ModelingModeling ScaleScale forfor thethe OO ScaleScale OOTraiTraiTrainsnsns CraftsmanCraftsman O ◆◆ ◆◆ Mar/AprMar/Apr 2004 2004 IIssuessue #13 #13 $5.95$5.95

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The P&D TWIN TOWER DRIVE for the Red Caboose GP body kit is functionally equivalent to the P&D power units already avail- able for the P&D F units, GPs, RSDs, and the Weaver FAs, FBs, RS-3s and GP-38s. The Red Caboose power kits provide only the neces- sary power related parts to supplement the Red Caboose GP body kit. These power kits fully uti- lize the underframe (plat- PDP2201K-Repower Kit, Red Caboose GP9 with P&D brass form), deck, air tanks, fuel Blomberg trucks...$200.00 tanks, motor mounts and screws that are furnished in the Red Caboose body kit. These P&D Twin Tower Drive kits can also be used to repower existing Red Caboose GPs. Two kits are offered: #PDP2200K has plastic Blomberg trucks, while #PDP2201K features the P&D brass Blomberg trucks, which are truly some of the finest trucks on the market. Each kit also includes a powerful Pittman motor and all the necessary parts to com- plete the installation. Detailed instructions are PDP2200K-Repower Kit, Red Caboose GP9 with plastic Blomberg included. trucks...$160.00 Modeling for the O Scale ScaleScale Craftsman Issue #13 OOOTraiTraiTrainsnsns Mar/Apr 2004 Features Vol. 3, No. 2 4 The Southern Editor/Publisher Stuart Ramsey’s layout blends the best of the Pocahontas Roads. Joe Giannovario 8A Chicago Great Western Caboose A drawing of a unique prototype in a hobby magazine led Al Krol to Art Director build this unique model. Jaini Simon 11 Bright Headlights Associate Editor Stuart Ramsey brings into focus how to make headlight reflectors. Brian Scace 12 Bitten by the Bug... Contributors ...the narrow gauge bug that is. Carey Hinch took a trackplan for an Ted Byrne HO layout and adapted it for On30. Gene Deimling Bobber Gibbs 16 A Sector Plate for the Harmony Creek & Southern Carey Hinch Squeezed for space? Here’s a neat solution by Ron Gribler. Hobo D. Hirailer 20 O Scale National 2004 Roger Jenkins Jace Kahn This issue we offer photos of half a dozen layouts you can visit during Jeb Kriigel the convention. Neville Rossiter John C. Smith 23 Just Another Plain Switcher It’s anything but... Roland Marx shares his conversion of a Gilmaur Subscription Rates: 6 issues SW1500 into a CP MP15. United States US$30 Canada/Mexico US$50 30 Building 69" Drivers for a Burlington 2-6-2 Prairie Overseas US$75 Tom Mix makes it sound easy with the right tools. Mastercard & Visa accepted Call 610-363-7117 during 34 Working Lighted Switch Stands Eastern time business hours If you use working ground throws to operate your switches, Charlie Dealers write for terms. Morrill shows how you can make them indicate the route with lights. Advertisers write for information 46 WM Boxcar Conversion or visit our website. A generic Weaver boxcar makes a fine Western Maryland Class B-3 as O Scale Trains ISSN 1536-9528 shown by Don McFall. www.oscalemag.com Published bimonthly (6 times a year) by 55 Locomotive Wheel Cleaner O Scale Trains Magazine, A chore is made easier with this setup described by David Stewart. PO Box 238, Lionville PA 19353-0238 59 OST Builds A Layout © 2004 OST All Rights Reserved Printed in the U.S.A.

Contributors: O Scale Trains Departments welcomes your feature articles, photos, and drawings. Such material should be sent to the above address for 14 Traction Action – Roger Jenkins possible publication. If we accept, you will be notified 19 Easements for the Learning Curve – Brian Scace immediately. For more information concerning article preparation guidelines, please send an SASE to the 22 The Good Old Days - Jace Kahn above address and request our “Guide For Authors” 26 The Workshop - Neville Rossiter or visit our website. 28 Crapola From The Cupola – John C. Smith 37 Confessions of a HiRailer – Hobo D. Hirailer Cover: Taddy Scace is appalled at what we did to his cake and his locomotive, but, hey, it was for 38 Reader Feedback – Letters to the Editor a good cause. Staff photo. 42 Product News & Reviews Centerspread: A Williams N&W J rolls along the 50 Narrow Minded – Bobber Gibbs lower level of the Southern with a Powhatan 53 Proto48 – Gene Deimling Arrow consist. Meanwhile, a Max Gray N&W 56 O Scale DCC - Ted Byrne Y6b is assigned to pusher service on “Heart- break Hill”. Photo by Stuart Ramsey. 58 Buy-Sell-Trade Ads 59 Advertiser Index 60 Events Listing 61 OST Dealer List OST is a proud Member of the Model Railroad Industry Association 62 Observations – Joe Giannovario Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 3 TheThe S Southernouthern

Stuart Ramsey

Ever since I can remember Flyer. I guess that is why I am a 2 rail fan. For many years I was I have liked trains, trains of into HO and really enjoyed working with that scale. Then one all kinds. Maybe it is because day, 20 years ago, I saw a 2 rail O Scale layout and WOW, I my grandfather worked in was hooked. Everything just seemed more realistic and sound- management for the South- ed that way, too. I found a dry basement here in Florida and it ern Railway in Atlanta, Geor- had a house on top of it. I was happy. As with most model rail- gia. Thanks to him and the roads it started off small and grew and grew, just like the real passes my family received, railroads did. we traveled by rail a lot, My railroad, the SOUTHERN, is a fictitious connecting rail- mainly up and down the east road consisting of my favorite railroads. Naturally, the South- coast. I remember standing ern Railway is my favorite. The other roads are N&W, C&O, on the open platform of an observation car watching the con- ACL, SCL, and the FEC. ductor dropping fusees onto the ties to let the next train know we were ahead of them. I think that the smell of coal smoke from the steam engine and the noise and motion of the train got into my blood as it surrounded us on the open rear deck. I still loved riding the trains even after the engines became diesels and the obser- vation car was enclosed. Rid- ing on the French TGV at 185 mph is the only thing that came close to the thrill of yesteryear. I have had some form of model railroad for most of my life starting with American

4 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 Being a connecting railroad makes it possi- ble to have all sorts of different equipment. Both steam and diesel fit in the period and give a contrast to the changing times. I have yet to go modern, but it has been tempting to buy some of the neat cars I see running up and down the FEC as I travel around town. Most of my 1000 feet of track work is Atlas flex and the 80-plus switches are from Old Pullman with Switchmaster motors. I have made quite a few sidings for local switching work, which is one of my favorite things to

do. I have a large double stub ended yard for my main freight yard and a smaller yard on the upper level where the locals pick up their orders. Another operation I like to do is a looooong train with upwards of 80 freight cars and helpers in the rear. I like to video these trains because on the tape they seem and sound quite real. There’s nothing like a C&O H-8 slowly grinding up a 2% grade with

a heavy load or a N&W Y6b with a long load of hoppers. I remember seeing the Y6b’s going only 15 mph with car after car of coal slowly following them. Them were the days! Dirty ones, too! The SOUTHERN has 5 passenger trains that have to share the mainline and, just like the good ole days, they take the right of way. The main freight yard is choked with about 200 cars and I am in the process of down-

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 5 sizing so that I can do more switching. The infrastructure of the SOUTHERN isn’t modern. The power for the engines is from two home-built 18 volt, 12 amp, power packs and 3 Dallee Yardmasters for moving around the lay- out while doing switching chores. I am consid- ering switching over to a DCC or TMCC system, but with 30 diesels and 29 steam engines on the roster I think I will wait awhile and see how all the new systems work. I am also afraid of hav- ing “cornfield” meets and, with trains pulling up

to 80 lbs of cars, a mistake could be costly. I have 3 cabs and that keeps the CEO, engineer, and dispatcher quite busy now. The latest addition to the SOUTHERN is a wharf scene. A friend of mine bought a Lionel tugboat. It is a little smaller than O Scale, but not that noticeable. I had to have one! Then I had to have a place to put it. I made a module that butts up against the major freight yard. Since I like switching, there are four industries plus a future tramp freighter to be served at this wharf and docking area. The future growth of the SOUTHERN will be slowing due to the walls moving in. I do have another 1600 sq. ft. under the main part of the house to go into. Nah!! No way. Model railroading is sup- posed to be fun, not a lot of work. ◆ The Details on the SOUTHERN Locale: Mason-Dixon line south and the Alleghenies east. Period: 50-60’s, but newer stuff, usually brought over by other RR CEO’s, can be seen here and there. Bench work: Open frame with plywood and homosote in the yards and some other flat areas, like the upper area. The base height is 48" over most of the lay- out, with the upper level at 55". 3 Trackage: The roadbed is /4" A- grade plywood with homosote subbase and cork on top. This

6 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 layout illustration by Carey Hinch

allows for quiet operation. Ballast for the mainline is SOUTHERN roster: Steam engines: 21 roofing granules that I have sifted through a window 47 passenger cars 1 MG Y6b (Klienschmidt drive) 2-8-8-2 screen and dyed with thinned RIT dye. The granules 270+ freight cars N&W come in a 50 lb. can for about $20 at a roofing supply house. The yards are covered with fine sand dyed to Diesel engines: 38 1MG H-8 2-6-6-6 C&O dark grey with RIT black dye. I use wall paper paste 2 SS FM Trainmasters 1 N&W 1 SP 1 MG 4-6-4 Hudson NYC diluted 4-1 for the glue to hold down the material. The 2 C&LS RS-11s N&W 1 SS T-1 2-10-4 C&O paste workes just as well as white glue, but if it has to be 1 C&LS RSD-12 Southern 2 SS (older) 2-8-2 Mikes Southern removed to change switches, etc., just a spray of water 1 Overland E-7A/B Southern 2 SS ex SF 2-8-0 (converted to coal) with a little soap and the material loosens easily. Track is Atlas code 148 flex. All switches are from Old Pullman 1 Overland SD-9 Southern Southern with Switchmaster motors. 2 MG GP-7s Southern 1 Williams 4-8-4 J N&W Curves: Min. radius on the mainline is 70", max is 1 AN F-3 ABA FEC 1 Williams 2-6-6-4 A (regeared) N&W 87". Min. radius is 35" in the yards and sidings at facto- 1 AN F-3 ABB SCL 1 Williams 4-6-2 Southern ries. 1 AN F-3 AB SCL 1 CLW (custom built/painted) 4-6-2 PS-4 Grade: There is a long 2% grade on “Heart Break Hill” westbound. It takes a good engineer to get a 70+ 1 AN NW2 FEC Southern car train up there without losing it. The C&O H-8 at 1 Atlas SW9 ACL 1 SS 2-10-0 Southern 23lbs makes putty out of it even with stopping and start- 2 Atlas SD-35 N&W 2 MG 0-8-0 USRA switchers Southern ing again. 2 Weaver GP-38 FEC 1 MG 2-8-4 Berkshire Nickel Plate Scenery: Plaster over screen, painted with all kinds of 1 Weaver FA FB FA Southern 1 Toby (PFM) USRA 4-8-2 Southern materials to cover it. There is close to 75 lbs. of lichen for the forest. I got a permit for $25 from the National Forest 5 Weaver RS-3 3 N&W 2 Southern 1 USH 4-8-2 L2 Mohawk NYC near me here in Florida to take out 100lbs. I cleaned it, 1 Weaver GP-38 Hi Hood N&W 1 Scale Craft 4-8-2 Southern washed it, and dyed it different shades of green with RIT 1 Atlas (old edition) F-9 ABA N&W 1 Kemtron 2-6-0 Mogul Southern dye. 1 Williams E-7 AA ACL 1 SS 0-4-0T B&O

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 7 Chicago Great Western Wooden Caboose # 401 Al Krol Like most model railroaders, I received CGW would cease to exist in just a matter the car body is actually a Grandt Line HO my first train set for Christmas at about 8 of months. scale window. The underbody details, years of age. Again, like most model rail- I researched the Kalmbach Publishing smoke stack, end ladders, grab irons, and roaders, it was a Lionel set. It has been a lot and Railroad Model Craftsman web sites for brake wheels are from Precision Scale of years since then, but I am still interested anything with CGW information. I found Company. The caboose rides on metal in model railroading. I have built in just back issues and article reprints available wheels from Intermountain and the cou- about every scale there is except “N”. A and ordered a bunch of them. One of the plers are from Kadee. The decals are from great deal of my building experience was in article reprints was a single page drawing Oddballs Decals and they are excellent. narrow gauge. But by the late 1990’s I was from the January 1990, issue of Model Rail- The floor and sills were assembled first. tiring of all the scratchbuilding roader. It was a Then the car body side and end walls were 1 and hand-laying of track. I built of ⁄8” basswood and assembled on, was impressed by the but not attached to, the frame and floor. variety of rolling stock The scribed styrene exterior was applied to kits and ready to run the walls with epoxy. From the onset of this cars available in “O” project, I was con- scale. I was no longer interested in being another minority scale enthusiast. I had been 1 1 in ⁄24 scale with 1 ⁄4" gauge track (true 3ft gauge for that scale) and I did not want to again be the only per- son modeling a particu- lar scale in the Western Hemisphere! Further, my grandson was interested in working with me to build a layout so that he can run drawing of trains at his house and at mine. So in late a rather unique CGW 1999 I began selling off the large-scale stuff wooden caboose. The caboose and began looking into “O” scale. appears to be an early attempt at a wide I was not sure what road I wanted to vision caboose with the cupola extended cerned about model. I considered the ATSF because I over each side. But what really caught my how to structure the various components so have always had a fondness for it. Then, attention was the closed vestibule type of that I could glaze the windows, and then one day, I had some kind of flashback expe- ends on the car. I eventually found out that detail and/or light the interior at a later date rience and I remembered driving up Spring the CGW was quite an innovative compa- if I ever chose to do so (I have not done Road in Elmhurst, Il, about dusk over 35 ny. But a wide vision wooden caboose! I either yet). I wanted to do any of this future years ago. In a congested business area know I said that I really did not want to work without having to undo glue joints, along the road, I came upon a railroad scratch-build anything any more. But as the etc. As a result of that concern, I built the crossing that I did not realize was even saying goes, “I just had to have one of caboose so that the car body and its roof, there because I had never seen a train on it. those!” the cupola and its roof, and the vestibule 1 But this particular evening there was a train I started by making a ⁄4" scale drawing of ends with the ladders and brake details are and the locomotive was stopped right in the the underbody of the car. I covered this a single unit. This whole assembly lifts off middle of the crossing blocking the road. drawing with wax paper so that I could completely leaving a “flat car”. Seeing it in the light of my car headlights, I build the frame in place right over the The caboose was air brushed with Scale- vaguely recalled it being a reddish or drawing. Having previously done a lot of coat Boxcar Red. The car and cupola roofs maroon color “F” unit and having some let- scratchbuilding, I was not against using a were painted with Floquil Grimy Black. tering “Great Western”. And now, 35 years mix of materials. So the floor, side beams, After the decals were applied, the entire car later, I began to wonder what was that intermediate beams, center beams, end was air brushed with Scale Coat Flat and “Great Western” that I had seen so long ago beams, needle beams, interior walls, end weathered slightly with chalks. and I decided to do some research. What I floor, and car roof are made of wood. The While I thoroughly enjoyed the research discovered was a wonderful (for modeling exterior car body sides and ends are Ever- and planning needed to do such a project, I purposes) standard gauge railroad, the green scribed styrene glued over the wood- am happy that the bulk of my rolling stock Chicago Great Western, not unlike my en interior walls. The vestibule ends and the can be bought in kit form or ready to run. favorite narrow gauge Rio Grande South- cupola sides, ends, and roof are Evergreen This leaves me time to scratch-build the ern. They both experienced similar trials, scribed styrene without the inner wooden really unique CGW items. The CGW is tribulations, takeovers, booms, busts, and wall. The windows, doors, steps, and making a comeback, if only in model form. an eventual demise. I realize now that, nut/bolt/washer castings are Grandt Line I hope to have more CGW stuff to share at a when I encountered it 35 years ago, the products. The small window on one side of later date. ◆

8 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 BOSTON &MAINE R-1A 4-8-2 BALTIMORE &OHIO T-4 4-8-2

PHOTO COURTESY OF HAROLD VOLRATH

The designers at Baldwin Locomotive Works Eddystone created the R Class, the “Heaviest Mountains Ever Built in the United States” for the Boston & Maine. The dual purpose R Class locomotives were at home on hot shot freight or passen- ger runs. In 1947 they were sold to the B&O and christened T-4. A must for any collector or operator. Sunset Models is bringing both versions of the B&M R1a and B&O T-4 to you in stunning brass detail and in very limited quantities . This mountain comes complete with, directional lighting, lighted markers and classification lamps, 9000 series Pittman motor with coasting flywheel, sprung drivers with carbon steel tires, ball bearing gearbox, fully detailed backhead with painted handles and dials. Designed to operate on 56” Radius O Scale track or larger this model will be an excellent addition to your roster. Call your dealer or 408-866-1727 today! Coming Late 2004, MSRP $999.95!

SUNSET MODELS INC. 37 South Fourth Street · Campbell, CA 95008 · 408-866-1727 · fax to 408-866-5674 · www.3rdrail.com 10 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 The 1.5 volt bulbs we The first thing you want to do is use for our constant find the center of the rod. I used a intensity headlights in our centering tool to do that. You can locomotives make it find one of those in a hardware store more realistic with the or a machine tool shop. lights on all the time, but Next turn down the outside of the they usually are not very rod so that it will fit into your bright. engine’s headlight. Then drill a hole By using a solid alu- for the headlight. The next step is to minum rod and a little ingenuity you can fashion use a metal countersink a realistic headlight and drill out the reflec- tor. Use some oil so that reflector that can really the countersink doesn’t make a bright light! chatter. Then cut off the The pictures of the Ps-4 rod to the length you show that the brilliance need. has increased quite a When inserting the lot. It’s the same for the light bulb into the reflec- E-7 which has both a tor I use a little glue to headlight and a Mars hold it in place. I have the light on so that I can move the bulb Light. With the 2 bulbs in and out to get the brightest adjustment. Then I hold it there in the Mars Light the until the glue dries. reflector really makes I think you will like the “bright” results. ◆ the lights appear to rotate back and forth, not just blink on and off. There are two ways of making the reflectors. The first is with a lathe, but a lot of us don’t have one so using a regular drill or drill press we can turn down a metal rod with a file.

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 11 Bitten by the Bug Carey Hinch On30 in 4x8 Feet -How I used an HO plan for On30 need space to get that kind of feeling, or required over the main lines, in the same else a long train will soon be coming distance, looks very realistic for a moun- around again and again. What would tain hauling narrow gauge line. I actually How do you know when the narrow interest someone from HO to start in O if it never tested the grades. It just looked gauge bug has bitten? For me it wasn’t the takes so much space? And, what about the good and I was running trains! first time I saw a Rio Grande steamer cost to get started in another scale? Enter I used Peco On30 track, turnouts, and winding around a narrow ledge of a O narrow gauge, or On30 for me. regular HO cork for the roadbed. I even mountain. It wasn’t the many model kits I wanted to get a layout finished. The purchased the Atlas turntable suggested in that are available for On3. It was the 2 rail big layout was progressing but not at the the original HO plan. It looked good and big O bug that did it. pace I wanted. I looked to O narrow fit nicely into the narrow gauge theme. I was in HO for 16 years. I had had gauge. It was O Scale just running on Installing Peco track was new to me. I had two 4' x 8' layouts and a 14' x 22' room HO gauge track. WOW! As soon as I been an Atlas and Walthers user for all my that neared completion, and then I real- had chosen On30 for a small layout, previous projects. Peco turnouts with ized I wanted more detail. Bachmann announced their On30 Shay Electrofrogs require a different wiring A good friend of mine, Gene Clements, locomotive. I thought it was a good rea- scheme than I was accustomed to. In fact, was in 2 rail O Scale from Day One. He son to start a small On30 layout. It I had completely finished the track laying had moved to HO from O and recon- would be large railroading in a small and started traditional wiring and nothing structed a 30' x 30' basement to do it! He space. Now the O narrow gauge bug worked! was trying HO at the same time I was was biting! I checked the NMRA Stan- So I read the instructions that came building the 14' x 22' room. It worked dards online at www.nmra.com and with the turnouts. Oops! Peco turnouts Taylor’s Ferry & Savannah River R.R. TYPE: Narrow Gauge On30 Logging and Coal Mining LOCATION: North-West TRACK: Peco ON30 MIN. RADIUS: 18” MAX GRADE: 5.5% BENCH WORK: Open Grid SCENERY: Sculp-A-Mold over paper bags and cardboard strips This is a satellite view of the railroad. Missing is the center HO scale bridge from Walthers. From right to left you can see the scenery progress. The lower right corner will be the river. The short leg of the wye leads to the logging camp module via a bridge that also serves as a switch lead on the 4' x 8'. The mine lead to the lower left could go to future expansion. found On30 is adaptable to good for us - same equipment, same HO plans. I started searching for a track Fig. 1 ideas, and the promise of more railroad- plan that would be manageable and ing but in smaller spaces. After a decent friendly. The 4' x 8' HO track plan I investment in time, equipment, track, chose is an oldie but goodie. It comes switches, etc., something was still miss- from an Atlas track plan book. It captures ing. the feeling of tight curves and moun- I have been building a large (relatively tains. I worked timber and coal mine speaking), 2 rail O Scale layout for about a railroading onto one board! year now. Off and on, I wish it was smaller I purchased a Bachmann 0-4-0 Porter, so I could get more done. On the other then an 0-4-2. I got a few log cars and a hand, I wish it was bigger so I would never bobber caboose. In two months I had be done! I love watching O trains roll on benchwork completed and used two saw the mainline around my layout. Staying in horses to support the frame. Simple one spot and catching train cars roll by is cookie-cutter techniques were used to like being trackside of a CSX or Norfolk form the elevations. The one problem I Southern mainline (I’m from the South). ran into was clearances. Using an NMRA Trains in O Scale just keep going and standards gage for O Scale, I had to dou- going. They are big, sound real, and oper- ble the clearances from the HO recom- ate like any other model train. But you mendations. In the end, the extra height

12 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 require power through the frog from the in O Scale I would have to fill under the layout for a first project. It is no more diverging route side and should be insu- supports with 1" x 4" blocks to raise the expensive to build a first 4' x 8' in On30 lated on the approach side. It’s easy to bridge to the proper height. The look was rather than in HO. People may believe do, but I should have started with the perfect and the supports could be built to bigger trains means more money. Maybe, directions. When I realized the special allow for the clearance of the O trains. I but with the swing toward greater realism wiring required for the turnouts, a shud- painted them a concrete color because and detail in every scale these days, cost der ran through my bones because I had they were smooth and the look was great. is going up in all scales. The point is, to wire for a wye! Now having read the The other bridge (Fig.1) on the upper even in 4' x 8' spaces there is big poten- proper method of powering Electrofrog branch line was made from 2" foam insu- tial for O size railroading. turnouts, I felt ready. A little rewiring lation. I first drew a paper pattern, cut it On30 track factoids: Bachmann On30 sets actu- later, the wye was working flawlessly. out and pinned it to the foam, then cut ally come with HO scale HO gauge track. The ties are spaced incorrectly and are too short, but they’ll Using the turnouts was the easy way to the foam to match. I made the supports do in a pinch to get started. Peco’s On30 track and lay track. You could hand lay your own long so I could trim to fit. Next I covered switches should not be mistaken for HO Scale or select turnouts from other manufactur- the bridge with a quarter inch layer of track. Peco’s products are truly O Scale narrow ers. I wanted easy and quick. drywall compound. It worked really well. gauge (16.5mm) with properly spaced and sized O Scale ties. Finally, On30 track isn’t a scale 30 inches I was railroading and doing scenery. The foam doesn’t soak up moisture so the wide. It’s actually closer to 31.2 scale inches. It is Mountains were popping up where there drywall compound didn’t crack. I used a called On30 as a convenience. ◆ was once bare wood. Track had purpose wet sponge to smooth the rough spots and trains had schedules. This is great! I that were left after spreading the com- enjoyed the experience and liked the big pound. In two days I had a poured-in- NORM’S trains in small spaces. It didn’t take long place concrete bridge. to get going. Some basic benchwork was Would someone just getting into the O SCALE more than adequate for the support. Old hobby know about On30? Probably not. style cookie cutter techniques were used The current World’s Greatest Hobby Trains & More for the top. Cardboard strips were campaign has done much to promote Buy, Sell, Trade! attached with hot glue then covered with railroading in general. People will find brown paper bags for scenery structure. I their niche. Some will find narrow gauge, www.normsoscale.com used plaster cloth for the base then and narrow gauge is in every scale (even [email protected] Sculpt-a-mold for the finished layer. Nn3 - N scale trains on Z gauge track! The bridges came from ingenuity. I What power of magnifier do you need to 41 Roosevelt Trail, Route liked the look of the Walthers wooden spike that rail?). The new train enthusiast 302. S. Casco, ME 04077 span HO bridge. Since it wasn’t offered will probably start with the basic 4' x 8' Ph: 207-655-2550 T-BONE MODELS Now Available in 620 Wright Loop Williamstown, N.J. 08094 — 2-RAIL O Scale SS PRR I-1 2-10-0 Original Unpainted ( SHORT TDR. ) $1,120 “O” Scale SS PRR Q-2 4-4-6-4 F⁄P $1,480 3-rail and 2-rail SS PRR S-1 6-4-4-6 F⁄P Shrouded ⁄ Unshrouded $1500 each CUSTOM PAINTING & REPAIR Dealer for Pacific Limited SS PRR P5a F⁄P BOXCAB $800 Colorado & Southern SS PRR FF2 F⁄P $850 Sunset & Weaver T-Bone Models James Christensen SS PRR P5a F⁄P MODIFIED (baby GG1) $750 32264 Cleveland 40' steel boxcars SS PRR B-1 F⁄P $750 Cottage Grove, OR 97424-9381 SS PRR E-6 4-4-2 Original U⁄P $725 email [email protected] 4 road numbers available SS PRR N-1 2-10-2 F⁄p $1,150 541-942-5237 Send SASE for information SS B&O 2-8-0 F⁄P $750 $40.00 with $10.00 SS PRR J1 2-10-4 F⁄P $1,275 S&H SS PRR HH1 2-8-8-2 F⁄P $1,650 O Scale SS PRR G-5 4-6-0 U⁄P $850 Die-cast sprung trucks CB PRR T-1 4-4-4-4- C⁄P Light. weathering $3,500 Realty WSM PRR J1 2-10-4 C⁄P Light weathering $1,750 Realistic available $10.00/car WSM PRR Q-2 4-4-6-4 U⁄P $2,500 Weathered WSM PRR M1 4-8-2 U⁄P Cab detail (NOB) $1,380 Structures in O Scale USH PRR M1a 4-8-2 C⁄P extra detail, by H. Hieke $1,500 Scratchbuilt available from: OMI PRR M1a 4-8-2 U⁄P Mint $2,300 From Your OMI UP 2-8-8-2 EX N&W Y3 $2,550 Photos, Joint Line Reproductions ALC PRR K-4 4-6-2 U⁄P Broadway Limited Streamlined $1,400 Plans or WIL PRR T-1 4-4-4-4 U⁄P 2 Railed by Trackside $1,100 Ideas! P.O. Box 906 WIL PRR L-1 2-8-2 2 Railed by Trackside $750 (Will also build & weather your kits) Reed Artim Littleton, CO 80160 Call 856-629-9702 Between 6 and 10 PM EST Ph: 973-472-7456 75 Woodridge Rd, Clifton NJ 07012

