Celebrating the Art of 1:48 Modeling May/June 2006 U Issue

Celebrating Scale the art of Trains 1:48 modeling O u May/June 2006 Issue #26

US $6.95 • Can $8.95 Display until June 30, 2006

Celebrating the art of 1:48 modeling Issue #26 May/June 2006 Vol. 5 - No. 3 Publisher Joe Giannovario [email protected] Features 4 From the Forest to the Sawmill Art Director Follow the trees on their way ’round Paul Templar’s On30 logging layout. Jaini Giannovario [email protected] 15 Converting K-Line Hoppers to 2-Rail A simple conversion by Ron Morse to fill out your fleet. Editor Brian Scace 16 OST 2K6 3rd Annual Digital Photo Contest [email protected] Try your hand at winning one of this year’s great prizes. It’s free! 18 Building a Small O Scale Layout — Part 9 Advertising Manager Mike Culham finishes the structure he started last issue. Jeb Kriigel [email protected] 25 Across the Pond A look at what Jacki Molinaro is doing with Styrene and white metal.

Customer Service 35 2006 O Scale National Convention Spike Beagle A peek at what you’ll see if you visit the NYSME. Photos by Andy Brusgard. 40 Branchline Engine Shed You’ll need one of these sheds eventually. Tom Houle shows you how he Contributors built his from a J. Harold Giesel plan. Ted Byrne Hobo D. Hirailer Bobber Gibbs Jace Kahn 48 Modeling Ground Cover Mike Cougill Roger C. Parker Our resident finescale modeler, Mike Cougill, discusses this scenery element. Carey Hinch Neville Rossiter 60 O Scale Influences Subscription Rates: 6 issues Joe Fischer is profiled by Brian Scace. US - Standard Mail Delivery US$35 US - First Class Delivery (1 year only) US$45 61 O Scale Coaches Canada/Mexico US$55 Overseas US$80 Once upon a time, Joe Fischer explained how he built his much sought- Visa, MC, AMEX & Discover accepted after passenger cars. We bring you that article which is still relevant today. Call 610-363-7117 during Eastern time business hours Dealers contact Kalmbach Publishing, 800-558- 1544 ext 818 or email [email protected] Departments Advertisers call for info. O Scale Trains ISSN 1536-9528 11 Easements for the Learning Curve – Brian Scace www.oscalemag.com 13 The Good Old Days – Jace Kahn Published bimonthly (6 times a year) by O Scale Trains Magazine 23 Confessions of a HiRailer – Hobo D. Hirailer PO Box 238, Lionville PA 19353-0238 © 2006 OST All Rights Reserved 26 The Art of Finescale – Mike Cougill Printed in the U.S.A. 30 Reader Feedback – Letters to the Editor

Contributors: O Scale Trains welcomes your feature articles, 33 Narrow Minded – Bobber Gibbs photos, and drawings. Such material should be sent to the above address for possible publication. If we accept, you will 38 Traction Action – Roger C. Parker be notified immediately. For more information concerning article preparation guidelines, please send an SASE to the above address and request our “Guide For Authors” or visit our 53 Product News & Reviews website at: www.oscalemag.com. 60 Modeler’s Shelf–O Scale West Photos Cover: Another busy day on Paul Templar’s Cooncreek & Tumbleweeds RR in Shropshire, England. 67 Advertiser Index Centerspread: “Side Rods Down” New Englanders are proud of their railroad heritage. Here we see one of their massive Mountain locos 68 Buy-Sell-Trade Ads making a brief stop at a Boston & Maine hub in the late 40's. Those shinny side rods won't stay down long as the engineer has already 68 Events Listing signaled the train is about to leave the station! The R1d model was custom built by Tom Harley and is owned by Brian Scace. The diorama 70 Observations – Brian Scace was built and photographed by K. Jeb Kriigel, Get Real Productions.

May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • From the Forest to the Sawmill Photography by Paul Templar

It’s the ‘whimsical wilderness’ part of logging that fasci- traits, by Darius Kinsey. Darius and his wife, Tabitha, spent nates so many modelers, myself included. Many extensively the years between 1907 and 1940 traveling all over the North- illustrated books are available, and much information can be west, taking hundreds of photographs. Initially, the images found on the Internet to assist research. were captured with his 11” x 14” Empire State camera using Perhaps one of the finest books on the subject, with many glass plates. In 1914, he started using film. Unfortunately, in photographs of logging locomotives, is The Locomotive Por- October of 1940, Darius had an accident and was unable to continue his photography. As with all logging railroads, each operation will be slightly different in detail, but the main principle of the production flow will apply. The process starts with the felling of the tall timbers and the transportation of the trees out of the woods to the sawmill. Here, they will be processed into finished products to meet the needs of the con- sumer. Photos 1 & 2 This is the logger’s campsite with various camp cars. In this camp there is a kitchen car and dining car, and a combined tool car and office, plus a couple of bunk cars. To the side of the camp cars can be seen a machine shop, where all the loggers go to from time to time to get tools sharpened or equipment welded.

• O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 Photos 3 & 4 winch, they could supply power for practically anything. This From the Forest to the picture shows a brand new donkey about to be delivered up the line. On-site, they were often mounted on wooden skids and could haul themselves around by the simple tactic of Sawmill tying a rope or cable around a tree, then pulling themselves forwards by winding the winch! Photo 6 Once loaded, these logs are transported back down the hillside by rail, sometimes crossing very precarious trestle

bridges and switchbacks. There have been many accidents on such switchbacks, so care is always taken to transport the logs safely. Here, a mighty Dunkirk loco is treading gently down and across the trestle bridge on a seven-percent grade. After reaching the bottom, the engineer will switch the turnout and the loco will reverse down the next grade, which is five-percent, holding the skeleton cars in check. . Photo 7

Deep in the forest, with these enormous trees, can be seen Here’s the biggest workhorse on the Coon Creek & Tum- skeleton log cars full of logs already en route to the sawmill. bleweed Springs, a 2-6-6-2T articulated giant. After negotiat- In the Photo 4, a train departs, having just finished loading ing the first part of the switchback, she drifts gently down the using a heel boom and donkey engine. five-percent grade heading towards civilization once again. Photo 5 Photos 8 & 9 Logging operations used steam donkey engines in abun- dance. Essentially a vertical boiler, water tank, engine, and

May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • The 2-6-6-2T has finally arrived on level ground and is striding out for the sawmill. Photo 9 shows her almost at the sawmill, where the logs will be dumped into the log pond. Photos 10 & 11 Here, we see another logging site using the “high lead”, into the log pond. Photo 13 Here is where the log monkeys do their log-rolling act to

get the logs ready for the sawmill itself. Log monkeys have to be very careful not to fall into the pond as these logs are very heavy and could easily crush a man. Photo 14 With the logs now positioned, the next task is to get them

where logs are transported to the loading area by an overhead system. The heel boom lifts the logs onto the skeleton cars. One of the loggers is helping to align the log so it will ride securely on the car. Photo 12 While the logger’s camps could be moved to follow the timber, the sawmill itself was a far more fixed location. Often, there was more than one line wending its way to this operational hub. The arriving logs were not simply stacked to wait hauled onto the lander. The moving treads located inside the their turn through the mill, but were off-loaded into a log grooves of the main support lift the logs out of the pond. pond. With the aid of a donkey engine, the logs are dropped Photos 15 & 16 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 rolls through it and slides onto a further set of live rolls. Photo 21 The log has now completed its journey through the de- barker and is waiting its turn through the sawmill.

Photo 22 The log has now been attached to the log carriage, which will take it through the bandsaw.

Once onto the lander, the log is transported along moving chains and onto the live rolls, which will feed the log through the de-barker. Photos 17-20 This de-barker has very sharp teeth and is shown in Photo 17 with the teeth closed. Photo 18 shows the teeth opened,

Photos 23 & 24 Its trip through the bandsaw is now complete, and the log carriage will return to pick up the next log.

ready to accept the log to be de-barked before it moves on into the sawmill. In Photo 19, the log has now been accepted and is about to be rolled. At this point, the de-barker starts to revolve and strips off most of the bark. Photo 20 shows the bark coming off as the log Photos 25 & 26

May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • Photo 28 Behind the sawmill, workers clean up the mess left by the many logs that have passed through.

Photo 29 The freshly cut plank will now be taken through the edger, Outside, a healthy pile of fresh timber is being stacked, which will clean up the sides in preparation for cutting. ready for the customer to arrive and take away his order.

Some planks will go to make houses, some for furniture; even the stripped bark has value. Whatever the use, there will always be a need for more in the future. u

Photo 27 The cut-off saw will cut the plank into various sizes, depending on what orders are in for the day.

• O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • Need something different? Switch to B.T.S. ! Depressed-Center Flatcar In O Scale!

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Bell Crawler - Model 36 Everyone needs several of these mechanical beasts. Offered with and without the blade, they are perfect as a load on the flatcar above, carving a road out of the woods, or hauling logs to the railroad. These freelanced model kits consists of high-quality, no-odor urethane castings with brass wire, NS mesh, decals, and a few other bits. Approx. size as shown - scale 20’ long with a 10’-6” wide blade.

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The Logging Arch is in production now, but the model was not ready in time for an ad photo.

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P O Box 856 Web: www.btsrr.com Elkins, WV 26241 E-Mail: [email protected] Full Catalog - $5.00 Phone: 304-637-4510 10 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 Fax: 304-637-4506 Celebrating over 26 Years of Service since 1979 I’ve been busy, lately, dressing up the basement for the new enjoyable space. As it turned out, his basement suffered an railroad. It’s awful hard not to start screwing sticks together, rath- indignity that re-enforces my not-so-hot opinion of finished base- er than thinking things through and doing some prep work. How- ments. A slow leak in a water pipe, between drywall and block, ever, here is where Scace will break ranks with the rest of the went unnoticed for perhaps years. One day came the inevitable self-anointed, and stand firmly against the onrush of the teem- catastrophic failure. While the consequences of the failure itself ing throng streaming blindly to touch the robes of the so-called go without elaboration, the slow leak caused another issue made experts who, month after month, flog us down the Gilded Path apparent when the railroad came down. There was an incredible to Righteous Layout Design. You know the drill, “Use a linear amount of mold growing between the drywall and the block. track plan, staging yards, DCC with sound, and a formal operat- Since living in a huge high school biology experiment is just not ing system, all built in a space finished as We tell you! Do this, or my thing, but I still wanted the benefits of a backdrop, I chose a you will be forever sub-standard!” Well, color me “wanting”. different approach. Rather than the usual “finished basement” Now, don’t get me wrong, here. The ideas and practices approach, I will be attaching the backdrop to the benchwork pushed by the magazines, the NMRA Special Interest Groups in the same manner as the module guys make scenic dividers. (SIG’s), or the Club Olde Phartz are very worthwhile to con- Again, accessibility and maintainability win out, though this time sider carefully. My point is that they are just that, and no more. as a change in approach rather than a choice between doing Those of us who promote ourselves as “experts” (be us authors, something or not. NMRA-types, or magazine editors) are sometimes given to Behold! The (Self-Appointed) Oracle Speaks! believing that our Way is the Only Way. My goal here is to get The epiphany here is that the John Armstrong “Givens-and- you to think, rather than to merely accept the “enSIGlical” of the Druthers” process, that many of us use to design our trackplans Body of Experts (by our own admission). Here are a couple of themselves, works equally well with all decisions we make in examples. layout design and construction. In our first example, I flouted Mine being an older house, I thought through the idea of a the ceiling esthetic “requirement” in favor of the accessibility new drop-type ceiling. The followers of the Gilded Path know and maintainability issues that were more important to me. In that leaving uncovered floor joists above is one of the Deadly the second example, some thought yielded an adaptation of Sins. A ceiling looks better and cuts down on the dust falling the modular free-standing type of backdrop construction while on the railroad through the floor above. While thinking this one accommodating my personal concerns about the specifics of my over, I laid out a couple pieces of construction paper (one black, space, rather than just dry-walling the basement without thinking one light-colored) on a table as a test. After a few weeks, the things through. papers showed a minimum of dust particles filtering down from The Givens-and-Druthers process has taken me to several above. That didn’t surprise me much, since the flooring on the good decisions, such as the now-completed installation of lots of main level of the house is all hardwood, laid over tongue-and- fluorescent lighting, each fixture with a mix of daylight spectrum groove pine sub-flooring. Older houses are nice, like that; no and cool-white bulbs. The process has also lead me to some plywood, carpet, carpet-pad, and other dust-traps here. The les- decisions that differ from the norm, such as wide open access son here is to perform this simple test to see how much “snow” taking a priority over minimal sized aisles with maximum utiliza- is really falling from the floor above. If the level is unacceptable, tion of space for benchwork and track. Personally, I like a little you will do well to do something about it before the benchwork breathing room and will sacrifice some run-length to get it. Your turns everything into an acrobatic exercise, or before your prize goals will be different from mine, and may well be different from slobber-bucket disappears into a dust-drift. If you’re lucky, like I the enSIGlicals that, unfortunately, have taken on the rule of law was, you have some options. in the minds of some. Throw off that yoke, ye peasants. List out Although there was undeniably an appearance benefit to what is important to you (your Druthers), balance it against the be gained with a drop ceiling, I chose not to do it (Barricade realities you face (your Givens), salt to taste with the experiences the doors and load up ol’ Betsy, Mother! Here comes the SIG of others (your friends, the Experts of the Gilded Path, the maga- Police!) My basement, like many older houses, only has a seven- zines, li’l ol’ me) and screw some sticks together in a manner foot ceiling height. Any finished ceiling I put in would have to be that satisfies you. Using G&D can yield solutions for all phases of flush to the joists. All the piping and wiring is neatly run between basement filling. It’s not just for trackplanning anymore. the joists, with shut-off valves and drain cleanouts easily acces- If I had accepted the dictates of the Experts of the Gilded Path sible. Since there was no excessive dust fallout, I didn’t want to as a requirement rather than merely the food for thought that it lose the accessibility for pure esthetics, nor would I want that is, I wouldn’t be building a railroad in what is really a perfectly pretty ceiling to come crashing down on the railroad once one of acceptable space. I won’t fall for that one. How about you? those drain-lines springs a leak and soaks ‘er down with, shall we Let’s go Exploring! delicately say, effluvia. Another enSIGlical calls for finishing the basement, curving Scace’s Parting Salvo the drywall around the corners and using the walls as backdrops. My cordless phone has a button on the base unit. When you Again, worth considering, but rejected in my case. When a forget where you left the handset last, you push this button and friend of mine sold his house and moved, one of the painful tasks the handset makes an annoying sound to follow so you can find involved was the removal of his completed railroad. He prepared it again. I wish my wireless throttles on the railroad had that his spaces “by the book”, and it was indeed a very inviting and feature! u

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12 • O Scale Trains -May/June ’06 Guest columnist: run in, wired, and ready Ralph Baldwin to run. The body needed Bill Culliton to be assembled. You Baldwin Model Locomotive Works was run by Ralph Baldwin could also get a built-up (of Norwalk, Conn.) who was an orthodontist. He was originally unpainted locomotive. from Norwalk and, when I first met him, I thought his walking For an extra charge, problem had to do with his age. It turned out he was an early the locomotive could casualty of the automobile. Ralph, his father (who was a doctor be painted. In 1957, a in Norwalk), and a group of other men hired a boat in 1906 to finished GG-1 would see an auto race on Long Island (I think it was part of the Glid- run $180, which seems den tour.) One of the cars left the course and struck Doc. They pretty cheap today. brought him back to Norwalk to recover. He attended Norwalk Remember that, in terms High School and tells of the kids from Wilton, and towns to the of 2006 dollars, this north that didn’t have secondary schools, coming down by train would be at least $1800. on the Danbury branch of the New Haven. Baldwin was also well In the '20s he worked as an orthodontist in Spokane, Washing- known for his Osgood ton, and told of sometimes driving to Norwalk during vacations. Bradley (American Flyer- Part of the route included the Yellowstone Trail, marked by a style) coach kits. splash of yellow paint on a tree or fencepost about every quarter The actual sandcast- mile. Ralph also told of fording streams, saying that the key was ing was done by Brown to back through. Then the fan would throw the water out through Brothers Foundry in the radiator, instead of onto the engine shorting out the plugs. At Stamford. The locomo- other times he would come east on the "Olympian" of the Mil- tives were cast in bronze, and the coaches were cast in alumi- waukee Road. He moved back east permanently in 1930 or ‘31. A num. At the time, small foundries would make short runs to fill friend of long standing, Dave Squires, told me that one of his first voids when large jobs had run out. The assembly work was done experiences with model railroad construction was building cat- by Baldwin, and Ernie Pollard, in the house on Sherman Court in enary for a Standard Gauge layout he built in the early 1930s. Norwalk. I think he did much of the painting, as there was a spray The O Gauge system he built in the attic of his home in the booth in the basement of his final residence on Camp Street, late ‘30s and ‘40s was the NEAT (New England Atlantic Terminal). along with a fairly complete shop. This layout, with extremely tight radius curves, had a yard with I don’t think Walthers handled the cast Osgood Bradley cars, electrified catenary. I believe there was an article about this lay- and possibly Doc only sold them locally. In my 1957 Walthers out in Model Railroader in the early 1940s. He, and his pal Alfred catalog, some lightweight car sides made of pressed metal are “Zeke” McFaddin, used to take railfanning vacations. After one shown together with a picture of a New Haven lightweight coach. such trip he came back and built an eight-car "Canadian" from These are definitely not the Baldwin aluminum castings, but were aluminum extrusions, filing out all the windows by hand. He was probably Alexander coaches (which, in a 1937 Model Crafts- a member of the Stamford Model Railroad Club, but by the time I man, were listed at $35). Again, that was a lot of money during knew him (in the early ‘60s) did not participate in its activities. He the Depression. Back then, if you had a job that paid 20 bucks a did start making New Haven catenary bridges and catenary for week, you were comfortable. use at the Stamford club. These only lasted a short time until the I do know that there were some one-shot variations. Doc layout changed. I know of two of these bridges, still in existence. talked about building an 0-C-0, what he called the B-class Pennsy He had a summer place on Franklin Pierce Lake near Hills- electric switchers. I think he used the six-wheel chassis from the boro, New Hampshire, where he had several friends who had an GG1 as a base. When some of the Osgood Bradley cars were O Gauge railroad. One of his friends in New Hampshire was also being cast, three were poured in bronze by mistake. Normally named Doc Baldwin. He also belonged to a postwar group, the they were done in aluminum as the bronze cars were too heavy New England Association of Model Railroaders, which faded out for operation. Bronze was used for locomotives for traction. Doc about 1950. polished one up and donated it to an NMRA unit as the “Baldwin Several locomotives, listed by Walthers in their post-WWII Award”. I believe this is the car that is shown in the photo. catalogs, were made by Baldwin. He made the “B-Lectric” which I don’t think any other cars were made for sale by Baldwin had originated with Tom Bedell in Vermont. Baldwin also made Model Locomotive Works, even though someone advertised a an O Scale GG1 , an EMD E-unit passenger Diesel (in both A and metal stock car with a BMLW sticker on the floor. This was prob- B versions) and an EMD F-unit (also in both A and B versions). In ably from Baldwin’s personal collection. about 1950, he added a streamlined Fairbanks Morse switcher. The business was sold to Ken Hyslop, who ran a hobby shop The B-Lectric was listed in the Walthers catalogs as a New Haven in Stratford, Conn., sometime before 1964. The Walthers catalog electric similar to the 0200-series. Kits were offered in two con- for that year does not list any locomotives. He used the name figurations. The most basic version came machined with impor- Custom Services and issued Catalog #3 in 1967. This catalog tant holes drilled and tapped, and with minor holes spotted. For listed the following locomotives: a little more, you could get one with the drive pre-assembled and • The New Haven 0350 “Flat-bottom”

