on the test track Feedback next to the wipe, hold it by the My helper at work (click here) rear coupler, and slowly increase Our granddaughter Bri click here Future model builder
the unloading process missed may also I’ll start with a Milwaukee Road 62’ mill Scrap Gondolas be present. These cars are almost never gondola that I’d previously weathered Weathering Empties ... cleaned because the next load is usually on the outside and patched out for my – by Kevin Klettke the same dirty cargo. Washington Northern layout. Figure 3 Most of us weather the outside of our Apply a liberal coat of rust- and dirt-col- Reader gondolas, but we seem to seldom model ored arsts oil paint to the enre inside Feedback the beat-up interior visible in empty cars. of the car (gure 3). Thin the paint to the (click here) The process described here is simple – consistency of latex wall paint. Coat the you could weather a eet of scrap gon- sides using vercal strokes. dolas in an evening using items you most ondolas in scrap metal service Sprinkle pencil shavings and any small, likely already have (gure 2). are among the most abused of appropriate-looking odds and ends freight cars. The nature of their What’s more, all of my removable scrap from your scrap box on top of the wet Gcargo scars them with a layer of rusty loads t right over the top of these paint (gure 4). Make the oor debris debris, dust, and dirt covering their oor “weathered empes” without disturb- random and uneven. Small piles tend and sides. Small chunks of scrap metal ing the nished eect. to accumulate in the corners, simulat-
Figure 4
Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 5 the interior of the car is dry, your debris should be held in place by the cured arst oils. I like to give the sides a light dusng with brown weathering powder to tone down any shine that may be present (gure 7). You can also give the nished interior a shot of mae xave Figure 6 to help hold everything in place. I’m sure you’ll agree the results are more realisc and interesng when your emp- ty gondolas roll by on their way to the scrap dealer for another load.
A Bill of Materials D V Figure 7 Arst Oil Colors: An inexpensive E brand works ne. I use Raw Sienna, R ing the rust and small pieces of scrap Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber, and T le aer unloading. You may want to Lamp Black I use a small drop of CA to secure any S larger pieces. Paint Thinner: I prefer Mona Lisa E Odorless brand. Use any solvent- M Next, sprinkle on some weathering based product in a well venlated E powder or chalk. Not much is needed area. N here. Use several colors, again making T the distribuon random. Weathering powders: I use Brag- don Weathering Powders, but other Liberally dribble paint thinner over the brands or even pastel chalks should chalk and pencil shavings with an eye work ne. Oranges and browns are dropper. This will dissolve the weather- the colors needed. ing powders and bond the powders and ‘scrap’ together (gure 5). Large Brush: I use a cheap brush that I can abuse without regrets. Use the cheap paint brush, lightly dab- bing the chalk areas to disperse and Palee: For thinning the oil paints. aen any large globs of weathering - powder (gure 6). Try not to blend the Eye Dropper: This item isn’t abso color too much. Just soen the edges to lutely necessary, but I nd it makes avoid a speckled look. things easier. That’s it! Set your gondola aside to dry. Debris: Shavings from my pencil This may take 24 hours or more. When sharpener. Model Railroad Hobbyist - Hobby Marketplace
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SCALE RULERS $4 each Railpub The source for back issue rail magazines; over 150 scales used, new and out of print rail books. Metric or Imperial Railroad modeling, prototype, traction, logging, industrial subjects. www.rulers-of-the-world.com www.railpub.com Have you ever wondered why older rail- road rolling stock has all those rivet Add Realistic heads? How the prototype applied rivets? How can they be modeled? Continue Rivets to reading and all will be revealed. Tis car shop, modeled by Victor, shows a number of crews busy at work hot-riveting cars. Victor needed to Your Models perform plastic surgery on the riveters – by V.S. Roseman because no commercial riveter figures Model photos by the author were available.
Reader Feedback (click here) rom the early days of rail- roading, metal parts of F trains were riveted together. Rivets were heated red hot and inserted in pre-drilled holes. They were held by the head on one side with the shank penetrating the two pieces of metal to be joined. The shank was pounded with a hammer to form a flare which held the parts together. As the rivet cooled it shrank making a very tight joint.
Open or semi-open rivets are used in other industries such as leather or clothing. Tiny hollow (tube) rivets are used by modelers to join valve gear parts of model steam locomoves. These rivets are cold formed by tap- ping the head with a hammer while the open end is held against a cone- shaped die forming a ange.
Learn how to In the early 1900s, all-steel rolling stock, such as hopper cars, started to appear, followed by passenger cars install rivets on and other types of freight cars.
Steam locomoves had riveted boil- your models – ers, cabs, and tenders. Even frames were riveted before the coming of unit cast frames. An interesng fact: without a forge I was examining an EMD passenger “E” unit close up and noced the round-head fasteners on the carbody or hammer ... were not rivets but actually bolts! Simulang these on a model could use the same processes as rivets. Model Rivets
Simulang rivets on model trains has always been a problem. Unl the 1950s, sheet metal toys and models required complicated equipment to stamp rivets into bodies’ sheet metal.
When die-cast models appeared, they had rivet heads built into their tool- ing. But die-cast model trains oen lacked ne details – they were di- cult to cast and the steel dies needed were very expensive.
Die-casng was succeeded by injec- on molded plasc models in the 1950s – the tooling was very similar to that used for casng in metal. In some cases it was converted from metal to plasc casng. Although injecon- molding plasc required very expen- Figure 1 sive tooling, tens or even hundreds of thousands of units could be made Figure 1: For many years, start- rivet with tongs and placed it in evidenced by photos in Trains before the mold wore out. ing in the early days of steel a hole through two overlapping and Railroad magazine show- rolling stock, cars were built steel side sheets on the car. A ing cars lettered “NORFOLK Other model train manufacturers on either a bar underframe or worker with a pneumatic ham- WEST AND ERN” or with the used high quality prinng to litho- fish-belly girders and riveted mer would pound on the rivet, huge billboard letters “B&-” graph rivets on train models. The together. Riveted car construc- while on the opposite side of on a Baltimore and Ohio car. Marx company that made inexpensive tion continued until the early the steel sheets another worker Sometimes single or double 027 trains in the 1950s, had a deluxe 1930s when welding replaced held a bucking bar with a die on sheathed wood-sided cars were line of freight cars that had printed riveting on passenger cars. the end to form the red hot rivet upgraded with steel sides. rivets and were very realisc when shank into a domed shape. seen from normal viewing distances. A forge, often oil fired, heated This scene represents a busy The rivet shrank as it cooled, outdoor repair shop working on rivets red hot. A worker adding W.K. Walthers, manufacturer of the pulling the two pieces tightly various boxcars. The gantry in or repairing steel side sheets most complete line of heavyweight together making a strong joint. the rear was used to lift bodies on a car used tongs to take a passenger cars, made kits with wood on and off car frames. rivet from the forge and toss it Individual body panels were roof and oor, die-cast ends, and to a second worker who caught sometimes replaced on box- thin stamped steel sides with all the it in a metal cup, retrieved the cars or other rolling stock, as windows pre-cut for the modeler. Walthers stamped the rivets using of paint the correct size and accurately a foot-treadle-operated machine. lining them in rows up was tedious. In However each group of rivets the end, no maer how careful I was, I required a separate operaon, adding always found too many blob-like rivets to cost of a kit. or alignment problems.
Today, plasc models include dier- I tried using pounce wheels, nor- ent sizes and paerns of rivets. An mally used by seamstresses (gure work material unprecedented number of highly 2), to emboss rivets. Making rivets by accurate engines and rolling stock are embossing them in thin styrene was now available. Pounce Wheel used to emboss rivets in thin material disappoinng. I aempted emboss- ing rivets in thin paper with a pounce Do It Yourself Rivets wheel. Then I laminated the strips on Figure 2: Pounce wheel (or riveting wheel), a simple device for em- Some of us are always looking for cars my models. It worked, sort of – but I bossing rivets in thin, soft material such as paper or plastic. or engines that are not available. This could never nd an old clock gear or leads to scratchbuilding or modifying a pounce wheel that produced good exisng models. As we become more quality HO scale rivets. sophiscated modelers, accurate rivet I tried a purpose-built riveng tool Lift the weighted details become more important. arm and let it based on an arbor press, with a screw drop. Lifting the Dropping the arm I have been building model trains feed table (gure 3). I created a single drives the punch same amount for for many, many years and have tried row of rivets to see how they would each rivet ensures downward into the many methods to simulate rivets. look. They were excellent – the tool’s consistency die forming a rivet. Each method has advantages and punch and die formed perfect rivets. drawbacks. My success varied greatly. But keeping track of how many turns of the screw feed were needed to move Some modelers chisel the rivets o the work table to the next locaon took an old plasc freight car with a sharp so much concentraon that doing a X-acto blade, carefully saving them. single row gave me a headache. I also They place the rivets on the model one realized that making even one mistake work Adjustment table at a me and glue them in place. I tried while embossing a piece of a locomo- Adjustment knob to move knob to move this method but found the ny rivet ve cab or freight car would require the work table heads extremely dicult to accurately starng over. I don’t have the concen- the work table front-back. left-right. place and glue and I had problems traon required so I sold the tool. leaving glue stains around the riv- Some modelers have converted sew- ets. I admire people who can use this ing machines (gure 4). They use a Figure 3: Rivet machine based on an arbor press. The specially tooled method, but it clearly is not for me. die and punch make very precise and consistent rivets in thin metal punch instead of a needle. The fabric or styrene. The screw driven work table allows precise positioning for I searched the aisles of cra stores feed mechanism advances the sheet each rivet. But it requires great operator concentration. and found paints that went on thick brass or styrene leng the operator enough to make rivets when applied make very evenly spaced rivets. I’ve with a toothpick. Trying to make dots never tried this method, and do not A B C D A. Sheets of material held together with hole bored for the rivet. B. Red-hot rivet inserted in hole ready for shaping. C. Rivet shank is formed into a round shape with a pneumatic hammer and bucking die. D. The formed rivet shrinks as it cools holding the sheets of material tightly together. Figure 4: How hot-riveting works.
know anyone who has actually done sizes the queson arises, “What is the it, but I hear it is a very accurate way right size?” to make rows of rivets. Those of us who want to use scale or near scale rivet sizes will have to do Rivets on Decal Sheets some research. I was surprised to nd that railroad car and locomove man- Fortunately for modelers a new ufacturer plan sheets do not usually rivet-head simulaon technology has show rivet sizes. I have found some appeared. Both Archer and Micro- plans and erecng cards that indicate Mark are producing decal sheets with rivet sizes for some useful equipment, paerns of scale rivets. and have measured rivets on some prototypes I found locally. Figure 6 is Also available are other hard-to- a chart I developed with some of the model details such as louvers for die- sizes I found. For greatest accuracy, sel hood units, and welding seams. measure the actual equipment you are modeling, or the closest substute Prototype Rivet Sizes you can nd. Figure 5: Chart from the 1930 Locomotive Cyclopedia describing rivet Decal rivets have made modeling this In some cases, threaded bolts are forms and head/shank size relationship. detail much easier. Now that model- used instead of rivets. When these ers can reasonably model rivet head have round or pan heads, they can be modeled using decal rivets. Where a hemispherical shape. These turned bolt or rivet sizes are specied on a out to be sloed, round-head bolts. plan, it is for the shank size, not the The rivets next to them had a lower diameter of the head. prole head – somemes called a mushroom head, brazier head or pan Fortunately, I found a chart in the head (gure 7). The lower head of the 1930 Locomove Cyclopedia show- rivets cast a smaller shadow making ing shank diameters and appropriate them appear smaller than the hemi- head sizes. Figure 5 shows that round spherical bolt heads in photographs! and cone head rivets have a head size 1.75 mes the shank size. Catalogs On the next track, I found some of modern rivet manufacturers show equipment with many coats of paint that while there is some variaon, built up around rivets, forming a l- most head diameters are sll close let which made the rivets look larger to 1.75 mes the shank although than equipment that had been Figure 6: Chart showing some applications of different sized rivets pointed steeple head rivets have stripped before repainng. The extra from plans and measured from prototype riveted equipment. heads twice the shank diameter. paint can mislead a modeler research- ing rivet sizes from photographs. In searching for rivet sizes on plans Each sheet has many rows of rivets. Figure 7: Bolt and rivet heads and by measuring prototype rolling I also found it was very dicult to I’ve found them easier to use than look similar but cast different stock, I found several rivet head sizes compare rivets on photographs of two other methods I’ve tried and they size shadows. that should be useful. As the chart similar pieces of equipment unless produce beer results, making them well worth the price. (gure 6) is from a very limited num- both subjects are photographed under Figure 7 ber of samples, this is just a starng the same lighng condions. Rivets in Archer decals should be handled point, and represents equipment built sunlight, for example, do not look the prey much as you would an ordinary between about 1910 and 1930. same as rivets under indoor lighng. Microscale decal. Prepare your model for riveng the same way you prepare The ability to model rivets precisely Archer Rivets it for decaling – glossy surfaces work introduces other interesng factors. The Archer name is well known in best for receiving decals. Deceptive Rivet Sizes the field of military modeling. They In my rst project I used a dark under- now offer decal sheets of tiny dots I found what appeared to be two dif - coat, but this made it dicult to align of resin deposited onto Microscale ferent sizes of fasteners used on a the rivets because they disappeared decal film for simulating rivets. A 1911 steeple cab locomove. The against this background! Try to use a wide variety of rivet sizes and spac- head diameters measured exactly light color so the rivets can be easily ings are available. The miniature the same when I checked them with seen and properly aligned with model rivets are perfectly sized, shaped, a digital caliper. But close examina- edges or guide lines. and spaced. on of a photograph showed some Eliminang dust as you work is essen- heads appeared larger than others. Rivet sizes are clearly specied on the al. Dust that has seled on a model The heads appearing to be larger had Archer packaging and in the catalog. can look like extra rivets aer the Slide paper backing out while keeping decal wet
Figure 10 Figure 8 model is painted. Wipe down your dry air permits nearly invisible par- model with a microber cloth to cles of dust to y about. In winter, Figure 8: Prototype photo of an SP class 120-C-3 tender. eliminate both oil and water based running a hot water vaporizer to –Photo by Gene Collora. dirt parcles. A clean square of mate- moisten the air reduces this problem Figure 9: Partially completed tender with some rivets applied. rial from an old tee shirt is okay, but signicantly. A humidier will have paper towels leave specks of dust the same eect, and either of these Figure 10: Archer rivets being applied like a decal. The swab is loaded and paper lint can scratch paint, and tends to reduce dry skin and other with water to keep the decal moist as it slides off the backing. should be avoided. discomforts you may experience.
Figure 11: My finished model of a Southern Pacific class 120-C-3 In a dry climate, or in winter when I go one step farther and use an elec- Vanderbilt tender with Archer rivet detail. home heang dries out the air, the trostac air cleaner to suck dust out
Figure 9 Figure 11 of the air. It’s amazing how much air- photo because I used a dierent ten- borne crud these will catch! They are der as my paern, and these varied available with permanent or replace- somewhat even within the class. able lters. Sanding rivets o a model, then add- Once I received my rst sheets of ing new ones is a relavely easy way Archer rivets, I went to work on a few to change a tender. Unique riveng projects that I had been pung o paerns can be created with the wide for a long me because I didn’t have a variety of decal rivets. good method for adding rivet detail. Early Steel Boxcars Riveting a Tender I’ve always liked New York Central and Figure 12 The Vanderbilt tender, named for its Reading Company early all-steel box- inventor, Cornelius Vanderbilt III, has cars. I remember seeing those cars a disncve cylindrical water tank. on a local freight at Hicksville, Long Figure 12: “A” end of my Reading XMt boxcar built from the Red Caboose Although many railroads used this Island, not far from my home when I X29 kit. style of tender, ironically the New was a youngster. Figure 13: “B” end of Red Caboose Models X29 converted to Reading York Central did not. The Reading class XMt boxcars and XMu class boxcar using Archer rivets. The body was made taller using New York Central cars in lot 504B part of a second body. I needed a tender for a Southern Pacic engine and decided to scratch- build a class 120-C-3 tender. I learned a lot about building Vanderbilt ten- ders from this model. The Southern Pacic normally paired 120-C-3 class tenders with Pacics and Mountains although they were somemes used with Consolidaons when extra capac- ity was needed.