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 13 TTrraaccttiioonn Roger Jenkins AAccttiioonn

This month we are looking at complicated wire construction over the lead tracks into the carbarn that houses the Los Angeles Railway cars at the Orange Empire Railway Muse- um in Perris, California. The L.A. Railway was a 3'6" operation in Los Angeles that was constructed with this gauge to prevent standard gauge steam engines from entering the city on the streets. From the first frog in the over- head, the wire branches out to serve the four-track barn. Using Rivers B- 640 frogs and B-615 hangers, this can be a simple project to do. Span wires are run from the wooden poles to the hangers and across to the next hanger in line, ending at the oppo- site support pole. Span wires are run parallel to the running wire to support the in- between hangers that are over the track. Don’t forget to use the reverse tweezers to hold the hangers in place while soldering them to the running wire. Next the pull-off wires are strung from the hanger to the span wire to hold everything up. Start on the out- side of the curve on the outside track and proceed toward the inside track on the right, after first stringing the running wire starting at the first frog. Then, proceed to the next frog along the outside track. The next step is to do the succeed- ing tracks across the throat until all frogs and hangers are in place. A test car can determine the placement of the frog, which is usually placed half way between where the points and track frog are. A little adjusting may be necessary to get the right place- ment. [email protected] ◆

14 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 Massive Power Output for Massive Locomotives ● 0~22 VDC variable throttle ● Huge 10 amp continuous output Others claim higher outputs but ours is sustained which leads to: ● Double or triple heading locomotives - no problem ● Pulling long trains with metal wheels - with ease ● Long grades - with power to spare MRC Power G Indoor or outdoor* layouts, this pack Item no. AG990 has the power to run any size "G" or "O" scale layout Power G...large scale power MODEL RECTIFIER CORPORATION perfected Tel. 732.225.6360 *not to be used or left outside in the elements www.modelrectifier.com

Now Available From O Scale Trains Magazine A Guide To Modern O Scale by Brian Scace O Scale Trains Magazine

presents For the first time, here is a guide to O Here’s a peek at the Table of Contents: A Guide To Modern Scale two rail. This book was written 1. Welcome, and a little History by O Scale modelers with years of 2. Concept of Operation O Scale 3. Locomotives by Brian Scace experience in the hobby and they share 4. Rolling Stock and Couplers that experience with wit and wisdom. 5. Space Prep and Benchwork We’ll show you how to get started in 6. Track and Track Plans two rail O Scale, what you need and with Joe Giannovario where to get it. 7. Structures and Scenery with Neville Rossiter Of particular use is the list of 8. Wiring and Control Systems Resources at the end of each chapter. with Ted Byrne 9. Narrow Gauge Get your copy today from your local O with Bobber Gibbs Scale hobby shop or direct from O 10. Consider Traction 11. Proto 48 Scale Trains, just $14.95 plus $3 s&h. with Gene Deimling VISA & Mastercard Accepted. 12. Tools with Neville Rossiter Scale 13. Useful Tables, Tips, OT O Scale Trains and Short Notes rains PO Box 238 14. Sources, Conventions, Lionville PA 19353-0238 and Meets 610-363-7117 15. Glossary of Terms These ain’t yer Daddy’s trains!

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 15 A Sector Plate for the Harmony Creek & Southern Ron Gribler

1 The hidden three-track staging yard at then mounted to the layout joists using Two ⁄8" diameter holes were drilled near the end of the Harmony Creek & South- spacers to assure it was level. each end on the same centerline as the ern Branch at the Cincinnati Model Rail- Sector Plate pivot hole. These holes are countersunk 1 way Club required a method for a loco to The sector plate is a 4" by 32 ⁄4" piece on the topside. 1 run around an inboard train. Installing of ⁄4" plywood. The corners on the pivot Sliding End 1 1 turnouts or a turntable would significant- end were beveled. The pivot hole is a ⁄4" Two ⁄4" high nylon chair leg gliders ly reduce the track length. A manually diameter hole drilled on the centerline. support the free end by sliding on the 1 operated sector plate became the obvious The sliding end was cut to a 32" radius support base. Thus the ⁄4" plate’s track choice. from the pivot hole. will be equal in height to the yard tracks 1 which are mounted on ⁄4" Upsom board 1 glued to a ⁄4" plywood base. The gliders have integral nails and were tapped into two small holes drilled near the corners of the plate. Handle and Lock A golf tee is used as both a handle to slide the plate and the lock to hold the sector plate track in alignment with any 5 of the yard tracks. A ⁄16" hole was drilled near the sliding end. The golf tee slides freely in this hole. A plastic shaft retainer nut was found that gripped the tee just enough to hold it from sliding. It was cemented in place with ACC. After the sector plate was installed, the plate’s track was aligned with each of the yard 5 tracks and a matching ⁄16" hole was drilled for each track location. In use, the pointed end of the tee makes it a lot easi- er to find the locking holes. Pushing down the tee locks the plate in location.

Figure 1 - Overhead view of sector plate installation

The mainline of the branch crossed over the available area for the sector plate with only 3 inches of overhead clearance. This established where the sliding end of the sector plate track could be. Since only four-axle diesels or short steam locomotives will run on the Figure 2 – Completed sector plate branch, the track length was established at 18 inches. It was decided to extend the Pivot 1 1 1 plate under the main line with the pivot The pivot block is a ⁄4" X 1 ⁄4" X 6 ⁄4" 5 point at the edge of the layout. The avail- piece of hardwood. A ⁄16" diameter hole 3 able length for the plate from its pivot was drilled on the centerline, ⁄8" from point to the track ends is 32 inches. one side. The hole was counter-bored to 1 1 Support Base a 1" diameter x ⁄16" deep. A ⁄4-20 Tee nut Creating the support base for the sec- was pressed into the counter-bore. The 1 1 tor plate was the first step of construction. pivot is a 1 ⁄4" long, ⁄4-20 hex-head bolt. A line was projected from the centerline A flat washer is used under the bolt head of the middle track to the end joist of the and a thin flat washer is installed benchwork. From that point, a 32" radius between the plate and the pivot block. was drawn on the yard roadbed. The The bolt was tightened enough to allow roadbed and the plywood base were then turning without binding. A few drops of 1 cut to this radius. A piece of ⁄4" plywood thin ACC were put on the threads to lock for the support base was cut to width and them. The lower side of the block was length. It was mounted directly to the sanded on a belt sander to assure the nut bottom of the yard’s plywood base. It was and bolt end were flush with the block. Figure 3 – Pivot block 16 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 Track and Bumper: A section of flex track was cut to HARD TO FIND RAILROAD length. A rail joiner was installed and sol- COLOR PHOTOS & SLIDES dered to each rail. An AWG 22 insulated 275 Companies and 1,500 views available wire was soldered to each joiner. Holes were drilled next to each joiner for the in color. Major Railroads, Shortlines, wires. The track was installed using small Industrials, Cabooses, Freight Cars, MOW, nails through the holes in the ties. Rails etc., from the 60’s to the present. Inventory 1 on the sliding end extend ⁄4" past the of over 24,000 types of railroad equipment. Send for our 28-page catalog – $3.00 Includes a free 5 x 7 photo! RAIL PHOTOS UNLIMITED P.O. BOX 230 ● Joliet, IL 60434-2306 www.RailPhotosUnlimited.com Figure 4 - Sliders

Figure 8 – Terminal strip at pivot end

plate. A bumper was cut from a piece of milled wood that was a pencil tray in a Figure 5 –Sliding end and handle/lock desk drawer. It was attached to the sector Central’s Latest Releases plate with glue and GP38-2, GP40-2, SD40-2, SD40T-2 & SD45T-2 nails. A piece of foam was glued to the bumper. Wiring: The wires were GP40-2 twisted together with a The finest in modern O Scale Brass. 2 or 3 rail operation. Machined low speed hand drill. brass frames and fuel tanks, Pittman motor with dual flywheels. Your The free ends were choice of gear ratios, wheelsets, detail parts, etc. Custom built to your specs. Kits $650 - $800. Custom built, painted and lettered inserted through a hole $1100 to $1400. near the pivot. Several Central Locomotive Works short lengths of mask- 17525 Alder St Ste 46 • Hesperia CA 92345 ing tape secure the ph 760-244-9222 • fax 760-244-9322 e-mail [email protected] wires to the plate. www.centrallocomotiveworks.com A two terminal barri- er strip was mounted near the pivot bolt with Stevenson Preservation Lines four #4 wood screws. O Gauge Kits and Parts from past The wires were stripped Master Modelers Figure 6 – Track and Bumper and soldered to ring ter- minals. Catalog 2002-1 Price: $1.00 Installation: Baldwin Model Locomotive Works Lobaugh The sector plate was Adams & Sons installed using two dry- Lenoir wall screws through the Kansas City Kit Hines Lines holes in the pivot block. Alexander When track power feed- Pearce Tool Co. ers are connected to the terminal strip, the plate will be ready for use. Bob Stevenson, 2326 230th St. Boone, IA 50036 Figure 7 – Track Wiring ◆

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18 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 Last time, we painted that car of your to the lettering as possible. I use a pair of • A sharp sewing needle is your friend. dreams (It’s big! It’s shiny! It’s what Ameri- suture scissors for this, but any pair of When the first iteration with the setting ca’s all about!), so let’s look at some decal sharp small scissors will do. solution is completely dry, you may see a tips to letter up this puppy. Later on, in • If you bought your decals at a show, haze, bubbles, or silvery places where the another column, we’ll look at the or you’ve had them stashed away for a decal has not settled over some rivets as nuances of dry transfers, but today we’ll number of years, the lacquer substrate you dreamed it should. The haze is some concern ourselves with the time honored may be brittle with age. If you suspect of the water-soluble stuff from the paper soak-it-in-a-dish decal. this, clip off a decal you don’t need for that didn’t get washed off the back of the Decals are merely sheets of lacquer or the project at hand and float it off. If it’s decal because you were in a hurry and lacquer-like film (substrate) sprayed on a brittle, it will disintegrate. You can often slid the decal off the paper rather than sheet of backing paper. The lettering is save the day by spraying a coat of clear waiting until it floated off. Don’t worry, printed on the substrate and the backing gloss lacquer, such as Testors’s Gloss- though. Merely prick the decal substrate paper has some sort of water-soluble stuff cote, on the remainder to freshen up the and touch the hole with your 00 brush (hereafter referred to as “water-soluble substrate. and some setting solvent. The solvent will stuff”) on it that keeps the film from • Positioning the decal on the car is leach under the decal and the haze will adhering permanently to the paper. easier if you have some water on the car disappear. Do the same for air bubbles When you soak the thing, the decal sub- side upon which to slide the decal and rivet strips. Another cocktail is then strate floats off the paper when the water- around. Use a small brush to dot some called for as you leave it alone again. soluble stuff dissolves. Then, after you’ve water at the edge of the decal so you can • Once the decals are nestled down positioned the decal where you want it push it around. Once you are happy with nice and tight as you dreamed they should on the car, you apply a decal setting solu- the position of the lettering, allow the be, you’ll need to seal them with a clear tion. This is really a solvent that softens water to simply dry up. Then set the decal coat of some sort. Wash the car gently to the lacquer substrate, which allows the with your setting solution. get all the water spots off before shooting decal to conform to all the cool detail on • Long decals, such as stripes on pas- the clear coat of choice. Most folks I know the car side much like a coat of paint, senger cars, can be hard to position with- use a flat finish, like Testors’s Dull-cote, which is exactly what a decal is, anyway! out little waves in them. Road names on over their decals because they like the dull Here are some tips. locomotive tenders and passenger car let- weathered look. I have to be different, of • Read the instructions with the decals. ter boards are prone to sloping up or course. I seal my decals with a clear gloss They differ from manufacturer to manufac- down, especially when under the influ- finish for two reasons. Since glosses are a turer. For example, the time honored ence of strong drink. Some folks use a sur- little thicker than flat coats, they tend to fil- Champ decals have a thicker substrate face plate and height gage to position let the edges of the decal and hide them than Micro-Scale. This means you have to decals. I find the best method for me is to better. Second, I can then weather the spend a little more time setting Champ sight down the car from one end. The glossy car with flat finishes to get a variety decals, while you have to be a little gen- waves and slopes are very apparent while of sheen. Real cars start glossy when new, tler in handling Micro-Scale decals. sighting down the end of the decal. Wet and so do mine. What a neurotic! • Buy a fistful of decals at a show from the wavy parts of the decal with some These tips are not necessarily how the guy who is selling off his scraps and water and push it in place. everyone throws decals. There are many sets he no longer needs. Bum some scraps • Don’t go crazy with the setting solu- different techniques out there that work from your friends. Practice on junk cars tion. Since it is a solvent, big puddles of for folks. These work for me, and may with them. Your confidence and compe- decal setting solution can attack the work for you, too. Quiz your friends and tence levels will rise only with experience. paint, especially if you didn’t follow my try this out. With practice, you’ll find a • Get two sets per project. It is money council about letting the paint cure com- decal method you like. Once you do, well spent, because the decal gods will pletely before lettering the car. Several stick with it. take great pleasure in curling up the decal less-liberal applications are better than Let’s go Exploring! ◆ you only have one of. Having a spare for hosing the d#@n thing down with decal (Scace’s Mea Culpa: In the new “Guide the one you screwed up takes a lot of the setting solution. to Modern O Scale”, there are a couple frustration away. • Once you’ve put the setting solution photos (pg. 27, 33, and 82) from my • Now that the paint on that car is on, resist temptation and no matter how archives which were taken by the very tal- cured, you’ll probably want to wash the crinkled the decal becomes, leave it ented Doug Jones. By a lamentable over- drool spots off before beginning. Start alone. Once it dries, the crinkles go away. sight on my part, the photo credits don’t with a clean surface. By the way, decals That’s normal! Go mix yourself another reflect his efforts. My apologies to Doug. ) work best on glossy smooth surfaces. cocktail and wait for the decal to dry • Cut out the decal you want as close completely before panicking!

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 19 Here’s a sample of the great layouts you’ll be able to visit during this year’s O Scale National in Washington, D.C. All photos by Doug Jones

AnAn OverviewOverview ofof SONCSONC 20042004

Featured in the March 2000 issue of Model Railroader, Ed Rappe’s model of the PRR mainline achieves a level of complete- ness rarely seen in O Scale. Visitors will be able to follow the Pennsy mainline from Huntington, through Altoona and up Horseshoe Curve to the summit at Gallitzin. Along the way, there are many highly detailed vignettes demonstrating Ed’s modeling ability. His layout is point to point with staging tracks at each end that provide for the heavy traffic for which the PRR was noted.

Bob Guilette’s New Haven Railroad is a layout which has been built in a limited space. He has an excellent track plan that incorporates the passenger service that the New Haven was noted for. His layout also has heavy freight traffic with a large staging yard at one end. It is set up so that the line, while single track, appears to be double track most of the time. The period modeled is late steam and early diesel which allows Bob to display the many paint schemes that the New Haven used at that time.

Pat Mitchell’s layout is done in Proto 48 and is based on the famous Black Fork grade on the Western Maryland. The line extends from Elkins to Thomas with a large mine complex near the summit. The ends of the layout are connected off-stage with a room sized helix. Pat’s curves are sharp and the grades are steep, a la the prototype, and Nick Powell, who is a B&O engineer (Don’t say CSX!), has a rendition of the motive power is primarily Western Maryland’s large Consolidations. Best & Only featuring a John Armstrong designed trackplan. His incredible collection of B&O engines may be unmatched anywhere and include must see pieces by Ken Henry, Mel Thornburgh, plus many of Nick’s own pieces including a MR “Model of the Month” set of F-7s. Nick has built a very versa- tile layout that has both mainline and branch line operation. He runs heavy freights as well as passenger trains. It is a great layout to see the EM-1’s high- balling the freight.

Wes Morgenstern’s layout models the Western Maryland Railway between Westminster and Highfield, Maryland, and also serves a large cement plant at Union Bridge,which is on the line between those two places. It is set in the late steam, early diesel era. It is a single track layout with a great operating scheme.

Dave Vaughn’s layout is based on the high speed route of the Nickel Plate. It features a double track mainline with heavy bridge traffic keeping the opera- tors busy. It also incorporates a great deal of switching activity for way freights. The layout provides quite a nice sized run on the mainline and moves between two rooms. Dave’s layout has also imaginatively incorpo- rated some components of Ted Stepek’s layout, which was well known in the Washington area.

20 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 For more information: 2004 • Visit us on the web at www.2004onational.com ‘ ’ • E-mail us at [email protected]. 0 Scale National • Look for articles to be included in future issues of your favorite magazines. • Visit our display at shows. • Write to: Please minimize our Convention Capital Area ‘0’ Scalers heartburn by P. O. Box 42563 registering today! Washington, D.C. 20015 Washington, DC Thank you! Thursday, July 22 through Sunday, July 25 Advance Registration Form (clip out or photocopy) Hyatt Regency, Crystal City at Reagan National Airport* Name ______Dealership Name (if applicable) ______he Capital Area ‘0’ Scalers cordial- ly invite you and your family to join Address______us in Washington, DC, for the 2004 ‘0’ Scale National Convention. The City ______TWhite House, the Capitol, and many world State______Zip ______Telephone (______) class museums and monuments can be seen in this beautiful, attraction-rich city. The Spouse/Children Names ______2004 ‘0’ Scale National Convention hotel is Price conveniently located for access to all of the Options Each Quantity Total most popular sites. A host of activities are planned for your Full Fare (Spouse and children under 16 free) $45 x= enjoyment. The Convention features more ❏ ❏ ❏ than twenty ‘0’ scale layouts including John One Day Fare (check one) Thursday Friday Saturday $25 x= Armstrong’s Canandaigua Southern, Ed Sale Tables $45 x= Rappé’s spectacular Pennsylvania RR, and Tony Lash’s hi-rail empire. There Electrical Drop for Sale Tables $45 x= /4” Scale will be a fantastic trade g 1 M in od k e n l i e Banquet–Saturday evening, July 24. show for buying, selling r L s and swapping; clinics; One full course dinner choice of beef or salmon entrée per banquet ticket. 2004 C and model and switch- SON Total # of beef entrées ____ Total # of salmon entrées ____ $39.95 x= pital Ar ing contests. Numerous Ca ea S 0 CALERS railfanning opportunities and Show Car Advance Reservation good times with new and old friends are cer- Available Now! Limited Number. First reserved, first served. tain to top off your convention experience. Atlas 40’ USRA outside-braced box car lettered “RF&P” Tours: Separate Tours of Union Station Exclusive run. Boxcar red.2 numbers available $56.95 x= (Wed. PM 7/21), DC Metro Shops (Fri. PM 7/23), and The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Red Caboose 40’ Fruit Growers Express reefer Exclusive run. Museum (Sat. AM 7/24), are tentatively 4 color paint with silver roofs. 6 numbers available. $52.95 x= planned for the convention. Registration for tours will be handled at the convention site Check one: ❏ Cars to be picked up at show by registrant above named on this form. and are independent of convention registra- ❏ Delivery—add $10.00 shipping and handling to total at right column. tion. Space will be limited so plan on coming early. Look for more information to come on Show cars for delivery NOW! Total payment $ our web site, www.2004onational.com. Convention attendance not necessary for purchase * Make checks payable to Convention Hotel Capital Area ‘O’ Scalers. Hyatt Regency, Crystal City at Reagan National Airport Red Caboose Mail this form and payment to: Please reserve rooms directly with the Capital Area ‘O’ Scalers official convention hotel by calling P. O. Box 42563 1-800-233-1234 and be sure to mention Washington, D.C. 20015 2004 ‘0’ Scale National Convention. Room rates $139 single/double. Atlas We appreciate Your support!