May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 13 • An electric freight motor suggested by New York Central www.modelbuildingservices.com • Pennsylvania GG-1 Assembled buildings NORM’S • New Haven Electric Switcher (similar from any manufacturer’s kit. to 0200 series of New Haven) Kitbashed, painted and detailed... O SCALE • EMD E-8 Passenger Diesel “Just Like Real!” • EMD F-7 Freight Diesel Trains & More • Fairbanks Morse 2000 hp Switcher All these engines came from the Wal- thers-Baldwin offerings except the first Buy, Sell, Trade! two. The 0350 and the New York Central www.normsoscale.com piece probably came to Hyslop from Par- [email protected] melee & Sturges in New Haven. Hyslop 41 Roosevelt Trail, Route died in the early 1970s, and Baldwin got 302. S. Casco, ME 04077 some of the masters back (He still had the molds for castings for the Osgood Brad- Ph: 207-655-2550 ley passenger cars.) An ex-IBM salesman named Martin, from Maryland, tried to re- produce the passenger cars, but an unflat- tering Model Railroader review (about the Irish Tracklayer roof being humped) shot this down. Now available: a rail insulator .010" By the time I knew Doc Baldwin (about thick for code 148 rail, $2.00 inc. S&H. 1970) he was no longer active in any kind Check our website for brass steam of manufacture. I believe he died in 1981. and diesel castings. Much of the information in this piece was Under development: a highly detailed furnished by Don Jaycox and David “Diz” double slip switch, complete with Squires. u Kit by Banta Modelworks switch motors. A true plug and play Model Building Services installation. Models built by Stu Gralnik WWW.IRISHTRACKLAYER.COM 264 Marret Rd • Lexington MA 02421 Ph: 781-860-0554 2682 West Palo Alto Ave [email protected] Fresno, CA 93711

June 24 &25, 2006 October 14 & 15, 2006 Maryland State Fairgrounds Timonium, MD Hours: Sat 9-4; Sun 10-4 Show Admission: $7 per person

14 • O Scale Trains -May/June ’06 Converting K-Line Hoppers to 2-Rail Ron Morse

The Lionel car has been repainted Great Northern. The New York Central car is from K-Line. Notice how closely K-Line has reproduced the Lionel car.

Many of us who are in O Scale 2-Rail, brought up through the late 1930-1940 timeframe, lusted after the beautiful Lionel pre-war scale cars. The hopper car was dead on for what it was intended to be, a scale four-bay hopper. Today that car demands a high price in the collector market, so having a string of them is far out of reach for most us. I was lucky enough to find one several years ago at a swap meet for $35! It had been repainted and converted to 2-Rail, which is what I wanted. We are very lucky today to have the great K-Line cars, a virtual reproduction of that hopper. Seeing them side-by-side, one has a hard time telling which one is the Lionel pre-war car that brings hundreds of dollars and which is the K-Line version which can be had for $35 or less at swap meets. Since I am a 2-Rail operator, it was my duty to convert some for use on my layout! It is a very simple job and can be done in about half an hour. The tools needed are a power drill (I use a cordless Black and Decker), a #48 drill bit, a small Phillips screwdriver, a small flat-blade screwdriver, some side cutters (to cut the bolts off) and a pair of tweezers. You’ll also need trucks of your choice (I used Athearn Bettendorf), some 1/4” square wood, and some 2-56 bolts and nuts. For couplers, I used the plastic Kadee #804, since we are dealing with a metal car that may be coupled to other metal cars. Begin by removing the three Phillips screws that hold the end-frames to the body. Remove the K-Line trucks from the frame ends. Save ‘em, because you can always place these on your swap meet table and get $10 a pair for them! At this point, you can hunt up a pair of the K-Line 2-Rail conversion trucks, or just replace the 3-Rail wheelsets and cut off the K- Line couplers. In any case, the end-frames have to be removed to get the 3-Rail trucks off. If you choose one of the options using the K-Line trucks, you can skip to the section on installation of the Kadee couplers. In my case, I used the Athearn The truck is fastened to the wood bolster, then to the end-frame. trucks because I have a bunch on hand. If you want to replace

May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 15 the K-Line truck entirely, glue a piece of 1/4” wood, about an inch long, as a bolster on the frame. After this has dried, drill a mounting hole into the wood and frame using the #48 drill. Make sure the hole is centered. Fasten the trucks to the frame with 2-56 bolts and nuts. Fasten the end-frames to the body with the two original side screws; do not use the end screw as this is where we fasten the Kadee couplers. To install Kadees, re-attach the frame to the body. The coupler pocket screw (2-56) can now be placed through the coupler box into the frame and the body of the car; this is why it’s done with the frame re-installed. Here is the only tricky part, placing the nut on the end of the screw. A dab of GOO will help to start the nut and also help to prevent it from coming loose. Speaking of which, I used a combination of GOO and CA when attaching the wood block to the frame (making a very strong joint) and I also put a dab of GOO on the cou- A view of the coupler attached to the car with the end of the bolt and nut pler box to keep it from shifting. After you are satisfied with showing. This can be painted to match the car to be less noticeable. the results you can paint the trucks to match the rest of the car, or leave them black. The photos should help with this very simple job. u

2K6 O Scale Trains 3rd Annual Digital Photo Contest

The Categories • Winners will be announced and winning images • Steam locomotive published in OST Issue #29, Nov/Dec 2006. • Diesel locomotive • Narrow Gauge/Industrial Additional Details • Traction (New category this year!) • All photos MUST be submitted by email • Photos DO NOT have to be taken with a digital cam- The Rules era. You may take a photo with a wet-film camera, • You may only enter ONE category of the contest scan it into your computer, and then submit it. • You may enter a maximum of TWO (2) photos in that • Four winners will be picked by judges in each of the category. four categories. • Image must include O Scale equipment befitting the • Prizes category. Steam: MTH ICRR 2-8-0, Proto-Scale 3-2 • Image must be submitted in digital JPEG format. Diesel: Weaver V01000, 2 rail, undec. • Images must be at least 250 dpi but not more than NG/Indust.: Bachmann On30 2-8-0 300 dpi and at least 4 x 5 inches. Traction: An unpowered trolley kit from East • Image must be emailed to: [email protected] Gary Car Co., and a Western Hobbycraft trolley. • All submissions become the property of O Scale Trains Magazine. Don’t wait! Enter now. • Images must be submitted by midnight, August 1, 2006

16 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 31280 ‑Groesbeck, Fraser, MI 48026 586-296-6116 Open Mon-Fri 10-8, Sat 10-6, Sun 12-5 Hobby Shop Fax: 586-296-5642 P&DP&D HobbyHobby ShopShop www.pdhobbyshop.com P&D Hobby F Unit Sale Model shown is #8001

POWERED F “A” Units: Reg. $350, SALE $289.99 POWERED F “B” Units: Reg. $315, SALE $264.99 #7001 EMD F3-Ph4, F7-Ph1 early , 36" low fans, 36" dy- #3001 EMD F3-Ph3, F7-Ph1, 36" low fans, 36" dynamic namic brake, 2 portholes, horiz grilles brake, 3 portholes, horiz grilles #8001 EMD F7-Ph1 late, F7-Ph2, 36" low fans, 48" dynamic #4001 EMD F7-Ph1 (late), F7-Ph2, F9, 36" low fans, 48" brake, 2 portholes, Farr (vert) grilles (shown above) dynamic brake, 2 portholes, Farr (vert) grilles #9001 EMD F9, 36" fans, 48" dynamic brake, 2 portholes, Farr (vert) grilles

UNPOWERED F “A” Units: Reg. $225, SALE $189.99 UNPOWERED F “B” Units: Reg. $200, SALE $169.99 #7002 EMD F3-Ph4, F7-Ph1 early , 36" low fans, 36" dy- #3002 EMD F3-Ph3, F7-Ph1, 36" low fans, 36" dynamic namic brake, 2 portholes, horiz grilles brake, 3 portholes, horiz grilles #8002 EMD F7-Ph1 late, F7-Ph2, 36" low fans, 48" dynamic #4002 EMD F7-Ph1 (late), F7-Ph2, F9, 36" low fans, 48" brake, 2 portholes, Farr (vert) grilles dynamic brake, 2 portholes, Farr (vert) grilles #9002 EMD F9, 36" fans, 48" dynamic brake, 2 portholes, Farr (vert) grilles

F Unit “A” Body KITS: reg. $99.95, on sale $82.99 F Unit “B” Body KITS: reg. $94.99, on sale $79.99 #7000 EMD F3-Ph4, F7-Ph1 early , 36" low fans, 36" dy- #3000 EMD F3-Ph3, F7-Ph1, 36" low fans, 36" dynamic namic brake, 2 portholes, horiz grilles brake, 3 portholes, horiz grilles #8000 EMD F7-Ph1 late, F7-Ph2, 36" low fans, 48" dynamic #4000 EMD F7-Ph1 (late), F7-Ph2, F9, 36" low fans, 48" brake, 2 portholes, Farr (vert) grilles dynamic brake, 2 portholes, Farr (vert) grilles #9000 EMD F9, 36" fans, 48" dynamic brake, 2 portholes, Farr (vert) grilles

All kits include brass etched grills, appropriate detailed parts, and preformed grab irons for indicated model. These kits include only the parts above the frame. Building a Small O Scale Layout Part Nine Michael Culham In Part 8 of this series, I covered how to paint the structure ran the back of my modeling knife along the joints in the wood for the mini-scene on my layout, and how I made the signs for planks, using a steel ruler as a guide. This pressed the sign down it. In Photos 1 and 2, you can see that the building has now into the grooves, giving the effect of the sign being painted on the wall. After this was done I did the weathering. Weathering Weathering gives the effect of grime that has built up on a building for a number of years. This ages a building and makes it look more realistic. In Photo 4, we have the painted wall ready

for the first step in the weathering process. Photo 5 shows how I put a chalk wash on the wall using a charcoal gray color, mixed with water. The wash settles into the joints and highlights them.

2 been weathered and the signs have been put on. In Photo 3, the sign has been made to look like it was been painted on the side of the building. This was done by first gluing the paper sign on to the wall with white glue. Once the glue had dried I then

5 Once the water evaporates, it leaves the chalk behind, giving a grimy look (Photo 6). I then brush on some chalk powder as shown in Photo 7. Always work from the top down since, in real life, the rain will wash any grime down the wall from the top towards the bottom. Once the walls are painted you can snap them together, but do not glue them yet. That is how I weather my buildings. It’s that easy. One Last Sign With the weathering done, we still have one more sign to put 3 on the building. It is the one that hangs out from the front of the 18 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 6 9

7 10 top corner of the building, using CA, and bring it to the front top edge of the sign and attach it with CA. Finally, take it to the other top corner of the roof and attach it there with CA. This thread represents the guy wire that helps stabilize the sign. This completes the last sign, as seen in Photo 11.

8 building in Photo 9. Photo 10 shows the parts needed for this sign. To do this, I take the two identical signs and glue them, one on either side of a piece of 0.020” Styrene cut to the same size as the signs. You then glue two pieces of 0.020” brass rod, about one and a half inches in length, to the top and bottom 11 of the sign using CA glue. The ends of the rods should be even with the front of the sign and extend out the back. Once the Roof Details glue has dried, I paint the rods and the edges of the sign with On the roof, there are a couple of details such as the chim- blue paint. Next, mark on the front of the building where the ney and a vent pipe. Let’s start with the chimney. First paint rods will attach, and drill two holes for the rods to be inserted. the brick with a reddish brown, then paint a concrete color on Glue the sign in place with CA. I then attach a thread from one the chimney cap. Once the paint has dried, take some white

May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 19 first step in making the dock was to cut out a piece of 0.125” scribed Styrene, 0.040” thick. This was cut in an “L” shape three inches by three inches, with each leg being one inch wide. This “L” shape will fit around the corner of the building. I then cut off a half-inch wide strip from some 0.040” Styrene sheet. From this strip, cut out four sections for the sides of the dock (Photo 16).

12 13 weathering chalk and rub it into the brick (Photo 12). Then take your fingertip and rub off the chalk from the brick surface (Photo 13). This leaves the chalk between the bricks creating the 16 mortar (Photo 14). Once the chimney is finished, glue it in Glue these in to place, one sixteenth of an inch back from the place. edge of the dock, as shown in Photo 17. Use some scrap Styrene The last detail for the roof for braces. I then glued a strip of 0.040” Styrene, a quarter of an is the vent pipe. This is made using a piece of 0.040” Styrene tube, about three quarters of an inch in length. Paint it black and, once the paint is dry, glue it to the roof. Now you can 14 weather the roof with some chalk powder. The Foundation The foundation of the building should be painted with Con- crete paint #414317 and weathered once the paint has dried. With this done, you can glue the walls to the foundation; don’t forget to glue the corners of the walls together as well. Once the glue has dried you can snap the roof into place, but do not glue it, as you will have to remove it in the future. The Dock On the back of my building, I wanted to have a loading dock 17 for shipping and receiving. Since the door was on the side of the building, I had to have inch in width, along the top of the sides (Photo 18). The dock the dock run down the side and across the back (Photo 15). My is now ready for painting, but first I made some railings out of

15 18

20 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 19 20 0.040” Styrene rod and glued them in place. I then painted the layout (Photo 20). dock with the same colors as the building. Once the paint was Although the building is now finished, looking at those large dry, I weathered it. Remember those detail parts that I found front windows makes me think that this building needed an in my parts drawer? I painted them with some white paint and interior. Therefore, in Part 10, I will show you how to make an glued them to the dock. Once this was done I then glued the interior for this structure (This is why I advised not to glue the dock to the building (Photo 19). I later made some toilet tanks roof on.) from some scrap Styrene and glued them to the dock, as well. So until next time...Happy modeling. u There you have it. Our building is complete and ready for the

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22 • O Scale Trains -May/June ’06 Check Your Baggage indeed fluctuating. We find that there we model everything to scale and close I am a baby boomer. My generation is way too much product available. O to scale perfection, and then we miss is now approaching the “middle ages” of Scalers in general are getting older and the mark by using something that is left- life. We have worked hard to get where slowing down. Hair is thinning and so are over baggage from another time or place we are and we are looking forward to the collections. Manufacturers are struggling in our modeling, we didn’t accomplish “golden age”. We have come to realize to find the minimum numbers required our goal. As Kramer says, “We stopped that we haven’t solved all of the problems for new production. “Stay the course”, short.” Sometimes it isn’t the plastic fig- in the world, but we have made quite an Hobo says. We have all seen this before. ures, although figures are always tough. impact. Our contributions will be remem- The 2-Rail side of the hobby will also sur- Sometimes it is the not-true-to-scale bered... we hope. I am also a member vive. O Scale is ALIVE and WELL. vehicle that throws the thing off. At other of the “sandwich generation”, who find As a Hi-Railer in transition it is easy to times it is the buildings or structures, or themselves taking care of attention-needy see both sides of the track. Since I am in even the line poles. Bright colors can elderly parents and attention-requiring transition in my modeling, I try to take the even blow it. Choose wisely! If you are offspring who are old enough to leave the best of both worlds and incorporate those a realistic modeler you want it to look nest, but still like the security of perch- things into what I fondly call my hybrid real. That is the whole idea. Check it and ing at home at least part-time. What we hobby. I am a model railroader first and recheck it. Check your baggage and don’t boomers learned is called responsibility, foremost. I am a steam guy. I model those bring anything to your modeling that and that is what we are all about. We majestic monsters of the past. doesn’t fit. learned that, through the school of hard I love the Hi-Rail concept of running That’s Hobo’s tip for this trip. Stay on knocks and the academy of applied sci- scale-size models through scale-size, real- board with us because the best is yet to ences, one could be successful if one istic looking scenery. I have taken that all come. u worked at it. the way to the end of the line, and now Like many of my fellow baby boomers I am looking to see where my modeling I am also a passionate model railroader. can go next. The logical destination is O We have quite literally grown up with Scale. Realistic modeling, realistic scale model trains. It is part of our lives. This models, and ultra-realistic looking track... hobby provides the outlet for self-expres- 2-Rail of course. It represents the last sion and the opportunity to be creative. frontier for me. My modeling actually has That is the fun part. This Hobo thinks nowhere else to go. Anything less would the hobby may find itself also in a sort of not be challenging, and that is what the “middle ages” stage just like my genera- fun is all about. tion. Of course, we find ourselves also I recently stopped at a local book- “sandwiched” between many choices, store to purchase another model maga- scales, and levels. We are pulled in many zine. (Hobo reads more model railroad directions and down many tracks. As a magazines that just OST.) The scholarly Hi-Railer in transition, I have to admit that gentleman behind the counter admired many times I feel like my attention in the the cover of my purchase, composed his hobby is being pushed and pulled like thoughts, and then commented, “I have flotsam and jetsam debris in a strong tide. often wondered about you model train Sometimes it seems hard to stay focused. guys. How can you spend thousands Sometimes it involves turmoil. My 3-Rail of dollars on your trains, buildings, and friends have had their frustrations with all scenery, and then spoil the whole scene of the manufacturers’ impending lawsuits with those darn plastic looking figures?” banta modelworks and counter-suits. Some major players “Some choose poorly”, was my are no longer in the game. Survival of the response. fittest seems to have prevailed, although I As I left the bookstore I could still hear think they seem to have done it to them- his words ringing in my ears just like a O scale laser cut wood kits, from depots to or send $7 a for ful color catalogue

selves. However, the hobby will continue. locomotive’s bell. esidences... check us out on the web at ve My 2-Rail associates face other chal- What an observation. The guy was r 421 Hopkins Road, Dummerston, VT 05301 lenges, both from outside and inside the being very objective. As we model, we ha hobby. Brass drives the O Scale market. do have choices even though we are www.bantamodelworks.com