The core of my tender is PVC tubing. I packed lead wool (from a plumbing sup- ply company) into the back of the tube, and cut small discs of sheet lead for Figure 14: Sanding down the the front to properly weight it. There sides of the Red Caboose and is room for a decoder in it, but if I built Walthers models is complicated another, I would use thin-wall brass by the fact that the overlapping tube which has a larger inside diameter. steel sheets of the prototype are simulated. The “ramp” effect My model does not exactly match the shown is exaggerated. riveng arrangement shown in the Figure 13 Figure 15 Figure 16
Figure 15: An unmodified Red Caboose X29 with 10 side panels. Red Caboose, and they have a lim- the paern of overlapping steel side ited number of parts which they are sheets by thickening the car side at Figure 16: The new eight panel rivet pattern made with Archer rivets willing to make up as kits on request. one edge of each panel in a series of on the Red Caboose model creating a Reading XMt class boxcar. There was also a Train Miniature ARA lile “ramps” (gure 14). I realized it would be a lot of work to sand the were dimensionally similar to the groups. American Car and Foundry all-steel boxcar oen called an X29. sides at, so I began the project again ARA all-steel boxcar design. The built cars with corrugated ends, but These cars had a standing seam roof with a Walthers (ex Train Miniature) Pennsylvania Railroad X29 has the the Standard Steel Car Co. built cars unlike the plain steel plate roof of “X29” model with a standing seam same dimensions as the ARA car and numbered in group 100500 to 100999 the X29. These cars are now available roof, similar to the Reading and New models are available in HO and O with at plate ends like the X29 mod- from Walthers in a three pack of built York Central cars. scale but with a plate roof and other els. These cars had drop rungs instead up cars. Atlas has a well detailed O scale X29 car. details specied by the Pennsylvania of ladders, but I have not been able to Since this model was rst produced Railroad. The biggest dierence verify which the New York Central Lot I began work on the Red Caboose nearly forty years ago and has molded between the X29 and the ARA car is 504B cars had. Reading class XMu cars car which comes decorated for the on details, I gured the sides would the number of side panels. The X29 were slightly newer and their interior Reading and also as a 1924 PRR X29. be at, making easy to remove the has ten while the Reading and NYC was 8” taller. Otherwise they were Any of the Red Caboose models with rivets. Unfortunately, Train Miniature cars (as well as those of other rail- similar to X29 cars. The New York plate ends can be used for this proj- also simulated the overlapping panel ”ramp” design. I ended doing a lot of roads) have eight panels. The X29 Central usually ordered freight cars in ect. I sanded down the rivets from sanding since I made several cars. In models are easily converted to either lots of thousands, but there were just the car sides being careful to avoid hindsight, instead of sanding down the New York Central or Reading cars 100 cars in Lot 504B. removing the rivets on the ends and “ramps” simulang the overlapping using rivets decals. top edge of the sides. Red Caboose made an excellent HO side sheets of the car, it might have Reading Company’s rst all-steel box- kit, now available ready-to-run from Once the rivets were sanded o I been easier to cut out and replace the cars, in class XMt, were built in two Intermountain. I was in touch with saw the manufacturer simulated car sides with sheet styrene. Figure 17
Figure 19
Figure 17: Partially completed Walthers (ex Train Miniature) X29 con- verted with 8 side panels using Archer rivets and new ladders and grabs. Figure 18: Red Caboose model showing the new riveting used to make an 8 panel car. Figure 18 Figure 19: Walthers (ex Train Miniature) 8’ 7” interior height X29 boxcar in Nickel Plate Road colors with original 10 panel sides. My nished models show the Archer 88014 which has paerns closely Figure 20: Applying rivet decals using Microscale Micro Set. rivets and the prototypical riveng resembling the rivet arrangement paern. I believe they are similar to I found in photos of the prototype. the originally molded on rivets in size Determining the correct rivet set to and form. use requires being a rivet counter! The only way to get this right is to Once I removed the detail from count the rivets in a row and compare the car sides, I sketched the side this to the Archer sheets. I hope the panel seam locaons on the model scaled samples I have included in this and scribed these carefully using a arcle will be of help to modelers. machinist square and a Squadron scribing tool (SQ-10202). This tool is I applied one coat of Testors intended to create panel lines on air- Modelmaster dark tan paint (so I cra and does not raise a “bow wave” could see the rivets) and applied the of compressed plasc on the sides of Archer decals using Micro Set decal scribe lines. I used Archer decal sheet seng uid (gure 20). While these Figure 20 decals will be sealed with layers of top or an extra X29 body can be cut to coat paint, I wanted them to adhere augment the body height. One body well to the primer coat, so they would can provide enough material for sev- not rub o. I suggest handling the n- eral conversions. ished cars carefully. For those who look closely at weath- It seemed like a good idea to leave ering, most of the early all-steel wide areas of decal lm alongside design boxcars eventually had corro- the rivets to have the greatest sur- sion problems with the lower edges face area for adhesion to resist the of the side sheets, and segments handling that train models get on were oen cut out of the car side layouts. Unfortunately the edges sll and replaced with new metal. On showed even under two more coats some cars the corrosion was su- of paint. So I cut the decal lm on my ciently advanced when they reached Figure 21: Diagram of New York Central Lot 504B boxcars. Diagram second model as close as possible to a repair shop that a single steel strip for a Reading XMt boxcar would be similar. the rivets. This made the lm nearly was welded between the door and invisible. the end on both sides. This is easy to I also was a bit more paent with the simulate by adding an 8” scale plain styrene strip to the boom of the car second model. There were a few small wrinkles in the lm which look a bit bued against the sanded down sides like stray rivets. I used more decal set- without smoothing down to eliminate ng uid to solve this issue. the joint. Some of these cars went through their later years with a scar Once the decals had thoroughly dried, across the whole car side. I painted my cars and leered them using CDS dry transfers. The srrup steps for this project did not arrive and the modern angled Most or all of the Reading XMt cars type I used temporarily for the pho- had unique Taylor trucks, but later on, tos should actually be outside mount other truck types were common. They plain step units. are such a hallmark of Reading equip- ment that I will change them out if I Louvers on a Diesel can locate some Taylors somewhere. Early diesel locomoves had vent The Reading XMu car I built is similar openings on their car bodies covered to the ARA 8’ 7” Interior height car, with metal mesh. These were gradu- but has 9’ 3” interior height and the 8 ally replaced by louvers. Baldwin die- Figure 22: Numbering system for early all-steel boxcars on the panel sides. Some modelers may want sel switchers and road switcher units, Reading Company. to ignore the 8” dierence, but it is Alco and EMD yard engines and road not dicult to increase the height of switchers oen had dozens of these the carbody. Plain styrene can be used louvers that are dicult to simulate on models. EMD “F” units had louvers Archer now oers various sized lou- between their portholes and some vers that can be cut to the desired railroads, such as Balmore and Ohio, height, greatly simplifying modeling plated over the portholes on some of this feature. their passenger “E” unit diesels add- Atlas HO scale FP7 diesel engines were ing louvers instead. made in Austria by Roco a number Trying to model these with paste-on of years ago. They modeled the late louvers added extra thickness which phase FP7 diesel engines with the looked unrealisc. It’s possible to sal- more modern F9 style “sideways” lou- vage louvers from an old locomove vers between the portholes. I needed body by cung them out of the shell the earlier type of EMD louvers. Archer and inlaying them into your model, set #88038 contains louvers measuring but this requires a great deal of preci- 12” wide in HO scale, very close to the Figure 23 sion to get a precise t. size of those used on the EMD diesels, slightly narrower than the prototype (gure 23).
I lled the recessed louver openings of the Atlas body with Squadron white puy (gure 24). About an hour later, when it had dried, I sanded the put- ed surface unl I had a good smooth nish. I painted the model pale grey (gure 25) as the rst coat, and applied Archer louvers (gure 26). I cut a long strip of louvers from the Figure 25 Archer sheet and used my NWSL Chopper II to chop this to short Figure 24 lengths with 10 louvers in each piece. Figure 23: Atlas HO scale FP7 model (above) showing the late phase side grilles between the portholes. The second engine, (below) has Align the louvers on the locomove been converted to the earlier type of side grilles with Archer louvers. body by taping a ruler or straight strip of cardboard to the body as a Figure 24: The side grilles on the Atlas body shell are recessed and guide. If you have a good eye, you should be filled with Squadron White putty. can try it without the guide. I applied Figure 25: FP7 shell with original louvers filled and painted. the Archer louvers using Micro Set as shown. Painng the engine light gray Figure 26: Slide the louvers from the decal sheet on to the engine makes the dark louvers easier to see side or apply them with tweezers floating them off the backing film. when applying them. Figure 26 Figure 24: FP7 body with the decal louvers applied.
If you have trouble sanding o the mold parng line on the nose without damaging the smaller louvers there (gure 27), sand them o and replace them with Archer #88039.
There are many other uses for lou- ver decals such as on factories, out- door air condioners, venlators, or exhaust fans. Figure 27 Figures 28 and 29 show a selecon of Archer rivet sheets. Note the tank car Figure 29 rivets. These will let you back date a 7 AR 88025 - /8” HO rivets welded tank car to become a riveted AR 88014 - .008” rivets (aprox 11 tank car where dimensions are similar. /16” in HO) Cars that are missing some rivet detail or have incorrect rivets can now be easily upgraded.
Archer has other interesng decal items such as rough weld lines resem- Figure 28 bling eld repairs to military equip- ment. These could be useful in adding some “texture” to metal silos or vari- Figure 27: The body shell with ous types of holding tanks or vessels. the Archer louvers in place. Note AR 88015 - .011” rivets (aprox AR 88031 - double row HO The rivets will also be useful for S the smaller louvers on the nose 1” in HO scale) tank car rivets (yellow arrow). scale and for O or larger scale applica- ons as well. Archer, being a military Figure 28: Close-up of Archer oriented rm has sets of fasteners in rivet sheet 88015 showing .011” larger sizes made for military models. rivets (1” rivets in HO scale). You can always re-scale any of these sets, ignoring the scale indicated Figure 29: Archer rivet sheet where they t your parcular applica- information. on. (For example, one inch rivets in HO scale would be very close to half inch rivets for “O” scale. This is a useful product, and while AR 88038 - 12” louvers $14.98 per 3x5” sheet may seem Micro-Mark HO sheets have expensive, there are a lot of rivet four similar segments. strips on each. More importantly, aer having used dierent riveng methods, I feel that Archer rivets let me easily produce high quality results.
The photos of some of the Archer sheets (gures 29) show strips of the rivet size and spacings on each, along with an HO scale rule for compari- son. Despite the illustrated catalog, it is not easy to tell exactly what the rivet spacings are for parcular appli- AR 88039 - 6” louvers caons, and I hope the photos here will make it easier to select the best sheets for your applicaons.
An important note about the photos of the rivet sheet samples shown here: Sheet size is 7” x 9 3/ ” I photographed them using a micro- 4 scope lens with a diaphragm. If sam- ples appear irregular in these photos, FIgure 31: Micro-Mark HO rivet decal sheet. it is due to the extreme enlargement. Under normal viewing condions, or with an ordinary magnifying glass aer Included are paerns of rivets and notches between each for this FIgure 30: Archer louvers being painted, the Archer rivets look as arranged in grids which can be used applicaon. good as those on top quality injecon as single or mulple rivet rows. There Micro-Mark does not specify its rivet molded or resin models. are several staggered rows of rivets, as well as closely spaced staggered sizes or spacings, but I have shown an HO scale rule next to each poron Archer Fine Transfers Micro-Mark Decal Rivets rivet sets, as seen on tank cars, for example. There is a grid of lines, plus of the Micro-Mark sheet to help the PO Box 1277 Micro-Mark sells rivet decals for HO some louver strips. modeler judge the actual sizes and Youngsville, NC 27596 and O scale. Micro-Mark’s HO scale spacings. I measured the rivets and decal rivet set #84985 is arranged The Micro-Mark set includes a num- 1 Oce hours: 8AM EDT-Noon M-F they are approximately 1 /3” in diam- in four similar assortments on an ber of interesng circular rivet pat- 919-570-1026 eter, over the rivet head. approximately 7x10” sheet. Each terns which can t pipe nipples, e-mail: [email protected] segment includes several riveting circular hatches or for other similar Micro-Mark HO and O scale sets each and [email protected] patterns plus other useful raised applicaons. Using the Archer prod- include two sheets. The Micro-Mark O forms and shapes. uct, the modeler cuts strips of rivets scale set, #84987, due to the larger size Figure 33
have only one assortment per sheet, a Figure 32 (above left): Micro-Mark rivets measurements are not specified. The scales shown are HO to help total of two per O scale set. modelers find the closest to their chosen application. In addion to the obvious use for O Figure 33 (above right): Micro-Mark HO staggered rivet row pair used as head rivets at the end of the tank scale projects, the O scale rivets can are similar to those on Imperial Oil Co. 10,000 gallon tank cars built by Canadian Car and Foundry in 1922. be used for HO scale bridges and Micro-Mark individual rivet rows simulate the joint along the tank. The tank is mounted on an Athearn tank similar applicaons requiring larger car frame and is a model in progress. (about 2”) rivet heads. Conversely, the HO set can provide smaller rivets for cut into strips and soaked in water. I applied the Micro-Mark rivets on model I suggest handling any decal- O scale applicaons. Either set can be Distilled water sold in supermar- models as per their instrucons, riveted cars carefully. used S scale. kets for ironing is the most pure using the vinegar smelling “set” type Rivet Comparison Application Tips and mineral free water available, decal seng uid rst, then later although tap water works too. Once adding the “sol” solvent type. I found Under a microscope, the Micro- Both the Micro-Mark and Archer soaked, the clear carrier film with both makers’ products to be quite Mark rivets have a smooth raised rivet products are waterslide decals the rivets can be slid from the back- durable, but as there is not much disk form, while the Archer rivets are – the raised rivet rows are to be ing paper onto the model. actually holding the decal to the more grainy in appearance. Once Figure 34: Micro-Mark rivets on Archer has a wide variety of rivet sizes an 8-panel boxcar conversion. and spacings plus many other types of Figure 35: Archer rivets on an fasteners including weld lines, tread- 8-panel boxcar conversion. plate, and woodgrain sheets, and a catalog devoted to their line of decals. Figure 36: Victor’s model of a PRR 13,900 gallon tender using The Micro-Mark decal rivets are much Micro-Mark rivet decals. less expensive and all their decal styles are included in the single set with 1 1 Figure 34 on a model and painted with one /3” rivet head diameter. While this is to two coats of paint (I used both more limited, there are many appli- ModelMaster and Tamiya with equally caons for rivets of this size, and the good results), there is no visible dier- many dierent spacings in the set, plus ence between the two products, even all the louvers, grids and other acces- under a magnifying glass. sories make this a very useful product.
My rst aempt at using the Micro- Decal rivets open up new possibilies. Mark decals produced results that Many years ago, I built several steam appeared to have unevenly sized locomoves and tenders, but I didn’t rivets and spacings. Close examina- have a good method to model rivets. on showed the problem was air had Now I do! become trapped under the decal lm Figure 35 near the rivets. Take care that any air bubbles are pierced with a pin, or ooded with decal solvent. When this Reader is done, both products have evenly Feedback sized and spaced rivet forms. (click here)
ictor is a native New Yorker, but he’s V also lived in California and Arizona. He’s been modeling since he built an oil storage tank from a coffee can with a pa- per wrapper and emblem from a gasoline company map. He graduated from the Pratt Institute with BFA and MS degrees and taught fine arts in high and junior high school for 30 years. Victor is now retired. Victor wrote Switching the Coast Daylight which appeared in the Nov 2010 MRH and More Realistic Model Windows in the Oct 2009 MRH. Figure 36 Are you ...
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S E M Nick Muff at the throttle in his basement ... E N T ?
More fun per pound than any other leading model-train magazine! Figure 4
box kits. The same model was later sold pin. The “A” end of the car was a lile Figure 1: With new wire side sill Freight Car Setup ready-to-run in Walthers’ Gold Line. low, so a red ber washer now rides be- steps, a light coat of weathering, For Club Ops When an unbuilt kit for C&O 306501 tween the truck and the bolster. and some fine tuning, a 20-year- – by Joe Brugger turned up (cheap) at my local hobby old Walthers steel coil car kit is shop, home it went. The stenciled build The coupler box lid and pivot were ready to operate. Somewhere be- date is 1-77, so it t right in. drilled and 2/56 screws inserted to Reader tween my workbench and the club, keep the lid from popping o under a stacking bracket went missing. Feedback My club has standards for appearance, strain. The CC&W will have some long I’ll need to make a replacement (click here) weight, rolling quality and couplers. 2% grades when the railroad is com- from styrene shapes. Here’s how I meet those standards. plete. A 2/56 screw is prey big; most Figure 2: Frank A. Phillips Jr. pho- oming up with the right mix I start by replacing the kit’s plasc cars with snap-on coupler lids can be tographed a prototype car from of freight cars for operaons wheels with metal wheels aer clean- xed with 1/72 screws. Mark the cen- the same class in the late 1970s can be tricky. Busy, operang ing up the truck bearing surfaces with ter of the pivot post with a pin before in Alexandria, Va. (Photo from RR Clayouts can be hard on rolling stock. The Tool . With a coon swab, dab a drilling a hole for the screw. Picture Archives, used with per- bit of powdered graphite into the side Steel coil cars stand out in a train, and mission). frames so the car will roll down a stan- my club layout, the Columbia, Cascade Sill steps on the kit measured about 6” dard grade. Atlas, Kadee, Proto 2000 or Figure 3: A 2/56 screw ensures & Western, needs a half-dozen to feed thick so I nipped them o and drilled Intermountain wheels work. the side sill for metal A-Line #29000 the coupler box lid stays in place. a steel fabricator. A number of vendors A-Line wire side sill steps replace Install Kadee #148 standard-head, metal- Style A srrup steps. They have a ner have made coil steel cars over the years. the plastic originals. A light coat cross-secon and will be more durable. Walthers produced a 55’ Evans coil steel whisker couplers and check the height of of thinned Roof Brown PollyScale car back in the days of white cardboard the coupler head and curved metal trip No more broken srrup steps! tones down the dark blue under- frame. Figure 4: A black fine-point Sharp- ie or a dab of paint will tone down the jarring shiny screw tip protrud- ing through the coupler pivot. A better solution would be a smaller screw that doesn’t go all the way through the housing.
Figure1 Figure2 Figure3 Lead shot in the load wells brings the car up to the 5.3 ounces the club stan- dard requires for its length. Elmer ’s Glue holds the shot in place and can Innovative Electronics for be soaked out later if we decide to add coil steel loads. The club’s weight re- Model Railroads Figure 5 quirement is borrowed from La Mesa Model Railroad Club standards and is heavier than NMRA recommendaons. Frog Juicers - Automatic Frog Polarity Figure 6 All cars on the CC&W must be weath- Servo Drivers for Turnouts and Semaphores ered. With couplers, rolling qualies, and weight taken care of, I airbrushed a 1:10 weathering mix of PollyScale Roof Brown and dislled water. A couple of A drops of Testors Universal Acrylic Thin- D ner make the thinned paint ow and V TAM VALLEY DEPOT atomize beer. The same mix of Mud E Great Electronics for Great Model Railroads was lightly sprayed to highlight the R underframe and running gear. I brushed T the metal railings on the coil hoods with I yellow before applying a rusty-looking S wash of burnt sienna acrylic tube paint. E Half a pea-sized dab thinned in a saucer M of water is plenty, with a drop or two of E Dual Frog Juicer - a heavy alcohol to make it ow. N T duty (33A) version of our Once my work was done, the car went popular DCC frog juicers. The into the “To Be Checked” box at the unit can be used to power two club. I lled out a Car Department Figure 7 Review Form, lisng the road name, frogs in the larger scales, as an number, type and length. Club mem- automatic, highspeed auto- Figure 5: Lead shot, held in place bers can’t sign their own cars in, so reverser in all scales and as a with Elmer’s glue, increases weight. someone else rechecked the wheel highspeed circuit breaker. sets and couplers, rolled it down the Figure 6: Stacking brackets on the test grade, and pped it 45 degrees hood add character. to see if it would right itself instead of falling over. Figure 7: Each car that’s put into service on the Willamette Model RR From there, it will be logged into the www.TamValleyDepot.com Club’s layout, the Columbia, Cas- club’s inventory and a car card printed cade & Western, has to be checked before it moves to the staging yard, Click here to contact us by email for conformance to standards. ready for service.
Going to Kansas City ... Nick Muff’s HO scale Kansas City Southern – by Charlie Comstock; photos by the author except where noted
Reader Figure 1: Can you say “yard throat?” This maze of track routes Feedback trains through the Kansas City Union Station (or around it). The (click here) Union Station is the centerpiece of Nick’s layout. Figure 3: This is the entrance to a model railroad? It looks (by design) more like a Pullman!