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 21 Anyone who is on the Yahoo O scale complete a collection of Railroad Model the earliest indoor scale model railroad discussion list Craftsman and it predecessors, as well as modeling was in our scale—the smallest [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Otrains/] some of the shorter-run periodicals which commercially-viable size for which (and if you are reading OST but aren’t on dealt with model railroading, particularly motors could be fitted). It is likely that I or the list, you are missing out on some our scale, such as Lionel’s Model Builder, other readers will dig out those files and good stuff) probably has noticed that I something called the Whistle Stop, and check such references as questions arise, tend to get interested in older O scale, several more. These are indispensable for but if the data found in such resources usually because I’ve acquired a junker dating O Scale from product reviews, were current and widely-known, there and have to decide how much to restore advertising, and chatty news about some would be no need to revisit them. and how much to upgrade to 2003 stan- of the pioneers of the hobby. Sorting out Enough generalities. I have used my dards (or at least 1993 standards). Or, I the older magazines is itself a project for allotted space this time to suggest some hope to find an even bigger sucker to an aspiring historian. I have some classic ground-rules; I hope from now on we take it off my hands at the next show. As catalogues from both manufacturers and can talk more in specifics. I am already it happens, Joe G., our founder and pro- hobby shops and some instruction sheets, thinking about introducing a discussion prietor, also thinks that some acquain- although I pick these up only when I find of Hawk Models of Chicago next issue tance with our scale’s history is an them reasonably-priced, and there seem (information to be shared very welcome), important part of enjoying it. Since he to be quite a few collectors who are will- and an early column about some of the has so far had no success in persuading ing to pay more than I am for them. Most- pioneer hobby shops that sold O Scale better-qualified folk to take responsibility ly, I have a retentive memory (somewhat when the world was young. for a column dealing with where O Scale compromised by the aging process) and Feel free to contact me through the has been over the last sixty or seventy tend to remember what I’ve heard or read magazine or by email at [jacekahn@hot- years, I agreed (with surprisingly little over the years. And I share bed and board mail.com]. ◆ arm-twisting, as he caught me in a vul- when I am home in Fairbanks, Alaska, nerable area—my vanity). with a real historian (good Ph.D., publi- What are my limited qualifications? cations, tenured full professor) who keeps Well, I’ve been a scale model railroader me honest about research techniques. off and on for over fifty years (I was a What I am NOT, I think, is just as child bridegroom) and an O scaler for important for this column as what I have over twenty-five. Although I coveted all just listed. I do not claim to be an expert the elaborate and expensive tinplate in about very much, and certainly not the stores at Christmas and actually about O Scale or model railroading. I received a Lionel starter set—to be shared have an interest in and some familiarity with my brother—one December, the toy with the topic, and I am more than end of it never quite caught my interest, happy to give credit where credit is due as the resemblance to the real thing was for information from those more-knowl- too strained for me. The first bite was a edgeable than I. I hope this column can dusty Megow CCC&StL hopper car kit become a forum for discussion of themes that was already long past its sell-by date and topics and items relating to O Scale when I found it for seventy-five cents in before 1960 (although I expect that cut- the modest hobby section of the hardware off date will end up being a bit elastic), store in the nearest large town (not so tri- and that I can best serve as an honest fling a sum as it must seem to younger broker in sorting out the questions and people, as my allowance was twenty-five answers, organizing them in a coherent cents a week back then in the early fashion for a regular appearance here in 1950’s). It would be nice to say that I still OST, and reporting what some want to have it, but I traded it off many years ago know or what others can tell them. when I made an excursion into TT, and I A fond look back is nothing new; the probably am just as happy not to be amiable founder of 48/Ft, Dan Henon, reminded of my very rudimentary skills had a strong affection for O Scale artifacts back then. I sometimes think it is too bad from the dark ages, and the journal under that it was a hopper instead of a refrigera- his editorship often had views and articles tor car, because then I could say that I about them. Railroad Model Craftsman became addicted through reefer madness. had a long-running column (“Collectors I have a pretty complete run of Model Corner”?) in the 1980’s about ancient Railroader back through 1940 with a few model railroad lines, many of them O issues before then. I also have almost as Scale (for the obvious reason that much of

22 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 I was still working on two Gilmaur sent an email to Trinity Leasing where I protective screened cage on the long EMD SW1500 brass Diesel kits when I told them about my modeling project hood. So, some modifications of the got a third one. My intention this time and asked for more information and upper screens are necessary. When this was to convert it into a EMD MP15DC. some photos. A day later, I received a cage is removed you might think, at a For those not familiar with Diesel loco- reply telling me these units were rebuild glance, you have a MP15AC in front of motives, the major visible differences by Talgo-LRC, a Diesel rebuilder, togeth- you. Some of these units had a very between the MP15 and a SW1500 are er with an email address for further ques- seedy look and I was sure they found the the MP15 is two feet longer and rides on tions. shortest route to the scrap yard. I was Blomberg trucks instead of the Flexicoil So I sent an email to Talgo together amazed they were reworked. You can or AAR trucks. with some pictures of my past modeling find them now in the fleets of several The first step for me in building a projects and told them my wishes. A few lessors. model is looking for a specific prototype hours later, I received a friendly response After I chose a specific road number, and collecting information about it. with some pictures of two different loco- the conversion could be started. The Searching through the Internet I found a motives, and while they were not made major new parts I needed were the top message that CP Rail has five MP15DC’s for the specific needs of model railroad- screens and the extensions for the long (No. 1440 – 1444) in their fleet on a long ers, they did show all the major features. hood in front of the cab. I decided to term lease since January 2003. So, I fig- I was happy; what great support! make these parts by photoetching. With ured why not build one of those photo- These CP MP15’s were former USS the help of a computer drawing program, genic red units? I was unsuccessful MinnTac MP15’s (a subsidiary of U.S. I made the necessary drawings which I looking for prototype pictures of these Steel) and are very unusual looking. then gave to a local printer to make neg- new units. The only information I found These were hard working locomotives at atives for me. Since etching is a complex about the locomotives is the lessor is a busy industrial plant. To limit the possi- chemical process, I gave the negatives to Trinity Leasing, but nothing about how bility of foreign objects, like stones and another model railroader who had both they look or which paint scheme they taconite pellets, entering the engine the experience and the equipment to wear. Here the Internet helped again. I through the screens, these MP15’s had a accomplish my goals. In a few weeks I Before: This unit will become CP 1443 After reworking by TALGO (photo from Mark Peterson) (photo from Scott Toombs/TALGO)

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 23 together and that was a challenge. Overdone, you say? Yes, sadly, the details are not visible behind the screen. The frame was built similarly to the MP15 I described in OST#6 (Jan/Feb 2003) using the same brass castings. Another fuel tank was necessary, too. The CP unit has a very unusual small, square fuel tank which I recognized as the 600 gal. stan- dard tank for SW1500’s. A cab with many wide and large windows like this just cries out for an interior. This work was done quickly the help of a few Precision Scale castings and two K-Line figures. I spent a lot of time to give the assembled parts a nice looking finish with the final paint work. As the kit is made from brass I wanted a pair of brass Blomberg trucks too, and my choice are the black factory painted trucks from P&D Hobby Shop. These are very nice fine castings and fully equalized. Adding P&D’s chain driven gear- The extension between stack and cab, still riding on CLW trucks. boxes, upgraded with NWSL wheelsets, it is a pleasure to see

A few parts are still missing. had the finished parts in my hands; a precise copy of my draw- ings now made of metal. My choice for the thin screens was nickel silver, for more durability. I chose brass for the side-wall hood extensions. Everything fit and the first big step was done! The next big step was cutting off the rear part of the long hood between the rear stack and the cab from the original Gilmaur SW1500 and replacing it with the new longer etched parts together with an air filter box at the top. I used Precision Scale Co. castings of the door latches as it was not feasible to design the fine structures of these important little details with my drawing program. The modification at the top front of the hood for the new upper screens was a little bit tricky. Fixing and soldering all the small and thin parts in place wasn’t a simple task. I had to avoid any twisting of the thin brass. To hold all the thin parts in place I use my favorite jeweler’s clay and alligator clamps. Using a low melting point solder was the secret to this successful work. For the interested reader, most of the soldering was done with a torch, but I used a 40 Watt iron for the stanchions. It was also necessary to replace the front radiator screen as the prototype’s is different from a stock SW1500. The new intake was built from milled brass "Z" channel and a cut-down Gilmaur screen. I even went so far as to build all the baffle plates behind the intake screen. It was 15 parts to be soldered He doesn’t like photographers. 24 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 The new etched top screens and the new radiator, still riding on CLW trucks. the little journals in motion while rumpling over the track. I wanted a model which looks like it just came out of the paint shop, as shown in the photo from Talgo. An important Modeling a specific prototype locomotive is a real chal- step is preparing the brass with a pickling solution for a clean, lenge. Even if you have drawings, are you sure they are correct? oil-free surface without tarnish. I then applied a light grey auto- Collecting photos may be easier but some details may not be motive primer from a spray can as a base for the bright red final visible. Maybe my model isn’t a flawless copy, but it’s a good color. I airbrushed Badger’s MODELflex Soo Line Red for the looking model with it’s own history. ◆ cab and long hood and Engine Black for the frame. The final coat with Tamiya clear acrylic gloss coat gave the model the look I wanted. I can say the model runs as it looks—brilliant. Resources: Gilmaur, 8 Old Rectory Gardens, Thurlestone, Devon TQ7 3PD, England, www.mike.calvert.btinternet.co.uk P&D Hobby Shop, 31280 Groesbeck, Fraser MI 48026, 586-296-6116, www.pdhobby.com Precision Scale Co., PO Box 278, Stevensville MT 59870 K-Line, PO Box 2831, Chapel Hill NC 27515 Badger MODELflex paint, #16-57 Soo Line Red, #16-01 Engine Black

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 25 Ever try to carve cobblestones in plaster for that “different” look on your traction or street railway and give up after a couple of inches, mumbling to yourself while trying to convince your mates that concrete would look better? Well, help is at hand! Buy two or three packets of Wills (English brand) Granite sets (p/n WSSMP204), and start laying those beautiful O Scale cobblestones. The packet says 00/HO but for O Scale cobblestones they are ideal and they are available in the U.S. at the larger hobby stores. The sheets come four to a set and are made of styrene so they are easy to cut and glue. The photos tell the story. Note in one photo I am sanding an edge using sandpaper tacked to the bench top and a large fine file clamped to the edge. This is the method I use for sanding all my styrene sheets no matter what I am building. The surface that I am gluing to in the photos is wood and I am using quick drying white glue with very heavy weights till it dries. It works. ◆

Resources: International Hobbies, 10556 Combie Rd, Auburn, CA, Phone 530-268-715, agents for “Wills” in the U.S.

26 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 Another Diesel masterpiece from Roland Marx. This GATX unit is built from a Gilmaur kit.

PACIFIC BELT LINE UNION TERMINAL ROGUE RIVER Kerry R. Jones

Northbound manifest leaving Barkly Mills, Calif., with borrowed ATSF (now BNSF) power headed for Klamath Falls, Ore.

Second northbound manifest of the day starts its long uphill climb towards Klamath Falls, Ore., from Barkly Mills, Calif.

Lineup of power for morning departures southbound from Barkly Mills, Calif., after crews’ rest.

Lumber loads await pick up from the yards. The backdrop was painted by my mother-in-law for me. Unfortunately, when I moved the layout to my present location, I was unable to use this backdrop set.

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 27 Crapola

from the scanners, printers, maintenance, paper, One last thing, one last trade secret. I invoices, shipping labels, post-it notes, cannot speak for any other importer of pens, show expenses, research materials, model trains, but this is the PRB formula. Cupola draftsman’s drawings, photos, mileage, Before the early 1970s, and fair trade taking guests to lunch, company shirts laws, the markup from builder’s price to and you might have made a pittance dealer net was 50%, and then 40% more John C. Smith profit for that project. Very little ever sells to retail. An HO brass steamer in late Pecos River Brass out that fast. Now you need storage 60’s and early 70s would cost the space, more advertising, promotion, importer $40 in Korea, in quantities of shows, literature, etc. about 500. The dealer net would be $80. Chapter XIII You ask yourself, if you could only The retail price would be somewhere in All was not perfect, but if I stuck to sell 100, why did you do 200? The price the $130 range. Everyone sold for retail the things I knew best and the Santa Fe, is determined by quantity. You tell the and everyone made money... good where my market was, I saw myself mov- builder you want to do XYZ steam loco. money. There was little used market, so ing Pecos River Brass along where I How much? They tell you they can do everything sold. Nobody asked for a deal wanted it to be. I was doing fine with 300 pieces for $1000 each. But if you and nobody got a deal. There was a one builder (Gang San Models) and I only want 100 pieces, they will cost value to everything. Importers would was getting letters all the time from other $1500 each. However, if you do 500 bring in 500 models and have 1000 builders wanting work, so I figured let’s locos, they can be done for $700 each. reservations. Hobby shops got cut back add builders and get into the “big time”. You do the math. It’s now a choice on every order they placed. If you were This may come as a surprise to most between $150K, $300K or a $350K proj- caught selling for less than retail, you of you, but it’s really hard to get rich in ect. You can buy almost twice the were cut off by the importer. Things the importing business. The stereotype is amount of models for about 20% more changed with fair trade laws (I think not that if you can do a $20K project every money. But you only have 75 reserva- for the better, but that is an argument for two months and sell it for $40K, you can tions and that 100 quantity looks really another time). By the mid 70s, there was make a six-figure salary every year. Get good. However, as soon as you lock a used brass market starting to develop, those numbers up there and this is a big yourself into that price, half of the reser- and dealers were discounting. Nothing money business. Well, it is a big money vations drop out because the retail price had value anymore. My Santa Fe 2-8-0 business, but those are only on ideal went from $1500 to $3000. So you retailed for $130, $140, $150, $160 terms. think, “Well if I do 300 models, I keep depending on who you bought it from Most importers have very successful most of my reservations and keep the and nobody knew what the real value first and second projects. Then some- price down,” but then you’ll sit on 200 was. thing happens. The third (or fourth, or models for years. Or you could listen to As prices started to get higher, as fifth) project is a bust. Maybe it was the consumers in the magazines, on the quantities started to get lower, as the best thing you ever did. Maybe it was the internet, at train shows, and do 500 number of dealers started to lessen, as all best quality ever built. But, nobody models, make them cheap so more peo- kinds of change happened to our market, wanted to buy it. So, instead of making ple can afford them... and have 400 for the price structure changed but the basic yourself another $20K for 4-6 months your grandchildren to sell. markups for PRB were 33% and 30%. It work, you didn’t sell enough to even pay After 22 years in the business, I can would have been a great profit, even for the shipment. Time to borrow money honestly tell you the retail price has very after expenses, if everything sold out from the bank. Now, what do you think a little to do with the consumer in the instantly. But it never did, NEVER. bank president says to you when you brass market. You either want it or not. I finally decided that I could produce bring in a toy train, set it on his desk, tell You either have the money or not. You the best product on the market, but had him this is what you do for a living and either model the Missouri Pacific or not. no talent whatsoever at selling it. I sup- people spend $1000 each for one. Right, I have seen models that ran perfectly, pose that it is a personality thing. I’m you get “the look.” “Do you think I’m a were painted very well, and were very proud of my models, and loved doing @*&$#_)*% idiot? Who buys these toys? reasonably priced just sit there on the what I did. I had a very faithful following You want how much money?” Even if shelf. Yet, a model that cost $3000- of customers, just not enough of them. I you do get the money, you end up giving 4$000 with a little more detail, but in just wish I had had a clue as to how to your monthly salary to the bank in inter- many cases didn’t run at all, sold out in sell to them. est payments. minutes. Perception is everything. When (Editor’s Note: After 22 years in busi- The fact is the only way to make the price is low, discriminating modelers ness Pecos River Brass has closed it’s money in the brass business is to sell out wonder what is wrong with it. If you doors. John has put everything up for every single project you do. Sell out price it outrageously high, the big sale including the store and the layout immediately and you gross $20K. Now, spenders come out of the closet. And in above the store. PRB still has stock at take away your expenses for a couple of addition (I’m really sorry to tell you this), closeout prices in both 2 and 3 rail. Visit months, rent, utilities, customs, broker, the brass business has NEVER been an www.pecosriverbrass.com to see what is advertising, salaries, accounting, copy inexpensive hobby. It has never been a available.) ◆ machines, fax machines, computers, purchase for the low budget buyer.

28 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 Featur • • • • • • • • • • Prototype courtesyWithersPublishing Prototype photobyDonZimmerman Prototype photobyOverlandModelsTeam F F F F a a a a DCC equipped Directional lighting Operating ditchlights Powerful Pittmancanmotor paintandlettering Crisp factory c c c c t t t t o o o o C C r r r r y y y y S S

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vailable OnlyAtTheFinest HobbyRetailersWorldwide F F V l l a a isit www g g .overlandmodels.com O Other variationsnotpictur • • • • • • • • P“C60AC”Nos.7567and7579 UP Nos.5002 and5016 “C60AC” CSX “AC44CW”Nos.9592and9600 CP Nos.5603and5609 “AC44CW” BNSF 88W igr v.·Mni,I 47304·U.S.A IN ·Muncie, KilgoreAve. W. 3808 INCORPORATED MODELS VERLAND To F F a a c c SeeAListOfDealers t t Licensed product ofUnionPacificRailroad Licensed product ofUnionPacificRailroad o o r r iesdpouto S Transportation Licensed product ofCSX S y S y Experience AnOverland Model

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C C G G 0 0 r : r 7 7 W W a a . . 1 y 1 y / / ” ” S S c c a a r r l l [email protected] e e t t Fax: (765) 289-6013 MotiveMotive PowerPower BuildingBuilding 69" 69" drivers drivers for for a a Burlington Burlington 2-6-2 2-6-2 Prairie, Prairie, and the lead and trailing trucks too! TomTom Mix Mix

Scratchbuilders are blessed with a to the diameter of the driver wheel, Fig. 3 great amount of parts and castings for which in this case was 66 inches, two steam engines available from a variety of scale inches thick and 4 scale inches sources. But the one essential item that is wide (Fig. 1). Remember this is to proto- not readily available is drivers. And for type so it sounds kind of thin! “Square” those of us working in Proto 48, if we can get our hands on a set, they are almost is clear by studying Fig. 3. always 5 foot gauge meaning it will take A section of aluminum bar, 1.5 inches some machining effort to convert them to in diameter and about 1 inch long was our standards. Further, the diameter may cut (Fig. 4). Then one end was machined not be what you need for that engine on to fit just inside the brass wheel rims. This your dream list; the one you have han- raised section was then slotted using a kered to build for a long time. .032" slitting saw. These drivers had 15 Back in the 1980’s Precision Scale Co., Fig. 1 spokes which was divisible by my Emco had some extra 63" drivers that were made dividing attachment, so 15 slots were cut for their SP cab forward. I bought enough counter weights (they are not square but to hold individual spokes. Note that on to scratchbuild a CB&Q 2-8-2 and a 2-10- a curved rectangular shape) to fit inside this engine the drivers had one spoke 4. To convert them to P:48 required the the wheel rim were machined from brass. axles be disassembled, tires removed, (the Center crank hubs were made with an tires were plated brass, not steel), then the axle hole smaller than what the finished wheel thinned by machining to prototype size would be. The crank pin portion of thickness. I machined new tires from stain- the center piece would be an even small- less steel, insulated half with .005" styrene, er hole 14 scale inches from the center. reassembled with NWSL gear boxes, using The cylinder stroke was 28" long so the a quartering tool I had built. The drivers crank pin distance from the axle center for the 2-10-4 had to have new counter- would be half that. 1 1 weights and centers to match the proto- The spokes were cut from ⁄32" x ⁄8" type. These were cut from brass and brass flat bars (Fig. 2). One edge of a soldered on before assembly. length of the flat bar was rounded with a Fig. 4 This effort was my introduction to rebuilding drivers. That experience really directly in line with the crank pin. helped when I began to think about The aluminum jig with slots then had building drivers completely from scratch. sections milled out so the hub centers I had some projects that I very much and counter weights would fit down to wanted to build, like a Burlington 4-8-2 the bottom of the slots. Also, some indi- and a 2-6-2. The 74" and 69" drivers vidual spokes will be shorter from the needed were not available on the market. center hub to counterweight and progres- Louis Bartig is a modeler from the St. sively from the rim to center crank. After Louis area that I have admired for many Fig. 2 all spokes are in place, flux is applied to years. He has been a real inspiration to each part that will be soldered. The jig is build accurate models with fine detail. file and smoothed with #600 grit carbon placed in a vise and heated with a torch. Louis builds his own drivers. That really sandpaper. Every paint store has this sand When hot enough solder is touched to got me fired up to try it, too. paper. each spoke end where it touches the rim, I first built a set of 74" drivers for the The spokes are tapered so another jig counter weight, and center hub. Go easy B-1 Mountain and they turned out pretty is required to measure each cut spoke to with the solder! You want just enough of well. Those were a real trial and error in the proper length and taper. Note in Fig. a fillet to give the appearance of a cast- what works and what doesn’t. The next 3 that the section of brass sheet has the ing. In this case, six wheels were made, set, the 69", is described here. correct spoke pattern cut out. The spoke four with small counterweights and two A big help were the pages of driver piece is cut and filed to fit the pattern, with heavy counterweights. drawings in the 1906 Locomotive Dictio- then set into the cutout rounded side A section of brass bar was machined nary reprinted by Newton Gregg in 1972. down. The jig section sheet is thinner to exactly fit the steel tire tread (Fig. 5). Also, I use a pair of the old PFM “O” scale than the spoke so when the jig with Three 2-56 screws are used to hold each calipers to measure with, so some of the spoke is placed into a vise and tightened tire to machine out the inside circumfer- following measurements are to scale. the portion of the spoke sticking up can ence to fit the wheel. Note, once the fit is First, brass outer rims were machined be milled off giving that taper. Hope this machined you cannot remove the bar

30 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 Fig. 5 ity, they are ready to be made into loco- spoked wheel castings of the proper size motive drivers. Take a piece of brass or are used and another brass bar jig is used steel bar stock that will slide easily into the axle holes of a driver pair. Set the Fig. 8 wheel pair a scale 53” apart measured from the inside of the tires. Then measure with calipers the outside distance at the center hubs. This will be the length of the axles. Machine three axles and press on the NWSL gear + gear box bearings. (I forgot those bearings once!) I use 5mm bronze journals from Precision Scale. Using LocTite, press on three drivers for section from the lathe chuck as then it one side making sure you distinguis the will no longer be running true. three insulated drivers from the uninsulat- After tires are machined with the cor- ed. LocTite sets up pretty fast, so within a to ensure the wheels run true when bor- rect inside circumference to a snug, but half hour or so it is cured enough to con- ing the axle hole. sliding, fit over the wheel center, the two tinue. It fully cures in 24 hours. Fig. 8 is a close up of the scratch built are secured with LocTite. Note: three of Now comes the critical procedure... lead truck with the Precision Scale 36" the wheels will have a strip of .005" pressing on the next three centers at 90 spoked wheel castings. The rear truck styrene fastened to the rim using epoxy. degrees to the first set. I made up a quar- wheels are also PSC castings and they are The steel tire inside diameter will be tering tool years ago (Fig. 7) just for this machined with 42" steel tires. I machined machined to fit the insulated side. The purpose. Make sure to match the heavy tires for most of my drivers but for the 74" joining of the three insulated centers to and light counter weights, ensure the and 69" Pat Mitchell did those. I did the the tires is the same as the others. After gear box bearings and journals are in small ones. the epoxy is dry, the tire and wheel is Some may ask why not make one or secured with LocTite. After the epoxy and Fig. 7 two patterns and have them cast? Actual- LocTite cure overnight, check the insulat- ly, I did try that. I sent one pattern off to a ed drivers with an ohmmeter to ensure company that casts for model railroaders. they are, in fact, insulated. He said the spokes were too thin and Using the same brass bar tire jig (you may not fill properly. So I sent the same didn’t remove it from the lathe chuck did pattern off to another. No response. Sent you?) the completed driver is set into the a letter “what about my pattern?” No jig to machine out the axle hole (Fig. 6). response. That ended that. This cannot be done with a drill. (Drills I am not a trained machinist. I am self- bend) You must use a small boring bar. taught. I bought a little Unimat SL back in The intent here is to true the axle hole the 50’s. Many mistakes were made but I with the tire. I used 5mm axle stock from gained experience over time. Later I NWSL. This part must be done very care- place, then using a drop of LocTite, press bought a Unimat 3, and progressed to an fully. If the hole is bored too large you are on the driver at 90 degrees by putting the Emco Compact 5 lathe. Also I own a in trouble! Take a 5mm rod stub that has quartering tool in a vise. Don’t use too milling machine. The thing is, anyone had the end polished with #400 sandpa- much LocTite. If it seeps into the journal can learn this stuff. You just have to try. per (to make it just a tiny bit smaller) and it will seize! Prototype drivers were quar- This article is more of a demonstration use that as a check gage as you bore the tered at 90 degrees, right side leading than a detailed step-by-step process. If hole. The idea here is to make a snug, but (except for the Pennsy. They used left you have questions I would be more than sliding, fit on the axle. When you come hand lead). If you do not get the drivers at happy to give a better explanation. to the right size, do not move the boring exactly 90 degrees it doesn’t matter as Please e-mail me with your questions. bar and do each wheel center with the long as all the drivers are quartered the [[email protected]] ◆ same settings. I learned a long time ago same. If they come out at 85 degrees, or that to press fit a driver to an axle often whatever, they will results in a crooked driver on the axle. work just fine. You After the six driver wheels and tires are can’t tell it anyway assembled and tested again for continu- when they are Fig. 6 assembled. The lead and trailing truck tires and wheels are machined and assembled very much the same way. I insulate both wheels at the axle. Tires are turned from steel bar stock. Precision Scale

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 31

WWWorkingorkingorking Lighted Lighted Lighted Switch Switch Switch Stands Stands Stands

Charlie Morrill Having switch stands on your layout 0.010" factor accounts for the clearance To make assembly easier, drill a #67 that actually rotate to indicate the posi- in the connecting rod holes. Make the (0.032" diameter) vertical hole in a wood 1 1 5 tion of the track switch is not only useful crank from the ⁄16" by ⁄32" brass flat bar. block about ⁄16" deep with a drill press. in running trains, but is also visually Drill two #63 (0.037" diameter) holes at Push the tubing into the hole so that the interesting. Even more visual interest is the required spacing. Round off one end height of the exposed tubing is equal to gained when the switch lamps are actu- as shown in Figure 1. the dimension from the crank to the top ally lighted. I model the late steam era of the tubing (Figure 2). Slide the crank Southern Pacific. Although the switch See text over the tubing down to the wood block stands and railroad practice that I’m with the rounded end away from the tub- describing in this article are specific to ing. After soldering the two parts togeth- the SP, the parts and construction er, pull the assembly out of the wood method can be applied to other rail- block. roads. The SP used the Star-type switch Switch Stand Assembly stand mounted on a single 12-inch wide The plastic-to-plastic joints were glued head block (the long tie). Many other with small amounts of Testors thin plastic railroads also used this stand, but mount- Figure 1 cement applied with a very small brush. ed the stand across the ends of a double Drill a spike hole with a #67 drill in the head block (two long ties). San Juan Car Target Rod center at each end of the San Juan switch Company makes these stands in O Scale The switch stand staff or target rod is stand base (there is a small cast-in bolt 1 and that’s what I’m going to modify. made from ⁄32" diameter tubing. Cut a head marking the location). Cement the 13 Crank length of tubing 1 ⁄16" long for the high two guards into the holes on one side of Since I use switch machines to oper- stand or 1" long for the low stand. As the the base per the San Juan instruction ate my track switches, the throw of the wire is a tight fit in the tubing, it is a good sheet. Note that, contrary to the instruc- points must cause the switch stand to idea to push a 0.019" diameter brass rod tion sheet, the table slots and lever will rotate 90 degrees instead of the other (available from Detail Associates) through go on the side opposite the guards. Place way around. The first step is to accurate- the tubing first to clear burrs or other the base over the hole in the wood block ly measure the distance the points move. obstructions. and reinsert the brass tube and crank. This measurement is used to calculate Check the rotation clearance of the crank the dimension for the distance between under the guards by rotating the base. the two holes in the crank (Figure 1). The The crank must be able to rotate a full 90 recommended point gap on an O gauge degrees between the guards. If okay, glue