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Jacky Molinaro, from France, scratchbuilt this 0-6-0T and Blanc-Misseron Works (France) locomotive, scratchbuilt on a sent us these photos. What’s interesting, here, is his choice of ETS 0-6-0T chassis, bought at a big exhibition in England (Guil- materials. On this side of the puddle, we’re used to locomo- dex), last September. The superstructure was built from Styrene tives built using brass or diecast metal. In Europe and the UK, sheet and tubing. The added items, like buffers, stack, domes, Styrene (often referred to there as “plasticard”), is a common and smokebox door, are by Roxey Mouldings in the UK [http:// scratchbuilding medium for locomotives; the results, as in this www.roxeymouldings.co.uk/index.htm]. The photos show how I case, can be magnificent. I think Styrene, as a locomotive build- built it. The model is painted using black and green matte paint ing medium, has been dismissed for too long in the American O from Humbrol. I’ve added a two men crew inside the cab, as a Scale mind. See what you think. -ed final touch of realism. The locomotive took a month to build, “These are photographs of my new scratchbuilt 0-6-0T in using some old drawings of the prototype.” u O Scale, destined to my new French shortline. It represents a

May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 25 The Art of Finescale Michael Cougill

A Riveting Hobby something new. There are several freight ingness to try something new that encour- I have a friend who’s an industrial cars I want to build, but they will linger ages a modeler to attempt scenery for the salesman for a living. A favorite saying of in my imagination until I just sit down first time, or a more complex car kit, han- his is, “Ninety percent of success is just and start practicing making rivets in some dlaid track or scratchbuilding. Often, after showing up.” That’s so true in many areas scrap material. we’ve gotten through the opening jitters, of our lives. It’s true in an artistic career Here’s another example. I’ve never we find out that the new skill isn’t the and it’s true in model railroading as well. really developed my skills in metalwork- brain surgery that we feared it was going I have an addition to my friends' ing, beyond soldering feeder wires to to be. In fact, it’s kind of fun, now that the thought. If ninety percent of success is the track. The urge to build a locomotive enthusiasm is returning once again. just showing up, the other ten percent from scratch has been growing stronger Learning how to use a Northwest is a willingness to try something new. lately. This is an unlikely desire for some- Shortline riveting tool, a pounce wheel, How often do we get in a rut with our one who can barely solder and who will or figuring out some gizmo of my own modeling efforts? How often do we go probably never be anything more than design, isn’t a big deal when you stop to dry or lose enthusiasm where a project wishful thinking. But as I’ve said before, think it through. Being willing to make is concerned? It happens to all of us; it’s I like to use the hobby to challenge and mistakes and push complacency to the far happened to me more than once. What push my skills as a modeler. So why not a side of the workbench will serve you well might a possible solution be? Try some- PRR 0-4-0 shifter? What’s so intimidating for the lifetime of enjoyment this hobby thing new that you’ve never done before. about working with brass and other com- can provide. This column is the perfect example. ponents? Nothing really, just that final ten So, smile at whatever is smirking in A few months ago, when Gene Diem- percent. The smart plan would be trying your face saying, “You don’t know how ling announced his retirement from small, simple projects to develop skill to do this.” Smirk back, try it, and see if writing his column, Joe told us all an and confidence as I go. Who knows, one the intimidation factor doesn’t quiet down opportunity now existed for someone to day that Pennsy switcher may start taking after a while. The feeling of confidence fill the void. He put out a call for fine- shape on the workbench. and the renewed enjoyment you’re apt to scale/P48 material. As I read those words Think about it this way. We get into a gain will be riveting. I thought, “Why not?” I sent in some rut with our modeling. We reach a certain Best regards, samples of my modeling and writing with level of skill and become satisfied; too Mike u the caveat that I didn’t think I was a col- often, that’s where we stay. It’s the will- umnist. The magazine bought four feature length articles which will be appearing this year, including a step-by-step scratchbuilt structure article (the most involved writing project I’ve ever attempted). Well, that column idea kept nagging away in the back of my mind. A face-to-face meeting with Brian and Joe at an O Scale meet in Indianapolis last fall resulted in my saying out loud that I would be willing to try writing a column and see how it fit. They were receptive to the idea and here we are. So far, I’m having a blast. Here’s another example. For all the years I’ve been active in the hobby, I’ve never developed the skill to emboss rivets for a scratchbuilding project. Think of all the neat projects that won’t see the light of day at my workbench if I never learn this simple skill. Riveting tools abound from various sources, and a lot of guys wind up making their own tool to fit their needs. So what’s my excuse? That final ten percent, the willingness to just try 26 • O Scale Trains -May/June ’06 ron605thrd.qxd 2/28/2006 11:18 AM Page 1

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Ga. in Sherman’s Valley: Bells & Whistles in Old Perry -S/C . . .32.50 New Haven Passenger Trains - Lynch ...... 32.00 Refrigerator Cars - 2 rail New Haven Railroad’s Old Colony Division Vol 2 ...... 19.50 Weaver/Crown..B&M, BN, CV, CN, NYC, REA, New York Central Color Pictorial Vol 3 - Sweetland . . . .55.50 North American Steam Locomotive Builders ...... 40.50 Whitehouse, Dubuque, Nrn Refrig, Wescott, Hoods North Shore Line Interurban Freight ...... 32.50 Harding, Whitings, West Indies, Beer Cars, more..$25 The Northern Pacific in Minnesota - Luecke ...... 76.00 Atlas..36' & 40' woodside..Kreys, Kingans, Century, Northern Pacific Pictorial Vol 6 ...... 60.50 Robin Hood, Merchants, Nash, Atlas beer, Phoenix, Official Locomotive Rosters 2006 Vol 1 or Vol 2 each . . .19.50 Eatmor, Selecto, Hardy, Pluto, Nuckolls, more..$49 Ogden Rails- Strack h/c ...... 49.75 Bonds The Old Hook & Eye ...... 32.50 Erie, NYC, CNW, ATSF, other "good" ones..$65 Old Maud (B&O) - A Life & Times - Ames ...... 56.50 40' plug door..NH, PRR, WM, WP, DTI, REA hundreds of FGE, CNJ, NP, ATSF, NYC, SSW, ART.....$36 Prototype Railroad Modeling Vol 1 ...... 27.75 materials including Pullman Std Library V1 Santa Fe -revised and expanded . .50.50 Covered Hoppers - 2 rail Rails Across New England V1 1989-99 -Maine, NH, VT 36.50 wood, stone, metal, Railroad Cities - Jersey City, NJ ...... 19.50 Weaver PS-2..BN, CBQ, CNW, CP, CR, CSX, DLW Railroading in Downtown Chicago 1958-1969 - Olmsted18.50 C&O, EL, LV, NH, NYC, PRR, SLSF, WAB, UP, BNSF ceramic and more! Rails to Paradise ...... 62.00 Jack Frost, Bakers Choc., Linde, Imco, more..$20-$25 Incredibly strong and Railway Prototype Cyclopedia Vol 13 ...... 23.50 50' Centerflow or PS-2CD..CR, CP, LV, NYC, PRR, RI, Refrigerator Car Color Guide ...... 48.50 Rainbow, Dupont, ADM, Amoco, Arco, UP, more..$20-$25 100% waterproof! The RGS Story Vol 12 - Locomotives & Rosters ...... 70.50 Atlas....Custom Cylindrical..DLW or CNJ...... $45 Rocky Mtn RR Vol 2- Durango to Alamosa & Salida . . .44.50 1-800-966-3458 • www.gorillaglue.com Santa Fe Chiefs - Yenne ...... 32.00 Cylindrical..WGrace, GN, PRR, WAB, NYC..$35-$40 Santa Fe Facilities in Color Vol 2 - Branches - Stagner . .48.50 Airslide..LV, DH, CSX, PRR, Brachs, F'stone..$35-$40 Scranton Road - Life & Times of Edward Baker Sturges 19.50 PS-4427..PRR, LV, others..just a few in stock...$50 Seaboard Air Line & Family Lines RR 1967-86- Griffin . .32.50 Hopper Cars - 2 rail Slow Trains Down South - Daily ‘Cept Sunday - V1 Ferrell . .55.50 SP Vol 32 T & NO C Class 2-8-0 #2703-2760 ...... 26.50 Atlas..Composite..B&O, CBQ, Clinchfield, undec..$39 Southern Pacific Color Guide to Frt. & Pass. Equip V2 . .48.50 Fishbelly..NS..$37. LV, Reading, CNJ, D&H..$45 Southern Pacific Color Guide to Frt. & Pass. Equip V3 . .48.50 H21a..PC blk or ylw..$45. Ore cars..BLE, DMIR, CN..$27 TM Southern Pacific Daylight Locomotives - Church ...... 65.50 Weaver..2, 3, 4-bay..CBQ, CR, D&H, DLW, Erie, EL, IC, Southern Pacific Historic Diesels Vol 12 ...... 30.50 NH, NYC, NKP, NW, PRR, WM, NYSW, Indiana Power, Southern Pacific Passenger Trains Color History ...... 32.00 CNW, UP, Reading, FEC, Chessie, MStL, more..$20-$30 Southern Railway Through Passenger Service in Color 48.00 Extra Thick. Stairway to the Stars -Colorado Annual #26 ...... 41.00 Tank Cars - 2 rail Steel Trails of Hawkeyeland - Iowa - Hofsommer ...... 68.50 Weaver..Jack frost, GULF, BN, Trusweet, ADM, Army Extra Stick. Still Standing - Railroad Stations ...... 46.00 Ethyl, Diamond, Hercules, Bakers, Pennsalt..$25-$30 New Gorilla Tape sticks to things Sunset Limited - SP RR & the Development of Amer. West .28.50 Texas & New Orleans Color Pictorial - Goen ...... 55.50 Atlas..60'..Propane, CNTX, GLNX, ACFX, more..$37-$45 ordinary tapes simply can’t – metal, TheTootin’ Louie-Hist. Minneapolis & St. Louis RR-S/C 36.50 H/C .69.50 8K..Bakelite, SHPX, Shell, Dow, Phila Quartz..$50-$55 Thunderof Passing-D&RG&Cumbres&ToltecH/C 51.50 S/C . .41.50 11K..Warren, Sunray, Spencer, Fuelane, Shell, undec..$50 glass, brick, stucco, wood and more. Tourist Trains 2006 ...... 18.50 Flat Cars, Stock Cars Tracks of the New York Subway ...... 38.00 Trackside Around British Columbia 1966 - 1982 ...... 48.50 Atlas..Stock..Armour, CNW, B&O, PRR, undec..$30 Trackside Around Charlottesville, VA 1967-1984 ...... 48.50 89' flats..FEC, a few more..$50. TTX Front runner..$40 Trackside Around Duluth 1957-1960 ...... 48.50 Weaver..Stock cars..Erie, Rdg, PRR, CP, T&P..$20-$25 Trackside Around Louisville 1948-1958 ...... 48.50 Flats..ATSF, D&H, Rdg, Erie, LV, BN, TTX, Army...$25 Trackside Around New Jersey 1968-1983 - Yanosey . .48.50 Gondolas - 2 rail Trackside in the Erie Lackawanna NJ Commuter Zone .48.50 Trackside Milwaukee Road East or West - Boyd each .48.50 Atlas..40' composite..PRR, NYC, SOU, SP, B&M..$51 Trackside Reading Anthracite Country ...... 48.50 50'..B&O, CNJ, GN, NW, NYC, PRR, Rdg, UP, LV..$36 Trains to Yosemite- Burgess ...... 61.50 Wvr..CNJ, PRR, LV, RI, SF, UP, Rdg, NW, SOU..$27 Tri-State Traction-Interurban Trolleys of SW MO, SE KS & NE OK 27.50 - 2 rail, 3 rail scale Union Pacific Equipment - Reprinted -Kratville ...... 45.50 Cabeese Union Pacific in Southern California 1880-1990 - Duke .47.50 Weaver..B&M, CR, NYC, Reading, Chessie, LV, D&H, Virginia Railway Depots ...... 25.50 Erie, EL, PRR, MMID, Monon, ICG, N&W, more..$25-$40 Visalia Electric Railroad - SP’s Orange Grove Route . . .50.50 K-line..Bay wind..$48. MTH N8, N5c, NE'rn..$45-$55 Western Pacific in Color ...... 48.50 Atlas..CR, Chessie, NKP, RFP, Rutland, GM&O, Where the Rails Cross- Railroad History of Durand, MI .32.50 DRGW, ATSF, SOO, BN, GN, Shawmut..$45-$65. *$18.00 MINIMUM order for free shipping in the USA. Send $3.00 for latest e-mail us at [email protected] list. All orders must be paid in U.S. funds. NY residents please add correct sales tax. Print your name, address and phone number. Credit card PO Box 1035 • Drexel Hill, PA 19026 users add card number and expiration date. Allow 4 weeks for delivery. For de- 610-259-4945 • VISA•MC•DISC•AMEX livery outside of USA please add $8.00 for the first book and $3.00 for each addi- 1-800-966-3458 • www.gorillatape.com 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 May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 27 Bringing the best sound-equipped model railroading products to your layout. .@=!9DDGHAF? !GGK=

o 430 Passenger Body, East Broad Top, with LokSound, On30 o 444 Passenger Body, East Broad Top, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On30

Authentic Gas Powered Rail Car Sounds! On3 & Vrooooom....! üOn30

o 400 Freight Body, Rio Grande Southern #3, with LokSound, On3 o 404 Passenger Body, Rio Grande Southern #3, with LokSound, On3 o 401 Freight Body, Rio Grande Southern #4, with LokSound, On3 o 405 Passenger Body, Rio Grande Southern #4, with LokSound, On3 o 402 Freight Body, Rio Grande Southern #5, with LokSound, On3 o 406 Passenger Body, Rio Grande Southern #5, with LokSound, On3 o 403 Freight Body, unlettered, Painted in Silver, with LokSound, On3 o 408 Passenger Body, Unlettered, Painted in Silver, with LokSound, On3 o 409 Freight Body, Rio Grande Southern #3, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On3 o 413 Passenger Body, Rio Grande Southern #3, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On3 o 410 Freight Body, Rio Grande Southern #4, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On3 o 414 Passenger Body, Rio Grande Southern #4, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On3 o 411 Freight Body, Rio Grande Southern #5, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On3 o 415 Passenger Body, Rio Grande Southern #5, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On3 o 412 Freight Body, Unlettered, Painted with Silver, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On3 o 417 Passenger Body, Unlettered, Painted in Silver, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On3 o 418 Freight Body, Rio Grande Southern #3, with LokSound, On30 o 423 Passenger Body, Rio Grande Southern #3, with LokSound, On30 o 419 Freight Body, Rio Grande Southern #4, with LokSound, On30 o 424 Passenger Body, Rio Grande Southern #4, with LokSound, On30 o 420 Freight Body, Rio Grande Southern #5, with LokSound, On30 o 425 Passenger Body, Rio Grande Southern #5, with LokSound, On30 o 421 Freight Body, Unlettered, Painted in Silver, with LokSound, On30 o 426 Passenger Body, Unlettered, Painted in Silver, with LokSound, On30 o 432 Freight Body, Rio Grande Southern #3, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On30 o 437 Passenger Body, Rio Grande Southern #3, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On30 o 433 Freight Body, Rio Grande Southern #4, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On30 o 438 Passenger Body, Rio Grande Southern #4, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On30 o 434 Freight Body, Rio Grande Southern #5, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On30 o 439 Passenger Body, Rio Grande Southern #5, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On30 o 435 Freight Body, unlettered, Painted in Silver, NO SOUND /DCC READY, On30 o 440 Passenger Body, unlettered, Painted in Silver, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On30

o 407 Passenger Body, School Bus, with LokSound, On3 o 416 Passenger Body, School Bus, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On3 o 427 Passenger Body, ATSF, War Bonnet, with LokSound, On30 o 431 Passenger Body, School Bus, with LokSound, On30 o 441 Passenger Body, ATSF, War Bonnet, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On30 o 445 Passenger Body, School Bus, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On30

o 428 Passenger Body, Rio Grande Motor Ways, with LokSound, On30 o 429 Passenger Body, California Western, with LokSound, On30 o 442 Passenger Body, Rio Grande Motor Ways, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On30 o 443 Passenger Body, California Western, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On30 o 422 Freight Body, Unlettered, Painted in Black, with LokSound, On30 þ Check your favorites and $299.99 with Sound o 436 Freight Body, unlettered, Painted in Black, NO SOUND / DCC READY, On30 o 446 Sound & DCC upgrade kit for with LokSound decoder and speaker, On30 and On3 have your dealer order today! $199.99 without Sound

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GP40-2

The finest in modern O Scale Brass. 2 or 3-Rail operation. Machined brass frames and fuel tanks, Pittman motor with dual flywheels. Your choice of gear ratios, wheelsets, detail parts, etc. Custom built to your specs. Kits $650 - $800. Custom built, painted and lettered $1100 to $1400. Central Locomotive Works PO Box 1231 • Hesperia CA 92340 ph 760-244-9222 • fax 760-244-9322 e-mail [email protected] www.centrallocomotiveworks.com

Stevenson Preservation Lines O Gauge Kits and Parts from past Master Modelers Catalog 2005 Price: $3.00 Baldwin Model Locomotive Works Lobaugh Adams & Sons Lenoir Kansas City Kit Hines Lines Alexander Pearce Tool Co.