Figure 2: Visitors to the KCS descend these steps Figure 4: At the far end of the Pullman is a simulated to what seems to be a full-size station platform. dining car with real railroad linen and china. Figure 2 ast fall I attended the NMRA Pacific Northwest regional L meet at Lynnwood, Wash- ington. One of the layouts open for the meet was Dr. Nick Muff’s Kansas City Southern. A bunch of us rode a mini-bus to his home where we were met by Nick. He led us down a flight of stairs (figure 2) into what seemed like a passenger station. The walls were painted to make us feel as though we were standing on a passenger platform. Simulated station sounds added to the experience – train arrival and departure announcements, the rumble of diesel prime movers, squealing flanges and brakes, and the crowd pushing past us. Yet we were in the basement under Nick’s home instead of a late ‘40s or early ‘50s train station.
Nick pressed a buon and a pneumac door slid open revealing what appeared to be a Pullman car (gure 3). We were led past a roomee, a bathroom (yes it works), and a small museum including Miss Southern Belle (a life size manni- kin). At the far end of the car is a small buet/lounge area (gure 4) complete with a table covered with KCS linen,
Figure 5: The front of Union Sta- tion shows the attention to detail Nick has lavished upon his layout. Note the working headlights and taillights in all the vehicles as well as the chandeliers inside the sta- tion. It’s possible there are more LEDs on this layout than are cur- rently in-stock at Digi-Key! Figure 5 china, and atware. Period appropri- ate magazines and newspapers occupy a small side table. A bar supplies liquid refreshment. Another buon press by Dr. Mu and the side of the car slid open and we stepped into the model train area. This space has coved backdrops reaching the ceiling, dedicated layout lighng that cycles between day and night com- plete with thunderstorms, and a highly- detailed layout depicng Kansas City in the late ‘40s. The layout isn’t complete yet, but what is there takes your breath away. For one thing, nearly every vehicle has working headlights and taillights. Theres also a meculously modeled and detailed Kansas City Union Staon. Yet, the rst thing in the room that catches your eye isn’t the backdrop, or Union Staon, or the layout. Instead it’s a real F7 cab (gure 11). That’s not a typo! While the passenger car is a mock-up, the cab is the genuine ar- Figure 6 cle. Nick rescued the cab from a scrap yard near Tacoma and moved it north
Figure 6: Nick is fascinated by pas- senger train operation. The fascia in front of Union Station folds down to reveal two fully detailed subter- ranean levels. Figure 7: The first level handles baggage and express for trains to local destinations. Figure 8: The lowest level handles baggage and express for through trains. It also houses the station’s backup power plant. Figure 7 Figure 8 to where his train room was being ex- cavated. A friend with a truss business came out with his crane several mes to move the cab out of the way of the construcon, nally seng it in place in its new basement home.
Aer seeing this I knew I had to re- turn and shoot it for MRH. Luckily, Nick thought that was a good idea too. With scheduling issues, it took several months before I managed to return. In the meanme, Nick nished even more of his railroad, including a num- ber of animaons. Some of the animaons are “neon” signs while others are mechanical, in- cluding a Rock Island locomove shut- tling coal hoppers, a moving crane, and a Coppertone sign with the dog tug- ging at the lile girl’s bathing suit.
Nick is a gracious host and very knowl- Figure 9 edgeable about the KCS. We discussed too many things during the interview for them all to make it into this arcle, so be sure to check out the video clip on page 58. Or download the full 30 minute video from the MRH bonus area.
Thanks for the tour Dr. Nick!
Figure 9: The Railway Express Agency annex to the station. Even compressed by 20% this is a long structure. Figure 10: Note all the detail Nick lavished on the REA building – cob- blestone paving, lights everywhere, the building interior, electrical pan- els, and proper signage. Figure 10 Figure 11: This F7 cab is not a mockup. Nick rescued it from a scrap yard torch and installed it in his basement with the help of a crane own- ing friend. According to a visiting train engineer it’s not protypical because everything in it works (except the prime mover) – the headlight will give you a sun burn and the horn will destroy your hearing. Plans for the future include mounting it on hydraulic struts and controlling locos on the layout from the engineers seat. . r s t m i r r o . e S i a v e n A e mirror a G l v d c y y n s a waiting t . r a M n w Train Shed Train Shed scrap yard n d room S G Layout Statistics Fig 1 e a i n B i Fig 21 P o a Yar d g B r Gee S t. l u B M Mc e J Fig 22 t . Fig 27 c t . c W REA J e s t T grand lobby e h r o a t t Fig 12 F a Fig 20 Era: Late ‘40s, early ‘50s h r o t a T Independence Ave n s t a E a S Fig 23 Fig 13 Fig 10 Fig 9 Locale: Kansas City S Fig 14 Fig 8 Fig 5 Fig 7 Fig 24 w o Style: Protolance Fig 26 p Union Station Fig 6 e P a Configuration: Kansas City – single k r Fig 25 deck, under-construction mainline – double deck Rock Nick Muff’s HO scale expansion area Island multi-deck with helix track Scale: HO Kansas City Southern Trackplan: Loop to loop. Room size: 30’ x 40’, 9’ 6” ceiling Lighting: Can lights, computer con-
Fig 11 trolled day/night cycle not to scale Sound: 20 MP3 players providing local Fig 2 1’ grid double deck expansion area sound zones plan is zoomable Minimum radius: 36” for more detail Track: code 83 Side door Turnouts: #6 with Tortoise machines Control: DCC Museum Elevations: 46” to 56”, lower level 28” Roadbed: 3/4” plywood modules topped Bar 1 with /2” Homasote Fig 3 Buffet Up Staging: 6 hidden tracks north end, 2 hidden tracks south end
Roomette Union Station: 6’ wide x 4’ deep, aprox. Toilet 80 lbs. assembled. Fig 4
ick Mu grew up in California’s His interest in the Kansas City South- he’s been involved in research, draw- NSan Fernando Valley with SP Day- ern and Kansas City Union Staon ing, and producon of HO brass mod- light GS-4’s and cab-forwards running developed from summer train trips to els of Midwestern locos and passen- behind his home and has been mod- visit his grandparents in northwest Ar- ger equipment. eling in HO scale for over 50 years. In kansas. The most memorable train for He and his wife Sue have enjoyed 44 his teen years, he documented the him was the KCS Southern Belle. West Side Lumber Co. just before and years of marriage and have two grown aer its closure, including two weeks Nick enjoys using CAD and has pro- children. He is a praccing radiaon on the track into the woods with a duced over 100 plans and arcles for oncologist in Washington state. home-built speeder. rail magazines. For the past 12 years
Figure 14
Figure 12 – Nick Mu photo
Figure 15 – Nick Mu photo
Figures 12 to 14: The Kansas City Union Station was a mammoth undertaking. Nick cast most of the wall features in resin after making molds of styrene masters. He devised a technique where he could cast an entire corner section in one piece by putting a large block of Styrofoam in the mold cavity to leave a hollow interior. The result is an incredible building with no cracks or seams on the corners. Figure 15: A master and the mold made from it. Figures 16 to 19 (next page): If you think it looks good on the out- side, it has a fully detailed interior, too! Figure 13 – Nick Mu photo Figure 16 – Nick Mu photo Figure 18 – Nick Mu photo
Figure 17 – Nick Mu photo Figure 19 – Nick Mu photo Figure 20: The automated day / night lighting includes lightning and thunder. – Nick Muff photo Figure 21 – Nick Mu photo Figure 23 – Nick Mu photo
There are thousands of LEDs on the layout and they make the Figure 22: Approaching the yard. scenes really come alive when the night lighting is active. Figure 23: Highway overpass. Figure 21: Union Station yard throat. Figure 24: Union Station at night with lower decks visible.
Figure 22 – Nick Mu photo Figure 24 Figure 25 – Nick Mu photo
Figure 25: A hobo camp complete with flickering campfire. They’ll sing “The Wabash Cannonball” for you if you press the button on the fascia! Reader Figure 26: A string of reefers caught on the Swope Park viaduct. Feedback Figure 27: Looks like Nick built so fast he generated lots of scrap materials. (click here)
Figure 26 Figure 27 Remember when?
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Bringing Your Layout Alive - Mar/Apr 2010 page 80
ALL back issues of MRH all always avaible! Just surf over to model-railroad-hobbyist.com/magazine/back-issues A GALLOWS TURNTABLE FOR SALINA
– by Wolfgang Dudler MMR have built a number of turntables Staons at the top and boom of a The project was a good learning exer- Photos by the author for staging yard modules, but helper district usually have a wye or cise and a lot of fun. Read on to see my they were very simple versions turntable, and the staon at Salina is no step-by-step building process. Ithat were manually operated. Salina - On a narrow gauge railroad, excepon. The prototype for this gal on my HOn3 railroad needed an arm- lows turntable is at Laws, California on there are often steep grades, strong (manually-operated) turntable. the Southern Pacic Narrow Gauge. helper service, and turntables I wanted a detailed prototypical model Friends suggested that I install a motor for this turntable. to turn the helpers. Follow me under the Salina turntable, but this type Reader Feedback while I assemble a Sequoia With narrow gauge, you oen have of turntable was operated with muscle Scale Models HOn3 turntable. steep grades which need helper service. power so I kept it manual. (click here)
Figure 1: The finished turntable at Salina. STEP 1: Parts and Preparation
Figure 3
Figure 2
Figure 2: I began my turntable with the Sequoia Scale Models kit, which saves time and is not as costly as scratchbuilding would be. The kit includes all the parts needed – wooden parts as well as cast metal ones. Figure 3 and 4: I stained the wood parts, and airbrushed all the cast metal parts a rusty color.
Figure 4 STEP 2: Cross Beams and Stringers
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stringers
cross beams Figure 5 Figure 6
Figures 5-6: I started by laying out the four stringers on the template then glued the cross beams to them. This was opposite the directions which suggested laying the cross beams out on the template and gluing the stringers on them. Figure 7: I sanded the two end beams into shape using a copy of the template as a guide, before gluing them in place.
end beams
Figure 7 STEP 3: Truss Rod Anchor Supports and Rails
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end beam
truss rod anchor blocks
Figure 8 Figure 9
Figures 8 and 9: I cut eight truss rod anchor support blocks from the supplied wooden stock and glued them in place per the template. Figure 10: I pre-weathered the code 40 rail and glued it in place with CA.
Figure 10 STEP 4: Adding the Nylon Line Truss Rods
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Figure 11
Figure 11: The following step took time. I cut four pieces of nylon line for each side of the turntable then glued one end of each piece between pairs of cross beams. I had to hold each end in place until the glue dried, then I cut off any excess line protruding beneath the turntable. The other end is long enough to simulate the truss rods running up to the gallows frame. STEP 5: Placing the NBWs
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Figure 14 Figure 12 Figures 14 and 15: Placing the NBWs was fun, but the kit contained Figures 12 and 13: I also glued the cross beam truss rod saddles. only one type of NBW. I airbrushed the styrene NBW castings, cut You have to look carefully to pick them out. them from their sprue, and applied them per the kit’s directions.
Figure 13 Figure 15 STEP 5: Building the Wood Rings
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15° angle length stop
Figure 17
Figure 16
Figures 16-18: For the three sets of wood bearing rings, I used the chopper. First I measured a 15° angle. The stop on the right side let me cut each wood bearing piece the correct length. I placed a piece of plate glass over the drawing of the bearing ring. Then I glued each of the 12 wooden ring pieces together. When the glue dried I removed the rings from the glass with a knife.
Figure 18 STEP 6: Building the Gallows
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Figure 19 Figure 20
Figures 19-20: I notched four 6’’ x 12’’ x 4’7’’ vertical posts at one time with a small file. These will become the short saddle posts. Figure 21: Using the instructions I built the gallows frame.
Figure 21 STEP 6: Building the Gallows Continued...
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Figure 22 Figure 24
Figure 22: I made a mistake with all those nylon threads. I twisted Figures 24 and 25: I used aluminum foil to make the pole fasteners. two and glued them. I am waiting for someone to notice this. Figure 23: The support wheels will ride on the pit rail.
Figure 23 Figure 25 STEP 7: Building the Track Power Transmission Ring
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Figure 26 Figure 28
Figures 26-29: I made the electric pickup ring out of PC board. Two wipers were needed – one for each rail. The wood ring is centered on a piece of 5mm brass tube which will be inserted in a 6mm tube in the center of the Figure 27 turntable pit. Figure 29 STEP 8: Building the Pit
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Figure 30 Figure 31
Figures 30 and 31: I made the pit using layers of plywood. The bottom of the pit is also plywood. Figure 32: I used a drill stand to drill a perfectly vertical hole in the bottom of the pit. This hole must also be perfectly centered in the pit as the turntable will pivot around it.
Figure 32 STEP 8: Building the Pit Continued...
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Figure 33 Figure 34
Figures 33 and 34: Next I glued the bridge to the bridge support, having previously inserted Wolfgang Dudler, MMR, got his rst toy train at age of 3 in the 5mm brass tube into the disc and the 6mm 1949. In 1961, the Wall was built dividing Germany and he and brass tube into the pit. his family started a new life in West Germany. He married and started a job as a teacher, then got back into railroading with an N-scale layout. In 1980 he started building in HO scale. Wolfgang had several European style layouts before he started on the HO scale Westport Terminal RR, which uses modular construcon which allows him to adjust his layout easily to the available space. Lately, Wolfgang has started building in HOn3. In October 2010 he earned MMR 452. Congratulaons Wolfgang! STEP 8: Building the Pit Continued...
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Figure 36
Figure 35
Figure 35: With the bridge in place, I marked the line for the pit rail with a diameter of 48 scale feet (168mm). The pit rail is made of one half piece of Micro Engineering code 40 flex track. Using some math, fD says the pit rail is 528mm long. Figure 36: The power distribution ring is made of PC board. It is gapped into two halves which allows the rails to automatically change polarity as the bridge swings around. Figure 37: I took this photo with a mirror in the pit to show the underside of the turntable bridge.
Mirror in pit showing the turntable underside. Figure 37 STEP 10: The Finished Turntable
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Figure 38
This video shows my finished gallows turntable in operation. It still needs a little adjustment but works for turning engines at Salina.
Figure 39 Reader Feedback Figures 38: Here’s the finished turntable, with the powered (click here) approach track. Advertisement Answers to the quiz on page 11: 1. Which issue had the rst Scenery Scene? Not a subscriber yet? g - Oct 2009, Flower Power 2. Which issue had two layout tours? b - Stop missing 100+ pages of Mar 2010, George Selios and Craig Bisgeier great content each month! 3. Which cover is from January 2010? d 4. Which issue had a layout modeling a TV Subscribing is FREE and you’ll show? c - Feb 2011, Erik Kalinsky modeled Northern Exposure. be notified each time a new 5. Which issue had no layout tour? i - Apr 2009 issue is ready! 6. Which issue presented three ways to build a stac grass applicator? b - Mar 2010 Plus subscribers get anytime 7. Which issue featured Lance Mindheim? a - access to the MRH bonus fea- May 2010, Modeling the Modern Era 8. Which issue introduced the concept of the tures. No expiration date! Chainsaw Layout? f - Jan 2009, Chainsaw Railroads was the rst Reverse Running. Bonus queson: How many issues of MRH Click here to find out how. have been published as of August 2011? August 2011 is the 18th issue of Model Railroad Hobbyist. Background Sounds – by Rick Wade Photos by the author
Figure 1: This downtown scene looks great but Reader something is missing – sound! Play the video clip Feedback (on page 78) to hear the difference. (click here) On Rick Wade’s Richlawn enhance the realism of your layout Railroad, you can listen to when it is done correctly. the urban hum of down- What do I mean by “done correctly? For background sound to be an asset it town, the clamor of the should follow a number of guidelines: railroad shops, and a gen- It should be relevant; that is, it tle waterfall ... should “match” the area modeled. It doesn’t make sense to have a any of us already enjoy the sound track of a waterfall when benets of sound equipped there is no waterfall in sight. Mlocomoves on our layouts. My non-sound equipped units have The duraon and how frequently been “demoted” to occasional duty the loop is played should be appro- or are linked up in consist s with a priate. A sound loop that is 90 sec- sound loco. Just as sound locomoves onds long and repeats almost con- increase your model railroad enjoy- nuously will drive you and your ment, background sound can also visitors crazy!
Figure 2: I bought a cheap MP3 player like this one on eBay for $6.00. It comes with earphones and I’ll use their wiring to connect to a speaker. When purchasing a MP3 player make sure that it uses battery power (AAA). Don’t get the kind that is charged through a USB port on your computer.
The volume should be at the cor- Once I’ve downloaded the sound rect level – probably lower than files, I use an audio editor, you expect. Background sound is Windows Movie Maker™, to build just that – background. It shouldn’t the files I’ll install in the players. Figure 4 shows how I created the overpower the scene or the loco- sound file for the downtown area. move sounds. Some of the les have dierent vol- So far, I have background sound in ume levels, so I use the audio soware - three areas: downtown, the round to normalize them to the same level. house and shops, and the waterfall. I Then I adjust individual tracks to make Figure 3: Many websites offer free sound files. I searched for files load free downloadable sound les on some sounds louder than others, like that fit my needs, such as “machine shop sounds” for the engine cheap MP3 players and wire them to big trucks which obviously would be service facility. speakers to provide the sound. louder than some other sounds. Figure 4: Once I’d downloaded sounds off the internet, I used Figure 5: I downloaded the edited sound files into my MP3 player. Windows Movie Maker™ to create the sound files for loading in my Since the player is stereo it can play two separate sound files at the MP3 players. Here I’m editing the sound clip for the downtown area. same time – one each on the left and right channels. I only used one track for this clip, putting it on both channels. I try to use one audio track for each type of sound. This makes it easier to adjust the volumes of multiple sounds going into a MP3 track. It I cut the “buds” off of the headset that came with the player and also makes it easier to see the timing of the sounds relative to each soldered the wires to a speaker from an old stereo system. The wires other on the sound track. are very small, so take care when handling them. Don’t make all sounds the same volume. Large trucks should be I was lucky with my speaker; it matched the impedance of the MP3 player louder than bird calls. Use the editor to experiment until you find a and worked fine. You may need to experiment to find one that works. mix that sounds good to you. Don’t forget periods of silence to rest your ears!