9 3⁄ the table and legs to the base with the NMRA track gage is 0.112", which scales 1 ⁄16 1 4 3 to 5 ⁄8 inches. Prototype switches have a high low Solder slots pointing away from the guards. throw of about five inches. To save you The lever and yoke parts are best having to look up your old high school done as a subassembly. Leave the yoke trig: using the 0.112" dimension, the on the casting sprue tree when attaching spacing of the crank holes is calculated the lever, pin, and lock. To make the pin by 0.707(0.112 - 0.010) = 0.072". The easier to install, ream out the hole with a Figure 2 34 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 #78 drill after inserting the lever into the marking pens, however, I was not pleased ter of the target on the tall stand should be 9 yoke. Also, the piece of sprue attached to with the result from the brand of marking 1 ⁄32" above the bottom of the switch stand the lock makes a good handle for insert- pens I had on hand, so I opted for the base. The small target on the short stand is ing the lock into the hasp. Once the sub- acetate lenses. just above the top of the yoke. assembly is dry, remove the sprues and Paint the lamp casting with an opaque Installing 3 slide the yoke and lever assembly over black paint. This may take two coats to Measure a point on the head block 1 ⁄4" 3 the brass tube and insert the lever into prevent light leakage. I find that pressing from the rail and ⁄32" from the throw bar one of the slots. Use a very small amount the lamp over the end of a wooden 1 1 ⁄16" of cement at the slot. Be careful not to toothpick makes an excellent holder for ⁄32" glue the brass tube to the plastic. the painting and the attachment of the 1 Lights lenses. The 0.070" diameter lenses were ⁄8" 1 Soldering the small wires for the light is made from colored acetate with a punch ⁄16" best done with a 25-watt or 40-watt pen- and die. A very small amount of Testors cil soldering iron with a pencil point. Use Clear Parts Cement on the rim of the lens Figure 5 a no-corrode rosin flux and rosin core sol- opening secured the lens. Figure 4 shows der. Wrap one light bulb lead around the the orientation of the lens colors. Green end of the brass tube as shown in Figure showing towards an approaching train 1 1 3. Leave about ⁄16" of wire between the indicates that the switch is aligned “nor- side of the tie. Drill a ⁄16" hole through the bulb and the end of the tube. Solder a tie and roadbed for the bottom of the tube length of 30 AWG wire on the outside of and wires. Drill a #63 hole in the end of the other end of the tube and below the the switch throw bar. Bend a connecting 1 stand base for the ground wire. rod per the sketch (Figure 5) from ⁄32" If using the 30 AWG insulated wire, diameter brass rod. Note that the connect- cut the end of the wire to be pushed up ing rod is made either left or right hand. through the brass tube at a 45-degree The length of the connecting rod should angle to make it easier to start. I have be measured from the throw bar hole to also used 32 AWG magnet wire, which Figure 4 the switch stand center with the track is a much easier installation, however, switch in mid position. Place the switch the enamel coating is very easy to nick, mal”. Red or Yellow lights and target stand on the head block and install the showing towards an approaching train connecting rod. Check that the stand indicates that the switch is aligned for rotates the full 90 degrees from target par- the diverging route (“reverse”). allel to the track to target perpendicular to Cut off I should explain here about the reason track. Fasten the switch stand down with excess wire for the yellow and red lens and target Solder colors. Quoting the SP Common Stan- dards drawing: “Switch stands on side tracks in yards and on other inside tracks to be equipped with yellow target, except as follows: Derail switch stands, switch stands at the siding end of crossovers leading to main track, switch Figure 3 stands actuating main line signals, and The short stand ready for final assembly which then causes a short. Push the wire switch stands at connections with con- 1 past the bulb and strip off about ⁄16" of trolled sidings in C.T.C. territory to be two track spikes. Connect the two wires to 1 insulation and then pull the wire back so equipped with red target." Other rail- a 1- ⁄2 volt maximum power source. Leave that the bare wire is next to the upper roads had similar means for differentiat- a little slack in the wires for rotation. end of the bulb as in Figure 3. Wrap the ing switches that affected main line upper bulb lead around the end of the traffic from those on secondary tracks. wire and solder. Trim off all excess wire. Target and Lamp Assembly At this point it would be a good idea to I dab a small amount of white glue on test the bulb using a flashlight battery. If the bottom of the lamp and the top of the the test is good, the assembly can be brass tube before I push the lamp over the painted grimy black. bulb. The use of white glue makes Switch Lamp removal easier if necessary. With the The Grandt lamp casting is made from crank in the “switch normal" position, line clear plastic. This makes it relatively easy up the green lenses to be parallel to the to deepen the lamp cavity a little with a track. The small round target included in #55 (0.052" diameter) drill to provide the San Juan kit is correct for the low more room for the end of the bulb without switch stand scale 10" diameter target. For coming out through the top of the casting. the high switch stand, a scale 18" diame- If you are going to replace the lenses with ter target is needed. I punched these out colored acetate disks as I have done, drill of 0.015" thick styrene sheet. After paint- 1 out the lenses with a ⁄16" bit and counter ing the target, epoxy it to the side of the bore to 0.070". Grandt suggests coloring brass tube parallel to the track with the Testing the lamp bulb with a battery the cast lenses with red, green, or yellow switch in the “normal” position. The cen-

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 35 A tall stand used on the mainline

The short stand used in an industrial yard

You now have a switch stand that will inform your operating crews of the switch alignment even when the switch points are not easily visible. A SUGGESTED POWER SOURCE The 1.25 volt supply circuit shown right will provide enough power to light many switch stands. The voltage regulator needs to be mounted on a heat sink. Parts: LM 317T Adjustable Voltage Regulator, Heat Sink for TO- 1 220, “C" is 4.7 mfd, 50 volt capacitor, “R” is 270 ohm, ⁄4 watt resistor 1 “BR" is 1 ⁄2 amp, 400 piv, bridge rectifier The bridge rectifier allows use of AC for the voltage regulator circuit. This circuit can also be used for light- ing passenger cars or cabooses. ◆

Resources, Materials and Parts List: San Juan Car Co., PO Box 1028 Durango, Colorado 81302, 970-385-5256, #5002 Star Switch Stands, set of one tall and one short stand. Grandt Line, 1040 B Shary Court, Concord, CA 94518, 925-671-0143. www.grandtline.com, #149 Marker Lamps, two per package Miniatronics Corp., 561-K Acord Street, Deer Park, NY 11729, 800-942-9439, www.miniatronics.com, #18-075-10 Axial 1.5 volt Incandescent Lamps, .075" diameter, package of ten.

1 Special Shapes Co., PO Box 7487, Romeoville IL 60046, 800-51-SHAPE, www.specialshapes.com, Stock No. 05035, Brass Tubing ⁄32" 1 1 1 diameter by .006" wall, Brass flat bar ⁄16" by ⁄32", Brass rod ⁄32" diameter. Other: Styrene sheet .015" thick; Red, Green, Yellow colored acetate sheets (Craftsman Specialty Supply, 6567 Forty Mile Point, Rogers City, MI 49779), Alternate: colored marking pens; 30 AWG Insulated Wrapping Wire (Radio Shack #278-502) or 32 AWG plain enamel insulated magnet wire.

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36 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 pulling a complete consist of scale 2 rail cars. The transition car does all of the work. Con- gratulations! You have just shortened the gap between HiRail and scale model rail- roading! This works best on T-rail section track such as Atlas. Those scale wheels roll on that track just like they were truly made for each other. You will A HiRailer in Transition be amazed at what a big step you have just taken and will love A HiRailer in transition... that is exactly what I am and this the look of those scale cars and couplers. And the best part is that month I have a great idea for you: a transition car! If you are inter- you didn’t have to spend a lot of money. ested in an idea that will allow you operate closer to scale, this may The transition car represents a compromise, however, it allows be of interest. This car is like crossing an alligator with a crocodile; you as an operator to get extremely close to scale operations. it has two business ends and you have to pay attention to both. You Even the scale purists: kings, queens, and noblemen will wel- can use a scale car or a HiRail car. The car is simply converted so come you. You may need to consider purchasing wheelsets, scale that one coupler is 3 rail and the other is 2 rail.(See photo #1) couplers, and even some scale rolling stock. They may welcome your questions. They will wel- 1 come your business! Why, they won’t even know that you are a HiRailer! But all of the time the important thing is that you are getting more and more scale (and more fun) in what you do. The highly detailed scale rolling stock of today is an invest- ment in your modeling future. All of these great products can be easily converted—if and when you should decide to change over to scale 2 rail. All of us are

on a jour- 3 Place this car right behind the tender and it becomes the first ney in this car in your consist. It has a traditional tinplate coupler (just like all hobby. Each of the ones found on 3 rail rolling stock), kind of big, not very pro- of us has a totypical, but functional. We have tolerated these knuckles for pace of our years. (See photo #2) own. There simply is no 2 right or wrong in model rail- roading. Each of us must decide what course we will take to accom- plish our goals. Change is inevitable and it is okay. Maybe you are new to the hobby. Maybe you are a seasoned old timer. Just look at all of the choices we have today. So, take your time, enjoy your trains, and stay tuned for more exciting and challenging ideas. ◆

On the other end is a Kadee® coupler: what an improvement! (See photo #3). I chose to use an Atlas 2 rail car with scale wheelsets. You could also convert a 3 rail car. Using just scale couplers will work. Changing to scale trucks and wheelsets will provide additional scale appreciation. Now for the fun. On the scale end of your car you can couple as many Kadee equiped 2 rail scale cars as you wish. This allows you to use your existing locomotives running on 3 rail track, but

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 37 sharing was especially evident when he would go out of his way to ensure that Reader Feedback youngsters took in all that his basement empire had to offer, leaving them (and their parents) with lasting memories of a New Zealand Source Regards, Paul Woods special night. He would always thank I have just received the latest issue and Whangarei, New Zealand everyone for coming to see the layout, back issues that I ordered, and I wish to For those wheels, contact Graham and let them know they were welcome compliment the team at O Scale mag for Selman, [email protected], PO Box to come back. the care and attention to detail that has 27-368, Mount Roskill, Auckland, New His command post at the control gone into its production, even to how the Zealand (Ed. Note - a New Zealand dol- panel for the American Central was an back issues were beautifully packed. lar is about $US0.68) engineer’s seat from a scrapped New I have only recently decided to take A Fallen Warrior York Central Fairbanks-Morse diesel, and the plunge and model in O Scale. I have Frank G. ‘Gil’ Stovicek, 1924-2003 it is tempting to think that he is now been keeping an eye on availability of A pioneering modeler and tireless occupying a similar chair in the sky, with models, and the ever-expanding range of advocate for O Scale was lost to us on the armrests flipped down and a newly good-looking equipment is what encour- November 26, 2003, with the passing of fired-up cigar clenched in his teeth. aged me to change. I am a New Zealan- Gil Stovicek. Roll ’em, Gil. der with a passion for the NYC and Perhaps best known for his 2 rail O (For those interested, The American scratchbuilding, and O Scale serves me Scale American Central Railroad1, Gil Central was the cover story feature in the nicely. I was also lucky enough to was also an award-winning scratch- February 1972 Model Railroader. Excel- encounter a man with two old AHM kits builder, having come into the hobby at a lent writing, photography, and graphics for sale here in New Zealand, a Casey- time when modelers had little choice but by Bob Hegge and the MR staff.) Jones and an IHB 0-8-0. (Imagine my joy to create their own locomotives, rolling Bob rothrock (via email) when I discovered that the IHB was stock, and structures. Ed. note: We also received several owned by the NYC! The Casey-Jones Much of his railroad was funded other emails and a letter from Gil’s son- will never be; it will donate its wheels to through custom locomotive building. Gil in-law, Scott Lavelle. a scratchbuilt NYC K-11) would pick a design he liked from draw- Seeking Advice I would also like to point out a couple ings in the Locomotive Cyclopedia, then I want to build a Milwaukee SDL39. I of useful items that are made in New acquire enough brass tubing, sheet stock, think I can use the Atlas GP35 (I am not Zealand for 9mm scale modelers (3’6" motors, wheels, and gearboxes to build a rivet counter) but the wheel sets are gauge at 9mm/foot=31.5mm Oh Lookee, three locomotives... one of which he what are driving me nuts. Weaver has a near enough to O gauge!) that might be would keep, and the other two would go 3 axle set in Alco but that isn’t EMD. Tell useful to O Scale non-rivet counters. up for sale or trade. In addition to col- me what to look for in axle sets, please. There is a loco driver, 27mm dia. X lecting NMRA awards for his work, he Dick Donaway 4.1mm wide, stainless steel tyre on a soon established a reputation for build- [email protected] 1 nylon moulded centre, approx ⁄4" crank ing show-quality models that also ran throw, NZ$5.70 each wheel last time I well out of the box, and kept on running Joe replies: I went to my “go to” per- 1 checked. It is not exactly right for ⁄48th after years of service to their owners. son for Diesel info, Beth Marshall of the scale, having only ten spokes, but it is When he no longer built locomotives, Public Delivery Track. Here’s what Beth near enough for me, and you can buy he turned his attention to converting had to say: the stainless steel axles (5mm dia) from some of the less costly 3 rail brass offer- I went on an expedition thru back the same maker. They are an interference ings from Williams and others for 2 rail issue of Diesel “techy” mags. The only fit and so easy to use. A browse through operation. Despite periodic downturns thing missing was the “Jack Benny going my Kalmbach Loco Cyclopedia, Vol. 1, on the business side of O Scale, he never into his safe” sound. turned up many engines with 51" lost his drive to support the hobby, and I found a copy of Diesel Era mag from wheels, several of which were used by kept encouraging anyone with an inter- 1998 with an SDL-39 article. the NYC, so the hardest part of scratch- est to start off inexpensively with older Only 10 SDL-39’s were ever built, building these engines is taken care of. equipment... die-cast locomotives, or car MILW 581-585 Built in 1969, and 586- There are also plain, 9 and 8 spoke kits from sale tables at shows. 590, built in 1972. All but 581 (wrecked) wheelsets, about NZ$4 each, 22.5mm Favorites? While he respected (and were conveyed to the SOO line when dia x 3.5mm tread- scales out to kidded) the one road/one era purists SOO bought the Milwaukee Road, (none 42.5inch and 0.135” in O Scale. I have among us, his own tastes were eclectic, were ever painted in SOO colors) and bought three GP-9 bodies from P&D and he thought nothing of running a then were conveyed to Wisconsin Cen- Hobbies with a view to scratchbuilding 105-car coal drag behind an N&W Y-6 tral, when it was spun off from SOO. the drives using these wheels. right next to a double-stack container When CN bought WC in 2002, all were I have read letters in magazines from train pulled by a BNSF SD-70. He loved retired and sold to South America, people complaining how expensive the it all, and his enthusiasm was infectious. according to web data. hobby is, especially in O Scale, but I To the end, his railroad remained These 10 engines were ordered by the believe that if you are prepared to hunt open on the first and third Wednesdays Milwaukee to replace SW-1’s and RSC- around for the bargains and sale items— of each month, and for special events 2’s that were used on light rail branch part of the fun of the hobby, I might (NMRA regional conventions, NYC & lines, especially in the Dakotas. There add—then it doesn’t have to be expen- NKP Historical Societies, Boy Scouts), he are still parts out these branch lines in sive at all. Knowing where to find what would open on weekends. He was a gra- service today, still using 100+ year old you need is the key, and that’s where I cious and generous host, and although 60 lb. rail. Most of it is operated by owe O Scale Trains Mag a big Thank You. he had no children of his own, his joy in shortlines or regional railroads today.

38 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 The SDL-39’s were 4 feet shorter than Precision Manufacturing Co. in Texas career, and I resisted the Internet. Didn’t a GP-38 or GP-39, and about 1 foot and is not the NWSL Sensipress. Just a want to waste my time! My wife bought shorter than a GP-35, and ran on special- note to avoid confusion. the computer, and while I don’t spend a ly built short wheelbase EMD 6 wheel Bob Garrelts, Tarpon Springs, Florida great deal of time at it, I now type as fast flexicoil trucks. Typical EMD 6 wheel (via email) as I print, and can find obscure stuff flexicoil trucks, as used on SD-39’s, SD- Power Supplies, Scale Plans & The Internet about trains, airplanes, and the law so 35’s and SD-40’s, are symmetrical and It’s getting so the first thing I do is fast it makes my head swim. I don’t have a distance between axles of about 6 scan the editorials, then on to the understand how Google can find ft 9 in. The SDL-39 truck has axle spac- comics, and then maybe the front page! I 800,000 references to something so ing of 5 ft 6 in from outer axle to center, was enjoying your editorials, and found obscure as Cab Forward in 6.3 microsec- and 6 ft 8 in from center to inner axle. my name mentioned by fellow modeler onds, but I just shake my head and wind Relating this to O scale, the SDL-39 is Carl Phillips. Carl does good work. You up with more information than I can pos- 1 about ⁄4 inch shorter than a GP-35, and answered him quite well, but I thought a sibly digest in a lifetime! Nobody can has asymmetrical 6 wheel flexicoil trucks few additional comments might help. An function well in today’s society without 3 about ⁄8 in shorter than those used on the auto transformer is simply a variable some access to the Internet, and I can no Atlas SD-35. transformer, and has endured trade longer write a letter in longhand! I print If you can overlook these differences, names such as Variac, among others I the important ones and stick them in the you might be able to mount Atlas SD-35 have forgotten. The big advantage of the snail mail. Resisting the computer revo- trucks (standard 6 wheel Flexicoil trucks) auto transformer is that the output varies lution is, in my opinion, a mistake. But it on an Atlas GP-35 to make an SDL-39, smoothly from, in most cases, 0 to 120 is a mistake with only one victim, so as long as both the 4 wheel and 6 wheel Volts, and there are only losses associat- don’t feel guilty about it. trucks have the same mounting position, ed with transformers. Usually there is a 0 Regards - Bob Turner (via email) relative to the outer end of the truck. - 132 Volt output, which helps when you Weighing In On GP-9s If both trucks mount exactly over cen- cannot find a good 24 Volt stepdown Enjoying your magazine very much. ter, for example, you’ll have problems transformer. Modern power packs use The GP-9 article was well written and because the 6 wheel truck will extend solid state throttles to vary voltage, but I informative. To add more weight try into the pilot and steps, as well as toward am old-fashioned. Give me a Variac or BADA (passenger automotive weights) the fuel tank. If the extra length of the 6 an auto-transformer, a good stepdown Tape-a-weight #7025, 0.25 oz).They can wheel truck extends only toward the fuel transformer, and a cheap bridge rectifier be inserted between the fuel tank and the tank, you’re in business, because the fuel any day to power the necessary 8x24 frame. Take a strip of 7 weights and peel tank can always be cut shorter to make Pittman. For me, nothing else will do. all the adhesive off. Then take another set room for the trucks. As it turns out, the Nothing. Unless it is by Pratt & Whitney! of 7 with adhesive strip still intact and SDL-39’s had a small 1700 gal. fuel tank, My original reason to write was the stick them together. Paint them black. as compared to the 2600 gal fuel tank on query on how we find dimensions, etc., They will snugly slide in between the fuel a typical GP-35. by Marty Iftody. Marty identified a real tank and frame. Do both sides and you Unfortunately, I haven’t had a chance problem. My first impulse is to say be will add 7 oz. to your engine! to pull apart an Atlas GP-35 to see how careful, because often drawings in the These drives will tend to worm jam the trucks are mounted. hobby press are not 100 percent accu- when 2 or more engines run together on Another thing you’ll want to consider rate. For instance, Model Railroader mis- a grade. We have found that if only one is the SDL-39’s lack of dynamic brakes. led US Hobbies on the PRR K-4 boiler unit has a flywheel you can run as many D/B’s have always been an option on contours, and Mainline Modeler misled as 3 more non fly wheeled units with the EMD locos, and the ’flat’ railroads have PSC on Pullman roof contours. However, one with flywheels and your problem is often opted to save money and get on the whole, MR and MM are excellent eliminated. engines without D/B’s. sources, and can be pretty much I hope this will be a help to someone. The only Atlas GP-35 without dynam- depended on. In fact, MM has been Sincerely Yours ic brakes (as far as I know) was the New known to print a drawing a second time Robert L (Bob) Youngblood York Central. This, of course, if probably for even minor discrepancies, for exam- Trinity NC (via email) the hardest one to find in 2 rail. Atlas ple, see their treatment of the UP FEF Level Of Detail may have made the D/B an option on the series. My MM drawings are my most As always, another excellent issue. undec version; you’d have to check with valuable for scratch-building. But the Normally the first thing I turn to in the them. real problem is when no drawings exist. magazine is the back page with your At any rate... good luck. Try, for instance, the C & O Greenbrier! comments. This latest issue, however, For your next project, I’d like to see a My biggest challenge was the Baldwin found me on the Reader’s Feedback page model of the MILW RSC-2 that was #60000—that three-cylinder monster quite accidentally when I noticed the let- rebuilt by Alco with an RS-32 nose. that is preserved in the Franklin Institute ter from Ron Morse. The first things I Beth in Philadelphia. What a beauty! My thought after reading his letter were A Correction model was done with only scaled xerox- some observations I have been making Upon rereading my article on the es of very grainy photos. No one—not lately in the ”real world” and how they Babbitt small tender on page 22, right even the museum—had even the most applied to modeling. hand column near the bottom I men- rudimentary of dimensions or data. My While sitting at a traffic light in tioned that North West Shortline’s Sensi- model turned out well; after all these Lebanon, Pa., where I now live, I press could also be used to punch rivets. years, the only large error I have discov- observed a very nice brick building I guess in the editorial review someone ered is in the boiler taper section, and directly (almost) across from my loca- added “(photo2)” where my “Chief Engi- the casual observer will never notice! tion. Noting that it was only about 100 neer” is checking the tooling. In fact the As a final note, let me state that I was feet or less from me, I also noted that I rivet press shown was manufactured by a computer engineer prior to my airline could not make out any detail as far as Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 39 the bricks, mortar, etc., even though I Concerning John Heller’s review of prefer. This is what a good hobby maga- knew it was all there. Now to apply that Sunset’s NP Yellowstone in OST # 9, I zine is all about, sharing ideas and build- to O scale, how close would a person second his comment about Sunset stand- ing methods with others. have to be to a model brick building to ing behind their products and taking care Sincerely, J W (“Woody”) Mathews, get this same effect? I could do the math of problems to their customers’ satisfac- Seattle WA (via email) but won’t. I came to the conclusion that tion. That model has a design flaw that Modeling Without Plans we’re taking the level of detail way too may only become apparent when it is Marty Iftody raised an interesting far... of course I’m currently not model- pulling a heavy load. question in OST#12 Reader Feedback. ing due to my “circumstances” so I guess Unlike most of Sunset’s locomotives, Basically, brass importers and those I should just shut up. the front drawbar pin and rear coupler who produce the Proto-2000 models use One other thing. What happened to are not directly connected to the tender as much prototype information and plans Scace’s head? floor or center sill. These two important as they can find before going into pro- Sincerely, Don Dissinger (via email) parts are attached to the end sills. The duction. But even then errors occur; its Joe replies: You’re right, Don, we end sills are “butt-soldered” to the bot- not a perfect world! probably do apply too much detail to tom edges of the tender body ends. This Witness Atlas’ old O Scale gondola our models, but that’s part of the “art” of is not a strong mechanical connection. with its brake platform on the wrong end model-building. A perfectly scaled My NP Z-5 was operating as the lead of the car’s underframe. This happened model will probably not look “right” to engine of a doubleheader. On its second because prototype plans show a car’s most people, so we need to emphasize trip around a friend’s layout, the rear end underside from the top. We modelers some detail and minimize others until it sill came off the Z5 tender altogether. look at it from the bottom, so the brake “feels” right. As for Brian’s head, it’s not After notifying Scott Mann of the system got reversed. Such mistakes can nice to upset Mother Nature or the Art problem, I shipped the tender back to happen on brass models as well. Director. But don’t feel too badly for Sunset, whose staff repaired it better than Creditable models can be built without Brian. He gets his turn in this issue. See if I could have done myself. The repair highly detailed plans. In the early issues of you can find his “retort”. included adding splices to connect the O Scale Trains, there were photos of a few A Potpourri Of Commentary end sills to the tender floor to prevent the of my models. All were built without plans My compliments to Rich Godfrey’s problem recurring. Scott said the model or detailed drawings in the usual sense. fine review of Sunset’s new B&M Berk- should not have been made that way in One car used information - a photo shire in issue #12. I appreciate the thor- the first place, and that he would discuss and some measurements - from the 19th oughness and the extra effort made (by the problem with the builder. edition of Car Builder’s Cyclopedia, a both Rich and John Sauers) to provide And before anyone comments that railroad industry publication. Another performance information in the form of I’m exaggerating the problem, I wish to used a copy of a railroad equipment dia- scale speed and current draw. I also liked observe that there have been other locos gram. These are basically outline draw- Rich’s method of adjusting the yoke on in the past built similarly to the Z5. If a ings of the car or loco. They are not to the Berk’s lead truck. loco is not weighted, and not used to scale and have only a few basic dimen- To supplement Rich’s comments, I pull heavy trains, an owner may never sions. There was also a camelback steam respectfully offer the following: I’ve experience the problem. However, my locomotive. It was built using just three noted that a number of models have opinion is that this is not the proper way photos, knowing only its driver diameter, inadequate vertical movement of the to design an operating model. I often cylinder diameter and coupler height. yokes of both leading and trailing trucks- operate on friends’ layouts, a couple of This does take some background expe- -a cause of derailment on vertical curves which involve mainline grades of 1.7 to rience. It’s best to start out with something as Rich found. The reason is that the 2%. One fellow likes to run freight trains relatively simple. One of my first scratch- shouldered portions of the truck mount- of 50-60 cars, and long passenger trains built models built without detailed plans ing screws, or the screws in their entirety, as well. Pulling model “tonnage” of this was a Reading Company express reefer I are too short. sort requires that locomotives be stoutly found on a siding in Bucks County, Pa., I have “extended” the shoulder of the built, designed like their prototypes with back in the mid 1960’s. factory screw. I use a piece of brass tube, regard to certain mechanical aspects. I dragged a buddy along to help me drilled out as necessary, cut to a length of Finally, as long as I’m writing, I read measure the car on a bitterly cold win- 1 ⁄16" or so and fit over the threaded portion with interest Harry Hieke’s method of ter’s day. I took along a sketch pad, sev- of the factory screw. This does reduce the making operating boxcar doors, also in eral pencils and a 100’ tape measure. I actual length of thread holding the truck, OST #9. His method seems fairly simple, didn’t have a camera then but its advis- but I’ve had no problem with a screw and quite satisfactory, if all that’s wanted able to get as many photos of your proj- working loose. And LocTite or a similar is working doors. With all due respect to ect prototype as you can. adhesive can always be applied if desired. Harry, I don’t think it’s realistic. While I So I made a sketch of it broad side (I’ve made this alteration to both lead and think that Harry’s modeling skills are far and from one end. Then we went to trailing truck screws on my Berkshire, as superior to mine, I would note that my work, taking measurements and putting well as other models.) intent was to create a boxcar INTERIOR dimensions on the sketch as if it were a Another problem with my Berk was appearance to simulate typical proto- scale drawing. Length, width, height, the wire from the motor to the wireless types. If one looks through an open car thickness of the end sill and side sill, drawbar was soldered directly to the door to the other side of a real boxcar, door dimensions, kind of siding and its front of the drawbar. After a few hours of one does not see a big wire spring on the width, fascia, hatch dimensions. etc. operation during a train show, the solder inside of the opposite door! Then, the layout of lettering on the car joint broke. I soldered the wire to a lug I do appreciate Harry’s sharing his and a note or two about its paint. and the other end of the lug has a hole method with us (as well as his other writ- No need to draw in ladders, just make large enough to clear the drawbar screw, ings). Readers can and should choose for a note of their width, height and number so the lug does not pivot. themselves which method, if either, they of rungs. No real need to dimension the