Bob Stevenson, 2326 230th St. Boone, IA 50036

T-BONE MODELS Nickel Plate Models Deichman’s Depot O Scale models, parts, decals, newsletter for Nickel Plate and related roads. ATLAS O Scale 2-Rail NKP War Emergency Cabooses 0451-1 C&O RSD-4/5 w/DCC $206.95 “O” Scale Road Numbers 1343-1362, brass, from Ajin. Beautiful. Limited run. Unpainted: $279. Factory- 7488 C&O USRA Steel Rebuilt Box $46.70 7490 MoPac USRA Steel Rebuilt Box $46.70 painted “High Speed Service”. CUSTOM PAINTING & REPAIR $369 each plus $15 shipping. Parts, O5w and 7627 Chessie Caboose $63.70 Dealer for Pacific Limited Proto48 trucks also available 7632 Gt. Northern Caboose $62.00 Sunset & Weaver 7680 Pitts. & Lake Erie Caboose $63.70 NKP 1900 Series Flat Cars T-Bone Models James Christensen Exclusive from Red Caboose. Painted, six new 7743 Mother’s Cocoa 40' Wd Reef $65.95 32264 Cleveland numbers, also painted black and unlettered. 9103 Merch. Biscuit 40' Wd Reef $53.50 Cottage Grove, OR 97424-9381 Assembled, metal wheels. $45.00 each, plus $7 9122 Harding Butter 40' Wd Reefer $65.95 email [email protected] shipping; $255 for six-car set, plus $20 shipping. 9154 Oak Grove Butter 40' Wd Reefer $53.50 541-942-5237 Upcoming Projects 9159 Mathieson 40' Wood Reefer $65.95 Send SASE for information NKP Rider Cars (Converted Boxcars) 9311 TH&B DS Wood Box $45.00 NKP/NYC 40 Ton Double Sheathed Box Cars 9505 Bar-Bee 40’ Steel Reefer $49.25 Repairs - Sales - Installations O Scale Trains Brass from Ajin. Limited runs. 9660 Shippers Car Line 8K Tank $50.95 Standard & Narrow Gauges Issue # 26 NKP/WLE Wood Caboose Kit $105 7021/22 #7.5 Turnouts, each $52.75 Arttista Figures Red Caboose Kits & RTR Exclusive to NPM by Mullet River Model Works 7024/25 #5 Trunouts, each $47.95 Mt. Albert Scale Lumber Co. Kadee® Nickel Plate Hudsons S&H $8.00 for 1 car, $9.00 for 2 cars, Western Scale Models Berkshire Valley Sale Date : 5/4/06 Coming in brass from Weaver. Reserve now $10.00 for 3 or more cars. Boulder Valley Models ModelTech Studios Due: 2/28/06 through Nickel Plate Models for 2006 delivery. NEW CUSTOM RUN Shows: Parsippany, NJ 7/19-22 9183 Penn Canning Co-op 40' Wood Reefer National ‘O’ Scale Convention @ Hilton Hotel Write, call or email for order form, product list plus CT, MA, MI, MD, NY, OH, RI, PA contact for list or NKP O Scale newsletter. $68.95 plus $8.00 S&H, comes in two #’s. Due in May 2006. Place your order now! New Products - Lower Prices - New Banner! Nickel Plate Models Visa - MasterCard - AMEX Mail Orders 13732 Lakeside Dr Products to make your railroad better ! Clarksville MD 21029 Deichman’s Depot 301-854-3200 110 Ivyside Dr, York PA 17402 C r u s a d e r Ph: 717-755-1108 • Fax: 717-840-9650 R A I L S E R V I C E S [email protected] [email protected] 5920 Houghton St., Phila. Pa. 19128 check our website at trainresource.com www.deichmansdepot.com 215-482-7530 [email protected]

May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 29 More Small Locos 10’ bedroom, later moved that to the base- three stations, plus two engine house I would like to take this opportuniy to ment and started over with an around- tracks and a couple of interchange tracks. tell you that I am in complete agreement the-walls-and-through-the-middle layout All in all, there is a lot in this track plan I with your Observations in Issue #24 on which never reached completion. Retire- like, even though I had to give up continu- the need for smaller model steam locomo- ment suddenly arrived and, at last, the free ous running and larger engines. tives. It would be nice if such locomotives time to devote to finishing this bear in the I am building it with foam board glued could also be offered in kit form. Enough, basement. Wrong! Instead of doing that, on top of the door slabs which sit on already, with these 4-12-2’s and 4-8-8-4’s! I moved into a larger house with a much some of the former bench work I built Charles Stuckenborg, NY bigger basement. Out came the ruler and and lugged along when we moved. Come compass and a flurry of designs followed. moving day I can unbolt a few connectors, NZ Narrow Gauge However, before attempting any of these, tape up switches and wiring, and carry Looking at my back issues, O Scale it was necessary to negotiate the right-of- each section out by myself. Set up can be Trains has not wandered from the high way with my life partner. Hmmm! The equally easy. With door slabs I think it is standards set right from the start. I say largest of the three [designs] received the possible to use plastic stackable crates for “Bravo!”, all the while being torn between ax. I was left with a space 12’6” by 13’ on support and vary the height of the layout modelling New Zealand narrow gauge in one side and 16’ on the opposite side. I according to your space requirements. 1:34 scale, and modelling American O actually planned out a workable loop with It is tough to downsize prized engines Scale. Both share the same track gauge, but passing sidings and spurs for no less than I have collected over the years, but it due to the difference in scales, the appear- three towns, one of which would have a gets easier as I see progress being made ance of the ties, etc., is quite different. Still long yard running down the 16’ side with elsewhere. The small shortline operation pondering what to do about that one. engine facilities. Minimum radius was 36 allows for unusual combinations of equip- Possibly of interest to American and inches. I thought I might be able to get 2- ment and the inevitable compromises that Australian modellers, a local manufacturer 8-2’s around those curves. prototypical operation on a larger layout has expanded his range of 1:34 finescale But then reality broke into my dream forbid. So shortlines for senior O Scalers wheels, adding three more stainless steel world. I realized that, at 67 with some is a way to go. Forget about that ideal of a loco tyres to his range. These are 1.17”, health problems that might force us full basement full of track and trains. Keep 1.33” and 1.59” diameter. Tread width is to downsize sooner rather than later, I it short and simple. Enjoy the ride while 4.1mm/0.161”, correct for modelling NZ needed to build something portable and you can. models in 1:34 scale, which might be a bit modular, not something that would require Jean Flynn, Burlington, VT coarse for O Scale. But I suspect that the a wrecking ball to dismantle. I settled on a type of stainless steel used might be quite three module design for a small shortline Small Locos and the CLW 2-8-0 easy to machine off if the O Scaler finds connecting with a branch of the Pennsy or Noting that the Central Locomotive this unacceptable. Certainly much easier B&M. This is a switchback layout inspired Works PRR H-10 2-8-0’s can be found than trying to machine the whole tire from by a design by Chuck Yungkurth ages either built or still in kit form even after scratch, I would think. Contact Graham ago. It’s periodically rediscovered and many years being out of production, there Selman at [[email protected]] and he built to completion by modelers who, like are a couple things to beware. can send a PDF catalog. me, come to their senses about the time One should make sure it’s all there if in Paul Woods, New Zealand and energy required to build a medium- kit form. If something is missing, you’re up to-large O Scale layout, maintain it, and a tree. In the 60s, when CLW made up the Thoughts on Layout Designs finish it. My version of the design utilizes kits, the drivers had brass centers and, usu- I have some “observations” of my own AtlasO switches, #3’s (I think) and 24” ally, the middle drivers were blind. They after reading your Mar/April 06 column radius curves for the shortline! Big power had an open frame motor, too. This con- by that name. I am a model railroader dat- on this layout will be a PRR B6 0-6-0 and tinued into the early 70s, so that may give ing back to the 1940s and 50s. As an only a Wabash Mogul (2-6-0). A PRR A5 (0-4- some indication of when produced. child, my father (who had artistic talent) 0) and a 2-8-2T will complete the steam The last two runs Bob Smith produced built a Lionel/Marx train layout for me that roster. Three 44 tonners and 2 SW-9s will came with a Pittman can motor and driv- was put up every Christmas. This layout do the Diesel-era work. Down on the ers with plastic centers. Wipers rubbing was a thing to behold with handmade mainline I will be able to run a PRR H10 on the back of the tires provided pick up buildings, flashing lights and crossing (2-8-0) and L1 (2-8-2). An RS-1 and E-6 to the motor from the engine only. That bells, trees, the hum of the motors and the will make the passenger connection for a worked poorly, if at all. peculiar smell associated with those AC gas electric that will squeal around those I came up with a solution to drill a #65 powered trains. Having made several over- branchline tight curves designed for an hole through the steel tire on one side of night train trips in Pullman cars and heard earlier-era trolley line. the engine and into the axle near one of the mournful whistles at crossings and the The three modular units are being built the spokes in the plastic center. Insert a flashing lights and bells clanging in the on hollow core door slabs in the shape of piece of brass wire from the hole in the dark I was hooked... for life it seems. an inverted U. Each modular unit will be tire, to the axle. Solder it to the tire and file As a teenager I was introduced to HO, able to function independently of the oth- it smooth. You have now shorted the axle again by my father, who I suspect had ers, as well as in combination, so that it to the tire so it can pick up electricity from a secret love affair with trains himself. I will be possible to adapt to different room the rail on one side of the loco. Ground dabbled in HO for a long time, and built sizes. The minimum space required is 13' one motor brush to the engine chassis and two layouts which were never finished. by 32” and expands incrementally to a run the other motor brush wire to the ten- Then, in my late forties, I switched to O maximum size of 16’ x 12.5’ x 13’. Into this der and you have the same pick-up meth- Scale. I built a small layout in a spare 9’ x compact package I have nine industries, od used on most model steam locos. Place 30 • O Scale Trains -May/June ’06 the tender “hot” wheels on the opposite tender. one can use the 806 which is totally insu- side of the now “hot” loco drivers. Solder- The method of insulating Kadees from lated since it’s all plastic. ing does not melt the plastic driver centers locos and rolling stock was interesting, Drill the mounting holes with a #42 if done quickly. but there’s an easier way that involves no or 3/32” drill. Now you can use a 2-56 The drawbar was usually insulated effort or cost. machine screw or #2 wood screw to from the engine frame, so there should be Put the plastic (804) coupler in the mount the coupler box. These are easier no problem there. If it isn’t, it will need to metal (805) box. Put the metal (805) cou- to come by than either 1-72 or 2 mm be insulated so there is no short between pler in the plastic (804) box. Now you machine screws that normally fit through the engine and tender. have two pairs of totally insulated couplers the Kadee box holes. For metal floors, use The H10 kits came with either “Lines assembled and they can be put on cars a 2-56 tap, but 2-56 screws with thread East” or “Lines West” tenders. The Lines and locos without fear of shorts, even on into plastic by themselves. West was the same as the East except for the front of steam locos. Sincerely, an added coal bunker on the top of the On steam loco pilots or very short cars, Carl Phillips

BF&M

Baldwin Forge & Machine Box 5, Baldwin MD 21013 How can we help you? Custom machine work, 3-R to 2-R conversions for steam, diesel or electric. Driver castings machined. General repairs to O Scale locomotives. Call Joe, evenings 7 to 9 PM. 410-592-5275 or [email protected]

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

FOX HOLLOW MINING Co. KIT #404 set on flat First in surface or a series mountain of com- side, fully panion detailed building. loading bays.

Laser cut wood. Designed for easy assembly. Footprint: 23"L x 11"W M DEL TECH, Inc. for the SERIOUS modeler 7289 WESTFIELD ROAD X 15"H. MORE INFO CALL MEDINA, OHIO 44256 PHONE 800 264-9845

May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 31 AMERICAN "0" SCALE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Low-cost consignment sales. Purchase and sell quality “0” Scale brass and custom model trains. VISA, MasterCard & Lay-a-ways Accepted. Call for Terms. WE BUY BRASS TRAINS ✰ Estate and collection liquidations ✰ Locating services ✰ Purchases of your new, used & unwanted equipment ✰ Consignment sales ✰ Layout dismantling services ✰ Auction services ✰ Collections Purchased ✰ Cash Paid for new & used trains

Call days or early evenings... Bill Davis Email [email protected] Phone/Fax (262) 560-1619

American “0” Scale Professional Services PO Box 575 Waukesha, Wl 53187-0575

32 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 Narrow Minded Bobber Gibbs

One of the delightful aspects of writing a regular column the same system will be useable with HO, O and Large-Scale about my favorite hobby is that I can comment on any prod- equipment. ucts that I have seen or purchased. Recently, I’ve received a Bachmann Trains On30 2-8-0 Consolidation number of samples of new products to review. The DCC-equipped 2-8-0 Consolidation surprised me in Bachmann Trains E-Z Command DCC System several ways. First of all, it is a fine looking outside-frame Although I have watched various Digital Command Con- 30” gauge locomotive with a distinctive balloon stack. There trol demonstrations at conventions and train meets, this was are several bags of spare parts that will allow you to choose my first real hands-on experience with DCC. It was very a straight stack, a cowcatcher or switcher beam, spoked or enlightening, and quite an eye opener. I laid out a big bunch solid pilot wheels, long or short boiler for oil or coal, plus oil of E-Z track on the floor, including a couple of turnouts, tank, coal load or wood load for the tender. This Consolida- and within seconds I was operating the DCC-equipped HO tion is a superb runner that provides the dead slow speed that GP40 that is included with the set (That Geep is destined to I crave, and has a realistic top speed in either conventional become an On30 railcar in the near future.) Okay, forward, or DCC modes. If you connect the tender to the locomotive reverse, headlight on, then off, but not too exciting. It was not in the first hole, the unit will negotiate a 15” radius curve; if until I added another locomotive that the fun really started. I you use the second hole, it will get around a 12” radius curve put an On30 Davenport (without DCC) on the track and ran without touching. It is recommended that a minimum radius it smoothly on Address 10, while the DCC Geep was being of 22” be used, however. independently controlled on Address 3. Watching two power The only negative comment I have is that the couplers are units going in opposite directions at different speeds on the installed at the usual HO height (around 19”) and it will not same stretch of track was a real stretch for a guy who has be a simple job to install couplers at the prototypical height been using DC cab-control for over 50 years. Just the fact of 26”. Once again, I call upon all On30 manufacturers to that the headlights could be turned on or off at will, and glow provide for both coupler heights on all equipment, as Bach- with constant brightness, was a welcome benefit. mann did with their excellent two-bay steel hopper recently. In short order, I purchased three more Davenports, each Bachmann Trains On30 Rail Truck with DCC, and soon learned to control five powered units on This tiny rail truck is also DCC-equipped, and operates one “layout”. Although it can be done, it’s not very practical smoothly and slowly. Although it seems to scream “Rio for one person to control more than one or two locomo- Grande Southern” and “Galloping Goose”, one could easily tives at one time. It is very convenient, however, to be able remove the flatbed and either scratchbuild a box for mail and to stop a locomotive or train anywhere on a layout and then freight or a body with windows for passengers. With the side start up another one without having to use a number of block panels on the hood open, a realistic engine can be seen with controls. It’s also convenient to couple one locomotive up to a spinning fan. The headlights work, and a red taillight glows another one then control both as a double-header. The oper- from the rear. An operator is included and a snowplow can ating qualities and simplicity of the system convinced me of be attached or stored as a detail. It is hard not to justify this the immediate need for full conversion to DCC, so I ordered neat model on an On30 layout. two C16 steam locomotives with full DCC and sound. That Next issue, I’ll write about my experiences building turn- was when this system showed its true value, with its ability outs with the Fast Tracks Hand Laying Jig and some of the to control up to nine powered units with DCC, plus another interesting products of Tom Thorpe Trains. locomotive on straight DC. With the constant panting of the Until then, happy trains to you, until we meet again. two steamers, and the ability to ring either bell or blow either Bobber Gibbs [[email protected]] u whistle, the “railroad” became alive with sound and action. February 16 - 17, 2007, San Francisco, CA area Additional walk-around companion controllers are 17th Annual O Scale West Meet LSSAE for information to: supposed to be available soon, to allow two or more How To: O Scale West, Dept. OSK 876 Boyce Avenue operators (each with separate controllers), to move Get Started in Palo Alto, CA 94301-3003 July 17 - 23, 2006, Parsippany, NJ around a layout and control up to ten powered units 2006 O Scale National Convention 2-Rail Scale LSSAE for information to: or accessories. The E-Z Command system is rated for Robert Lavezzi C/O New York Society of Model Engineers Realistic • Accurate • Affordable 341 Hoboken one amp, but a five-amp booster should be available Carlstadt, NJ 07072 Come Discover Modern O-Scale Models September 22 - 23, 2006, Indianapolis, IN area soon. Keep checking at: [http://www.bachmanntrains. Indianapolis Midwest "O" Scale Fall Meet at These 2-Rail O-Scale Meets LSSAE for information to: com/home-usa/index.html] to see when these new James Canter, Dept. OSK 1203 Rotherham Lane add-ons will become available. After I observe multiple Visit www.oscalekings.org for links to many 2-rail O-scale sites. Beech Grove, IN 46107-3323 operators with multiple controllers operating multiple This ad runs twice a year, so check it in 6 months for October 7 - 8, 2006, Oklahoma City, OK area meets that have been added or changed dates. Southwest O Scale Meet powered units on the same layout, I’ll be able to offer a For an illustrated brochure please send an LSSAE #12 envelope to: LSSAE for information to: George B. Wallace, Dept. OSK better assessment of this DCC system. At this time, it’s O Scale Kings, 304 Christopher Place, Union, MO 63084-2931. 11937 Stratford Drive Ad sponsored by O Scale Kings & the 2-rail O scale meets listed at right. Oklahoma City, OK 73120 an economical and simple way to get into DCC, and May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 33 THE WESTERN RESERVE “O” SCALE TRAIN SHOW CLEVELAND, OHIO Saturday, November 4, 2006 9:30 am - 2:30 pm Admission: $5.00 6’ Tables - $35.00 LAKELAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE I90 and ST.RT. 306 (S.E. Corner) Held in the Auxiliary Gym / Athletic Center 24 Hr. Police • Public Welcome • Free Parking • 2-rail “O” scale only • Please no other gauges SORRY NO PASSES ACCEPTED AT THIS SHOW • THIS SHOW IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE WESTERN RESERVE O SCALE COMMITTEE WHO ANNUALLY PUT ON A SIMILAR SHOW BOB FRIEDEN - 9695 CHILLICOTHE ROAD - KIRTLAND, OHIO 44094 - 440-256-8141 - FAX: 440-256-1749

34 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 2006 O Scale National Photos by Andy Brusgard Here are a few of the scenes on the NYSME layout you will see. A set of Erie Stillwell commuter cars rolls out of the coach yard to be positioned in Jersey City for a westbound run.