You don’t need a dedicated audio editor to perform When creang a sound track, insert I save my output les in MP3 format periods of silence for spacing between even though some of original les surgery on sound files. Most inexpensive home video the individual sounds. This will help were WAV format. MP3 les take less editors will work quite nicely slicing and dicing sound avoid the connuous roar eect and storage space, so more sounds can be effects or adding special effects like reverb. give your and your visitor’s ears a rest. installed in a small player. Figure 6: Speaker placement is important to get good sound. I experimented with different locations and distances from the layout until it sounded right to my ears. I set the volume levels depending Reader Adding background on the other noise in the room. If I’m railroading by myself, I keep the Feedback sound to your lay- level very low. If I have an open house with lots of people, I’ll turn it up (click here) so my background sounds can be heard over the noise. out doesn’t have to be expensive or dif-
Rick Wade grew up in the east end of another – he was hooked. With the fin- ficult. With low-cost Louisville, Kentucky during the ‘50s ished kits mounting up, the only logi- and ‘60s. This gave him lots of oppor- cal choice was to build a railroad. MP3 players, speak- tunities to watch Louisville & Nashville His wife helps him with scenery on the ers, and free sound trains passing only 200 feet behind layout, and encouraged him to expand his home. His first real layout was an it into the present layout room. files, you can enjoy HO scale beauty his father helped him build when he was 8. They built it on His favorite part of railroading is still the extra dimension a sheet of ¾” plywood and rolled it structures, with scenery a close sec- under his bed when it wasn’t in use. ond. He still loves watching L&N trains of realistic sound as rumbling through his ‘60s and ‘70s In 2006, he purchased a DPM kit and landscapes and taking him back to his it helps bring your assembled it. He enjoyed the experi- childhood memories. ence so much he bought another, and layout alive. s F L A S H: M R H N E W Sacramento Trai n Show Repor t 2011 Naonal Train Show Interviews Rapido’s Canadian passenger train had Several people I spoke with thought (click thumbnail to view) Reader an extremely realisc looking stainless the decorang on BLMA’s 63’ Trinity Feedback steel nish. Each car has a unique and reefer was some of the best they had Atlas (click here) highly detailed underframe, too. ever seen. Craig Martyn was pleased! Interview Athearn’s forthcoming Southern Pacic Bowser’s PCC car being demonstrated by Richard Bale class C-50 caboose in several sub-classes by trolley-guru George Huckaby. It was with lots of details appropriate to each ver- equipped with an engineering sample of Scenic Express odel Railroad Hobbyist sion. This may be the best plasc caboose a SoundTraxx decoder providing gong, Interview aended X2011W – the 2011 ever produced. Beer than brass at half pneumac door operaon, compres- NMRA Naonal Convenon M the price. Truly beauful and meeng the sor, motor-generator start up, and brake in Sacramento, California last month. Genesis standard. lights coming on when the car slows to a SoundTraxx Part of the convenon is the Naonal stop. Might be available late this year. Interview Train Show – three days of manufactur- Kids going nuts at the operang chil- ers, vendors, and train-a-holics checking dren’s layouts – notably the Lego display. The Stanton Cab at the North West out the latest and greatest stu. MRH I was surprised to see steam-era freight Short Line booth. The well-engineered BLMA shot Click ‘n Spins of many new items compact Stanton motorized power car historian Richard Hendrickson qui- interview and video interviewed some interesng etly huddling with David Lehlbach, truck leaves room in body shells for folks (right-hand column). owner of contemporary car-maker other goodies like a 3-hour baery, RF-receiver, and DCC decoder. Track An enjoyable part of wandering the Tangent. Later, when I kidded David ExactRail power is unnecessary, but if present, aisles of the Naonal Train Show is about the potenal “clash of eras” he will charge the baery. Interview observing people as they discover new said a surprising number of customers and excing items. Here are a few things have been asking for older equipment. Elizabeth Allen’s mostly scratch built I saw that seemed especially interesng. This will bear watching. Southern Pacic SDP45 on display in Kendall Collins Cannon’s booth. A perfect replica- Railscale Miniatures’ beauful display The vast selecon of signals in the NJ Interview on of the prototype in both physical of Delwin’s Boat & Net Storage, an Internaonal booth. details and pana! amazing HO scale kit created by master The hordes at the Fast Tracks booth crasman Dario Le Donne. My favorite keenly watching Tim Warris fabricang And there’s more – check the Click ‘n Walthers structure at the show. turnouts quickly and easily. Spins on the following pages! Interview Figure 1: Alameda Car Works - large scale, working, Sheffield No. 1 car manufactured by Sheffield Velocipede Car Company. Figure 2: Athearn - HO scale GP9 Figure 3: Athearn - HO scale SP C-50 caboose Figure 4: Atlas - N scale coil car Figure 5: BLMA - HO scale Trinity reefer Figure 6: Bowser - HO scale C630M Figure 7: Canadian Model Trains (CMT) - HO scale St. Charles caboose prototype Figure 8: ExactRail - HO scale Trinity reefer Figure 9: Kato - N scale MP-36 Figure 10: North American Railcars (NAR) - HO scale potash hopper Figure 11: Rapido - HO scale URTX reefer Figure 12: Walthers - HO scale high level coach with step-down and tail sign THE LITE AND NARROW: Cattle Guard – An Unusual and Interesting Bit of Roadbed Detail Ramblings on Narrow Gauge and Branchline Modeling About our narrow gauge and branchline columnist
Lew Matt is a published writer, photographer, and illustrator whose work has appeared in many model railroad hobby magazines. n our connuing project of looking pipe. The oors of cale guards can Figure 1: Cattle guards are a great at modeling fences and railroad use any horizontal objects laid side- way to allow the trains through Click here to learn more about Lew. Irights of ways, it is important to by-side parallel to the rail, that pres- and keep the stock from wander- consider how trains can get through ent unstable foong for the bovine. ing. They also make an interesting a fence but the cale can’t. Cale The earliest cale guards were made scenic detail, and could be a scene guards were invented in the 19th from split red oak rails with a trian- focal point along the right-of-way. century to enable trains to safely pass gular cross secon about 3” high by through the fence but not require a 3” wide at the base, laid side-by-side are made from precast concrete or U person to disembark from the train to between the rails and spiked to the shaped pressed steel sheets with the open and close a gate. es, pointed edge up. Small, round curve up and resng between the rails Cale have cloven hooves and do sapling tree trunks about 2” to 3” in like large corrugaons. not like to step on sharp or unstable, diameter and stripped of bark were The same ooring material was added upward thrusng objects such as a also used. As the design evolved, Reader to each side and anked the rails split rail or an “L” angle iron with the steel angle iron and pipe replaced the Feedback suciently to allow wide railroad sharp, pointed edges facing up, or wood as they last longer and require (click here) a small to medium diameter round less maintenance. Today, cale guards Connued on page 94 ... Figure 2: This is a diagram of a road crossing cattle guard. The only difference between this and a railroad guard is that the bars run across the path of travel, but on the railroad, the bars run parallel to the path of travel. ©2010 Big R Bridge • Greeley, Colorado (www. bigrbridge.com). Figure 3: The earliest cattle guards were made from split rails. Although they worked well, wood was not a good choice for maintenance-free operations, especially when it was in contact with the ground. Figure 4: This is the framework of timber located under the split rail cattle guard. The frame holds the wood rails in place. Note that the side frame pieces have a bottom spacer to bring the bottom of the split rails up to a position level with the ties. Figure 5: This tool is used to strip out hull planking for model (wood) ship building. It was very useful to strip cut the rails for the cattle guard, as they are only a scale 3” wide and then taper smaller.
Figure 2
Figure 4
Figure 3 Figure 5 Connued from page 92 ... open space under the es added to the cale’s fear factor. Not only is the equipment to pass but not allow the surface not at and disagreeable to cale to bypass the guard. The termi- their hooves, but there is the oppor- nal sides are each made from small tunity to step through the guard and mbers, structural steel shapes or a break a leg. The space under modern combinaon of both, into a triangu- cale guards is frequently dug out lar shaped structure, very much like a just to enhance this fear factor in the fence sloped at a 45 degree angle with stock. In most cases, the oor of the the base against the oor of the cale cale guard is elevated a few inches guard and the apex of the triangle above the ballast between the es aached to the adjacent fence posts. (gure 8). The opening under this piece was If you have an adjacent road surface, closed o with boards (see gure 6) parallel to the railroad, it would be aached to both the side piece and prototypical to install a cale guard in the fence post. the road along side the guard in the It is not unusual for the cale guard tracks, in line with the fence. Both to be placed over a shallow ditch, of the guards can be made of the narrow gully or small dry gulch, as the same materials and techniques, but Figure 7: To keep the cost down and simplify construction, these “pipes” are pieces of angel hair pasta, painted gray, then weathered with Prismacolor sepia marker and drybrushed Floquil rust. The pipes were spaced 3” center to center, attached to a thin framing piece of wood at either end with carpenters yellow glue, then spray painted with gray primer. Once the pasta is sealed in paint, rodents and insects won’t pay any attention to it, and it is much easier to work with than brass rods.
roadway cale guards should have to install, or you can build in place. I the ooring running perpendicular to like my creature comforts, so I prefer the ow of travel, in other words, the to build at the work bench and then oor material crosses the road from bribe one of my grandchildren into side to side. Your scale model motor- standing in an uncomfortable posion cyclists and bicyclists will certainly and overreaching into the layout to appreciate this feature (gure 9). do the installaon. Construcon of the model cale When you install the guard, make guard is rather simple, as it doesn’t liberal use of the NMRA track gauge Figure 6: The later cattle guards replaced the wood floor with iron require exact measurements and for ange clearance between the for longevity. This model represents the type that used small diam- takes about 45 minutes from start to rails and allow plenty of side clear- eter round iron pipe. Note that the triangular shaped side piece of the nish, including painng and weath- ance outside the rails especially if you cattle guard is attached to the top of the fence post and the space ering. You can make the parts at the are installing the guard on a curve. If between the tapered side and the fence post are filled in with boards. bench and take them to the railroad possible, strive for installaon on as straight of a piece of track as possible. blend-in well. A cale guard could supply stores) for the trial-t con- Reader Before you permanently glue the make a nice addion to your layout, strucon of projects, as it makes a Feedback guard in posion, check all the clear- with several cows clustered around, good temporary bond, if you only (click here) ances with your widest and fussiest- apply it to one side of the joint, and contemplang making a run for it. tracking equipment. is easy to pull apart when you want it Painng and weathering of the cale to, but will otherwise hold the project Figure 9: A Chopper is used guard follows standard modeling together for a considerable amount of to ensure that all the pieces of pracces. If the guard is made from me. The used bits of rubber cement flooring are the same length. The unpainted wood, then distress the are easily gathered up with a ball of machine cuts the pasta pipe, wood and apply a weathered wood dried rubber cement or arst’s rubber wood timbers and cardstock stain before gluing together, I used cement pick-up. Once you are com- angle iron cleanly. Note: crease Hunterline’s black weathering stain. fortable that the cale guard works or score and fold the cardstock The steel parts are painted NYC gray well, you can make it permanent. I angle pieces before you cut them and then washed with Hunterline’s carefully posioned mine in a pool of to size; otherwise it will be very black weathering stain, and when diluted white glue and allowed it to difficult to fold a piece of paper 3 dry, dry-brushed with a light coat of dry overnight. scale inches wide. Floquil rust. A black Sharpie marker A cale guard makes a nice bit of was used to make nail holes in the scenery and adds a nice detail touch mbers. to the usually unassuming trackwork. I use Carter’s paper rubber cement It is large enough to be seen eas- (available from big-box and oce ily, but it is unobtrusive enough to
Figure 8: Angle iron was another of the modern cattle guard construc- tion materials. This is a cattle guard that appears on one of the mod- ules of the Great Lakes Group. I photographed this cattle guard at the 2009 Midwest Narrow Gauge convention but failed to note who built Figure 10: A home-made gauge is used by the railroad crew to check the model and the module it was on. the side clearance of the cattle guard. GETTING REAL: Building an accurate diesel loco roster Adventures in Prototype Modeling
Joe Fugate discusses y HO Siskiyou Line is now like to see the comment thread for this how he developed a pro- forever 30 years behind the issue’s column build a list of resources About this issue’s totype-based loco roster M current date, which means for other roads as well, making this a right now it’s August 1981 on my truly universally helpful column. prototype modeling for his SP Siskiyou Line ... model railroad. columnist Motive Power Annuals While I’m going to discuss the die- Reader sel era Southern Pacic, many of the For the 1980s Southern Pacic, some Feedback other class 1 railroads also have similar great annual reviews have been pub- (click here) sources for this kind of informaon. I’d lished. These fabulous books are
Joe Fugate is MRH’s Founder and Publisher. He’s also an avid SP diesel-era modeler, with his prototype-based Siskiyou Line layout perpetually in the 1980s.
Photos and illustrations by the author unless otherwise credited.
Figure 1: If you model the “modern non-roofwalk era” Southern Pacific from the late 1960s to the mid 1990s, you’ll want to track down copies of the Southern Pacific Motive Power Annuals/Pictorials by Joseph Strapac and Joseph Shrine. They’re loaded with pictures and details about SP diesel locos from that period. loaded with photos and descripons of With the advent of the rst second Figure 2: John Garmany’s book Southern Pacific Dieselization is packed every class of diesel on the roster. generaon diesels in the 1960s, the SP with useful data for even the more modern SP diesel modeler. Not renumbered their enre diesel eet. They also feature a complete loco ros- only does Garmany cover the entire dieselization process of the SP, ter list, giving each class of loco, how he discusses second generation diesels in detail. The book provides a I’ve found Garmany’s comprehensive many locos are in the class, the num- comprehensive all-time SP and Cotton Belt diesel roster in the back of roster, renumbering informaon, and ber range, and any special notes about loaded with copious notes on each loco class. I consider this book a GRIP rebuilding data to be extremely that class. must-have for any SP diesel-era modeler. valuable in my loco roster research. As a bonus, many of the annuals also feature an in-depth secon on some For instance, Garmany lists the dif - part of the railroad’s equipment. For ferent SD40 L-window conguraons instance, the 1981 annual has exten- by exact loco number. From there sive discussion and illustraons of SP as the locos were later rebuilt in the and Coon Belt steel cabooses. 1980s, I could determine exactly which rebuilt loco had which window Since these books are out of print, I had conguraon. That’s something not to keep an eye out for them at swap listed in any of the other rosters or meets, on Amazon’s used book secon move power annuals. and on eBay. Diligence paid o – I was able to get a complete set of the annu- Southern Pacic Dieselizaon is sll in als from the later 1970s to the end of print and available from Amazon.com the 1980s over a couple year’s me. and hobby shops.