40 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 grab irons either. For the most part these many folks have this kind of info stashed can I show this to my customer?” The are standardized safety appliances with away, or can steer you to those who do. thing looked like a blimp! The dealer specific locations. • Something I’ve done more often told me it was caused by the finisher I made a few separate sketches of than you’d think, is to buy a model in a being too aggressive with the air eraser. unique features on the car, such as curved different scale and copy it (making Subsequent discussion with certain fin- ladders in place of grab irons between the appropriate corrections as warranted). ishers verified this, and some will not eaves and running board at each corner. Meanwhile, I have a method for sand-blast at all. I’ve been trying to think Also that the end doors were framed with measuring photos that I’ll write up for a of ways to correct models with bulging pieces of old rail and how that was done. coming issue. It’s a little more involved sides, such as sand-blasting the inside of A few quick notes were made about than we have room for here. the model or carefully bending by hand. the underframe and brake set up. No More On Computers and the Internet Any suggestions are welcome. detailed sketches: just notes and marks In response to recent letters in Reader The other issue is that manufacturers on the sketch about the brake cylinder, Feedback, I wish to add my 2 cents air reservoirs, valve and brake lever loca- worth. In response to John Smith and his tions. Before heading back to the car to comments about computers, with all due get warm, my buddy found a sign on one respect, John, you are full of it. Not of the end doors: SAVE ICE - KEEP DOOR everyone has a desire or need for a com- CLOSED. I made a quick note of it. puter. I am a small manufacturer and Back at the dorm (I was a graduate have no website or computer access. I student in Philadelphia then) I drew up a bang my catalog out on an old-fashioned more or less scale plan for the car from typewriter and offer it to anyone for a the information I gathered. Four years self-addressed stamped envelope. I ship later I finally got to build the model. It through the post office and have had no even won an award at an O Scale meet a problems with it. Like Phil Shuster, I few years after that. resent your use of the term “snail mail”. seem to inten- If you do go out to photograph, sketch As one of the nation’s 225,000 letter tionally distort and measure a prototype be sure you carriers (I can’t make a living in O Scale), the nose con- also have the owner’s permission to do I can say we do the very best job we can. tours of “fin- so. For the most part, museums do not Anyone who subscribes to a magazine ished” O like others climbing on their equipment relies on us to get it. I have yet to see a Scale GG-1 because of liability issues. Try to find out computer deliver anything to anyone’s models. This what is fairly standard about the thing. door. I have no space for a computer or seems to have For example, from door heights in most desire to learn how to use one. As Phil started with buildings you can pretty much deduce said, providing a catalog is part of the the post-war many other dimensions. Ditto for the cost of doing business. toy O gauge heights between floors, etc. As far as the post office goes, it costs GG-1’s. This Try something simple first. Don’t try to me less to ship than with UPS, and no, I distortion was make a Smithsonian quality, rivet-count- don’t get a discount. The post office even done to keep er, nit-picker-proof model. If you attempt provides boxes for Priority Mail. the classic 5 to do so right off, you will quickly As O Scalers, 2 and 3-rail, we are in a stripe artwork become discouraged and the model will minority, so let’s quit attacking each on a simple never be finished. The real fun is satisfac- other and face our common enemy, HO. curve instead tion in modeling something no one else Seriously, model railroading and manu- of a com- may have done. Do it to enjoy! facturing is supposed to be fun. Let’s pound curve. Ed Bommer keep it that way. Friendly squabbles are On a real GG- Okmulgee Okla. (via email) okay but let’s not get personal. Remem- 1 the top two Brian Scace adds: Additionally, a cou- ber, to err is human, to really screw up stripes “roll” ple of thoughts: takes a computer. over a soft- • The various railroad historical soci- Now that I have vented my spleen I rounded compound curve before turning eties, such as the New York Central Sys- can go back to living in the bronze age. downward on the nose. This is obvious tem Historical Society, the PRR Regards, in many books, such as “The Remark- Historical Society, et al, are usually listed Andrew D. Sunderland able GG-1” and “Pennsy Power”. Appar- annually in Model Railroader, Trains, East Gary Car Company ently model manufacturers are unable to Mainline Modeler and the like. These apply the 5 stripes to a compound curve, Bulged and Distorted folks often have obsolete drawings from so they raise and sharpen the nose con- This letter is to bring up two issues the railroad of interest that members can tours to keep the 5 stripes on a simple that have been bothering me. get copies of. Also, photographs are curve. The NJ Custom Brass GG-1, being The first relates to the improper use of often archived by these organizations. unfinished, does not have to be con- an “air eraser” or sand blaster. About fif- • Get out on the web and search for cerned with this issue and has realistic teen years ago I began to notice that info on the intended subject. You’d be nose contours. some of my finished models had tenders surprised how much is out there, includ- Bill Buchanan with slightly bulged-out sides and I ing sources for drawings, dimensions, [[email protected]] wondered why. I speculated that the books, and the like. Scace replies: Using glass or sand as sheet brass came in rolls and would tend • Join one of the forum sites, such as the media will distort the brass. Using to roll up after the model was built. Then the Otrains site on Yahoo. Post the ques- media softer than brass, like aluminum about a year ago or so, a dealer showed tion. You’d again be surprised at how oxide, will not cause a problem. ◆ me a tender and said “My God, Bill, how Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 41 ProductProduct NewsNews && ReviewsReviews

NEWS: C&O Plates NEWS: Overland Models, Inc. NEWS: Underground Railway Press c/o Wilbur Epperly 3808 W. Kilgore Ave. 216 S. Broad St., PMB4OS 1115 Main St Muncie, IN 47304 USA Brevard, NC 28712-3702 Barboursville WV 25504 www.overlandmodels.com The Underground Railway Press has 304-736-7765 (eve) phone: 765.289.4257 ext. 107 released its One-Source Scale Model Railroad Industry Directory for 2004. www.candoplates.com fax: 765-289-6013 This 17th anniversary edition lists over Wilbur advises us that he now has Brian Marsh tells us that Overland has 950 active manufacturers and publish- etched brass N&W round, oval and rec- announced a revised list of EMD units ers in N, HO, S, O and large scales, in tangular number plates and brass numer- for production including: CPR SD40- both standard and narrow gauges. als to go with those plates so you can 2F; FP45 units for Milwaukee Road and Covered are Canadian and U. S. com- make up any number you like. He also Santa Fe; SD40T-2 units for D&RGW panies. Each listing contains the name has a variety of plates already etched and SP; and SD45T-2 units for SP, Cot- of the company, mailing address, pri- with numbers. The photo shows 2156 ton Belt (Bicentennial), and Union mary product produced and catalog which is the last extant Y6a at the St. Pacific. The GE AC44/C60AC produc- requirements. Louis Railway museum. He also has a tion is a go. The hand sample is in pro- URP-500 is $9.95 plus $2.50 p&h. B&O Capitol dome, cylinder stars, and duction and Ajin has begun casting ten different builder’s plates. Visit his production. This will be their first O website to see more of his very fine Scale Diesel production in a couple of REVIEW: Weaver Baldwin VO1000 work. years. They expect to have the sample PO Box 231, RR1 route 11 in time for the Chicago March Meet Northumberland PA 17857 where they will attend on Friday night 570-473-9434, for the Importers Round Table and on www.weavermodels.com Saturday to display their sample. They Reviewed by Beth Marshall of the have a small number of Conrail and Public Delivery Track Norfolk Southern SD70 units currently There are some things you just never in stock. They also have some new forget. It was midnight on a Sunday, dozers with the front mounted boom upper level 30th Street Station in hook and the depressed center flats that Philadelphia. It was dark. It was quiet. NEWS: AM Hobbies are made to haul railroad wreck dozers. The dull glow of the city provides 6 Delmar Ridge Drive enough light to see but not enough to Wellsboro, PA 16901 NEWS: Bill Lane Jr. read. We were waiting for the local (570) 723-1824 525 Warwick Rd. train from Suburban Station to Clifton- [email protected] Deptford NJ 08096 856-848-5133 Aldan; ten minutes from home. Coming AM Hobbies has just finalized the pro- [email protected] up the hill from Center City is the unex- duction of their next exclusive Special Bill advises that he now offers custom pected glow of a Diesel switcher head- Run Atlas O car, a Lehigh Valley 40’ painting, brass repair, DCC installation, light. And then, coming through the all wood-side reefer. This car will be sound installation, remotoring, lighting electric, all MU, always the same upper released in March 2004 and will be systems, custom parts and brass casting. level, is a Pennsy Baldwin switcher produced in two road numberss (36150 Send him an email with what you want trundling along with a single open-end and 36151). The pre-production art- done. Important info to include is what observation car. It was 1962. I was 10 work is shown in the photo scale, and if you already have the decals or dry transfers, or even if they years old. Now, the question is, If we are available. Do you want weathering? wanted to re-create this scene in O If it is not a PRR piece, a photo would scale, or any scene with a Baldwin be nice to have for quoting. If it is a VO1000 switcher on any of 11 other locomotive, do you want DCC and railroads, would the new Weaver sound? Include any other info that you VO1000 fit the bill? feel is important to you in getting the The Model model finished exactly as you want. Well, it just so happens, I have a new Weaver VO1000 right here. Just looking Their other Atlas Special Run cars (an at it, right out of the box, it’s gorgeous. Oppenheimer Sausage 36' Reefer, a NEWS: Golden West Hobbies Louvers are distinct, but not oversized. It Parrot Potatoes 40' Reefer and a 22909 Slough Rd has a fully illuminated cab interior; you Philadelphia and Reading wood-side Edgewood CA 96094 can even see the chair the engineer is box car) are shown at their Web site 530-938-2915 Golden West Hobbies has commis- sitting in and the 24L type brake stand. (www.amhobbiesonline.com) under the sioned Weaver Models to reissue Yreika The cab windows have windshield Special Run Atlas Cars. The run size for Western 50’ boxcars in four new road wipers, both fore and aft. Metal, sepa- all special run cars will be limited to a numbers. These cars are ready-to-run. rately applied, handrails are properly total of 175 – 200 cars. Retail price is $33.99 each, plus ship- located for this model, with flat metal, Pricing for the Lehigh Valley reefer is as ping. They are available in 2 or 3 rail follows: versions from Dunsmuir Hardware, wrap-around stanchions. The handrails 3-rail - List Price $62.95; pre-order $59.00 5836 Dunsmuir Ave, Dunsmuir CA are probably a tad too thick, possibly a 2-rail - List Price $65.95; pre-order $62.00 96025, 530-235-4539. compromise for sturdiness. My two

42 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 Weaver Baldwin VO1000 and no engine disassembly is required. In TMCC mode, the unit drew approx 0.5 amps at idle, and 4.5 amps with a 14 ounce pull on the drawbar, just prior to wheel slip. In DC mode, the current draw is less, with creep speed at about 2.5 volts and wheel slip at about 10 volts. The motion is impressively smooth, and creep speed is not too bad for a vertical drive can motor (about 5 mph). I, like everyone else, would like to see the gearing a bit slower for all today’s production Diesels, but the cur- rent gearing has become the “standard” favorite details are airhoses with glad vertical support (like a DS 4-4-1000) for today’s 2-rail and 3-rail Diesel prod- hands and angle cocks at each end by the rather than the two center vertical sup- ucts, at least for now. couplers, and those small number boards ports that I see in most VO1000 photos. Sound on each side of the hood, a classic Bald- Virtually all Phase 2 VO1000’s were Uhhhhn! This is a sore point. When the win switcher feature. Footboards are built with a single barrel exhaust stack. wind is out of the south, I can tell you 3 about ⁄16" from top of the rail and the The one known exception, as far as I can whether the CSX train 8 miles from 5 steps are about ⁄16" from top of the rail. tell, was Reading #84, which was the home, has got GE’s or EMD’s for power. 1 While this may be about ⁄16" too high, it’s prototype for the 4 small exhaust stack It’s not rocket science. Two cycle and 4 certainly within reason, and looks appro- design. Many of the Phase 2 VO1000’s cycle motors have very different sounds. priate. The trucks are diecast (AAR-A as were later converted to the 4 stack It’s the difference between a chain saw they should be) and reasonably, but not design and most of the Phase 3 and a lawn tractor. A spokesman at overly detailed. Actual VO1000 length VO1000’s were built with 2 or 4 exhaust Weaver models described what hap- over pilots is 48' 4" and the model is pret- stacks. PRR 5913, as it turns out, was pened. Lionel offers Railsounds to con- ty close at 47' 9". delivered as a 1 stack, Phase 2 VO1000, tract manufacturers in only 6 different Our test model was in Great Northern liv- but was changed to 4 stacks later on. As Diesel versions, Alco PA, ALCO C-420, ery provided by Weaver but I also have for the models, Weaver had them built in GE dash-9, EMD F-3, EMD E-8, and one in PRR paint numbered 5913. The both single stack and 4 stack versions. generic Diesel. Not seeing anything that paint on both is excellent, especially the The B&O, CNJ, GN, LV, UP, and WM said Baldwin, Weaver asked for generic PRR model which is true “Brunswick models have 1 stack, the ATSF, CBQ, Diesel. Well... there is no such thing as a Green” (looks black). I hate Pennsy mod- MILW, RDG, NYC and PRR models have “generic” Diesel. It turns out that Lionel’s els painted dark green that look green. 4 stacks. (The ATSF model has 4 tall “generic Diesel” is, incredibly, a GP- As some of you know, the 548 V01000’s stacks instead of 4 short stacks, possibly 7/GP-9, with the whining generator and that were built for U.S. railroads were a spark arrestor design on the prototype) all. And, it’s a really good GP-7, too. I’d delivered at different times in three dif- The good news is that Weaver has put it in one of my geeps any day. Now, ferent car body types. To the casual included extra stacks with each model, if if you’re modeling the Reading, MKT, observer they may look pretty much the you want to change your configuration. CNW, USN, P&BR, or any other of the same, but for those of us who have Offi- It is not a quick change however. You’ll dozen roads that re-engined their Bald- cial Guides, Equipment Registers, and a need glue, a drill, and definitely some wins with EMD 567 prime movers, then stack of X2200 South lying around the kit-bashing experience. If you want to you’re in business. But for the rest of us, house, there’s a world of difference. check out the VO1000 production for this will hardly do. However, Weaver Then, of course, the railroads made your own favorite railroad, go to said they will change the sound chip in changes to the carbodies along the way. [http://users.inna.net/~jaydeet/ the VO1000 for anyone who wants a The Weaver model is basically a Phase 2 vo-1000.htm] for a list of all delivered more Baldwin-like sound. I’m probably body (curved trim at battery box and VO1000’s, with numbering, carbody, going to go for the ALCO PA. It’s not step gussets, full front grill and top radia- and exhaust stacks, as built. exact, but at least it’s a 1940’s, 4 cycle tor outlet). The VO1000 roof came in Operation Diesel sound. The more discriminating two versions, the “arch” roof and the This is a good solid model weighing in at modeler can go to Lionel, or I can rec- “flat” roof. The model appears to be the 3 lbs, 9 oz. with dual can motors, ommend Jim Sullivan at the Irondequoit arch roof, but I honestly have trouble diecast frame, and all wheels powered. Car Shops, in Rochester, NY, for a sound telling them apart in pictures. The dis- Our model has 2-rail Lionel TMCC and chip change. (phone: 585-482-3734, tinctive V’d front radiator grill has nice Railsounds, but will also run on straight [www.Ironcarshops.com]). The installed detail, although it has the single center DC. It comes ready to run on TMCC, but GP-7 sound also has a 5 chime horn, changing it to DC is which isn’t appropriate for the single done simply by note “honker” on the VO1000. throwing 4 slide All in all, this is a very nice model, and a switches on the bot- switcher line that’s been overlooked in tom of the engine. O Scale up till now. I’ve got two for The switches are myself. ◆ easily accessible,

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 43 Index for O Scale Trains: Volume 1 Name Issue#, Month Page By Title Review - Gumbuster Centennial Name Issue#, Month Page by F Skidmore Products 1, March pg. 40 Adding Weights to Cars 1, March pg. 11 Review - Reading Class G3 Auction Prices: O Scale 2-Rail Models 5, Nov pg. 21 Pacific & Psgr Cars by SGL Lines 4, Sept pg.16 Bay Ridge Harbour Railroad 1, March pg. 4 Review - USRA Composite Gondola Beginner’s Kitbashing 3, July pg. 35 by Intermountain 5, Nov pg. 24 Build a Car Float 2, May pg. 15 Review- Great Northern Y-1/Pennsy FF-2 Building a PRR B8a 0-6-0 1, March pg. 36 Electric by Sunset Models 3rd Rail Division 3, July pg. 18 Building a PRR B8a 0-6-0 2, May pg. 40 Steam Locomotive Cab Curtains & Awnings 5, Nov pg. 12 Building a PRR B8a 0-6-0 3, July pg. 40 Superdetailing Intermountain & Other Boxcars 5, Nov pg. 4 Caboose Conversion 4, Sept pg. 30 WP/SN Boxcar Kit by San Juan Car Co 5, Nov pg. 23 Carmer ’Push-Type’Uncoupling Levers 4, Sept pg. 47 Wood Refrigerator Car by Red Caboose 3, July pg. 19 Carmer ’Push-Type’Uncoupling Levers, Pt 2 5, Nov pg. 51 Working Windows & Hatches 1, March pg. 14 Central Jersey O Scalers Modular Railroading 5, Nov pg. 55 Working Windows & Hatches 2, May pg. 47 Colorado Southern in On30 3, July pg. 4 Working Windows & Hatches 3, July pg. 10 Construct a Yard Tower 5, Nov pg. 8 Working Windows & Hatches 4, Sept pg. 11 Constructing the Float Bridge on the Bay Ridge Harbour RR 1, March pg. 31 Crapola from the Cupola (col) 1, March pg. 34 By Author Crapola from the Cupola (col) 2, May pg. 28 Name/Title Issue#, Month Page# Crapola from the Cupola (col) 3, July pg. 34 Biangel, Nicholas Crapola from the Cupola (col) 4, Sept pg. 42 Colorado Southern in On30 3, July pg. 4 Crapola from the Cupola (col) 5, Nov pg. 46 Blackwood, Bruce Dealer’s Corner (col) 1, March pg. 13 Dealer’s Corner (col) 1, March pg. 13 Dealer’s Corner (col) 2, May pg. 26 Dealer’s Corner (col) 2, May pg. 26 Dealer/Importer Roundtable Bommer, Edward F Discussion; Mar 2002 3, July pg. 43 Improving Weaver’s 53’ Flat Car 1, March pg. 27 Detailing a Weaver GP 38-2 4, Sept pg. 52 B&O Class I-12 Wagontop Caboose by Door and a Half Boxcar Conversion 3, July pg. 31 Sunset Models 3rd Rail Division 2, May pg. 20 Easements for the Learning Curve (col) 5, Nov pg. 15 Making Carmer ’Push-Type’ Fifty Foot Pfaudler Milk Cars 3, July pg. 50 Uncoupling Levers 4, Sept pg.47 Fill ’er Up 5, Nov pg. 27 Making Carmer ’Push-Type’ From Four to Six Axles-Converting an MTH Uncoupling Levers 5, Nov pg. 51 Diesel to 2-Rail 2, May pg. 31 Brown, Ben Great Northern Pacific RR 2, May pg. 34 Fifty Foot Pfaudler Milk Cars 3, July pg. 50 How I Built My Critter 5, Nov pg. 30 Forty Foot Milk Car by Rails Unlimited 4, Sept pg. 17 Improving Weaver’s 53’ Flat Car 1, March pg. 27 Courtney, Bob Interview: Dealer/Importer O Scale Hall of Fame, Bill Wolfer 2, May pg. 23 Roundtable Discussion 3, July pg. 43 Dean, Buck Interview: Reed Artim of O Scale Realty 4, Sept pg.21 Wood Refrigerator Car by Red Caboose 3, July pg. 19 Kingsbury Terminal RR 5, Nov pg. 36 Deimling, Gene Locomotive Servicing Bay 4, Sept pg.13 Door and a Half Boxcar Conversion 3, July pg. 31 Louis Ertz’s West Tennessee Central RR 4, Sept pg.4 Proto 48 Modeling (col) 4, Sept pg. 44 N&W K3 4-8-2 by Sunset Models Proto 48 Modeling (col) 5, Nov pg. 48 3rd Rail Division 1, March pg. 42 WP/SN Boxcar Kit by San Juan Car Co 5, Nov pg. 23 Narrow Minded (col) 1, March pg. 10 Dent, David Narrow Minded (col) 1, March pg. 10 Beginner’s Kitbashing 3, July pg. 35 Narrow Minded (col) 2, May pg. 14 Ertz Jr, A Louis Narrow Minded (col) 3, July pg. 14 Louis Ertz’s West Tennessee Central RR 4, Sept pg. 4 Narrow Minded (col) 4, Sept pg.14 Ferria, Jim Narrow Minded (col) 5, Nov pg. 17 O Scale West 3, July pg. 37 O Scale Hall of Fame, Bill Wolfer 2, May pg. 23 Fryant, John O Scale Hall of Fame, Bob Smith 3, July pg. 17 How I Built My Critter 5, Nov pg. 30 O Scale Hall of Fame, Frank Ellison 4, Sept pg. 40 Giannovario, Joe O Scale Hall of Fame, Minton Cronkhite 1, March pg. 12 O Scale Hall of Fame 1, March pg. 12 O Scale Hall of Fame, Rollin Lobaugh 5, Nov pg. 44 Gumbuster Centennial O Scale Nat’l Convention: 2002 by F Skidmore Products 1, March pg. 40 Contest Photos 4, Sept pg. 49 N&W K3 4-8-2 by Sunset Models O Scale West, History 3, July pg. 37 3rd Rail Division 1, March pg. 42 OBIT - Harry A Hieke Sr 1921 - 2002 5, Nov pg. 51 Dealer/Importer Roundtable Proto 48 Modeling (col) 4, Sept pg. 44 Discussion; Mar 2002 3, July pg. 43 Proto 48 Modeling (col) 5, Nov pg. 48 O Scale Hall of Fame 3, July pg. 17 Review-200 Ton Flatcar Kit by Auel Industries 4, Sept pg. 18 O Scale Hall of Fame 4, Sept pg. 40 Review-57’ Mechanical Reefer O Scale Nat’l Convention: by Weaver Models 4, Sept pg. 19 2002 Contest Photos 4, Sept pg. 49 Review - B&O Class I-12 Wagontop Caboose OST Interviews Reed Artim of O Scale Realty 4, Sept pg. 21 by Sunset Models 3rd Rail Division 2, May pg. 20 Auction Prices: O Scale 2-Rail Models; Review - B&O Wagontop Boxcar Aug-Sep 2002 5, Nov pg. 21 by Sunset Models 3rd Rail Division 3, July pg. 16 O Scale Hall of Fame 5, Nov pg. 44 Review - Forty Foot Milk Car Gibbs, Bobber by Rails Unlimited 4, Sept pg. 17 Narrow Minded (col) 1, March pg. 10 44 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr' 04 Name/Title Issue#, Month Page# Name/Title Issue#, Month Page# Gibbs, Bobber (cont’d.) Mathews, J W (cont’d.) Narrow Minded (col) 2, May pg. 14 Superdetailing Intermountain Narrow Minded (col) 3, July pg. 14 & Other Boxcars 5, Nov pg. 4 Narrow Minded (col) 4, Sept pg. 14 Miller, J Michael Narrow Minded (col) 5, Nov pg. 17 Fill ’er Up 5, Nov pg. 27 Hess, Pete Rossiter, Neville Central Jersey O Scalers Modular Railroading 5, Nov pg. 55 Bay Ridge Harbour Railroad 1, March pg. 4 Hieke Jr, Harry A Constructing the Float Bridge on the Working Windows & Hatches 1, March pg. 14 Bay Ridge Harbour RR 1, March pg. 31 Working Windows & Hatches 2, May pg. 47 Build a Car Float 2, May pg. 15 Working Windows & Hatches 3, July pg. 10 Letter: ’Changes to Bay Ridge Harbour’ 2, May pg. 11 Reading Class G3 Pacific & Psgr Cars Locomotive Servicing Bay 4, Sept pg.13 by SGL Lines 4, Sept pg. 16 Sauers, John C Working Windows & Hatches 4, Sept pg. 11 Building a PRR B8a 0-6-0 1, March pg. 36 Steam Locomotive Cab Curtains & Awnings 5, Nov pg. 12 Building a PRR B8a 0-6-0 2, May pg. 40 Harry A Hieke Sr 1921 - 2002 5, Nov pg. 51 Building a PRR B8a 0-6-0 3, July pg. 40 Losse, George Scace, Brian USRA Composite Gondola by Intermountain 5, Nov pg. 24 Easements for the Learning Curve (col) 5, Nov pg. 15 Luczak, Michael Smith, John C Great Northern Pacific RR 2, May pg. 34 Crapola from the Cupola (col) 1, March pg. 34 Madonna Jr, Richard A Crapola from the Cupola (col) 2, May pg. 28 57’ Mechanical Reefer by Weaver Models 4, Sept pg.19 Crapola from the Cupola (col) 3, July pg. 34 Detailing a Weaver GP 38-2 4, Sept pg.52 Crapola from the Cupola (col) 4, Sept pg.42 Marx, Roland Crapola from the Cupola (col) 5, Nov pg. 46 From Four to Six Axles- Stewart, David Converting an MTH Diesel to 2-Rail 2, May pg. 31 Construct a Yard Tower 5, Nov pg. 8 Mathews, J W Vine, Marshall Letter: ’More Information on Car Weighting’ 2, May pg. 12 200 Ton Flatcar Kit by Auel Industries 4, Sept pg.18 B&O Wagontop Boxcar Kingsbury Terminal RR 5, Nov pg. 36 by Sunset Models 3rd Rail Division 3, July pg. 16 Woodard, Gary Great Northern Y-1/Pennsy FF-2 Electric Adding Weights to Cars 1, March pg. 11 by Sunset Models 3rd Rail Division 3, July pg. 18 Caboose Conversion 4, Sept pg.30