The CNJ Blue Comet, a CNJ camelback, a CNJ Baldwin double-ender, and an early boxcab (by Fred Icken) are waiting to head outbound from Jersey City.

An aerial view, looking east, over the Seacacus freight yard with the roundhouse in the distance.

A Tuscan PRR GG-1 crossing a viaduct on a westbound approach to Ridgewood Junction. A city streetcar winds its way through Jersey City on approach to Union Station.

The “Prospector”, with a set of four F3s at its head, approaches Middletown. In the background, crossing scratchbuilt bridges, is a long string of Atlas billboard reefers.

Mar/AprMay/June ’ 06’06 - -O O Scale Scale Trains Trains • • 35 35

Traction Action

Roger C. Parker

Modeling the Montreal & Southern Counties’ Home Terminal; Setting Mixing Passenger and Freight Traffic in a Narrow Space The Montreal terminal is not the typical “flat” terminal. There Perhaps I’m prejudiced, owning three Arthur Ford/Gene were some subtle changes in elevation between the foreground Deschenes models of Montreal & Southern Counties prototypes, passenger tracks and the background freight interchange tracks. but I find the line to be one of the most “model-able” around. The These elevation changes, enhanced by the Customs House building line used a variety of interurban-scaled passenger and freight roll- overlooking the terminal, would provide a great way to showcase ing stock, running in a variety of urban and rural areas. There were your rolling stock as trains await departure. bridges over major rivers and small wayside stations. The line fea- Flexibility tured a lot of action, including a variety of train lengths; one, two, Your model of the Montreal & Southern Counties terminal can three, and five car trains were common. There were sections of the be as simple or as elaborate as time and available space dictate. If line shared with the Central Vermont, and sections of dual-over- space is available, you can model the entire terminal, including the head street running shared with local trolleys. surrounding loop track. This scenario would permit your street-run- The line’s Montreal terminal (located near the foot of McGill ning trolleys to pass static trains awaiting departure. Street) is a gem, offering tremendous modeling potential. It was a On the other hand, if space is limited, you could simply do a relatively small station building built in 1909, dwarfed by the Cana- head-on model of the street and terminal tracks, and omit the loop dian Customs House building, which provides an effective back- around the terminal. Combined with modeling the Customs House drop for the terminal. building as a backdrop, this option would simplify construction Steam Railroad Interchange and reduce the depth needed by between 18” and 24”. Either way, Both freight and passenger trains shared the six stub-end tracks no complex or special trackwork, such as slip switches, would be of the Montreal terminal. In addition to street loading, there were needed. three stub-end tracks for passengers, plus a three-track interchange Documentation yard for freight cars. Arriving and departing single- and multi-car There are several photographs of the Montreal and Southern passenger trains in the foreground will form a pleasing contrast to Counties Montreal terminal in Anthony Clegg and Omer Lavallee’s freight cars awaiting pickup by the Grand Trunk Railway (i.e., Cana- classic Catenary Through the Counties. There are also track plans of dian National) on the interchange tracks. the station as planned, and as built. The station permits a lot of action in a small space. The Grand The front cover of J.R. Thomas Grumley’s recent Montreal & Trunk’s steam switcher drops off and picks up interchange freight Southern Counties Railway Co. contains a color cover of the ter- cars in the background, the M&SC’s multi-car trains interurban- minal that shows the trains, the setting, and the slight difference in sized passenger cars arrive and depart, and smaller local trolleys elevation of the passenger and freight tracks. u pass on the street. C OM M O N S T R E T

38 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 Traction Action

Roger C. Parker

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

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May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 39 Branchline Engine Shed Tom Houle

Years ago I found the inspiration for this diminutive engine pieces for the end-walls. These do not go onto the end-walls until shed in the July, 1952, issue of Model Railroader. This article after the four walls are erected. I butt-glued the siding pieces titled “Short-Line Engine Terminal” was authored by J. Harold into a single length long enough to completely cover each side- Geissel and featured text, sketches, and plans for a complete wall. I did so before attaching the siding to the framing. This step branchline steam loco service plant. Among the structures was allows cleaner siding butt joints. I arranged two siding pieces to this 60’ engine shed. I have no idea if there was a prototype, but be butt-glued, making sure the edge of the siding with no batten it was so neat and compact I filed the article away until recently strip mated with the edge of the siding with a batten strip. Using when I finally built the darn thing to protect my Soo 2-8-0 from masking tape, I tightly taped the outside face of the siding joint, the inclement Wisconsin weather. Mr. Geissel’s drawing showed then opened the taped joint and applied a thin bead of white glue a structure with 12” square beam interior framing, clad with 12” to the exposed edges. Lay the assembled pieces flat and place board-and-batten siding. There was no information given on the weights on it overnight to ensure a nice flat length of siding. I rafter framing. I replicated the timber framing with 1/4” square joined the end-wall siding pieces the same way. basswood. I didn’t include rafter framing or interior detail, which When the sidewall siding joints had cured, I cut the open- really makes no difference since the roof isn’t removable. ings for the Grandt Line windows and door. My drawing shows If you enjoy building kit structures, but haven’t yet taken the the actual window and door opening dimensions. Alter them as plunge into scratchbuilding structures, then this project just might needed if you use different windows and door. I cut these open- be the perfect starting point. You can extend and/or widen the ings before I attached the siding to the sidewall framing. It’s much facility to suit your own iron horses. I built my structure with easier to do this on the flat than when the siding is attached to Northeastern Scale Lumber basswood sheet and strip, and Mid- the structure. You’ll have to trim away a bit of the batten strips to west Products plywood. You could also build it in Evergreen allow the windows and door to fit flush to the siding. Styrene and add one of their ribbed steel roofs. A Plastruct cor- Using white glue, I attached the glued-up lengths of board- rugated steel roof would also be appropriate. I used Plastruct roof- and-batten siding to the sidewall 1/4” square framing. I arranged ing on my Soo sandhouse located right next to the engine shed. the siding so that it was glued flush with the top 1/4” square frame You can also use individual boards and omit the batten strips. If I member. This should leave 1/8” of the 1/4” square bottom fram- went this route, I’d use 1/32” x 1/4” basswood strips and stain each ing exposed to represent the foundation face. See Photo 1 for this board with AIM Quick Age before I attached it to the framing. detail. To prevent curled siding, I weighted the sidewalls and let I began construction by pinning pre-cut lengths of 1/4” square them cure overnight before I assembled them into a structure. basswood right over the sidewall plans. Put a sheet of ceiling tile The walls are erected by cutting five 1/4” square horizontal beneath the wall plan, then cover the drawing with a sheet of crossmembers, all to the same length, and then white-gluing waxed paper. This will allow you to push pins into the tile to hold them between the sidewalls. As shown in Photo 2, two 1/4” the basswood strips in place while the glue cures. You can use square crossmembers are installed at the opposite door’s edge. white or yellow glue for the framing. I built the two sidewalls right Two more crossmembers are installed at the tops of the walls and on top of each other to ensure they were identical. This is an old one more at the top of the door end. There is no crossmember stick-and-tissue model airplane trick. Don’t forget to add the 1/4” at the bottom of the door end. I used a square to ensure the four x 3/4” corner braces. These angles stiffen the wall framing joints walls were plumb and the four corners were square. until you add the siding. Four 1/4” basswood sheet faux roof trusses are added next While the framing joints were curing, I cut a sufficient amount (Photo 3). At this juncture, if you wish, you can omit the sheet of Northeastern Scale Lumber board-and-batten sheet siding into trusses and substitute a 1/16” x 1/4” ridgepole and 1/16” x 1/8” four-inch lengths to cover the sidewalls. I also cut several longer rafters. Only do this if you intend to have a removable roof.

40 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 1 4 assembly. My door drawing will provide clearance for Code 100 rail. The exterior door faces are simple vertical boards with no bracing. I checked the fit of the doors, then framed the interior face of the door opening with 1/32” x 1/8” basswood strips laid flat.

I butt-glued board-and-batten siding for both end-walls and left the siding oversized. I traced the end-wall peaked outlines onto the assembled siding. Next, I laid out the rear wall window opening and the front double-door opening on the interior faces of the siding. I cut these openings and the final siding outlines. Be sure to leave 1/8” of the 1/4” square bottom framing exposed

3 for the foundation to show. The rear wall siding is attached now as shown in Photo 3. I didn’t attach the siding to the double-door end until after the doors were added. My shed doors consist of a 1/32” Northeastern Scale Lumber plywood core faced on both sides with Northeastern’s 1/32” thick x 1/8” scribed basswood sheet. This sandwich construction (as 6 shown in Photos 5 and 6) provides working doors that may be a bit thicker than the prototype, but they shouldn’t warp. The doors The doors are hinged with Grandt Line #3524 hinges. They need to clear the rails, so check your rail height before final door really work, and allow the doors to be removed for repair or replacement. To ensure that the door hinges were aligned with May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 41 their hinge posts, I threaded three hinge straps and three short- ened hinge post straps onto a length of 0.020” brass wire that was longer than the door height. I made up two of these hinge sets, one for each door, and made sure each hinge post was located under its corresponding hinge strap. Next, I shimmed the interior faces of the siding so that the exterior door faces were flush with the siding. I taped the doors into the opening, then laid the end-wall on a flat surface with the exterior facing up. I carefully taped the two brass hinge wires in place, ensuring the wires ran vertically and parallel to the door frame. 8 I glued the brass wires into the hinge posts with minute applications of CA glue. Do not glue the hinge straps yet. Keep the hinge straps away when you glue the wire to the hinge posts. When the glue had cured, I slid each hinge strap into place directly above its respective hinge post and glued the hinges to the doors with minute applications of CA glue. When I was sure no glue had wicked into the hinges, I cut the brass wires 1/16” above each hinge. Your doors should now open and close. I added a strip of 1/16” square basswood to the inside top of the door to prevent the doors from swinging inward. The finished end-wall was then glued to the end-wall framing. As shown in Photo 6, in lieu of a ridge pole and to provide more roof gluing surface, I inserted paired lengths of 1/8” x 1/4” basswood strip between the roof trusses. The tops of these strips were beveled to meet at the roof peak. I added similar strips of basswood at the tops of the sides to provide additional gluing sur- 9 face for the roof. A privy was added next. Since Wisconsin winters get pretty cold, I attached the privy to the sidewall of the shed. At least the crews won’t have to walk so far on those snowy winter nights. In warmer climes, you might want to spot the privy further way from the shed. The privy is built from the same siding as used on the shed. A scrap of 1/16” thick 1/6” scribed basswood roofs the privy. A piece of 1/16” scribed basswood makes up the door. See Photo 7 for privy details. I built the louvered cupola next. In the good old days, the cupola acted as a ventilator to help release locomotive exhaust gases and smoke. It probably also cooled the shed during the summer months. After I’d drawn the cupola outlines to match Harold Geissel’s drawing, I decided to widen it and add some length. My drawing shows Geissel’s original dimensions. Take a look at Photos 8-11 to see how I built my cupola. I began construction by cutting 12 louvers (six per side) from 1/32” 10

7 11

42 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 x 1/8” basswood strip. The louvers fit into angular notches cut I cut my roof panels from Midwest Products 1/16” birch air- into strips of 1/16” x 1/8” basswood strip. The notches are spaced craft plywood (Photo 13). 1/16” thick basswood might work, but at 1/8” intervals and are 1/32” wide by 1/32” deep. I left a couple I was concerned about the roof overhangs possibly warping over of inches of extra length at each end of the notched strips. These time. 1/16” ply won’t do that. The 1/16” roof thickness essentially served as handles to tape down while I dropped in the louvers. replicates boxed eaves and eliminates the need for those pesky Two parallel lines drawn on a sheet of paper ensured the notched exposed rafter extensions. If you prefer the look of exposed raf- strips were parallel to each other and the notches were aligned. ters, cut your roof from 1/32” ply and add 1/16” x 1/8” faux rafters For clarity, see the louver pictures. The louvers are held in place on 1/2” (24” scale) centers. I beveled the two roof panels for a with slow-setting CA glue. good fit where they met at the ridgepole. At this point, the cupola The louver sub-assemblies were glued to the inside faces of and smokejack are glued to the bare plywood roof. It’s a little the 1/16” sheet cupola sidewalls. Make sure your louvers are more work, but it looks better when the roofing butts up to these aligned to the sidewall openings. The louvers are a bit of extra items rather than going beneath them. After all, it’s how the real work, but well worth the effort when you‘re finished. I trimmed roofers do it. the excess notched louver strip material away after the louvers I brush-coated the undersides and edges of the eaves with were attached. The finished sidewalls of the cupola are then Delta Ceramcoat Brown Iron Oxide acrylic. It’s easier to paint the glued to the end-walls. I added 1/8” square reinforcing strips to eaves before you add the roofing. the four corners. Beveled 1/16” x 1/8” ridgepole strips and 1/16” Now, we need to decide what sort of roofing we’ll use. I chose basswood sheet roof panels complete the cupola. 36” (scale) asphalt roll roofing. Evergreen rib-seamed steel roof- My smokejack is scaled to Harold Geissel’s drawing. I made ing, Plastruct’s corrugated sheet, 9” tabbed shingles, or a cedar the four sides from Northeastern 1/32” plywood. The wire is shake roof would be appropriate. Whatever roofing you select, 0.020” brass and the cap is carved basswood. I mounted the be sure to lay out spacing lines to guide your roofing before you smokejack assembly on a stick, and then sprayed it with a couple glue the roof panels to the shed. The lines can be seen in Photo of coats of Floquil Primer to hide the wood grain and make it 13. I drew lines the length of the roof for 36” (3/4”) roll roofing. resemble sheet iron. A couple of brushed on coats of Floquil The first line is drawn 3/4” up from the eaves. Successive lines are Engine Black finished off the smokejack. See Photo 12 for the fin- drawn 5/8” apart. The roof panels were glued to the shed with ished jack. Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue. Before adding the shed roof panels, I sprayed the shed interior Some people use 3/4” wide masking tape to simulate roll roof- and inside faces of the shed doors with Floquil Gray-Blue Primer. ing. I’ve tried it, but I don’t care for the way masking tape over- The exterior walls, cupola walls, and door exteriors were brush- laps. This tape is too thin to suit me and the overlaps tend to be painted with Delta Ceramcoat Brown Iron Oxide acrylic paint. too apparent. I cut 180-grit waterproof sandpaper (The color isn’t This paint goes on beautifully over bare basswood right out of the important.) into 3/4” wide strips. I attached the strips to the roof bottle. Primer isn’t required. I like the way it soaks into basswood, panels with Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue. White or yellow glue will also work, but I hesitate to use these glues on thin plywood surfaces. My experience has been thin ply- or basswood will warp while these glues are setting. Aleen’s doesn’t seem to cause this problem. It works well for wood-to-paper joints, dries clear, and is available in most craft stores. As you apply each strip of sandpaper, the glue will cause the

12 though you do have to make sure it’s evenly applied and brushed out. It dries nearly flat and accepts oversprays of Testors Dull Cote. The door hinges and clasps can be brush painted with Flo- quil solvent Old Silver or left painted the same color as the doors.