Southern Pacific Dieselization Photo Collections As a diesel-era modeler, I nd know- In addion to collecng books to use ing the history of how my prototype as resources for building a realisc Southern Pacic dieselized to be prototype diesel roster, I have built a very helpful in understanding how to collecon of photos. develop an accurate diesel loco roster. Since I railfanned the SP Siskiyou Line locos I can prove actually ran on the loco actually ran on the Siskiyou Line For this topic, I found the book in the 1980s, I have photos in my own Siskiyou Line in the 1980s. in the 1980s. Southern Pacic Dieselizaon by John collecon of various diesels on the Bonds Garmany. John Garmany cov- line at that me. This means I can vali- Building My Roster I also used the Southern Pacic ers the very beginnings of diesels on date certain loco numbers to have run Dieselizaon book’s all-me roster to the SP in the late 1930s all the way on the line during that decade. Once I had the list of loco numbers compute a proper rao of each loco to the Amtrak era. and their sources, I was able to build a class. That way I would not have a wildly A number of books have been list of locos for my roster. disproporonate number of locos in a The book also features a comprehen- released over the years that also given class on my Siskiyou Line layout. sive diesel loco roster in the back, cover the SP in Oregon and Northen I used Microso Excel to make the with copious notes about variaons California. Using these books, I am roster, and I included references to When designing my layout, I es- and modicaons. able to extend my list with addional the photo source that validate the mated I could run up to 14 trains on my layout in a typical op session. Each TEBU: Tracve Eort Booster Units Figure 3 train would have between 2 and 5 – slugs with a low hood full of con- locos, depending on if it’s a local or a crete and tracon motors on all 4 through train, and if it’s going over a axles. TEBU’s get their power from the grade and needs helpers. mother GP40s (gure 8). However, I can say the average per train Total in my roster: 2 locos. would be about 4 locos, and then I need SD9E: SD9s that have been rebuilt to to include a few extra as switchers. modern electrical standards as part of If I take 14 trains per op session and the GRIP program (gure 5). mulply it by 4 locos per train, I get Total in my roster: 12 locos. 56 locos. Adding switchers for my layout’s two yards plus some spares, SD9E, Kodachrome: Rebuilt SD9Es Figure 4 that’s maybe 7 more, totalling 63 repainted to the SPSF merger paint locos for my roster. scheme circa 1986 (gure 6). Total in my roster: 2 locos. Next, I looked at my photo collecon and determined which classes of locos SD40R: SD40s were rebuilt to mod- were common on the Siskiyou Line. ern electrical standards in the 1980s, GP9E, Phase II: Rebuilt to modern hence the R designaon (gure 15). electrical standards as part of the Total in my roster: 6 locos. GRIP program in the 1970s, hence the SD45: Six axle SD45s with the disnc- E designaon. Phase II GP9s have ve 36” fans on the roof (gure 3). ve ared radiator secon at the top Total in my roster: 4 locos. rear of the hood (gure 13). Total in my roster: 6 locos. GP9E, Phase III: Rebuilt to modern electrical standards in the GRIP pro- SD45R: SD45s rebuilt during the Figure 5 gram. Phase III GP9s have three 48” 1980s to modern electrical standards, fans on the roof (gure 4). giving the R designaon (gure 12). Total in my roster: 2 locos. Total in my roster: 6 locos. GP40R: Coon Belt GP40s bought in Connued on page 100 ... the early 60s, then rebuilt during the early 1980s to run as TEBU mothers, Figure 3: Phase II GP9E 3408, on hence the R designaon (gure 11). the Siskiyou Line (1990). Total in my roster: 4 locos. Figure 4: Phase III GP9E 3840, in Roseburg Yard (1987). GP40-2: Late GP40 locos with improved dash 2 electrical components (gure 7). Figure 5: SD9E 4422, in Roseburg Total in my roster: 3 locos. Yard (1987). Figure 6 Figure 9
Figure 7 Figure 10
© 2000 R.L. Dengler Figure 8 Figure 11
©19 99R. L.D engler ©20 01R. L.D engler Figure 6: SD9E 4354 in Kodachrome paint, Oakland, OR (1989). Figure 9: SD40T-2 8299 in Sutherlin, OR (1987). Figure 7: GP40-2 7943 in Roseville, CA yard (1981). From espee-railfan.net . Figure 10: SD45T-2 9313 in Sutherlin, OR (1987). Figure 8: TEBU 1601 in Roseville, CA yard, (1981). From espee-railfan.net . Figure 11: GP40R 7961 in Sacramento, CA yard (1982). From espee-railfan.net . Connued from page 98 ... to find a photo of it running some- Figure 12 where on the SP Siskiyou Line dur- SD40T-2: Disncve SD40-2 “tunnel ing the 1980s. My sources include motor” locos with the low air input my own photo collection, books, screen at the back of the long hood and the internet. (gure 9). Total in my roster: 10 locos. Once I am able to establish that a SD45T-2: The SD45-2 version of the given loco number did run on the Figure 13 “tunnel motor” locos (gure 10). Siskiyou Line someme during the Total in my roster: 5 locos. 1908s, then I am free to draw on images of that loco number from SD45T-2, Kodachrome: SD45T-2 tun- anywhere during its lifeme as a nel motor locos that were repainted detailing resource. into the SPSF merger scheme circa 1986 (gure 14). Some of the photos in this arcle Total in my roster: 1 loco. don’t show the loco on the Siskiyou My main requirement to include a Line, but the loco number shown did run on the Siskiyou Line someme © 2007 Dennis Mutulo given loco number in my roster is
Figure 14 Figure 15
Figure 12: SD45R 7482 in Oakland, OR (1987). Figure 15: SD40R 7361 in Oakland, OR (1987). Figure 13: SD45 9058 in Sacramento, CA (1986). From espee-railfan.net . Figure 14: SD45T-2 9318 in Kodachrome paint, Oakland, OR (1987). DCC# Loco # Type Reference DCC# Loco# Type Reference 0 **** **** No **00 loco yet identifed 50 3750 GP9E JF collection during the 1980s. I selected the pho- 1 1601 TEBU 51 7551 SD45R First SP unit painted in Kodachrome tos to appear in this arcle primarily 2 9402 SD45T-2 J FC o llec ti on 51 8351 SD40T-2 SP Country, pg 49 - snoot version because they are in my personal col- 3 52 7452 SD45R JF Collection 4 4304 SD9E JFC ollection 53 lecon or we have permission ot use 5 1605 TEBU 54 4354 SD9E JF collection them in this arcle. 6 4406 SD9E SP Oregon Division, pg 21 55 7 4407 SD9E SP Oregon Division, pg 24 56 6856 SD45T-2R SP Oregon Division, pg 46 In some cases I need to speculate a 8 4408 SD9E JF collection, SPOr egon Division, pg 18, 59 57 9157 SD45T-2 Web lile on what may have happened to 8 1608 TEBU (renumber to 1605) 58 9058 SD45 Web f ol der (l ow b rak es) some of the details and weathering. 9 4409 SD9E 58 7358 SD40R Shasta video 10 7510 SD45R SP Or eg on Div is io n. .. 59 3859 GP9E SP Cntry, pg 48 (ph III), SP OR Div, pg 31, 100 Such is the life of a historical modeler! 11 4411 SD9E SP Oregon Division, pg 22 60 7960 GP40R Web folder 12 8312 SD40T-2 61 7961 GP40R Web folder Building the Roster in Excel 13 61 7361 SD40R JF Collection 14 7514 SD45R Web (l ow mo un ted br akes ) 62 4362 S D9E In ph ot o o f 4407 (Co os Bay ) o n Web I used Microso Excel to build my 15 4415 SD9E SPC ountry, pg 35 63 4363 SD9E SPOr egon Division, pg 45(K odachrome) roster list. Originally I was using 2 digit 16 8816 SD45 Rails in NW, pg 54, 74 64 4364 SD9E SP Or eg on Div is ion ,p g 15 17 65 addresses in all my locos, so it was 4317 SD9E SP Oregon Division, pg 45 7365 SD40R Web folder 18 9318 SD45T-2 JF Collection (Kodachrome) 66 7966 GP40R SP in Oregon Pictorial, pg 116, 118 important to me that I only had one 18 **** **** Filled tempor ar ily with loaned UP loco 67 7967 GP40R Backwoods Railroads; SP in OR Pict, pg 131 loco in each address. To maintain this 19 7319 SD40R Shastav ideo 68 7468 S D45R Web (l ow mo un ted br ak es ) restricon, I only used the last 2 digits 20 7320 SD40R 69 7469 SD45R JF Collection on the cab. 21 70 22 4422 SD9E JFc ollection 71 7371 SD40R JF Collection However, ve years ago, I nally 23 4323 SD9E SP Co un tr y, pg 31 (t op v iew ), JF co ll ec ti on 72 8372 SD40T-2 SP Country, pg 45 - snoot version 24 73 7373 S D40R SP Or eg on Di vi si on , p g ? decided DCC 4-digit addressing and 25 4425 SD9E SP Oregon Division, pg 38 74 consisng had progressed enough 26 7426 SD45R Web (l ow mo un ted br akes ) 75 9075 SD45 SPCo untry, pg 7 (color - high brake cylinders) that liming myself to 2-digit 27 7527 SD45R Web (l ow mo un ted br ak es an d b el l) 76 addresses was no longer required. My 28 7328 SD40R SP Rev iew 1981, p g1 09 77 8277 S D40T-2 J F Co ll ec ti on 78 NCE system, for example now allows 29 30 8330 SD40T-2 J Fc o ll ect io n 79 7479 S D45R J F Co ll ec ti on (s ev er al ) me to refer to loco consists using the 31 4431 SD9E JFc ollection 80 3780 GP9E JF collection 4-digit address of the lead loco. 32 81 33 4333 SD9E SP Or eg on Div is io n, pg 16, 23, 28 82 7482 S D45R J F Co ll ec ti on (s ev er al ) I now have more than one loco in 34 8334 SD40T-2 Web 83 some last-two-digit slots, such as 35 9235 SD45T-2 Web 84 9084 SD45 Web (l ow m ou nt ed b rakes ) 4408 and 1608. 36 7636 GP40-2 Pentrex, Best of 1990 video; Shasta video 85 4385 SD9E SP Country, pg 41 37 9237 SD45T-2 86 On the right is my current Excel loco 38 9038 SD45 Web(high mounted brakes) 87 8887 S D45 SP C ou nt ry, p g 39 (h ig h b rak es ) roster lisng. 39 7339 SD40R JF Collection 88 40 3840 GP9E J Fc o ll ect io n (p h III r eb ui ld ) 89 4389 SD9E SP Country, pg 41 41 9241 SD45T-2 90 9090 SD45 Web (high brakes) Figure 16: Here’s my Excel loco 42 9342 SD45T-2 JF Collection (to be fnished) 91 roster listing. The lines shaded 42 3942 GP9E SP Oregon Division, pg 23 92 9092 SD45 SPin OR Pict, pg 163, 203, web (high brakes) 43 7943 GP40- 2 SP Or eg on D iv is io n, p g 34 93 gray are actually on the layout. 44 7444 SD45R SP Or eg on D iv is io n, p g 96, 98 94 4394 SD9E SP Or eg on Div is ion ,p g 4 Originally, I was using 2-digit loco 45 95 8295 SD40T-2 SPCo untry, pg 7 (color) addresses, so I organized the list 46 7546 SD45R JF Collection 96 that way. 47 8247 SD40T-2 SPOr egon Division, pg 46 97 48 3348 GP9E JFC ollection 98 9398 SD45T-2 SPCo untry, pg 73,89 49 99 8299 S D40T-2 J F c ol lec ti on Reference Sources Ways West Publicaons in 1986. Available on Amazon.com used. Here’s a key to the references I Rails in the Northwest: 80 page menon in my roster lisng. book published by the Colorado JF Collecon: Images I have in my Railroad Museum in 1978. own personal photo collecon. Available on Amazon.com used. SP Oregon Division: 128 page Backwoods Railroads: 168 page hardcover book published by book published by the Washington Hundman Publishing in 1997. State University in 1994. Available Available on Amazon.com. on Amazon.com.
SP Country: 199 page book, Shasta video: VHS Video produced Southern Pacic Country , pub- by Icon Video Producons in 1996. Figure 17: I found this image of SD9E SP4408 on the Siskiyou Line in lished by Trans-Anglo Books in Video is out-of-producon so you’ll the book Southern Pacific Oregon Division (Jennison and Neves) . This 1987. Available on Amazon.com. have to Google the web and/or photo, along with a shot from my own personal collection of 4408 taken watch eBay to nd a used copy. SP in Oregon: 320 page book, in Oakland, Oregon, during 1987 tells me 4408 was a frequently seen Pentrex Best of 1990 video: VHS loco on the Siskiyou Line. Southern Pacic in Oregon, pub- lished by Pacic Fast Mail in 1994. video produced by Pentrex with a number of railroads featured, one Now you can see how I established Available on Amazon.com. of which is the SP Siskiyou Line in my loco roster. The next stage will Reader SP Move Power Annual 1986: 1989. Video is out-of-producon, be to begin collecting the actual Feedback 128 page book, SPSF Move so you’ll have to Google it or locos for my layout. We’ll cover that (click here) Power 1986, published by Four watch eBay. in future installments of the Getting Real column.
Figure 18: We’ll cover specific loco types and how I detailed the models to match the prototype in future Getting Rea l columns.
Figure 19: Southern Pacific Oregon Division is one of the books I referenced while building my loco roster list. COMME-N-TARY: Ballasting a Four-Track Mainline Applying cinders and granite to Pennsy’s Great Broad Way! Modeling in the hobby’s most eNgaging scale About our N-scale columnist Reader be combined with proper drainage long trains, short trains, heavy trains, Feedback ditches, sub-roadbed, wayside struc- light trains, helpers (snappers on the tures and other materials that make (click here) , PRR) if you plan to use them, passen- our railroad look like it is working ger trains, the largest and longest cars for a living! you plan on operang. Be sure to run Tips and techniques Preparations in both direcons, across all turnout for creating a smooth posions; over and over unl every running and great A key element of smooth railroading train runs without a hiccup. looking mainline in N is to make absolutely sure that the trackwork is in good shape before Make sure all feeders as well as any scale. Four tracks are applying any ballast. The best way addional wiring for signals, detec- optional! to do that, of course, is to run trains. on or other operaons are wired Aer all, that is what we are about: and funconal. Then take a long look
allasng a four-track mainline is much like ballasng a single- Btrack mainline, except that you John Drye is our N scale use a lot more ballast! The key in both editor and columnist. instances is to progress slowly and carefully and to not expect to get it all Click here to learn more about done in one “go.” John. On the prototype, ballast provides support and stability for passing trains, allows for prompt drainage, inhibits vegetaon growth, and makes for ecient maintenance. Common ballast materials include quartz, gran- ite, or limestone. The material can be a foot or more deep under the track itself, level with the tops of the es, and sloping down several feet or more to the sides of the rails. On our models, ballast enhances the Figure 1: The rst step in the ballasng process is to make sure trackwork is smooth, realism of the right of way, and can funconal, and cleaned up from the construcon process. “Depending on the to achieve a 45-degree slope, allowing construction material an ecient applicaon of ballast. We used a simple sanding block tool to used, a drainage ditch achieve a consistent prole between can be provided along the individual tracks. In some areas one or both sides of of complex trackage, it can be easier to use a large (2” or 3” wide) piece the mainline.” of cork instead of the split version. This allows more exibility in placing at curves, easements, turnouts, and individual turnouts and matches the super-elevaon to make sure all is prototypes’ even layer of ballast in smooth and gentle. these areas. The sub-roadbed can also use some Realisc representaon of the sub- aenon before applying ballast. The roadbed includes provision for track split variety of cork material allows drainage. Depending on the con- for smooth applicaon of the road- strucon material used, a drainage bed along curved trackage, but oen ditch can be provided along one or leaves an irregular edge on at least both sides of the mainline. Many one side. Both edges can be sanded mainlines also include a service road, Figure 3: Ballast can be applied using a small bole, folded index cards or with a variety of commercial products.
somemes using an abandoned par- other factors. Color photos help, but allel track remember that lighng condions can cause signicant variaon in the Painting the Rail apparent color. I seled on Floquil Grimy Black for the inial color. It Once you are sased with the way appears to be a good match for the the railroad runs, it is me to paint color of mid-1950s rail on a road that the track and es. A double-acon air- sll used a considerable amount of brush is a good choice here. The dou- steam. Modern photos appear to ble acon allows for careful control show a more rusty brown color, per- of where the paint gets applied. It is haps because of the lack of a steady sll a good idea to tape switch points rain of cinders. to retain clean contact between the moving and stock rails. The rails can The Grimy Black was applied in a few be touched-up by hand with a small careful coats, making sure the sides brush aerward. of the rails are fully covered, espe- cially the outside tracks. A rail-clean- Figure 2: Several light airbrush passes of your favorite “track color” ensures an even, thin, Rail colors vary by me period, use, ing tool can be used immediately smooth coat. geographic locaon, and a number of aer painng to quickly remove most Subroadbed
“The last step before The last step before applying the applying the ballast ballast itself is to add materials that itself is to add materi- represent the subroadbed. On a heavy-duty mainline like the PRR, the als that represent the tracks are supported by a signicant subroadbed.” amount of cinders below the ballast. Less material is used on lighter lines, but except on the lightest of logging of the paint from the tops of the and narrow gauge railroads, there is rails. The paint will be more dicult at least some rock or other material to remove once it dries thoroughly, used to stabilize the ballast. For the requiring a lile more elbow grease. four-track PRR mainline, I applied Inspect the paint carefully between dark grey cinders along both sides of coats, idenfying areas missed in the tracks, right up to the es. Some previous passes. A few light coats of this material will be covered by cover thoroughly but leave less paint ballast later, but that’s OK. It will look than a single heavy-handed pass. just like the prototype that does it Figure 5: Final posioning of the ballast layer can be accomplished by using a small s arst’s brush.
Figure 4: There are commercial products for spreading ballast into a smooth Figure 6: After the ballast is exactly where you want it and not where you even layer, or you can use a small household sponge. don’t, the whole area is wetted-down using a gentle spray. the same way. In some places, I used for the smallest size rock ballast that I cinders to cover the sides of lls or can nd, in a blend of light grey colors. to represent areas where track had The key to geng this ballast onto been removed, leaving the cinders a good-looking, smooth-running behind. The cinders are axed the ballasted mainline is to the get the same way as the ballast, which we’ll get to in a moment. Spreading Ballast “The key to ballasting a good-looking, There are a number of sources for N scale ballast made from a variety of smooth-running organic and non-organic materials. The mainline is to get the ballast comes in dierent sizes, and ballast only where some labeled “N Scale” is somewhat you want it to go and oversize. What may appear OK to the nowhere else.” naked eye will look like small boulders Figure 8: The glue will sink into the weed area and spread throughout the soaked ballast. to the camera. My own preference is
Figure 7: Once the area is thoroughly soaked, 50-50 diluted white glue is applied using a Figure 9: Before beginning to ballast complex track areas, tape over switch small bole. points to maintain electrical contact. The taped areas can be covered using a small paintbrush. “The roadbed deserves of commercial applicators, or a small along and between the tracks, it is alternave is denatured alcohol, just as much attention paint bole. In any case, the rst me to step back and take a look which also has the low surface ten- sion that allows the wet water to as a well-painted car step is to spread ballast along the from several dierent angles. mainline in a neat, manageable pile spread out. Be sure to use this in a or locomotive, so it between the es. Next is to use a Applying Glue well-venlated area. Apply unl the is worth taking some small s paintbrush, so sponges, ballast surface appears moist. When you are sased with the time here.” ngers, or other tools to spread the applicaon, it is me to glue the Now that the material is thoroughly ballast across the es. ballast just where you want it to go, ballast in place (without disturbing wet, the diluted white glue (about and nowhere else. We want it to The roadbed deserves just as much your careful work). The model PRR 50-50 glue-to-water, also with a drop cover between the es (fully on a aenon as a well-painted car or uses diluted white glue, applied with of detergent to help it ow) can main line, less elsewhere). The bal- locomove, so it is worth taking some an eyedropper or small bole. First, be (gently) applied to the ballast. last should cover the sides of the es, me here. Use the brush or other however, the material needs to be Drip a small drop of glue every inch all the way to the edge, and slope applicator to brush the ballast mate- thoroughly weed to ensure the glue or so along the track, enough that rial o the tops of the es and the gently down to the sub-roadbed. spreads throughout the ballast. The the white color spreads to cover all sides of the rails. On the PRR, our secret to ensuring a good soaking is the applied material. The glue will There are a number of ways to get track gang worked on two or three to add a drop of dishwashing deter- quickly sele into the ballast and the the ballast down in just the right tracks at a me, in two- to three-foot gent to the water, creang what is white color will disappear. Now, nd spots – a folded 3 x 5 card, a variety lengths. Once you have ballast spread commonly called “wet water”. An another project that will keep you
Figure 10: An spraying with “wet water” helps ensure the glue thoroughly Figure 11: A toothpick helps remove ballast that has strayed to the sides of the permeates the ballast. rails without harming the paint underneath. A wooden golf tee can be used for the same purpose. Figure 12: The four-track mainline is beginning to take shape. Note that there are still some areas that will need another coat before the gandy dancers are through.