Here’s a scene from Paul Templar’s C&T Springs On30 logging layout. Paul will tell OST readers how to build that log trestle in an upcoming issue. Paul lives in Shropshire, England.

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 45 WMWM Boxcar Boxcar Conversion Conversion

Don McFall

Western Maryland Railway class B-3 to-be-fixed pile and after a few rough frame members for the train line. The boxcars were the railroad’s first group of measurements it seemed like the Weaver InterMountain underframe detail set was all steel single-door cars. They were built car would work. used for all the brake detail. Of course in March 1937 by the Bethlehem Steel The car was placed on the scanner the drill bit was too short to reach the Co., order number DF-8740, and num- and brought into Adobe Photoshop at cross members near the center of the car. bered 27001 to 27500. These cars were 100 percent, a photo of WM 27018 was A piece of 0.046" brass wire bent at a 90 1 40'-7.625" over end sills, had an internal layered on top of the model image at ⁄4" degree angle. The tip was heated enough height of 9'- 3.375", a capacity of 3311 scale to compare size and location of to melt the plastic and then pushed cubic feet, a 6' door and were equipped details. The WM car and the Weaver car through the frame members to create the with Symington Coil-Elliptic trucks. were almost a perfect match. All that had hole. The train line was cut where it In the process of searching for equip- to be done was to strip the paint, remove crosses through the center sill of the car ment that would be a reasonable repre- all the cast on body and underframe and then each piece was inserted sentation of the early WM boxcars, a details and redetail the car. through the cross members creating a friend suggested a car that I had previ- Cutting all the cast on brake detail off train line running the entire length of the ously overlooked; the Weaver steel-sided the underframe came first. Then came car. The remaining brake system pieces boxcar. There was a Weaver car in my the task of drilling holes through the were placed on the underframe the same

Aphoto of WM class B-3 boxcar No. 27018 taken in December 1947. The car is probably loaded with bagged flour. (Photographer Unknown; D. McFall Collection) 46 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 The Youngstown door was shortened about one foot by removing several “ribs” from the middle section. Not a perfect solution but one that looks pretty good. One rib should have been removed from the bottom section, instead of taking them all from the mid- dle, to give the door a correct 6-5-6 rib A view of the underframe showing the train line and placement of the InterMountain brake parts. configuration. as they would be on an InterMountain 1 5 car. A ⁄32" x ⁄16" notch was cut in each corner of the underframe to allow clear- ance for the stirrups that will be attached to the body. Now, for the car body. The roofwalk, ladders, doors and door guides were removed. This left all the cast on details, the hand grabs and the worst part, the hand brake details on the B-end of the car. The brake detail is quite thick and The model was photographed at an angle similar to the prototype car. Then, in Photoshop the must be removed carefully to avoid seri- lettering was lifted from the prototype car, reversed (to make the lettering black) and placed on ous damage to the end of the car. The the photo of the model to check for fit and placement.

The roofwalk was glued in place with- out any modification. A wooden floor was added by using double-sided tape to secure the IM laser cut floor to the underframe. The wood floor was slightly wider than the under- frame, and each side was trimmed to fit. Weights were added and the floor was reattached to the car body. Initially, InterMountain trucks were placed under the car, but were later replaced with Keil-Line coil-elliptic trucks, which are not correct but they are closer to the trucks used on the proto- type. The Keil-Line trucks were modified by adding InterMountain journal covers. The InterMountain parts are clearly visible on the partially redetailed car. The InterMountain Scalecoat II Oxide Red was used on trucks will be replaced with Keil-Line coil-elliptic trucks. the car body and trucks. The underframe end tack boards were not com- pletely removed, just flattened and made small enough to be covered by the InterMountain boards. With all the details removed Squadron putty was used to fill any holes. The ladders from the Inter- Mountain body detail set have to be shortened to seven rungs to fit the 9-foot car height. On the B- end the piece containing the brake chain and rod was short- ened. The rod was cut where it meets the chain, sized to fit and re-attached to the chain. This joint was hidden when the brake plat- form was installed. The tack boards, stirrups and grab irons The door must be shortened about 1 foot to fit the Weaver car. I removed two ribs from the middle section. The were then placed on the car. correct door can be made by removing the two sections shown in the photo. To make the door slide, refer to O Scale Trains, Issue 5. Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 47 The Public Delivery Track Locomotives - 2 rail Atlas..Dash 8's..$299-$349 GP-35's...$339-$359 RS-1..LIRR, NH, PRR, Rut, NYSW, CNJ, RI..$339-$359 SD-35....B&O, CNJ, CSX, PC, NW, Sou, WM..$299-$349 SW's...RRiv, B&O, LV, Rdg, Susq, RI..$225-$329 Weaver....K-4, L-1, GG-1, C-630, other items...call VO-1000..B&O,CNJ, GN, LV, MILW, PRR, Rdg, WM..$249 U25's..BN, EL, LV, Rdg, MILW, NYC, PRR...$179-$239 RS-3..Erie, LN, LV, NH, NKP, PRR, Rdg, Rut, Susq..$249 RS-11..BN, CO, CN, CV, CNW, MEC, PRR, SP..$249 GP-38's..C&O, CP, CSX, ICG, L&N, LV, B&M...$249 U25's, RS-3's, GP-38....Non-Powered...$159 Photographing the model at a low angle shows how closely the car replicates the original Shaft drive RS-3's, GP-38's, FA/FB's..CNJ, D&H, EL WM car. (All photos by D. McFall unless otherwise credited.) GN, NH, PRR, RDG, RI, SOU, WM, undec..$99-$150 MTH..PRR K-4..$695, Centipede..$895,..WP F-3's..$695 Passenger Sets was painted Scalecoat Loco Black. Old Parts List: Weaver..80' Streamliners..EL, B&O, others...$275-$395 Weaver: U3500S Steel-Side Boxcar P-B cars..NH, Rdg, CNJ, LV, others..2/$219, 4/$419 Line Graphics decals were used for her- K-line..80' cars..Amtk, DRGW, PRR, NYC$275-$449 alds, car numbers, and for WM specific Intermountain: Box Cars - 2 rail car data. Microscale decals were used for Pecos River..NYC, SOU, SP, SF, CBQ, WAB...$35 20181 Body Details C&O, B&O, WM, PM, Erie, NKP; UP, SF end door..$45 the boxcar dimensional data in the lower 20182 Underframe Details Atlas..40' Steel...PRR, NYC, CNW, GN, Susq..$48-$52 right corner. 20188 Wood Roofwalk 40' Wood..P&R, CBQ, CNJ, NYC, PRR, SP, more..$47-$52 The finished product is a unique car 20186 Youngstown Door 40' 1970's..Erie, L&N, MEC, PRR, SSW, MILW, B&M..$32 50'..ACL, NH, RG, DH, NYC, MILW, MKT, SAL, SF..$55-$60 that really stands out among all the 10- 20192 Laser Cut Wood Floor 53'..Aloha, Purina, B&M, BN, CNW, FEC, UP..$35-$50 foot height cars on the railroad. ◆ 60'..DTI, MKT, NS, CSX, B&O, EL, RG, Sou, NW..$35-$50 Keil Line: TK48-295 Trucks, Coil & Elliptic Weaver..40' & 50'..ACL, ACY, ARR, ATSF, BAR, B&O, Springs B&M, CBQ, CGW, CIM, CNJ, CN, C&O, CP, CV, CR, D&H, DTSL, EL, GN, GT, IC, MEC, LV, L&N, MP, NYC, Lettering: NH, NP, NYSW, PC, PLE, PRR, Rdg, Rut, SCL, SOU, SP Old Line Graphics WM Channel Hopper TPW, UP, WM, WP, CN, Rbox, RI, MRL, more...$20-$30 Decals Refrigerator Cars - 2 rail Various Pieces from Microscale Decals Wvr/Crown..PFE, CV, CN, NYC, NP, BAR, REA, Hoods, Whitehse, Dubuque, Nrn Refrig, Beers, more..$25-$30 57' Mech..PFE, CBQ, UP, SF..15 roads..$29. w/sound..$39 Atlas..36' & 40'..Custom ptd CNJ, 20+ others..$42-$89 Covered Hoppers - 2 rail Weaver PS-2.. Bakers, Jack Frost, Wayne Feed, Purina Revere, Goiden Loaf, BN, CBQ, CNJ, CNW, CP, CR, CSX DLW, DTI, EL, LV, NH, NYC, PRR, Rdg, WAB, UP..$25-$30 Wvr C'flow or Grain..CR, CP, ONT, LV, NYC, PRR, Sask, Sunbeam, Amoco, Sclair, Shell, Dupont, Hercules, Enter the Rainbow, WC, MRL, BN, UP, SP, RI, CNW, MNS..$25-$30 Atlas..BN, Ches, NYC, IT, WGrace, GN, WAB..$35-$45 Airslide..LV, D&H, CSX, PRR, UP, Brach, Jfrost..$35-$45 Narrow Minded PS-4427..RG, SF, MILW, LV, SOO, Wayne Fd, PRR...$55-$60 Hopper Cars - 2 rail Digital Image Atlas..ACL, CNJ, C&O, D&H, LV, NS, Rdg, WM.. $45-$55 Wartime..B&O, C&O, CRR, VGN, PRR, undec.....$47 Ore cars..(Wvr trucks) B&LE, CN, DMIR, UP, undec..$27 Contest! Weaver..2, 3, 4-bay and Comp..B&A, BAR, B&M, CBQ CP, CR,CNJ, C&O, D&H, DLW, Erie, EL, IC, GT, NH, NS NYC, NKP, NW, PRR, Rdg, SAL, SF, UP, WAB, WM..$25 Checkout the rules in OST#13 or Tank Cars - 2 rail Weaver..Jfrost, GULF, BN, Trusweet, Allied, ADM, Army online at the OST website Ethyl, Diamond, Hooker, DuPont, Sunoco,Bakers..$30 [www.oscalemag.com/contest] and Atlas..60'..Propane, CNTX, Union Tex,Tech Prop..$37-$50 submit your digital photo of a 1950's..SHPX. UTLX, Hooker, Gulf, Warren..$55-$60 Flat Cars, Stock Cars, MofW narrow gauge subject. Win prizes! Atlas..89' flats..$65. Trailers..$25. Auto Carriers..$85 See your photo and name in print! Pulpwood flats..ACL, ATSF, BN, SCL, IC, L&N..$47-$50 Front runners...... no trailer..$47; With trailer...... $67 Most of all, have fun! Wvr Flats..SF, Rdg, CN, Erie, LV, BN, TTX, NYC..$25-$30 Stock..BO, CNW, Armour, RG, PRR, Rdg, Erie, etc..$30 MTH..Plows, Cranes, Schnabel, dump cars, etc..call Errata K-Line Diecast Double-Stack $50. Coil cars..$35-$40 Scale signals..1 and 2 head color, PRR, B&O, dwarf, A few mistakes crept into George semaphore, cantilever, highway flashers, 20+ types..$20-$50 Muller’s “Considerations For Laying Gondolas - 2 rail Track” in OST#12. Paragraph 1 Atlas..CBQ, CNJ, GN, MP, NW, NYC, PRR, Rdg, ..$32 Wvr..Composite..CNJ, PRR, LV, RI, SF, Rdg, UP, NKP..$27 should call Figure 1 a scene from the Cabeese - 2 rail, 3 rail scale old Connecticut & Ohio layout. Also, Wvr.. BM, NH, NYC, Erie, LHR, LV, DH, more..$20-$35 under the Support section, the sen- K-line, MTH..N-8, N5c, NE'rn, bay wind, 15 roads..$35-$60 tences should read 1" by 4" joists and Atlas..BN, CR, DH, RFP, Rut, GN, Chessie, RG..$50-$67 Wvr diecast tks..$12.50/pr, installed add $8.95 runners, not 1' by 4' and “For hills, 1" K-line 2-rail freight and Psgr trucks $13-$25 by 4" risers from the joists support the The Public Delivery Track • [email protected] track board.” We apologize for the PO Box 1035 • Drexel Hill, PA 19026 errors. 610-259-4945 • VISA•MC•AMEX•Disc

48 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 CABIN CREEK COAL COMPANY

Limited Edition Kit Precise Laser-Cut Engineered for Easy Assembly 50+ Detail Castings Flexible Positioning Positionable Doors & Windows

Master Creations’ O kit #18105 contains the tipple, headhouse, power house, storage shed, retaining walls, and a ton of character for $549.95! The tipple is approximately 45 x 90 scale feet with the overall diorama shown being about 24" x 48". Not all details are shown in the photo!

Web: www.btsrr.com P O Box 561 www.master-creations.com Seffner, FL 33583 E-Mail: [email protected]

Phone: 813-643-1105 S.A.S.E. for price list. Celebrating over 20 Years of Fax: 813-681-7326 $6.00 s&h on all US orders. Service since 1979 Full Catalog - $5.00

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 49 Contest Rules 1. Image must include some O Scale NarrowNarrow narrow gauge equipment content. 2. Image must include some O Scale human figure content. MindedMinded 3. Image must be submitted in digital JPEG format. BobberBobber GibbsGibbs 4. Image size must be close to 1200 x 900 pixels. 5. Final file size must be between 40 and 60kb. 6. Image must be emailed to: [email protected] 7. Details of any image editing must be disclosed. 8. Submitter agrees that OST may pub- lish the image at its discretion. 9. Images submitted by midnight, March 10 might be published in OST Issue 14. 10. Final deadline is midnight, Monday, May 10. 11. Any submitted image might be pub- lished in OST Issue 15. 12. Winners will be announced and winning images published in OST Issue . I expect there may be some radical examples of digital photography which will call for several classifications. If more prizes are donated, more classifica- We’re Having a Contest! any improvements to your scene while tions will be added for this contest. This Narrow Minded column marks the camera is still set up, and retake the Any party who wishes to donate a the beginning of the writer’s third year image. Photo editing programs allow prize should contact the writer at with O Scale Trains Magazine and fea- you to make simple or startling adjust- [email protected] and every prize tures some interesting digital images of ments to your image. will be acknowledged in my column. So O Scale narrow gauge models and also Now that so many O Scale Trains far, Bachmann has donated an On30 details about an exciting contest with Magazine readers are becoming more Shay. Thank you Bachmann! some very interesting prizes. comfortable with computers and digital The best donated prize will be award- As I have stated previously, I believe cameras, I feel (and the Editor agrees) ed for the overall favorite image in the that the digital camera, with its immedi- that it’s time to conduct a NARROW opinion of this writer and will be known ate image visible on a large computer MINDED DIGITAL IMAGE CONTEST as the “2004 Narrow Minded Award for screen, is helping to make better model- and see what develops. At the very Digital Images”. ers out of those who learn to use the least, we should be treated to some Hopefully, we will expand this contest equipment properly. A digital image interesting input from other O Scale in the near future to include standard allows you to view your image, make narrow gaugers. gauge(s) and traction. ◆

Backwoods Miniatures Davenport Dressup Kit www.backwoods.dabsol.co.uk

50 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 At left, an overview of the engine servicing facilities on Joe Fiore’s layout in Vestavia Hills, Alabama.

Ron Gribler built this PRR container car. This car is fabricated of styrene sheet & shapes. The floor has individual wood strips. The containers and side supports are Luminite castings. The masters for the container sides and ends were fabricated from styrene. The roof master was shaped from wood. Each container's five castings were assembled over a wooden block. Commercial parts are trucks, couplers & brake components.

Chris Evers built this beautiful B&O Pacific. Chris says everything is scratchbuilt, even the tender trucks.

Fine Quality O Scale Brass Models - richyodermodels.com GE 45 ton Diesels RY GE 45 ton Diesels in Stock "O" On3 and P48. Features all brass construction, Kadee® couplers. Models Models available painted black or brass call for availability. $335. plus shipping Instock Models GE 45 tonner C&O Wood Caboose PRR H21a Baldwin S-8, S-10, S-12 . USRA Steel Gondolas Features all brass construction, Kadee® couplers. Pricing TBD Upcoming Models GE44 tonner Ph1 Direct Sales Only Baldwin S12 Visa and Master Card Accepted WM Fishbelly Twins 7 Edgedale Court, Wyomissing, PA 19610 - Phone: 1-610-678-2834

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 51 CHICAGOLAND’S “O” GAUGE SPECI THE CLASSIC ARTICULATED RETURNS! byby SUNSETSUNSET 3RD3RD RAILRAIL COMING SUMMER 2004! “O” GAUGE BRASS PCC IN-STOCK! NORTH SHORE GREEN HORNET CSL Chicago PCC production model will also $ 95 ELECTROLINER be available with the Kenosha, WI. paint scheme. 54 55027 Chicago PCC • 55028 Kenosha PCC Reg. $68.00 AVAILABLE IN 2 RAIL & 3 RAIL Q CAR TRUCKS $105.00 INSTALLATION AVAILABLE CALL FOR PRICE! TAKING ORDERS! •POWERED •ALL BRASS GREYHOUND LIMITED PRODUCTION RUN! •PAINTED (LATER YEARS SCHEME) SCENICRUISER •FULL INTERIOR $ 95 Reg. IN-STOCK! 59 54405 $76.00 PRICE -TBA • $100 DEPOSIT REQUIRED •SOUND(3 RAIL ONLY - TMCC) AS ALWAYS, WE CARRY FINISHING KITS, PARTS, DECALS, POWER AND POLES FOR THE MODELS WE OFFER. ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE RED ARROW LINE WE BUY BOOK AND MODEL COLLECTIONS. CALL US. “LIBERTY HALL” & “VALLEY FORGE” WE DISCOUNT ALL NEW PRODUCT RELEASES FROM: •K-LINE •WEAVER •SUNSET •LIONEL •ATLAS •ATHEARN •MTH •KADEE® •RED CABOOSE •PECOS RIVER •WALTHERS •BACHMANN •INTERMOUNTAIN CALL FOR SPECIAL PRICES!