13 May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 43 Note: Drawings not to scale. All dimensions shown are in real inches sandpaper to curl. I correct the curl by applying strips of masking tape to hold the roofing down until the glue cures. The tape readily pulls away from the sandpaper after the glue has set. I capped the ridge with a 1/2” wide strip of sandpaper creased into a “V” shape. I let the roof sit for a day to let the glue thoroughly cure, then brushed-coated the raw sandpaper with two applications of thinned Floquil Engine Black. An overspray of Testors Dull Cote sealed and flat- tened the roofing. The Grandt Line #3602 door and #3714 windows were sprayed with a can of Ace Hardware dark red primer, a color I really like for its railroad sort of look. I dislike glazing windows. Accurately cutting all those sash panes is difficult at best. I wondered if there was a better way. Hap- pily, I discovered the laser-cut line of Grandt Line window glazings from Stevens Creek Models. You can visit them at their web site [http://www. hon3.com/] to view their line of HO and O Scale Grandt Line window glazing sets. My glazing fit perfectly. I held it in place with dots of Aleene’s Original Tacky Glue. R/C airplane canopy glue or liquid plastic cement will also work. The windows and door are held in place with minimal applications of slow-setting CA glue. Having never built a wooden ladder, and not knowing of any that were commercially available, I decided to try building a 20’ ladder to stand against or hang on the shed wall. Such ladders were kept on hand to enable quick access to the roof if it caught fire from errant smoke stack sparks, a fairly common occurrence in the days of steam. See Photo 14 for my first attempt at building a ladder. I cut my ladder legs from 1/32” x 1/16” basswood strips. The rungs are 0.035” Evergreen Styrene rod. I taped the two legs together, and then drilled 0.035” holes through both legs at 1/4” intervals. I left quite a bit of extra wood at both ends of the legs so I could tape the ends to a board. I inserted 3/4” lengths of the Styrene rod through the legs. I then spread the ladder legs to achieve an angled taper, wide at the bottom and narrower at the top of the ladder. When I was satisfied the legs were straight and true (you could impart a slightly concave arc to each leg), I taped the ladder assembly to the board and wicked a minute amount of CA glue into each rung joint. The

44 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 extra Styrene rod was carefully cut off with an X-Acto knife and the legs lightly block sanded. This project only took me a couple of hours. I must say I like the way it looks. Now that I know how to build a wooden ladder, next time I’m gonna try an extension ladder. An aluminum ladder could be built up using Styrene strip and rod. My engine shed is now hard at work housing the 2-8-0 that occasionally spends a night after going through service. The time has yet to come when this wooden shed will be sacrificed to progress. For now, my shed is frozen in time; it’s always the long hot summer of 1953 on my Soo branch line layout. u

Bill of Materials Northeastern Scale Lumber 1/16" Board-and-Batten Siding 1/8" Angle 1/16" Sheet 1/16" x 1/8" Strip 1/32" x 1/8" Strip 1/8" Square 1/4" Square 1/8" x 1/4" Strip Grandt Line #3524 Hinges #3602 Door #3714 Windows Midwest Products 1/16" Birch Aircraft Plywood Evergreen Styrene 0.035" Rod Miscellaneous Delta Ceramcoat Brown Iron Oxide Acrylic Paint Floquil Engine Black Ace Hardware Red Oxide Primer 180-grit Waterproof Sandpaper

May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 45 SUNSET MODELS INC 37 South Fourth Street Campbell, CA 95008 JUST ANNOUNCED phone 408-866-1727 fax to 408-866-5674 www.3rdrail.com

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Your DCC, Sound and Signalling Specialist NCE Retail DigistarDCC PH-PRO10 10 Amp DCC Starter Sys $649.95 $484.00 PH-PRO10R 10 Amp Radio DCC Starter Sys $869.95 $660.00 PB-110A Add-on 10 Amp Booster $269.95 $196.00 PROCAB Delux Programming Cab $159.95 $119.00 PROCAB-R Delux Radio Programming Cab $249.95 $188.50 CAB04P Intermediate Cab w/Pot $89.95 $68.50 CAB04E Intermediate Cab w/Encoder $119.95 $91.50 CAB04PR Intermediate Radio Cab w/Pot $179.95 $135.00 CAB04ER Intermediate Radio Cab w/Encoder $199.95 $155.50 DIGITRAX Retail DigistarDCC Super Chief 8 Amp DT400 ThrottleDCS200+ Booster $469.00 $365.00 Super Chief 8 Amp Radio DT400R Throttle DCS200+ Booster $659.00 $504.00 Super Empire Builder DT300 Throttle DCS200+ Booster $349.00 $269.00 Super Empire Builder Radio DT300R Throttle DCS200+ Booster $549.00 $429.00 DCS200 8 Amp command Station/Booster $305.00 $248.50 DCS200+ 8 Amp Booster $199.99 $155.50 DT400 Super IR Throttle with Programming $179.99 $136.00 DT400 R Super Radio/IR Throttle w/Programming $229.00 $174.50 DT300 Infrared Dual Throttle w/Programming $154.99 $115.00 DT300R Radio/Infrared Dual Throttle w/Programming $204.99 $144.00 UT1 Utility Throttle $79.95 $57.50 UT2 Utility Throttle w/Programming $99.95 $77.50 The model comes with a complete interior, less power Decoders Retail DigiStarDCC NCE D408SR 4 AMP 7 Fx Wired $89.95 $70.75 truck and lighting package: $35.95. We expect a 4-wheel NCE D808SR 8 AMP 8 Fx Screw Terminals $129.95 $105.00 Digitrax DG383AR 3 Amp 8 Fx JST/Wired $59.99 $46.00 power truck kit in mid-April, followed by the lighting kit. Digitrax DG583AR 5 Amp 8 Fx JST/Wired $64.99 $53.75 Digitrax DG583S 5 Amp 8 Fx Screw Terminal $66.99 $54.75 Lenz LE4024 4 Amp 4 Fx Screw Terminal $69.95 $52.95 Pa Heritage Models Ltd. Sound Soundtrax DSX Sound Decoders $129.00 $97.00 Light Miniatronics 715 Ridgeway Road, Birdsboro, PA 19508 1.5V 15ma 10 Pack $9.00 20 for $17.00 14V 30ma 10 Pack $8.00 20 for $15.00 www.paheritagemodels.com 16V 30ma 10 Pack $8.00 20 for $15.00

May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 47 MODELING GROUND COVER MIKE COUGILL

The ground cover on my Indiana & Whitewater will be a little different. Most modelers seem content to just sprinkle on a layer of ground foam and call it done. As we know, nature is much more profuse than that, exhibiting a variety of textures and depths. Scenery on my layout will represent winter, therefore much more of the ground will be visible than in a summer scene. You may remember this section of P48 trackwork in Photo 1

coat of brown latex paint after the plaster has hardened (Photo 3). This seals the plaster surface and provides a dirt coloring

1 from my previous article “Track As Scenery” (OST #25). For this demonstration, I’ve mounted it to a wider baseboard so I can extend the scenery a bit farther out. To make the sloping landforms, I just used some paper toweling dipped in soupy plaster and draped them over the plywood base. To create a dirt-like texture and to strengthen things, I sprinkled on some dry plaster, wetting it down with water from a spray bottle (Photo 2). Although I haven’t tried it, you could use Woodland Scenics’ plaster cloth. I understand it is much neater to work with than plaster soaked paper towels. Once the landforms have been established, I brush on a 3 48 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 underneath the texturing to come. I typically use burnt umber looks right to my eyes for wintertime grasses. The fine texture of and raw sienna water soluble craft paints or tube acrylics, mixed the blended turf tends to sit on top of the sawdust layer giving with a touch of white here and there to give some variation. the appearance of winter grasses, still green on top with a mat- These paints aren’t terribly expensive and, since my layout is ted layer of dead thatch underneath. There isn’t anything scien- small, they are feasible to use. For larger layouts, a quart or two tific or precise about this step. Just pile the stuff on until it looks of latex paint in similar colors would be cheaper. good to your eyes. Once all the material is down, spray it with Photo 4 shows the materials needed to finish the initial layer some denatured alcohol from a handheld sprayer, just as you did for track ballast, then bond everything with a diluted white glue and water mixture (Photo 6). This soggy mess usually takes from overnight to several days to dry, depending on the humidity level in the basement. This is the point that most modelers call their groundcover finished, and I agree that it is perfectly acceptable (Photo 7). In O Scale, texture and depth play a much

4 of groundcover. After the scenery is painted, I sprinkle on a layer of ordinary sawdust. I don’t bother to sift it, although I do remove large particles and wood chips. I just put this on, using my fingers (Photo 5). You could use a sifter if you want, but I

greater role than in the smaller scales, so there’s more that can be done if you are so inclined. Once the first layer is dry, other textures can be added to represent taller grasses and weeds. For these I use sisal and jute twine. Appropriate twine is cheap and available most anywhere. Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, and Home Depot come to mind. One ball of twine will do a ton of weeds, even on a large layout. 5 To make the tall weeds, I use a pair of diagonal cutters and full-strength white glue. The procedure is simple. Spread white find this produces too even a coating. Sometimes I try to sift glue on a small area of the scenery, then just hold the end of the the sawdust into the paint while it is still wet, however the dry twine in one hand and cut off a piece about a 1/4” to 1/2” in plaster soaks up the paint fairly fast, so I have to bond things length. Place the bits of twine directly into the glue (Photos 8-9). in place with diluted white glue anyway. The sawdust alone After placing, work the fibers apart slightly with your fingertip. doesn’t look like much at this point. It is the texture that I’m This helps them to resemble individual stalks of grasses, instead after, with the coarser particles providing a greater depth than of twine. I try to mimic the natural growth patterns, making can be achieved using just ground foam. things a little more lush in low areas where water would col- Once the sawdust layer is down, I work in various colors and lect and sparse in drier areas. Also vary the lengths so that your textures (coarse, medium, &c) of Woodland Scenics’ ground weeds aren’t all the same height. foam. I use their “blended turf” extensively, since the color Once the glue dries, the weeds can be trimmed if needed (such as near the track), or colored if the natural twine color doesn’t suit you. I usually leave things as they are since the

6 8 May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 49 ever use real steel wool!) I just tear off a hunk of the stuff, gluing it down with full strength white glue wherever I want a tangle of brambles. I sprinkle on some dark colored ground foam for dead leaves (Photo 12). Folks modeling summertime could add a layer

color of the sisal twine is perfect, to my eyes, for representing dried winter grasses. If you want a different color, the twine will accept thin washes of acrylic paint with a little coaxing. Solvent- based paints, like Floquil, seem to work better for this. Use the proper safety precautions though. Applying weeds this way may seem tedious and time consuming, and I’ll be the first to admit 12 it can be. With practice you tend to develop a rhythm of sorts, and larger areas can be covered in a reasonable amount of time. of foliage net for leaves. Be sure to leave some of the branches This makes a great “filler”-type of project, since it’s easy to pick showing through, for a nice lacy effect. up or leave off at a moment’s notice. Once areas are covered For taller bushes I use sisal rope in diameters up to 1/4”. I with weeds to my satisfaction, I dust on some static grass flock- learned this method from an article by Don Ledger in Mainline ing or bits of dark colored ground foam to represent seed heads Modeler (Dec. 1999, pages 21-25). As outlined in Don’s article, I and such. The flocking or foam can be secured with an applica- make them, two at a time, by cutting off a section of rope about tion of diluted white glue and water (Photos 9-11). two or three inches in length. Wrap a piece of 3/4” masking tape around the middle of these pieces, and drizzle on some CA adhesive near the edges of the tape to secure the fibers (Pho- tos 13-15). Next, dip the ends of the rope in some water, then

Now its time to move on to smaller bushes and brambles. 14 Again, since winter is my chosen season, some sort of branch structure will be more evident. I’ve found that Spanish moss is unravel the rope until you have a bunch of individual fibers. The very effective for this (Check the crafts/dried flowers section of wetness helps to take out the twist in the separate strands, mak- Wal-Mart.) This is the stuff that hangs from trees in the deep ing it easier to work with. Once I have a half dozen or more, I South. It sort of resembles a loose tangle of steel wool (Do not stab them onto a homemade jig for painting in various shades

50 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 18

of gray, brown and black with a spray can (Photo 16). Once painted, I cut the rope bushes through the middle of the masking tape, making two bushes ready for planting on the layout (Photos 17-18). As I hope the photos show, these techniques can add another dimension to scenery modeling. While they may seem tedious or time consuming initially, the end result is well worth the effort. u

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May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 51 0/7%2 "%!54902%#)3)/.).0%2&%#43#!,%

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777/6%2,!.$-/$%,3#/- 7+),'/2%!6%s-5.#)% ).ss&!8 NEWS: Wood Deck Car Details Product News & Reviews B.T.S., PO Box 856, Elkins WV 26241 304-637-4510 • www.btsrr.com NEWS: Handmade Telegraph Poles, MSRP: see below BTS now offers laser-cut and engraved wood decks to DM&M Railroad Co., 5931 Endicott Rd., Columbus, OH 43229 enhance Weaver and Atlas O cars. These decks feature bolt 614-554-2959 • www.dmmrailroad.com holes and are very easy to install. #12600 Atlas 52’6” Gon Deck $ 11.95 David Baran, proprietor of the DM&M Railroad Co., sent #12608 Weaver Flat #U25XX Deck $ 15.95 some samples of his handmade telegraph poles. The poles #12611 Weaver War Gon #U17XX Deck $ 11.95 are real wood eight inches tall with glass insulators. Poles come prestained and weathered. David offers a variety of configurations plus a number of extra details such as lineman steps, transformers and electrical boxes. The photos show several of the samples. They were very nicely detailed. David also offers to build custom poles. Provide him with a drawing or photo and he will make it for you. He can also do custom stains. Prices vary by configuration. You get three one-arm poles for $7, four two-arm for $10, three three-arm for $10, three Alley- arm for $10 and two double poles for $10. Construction usually takes one to two weeks once an order is received. David accepts checks and money orders. Payment is due when the customer receives the order.

NEWS: Laser Cut windows for MMI K27 Chooch Enterprises, Inc., PO Box 1200, Maple Valley, WA 98038 425-788-8680 • www.choochenterprises.com

Ultra Scale, a division of Chooch Enterprises, announces laser-cut replacement cab-side windows for Mountain Model Imports On3 and On30 D&RGW K-27 2-8-2. Part #653, they sell for $15 per set directly from Chooch Enterprises. Call Mike O’Connell for any questions at 425-273-4794.

May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 53 Product News & Reviews was no difference to say wanting. There are still separate REVIEW: “Master” EMD SD-40 between the two. grabs, glazing in the windows, a radiator 2-Rail DC/DCC Ready, MSRP $439.95 Both start out a little frisky using the fan under the mesh, and other eye food. 2-Rail/3-Rail TMCC, MSRP $479.95 Crest radio throttle system, fairly leap The truck relief is a little shallow and the 3-Rail TMCC, MSRP $479.95 using an old Variac system, and are truck detail a little plain for my tastes. well behaved when used with an MRC This does reflect a savings, though, as “Trainman” Alco RSD-4/5 Controlmaster 20. As with previous the sideframes look to be a single piece 2-Rail/3-Rail MSRP $229.95 offerings, the top speeds are higher than coining tooled for a more basic die. 3-Rail TMCC MSRP $369.95 useful for me, but there’s enough range The Master-series SD-40 trucks, to get Atlas O, LLC, 378 Florence Avenue, Hillside, to be satisfactory. Just don’t crank these the relief and detail level, appear to be NJ 07205 puppies! As with most drives of their ilk, struck from a more expensive multi- 908-687-9590 • www.atlaso.com the starting amperage is very low, so a facet die set, and with some significant modern control system (what some of labor investment for all the nifty add- Reviewed by Brian Scace us used to call “transistor throttles”) is on details. A little weathering will help called for, if used in a conventional cab- make the simple RSD truck jump out a Recently, a couple of boxes showed control environment. little, though. up from Atlas O, one containing a new The Trainman drive appears to be Certainly a big production savings SD-40 and the other an RSD from the identical to the Master drive, so mixing must come from the fact that the “Mas- new Trainman line. Of course, the first units is no issue. These two examples ter” line not only is detailed to a higher thing to cross my evil mind was to do MU’d well together. One item that got level, and with more discrete parts per a comparison between Trainman and me was that the RSD didn’t heft like assembly (such as the afore-mentioned what Atlas O now calls the “Master the SD-40. It also didn’t pull nearly as truck sideframes), but each is detailed Motive-Power” line. By the time this is much. Since the drive components are to a specific roadname’s configuration. over, you’ll know what makes each one (I believe) the same, there shouldn’t be When you think about it, it costs tooling what it is. Of course, a quick glance at an issue with throwing a bit of weight in and assembly money to do the differ- the above pricing tells a powerful story, there to get the tractive effort up. ent headlight configurations, handbrake and raises a question or two. So, What’s the Diff? styles, dynamic brake choices, and hood Operation, Separate and Together If the drive components are the same, configurations we’ve come to expect. Both of our review models are the where’s the difference that can make Meanwhile, our RSD is a generic loco- DC/DCC ready versions, rather than the the RSD some $200 less than the SD- motive, offered in a variety of paint TMCC equipped ones we have been 40? It sure looks like the difference is in schemes, but know that it’s generic. You testing lately, so a comparison of oper- the details. The SD-40 has lots of ‘em, get to noodle it to suit with aftermarket ating characteristics is possible. From while the RSD is pretty plain, though not details, or run it as it sits. The tooling an operational standpoint, there really