On mountain railroads (like the PRR), the locomove sand used to get heavy trains up grades can be sug- gested by a very light applicaon of o-white paint sprayed on the uphill track(s) only. Go very gently here, with a heavily diluted spray, unl you see just a hint of white. The trackside drainage ditch can be lled with gloss medium to represent standing water, with tall weeds, or both. A service road can be modeled with cinders and a lile vegetaon. New or used railroad es can be scat- tered alongside the right of way to represent old or upcoming trackwork. There are a number of built-up or busy for 24 hours – enough me for get the even coverage we are look- get this knife edge is to tape o the kit structures to represent electrical the glue to thoroughly dry. ing for. Do the wet water / white glue grey ballast and paint to match the sheds common along the tracks, espe- / other project trick a me or two if cinders. Another is to apply a nal cially near interlocking or sidings. When you return to the roadbed, the necessary. Paence and care is the layer of ballast along a tape or ruler ballast should be as hard as a rock. key at this point. No need to get it all edge. Gentle applicaon of water Summary Test by gently pressing on the mate- done at once. Inevitably, some ballast and glue is key here. Modelers of the Careful work in the applicaon of rial. If it crumbles, then the water did will creep up the sides of the rail, just Penn Central era might want to go in ballast and enhancing the right of not penetrate suciently into the where we don’t want it. A toothpick the opposite direcon. way will provide a good-looking and ballast to hold it rmly in place. Wet is a good tool to remove the stray smooth-running backdrop for our again (thoroughly this me) and apply ballast without harming paint or the “The trackside drain- hard-working trains. more glue. Go back and nish that remaining material. age ditch can be filled project you started. Finishing Touches with gloss medium to If the ballast is solid, great. Look care- represent standing Reader fully for places where the coverage Mid-20th-century ballast on Class 1 Feedback is uneven or for open spots. Go back main lines oen looked as if “it was water, with tall weeds, (click here) and carefully apply more ballast to applied with tweezers.” One way to or both.” Jon Addison, Mike Baker, George Barret, Brian & Jill Bollinger, Michael Duggan, Jack Ellis, Doug Foscale, Dave Frary, Bre Gallent, Russ Greene, Ken Hamil ton, Troels Kirk, Dario La Donne, Chris Lyon, Bob Mitchell, Bruce Nickerson, Dave Revelia, Hal Reynolds, Lou Sassi, and Bob Van Gelder. The event is scheduled for October 13-15, in Peabody, Mass. Addional details are listed in our Selected Events report on page 123. Reader Feedback Look for Sergent Engineering to announce Type H Tightlock couplers in the near (click here) future. Also under development is a clever uncoupling wand that slips under pas- senger car diaphragms… San Juan Decals is for sale. The eight-year-old rm specialized in thin-lm decals primarily for D&RGW, Colorado & Southern, and other narrow gauge opera- ons. In addion, San Juan took over the decal producon of Foothills Model Works a few years ago. The business is scheduled to cease operaons at the end of August. Anyone seriously interested in buying the company should contact Warren Grith at 970-946-3834. We had a great me at the Naonal Train Show in Sacramento, meeng new people, chang with old friends, and taking a close look at all the wonderful goodies on display. The event was well-aended, with the gate tally reported at 19,800 for the three-day public event… Among the busiest booths at NTS was Kadee’s, with Alan Vezzani and Sam Clarke answering dozens of quesons about the many variaons of their ubiqui- tous couplers… Congratulaons to E.W. Czerwinski of Truckee, California, who won the Model Railroad Hobbyist drawing for a free iPad. To get E.W. started, all past issues of We were saddened to learn of the passing of William D. Middleton, whose prose MRH were loaded into the iPad… and photographs helped inform and entertain rail fans of all persuasions. He cov- ered a wide range of railroad subjects, but for many of us, his authoritave books Despite the bleak economy, model railroad manufacturers, including many who on passenger cars and electric railroads remain unsurpassed. His body of work aended NTS, are showing their condence in the future by connuing to make encompassed more than twenty books – all of which are worthy of collecng. Mr. costly investments in new tooling. For example, Trainworx is currently prepar- Middleton died at his home in Livonia, New York, July 11, 2011. He was 83… ing tooling for a 28’ drop-frame parcel-pup with dollies, and a 40’ Strick exterior- post ex-van container – all in N scale. ExactRail will soon announce a 65’ mill We send our best wishes to modeling-wizard Terry Wegman who is slowly gondola, Eastern Seaboard Models is cung dies for three variaons of an N recovering from crical renal failure, liver shut-down, and depression. Get-well scale X-58 boxcar, Micro-Trains is tooling-up for a Z scale PFE class R30-2 wood- wishes can be sent to Terry at the Hunngton Beach Hospital, 17772 Beach Blvd, sheathed ice-reefer for introducon late this year, and Broadway Limited is nal- Hunngton Beach, CA 92647… izing new tooling for an HO scale New York Central steel boxcar with both 4/4 Best wishes also go to InterMountain CEO Frank Angstead who is recovering Dreadnaught and 7/8 corrugated ends… from knee surgery… Our news report this month includes informaon about lots of new and excit- The roster of talented clinicians scheduled for the Fine Scale Model Railroader ing products, including many that were introduced at the Naonal Train Show Expo 2011 connues to grow, with the call-board currently lisng the names of in Sacramento, California. You’ll also see reference to some interesng video interviews Je Shultz conducted with several manufacturing ocials at NTS. Be as well as an unleered version in plain black, black with white pinstripes, and black sure to check them out. with red window frames, white res, and white running board stripes. The ready- to-run model has an MSRP of $419.00 each. The model comes with DCC for speed, direcon, and lighng control. It is ready for a plug-and-play sound module that is NEW PRODUCTS FOR MULTIPLE SCALES sold separately at $119.00. On3 modelers will undoubtedly be qu ick to convert this model to their fraconally wider track gauge. Scenic Express (scenicexpress.com) showed several new items at the Naonal Train Show including some impressive Giant Sequoia trees that come 10”, 15”, 24”, and 36” tall. Other unique products included new wild grass from Germany that oers the same results as stac grass but does not require any expensive electronic applicaon equipment. The new material is available in eight colors in both 6mm and 2mm heights. For addional informaon about these and other innovave scenery products, click on model-railroad-hobbyist.com/MRHT_2011_ NTS/Scenic-Express to watch MRH’s exclusive interview at the Naonal Train Show with Scenic Express CEO Jim Elster.
O SCALE PRODUCT NEWS
Sidetrack Laser (sidetracklaser.com) has introduced this Crew Truck conversion kit that ts on a Bachmann On30 rail truck. The kit sells for $32.95 and features laser-cut components, an assembly jig, special graphics, and Berkshire Valley cast detail parts. The rail truck and gures are not included.
Among the many items being shown in Bachmann’s (www.bachmanntrains.com) large display booth at the Naonal Train Show, was a pilot model of their forthcoming On30 14-ton two-truck Stearns/Heisler locomove. The Spectrum-series ready-to- run model is based on an early Heisler manufactured in the late 1890s. Th e model, illustrated here by a pre-producon test sample, will be available this fall decorated for Colorado Mining Co., Midwest Quarry & Mining Co., and Greenbrier & Big Run, Sidetrack Laser also introduced its new Main Street Garage at the Naonal shipping dates yet, but fully-decorated cars expected to be released soon will Train Show. The nished structure has a footprint of 8.5 x 8.5 inches. The O include Northern Pacic, NYC-MDT, Fruit Growers Express, Milwaukee Road-URTX, scale kit sells for $89.95. The vehicle and gure are not included (see picture Burlington Route, PFE (SP/UP), Illinois Central, Bangor & Aroostook, Rock Island- previous page). URTX, and Great Northern. The cars will have an MSRP of $14.98. Accurail has also nished new tooling for a similar car with a plug-door. Other car kits scheduled for Morgan Hill Models (morgan- release this month include an Erie 50-ton oset twin hopper car, and a 40’ single- sheathed wood boxcar decorated for Maine Central, Pennsylvania Railroad, and hillmodels.com), a rm that has Great Northern. All have a list price of $13.98. previously focused on On30 roll- ing stock, has released its rst One of the more excing new items on display in Athearn’s (athearn.com) NTS structure kit – and they picked booth were pre-producon samples of their new HO scale C-50-7 Southern Pacic a gem. Hobbyists will recognize steel bay-window caboose. Future releases of the Genesis model will include SP The Perkins Produce Company, class C-50-4, C-50-5, C-50-8, C-50-9, and Western Pacic’s 480-class cabooses. a classic three-story trackside The inial release, due to arrive in February 2012, is for two versions of the class building that rst appeared as a construcon arcle by Earl Smallshaw in a 1974 edion of Model Railroader magazine. It was subsequently made avail- able as an HO scale kit. Morgan Hill’s O scale laser-cut version was engineered with assistance from master builder Bill Banta. The kit is priced at $169.00 with only 50 scheduled to be run. C-50-7 SP/SSW caboose – in Gothic leering in ve road numbers, and in Roman leering with three road numbers. An undecorated version will also be oered. S SCALE PRODUCT NEWS Special features include see-through steps and end plaorms, ush window glaz- ing, and etched-metal window screens. Each version of the ready-to-run model Alpine Division Scale Models (www.alpinemodels.com) has entered the S will be available with or without lighng. Lighted cars will be equipped with LEDs scale eld with the introducon of George’s Feed & Grain. The model uses controlled by an on-board Soundtraxx® system with a built-in capacitor for non- the well-established mat board and wood construcon technique with Grandt ickering lights. Operang lights include a roof-mounted direconal LED “frog- Line windows and doors, and Tichy details including a crane and barrels. The eye” marker. Non-lighted cars will have LEDs installed in the marker lights with kit is priced at $49.99. wires leading to the caboose interior. All versions of the caboose will come with new 50-ton trucks with ellipcal springs, rotang bearing HO SCALE PRODUCT NEWS caps, electric generator (shown in blue), and electri- cal pick-up capability. The trucks will also be available Accurail (www.accurail.com) has completed new tooling for an HO scale 40’ steel separately. See our exclusive 360° Click-n-Spin view refrigerator car with tradional hinged doors. The inial release, scheduled for of Athearn’s SP caboose on page 82. late July or early August, will be for data-only cars in both yellow and orange. No a prototype built by the American Locomove Company. The ready-to-run engine will be available in November as a DCC-ready model at an MSRP of $115.00 each, and as a DCC-equipped version with Soundtraxx® sound at $176.00 each. Both versions will be available decorated for Pennsylvania, New York Central, Canadian Naonal, Santa Fe, Union Pacic, and Boston & Maine. Some details on the nal producon version may dier slightly from the above illustraon.
Bachmann has set an October delivery date for a Balmore & Ohio class EM-1 2-8- MRH Photo by Jeff Shultz 8-4 Spectrum-series HO scale steam locomove with DCC. It will have an MSRP of $425.00 each. The model comes ready for a 16-bit Tsunami® plug-and-play sound Atlas Model Railroad Company (atlassrr.com) showed this preliminary engi- module which is sold separately at an MSRP of $119.00 each. neering sample of a newly-tooled HO scale FMC 5077 cf Plate B boxcar. The model represents an early 1970s-era FMC design with a wide end panel, and Youngstown door with a roller li lever. Although not visible here, the car will have Freightmaster ME-10 cushion dra gear. Atlas plans to nish the ready-to- run model with .008” wire grab irons. .
Among the new items featured in Bachmann’s (www.bachmanntrains.com) exhibit booth was this ALCo 1,000 hp S4 diesel switcher. The ready-to-run HO scale Bachmann’s new FA2 and FB2 ALCo diesel locomoves will be delivered in October model is expected to from all-new tooling that, among other details, reects the increased length of be ready by October the FA2 over the earlier FA1. The FA2 and FB2 models will be oered as DCC-ready and will come in both versions with an MSRP of $95.00 each, or DCC-equipped with sound on-board at DCC-ready versions $165.00 each. The inial release of the ready-to-run models will be decorated for at $89.00 each, and Canadian Naonal, New York Central, Erie & Lackawanna, Louisville & Nashville, as a DCC-equipped Pennsylvania (single-stripe Keystone scheme), and Balmore & Ohio. Soundtraxx® ver- sion at $159.00 each. Decorang schemes Bowser (bowser-trains.com) aracted lots of aenon at NTS with deco- will include Western rated samples of its newest Maryland (speed wring version), Southern Pacic (orange and black), New Montreal Locomove Works York Central System-P&LE, Santa Fe (zebra scheme), Union Pacic (Dependable Century C-630M Execuve Transportaon slogan), and Erie. series diesel locomove. Upgraded from the original Stewart tooling including Also on display such details as etched-metal in the Bachmann radiator running boards, booth was an engi- and a heavier frame. Road neering sample of names will include Canadian an HO scale 2-6-0 Naonal (both zebra stripes Mogul steam loco- and wet noodle), BC Rail move based on (two-tone green or red, white, and blue), Canadian Pacic (script or Mulmark), Arkansas & Missouri, customers. Major announcements included details on another release of Cape Breton & Nova Scoa, Western New York & Pennsylvania, and Pacic Great Blackstone’s renowned HOn3 K-27 2-8-2 Mikado. Scheduled to arrive in the Eastern. The Reading Lines locomove shown here is from an earlier produc- spring of 2012, the new producon run will include a late 1940s version of RGS on run. Available for DC operaon at $169.95, or with SoundTraxx™ DCC sound 455 with its post-wreck cab. The run also includes RGS 453 as a switcher with decoder at $269.95. See our exclusive 360° Click-n-Spin view of Bowser ’s C-630M its unique dog house. All units will be sound-equipped. Non-weathered K-27 diesel on page 85. locomoves will have an MSRP of $475.00. Weathered versions will be listed at $530.00. Advance reservaons close August 13, 2011. George Huckaby demonstrated a Bowser PCC trolley equipped with a special Tsunami™Sound system that included an automac-sequence of the trolley gong, passenger stop signal, pneumac door opening and closing, motor generator startup and running, and the brake light at the rear of the PCC coming on as the car came to a stop. The system is sll under test and should be available late this year.
New items in the BLMA (blmamodels.com) exhibit booth included a modern right-hand canlevered signal bridge that complements the previously-released le-hand version. The modern HO scale double-track bridge comes fully assembled with four operang signal heads with a total of 12 separate micro LEDs. The nicely Blackstone also announced a new run of its HOn3 narrow frame and frame- detailed plasc structure features etched-metal less tank cars with new road numbers. The narrow-frame cars were built in the handrails and walkways. The signal bridge has an 1920s by mounng standard gauge tank cars on steel channel framework. They MSRP of $89.95 each. were equipped with arch bar trucks with a 4’ 8” wheelbase. The UTLX frame- less GRAMPS tank cars were originally built from standard gauge cars in the early 1930s. Many of this class had the prominent silver leers emblazoned across the sides of the tank. The run will include three narrow-frame UTLX cars with yellow leering for road numbers 13178, 13036, and 12975. Also available are three frameless style tank cars with the “Gramps” logo and UTLX road numbers 55276, 55190, and 55347. All of the variaons will be available both weathered at $59.95, or non-weathered at $54.95. Delivery is planned for this fall.
Also featured in the BLMA booth were preliminary samples of the third release of Dave Hussey, owner the company’s 88’ F89-J at car. Era-specic details on the 1970s yellow TTX cars of Cannon and include posionable ACF hitches, wood and steel risers, appropriate bridge plates, Company (www. and cut levers. HO versions are expected to arrive this month, with the N scale cannonandco.net), models due in the 4th quarter of 2011. Click on model-railroad-hobbyist.com/ showed a range of MRHT_2011_NTS/BLMA to see MRH’s exclusive interview at the Naonal Train detailing components Show with BLMA founder and CEO Craig Martyn. at NTS including two new diesel fans. At The Blackstone (www.blackstonemodels.com) booth at NTS was full of acvity the le is a 36” cap- with Nancy Workman and Jarree Ireland elding quesons from enthusiasc top radiator fan used on rst generaon EMD diesels including F units, GP/SD7, GP/SD9, GP 20, SD18 Comet operang and SD24. Item RF-1707 is priced at $16 for a set of four fans. On the right is a in their booth at 48” cap-top dynamic fan used on rst generaon EMD diesels equipped with the Naonal Train dynamic brakes including F units and GP7 and GP9. Item DF-1854 is priced at Show. $9.50 for two fans. Con-Cor expects to deliver its HO scale Pennsylvania and Long Island MP54 MU commuter cars Con-Cor (con- in October. The project involves three body types: coach, coach-baggage com- cor.com) has bine, and baggage-mail. Each type will be available with or without a pantograph announced sev- in several dierent decorang schemes for both Pennsylvania Railroad and the eral new road Long Island Railroad. The ready-to-run models will have nished interiors with names for its HO lighng and will be capable of running o overhead wire if desired. An oponal scale 1920s-1950s DCC sound decoder will be available. Complete details are available at www.con- heavyweight cor/HO-Powered-mP54.html. branchline-com- Models on display in the ExactRail booth included their new Magor 4750 cf muter-suburban (B-C-S) cars. The cars have full interiors with constant light- hopper, shown here in GN livery, a 64’ reefer, a Greenville 60’ boxcar with sev- ing that operates on both DC and DCC systems. The prototype B-C-S cars eral new road names, and a new FMC 4000 cf high-side gondola shown below were used by many railroads, and the 65’ length makes them suitable for decorated for CNW. See our exclusive 360° Click-n-Spin of ExactRail’s new 64’ operang on layouts with track radius as ght as 18 inches. New road names Trinity reefer car on page 87. announced at Sacramento include Southern Pacic (Daylight, red and orange), Southern Railway (Crescent, two-tone green), Rio Grande (silver and Aspen orange), Royal American Shows (red and yellow), Chesapeake & Ohio (George Washington, Pullman green), Nickel Plate Road (Pullman green), and New Haven (Hunter green).
Based on posive responses from dealers and hobbyists, Jim Conway has decided to make a limited re-run of the HO scale Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee ElectroLiner. As with the original run, this release, set for late this summer, will be for four-car sets with full interior detailing and lighng priced at $459.98. Addional coaches will be available separately at $149.98 each. Con-Cor will oer an oponal add-on sound decoder that will also be compat- ible with the inial run of ElectroLiners. The decoder will be priced at $74.98.