Gift Certificates Available WE CARRY NEW AND USED TRAINS U.P.S. Shipping Available WE BUY AND SELL TRAINS 6017 Northwest Hwy. Chicago, Il. 60631 773•775•4848 Fax 773•775•6398 HOBBY INC. Mon - Thur 11-7, Fri 11-8:30, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4:30, Closed Sundays May, June, July, August & Sept. Just 15 Min. from O'Hare Airport Visit our web site: www. chicagoland-hobby.com e-mail: [email protected] Jim Hackworth

Buy⁄Sell⁄Trade MODEL TRAINS Consignments (and Subsidiary JH Consulting) 2631 Edgevale Road, Columbus OH 43221-1113 Phone:614-4514517 Fax:6144514557 Email: [email protected] • Web: www.jhmtrains.com WSM PRR Q2, 4-4-6-4, C/P, OB, Phoenix Sound ...... $2,250.00 OM CSX SD70M #700, F/P, OB, LN ...... $1,775.00 WSM PRR J1a, 2-10-4, C/P, OB ...... $1,950.00 OM American Hoist Ditcher , LN, N/P, OB ...... $495.00 USH Erie K5 4-6-2, N/P, Box ...... $1,875.00 Custom Built PRR GG1, Ptd Green, 5-Stripe ...... $575.00 SS C&O J2a, 4-8-2 w/Extra Detail, N/P, OB ...... $1,395.00 SS FM Trainmaster, C/P SP Bloody Nose ...... $1,295.00 SS ATSF 2-10-4 ...... $1,295.00 OL GN 2-D-2 #5001/5002 Set, C/P ...... $2,495.00 MG PRR 2-10-2, L/N, N/P, OB ...... $1,875.00 USH SD45, C/P SP, OB ...... $695.00 USH C&O 2-8-4, C/P, Runs good, OB ...... $1,375.00 USH #401 48' Gondola, N/P, OB ...... $149.00 MG NYC J1e, 4-6-4, Nice, N/P, NOB ...... $1,475.00 USH #305 Single Dome Tank w/Platform, N/P, OB ...... $149.00 MG NYC J3a, 4-6-4, Nice, N/P, OB ...... $1,475.00 MG #702 3-Bay Hopper, Rnd End, N/P, NOB ...... $199.00 MG N&W Y6b, 2-8-8-2, Can Motor, N/P, OB ...... $2,475.00 USH #705 Panel Hopper, N/P, OB ...... $199.00 USH PRR M1a, 4-8-2, C/P, OB ...... $1,375.00 USH #402 52' Gondola, N/P, NOB ...... $149.00 USH NYC L4b, C/P, Kleinscmidt Dr, OB ...... $2,195.00 USH #302 D.Dome Tank, N/P, OB ...... $139.00 MG B&O 2-8-8-4, C/P, NOB ...... $2,450.00 PRB 70' Greenville Gon, C/P SP, OB, LN ...... $289.00 USH PRR L1, 2-8-2, C/P w/Sound, OB ...... $1,200.00 USH #505 2-Bay Composie Hopper, N/P, OB ...... $149.00 SS N&W J 4-8-4, Rebuilt w/sound, C/P, OB ...... $1,700.00 PL#300 PRR R-7 Reefer, C/P ...... $295.00 USH PRR K4 4-6-2, Late Run, C/P, OB ...... $1,250.00 Priester C.Built Morrell Reefers ...... each $159.00 MG PRR E6 4-4-2, C/P, NOB ...... $1,275.00 MG #120 TT Flats, C/P PRR w/USH RB Tks(25 available) ...... each $129.00 MG SP MT4 w/Icken Gears, C/P ...... $1,895.00 PRB 60' Greenville Boxcars, Variour Roads ...... each $300.00 USH NYC H10, 2-8-2, Mint, N/P, OB ...... $1,575.00 PRB 62' PC&F Boxcars, Various Roads ...... each $300.00 OM NP A5 4-8-4, C/P, Mint ...... $3,895.00 MG PRR N8 Caboose, N/P, NOB ...... $250.00 OM #0166 NP Z Class 4-6-6-4, C/P, Mint ...... $3,995.00 PSC PRR Stock Car, N/P, OB ...... $250.00 USH UP FEF-3, C/P Grey, NOB ...... $1,395.00 OM#0752 NP Caboose, C/P ...... $375.00 USH UP 4-6-6-4, Can Motor, C/P, NOB ...... $2,395.00 Alco PRR N6a, C/P or N/P ...... each $225.00 PSC PRR K4, 4-6-2, Slat Pilot, N/P, OB ...... $1,350.00 CB PRR N8 Caboose, N/P, OB ...... $295.00 PSC PRR B-6, 0-6-0 w/Straight Cylinders, LN, OB ...... $1,450.00 PRB 50' Boxcars SD, End Door & DD Kits, Undec ...... $37.50 SS PRR I1 2-10-0, LN ...... $1,150.00 PRB 50' Boxcars, Built, DD, End Door, SD, C&O/B&O/PM/WM ...... $47.50 OM PRR E8a, C/P Single Stripe, OB, late run ...... $995.00 (UP & ATSF End Door/ CB&Q & Erie S.Door) Gem PRR, B6sb 0-6-0, N/P, OB, Ex ...... $575.00

LSASE for Complete List Estates⁄Liquidations Layaway Available Shipping 6% - $6.00 Min., $12.00 Max Collection Reductions Ohio Residents Add 6.75% Sales Tax

52 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 PROTO48 MODELING GENE DEIMLING

Asmall supplier that doesn’t get a lot of visibility in the hobby Microscale offerings. The SP had distinctive colors for lettering media is RL Design of 14123 206th St. S.E., Snohomish, WA their steam power. You can obtain more information by going 98296-3947. RL Design is actually Rick Leach. He has been to their new website at [http://www.sanjuancarco.com]. doing superb lettering work for many years. The early Chooch Rumor Control car kits had decals by Leach, as did the first series of Intermoun- Speaking of San Juan Car Company, the rumor is that they tain boxcar kits. Rick strives for accurate fonts rather than using are planning a couple new cars for O standard. One is the post- some stock lettering style contained in a graphics program or war SP general service gondolas class G-50-23. The other car is standard type. Railroad lettering styles are truly unique and are a Rio Grande double-sheathed double door boxcar. My vote part of a road’s character. Getting it right makes the car look that would be for the gondola. I hope that San Juan does the correct much more realistic. American Steel Foundries A-3 Ride Control truck. This particu- Rick currently offers an extensive line of thin film decals for lar truck is the most common design used in the post-1946 era a wide range of cars. Each set comes with a useable lettering up until the time of roller bearings taking over. The San Juan 4- guide to aid in placement of the lettering. He included data for wheel and 6-wheel passenger car trucks have been delayed often-missed areas like the air reservoir maintenance stencils. until later in the year. The latest sets include very accurate decals for the San Juan Winds of Change Fowler boxcar covering the Rio Grande (2 different schemes) The rapid changeover from kit building to buying ready-to- and Rock Island. The former is much more accurate than the run (RTR) railroad items is likely to have an effect well beyond Microscale set for the Fowler car. Rick has a new set for the what we have seen to date. Kits, like the Intermountain and Rock Island Rocket scheme for application to a modified 1937 Red Caboose cars, have fallen into disfavor which implies a AAR boxcars (10'6" interior height). more widespread problem. Have you considered the impact to He has also released sets for Southern Pacific cupola decal makers or those who make detail parts, trucks and all of cabooses covering all of the classes ranging from the CA-1, C- those wonderful little things that allow us to add our unique 30-1 to the steel C-40-3. He is preparing a separate set for touch to a model? If only RTR cars or locomotives are sold, T&NO cupola cabooses as well as SP/T&NO bay window who will support the parts maker? I guess a few of us diehard cabooses. Rick will have new sets available for SP gondolas, oil scratch builders will have to buy more than our share. cars, flats and more boxcars. His previous SP boxcar sets were I find myself stocking up on all sorts of parts these days. You for the 1937 AAR car (Intermountain) and the B-50-15 (Chooch never know when they will disappear. You might call it hoard- Ultra Scale II). He also sells a wide range of NYC, P&LE and ing but who cares. I want to be able to support my model other schemes for steel boxcars and NP caboose lettering for building for a number of years to come. It is hard to predict wood and steel cars. what will be available ten years from now. ◆ Another small supplier of decals is San Juan Car Company under their San Juan Decals product line. They are now producing decals formerly sold by Jerry Kitts and are mostly for nar- row gauge. There are two sets of note for standard gauge. They are pro- ducing SP steam lettering sets in post-war gray and pre-war aluminum- bronze. This is a significant offer- ing since it cor- rects the color issues with Champ and

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 53 Dear Joe and Jaini, Happy New Year! My O scale pike (the Philadelphia & Erie rr) is set in a 1970-80’s urban flavor.Thinking that my heavy weathering was not quite enough, I investigated the graffiti decals that are currently available to O scalers.These seemed a bit too tame for my tastes.After much schmoozing, I persuaded my wife Linda to paint some graffiti on my freight cars. I bought some paint pens from A.C. Moore, and encouraged her to “jump right in”.Attached are a few results. Regards, Pete Trunk p.s. the magazine just gets better and better!

54 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 Locomotive Wheel Cleaner David Stewart One of the necessary chores of our hobby is the periodic cleaning of locomotive wheels. It seems that no matter what method of track cleaning and maintenance I try, sooner or later dirty wheel-rail contact degrades performance. My sound equipped loco- motives announce with an annoying cutout and restart of the prime mover that wheels have collected “gunk” (a technical term for

the mixture of dust, track cleaning fluids, and stray scenery materials.) The tried and true method of cleaning loco- motive wheels has been to place an alcohol-soaked paper towel over the rails and run one truck of the locomotive onto the towel. The locomotive is then held in this position while full power is applied, spinning the dirty wheels over the towel and provid- ing the cleaning action. Holding the towel (which wants to be pushed aside by the motion of the wheels), plus the nose of the locomotive (to impede its progress), and controlling the throttle all at the same time stretched the limits of my dexterity. Then there was always the question of just where to perform such a task with- out damaging existing scenery. A moment of inspiration some months ago led to the creation of a simple wheel cleaner that made this whole process very quick and manageable. The photos show the finished product which is portable, and because of foam rub- ber glued to the underside, will not damage scenery or track work. 1 I began with a 1”piece of pine cut to 2 ⁄2” wide and 2’ long. I chose this length because it is eight inches longer than the longest locomotive. Glue ties to the board, omitting them at each end where the paper towel will be used as seen in the photos. Stain the ties and board. Drill a pair of holes between the ties. Remove the clips from the ends of two alligator connectors. Feed these wires up through the holes in the board and solder to the underside of two pieces of rail. Then spike the rail to the ties. (Flex track could be substitut- ed by removing ties near each end.) 1 1 Drill a ⁄8” hole along the outside of the rail at the end of each non-tie section for a total of eight holes. Bend a ⁄8” piece of brass rod at 90 degrees on each end and tap into the holes with a hammer so the rod is just below the height of the railhead. Staple squares of foam rubber to a pair of small blocks of wood to act as bumpers. Drill pilot holes and attach the blocks with screws to the ends of the track. Use contact cement to glue foam rubber to the underside of the board to protect track work. Finally, scissors-cut shop paper towels to width and feed under the rod and rail, up and over the railhead, and back under the rod. Alcohol in a needle container helps dispense cleaner directly to the railhead area. Wheel cleaning now takes place wherever the motive power happens to be. Place the locomotive on the cleaner, attach the alliga- tor clips to the nearby railheads, and apply track power. The locomotive will travel to the bumper and be held there while its wheels spin on the paper towel. Reverse power to clean the other truck. Advance the paper towel to a clean section, add more alcohol and do a second cleaning pass. I am constantly amazed at the amount of “gunk” that is quickly removed and at how a once fumbling process is now a snap. ◆

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 55 Brian Scace, who writes the “Ease- strobe and ditch lights. Figure 1 is a impressive as a Big Boy, being well ments for the Learning Curve” column picture of this decoder. It fits with ease over a yard in length. But they do not in O Scale Trains, likes to recommend into a full-width hood O Scale diesel have DCC control because they were that we not use wimpy HO control like the Alco FA and FB or the EMD E built long before it existed and I have equipment in our O Scale layouts. If O or F units. It would not fit into a narrow balked at the expense of buying and Scale does not have what we need, body diesel (with walkways), like the installing three DCC decoders. So look at what is available for G scale, Alco RS3 or EMD SW or GP series. And could I use one of these AD322 G he suggests. This month I am going to it would be difficult to install it at an scale 8 ampere decoders to control all take him up on his advice by review- angle because of the 1" height. three O Scale diesel unit motors? The ing a DCC decoder designed for G The documentation that comes with answer is yes, but with a little bit of scale but providing unique capabilities the decoder is rather plain but certain- customization. for O Scale. ly adequate. Don’t expect it to teach The MRC AD322 8 Ampere DCC Decoder you how DCC works, but, if you The AD322 is an 8 ampere DCC understand DCC, it will give you all Fig. 2 decoder, made by Model Rectifier Cor- the installation instructions. Note that poration (MRC), that will exist in two MRC recommends that the unit be test- different configurations, diesel and ed with a 20 ohm resistor in series steam. I tested the diesel version; the until you verify that it is all wired up steam version will be released later this correctly. year. It has the usual F0 accessory func- So this decoder has unique character- tion for directional headlights, plus istics for the O Scale modeler: high cur- strobe and ditch lights. It has four rent capability for those older inefficient sound functions: F1 through F4 (bell, motors, and built-in sound generation. long horn, short horn and uncoupling) My Use of the Decoder plus two diesel engine sounds (idle and I have a three unit Alco FA, FB, FA running). The sounds are generic diesel set painted for PRR. Each unit is although the bell, horn and uncoupling powered. In their way they are as are very realistic. I was able to create a credible grade crossing signal by push- Fig. 1 ing long, long, short, long. The bell continues to ring until you push the function button again. Fourteen differ- ent configuration variables can be pro- grammed and only the EZ DCC command station seems to have com- patibility problems. The steam version will have fewer lighting combinations and more sound combinations. It certainly does not look like a 1 wimpy HO decoder. It is 1 ⁄2" wide by 1 3 ⁄2" long and 1" high. It has such rugged looking power components and heat sinks that you tend to overlook the many tiny surface mount components on the printed circuit board. It has an 11-pin connector at one end for the basic functions and a 5-pin connector at the other end for sound and the

56 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 I don’t need functioning couplers as I never disconnect the three units. The 3 drawbar is a sandwich of ⁄16" wide strips of .032" and .015" brass sheet interleaved with paper insulators. The MRC AD322 decoder comes with a speaker described as 2" but 1 actually is 2 ⁄4" diameter. It is slightly too large for O Scale. Figure 3 shows a variety of speakers. From the left is the 5 MRC speaker, a commercial 1 ⁄8" by 3 2 ⁄4" rectangular speaker that is a good My plan was to distribute the com- the problem that this scheme creates is match to go in an O Scale fuel tank, 1 1 plications by installing the decoder into the wiring. Eight wires have to pass and finally 1 ⁄2" and ⁄2" speakers, espe- the middle FB unit and then putting between the diesel units (and more if cially for model RR use and sold by speakers in the two end FA units. So I you want ditch lights or strobe lights). Tony’s Train Exchange. The speaker in began by building a mockup in the FB Briefly they are: wheels (2), motor (2), the fuel tank will not work here as one unit (Fig. 2). When I turned on the DCC headlight (2) and speaker (2). They are truck is driven from the motor and it power, it blew me out of my chair. not just incidental wiring. Recall that drives the other truck via a universally Well, in hindsight, I guess I should have the FA unit wheel pickups do not con- jointed drive rod through the fuel tank. 1 expected the sound unit for a garden nect to anything in the FA units. So, I plan to use the 1 ⁄2" speakers. railroad to be loud. I fixed that with a Instead they connect to the decoder in Although the G scale decoder series 20 to 100 ohm resistor. I fastened the FB unit which then feeds the seems at first to be an unlikely match the decoder on top of the lead weight motors in all three units. Figure 2 is a to O Scale, it does work well in this sit- in the FB unit, with a wooden insulator picture of the rat’s nest. uation or anyplace where a high cur- between as the PC board wiring is My own solution to the wiring inter- rent locomotive must be controlled or exposed on the bottom. connections is not multiple MU cables where a combined speed and sound If you believe, as I do, that every between units, but rather a custom controller is needed. solution creates a new problem, then drawbar, replacing the usual couplers. Brian was correct! ◆ Whitehall Hobbies Specializing in Brass Locomotives 1431 Windrush Circle, Blacklick, Ohio 43004 Voice: (614) 861-0018 - Fax: (614) 861-3034 [email protected]

OMI NP A4 4-8-4 unpainted, new TRO 1 ...... $1795 Kohs & Co NYC J3a 4-6-4, F/P Rd# 5424, late version PT4 tender, Boxpok drivers, plain rods ...... $4000 Key SP E7 A&B, latest run F⁄P Daylight, new, never run (pair) . . .$2595 PSC C&O C-16a 0-8-0 Custom Painted for PSC Rd#242 ...... $1750 OMI SP&S Z8 4-6-6-4 Unpainted Very Little Tarnish TRO New . .$3200 PSC SRR Ps-4 4-6-2, F/P Rd# 1401 ...... $1650 PSC SP AC-9 2-8-8-4 Coal 222 R-1 Tender F⁄P - Black Boiler New . . .$3195 C&LS WM M-2 4-6-6-4, F/P Rd# 1201, late version ...... $2995 PSC N&W Z1b 2-6-6-2 Factory Painted Rd# 1438 New ...... $2975 PSC D&RGW L-131, 2-8-8-2, FP Rd#3600, black boiler (one of a kind), boiler tube pilot and tri-color herald w/D&RGW spelled out. PSC NYC S1a 4-8-4 C⁄P by Bernie Beedy Crown Series New . . . .$3995 New, never run ...... $3895 Key D&RGW L-95, 2-8-8-2, FP Rd#3404 w/green boiler, only 4 made Key B&A K3n 4-6-2, Factory painted, Rd#506, New ...... $2550 with pop valves on steam dome. New, never run ...... $3695 OMI UP FEF-3, F⁄P, Road# 844, new, never run ...... $2550 Key UP Challenger, 4-6-6-4, FP Rd#3978, oil version, two-tone grey, PSC C&O T1 2-10-4, C⁄P, like new condition, REDUCED ...... $1600 yellow stripe. New, never run ...... $3650 OMI UP DD40X F⁄P Road# 6931, like new w⁄Cockerham drive . . .$2250 Key UP Challenger, unptd, coal version. New, never run ...... $3195 OMI NP Z8 4-6-6-4, Unptd, New REDUCED ...... $2800 Key UP FEF-3, 4-8-4, FP Rd#844, oil version, two-tone grey, silver stripe, orig. box not in best shape. New, very little run time . . .$2750 OMI WM I-2 2-10-0, F/P Rd# 1120, new condition ...... $1895 Key or PSC WM Shay (no box label) FP Rd#6. New, never run . .$1895 OMI GN FT A+B, C/P for OMI, Rd#402-A, New ...... $1495 Key NYC K3n, 4-6-2, FP Rd#4740. New, never run ...... $2250 OMI GN FT A+B, C/P for OMI, Rd#402-D, New ...... $1495 Key PRR E8 AA, FP Brunswick Green, gold stripe. New ...... $2695 Key PRR PA-1 and PB-1, Rare A+B+A set, FP Tuscan Red, buff stripe. PSC CB&Q S-4a 4-6-4, Factory Ptd, Rd# 3003 new ...... $2850 New, never run ...... $3695 Key SP E9a 2 A units, Latest run, F⁄P Daylight (pair) ...... $2695 PSC UP Bull Moose, 2-8-8-0, FP Rd# 3560 w/pilot mounted air pumps. New, test run only ...... $3195 PSC NP Z5 2-8-8-4, F/P Rd# 5006 ...... $3295

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 57 Ron’s Books Buy–Sell–Trade P.O. BOX 714, HARRISON, NY 10528 (914)967-7541 11AM to 10PM EST FAX (914)967-7492 24HR Buy-Sell-Trade ads are $5 for 30 words plus your address information. Additional words are $0.25 YOUR ONE STOP BOOK AND VIDEO SHOP each. Subscribers are permitted one free ad per subscription cycle. All B-S-T ads are prepaid. You Discount Prices & NEVER a may send ads by postal service with a check or money order. Ads sent by email or called in must use Shipping Charge within the U.S.* a credit card. See our contact info on page 2. Check our updated, fully secure Web site regularly for specials available only on the web: www.ronsbooks.com e-mail us at: [email protected] “WHAT’S NEW?” FOR SALE: Adirondack Car & Foundry prod- Western Pennsylvania Modelers—Avail- A Century of Subways - Cudahy ...... 27.25 ucts, Weaver, NWSL, Grandt Line, Kadee able: McKeesport trolleys, plus Pittsburgh Alco’s Centennial Remembrance - Steinbrenner ...... 65.00 Alco’s Century Series Vol 1 Four-Axle Models ...... 31.50 couplers, Athearn trucks, Intermountain Railways, Vols: I and II by Beal. Covers all Along the ET & WNC Vol 4 Freight Cars ...... 27.25 Atlanta West Point Railroad Remembered S/C ...... 18.25 (while supplies last), OSN, OST. Contact Ed area (pre-1902 to 1964) traction, inclines, B&O Steam Locomotives - Last 30 Years (TLC) ...... 27.25 Reutling, AC&F. PH: 423-477-5790. Email: and B&O, PRR and P&LE commuter opera- Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Signals ...... 32.25 Birth of California Narrow Gauge - Macgregor ...... 75.00 [email protected] Ed Reutling, 160 Harwood tions, etc. Great research and base to model Blue Ridge Stemwinders ...... 55.00 Rd., Gray, TN 37615-3728. from. LIMITED printings. Fax: 412-766-4213, Boston Trolleys in Color Vol 1 The North Side - Volkmer 48.00 Buffalo, Rochester & Pittsburgh in Color Vol 1 New York 48.00 Mail Order Trains Plus, 349 Roosevelt Rd, Burlington’s Zephyrs - Zimmerman ...... 31.50 FOR SALE: Vehicles that won’t embarass Canadian Diesel Pictorial Vol 1 CP SD40 & SD40-2’s . . .35.00 Pittsburgh, PA 15237-1024. Canadian Pacific - Stand Fast, Craigellachie-McDonnell .36.00 you or your trains: Brooklin, Conquest, Canadian Pacific’s Mighty 8000 ...... 23.25 Durham Classics, 43rd Avenue, Goldvarg, ERIE C-100 class steel caboose. Brass etch- Central California Traction ...... 60.00 Challenger Locomotive - Kratville ...... 40.50 Herb Deeks kits, Madison, US Model Mint, ings and Commonwealth drop equalized Chesapeake & Ohio Pere Marquettes ...... 20.25 USA Models, Western, others. FAX 412-766- trucks. Re-issue, limited availability. Possi- Chicago & Northwestern Freight Trains & Equip (TLC) . .27.25 Classic Streamliners-The Trains & Designers Photo Archive .27.25 4213, Mail Order Trains Plus, 349 Roosevelt bly welded too. For info, email to Clinchfield in Color - C. K. Marsh Jr...... 48.00 Clinchfield in the Coal Fields ...... 29.00 Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15237-1024. [[email protected]] or S.A.S.E. to: Collectible Stocks & Bonds of North American Railroads 32.00 Robert Garrelts, 1116 Kings Way, Tarpon Conrail Color History-Doherty & Solomon ...... 31.50 Dardanelle & Russellville Railroad ...... 60.00 LARGEST INVENTORY INTERMOUNTAIN Springs, FL 34688-7654. Dixie Line - L&N ...... 60.00 BUILT-UP GONDOLAS, HOPPERS, BOX Erie Lackawanna in Color Vol 5 -Merger Memories . . . . .48.00 From Small Town to Downtown- Jewett Car Company .45.00 CARS, REEFERS, TANKERS... $39, If you SUNSET MODELS: B&O early 2-8-8-4 Grand Trunk Western in Color V1or V2-Visual Redesign-each .48.00 demand INTERMOUNTAIN quality, buy #7615, later 2-8-8-4 #7624 $1499; PRR 4-4- Great Hudson River Brick Industry ...... 18.25 Great Lakes Car Ferries - Hilton -Reprint ...... 36.00 while they are available. SASE for listings. 6-4 #6184 $1499; PRR streamlined electric Great Lakes Trolleys in Color ...... 48.00 Phone: 727-391-3135, John Clemens, 5273 #4746 $699; NKP 4-8-2 #845 $979, UP C- How We Got to Coney Island ...... 40.50 Images of Western Railroading - Smollinger ...... 32.00 97 Way N, St. Petersburg, FL 33708-3752. 44-9W #9734 $699. SASE for listings. Lakeside & Marblehead Railroad-Fisk - Revised ...... 39.00 Last Interurbans - Middleton ...... 49.50 Phone 727-391-3135, John Clemens, 5273 Lehigh Valley: Wyoming & Buffalo Division - Bednar . . . .58.50 PACIFIC LIMITED Second run USRA box 97 Way N, St. Petersburg, FL 33708-3752. Locos of the Upper Midwest-Diesel Power in the 60’s & 70’s .27.25 cars. Don’t miss out again! Pennyslvania Louisville & Nashville in Color Vol 1 - Borkowski ...... 48.00 Main Lines Rebirth of North American Railroads ...... 45.00 1 nine versions, MKT, Ann Arbor 1 ⁄2 door, FOR SALE: USH NYC L4b Mohawk, new in Missouri Pacific Color Guide to Frt & Pass.-Kinkaid . . . . .48.00 Missouri Pacific Pass. Trains-The Postwar Years -Dorin .26.25 Ann Arbor single door, DT&I, C&NW four box, never assembled, $1200. KTM/West- Narrow Gauge in Southwestern PA-Waynesburg & Washington 30.00 versions, Western Maryland, C&O, N&W side NYC J3a Hudson, c/p, detailed, can New Haven Dining on the Shore Line ...... 23.25 New Haven in Color Vol. 1 Battle for Profits 1945-61 . . . .48.00 stock car... SASE. Phone: 727-391-3135 John motor, done by Harry Hieke, $2100. Phone: New York, Susquehanna & Western Railroad-Mohowski .31.50 Clemens, 5273 97 Way N, St. Petersburg, FL 440-355-5733, email: cometcyclone@all- New York City Transit Auth. Bus & Trolley Fleet 1946-58 .23.50 North American Railyards ...... 31.50 33708-3752. tel.net, Larry Vajas, 41103 Whitney Rd, On the Right Track - Historic Cincinnati Railroads ...... 34.00 LaGrange, OH 44050-9628. Operation CUT - First 3 Years - Cleveland Union Terminal 18.00 P & LE Berkshires ...... 40.50 YODER Chesapeake & Ohio, Pennsylvania P & LE Gondola Cars ...... 23.25 hoppers, Western Maryland hoppers, cov- FOR SALE: O Scale brass etched C&O and Pacific Electric Vol 3 Southern Division ...... 36.00 Penn Central Railroad Color History - Lynch ...... 31.50 ered hoppers, wood chip hoppers, undeco- N&W, round, oval and rectangular number Pennsylvania RR Passenger Trains, Consists& Cars V1 .36.00 rated $169. Painted, lettered, weathered, plates. Ten different builder's plates like Pennsylvania Trolleys in Color Vol 4 - The 40’s ...... 48.00 Pittsburgh Railways Vol 1 H/C - Beal ...... 74.00 Kadees, $199. Hundreds more, listings Liam, Baldwin, Alco,and Rodgers. Geo Prairie Railroad Town-Rock Is. Shops in Kansas ...... 27.25 PRR Lines West: Pittsburgh to St. Louis 1960-1999 . . . .55.00 SASE. Phone: 727-391-3135, John Clemens, Washington Cameo, cylinder stars, 2 super- Pullmans to St. Louis - Missouri Pacific Lines ...... 27.25 5273 97 Way N, St. Petersburg, FL 33708- heater and B&O Capitol Dome logo and Railroad Logging in Klamath Country-Bowden ...... 45.00 Railroad Signaling - Solomon ...... 31.50 3752. much more. Call 304-736-7765 evenings, or Railroads of Pennsylvania - Fragments of the Past . . . . .18.25 go to [www.candoplates.com] Wilbur Epper- Rails Along the Oriskany (NYO&W) ...... 23.25 Railway Track & Maintenance ...... 45.00 KEYSTONE MUSEUM QUALITY Pennsylva- ly, 1115 Main St, Barboursville, WV 25504- Santa Fe Depots of the Plains ...... 36.00 nia G1a twin hoppers, GS, GSd gondolas, Santa Fe Heritage Vol 4 - Priest ...... 55.00 1504. Santa Fe Locomotive Facilities Vol 1 Gulf Lines - Priest .55.00 scrap tin cars, H-25 quads. Scale, Kadee The South Park Line - Ferrell ...... 82.00 versions. painted, unpainted, H-21's com- WANTED: USH drivers for a Big Boy, also E. Southern Pacific in Color Vol 4 Tunnel Motor Era - Boyd 48.00 Southern Pacific Historic DieselsVol 10 ...... 27.25 ing... Hundreds more. SASE. Phone 727- P. Alexander C&O Vanderbilt tender. Ph: Southern Pacific’s Scenic Coast Line-Color Pictorial-Dill .55.00 Southern Pacific’s Western Division ...... 65.00 391-3135, John Clemens, 5273 97 Way N, St. 773-792-0206, Dave Lehmbeck. SP Vol 24 Steam Motive Power Pictorial - Coast Division23.25 Petersburg, FL 33708-3752. Streetcar Lines to the Hub - 1940’s ...... 50.00 FOR SALE: PSC SW-1, GN, f/ptd #5103, Tank Cars From the American Car & Foundry ...... 60.00 Thunder of their Passing-D&RG&Cumbres&Toltec H/C 50.00 S/C . .40.50 WANTED: O Scale 2-rail RDC (Div Point or $600; OMI Mk-1200G UP f/ptd #1298, Tracks of the New York Subway 3.5 edition ...... 36.00 other), and CLW Baldwin DT2000 centercab $1300; USH GP-35 unptd, $350. Also, PRB Trackside Around Massachusetts 1950-1970 with/Monroe .48.00 Trackside Around Ontario 1955-1960 with Don McCartney 48.00 transfer Diesel (prefer built-up). Please cars, flats, boxcars, covered hoppers and Wabash Trackside with Emery Gulush 1954-1974 . . . . .48.00 West Virginia Central & Pittsburgh Railway ...... 30.00 state price. e-mail to [email protected] tanks. Variety of Atlas 2 rail cars. Must Sell! White Pine Route - Idaho ...... 45.00 Andy Romano, PO Box 969, Crestline, CA Call or email Brian Butkowski; 320-251- *$18.00 MINIMUM order for free shipping in the USA. Send $3.00 for latest list. All orders must be paid in U.S. funds. NY residents please add cor- 92325-0969. 3288, [[email protected]]. rect sales tax. Print your name, address and phone number. Credit card users add card number and expiration date. Allow 4 weeks for delivery. For de- livery outside of USA please add $8.00 for the first book and $3.00 for each addi- tional book. Make checks payable to Ron’s Books. Only inquiries which include a SASE will be answered. Prices subject to change. WE BUY COLLECTIONS 58 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 OST Builds A Layout