54 • O Scale Trains -May/June ’06 and labor costs would be quite a bit ing in the TMCC environment than in VALLEY MODEL TRAINS less, doing one version of the model, the conventional cab-control environ- PO BOX 1251, Wappingers Falls, N.Y. 12590 and I suspect that’s where the real sav- ment. I’ve never tried them with DCC www.valleymodeltrains.com ings is realized. By the way, it’s a lot of installed, so I can’t speak to that. I Order/Info(845)297-3866 Fax(845)298-7746 fun and very satisfying to detail plastic have noticed, in the latest catalogs, Micro Scale Models O Scale kits ...... Diesels. As the Trainman line expands, that 2-Rail TMCC-equipped offerings 605 I would hope to see a resurrection of are becoming more and more limited, with details interest in aftermarket details, such as so those with stables of Atlas TMCC- those offered by Pat Mucci of P&D equipped Diesel power may want to Hobby for the Weaver RS-3 and FA. explore other options, should there What’s the same? The paint quality be insufficient orders to support a is comparable, both neatly done in a favorite roadname or prototype factory- 605 Never Peel Paint Co.10”x 18”....295.00 265.50 manner I’ve come to expect from Atlas. equipped with TMCC. As this is writ- Scale University O Scale (Laser cut wood kits) The assembly is clean, straight, and ten, I have a pair of Atlas Rutland RS-1s tight on both, as well. out for aftermarket installation. I’ll let 1001 1003 Some Thoughts on Lighting you know how they turn out. Here is a case, perhaps, of too little Conclusions and too much. The RSD headlights To be honest, this comparison could are lit, though a little disconcerting for be construed as an apples-and-oranges Visit our website - hundreds of O Kits those of us who’ve become spoiled by thing, or that Scace is just looking for 1001 General Store w/signs 5 1/2" x 9" ....69.98 64.40 Atlas’ Master series. The twin sealed- new ways to be obstreperous (Could 1003 Freight Station..5 1/2" x 9 3/4"...... 59.98 51.00 beam headlight is lit by a single source be…). I think it was a fair thing to do. Brennen’s Model RRing O Scale (plaster) inside the carbody. At certain angles, Sooner or later the two lines will share USII one or the other of the lights appears to Diesel shop space on many folks’ rail- dim. Changing the source out for a pair roads, and a comparison is inevitable. of grain-of-wheat bulbs (one in each The Master series SD40 is a nice model socket of the headlight) or a pair of yel- of arguably the mainstay 20th century low LED’s would be an obvious owner six-axle unit. With an appropriate “tran- upgrade. sistor-throttle” power supply, the per- The SD-40, on the other hand, is formance is quite acceptable and the well-lit with LEDs in the sockets of the appearance shows continued develop- headlight, as we have come to enjoy. ment in the Atlas O now-called “Master USI Universal Supply Inc...10” x 12”...... net 129.00 My only observation that would be Motive Power”. Development? Well, Model Tech Studios O Scale (laser cut wood) a real improvement for us neurotics the truck heights sure look better than 402std would be this. The red buglights switch the earlier SD-35, so Jim and the crew out front-to-rear with the change of seem to be listening (So how ‘bout direction. These are actually marker being the first with the “Scace Switch” ORDER ON LINE www.valleymodeltrains.com lights, lit to the back when the locomo- for those markers, Jim?) and working to tive is at the rear of a train (the last unit improve each new model. The Train- 402std B&OStd Frt/Pass Sta.5.5 x 17.5” 130.00117.00 in a pusher set or the rear unit in a light man RSD is also a value, in my mind, American Model Builders O Scale (laser cut) movement, for example). Other than for what it is. Here is solid basic motive 488 Diarama size those circumstances, the buglights are power to suit the budget-conscious, and 20x20x8-1/2 off. For the conventional DC cab-con- a decent candidate for those who want trol version, how ‘bout using a couple to try their hand at detail upgrades to of those empty slide-switch pockets in suit. There’s a lot to like here. the frame so we can manually switch the pair on that is appropriate, and switch them off in those majority of 488 Martinsburg Coal Mine 20” x 20”....99.98 85.00 times when they’re not used, rather DSL Shops O Scale (cast resin building front) than the diode-controlled circuit? That Visit our website - hundreds of O Kits way, they stay off when the unit is at Remote O206 the head of a train or leading a helper set, but that rear pusher unit can still Control Systems (appropriately) protect the rear of a of New England train, even when cutting off. It’s Scace’s Sales and Service East of Mississippi pet peeve about most locomotive Remote Controls for “O” Scale models built as crossovers between the Trains. Batteries, Chargers, upper-end 3-Rail and the 2-Rail mar- Sound Systems, and Installations. ketplace. Please give us a switch so we can turn the fool things on and off, as Systems starting at $249 O206 building front 12-3/8" wide by 11-3/4" tall by 1-3/4" deep 1-3/4" by tall 11-3/4" by wide 12-3/8"

appropriate. www.valleymodeltrains.com Whither TMCC? Don Sweet O206 The Riverside Apartments building front.99.98 Phone: (603) 321-1347 To be honest, I find Atlas O Diesels Add $6.00 S&H in 48 States • Others pay actual postage Email: [email protected] cost • N.Y. residents add 8.25% sales tax. more controllable and sedate operat- www.remotecontrolthrottles.com (prices are subject to change w/o notice) www.valleymodeltrains.com May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 55 Product News & Reviews the drawings within my tolerance of error. Being a brass model, REVIEW: NKP 4-6-4, MSRP: $995 one expects certain items to move such as cab hatches and Weaver Models, PO Box 231, Northumberland PA 17857 tender cistern lids. This one has them. My conclusion is that 570-473-9434 • www.weavermodels.com this is an acceptably accurate scale model of the NKP 4-6-4. Operation reviewed by Joe Giannovario Weaver sent me a 2-Rail straight DC model to test; this model is also available in 2-Rail TMCC® for $1095 and 3-Rail Prototype Info TMCC® for $1095. I hooked up my meters and cranked up When I think of the Nickel Plate Road, the wheel arrange- the throttle. Surprisingly, I found the loco started to move at ment 2-8-4 immediately springs to mind. However, one should one (1) volt, drawing about 0.4 amps. We’ve gotten used to not be surprised to find that the NKP had other wheel arrange- having locomotives start at much higher voltages because of ments, too. To this end, Weaver Models has imported a limited the command control systems many have installed. I decided run of the NKP class L1a-L1b 4-6-4 in brass. to see just how slowly this locomotive would run on the OST I confess that I am totally ignorant of NKP steam power and layout with its three-plus-percent grades. The NKP 4-6-4 only know what I've read in the 1998 Hundman Publishing ran the whole layout at five volts drawing a maximum of 0.8 The Locomotive Cyclopedia, Volume 1. Apparently, in 1926 the amps at grade. That is an impressive performance. However, I NKP needed new passenger locomotives to handle an increase noticed something odd. On its way upgrade, none of the lights in passenger traffic, especially on the Chicago to Buffalo run. (headlight, number boards, class lamps) on the loco were “on”. Based on input from the NYC, the NKP chose the 4-6-4 or As the loco came downgrade, the headlight glowed dimly. I “Hudson” wheel arrangement, a totally new class for the road. checked the box and it does say “constant voltage lighting”. The first four locomotives (numbers 170-173) were delivered in Remember when I said we’d gotten used to starting voltages March of 1926. A second quartet (numbers 174-177) was deliv- being much higher? Well, the lighting circuit needs at least ered in May of 1929. Our test model was numbered 177. eight volts (at 1 amp) on the track to keep everything illuminat- In 1945, in an attempt to improve visibility, the NKP added ed. For my taste that was a bit too fast. If this were my model, smoke lifters to these Hudsons. The initial attempt was an odd I’d probably put a couple of diodes in series/parallel with the looking arrangement welded to the top of the smokebox which motor leads to “up” the minimum starting voltage. That’s just did not work well. In 1946, NYC-style “elephant ear” smoke me. Other than that, this is one slick smooth running locomo- lifters were added to all the locomotives. Our test model was tive. so equipped, along with lit number boards. According to my The models are very limited. Our test model was #9 of 210. reference source, this configuration puts the model in the If you want one of these sleek mid-sized Hudsons, call Weaver 1945-1947 time range. now because there may not be any left by the time you see The Model this. I measured the model’s main dimensions and compared them to the plan in the Hundman Cyclopedia. Unfortunately, I also had to estimate some dimensions from the HO Scale plan, so bear with me. The driver diameter should be 73". I measured a tad over 70. Keeping to scale diameter and driver spacing is always a problem with large-driver models. Usually one measurement must be sacrificed for the other. In this case, the driver spacing is right on the money. Pilot wheels were slightly undersized at 32" on the model versus 36" on the prototype. The trailing truck wheels were correct at 36" and 45" each. The wheelbase for the pilot the drivers and the trailing truck were exactly correct. At this point, I have to move into the realm of estimated measurements, so I consider any error less than three scale inches probably correct. My measurements of the boiler length and the locations of various items such as sandbox and steam dome found no serious discrepancies. Cab width measured out exactly, as did the smokebox diameter and smokebox length. Similarly, all my measurements of the tender seemed to match

56 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 REVIEW: RGS Galloping Goose #5 w/LokSound, MSRP: $300; w/o operation on sharp radius curves (otherwise this would be a sound: $200 very long, rigid wheelbase). The power truck also pivots within Precision Craft Models, 4 Signal Ave, Suite A, Ormond Beach, FL, the freight body. 32174 The model we reviewed came with DCC and LokSound 386-615-1912 • www.precisioncraftmodels.com pre-installed, but also ran on straight DC. When operated on traditional DC, some sounds are emitted from the model, but Reviewed by Joe Giannovario to gain access to the full array of sounds you will need Preci- sion Craft’s DCMaster box (MSRP: $40). More on this later. Background DC Operations At one point in my model railroading “career”, I became When you first apply power to the track, the Goose emits enamored of Colorado narrow gauge. I dabbled with a few a pop and then you hear an internal combustion motor crank- pieces, and even once made a rail-truck from an old Bandai ing over. After a short bit the motor starts and idles while the 1:48 German WWII halftrack and some Grandt Line parts. front light comes on. This all happens at about seven volts or During this period, I was fortunate enough to buy a first edi- so. As you apply more voltage, the Goose starts to accelerate tion of Mallory Hope Ferrell’s Silver San Juan: The Rio Grande with the sound of the motor. As the Goose picks up speed, Southern. I used this book as reference for this review. the sound system emits a gear change and the motor starts to The story of the Galloping Geese of the RGS would take wind up again, just like a real car would after shifting gears. several pages to tell properly, so I’ll summarize. By 1931, Acceleration was smooth and steady. I didn’t have enough annual revenue of the RGS had fallen to just $127,000 and the trackage to see what the top speed would be but I’m betting it railroad was in receivership. Drastic measures were required to isn’t very fast (The prototype didn’t run much over 20-30 mph.) cut expenses. The railroad came up with the idea of combin- When coming to a stop, or if you reverse direction, the Goose ing a motor car that could carry people, freight, and mail with slows down and you hear some brake squeal before it stops or a one-man crew. Gas-powered rail cars were not that unique, reverses direction. but what the RGS came up with was very different than what The sound was a bit loud, I thought, so I hooked up the anyone else had done up to that time. DCMaster to see what I could do to change that. With the After several trial vehicles numbered “1”, the RGS built DCMaster attached (power in/power out; simple), I was able to Motor 2, the first real Galloping Goose. Motor 2 was built by lower the volume in two stages or turn it off completely. With combining a Buick “Master Six” four-door sedan body with a the sound off, I could hear the electric motor inside the freight 16’ mail/express compartment. body. There was a slight gear-whine but nothing objectionable. Based on the success and profitability of the early experi- Additional buttons on the DCMaster rang a bell and blew two ments and Motor 2, the RGS built Motor 3 in 1931. Motor 3 set different kinds of horns. If you have DCC on your layout, all the standard for all future Geese. Motor 3 was cobbled togeth- of the sound options are available through the DCC controller. er from Pierce-Arrow parts and was much larger than Motor You won’t need the DCMaster. 2. It rode on three trucks, weighed almost 15,000 pounds, and Opinions could carry ten passengers. Motors 4 through 7 soon followed. This is Precision Craft’s first foray into O Scale and it is very, The Geese went through many changes over their useful very nicely done. Precision Craft is a company that produces lives. In 1946, Motors 3, 4 and 5 were rebuilt with Wayne mostly HO and N locomotives and, like they do in HO and bus bodies and received General Motors engines. The Geese N, they are delivering these Geese with DC/DCC and sound ended their days in the early 1950s running tourist service. pre-installed. When you factor in the price with these features, The Model you get a huge value for your O Scale dollar. Even if you have Precision Craft Models has produced an O Scale model to buy the DCMaster for DC operation, the total price is still of Motors 3, 4 or 5 in their later life (post-1946). The model quite reasonable. The PCM Galloping Geese are available appears to be accurate in dimension and detail, and is a com- in 45 different combinations of freight body, passenger body bination of diecast and plastic parts. It weighs in at exactly one (tourist), liveries, DC/DCC w/Sound, DC/DCC w/o sound, and pound. There are no operating doors or the like, but it is nicely On3 or On30 (Phew)! Check your local hobby shop or visit the detailed. The bus body is hinged to the freight box to allow PCM website to locate a dealer near you.

May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 57 Photos from 2006 O Scale West by Jim Ferreira

Third Place Winner Steam Locomotive: F.C.M. 2-8-0, outside frame narrow gauge, by Blen B. Erickson, Brentwood, California. First Place Winner Structures: Station, by Mike Linxwiler, Hollister, California.

Second Place Winner Maintenance of Way: Y.S.L. MOW Car No.280, by James Eckman, Mountain View, California.

First Place Winner Traction: California Central Traction No.202 Jim Bond, Pacifica, California.

Page Background... Second Place Winner Structures: Miner’s Bar by Darryl Huffman, Old Seward Hwy, Arkansas.

58 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 First Place Winner Electric Locomotive: Scotia Northern On30 Box Cab, and First Place Winner Caboose: Scotia Northern Caboose, both by Bill Wilson, Fortuna, California.

First Place Winner Steam Locomotive: Great Northern F-8, 2-8-0, by Theodore Doyle, Kingwood, Texas.

First Place Winner Diesel Locomotive: Southern Pacific Alco S-2, by David Berriman, Arcata, California.

Third Place Winner Freight Car: On30 Freight Car No.24 James Eckman, Mountain View, California.

May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 59 O Scale Influences—Joe Fischer by Brian Scace It isn’t often that we can run a combination “O Scale Influ- parts, be they from the American Standard line, Keil, PSC, or ences” piece and a good scratchbuilding article at the same scratchbuilt. The article is useful for the technique, so don’t get time. Most of us “older” O Scalers know the name, Joe Fischer. all balled up over finding each and every part that Joe originally For the rest of you, joining us today, we’ll introduce you to Joe, used. his techniques, and his fantastic results, in this rather unusual By the way, the technique actually lends itself to modern way. materials (such as Styrene) for the laminations. I’ve made it a Joe was a custom builder of passenger cars. I’m a lucky guy, point to include a photo of a Pennsy B60 baggage car scratch- because I have had several friends (Mike Hill and Bob Hess, to built by the late Ted Stepek. He built this car using Joe’s article name just two) who have led me to a few of his cars over the for the technique, substituting Styrene for Bristol board. Ted car- years. Best of all, Bill Truscott and Tony Ambrose linked me up ried the rivet-strip lamination technique up to the roof of his car, with Joe, himself, late in his career. I enjoy running the two cars as well. he built for me personally to this day. Here are a couple of tips, gleaned from conversations with Although his cars might now be considered premium-spread Joe and with few other folks I’ve run into with talent for build- collector fodder, there was much more to it. Joe built them to be ing in wood and board. First, seal everything. Humidity is a run, not just admired. I’ve never owned a Fischer car that wasn’t killer for paper sides and can cause weird warpages in long thin at home on the railroad, earning its keep. They weren’t intended shapes, such as wooden floors and roofs. For a glass-smooth to be merely expensive mantel queens; they are elegant at finish in wood, a sanding sealer is an excellent material. The speed. Although they still command a premium on the collector wood model airplane folks use a finish called “dope”, available side of the house, I can’t imagine anyone being disappointed in in all kinds of colors at hobby shops catering to this crowd. a Fischer car for it’s operational behavior. There is a sanding sealer, already made up, that is usually part For those who would like to own one or two of Joe’s wonder- of this paint line, or you can make your own, in the manner of ful cars, they are actually are quite easy to identify. They usually the Ancients, by mixing talcum powder with Clear Dope. Apply have complete interiors, bristol board sides made from several the stuff, let it dry, and sand smooth; start with 200 grit sand- laminations, and impeccable finishes. The center sills on his cars paper (dry), go to 400 grit wet-and-dry (dry first, then wet it a are usually solid, rather than a “U” channel, and are finished, as little with plain water) and finish up with very fine steel wool. is the entire underbody, to the same high degree. You won’t see The finish probably won’t be perfectly smooth the first time, so wood grain in his floors. Joe used commercial parts where he apply some more sealer and repeat the process until the finish could, such as ends, roofs, trucks, and brake gear. Photo 4 (page is up to snuff. Another friend of mine, Tom Kabele, actually uses 65) shows the level of finesse Joe achieved in his laminations sprayed enamel as a sanding sealer on his wood passenger car and rivet techniques, and Photo 5 (page 65) gives you an idea of roofs. He just sprays on a coat of Krylon Black, for instance, the style and degree of finish you should expect when looking knocks the “fuzzies” off with steel wool, and repeats until satis- at one of his cars from the bottom. fied. Tom’s roofs and wood floors are glass-smooth, using this The accompanying article was published back in the 1951, technique. and in it Joe Fischer will describe his techniques. I’ve chosen Joe didn’t pioneer his techniques; many of his generation not to replace his part sources with more up-to-date information used them to build their passenger fleets. I don’t know of any- within the original text, but here are a few tips. Since All Nation one who perfected them to the degree that he did, though, now owns the old Walthers line of metal passenger car kits, especially in his later cars. Not only am I fortunate to be the you can certainly try them first for the parts Joe mentions in the custodian of a few examples of this craftsman’s work, I’ve article. Failing that, these parts are readily find-able at the vari- learned a lot while trying my hand at his techniques. They work ous regional and national O Scale shows. Of course, you can just fine today, whether used with traditional bristol board or substitute your own favorite roofs, ends, seats, and underbody modern Styrene sheet. u

Joe’s construction techniques lend themselves well to today’s materials. Ted Stepek built this PRR B60 using the same methods, and substituting Styrene for bristol board. 60 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 O Scale Coaches Joe Fischer

A Joe Fischer car owned by Brian Scace.