Con-Cor is also taking reservaons for an HO scale version of the New Haven Comet train set – a permanently-coupled double-ended diesel-electric stream- liner that debuted between Boston and Providence in 1935. The disncve prototype was built with federal funding by a consorum of the Goodyear Company and Germany’s Zeppelin Corporaon. Con-Cor’s HO scale version will consist of a three-car set priced at $459.98. An addional coach will be oered Click on model-railroad-hobbyist.com/MRHT_2011_NTS/ExactRail to see MRH’s at $149.00. The set operates on convenonal DC and is DCC-ready. An oponal exclusive interview at the Naonal Train Show with ExactRail founder and CEO sound decoder is sold separately at $64.98. Con-Cor had a pilot model of the John Pestana. The latest from Fos Scale Models (fos- InterMountain is currently booking reservaons for several new HO scale mod- limited.com) is Weltyk Marine, an at- els with delivery scheduled for February/March 2012. The items include a USRA tracve HO scale waterfront structure gondola in six road numbers each for CB&Q, Southern Pacic, C&NW, Southern, with a footprint of 6” x 5.5”. A unique Missouri Pacic, Michigan Central, Monon, and Pennsylvania. The ready-to-run detail of the crasman kit is the large cars have a list price of $31.95 each. Also Pacic Fruit Express class R-40-10 laser-cut double-doors at the front of reefers in several schemes including PFE-Overland herald, PFE-double herald, the building. Other laser-cut features PFE-1942 scheme, PFE- black and white herald, PFE-Express (green), ART, and Western Fruit Express. The cars have an MSRP of $32.95 each. include clapboard walls, wood and chip- board roof secons, skylights, corrugat- Milwaukee Road rib-side boxcars are also scheduled to arrive in February/March. ed metal roong, and rolled-paper roong. Addional items include Tichy plasc They will be decorated for Route of the Hiawathas, Route of the Hiawathas with windows, detail metal casngs, assembly templates, and instrucons. Although original door, the late Milwaukee Road scheme with angled herald, and a mod- designed as a boat repair house, the structure could easily be adapted to a small ern version without a running board. The cars have a list price $31.95. engine house. The limited edion kit is priced at $49.95. Jay-Bee Models has introduced precision metal wheelsets with built-in resistors to trigger signal and occupancy circuits. The HO scale turned-brass wheelsets come in 28-, 33- and 36-inch diameters, and are priced respecvely at $29.00, $32.00, and $34.00 for a package of twelve. The wheelsets are available with various resisve rangs from 5.1K to 39K ohms per axle. Bulk pricing is also avail- able. To order or for addional details contact Jim Benne at jbenne7031@ yahoo.com or phone 630-832-3615.
New products due from Kadee Quality Products (www.kadee.com) this month include a PS-2 covered hopper decorated as SSW #77158 in the 1957 as-built light gray scheme. The ready-to-run HO scale model is priced at $42.95. Coming next month is a PS-1 50’ boxcar with 10’ doors decorated as Western Maryland #35073. The car has a funconing cushion underframe and comes in the original 1965 as-built red oxide paint. It is priced at $35.95.
Great Lakes Models (greatlakesmodels.com) has introduced etched-brass street details that includes manhole covers, storm sewer grates, and sewer inlets. The HO scale versions are paerned aer real items located in Milwaukee – spe- cically at the intersecon of West Duluth Avenue and South Massachuses Avenue. The items, however, are generic and nearly idencal to those used throughout the naon. A sheet of six sewer grates and inlets, or a sheet of eight manhole covers and rings sells for $3.95 each.
InterMountain Railway Company (intermountain-railway.com) demonstrated Scheduled for delivery in October is a Western Pacic PS-1 40’ boxcar with a 7’ a pre-producon sample of their forthcoming HO scale wide-cab SD40-2 diesel Youngstown door. The HO scale model will be decorated in the 1951 as-built at the Naonal Train Show. The test unit was authencally decorated like the scheme with boxcar red paint. It will be priced at $33.95. Canadian Naonal prototype. Kato USA (katousa.com) had good news for HO hobbyists, with informaon to making the model as accurate as possible, and expects to make addional that it will release several 1:87 projects in the upcoming year. The rst HO scale adjustments in the tooling before releasing it for producon. Jason Shron and his release, due later this year, will be a rerun of General Electric’s AC4400CW, the team are to be commended for allowing modelers to scrunize their preproduc- alternang-current companion to the C44-9W “Dash-9”. Decorang schemes for on samples, and most importantly, for listening to construcve cricism with an the ready-to-run AC4400CW will include Union Pacic “Building America” #5780, open mind. BNSF Heritage II #5622, and Canadian Pacic “Golden Beaver” #9608. Pricing was not rm at press me but is expected to be in the $180 to $190 range. Road names scheduled for the inial release of the Neil Stanton, the engineer who developed the versale HO scale reefer include and smooth-running Stanton power truck, demonstrated American Stores (built his latest idea in the NorthWest Short Line (nwsl.com) 1937, mid-late 1950’s NTS display booth. Called The Stanton Radio CAB System, scheme), Dubuque (built Neil used a hand-held controller (called an S-CAB) to 1937, mid-late 1950’s communicate, via radio signal, directly to a receiver, DCC scheme with large her- decoder, and baery, all compactly installed in the model ald), Dugdale (1939 locomove. No change is required in exisng layout wir- as-delivered scheme), ing be it DC or DCC. In fact, the system even works on GARX - Refrigerator (1939 non-powered track. If track power is available it can used as-delivered scheme), Hormel (1937 as-delivered to provide real-me baery charging to the onboard bat- scheme), Hygrade’s (built tery. Complete details and specicaons are available at 1940, mid-late 1950’s nwsl.com/cab. scheme), Kingan (1940 as-delivered scheme with large herald), Morris Riin (1940 as-delivered scheme), Oscar Mayer (built 1939, late 1940s scheme with Rapido’s (rapidotrains.com) display booth at the Naonal large herald), Swi (built 1937 with 1950 scheme on red body), Tobin Packing Train show was ably staed by Bill Schneider and Don (built 1937 as delivered scheme) URTX - Refrigerator (built 1938 as delivered Garcia, both knowledgeable about trains, and their com- scheme), and undecorated. The reefer will have an MSRP of $39.95 each. pany’s products. Availability is expected late this year, but Rapido sets manufacturing quanes to ll reservaon only, so interested modelers should place their reservaons Models fea- without delay. tured included See our exclusive 360° Click-n-Spin view of Rapido’s new GARX reefer car on page 90. the latest ver- sion of Rapido’s Rapido’s beauful HO scale CP Canadian was on display along with handsomely- forthcoming 37’ decorated FP9A and F9B diesels. Although Rapido’s booth was too small to operate General American the full-length Canadian, Dan Garcia arranged to run the train on the Edmonton Transportaon Society of Model Railroad Engineers’ large modular layout late Sunday aernoon. (GARX) wood The complete Canadian – all ten cars with an A-B-A lash-up at the point -- looked side reefer. Bill magical as it snaked its way through the layout’s beauful scenery. reviewed some of the ne details upgraded since the preliminary test sample made its debut at the Cocoa Beach RPM meet in January. Rapido has developed RSLaserKits (rslaserkits.com) is taking reservaons for the rm’s latest limited- run kit. Named Keystone Mill, the crasman-style kit is based on a structure built a reputaon for replicang car underframes as faithfully as the more-visible fea- in Pennsylvania in the late 1800s that is sll in use today as a lumberyard. Among tures – and the GARX reefer promises to be no excepon. Rapido is commied the kit’s many features are laser-cut sides using Northeastern lap siding wood and a stone foundaon cast by Downtown Deco. The nished HO building has a foot- print of 12” x 5”. The HO scale kit is priced at $149.99. Please see our N scale report for an illustraon of a nished model of the Keystone Mill.
During this year’s Naonal Train Show, Tangent Scale Models (tangentscale- models.com) announced the immediate availability of new HO scale Bethlehem Steel quad hoppers – with coal loads. Variaons include Union Pacic H-100- 16 (freight car red with large white Union Pacic on the sides and FCR trucks), Union Pacic H-100-19 (FCR with large white Union Pacic on the sides, and FCR trucks), Union Pacic H-100-18 (black body with yellow ends, and large white Union Pacic on the sides), Bessemer & Lake Erie (black body in six road Sidetrack Laser (sidetracklaser.com) unveiled its new Golden West Fruit Packing numbers, plus unnumbered), Clincheld class FH19 (in 12 road numbers, plus & Cold Storage complex at NTS. The HO scale kit is oered in two parts to spread unnumbered), Illinois Central Gulf-Centralia Quad (in six road numbers, plus out the cost as well as the construcon me. The Fruit Packing secon sells for unnumbered), Louisville & Nashville ( black in six road numbers, plus unnum- $165.95, the Cold Storage secon for $121.95. When purchased together, the cost bered). All unnumbered models come with a decal set of assorted numbers in is $249.95. Features of the complex include laser-cut structural components, cast appropriate fonts. The ready-to-run models of the Bethlehem Steel quad hopper detail parts, Grandt Line doors and windows, and a complete selecon of appropri- ate graphics. are $32.95 each with discounts available for quanty purchases
Smoky Mountain Model Works has a resin kit for an HO scale Southern Railway Pullman-Standard “Silverside” aluminum gondola. Using drawings provided by the Tangent also announced the availability of its ACF 52’ 6” welded 70-ton drop- Southern Railway Historical Society, Jim King developed the paerns for the model end gondola in seven new paint schemes plus two previously-released versions using 3D CAD and rapid prototyping technology. The kit consists of a one-piece with new numbers. In addion to the Pennsylvania Railroad G31B shown here resin body casng, urethane underframe, hidden weight, and Kadee #153 whisker (with early shadow Keystone in FCR with 1957 paint date in 12 numbers), the couplers. Addional details include Tichy AB brakes, steps, grab irons, and trucks HO scale model is also available decorated for Conrail GE51D (Conrail brown in with Kadee 36” wheelsets. Silverside is available with vermillion (1960 original) or green (mid-1960s) decals. The crasman-type kit is priced at $42.00 each. To order six numbers), Penn Central G31A (1973 green repaint scheme in six numbers), visit smokymountainmodelworks.com/SR_silverside_gons.html . Sacramento Northern (1959 scheme with black body and yellow leering in three numbers), Southern Pacic G-70-8 (1951 black scheme with white leering in six numbers), Southern Pacic G-70-12 (1953 FCR scheme with three numbers with InterMountain metal wheelsets, and Kadee® couplers. The HO scale model dierent from previous releases), Southern Pacic (Gothic scheme with 1966 is available in six road numbers at $32.95 each plus shipping. To order visit shop. repaint date in 12 numbers), Wabash (1951 black scheme with three numbers twmrc.org or contact the Texas Western Club at (682) 587-2092. dierent from previous releases), and Western Pacic (original 1959 scheme with black body and yellow leering in three numbers). Tangent’s ready-to-run HO scale gondolas are equipped with 70-ton ASF A-3 Ride-Control trucks with all- metal wheels, and Kadee® couplers with cut bars. They are priced at $30.95 each with discounts available on quanty purchases.
MRH Photo by Jeff Shultz
Tangent will release its acclaimed Pullman-Standard PS-2CD 4000 covered hopper Walthers (www.walthers.com) had several new and future HO scale items on dis- in several new road names. In addion to the CGW (CNW Clinton green repaint play in their NTS booth including early samples of the new El Capitan passenger scheme with Employee Owned placard) shown here, Tangent also has the car cars. Of special interest was this preliminary engineering sample of a Pullman- decorated for Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe (original 1963 mineral red paint in Standard 50‘ coal gondola that has been economically designed to allow hobbyists six numbers), Great Western Malng-NAHX (original 1963 gray scheme with Rocky to assemble an inexpensive unit train. The car is the introductory model in a new Mountain logo in two numbers), Rock Island (1970s ROCK blue repaint, in two road series of aordable products to be marketed as Walthers “Mainline” series. numbers), and Rock Island (original 1962 gray scheme in two road numbers). The ready-to-run models come with Kadee® couplers, and 100-ton N-11 trucks with Click on model-railroad-hobbyist.com/MRHT_2011_NTS/Walthers to see MRH’s metal wheels. They are priced at $42.95 each with quanty discounts when pur- exclusive interview at the Naonal Train Show with Walthers markeng VP Michael chased direct from Tangent. An undecorated kit is available for $24.95. Stephens. You can also view our exclusive 360° Click-n-Spin view of Walthers’ new Santa Fe high-level stepdown coach with drumhead on page 91. The Texas Western Model Railroad Club is selling a Pennsylvania X29 boxcar with shadow Keystone her- ald. The model is based on a Red Caboose kit and features include a vercal brake sha, Walthers has scheduled another release of its 85’ C&NW-UP pool cars to arrive in at plate end, PRR 2d-F8 trucks late February 2012. The cars are decorated with Armour yellow and gray to match Union Pacic “City” series pool cars. Road number decals are supplied with the N SCALE PRODUCT NEWS ready-to-run models. Addional details include factory-installed grab irons, and nted windows. The release will include a baggage car, a 48-seat diner, a café- lounge, and the baggage-dormitory car illustrated above. The cars will have an MSRP of $69.98 each.
Bachmann Trains (www.bachmanntrains.com) used the occasion of the National Train Show to announced it would begin shipping an N scale ALCo RS-3 diesel locomotive in early September. The ready-to-run model comes with a dual-mode NMRA-compliant decoder and DCC installed for speed, direc - Also due from Walthers next February are PS 2CD 4427 cf covered hoppers with tion and lighting. Mechanical features include eight-wheel drive and machined roof trough hatches and center discharge gates. Special features of the Planum brass worm bearings. In addition to the PRR unit shown here, other roads series cars include factory installed grab irons and other details. In addion to will include Boston & Maine (maroon, yellow and black), D&RGW (yellow and the Wisconsin Central version shown here, the cars will also be available deco- black), Western Maryland (speed lettering, black and yellow), Southern (black rated for IMCX, Wisconsin & Southern, Canadian Pacic, HJPX, The Andersons and gray with Dulux gold ), and New York Central (black with lightning stripe). AEX, BNSF, and ATSF. The ready-to-run HO scale models will have a list price of The RS-3 will have an MSRP of $120.00. $37.98 each. Also scheduled to arrive from Bachmann in September is an ACF 50’ 6” out - side-braced sliding-door boxcar decorated for Mc Cloud River, Middletown & New Jersey, RailBox, Providence & Worchester, Chattahoochee, and Burlington Northern. The N scale car has a list price of $18.95.
Walthers has scheduled a February delivery date for the next run of its Pullman- Standard 50’ wae-side boxcar. Decorang schemes will include Burlington Northern (Cascade green), and D&RGW (Acon Road slogan on orange and black car body). Both cars will have Superior doors. Youngstown doors will be BLMA (blmamodels.com) showed preliminary samples of new road names for used on a CNW (boxcar red), and Chessie System/C&O cars shown here. The HO its N scale ACF 70-ton 52’ gondola. They included Conrail, Southern Pacic, scale ready-to-run models will have an MSRP of $19.98. Western Pacic, ACL, and Pennsylvania Railroad. The cars ride on 70-ton solid- bearing trucks with 33” metal wheels. Craig Martyn noted that in response to customer suggesons, the tooling has been modied to minimize the protru- safety railings on both the front and back of the locomove, painted coupler cut sion of the coupler beyond the end sill. The change allows for broader curve bars, nose windows, and detailed fuel tanks. They will be priced at $130 with radius and closer coupling. delivery expected in late September. For more informaon visitkatousa.com/ Zcart/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=65_78_140.
Also featured in the BLMA booth were preliminary samples of the third release of the 88’ F89-J at car. N scale versions of the 1970s-era yellow TTX cars are due to arrive in the 4th quarter of 2011. Click on model-railroad-hobbyist.com/ MRHT_2011_NTS/BLMA to see MRH’s exclusive interview at the Naonal Train Show with BLMA founder and CEO Craig Martyn.
InterMountain Railway Company (intermountain-railway.com) is currently booking reservaons for an N scale USRA gondola with delivery scheduled for February/March 2012. The cars will come in six road numbers each for CB&Q, Southern Pacic, C&NW, Southern, Missouri Pacic, Michigan Central, Monon, and Pennsylvania. The ready-to-run N scale models have a list price of $21.95 each.
RSLaserKits (rslaserkits.com) is taking reservaons for an N scale crasman kit for Keystone Mill. The crasman style kit is based on a structure built in Pennsylvania in the late 1800s that is sll in use as a lumberyard. Among the kits many features are laser-cut sides using Northeastern lap siding wood and a stone foundaon cast by Motrak. The nished N scale building has a footprint Kato USA (katousa.com) plans to deliver its N Scale SD90/43MAC diesel this of 6.5” x 2.5”. The kit is priced at $49.99. December decorated in the cream-and-crimson scheme of the Indiana Rail Road, as well as the more familiar liveries of Union Pacic and Canadian Pacic. Soundtraxx® (soundtraxx.com) has a new system called SurroundTraxx, that The UP and CP units will come in two new road numbers. Prices were not rm uses mulple-speakers to provide realisc sound for N scale and small nar- at press me but are expected to be in the $110 to $120 range. Reservaons row gauge equipment. There are no speakers or other sound-related compo- are due August 26, 2011. nents in the locomove. The system uses mulple audio speakers strategically In collaboraon with custom model builder Charlie Hopkins, Kato USA is oer- placed around the layout. Using digital signal processing (DSP) technology in ing customized versions of its N scale GE ES44AC “Gevos.” The models will have conjuncon with block detecon techniques, SurroundTraxx reproduces the several enhanced details painted-on, such as stripes on the steps, white-painted sound made by each train on the layout and directs the sound to the speaker closest to the train’s locaon. As a train moves along the tracks, SurroundTraxx Mount Vernon Shops (mountvernonshops.com) has HO scale decals for pre- makes connuous adjustment to the sound level of each speaker so that the war Pennsylvania Railroad class GLa and GLg Circle Keystone hopper cars. Set sound appears to follow the train. Using a cross-fade algorithm that factors in HO-GLA will leer up to eight cars. Also new is a large decal set for four pre-war train speed, direcon and distance between speakers, the sound is switched carbon black covered hoppers including Spheron, J.M. Huber, United Carbon, smoothly from speaker to speaker. Click on model-railroad-hobbyist.com/ and SHPX. Both sets are priced at $9.00 each. MRHT_2011_NTS/SoundTraxx to see MRH’s exclusive interview at the Naonal Train Show with SoundTraxx sales manager Jarree Ireland. DISCLAIMER ..... The opinions expressed in this column are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Model Railroad Trainworx (www.train-worx.com ) has N scale 86’6” High-Cube eight-door auto- Hobbyist or its sponsors. Every effort is made to provide our readers with accurate and responsible news and information, however, neither Model Railroad Hobbyist or the writer of this column can be held responsible for any inaccuracies or parts boxcars in several new paint schemes including CB&Q, CSX, GTW, Norfolk typographical errors that may inadvertently appear in this column. Southern, and Penn Central. Visit the above web site for details on subtle varia- ons in the paint schemes and road numbers available.