by Joe Giannovario I’ve been too long without an operat- ing layout. So, this past year I decided to do something about it. I had a contractor come in to finish the basement. He did it a lot faster and a Norfolk & Western Railway: Exton Division lot nicer than I would have been able to do. And, it also allowed me to concen- plan by Clark Thorp & Joe Giannovario trate on doing the benchwork. But first, I had to come up with a I square = 1 foot plan. I looked at copying my old HO min radius: 60" scale layout. I really didn’t have the Overall size space to scale that up. In fact, my avail- 14' x 22' able space is a modest 14' x 22', with a Swing-out gate few nooks and crannies. My druthers included 60" minimum radii so I can run N&W articulateds, 4-8-2s and 4-8-4s, and a large steam service facility. I came across a John Armstrong N&W plan in his book “Creative Layout Design”. (The book is out of print but I bought a used copy on Ebay.) This partic- ular design was unusual. It was 9' x 35' but has two 16' “wings” with a “dry canal lock” on one side and a “vertical switch” on the other to get trains from level 1 to level 2. Is this useable? What I really needed was layout design software to edit the design. Now, I’m a Macintosh user. This beautiful mag- azine you’re reading is produced on a Mac. Everyone knows that if you want the best graphics, you use a Mac. Well, not if you’re designing a model railroad. Advertisers Index I checked out the Mac railroad design software and none of it fit my needs. Accurate O Scale 36 O Scale Signals 18 I asked on the OTrains list at Yahoo if AtlasO IBC O Scale West 40 anyone would care to help me and Clark BTS 49 Old Pullman 60 Thorp volunteered to do the design using 3rd PlanIt software on a PC. (Okay, so California Roadbed Co. 48 Overland Models 29 this one time I’ll admit a PC is better than Car & Locomotive Shop 59 P&D Hobby Shop IFC a Mac.) Clark was also familiar with the PRR Brass 13 Armstrong plan and entered it to the Central Locomotive Works 17 computer. Then, via a series of email Chicagoland 52 Public Delivery Track 48 exchanges, we began to bend, fold and Eagles Nest Miniatures 10 Rail Photos Unlimited 17 mutilate Mr. Armstrong’s plan until it fit my space and met my druthers. Get Real Productions 18 Rons Books 58 What you see above right is the plan Guide to Modern O Scale 15 Russian River RR Co. 17 we came up with. Rather than two sepa- Hackworth Model Trains 52 RY Models 51 rate levels, we used a raised track at the back of the layout to get a longer run. The House of Duddy 18 Scaled World 10 ruling grade is slightly less than two per- Joint Line Reproductions 13 SONC 2004 21 cent. It has a modest yard area and I got Keil-Line Products 22 Stevenson Preservation Lines 17 my servicing facility complete with a 30" turntable for those Y6b’s and Class A’s. MRC 15 Suncoast Models 18 I’ve started the benchwork and the NCE Corp 49 Sunset⁄3rd Rail 9, BC tricky part is the swing-out gate in the T Bone Models 13 lower right hand corner. The plan also Norm’s O Scale 13 calls for lots of curved turnouts. O Scale Guide 39 Weaver 10 I’ll keep you apprised of the progress. O Scale Realty 13 Whitehall Models 56 ◆

Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 59 28th, Hudson, Massachusetts 29th, Plantation, Florida New England O Scale Train Show by Metro- South Plantation Train Club Show & Sale - EventsEvents west Model RR Society - Hudson Elks Hall, 99 South Plantation High School Cafeteria, 1300 Park Street - O Scale 2 & 3 Rail (no tinplate) - SW 54 Ave. All scales, 2-Rail O Scale mod- setup 6:30 to 10 am, sales 10 am to 4 pm, $4 ules and displays - setup 7 am to 9 am, 9 am March 2004 adults, kids 5-12 $1, kids under 5 free to 2 pm; tables available. Contact Ken 6th, Wind Gap, Pennsylvania w/adult. Info: Bill Pirtle, 196 Lincoln St, Hud- Sargeant (954) 473-6376, www.southplanta- Eastern “O” Scalers – Plainfield Fire Hall, son, MA 01749; (978) 562-6879; E-mail lee- tiontrainclub.com; [email protected] 6480 Sullivan Trail – 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. [email protected], website Adm. $5; (spouses & children under 14 are www.trainweb.org/metrowest June 2004 free), $16.00 for the first table (includes one 19 & 20, Timonium, Maryland admission) and $12.00 for each additional April 2004 The Great Scale Model Train Show & The All- table. Information SASE EOS, PO Box 1781, 23rd, Villa Park, Illinois American High-Rail & Collectors Show - Bensalem PA 19020; (215) 639-3864, Prairie Scale Model Railroaders Swap Meet, Maryland State Fairgrounds - separated into [email protected] Bring an index card with 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm (doors open at 5:30 for sections, SCALE (by gauge) and HiRail. Fri: your name, address etc., for a $1.00 off your sellers), Villa Park VFW Hall, 39 E St Charles dealer setup 5 pm to 11 pm; Sat: setup 7 am admission. Rd, Admission: $4 (spouses and kids free with to 9 am, sales & exhibits 9 am to 4 pm; Sun: paying adult), tables $12. Contact Paul setup 8:30 am to 10 am, sales & exhibits 10 14th, St. Paul, Minnesota Gehrett, [email protected] or am to 4 pm; Admission: $6, kids under 12 Twin City Model Railroad Musuem, Inc., [email protected] free, family max $12; 8' tables $55 (includes Northern Pacific Day. Bandana Square, 1021 2 worker's passes for the first table and 1 for 3 & 4, Timonium, Maryland Bandana Blvd. East, Ste 222, St. Paul. Noon to each add'l table). Contact Howard Zane, 5 pm. Admission $2, under 5 free. Contact The Great Scale Model Train Show & The All- (410) 730-1036; [email protected]; Paul Gruetzman, 651-647-9628. American High-Rail & Collectors Show - Mary- www.gsmts.com land State Fairgrounds - separated into 20 & 21, New Bern, North Carolina sections, SCALE (by gauge) and HiRail. Fri: Carolina Coastal Railroaders 9th Annual July 2004 dealer setup 5 pm to 11 pm; Sat: setup 7 am 4 thru 11, Seattle, Washington Model Train Show - New Bern High School, to 9 am, sales & exhibits 9 am to 4 pm; Sun: Puget Sound Express 2004, NMRA National 4200 Academic Drive - all scales, 7 operating setup 8:30 am to 10 am, sales & exhibits 10 Convention - all scales; Mt. Ranier Club layouts in N/HO/Sn3/O/G scales, am to 4 pm; Admission: $6, kids under 12 $1,000; Mt. Baker Club $500; Mt. St. Helens New/used model railroad sale, door prizes, free, family max $12; 8' tables $55 (includes Club $250; $125; spouse $30, youth $20. raffle, clinics.- 10 am to 5 pm; $4, kids under 2 worker's passes for the first table and 1 for Info: Dave Kreitler, Registrar (425) 831-5131; 12 free with adult. Info:Joe Hofmann; (252) each add'l table). Contact Howard Zane, email [email protected]; website 638-8872, email [email protected] (410) 730-1036; [email protected]; www.nmra2004.org/ 20 & 21, Chicago, Illinois www.gsmts.com 22-25, Washington, D.C. Chicago Midwest O Scale Meet, sponsored by 2004 O Scale National Convention at the Hill's Hobby Shop at the Sheraton Chicago May 2004 8th, Merchantville, New Jersey Hyatt Regency, Crystal City, Virginia at Rea- Northwest (888-627-8093, ask for Chicago Cherry Valley Model Railroad Club “Mer- gan National Airport. Convention and Dealer Midwest O Scale rate). Saturday 9-5, Sunday chantville Meet”, held at the Grace Episcopal registration info is available from the Capital 9-2. Friday only for dealer/tableholder setup. Church, 7 E. Maple Ave. Merchantville, NJ. Area O Scalers, 2004 O Scale National Con- Contact Hills Hobby, 847-823-4464, hillshob- Admission $4.00 (spouses & children under vention, P.O. Box 42563, Washington D.C. [email protected]. 14 are free), tables are $16.00 for the first 20015, www.2004onational.com, or email to 21st, Pullman, Washington table (includes one admission) and $12.00 for [email protected]. Palouse Empire Railroad Show and Swap each additional table. Info/reservations, SASE Meet, Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum, – CVMRC PO Box 192, Maple Shade, NJ Washington State University campus, 10 am - 08052, Dave Richter (215) 639-3864, 3 pm, Admission: Adult -$3, dealer tables - [email protected] Chuck Jacobs 856-234- $10. Contact Noel Randall, 208-882-3773, 1898 or Ken Vogel 509-332-0505

60 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 OST Dealer List Arkansas Florida The Toy Doctor Ohio Texas Hobby Shack Kirkland Hobbies 17 Meredith Road 20th Century Models Discount Model Trains Inc. 1200 John Harden Dr 187 Concord Circle Forrestdale, MA 02644 32575 Pettibone Rd 4641 Ratliff Lane Jacksonville, AR 72076 Panama City FL 32405 508-477-1186 Solon,OH 44139-5454 Addison, TX 75001 440-248-3055 501-982-6836 850-215-1973 Tucker’s Hobbies 972-931-8135 Mickey’s Model Works Georgia 29 Bacon St M&S Trains Virginia 611 Court St, Ste 4 Riverdale Station Warren,MA 01083 4157 W Broad St. Railyard Hobby Shop Conway,AR 72032-5417 6632 Hwy 85 413-436-5318 Columbus OH 43228 7547 Williamson Rd 501-450-9423 Riverdale,GA 30045 614-274-1178 Roanoke,VA 24019 Michigan 770-991-6085 Terminal Hobby Supply 540-362-1714 Arizona Eureka Trains Iowa 10200 Springfield Pike Coronado Scale Models 1219 Eureka Rd Walt's Hobby Shop, Caboose Stop Hobbies Cincinnati,OH 45215 1544 E Cypress St Wyandotte,MI 48192 PO Box 1805, Petersburg, 301 Main St 513-326-3613 Phoenix,AZ 85006 734-284-0521 VA, 23805, 804-861-1333 602-254-9650 Cedar Falls,IA 50613 Western Hills Photo & P&D Hobby Shop 800-642-7012 Hobby California 31280 Groesbeck Hwy Washington 6319 Glenway Ave All Aboard Model RR Illinois Fraser,MI 48026 Central Hobbies Cincinnati,OH 45211 Emporium Chicagoland Hobbies 586-296-6116 1574 Gulf Rd #1136 3867 Pacific Coast Hwy 6017 Northwest Hwy 513-661-2141 Point Roberts WA 98281 Torrance,CA 90505 Chicago,IL 60631 Rider’s Hobby Shop Oregon 604-431-0771 310-791-2637 773-775-4848 2055 28th St SE Whistle Stop Trains The Inside Gateway Des Plaines Hobbies Grand Rapids MI 11724 SE Division St Bruce’s Train Shop 14725 Northeast 20th 1468 Lee St 616-247-9933 Portland,OR 97266 2752 Marconi Ave Bellevue, WA 98007 Des Plaines,IL 60018 503-761-1822 Sacramento,CA 95821 Minnesota 425-747-2016 916-485-5288 847-297-2118 Second Ave Shops Pennsylvania Wisconsin Hill’s Hobby Shop 173 2nd Ave SE C&E Branchline RR Shop Fulton Station Depot Drygoods 10 Prairie Ave New Brighton,MN 55112 102 W. Grove St. 454 Larkfield Shop Cntr 220 W Wisconsin Ave Park Ridge,IL 60068 651-633-5722 Dunmore, PA 18509 Santa Rosa CA 95439 Neenah,WI 54956 847-823-4464 570-347-7909 707-523-3522 Missouri 920-725-8854 Mike’s Scale Rails Marty’s Model Railroads English’s Model RR Supply Just Trains Greenfield News & Hobby 3008 N Sterling 9622 Gravois Rd 21 Howard St 5650-H Imhoff Dr 6815 W Layton St Peoria,IL 61604 St Louis,MO 63123-4345 Montoursville,PA 17754 Concord,CA 94520 Greenfield,WI 53220 309-689-0656 314-638-8250 570-368-2516 925-685-6566 414-281-1800 Rails Unlimited North Carolina G&K Hobbies Original Whistle Stop Non-US Dealers 126 Will Scarlet Dry Bridge Station 720 Gordon St 2490 E Colorado Blvd Elgin,IL 60120 236 N Main St Reading,PA 19601-2312 Canada Pasadena,CA 91107 847-697-5353 Mount Airy,NC 27030 610-374-8598 Credit Valley Railway Co 626-796-7791 336-786-9811 184 Queen Street South Indiana Lin’s Junction Railroad Hobbies Streetsville, Ontario Big Four Hobbies Nevada 128 S Line St 119 Vernon St L5M 1L3 1005 E Main St High Sierra Models Lansdale,PA 19446 Roseville CA 95678 905-826-1306 Plainfield IN 46168 4020 Kietzke Ln 215-412-7711 916-782-6067 317-837-1024 Reno,NV 89502 Mainline Hobby Supply George’s Trains Reed’s Hobbies LLC 775-825-5557 Mishawaka Railyard Inc 15066 Buchanan Trail E 510 Mt Pleasant Rd 8039 La Mesa Blvd. 410 S Spring St New Hampshire Blue Ridge Summit,PA 17214 Toronto Ontario M4S 2M2 La Mesa,CA 91941 Mishawaka IN 46545 Custom Trains 717-794-2860 416-489-9783 619-464-1672 PO Box 48 574-252-7245 Strasburg Train Shop Train Shop Bath,NH 03740 Victoria Scale Rail, Inc. Kansas Rte 741 E, Box 130 1829 Pruneridge Ave 603-747-3492 16A3577 Douglas St. J’s Hobby Haven Strasburg,PA 17579 Santa Clara,CA 95050 Victoria, BC V8Z 3L6 5303 Johnson Dr New Jersey 717-687-0464 408-296-1050 250-475-2860 Mission,KS 66205 Big Little Railroad Shop 206 W Main St Tennessee Colorado 913-432-8820 Adirondack Car & Foundry Switzerland Caboose Hobbies, Inc. Somerville,NJ 08876 Trainmaster Maine 160 Harwood Rd. 500 S. Broadway 908-429-0220 3 Hochweidstr. Kilchberg Norm’s O Scale Gray TN 37615 Denver,CO 80209 CH-8802 PO Box 147 New Mexico 423-477-5790 303-777-6766 011-411-715-3666 S Casco,ME 04077 Trains West Inc. Delaware 207-655-2550 3351A Candelaria Rd NE Hobbytown USA, 8901 Town United Kingdom Mitchells’ Albuquerque,NM 87107 & Country Circle, Knoxville, Quince Valley Designs Massachusetts 2303 Concord Pike 505-881-2322 TN, 37923, 865-690-1099 17 West Street Modeler’s Junction Wilmington, DE 19803 New York Weedon,Northants 88 Lowell St 302-652-3258 K-Val Hobbies Smoky Mountain Model NN7 4QU Methuen,MA 01844 277 Hinman Ave Trains Ltd 01327 341374 978-683-0885 Trains & Hobbies Buffalo,NY 14216 1933 Pittman Center Rd 313 Newark Shopping Cntr. 716-875-2837 SeviervilleTN 37876 Newark,DE 19711 865-428-8595 302-266-8063 Mar/Apr’ 04 - O Scale Trains • 61 Observations Joe Giannovario, Editor⁄Publisher

Welcome to the start of our third year of publication! O Scale (early 1930’s), the mismatch between the “scale” (1:48) and the 1 Trains is officially two years old with this issue. As we start our third “gauge” (5' instead of 4' 8 ⁄2") was negligible. year of publication, here’s a status report on the magazine. We have Eventually the Zero became O, “Oh”, and the terms O Scale, over 1200 subscribers and have been adding new subscribers at a and O gauge came into common usage. The history of O gauge sustained rate of 6 new people every 5 days. We ship over 6000 and O Scale are not one and the same. They start at the same place, copies of OST to newsstands, booksellers, and hobby shops each but the desire for scale model trains versus consumer toy trains led issue. We’ve doubled the number of advertisers since issue #1. We them down different paths. Up until a decade ago, you could be went from 48 pages with 16 in color to 64 pages, all in color. We fairly sure who was the toy train collector and who was the scale also lowered the cover price and subscription rates. Overall, we’re modeler by the way people referred to their trains. If someone said, in great shape and are charging into the new year with lots of great “I’m in O Scale,” it was a sure bet he had true 1:48 scale models. If stuff coming your way. someone said, “I’m in O Gauge,” it was a sure bet he collected I’m adding another name to the masthead this issue, Jace Kahn. and/or operated toy trains. The scale train guys (and gals) tended to Jace is a regular contributor on the OTrains list at Yahoo and he look down their collective noses at the toy trains guys (and gals). likes to scrounge up the old stuff when he hits a train meet. I asked That’s not so easy to do anymore as over the last 10 years the him to start a “History of O Scale” column and he agreed. “The distinction between “scale” model trains and “toy” model trains has Good Old Days” begins in this issue. I hope you will support it and blurred. We have the phenomenon of HiRail models which are fair- Jace as I believe we will all benefit from knowing the history of our ly accurately scaled 1:48 models that run on 3 rail O gauge track. scale and hobby. (An aside - I was at the O Scale convention when Except for the track they run on and somewhat oversized flanges Levon Kemalyan was inducted into the O Scale Hall of Fame. I was and couplers, these are detailed O Scale models that rival some astounded at the number of people who did not know he was the brass models. To be sure, there are still plenty of toy trains out there, founder and owner of Kemtron and U. S. Hobbies.) and, no, O-27 is neither a scale nor a gauge. But you can’t tell the As we welcome Jace, we also bid farewell to John Smith of O Scalers from the HiRailers without a score card. Pecos River Brass. John was a big help in getting the magazine start- Now scale vs. gauge gets really interesting when you look at ed. Not only did he contribute and ask for no payment, he also narrow gauge. O Scale, 3 foot gauge modelers led the “revolution” bought the back cover ad space. Thank you, John, for your contri- for Proto48 models. Abbreviated as On3, this means the models are butions and for helping us to understand how the brass import busi- 1:48 ratio but run on track gauged at 3 scale feet, or 0.75 inches. 1 ness works. John has decided after 22 years to close down Pecos Eventually, someone noticed that HO Scale standard gauge (4' 8 ⁄2") River Brass. He still has lots of stuff to sell so visit his website track scaled out to 31.2 inches in O Scale, not that far off from 36 [www.pecosriverbrass.com]. scale inches. So, these modelers started building O Scale super- Congratulations are in order for OST contributor Jeb Kriigel. Jeb structures over HO scale chassis running on HO Gauge track and is the Grand Prize winner in the Model Railroader Photo Contest called them On30. Not many U. S. prototypes used 30 inch gauge with his C&O themed “Steam Splendor At Sewell.” And Jeb also track, but, what the heck, model railroading is fun! Right? Of received an honorable mention for his photo featuring the NYC in course, the scale mavens eventually took notice and realized that “Rensselaer Remembered.” (It is rare to have won two prizes.) Way HO scale track used in O Scale looks wrong so you can now buy to go, Jeb! You’ll see more of Jeb’s photos in future issues of OST. “real” On30 track and switches with properly scaled ties. Even the I am happy to report no one asked for my head with the addition Maine two-footers have had their day with O Scalers. NJ Custom of Hobo D. Hirailer to our staff. Granted, there was some grumbling Brass imported several models in the 1980’s and 1990’s. about a “3-rail invasion” but it soon died down. Hobo is back this What’s the point of all this? Regardless of what track gauge we’re issue with a neat idea for you HiRailers who want to run scale cars talking about (or the number of rails), all the models you see in OST on your layout. Remember, scale wheels will run just fine on most articles are O Scale, 1:48. You won’t see any toy trains here, I prom- t-section track. ise. There are other magazines that cover that segment markedly While the addition of Mr. HiRailer didn’t generate much heat, well. To say that you will never see a 3-rail model in OST would be we did get some “gas” about our review of the Car & Locomotive a lie because you already have, several times, and, I promise there Shop’s little O gauge mine loco. The chief criticism was that it was will be more in the future. Besides, I think it’s ironic to look down not O Scale, and therefore belonged in a garden railroad magazine, one’s nose at 3-rail track when you’re own track gauge is wrong. not in OST. That got me to thinking about Scale vs. Gauge. Maybe only the Proto48 and On3 guys (and gals) have the right to In recent months I’ve seen some gaffs in other magazines con- be snobby, although I find them all to be as friendly as any other O cerning these two concepts. The track gauge that O Scale models Scaler or O gauger. Let’s just play nicely together. run on has a history all its own. Zero Gauge, “0”, was introduced at As always, your comments are solicited and welcomed. Got an the beginning of the last century as the first of the indoor track idea for an article? Let us know. We’re especially looking for 1 gauges. The gauge was set at 1 ⁄4 inches. At the time, there was little scratchbuilding and kit-bashing articles to teach craftsmanship skills attention paid to scale as these were primarily toy trains. But as the to our newest modelers. hobby of model railroading matured, this “0” gauge track was Last, but not least, I’d like to thank Woody Mathews for compil- adopted for a new “scale”. Scale is the ratio of the model to the pro- ing the Volume 1 Index. He’s also done Volume 2 and we’ll print 1 totype. The ratio chosen was ⁄4 inch = 1 foot (or 1:48), a common that in a coming issue. architectural modeling scale. For most serious modelers of the time Keep high ballin’! ◆

62 • O Scale Trains - Mar/Apr’ 04 A SOLID Track Choice for Your Layout ATLAS O 2-RAIL SCALE™ TRACK!

re you looking for the “right track” to make your O Scale experience a Agreat one? Try Atlas O’s 2-Rail Scale™ Track and give yourself the per- formance you deserve.

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Developed as the only U.S. prototype track “system” to come to O scale, Atlas O 2-Rail Track comes in a variety of pieces such as #5 turnouts, 90 degree crossings and 40" flex track so you can create a variety of great lay- outs.

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