NEW DECALS, SIGNS AND FINISHING PRODUCTS
Traction specialist, CustomTraxx ([email protected]), has released an HO scale decal set (CN-044) for Philadelphia & West Chester Traction Company and Philadelphia Suburban Transportation Company. The letter- ing set can be used to accurately decorate either the 1914-built Jewett 40-44 About our news and series interurban resin shells available from KND Enterprises (pknd.com), or the events editor 1919,1925,1926-built Brill 45-76 series center-door interurban resin shell kits available from Miniatures by Eric (miniaturesbyeric.com). Item CN-044 has a list price of $17.95. Richard Bale writes our news column under the byline of The Old The newest decal sets from Jerry Glow (home.comcast.net/~jerryglow/ Yardmaster. He has been writing decals/) include an Armour 37’ wood meat reefer in both the early leering about the model railroad trade for scheme or with the revised logo. A billboard style is also available. Other new various hobby publications since decals include a Charleston & Western Carolina steel rebuild of a USRA double the 1960s. sheathed boxcar. Jerry’s decals are available in all scales. Visit the above web site for pricing and ordering instrucons. He enjoys building models, particularly structures, some of which appeared in the June Microscale (microscale.com) has released eight new decal sets that cover the 2006 issue of Model Railroader life of Amtrak locomoves. Set -100 covers Amtrak Phase I (1971-1975) E, F, magazine. SDP40F and P42 locomoves. Set –423 Amtrak Phase II SDP40F, F40PH, and P42 locomoves. Set -424 covers Amtrak Phase III (1980-1996) F40PH Anniversary locomoves. Set -362 covers Amtrak Phase III (1980-1996) E60CH, FL9, SDP40F, and P42 locomoves. The leering sets are priced at $5.75 for N scale (add 60 as a prex to the part number), and $7.00 for the HO sets (add 87 as a prex). Coming next month are new sets for Great Northern Big Sky freight cars, and white Southern Pacic Fruit Express reefers. Briefy noted at press me... Walthers Donang to California Museum San Juan Decals, During the combined NMRA Naonal Convenon/Naonal Train Show a supplier of high quality narrow gauge decals, has been acquired by Dan held in Sacramento, California, Walthers announced it would produce Peterson (see earlier announcement on page 109). Dan, who is a narrow a special HO scale Proto series model of Southern Pacic’s EMD E9A gauge modeler, will relocate the business to Apple Valley, Minnesota, near locomove #6051. The announcement was made at the California Minneapolis. He plans to keep oering the enre exisng product line and State Railroad Museum (CSRM) during a special banquet held near the will connue to operate as San Juan Decals. Unl Dan gets a chance to beaufully restored prototype #6051. In support of the CSRM, Walthers update his web se, he can be reached at dpeters@fronernet.net pledged to donate $10 from each model sold to the museum. In addion to the SP Daylight paint scheme, the specially produced model will include many features unique to the big E9A prototype including James Weaver 1950-2011 a ve-chime air horn, boiler room vents, 48” dynamic brake fan, small Atlas Model Railroad Company execuve vice president James J. Weaver back-up light, see-through Farr grilles, freight-style pilot, nose-mounted passed away July 16, 2011. Mr. Weaver assumed responsibility for the Gyra-Light and headlight, front access hatches on both right and le producon of all Atlas-O products when he joined Atlas in 1996. He became sides, ladder stand-os on the nose, le and right MU hatches on the the driving force behind the success of Atlas-O. Approaching the senior nose, whip radio antenna with conduit, and vercally mounted cab wind scale dierently than most manufacturers, Weaver told an interviewer a deectors. The special model will be available for standard DC operaon few years ago, “Our goal was to approach O gauge from a new perspecve. without sound at $199.98, and with DCC-Tsunami® Sound at $299.98. We wanted to design our trains as a scale item, with 2-Rail rst, then adapt Delivery is expected in March 2012. The model can be preordered at the them to 3-Rail, which was the opposite of what other companies were museum store or at csrmf.org/store. doing at the me.” Mr. Weaver was a long-me resident of Dunellen, New Jersey. He was 60 years old.
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If you are a hobby manufacturer with a product announcement, just If you found an interesting announcement in The Old Yard Master, click here and submit your announcement to us. tell them, Our web site and free magazine reach connues to grow, so get on board with this new media train that’s hard to stop! you saw it in Selected Events NORTH CAROLINA, HICKORY, September 7-10, 33rd National Narrow Gauge Convention featuring layout tours, clinics, vendor displays, prototype events August 2011 and narrow gauge camaraderie. Speakers are Trains editor Jim Wrinn and David Pfieffer from National Archives. Hickory Metro Convention Center. CALIFORNIA, BUENA PARK, August 7, Railroadiana & Headquarters hotel (Crown Plaza) is sold out. Visit web site at narrow- Transportation Show, UFCW Hall, 8550 Stanton Avenue (at gauge2011.com for information on alternative hotel space. Crescent Avenue). Info at www.californiaexpress.net. OHIO, MOUNT VERNON, September 17 thru Oct 6, “Life Along the Line,” FLORIDA, THE VILLAGES, August 20-21, Rail Expo 2011, exhibit of original railroad photography of O. Winston Link, B&O Depot, 507 model train and railroadiana show, Lake Miona Recreation West High Street. Hours and fee information at mountvernondepot.org. Center, 1526 Buena Vista Blvd. Info from Alan Goldberg at [email protected]. VIRGINIA, VIRGINIA BEACH, September 17-18, NMRA Tidewater Division Annual Train Show, Hall D, Virginia Beach Convention Center. Info at nfr- ILLINOIS, COLLINSVILLE, (St. Louis area), August 5-6, St. Louis RPM Meet, with nmra.org. vendor displays and operating FreeMo layout. Clinicians include Rob Adams, Ed Hawkins, Chuck Hitchcock, Keith Jordan, Daniel & John Kohlberg, David Lehlbach (Tangent Scale Models), Nick Molo (Moloco), Clark Propst, Dave Future 2011 Schroedle (Protoweathering.com), and Mont Switzer. Gateway Convention Center, One Gateway Drive. Info from John Golden at [email protected] CANADA, ONTARIO, October 2, 7th Annual Muskoka Model Railroad Layout (812) 929-7181, or Dan Kohlberg at [email protected]. Tour. Visit 20 home layouts from N to G scale in Alliston, Beeton, Stroud, Orillia, Severn Bridge, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, and Huntsville. Tour maps VIRGINIA, LYNCHBURG, August 13, Lynchburg Rail Day sponsored by Blue available September 1. For info contact [email protected] or Al Crisp Ridge Chapter of NRHS. Train exhibits, models, displays and slide shows. Info at at [email protected]. www.blueridgenrhs.org. CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES, November 5-6 and 12-13. Pasadena Model WASHINGTON, SNOQUALMIE, August 19-20, 17th Annual Northwest Logging Railroad Club Sierra Pacific Lines Fall Show. One of the world’s largest layouts Modelers Convention with vendor displays, model contest, vintage machinery, with over 1,700 feet of mainline track, 42 inch minimum radius, controlled by clinics and layout tours. Snoqualmie Depot, 38625 SE King Street. Additional 10 mainline cabs. 5458 Alhambra Avenue. Info at pmrrc.org. info from Clark or Lloyd at [email protected] or phone 310-951- 9097 or visit https://sites.google.com/site/nwlmconvention/. CONNECTICUTT, ORANGE, October 9, New Haven & Derby Model Railroad September 2011 Club’s 19th Annual Model Train Show featuring operating layouts in HO, N, T, S and O gauges, clinics, vendors. Free parking and wheelchair accessible. High MARYLAND, ELLICOTT CITY, September 1-4, Steel Mill Modeler’s Meet, Plains Community Center, 525 Orange Center Road. Info at newhaven-derby- includes layout tours, seminars, models, and displays focusing on modeling modelrailroadclub.org. steel mills in all scales. Sponsored by Magarac Society. Turf Valley Resort.Info at www.peachcreekshops.com/2011steelmeet.php. ILLINOIS, LISLE, October 20-22, RPM-Conference (formerly Naperville RPM). Blue-ribbon list of speakers includes Frank Angstead, Mike Boland, Michael - MICHIGAN, LANSING, September 24-25, American Heritage Festival, spon Borkon, Jack Burgess, Bob Chapman, Bill Darnaby, Jeff English, Tim Fredricks, sored by Lansing Model Railroad Club, includes operating club layout, modular Stephen Funaro, Richard Hendrickson, Robert Heninger, Chad Hewitt, Steve layout, working blacksmith, wood carvers, wagon rides, and tour of Woldumar Hile, Roger Hinman, Chuck Hitchcock, Tyrone Johnson, Bob Karig, Tony Nature Center. At former Grand Trunk Western Millet Depot, 5309 Old Lansing Koester, Martin Lofton, Pierre Oliver, Bill Pistello, Ramon Rhodes, Mike Rose, Road. Info at lmrc.org. Dick Ryker, Bill Schaumburg, Mike Schleigh, Gene Semon, Andy Sperandeo, NEBRASKA, NORTH PLATTE, September 16-18, Rail Fest 2011, UP heritage steam Bob Sterner, Mont Switzer, Tony Thompson, Charlie Vlk, Bill Welch, and John engines, tour of Bailey yard, and model train display. Info at nprailfest.com. Westly. Hickory Ridge Marriott (630-971-5000). Selected Events Continued ... Future 2013 NEW MEXICO, ALBUQUERQUE, June 6-9, 2013, Rails Along the Rio Grande KANSAS, BENTON (Wichita area), November 5-6, Railroad Prototype 2013, NMRA. Rio Grande Division 6, Rocky Mountain Region Convention with Modelers Meet, Benton Lions Community Center, 150 S. Main Street. Info at clinics, layout tours, train show, OpSig sessions, UPRR and BNSF modelers midcontinentprototypemodelers.org. showcase night, and banquet. Marriott Pyramid North. Info from Al Hobey at MARYLAND, TIMONIUM, October 29-30, Great Scale Model Train Show & [email protected]. Railroad Marketplace at Maryland State Fairgrounds. Produced by Howard Zane and Ken Young.
MASSACHUSETTS, MANSFIELD, November 2-5, Craftsman Structure Convention, Holiday Inn. Info at csc11.net.
MASSACHUSETTS, PEABODY, October 13-15, Fine Scale Model Railroader Expo, Holiday Inn. New event includes extended paid clinics from experts including Lou Sassi, Dave Frary, Bob Hayden, and Bob Mitchell. For clinic fees and additional details visit modelrailroadexpo.com.
MICHIGAN, LANSING, November 3-6, NMRA North Central Region, Lansing Legacies Convention. More than 25 clinics including make-and-take clinics, Send us your event operating sessions, prototype tour, visits to 25 home layouts including narrow announcements gauge and traction. HQ at Ramada Inn, 7501 W. Saginaw Hwy. Info at lansin- glegacies2011.webs.com or send email to [email protected]. If you have model railroad related open house, show, or NEW YORK, ALBANY, December 4, NMRA Berkshire Division and Train other event announcements, just click here and submit your Associates present Great Train Extravaganza, free seminars, operating layouts announcement to us. in most scales, 200 sales tables. Empire State Convention Center. Information www.gtealbany.com or call (518) 668-9892.
NORTH CAROLINA, CARY, October 27-30, NMRA Mid-East Regional Convention at Embassy Suites Hotel, Raleigh-Durham-Research Triangle East, 201 Harrison Oaks Blvd. Info at mer.nmra.org.
OHIO, WEST CHESTER, October 29-30, NMRA Cincinnati Division 7, A nnual Model Train Show. Lakota West High School, 8940 Union Centre Blvd. Info at cincy-div7.org. Future 2012
MICHIGAN, GRAND RAPIDS, July 29-Aug 4, 2012, NMRA National Convention and National Train Show, gr2012.org. Reader Feedback PENNSYLVANIA, MALVERN, March 23-25, 2012, RPM-Valley Forge Meet. Info (click here) at phillynmra.org/RPMMeet.html. REVERSE RUNNING: Think shelf, not table! Stepping outside the box with a contrary view
tous 4x8 layout that’s on the cover of By moving to a shelf along the wall, started to nally get it. Shelves give us beginners’ books. Unfortunately, as you get a layout conguraon that more room to work than tables! layout designer Byron Henderson is aligns much beer with the linear By the ‘70s, walkaround shelf-based quick to point out, the 4x8 is a very nature of real railroads. By moving to designs started to become accepted poor user of space. a shelf conguraon instead of a table and then expected as a best pracce. one, you automacally start think- A huge problem is one of access. You Modern layout designers automacal- ing point-to-point and staging – tak- can’t easily reach across a 4-foot dis- ly turn to shelf rather than table. The ing you to the next level of creave tance, so you need “access space” all table’s shortcomings are now obvious. thinking for a layout that’s going to be round the 4x8 sheet – or at least on 3 more sasfying to operate. Given that table designs are rife with of the 4 sides. Access space translates shortcomings, when will we break the as “aisle”. A typical minimum aisle What if you need to use the room mold and promote shelf designs over width is 24”. If you’re realisc about for other purposes? That 4’ x 8’ lay- table designs on the cover of hobby it, you’ll need a (4’ + 2’ + 2’) x (8’ + 2’) out leaves a 8’ x 10’ room useless for books for beginners? Are we leading 10’ space to house that 4x8 layout. anything but trains (and under-layout newcomers down a primrose path storage). But with 24” shelves around If you think shelves-around-the-wall by promong table designs as great the walls, there’s sll a 4’ x 6’ open instead of table-in-the-middle, you starter layout opons? area in the middle. If you really need can get a much larger and more inter- free space, use 12” shelves and the One of the rst concepts we need to esng layout in that same space. With Reader open area increases to 6’ x 8’! Build teach hobby newcomers is: “think 24” deep shelves on all sides of that Feedback the layout 60” high and you can easily shelf, not table!” room, you’ll get 56 square feet vs the (click here) tuck a bed or desk under it. 32 square feet of that 4’ x 8’. Almost That way, they can start o right away double the layout space in the same If you look at the history of the hobby, on the proper foong. 8’ x 10’ area! Connuous running is you can see the development cycle of possible but a drawback is the need moving from table to shelf in our col- — by Joe Fugate door lecve consciousness as model rail- 2 to duck under to get inside the layout 8’ x 10’ room ' 2' x 8' = 16 sqft x hose of us who have been 6 ' (or provide a liout secon). roaders. Layouts in the ‘40s and ‘50s conguraons = 1 in the hobby for a while can 2 t 4' x 6' were mostly tables in the middle of f s q q central area f s t forget that certain key hobby Think for a moment about real rail- 2 the room, with operang pits or ac- 1 = 4' x 8' = 32 sqft ' concepts aren’t always obvious to roads. They go from point A to point 6 x - cess hatches galore. They were di ' 2' x 8' = 16 sqft B – they aren’t loops that connect back 2 newcomers. cult to build, hard to scenic, tough to up with themselves. Let’s leave a 3’ x door door maintain, and a pain to operate. 1' x 9' = 9 sqft One such concept is: think shelf, not 8' x 10' = 80 sqft 1 ' 2’ clear access secon in front of the x 7 ' table. Huh? Why is that? = entrance doorway. Now we’re down to Thanks to constant pressure to im- t 6 x 8 7 f 4' x 8' = 32 sqft q s s central area q f 50 square feet, sll much more than a prove the art of track planning from 7 t Most newcomers contemplang a = ' 7 4’ x 8’ with access aisles on three sides, innovave layout designers like the x starter layout think of the ubiqui- ' 1 but no duckunder. late John Armstrong, by the ‘60s we 1' x 9' = 9 sqft Clickable Adverser Index Page Clickable Adverser Index, connued Page Clickable Topic Index Page Accu-Lites ...... 13 Nano Oil ...... 12 Derailments ...... 127 Amherst Railway Society ...... 21 NCE ...... 9 Editorial – Editor’s Soapbox ...... 10 Aux Box DCC.Com ...... 18 QT Audio ...... 9 Editorial – Reverse Running ...... 125 Backdrop Junction ...... 25 RailMaster Hobbies ...... 74 Layouts – Nick Mu’s Kansas City Southern ...... 47 Bar Mills ...... 14 Railpub ...... 26 News – August Newsleer ...... 109 News – Sacramento Show Report ...... 79 BLMA ...... 3 Rapido Trains ...... 7 News – Selected Events ...... 123 Canyon Creek Scenics ...... 16 R.S. Laser Kits ...... 20 Prototype – Accurate Diesel Roster ...... 96 Clever Models ...... 25 Rulers of the World...... 26 Q and A – MRH Quesons, Answers, and Tips ... 17 Craftsman Structure Convention 2011 ..... 46 Scenic Express ...... 23 Rolling stock – Adding Realisc Rivets ...... 27 Dallas Model Works ...... 4 Scotty Mason Show ...... 24 Rolling stock – Prepping a Car for Club Ops . 44 DCC by Design ...... 25 Summit USA ...... 25 Rolling stock – Weathering Empty Gons ...... 22 Digitrax ...... 6 TAM Valley Depot ...... 45 Scenery – Comme-N-tary ...... 103 ExactRail ...... 5 Tony’s Train Exchange ...... 24 Scenery – Lite and Narrow ...... 92 Fiber Optic Store ...... 15 Train Videos and Parts ...... 24 Sound - Adding Background Sounds ...... 75 Fine Scale Model Railroader Expo ...... 59 Yankee-Dabbler ...... 14 Trackwork – Building a Gallows Turntable ... 60 Frenchman River ...... 43 Sta Notes ...... 12 Litchfield Station ...... 19 Hobby Marketplace ...... 24 ——————————————————————————— Micro-Mark ...... 25 Other – Cover ...... 1 Monster Modelworks ...... 25 Other – MRH Sponsors ...... 2 Model Trains Video ...... 26 Other – Table of Contents ...... 8 Other – Bonus Downloads ...... 16 For the love of model trains
Coming in the Sept 2011 issue
La Mesa club layout update – first views of the Tehachapi Loop Derailments, humor, Poor man’s jig-built turnouts Locos as loads – modeling deadheading locos by and Dashboard on Ma Snell Simplied Card Order system next page ▶ New “From the Workbench” arcle series – one evening projects on steroids! ... and lots more! DASHBOARD Derailments
humor?
“Here I am at the Waverly Model Engineering Society, where they build the cutest widdle toy trains you ever saw, along with widdle houses and itty-bitty people too! Ain’t that ADORABLE?” When talking to It was so dark you could hardly see your hand in front of your face. A switcher was shoving a cut of cars up the yard lead. A switchman on the roof of the lead boxcar was swinging his lantern in a slow come-ahead when the car lurches. He loses his grip on the lantern and it soars through the air. hobby vendors, As luck would have it, a guy walking by on the ground catches it in mid-air and tosses it back up to the switchman on the room who connues his slow come-ahead signal! A moment later the cars stop abruptly and the engineer of the switcher runs up and shouts to the man on the roof. “Lemme see you do that again!” please remember “Do what again?” “Jump o the roof of that boxcar and back up!” Q: What kind of passenger car must never be pushed? to mention MRH. A: A PULLman.
If you’re the rst to submit a good bit of humor and we use it, it’s worth $10!