(Reprinted by permission from the Model Railroad Handbook, or six-wheel; NYC uses both kinds on its coaches. I chose the Fawcett, 1951. As far as we know this is the only time Mr. standard four-wheel type. Platform steps may be purchased or Fischer described his construction methods in print.) built up from bristol board or thin brass. I did not attempt to On most model railroads the humble day coach seems to make any underbody detail, such as generators, triple valves, have been neglected in favor of sleepers and parlor cars. Yet cylinders and steam traps. These purchased parts contain better the coach is a definite part of most passenger trains from the detail than any I could make up from raw materials. jerkwater local to the swankiest limited, so let’s build some The material used for the sides is bristol board, available at of them. The two cars shown (in Photos 1 and 2) would be your hobby shop or any large stationery store. Ask for process ideal for a branchline local. While you are at it, you may want blanks, six-ply, in 22” x 28” sheets. One sheet will be plenty for to take advantage of mass production methods and build six one car. Bristol board used correctly will never warp. It is abso- coaches and two combines. Besides the two-car local, you’ll lutely essential that you use it for every part of the main sections then have a combine and three coaches for the day express and of the sides. Otherwise, warpage will occur. two coaches for part of the consist of the limited. The car sides must be laid out with the grain of the bristol New York Central prototype was selected for these coaches, board running vertically. Hold the sheet lengthwise in your which were built in O Scale. I recommend purchase of the fol- hands and notice how easily it bends. Now hold it the other lowing hard-to-make parts of these cars: two #C406 ends for way and try to bend it. You’ll find that it won’t bend easily or the coach, one #C405 end and one #C406 for the combine, smoothly. The sheet bends easily with the grain, but eventually two #M104 roof sections, and two #M101 floor sections [from cracks when bent against the grain. Unless specified otherwise, Walthers]. Dummy couplers may be used if desired, but I prefer all drawing will be done on the board with the grain vertical, the Monarch bottom-operated type. Trucks can be either four not horizontal.

Photos 1 & 2: Two cars built by Joe Fischer referred to in the article.

May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 61 Tack the sheet of bristol securely to your drawing board, door panel, and window frames cut out. Forget about the bag- squaring off the sides. Make sure that the grain is vertical. Use gage door for the time being. Side “D” has the vestibule window a #3 or #4 pencil with a sharp point, It is best to have several opening slightly larger than the one in side “B”. The window pointed pencils handy to insure precision-drawn sides. Do not openings can be cut out individually or every other window use a pencil harder than #4 because it may tear into the board post can be removed, as shown in side “D” (Photo 3). This side while you are drawing the lines. is the backing to hold the acetate in place. Begin by drawing the sides for the combine, using the plan Use a single-edge razor blade set in a handle or an X-acto (Figure 1). Photo 3 shows the side components. At the top is a knife to do all the cutting. In either case the blade must be completed side. The other four strips show each lamination in sharp. Incidentally, if the bottom three sides, “D”, “B” and “A”, detail. “A” is the outside layer with embossed rivets and window are laid out upside down on your bristol board, laminations can framing. “B” is the section containing the window sash and ves- be made for the opposite side by transferring the tick marks pre- tibule door. “C” shows the vestibule and baggage-door window viously made on the other side “A” at the top of the sheet. sash and the space for sliding in the acetate for the windows. The next step is the embossing of the rivets in side “A”. Cut “D” is the inner, or backing, side which holds the acetate in two small strips of glazed paper 3/16” high by 2-1/4” long from a place. magazine cover and cement one strip under each baggage door. Accuracy is important when laying out the windows and After the adhesive has set, the rivet impressions can be made in doors. It is a good idea to work from the vestibule end toward the sides. Rivet impressions are made with the center point of a the center and measure the baggage door dimensions from the compass. baggage end toward the center. Side “A” does not have the ves- Lay out the rivet lines on the reverse of sides “A” and emboss tibule door. Only the window openings (minus the frames, of them with the shouldered point. Do not make any rivets near course) and the baggage door opening are cut out. Window and the doors, between the windows, or on the sides below the belt door dimensions are marked along the bottom edge of side “A” rail at the seams in the side plates. These are glazed paper over- so that they can be projected downward to sides “B” and “D”. lay strips. This will assure you of window sash spacings which are in line. You will need a gadget to make rivet strips. It’s the old stand- Side “B” has the vestibule door marked, and the door sash, by, a watch gear screwed to a wood handle. First we’ll make the

Figure 1a

62 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 rivet strips that fit next to the vestibule door and on both sides of be cut off because they will not be needed. The roof on our car the baggage door opening. On a glazed magazine cover, mark will be made removable for access to the interior. off a line 1/16” from the edge. Lay the paper on a smooth piece Marker light brackets are 1/8” pieces of 1/16” diameter tub- of wood. Now place your straightedge on the line to serve as ing. A bracket is soldered to each side of the cast end. The top a guide for the rivet wheel. Press down on the wheel to make of the bracket is 1-5/16” from the bottom of the casting. Spot sure the teeth will perforate. Cut off the strip from the rest of and drill the holes in the castings to receive the various hand- Figure 1b the cover as close to the rails. The brake wheel and chain are pinned to the casting at the line of.rivets as you can. baggage end. The strip should be 3/32” The car floor, as purchased, is 2-3/8” wide x 22” long. Cut it wide. Trim to fit and to 2-3/16” wide x 18-1/32” long, the same length as the sides. cement them in place. Draw a centerline from end to end for use as a reference in Remove all flash from locating underbody detail. Make sure the end castings fit snugly the die-cast ends. Make against the wood floor. sure you have one type of Two partitions are needed: one for the vestibule and one end for the vestibule and near the baggage end. A third can be placed to separate bag- another for the baggage gage and coach sections if desired. Cut these parts 1-9/16” x section. Clean out the 2-3/16” from the discarded floor section. coupler support opening On the underside of the roof, draw a straight line 5/16” from so that the coupler will one end. Then, from the line just drawn, measure 18-1/32”, the swing freely. Run a 2-56 same length as the sides, and draw another line. Measure 5/16” screw into the coupler again and lay out another line. The two 5/16” measurements are mounting hole to tap it. the portions of the roof which will rest on the end castings. If The two upper lugs used interior illumination is desired, cut a section 3/16” deep x 3/4” to fasten the roof perma- wide down the center. nently to the body can Shape the underside of the roof at the ends to fit the contour

Coaches shown in S Scale, 3/16" = 1 foot. Enlarge drawings by 33.33% for O Scale. Drawn by Carey Hinch for OST Magazine.

May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 63 of the end castings. The shaping of the roof ends is next. Shape firmly. Remove the weight and set the body aside for a full day. the contour roughly, beginning at a point about 9/16” from the Views detailing the various construction stages and assembly of end. Finish so the contour starts in at 14” from the end and con- the cars are shown in Figure 2. tinues downward in a smooth curve. Either a brush or spray gun can be used to paint the car. If If interior detail is wanted, paint the inside of the car. We are you use a spray gun, be sure to fasten the roof to the body so modeling a non-air conditioned car of the early 1930s, and the the interior finish is not spoiled. The exterior is Pullman green. color scheme must conform to that period. Paint the sides from The roof is black and should be painted separately from the the floor line to the bottom of the windows a dark shade of gray, body: If the car is to be lighted, paint the interior light gray or brown or green. From the window line up, use a lighter shade ivory; otherwise, it can he finished in black, too. If you use of the same color. The floor can be brown with two or three tan lacquer in a spray gun, sandpaper the surface after thoroughly stripes to represent the aisle. covering the body. The underbody detail is painted black; so are Cut the sides to fit between the end castings. At the bag- the handgrabs and the brake wheel on the baggage end. Paint gage end the sides must be flush with the casting. If the casting the trucks black before mounting them to the body. Chains can protrudes, file it down flush with the sides. Before cementing be attached to the trucks if desired. Now apply the decals. To the sides to the body, set two pieces of wood exactly the same get the proper spacing between letters, I cut the decal apart thickness and slightly longer than the car on a flat surface. Affix and set each character in place separately. A coat of varnish is the sides to the body, using only enough cement to cover the applied next. A gloss finish will bring out the green color, but floor and partition edges. Place the assembled body on its side fingerprints will show. on the two wood strips, so that the sill is between them. The The construction of the coach is basically the same as for windows will rest on one strip and the portion below the sill the combine. The detail at the vestibules is the same at both on the other. Place two more wood strips in the same manner ends. [Photo 4 shows an example of a finished side and Photo across the car side facing you. Then lay another piece of wood 5 shows a typical underbody arrangement and detail.] Photo 6 long enough to cover the entire car on top of the strips. Now shows the end details. Note the difference in end treatment for place a weight over all, evenly distributed over the body. Let the the baggage end of the combine. u weight remain in place for an hour or so until the sides adhere

Figure 2: Details of the body assembly.

64 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 Photo 3: Laminations “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D” are cemented together to form the completed side shown at top. “A” is the outside wall with rivet impressions. The vestibule door and window sash are formed by side “B”. Layer “C” is a pocket for holding window material in place. “D” is the interior wall. The end castings fit snugly against the wood floor.

Photo 4: Side Details

Photo 5: Underbody Details Photo 6: End Details

May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 65 2K6 O Scale Trains 3rd Annual Digital Photo Contest see page 16 for details

66 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 Advertisers Index Advertisers

2006 Convention 47 Gorilla Glue 27 P&D Hobby Shop 17 AAA Precision Turntables 12 Great Scale Model Train Show 14 Precision Craft Models 28 Allegheny Scale Models 39 Hackworth Model Trains 24 Precision Scale Co. IFC Amer. Prof. O Scale Services 32 House of Duddy 32 Proto-Switch 39 AM Hobbies 12 Irish Tracklayer 14 Public Delivery Track 27 AtlasO IBC Just Trains 69 Railroad Collectibles 51 Auel Industries 31 Keil-Line Products 22 RCS of NE 55 Bachmann 9 Key Imports 34 Rons Books 27 Baldwin Forge & Machine 31 Korber 12 RY Models 66 Banta Modelworks 23 LaBelle Woodworking Co. 22 San Juan Car Co. 31 BTS 10 Model Building Services 14 SMR Trains 8 Buffalo Creek Graphics 14 Model Tech 31 Stevenson Preservation Lines 29 Central Locomotive Works 29 M.T.H. Electric Trains 66 Sumpter Valley Depot 22 Clever Bros. 22 Mullett River 12 Suncoast Models 24 Crusader Rail Services 29 NCE Corp 32 Sunset⁄3rd Rail 46,BC Curved Benchwork 29 Nickel Plate Models 29 T Bone Models 29 Custom Signals 39 Norm’s O Scale 14 Turner Model Works 31 Deichman's Depot 29 O Scale Kings 33 Valley Model Trains 55 Digistar 47 O Scale Realty 31 Weaver 21 Eagles Nest Miniatures 24 Old Pullman 34 Western Reserve O Scale Meet 34 East Gary Car Co. 22 Overland Models 52 Get Real Productions 67 PA Heritage Models 47

May/June ’06 - O Scale Trains • 67 Buy–Sell–Trade

Buy-Sell-Trade ads are $5 for 30 words plus your address information. Additional words are $0.25 each. Subscribers are permitted one free ad per subscription cycle. All B-S-T ads are prepaid. You may send ads by postal service with a check or money order. Ads sent by email or called in must use a credit card. See our contact info on page 2. FOR SALE: KOHS UP 4-12-2 #9051, mint, never run; Sunset C&O 2- Intermountain, Key, Keystone, Max Gray, NJ Custom Brass, Overland, 10-4, new in box; Sunset UP early Challenger, coal version, new in box; Pacific Limited, PRB, Precision Scale, Sunset, US Hobbies... now Overland UP 4-6-2, coal version, custom painted and detailed by Harry stocking Intermountain HO. The BrassRoundhouse.com. Phone: 727- Hieke; Overland UP FEF-1, 4-8-4, coal version, custom painted and 391-3135. John Clemens, 5273 97 Way N, St. Petersburg, FL 33708 detailed by Harry Hieke; USH UP FEF-3, 4-8-4, mint, unpainted. Call Harry Bender at 410-488-4259 between 6 and 9 pm Eastern time. FOR SALE: Massive collection brass engines, cars, cabooses. Over 300 car kits built and unbuilt, including Westside Big Boy, Sunset UP 9000, WANTED: Joe Fischer cars. American Standard hvywt baggage and Sunset GN S2 c/p, Sunset USRA Lt 2-8-2, USH F45, USH UP 2-8-0 c/p, Pullmans. PSC 10 sect. Pullmans w/AC. Mail only, please. Jim Seacrest, and more. Original boxes. Mint Condition. 580-243-7845 after 6 PM PO Box 6397, Lincoln, NE 68506-0397 CT, [email protected]

WANTED: Lobaugh WWII era. Westbrook boxcars only. Ortl Ltd/AN FREE O SCALE LIST: List of O Scale shows for 2006. Send LSSAE to Bob CB&Q waycars, 3 or 4 window RTR. Mail only, please. Jim Seacrest, PO Retallack, Dept OST06, 2224 Adner Ct, Columbus, OH 43220. Box 6397, Lincoln, NE 68506-0397 FOR SALE: USH NYC J3a Hudson, OMI PRR E8, Sunset Pacific Coast 3 WANTED: PSC PRR X29 boxcar #15467 and similar #15453, Pac Ltd 32 truck Shay, Atlas WM SD-35, EL SW8, Weaver PRR RSD-12, Pullman- ARA boxcar #5000A, CN cabooses, Crown B&M ob boxcar, Reynolds Bradley coaches two car set GM&O, CLW U25b. Bob Burns, 330-758- (Athearn) 50’ PRR and NKP 50’ boxcars. Mail only, please. Jim Seacrest, 1561 PO Box 6397, Lincoln, NE 68506-0397

May 2006 Also includes model contest and display layouts. Registration by August 6: Merchantville, New Jersey 15 gets custom name tag. Dealer tables $40 by 8/15/06, $45 after that Cherry Valley Spring Train Meet, Cherry Valley Model RR Club will hold date. Admission $15 per person, good for both days. Contact Jim Canter its Spring Train Meet at Grace Episcopal Church, Maple Ave and Center for more information: 1203 Rotherham Ln, Beech Grove, IN 46107, 317- St, Merchantville, NJ, on Saturday, May 6th, from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm. 782-3322. Contact [[email protected]].

The Cherry Valley model railroad will be open after the meet. Admission Events is $4, kids under 12 are free. For more info contact CVMRR, PO Box 192, Maple Shade NJ 08052 or call Harry Hieke, 856-625-5506. Contact November 2006 [[email protected]]. 4: Kirtland, Ohio 2-Rail Train Meet of the Western Reserve dedicated to the memory of July 2006 Gil Stovicek. Two-Rail only meet (no tinplate, Hi-Rail or other scales 2-8: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania allowed). Admission $5, under 12 free. Show hours from 9:30 AM to Independence Junction 2006 NMRA National Convention at the 2:30 PM. Six foot vendor tables are $35. Vendor entry Friday 1:00 PM Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, and Saturday 7:00 AM. Not affiliated with the former Western Reserve 215-418-4700. O Scale Committee. Contact Bob Frieden, 440-256-8141. NO PASSES 19-22: Parsippany, New Jersey ACCEPTED AT THIS MEET. Note: Out of towners call for special room 2006 O Scale National Convention Sponsored by the New York Society rates! of Model Engineers, celebrating their 80th anniversary as the oldest 4: Wind Gap, Pennsylvania club in America. Convention held at the Hilton Hotel, One Hilton Ct, Eastern O Scalers 2-Rail Swap Meet at the Plainfield Fire Hall, 6480 Parsippany NJ 07054. Special room rate: $119 per night single or double Sullivan Trail – 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Adm. $5; (spouses & children occp. Call 1-800-hiltons or register at the hilton website [http://www. under 14 are free), $16.00 for the first table (includes one admission) parsippany.hilton.com]. Full convention registration is $40 per person. and $12.00 for each additional table. Dealer’s set-up Friday evening Tables are $40 each. See the convention website for more details. Call 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday morning 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. 201-939-9212, or email. Contact [[email protected]] Info/reservations, SASE – EOS, PO Box 1781, Bensalem PA 19020; (215) August 2006 639-3864. Bring an index card with your name, address etc., for $1.00 5: Denver, Pennsylvania off your admission. Contact: Contact [[email protected]]. Eastern O Scalers 2-Rail Swap Meet held at the Denver Fire Hall, 4th & September 2007 Locust Sts.– 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Adm. $5; (spouses & children under 20-22: Indianapolis, Indiana 14 are free), $16.00 for the first table (includes one admission) and 2007 O Scale National Convention sponsored by the Indy “O” Scale $12.00 for each additional table. Dealer’s set-up Friday evening 6:00 Meet and O Scale Trains Magazine. Held at the Indianapolis Marriott p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Saturday morning 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Info/ East, 7202 East 21st St, Indianapolis. Rooms are $59 to $79 per night reservations, SASE – EOS, PO Box 1781, Bensalem PA 19020; (215) 639- with FREE parking. Three-day admission is $30. Tables are $40. We will 3864. Bring an index card with your name, address etc., for $1.00 off have 20,000 sq. ft of selling and display space for nothing but O Scale your admission. Contact: Contact [[email protected]]. trains! For more details contact Jim Canter, 317-782-3322, or Contact September 2006 [[email protected]]. 22-23: Indianapolis, Indiana Indy O Scale Meet two day O Scale swap meet with over 250 tables in one large hall. New and collectible 2-Rail trains and products available.

68 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 Jus Weaver Models Atlas O Gauge Atlas O Gauge MTH 2006 Vol I Trains Blow-Outs Trainman ¶:RRG5HIULJ&DU5 Premier Steam BrassLil Joe TMCC& RS 600 RSD4/5 2R 189 3R TMCC 289 Columbus Packing, H.M. Noack, Swift, 2-8-0 H10s PRR, LIRR, PRSL 645 Orders (888) 453-9742 You Save $300 on engine & $200 on cars C&O, CNW, CB, SF .DKQ¶V.UH\¶V1XFNROO¶V6HOHFWR Lt. Mikado B&O, GTW, Sou, UP 729 Info (302) 453-0465 MR Hiawatha 5-Car Set 475 Rolling Stock 2R 35 3R 33 NKP-DLW, Wescott, Page, Pluto, Sou Dreyfuss Hudson 4 types 919 Scale Die-Cast Pacific 525 ¶%R[ BAR, PRR, P&LE, Reading 6WDU&URZQ0H\HU5DWK¶VWilson Climax PLC, Climax, TDC, WFI 1029 Fax orders to (302) 368-6447 11K Tank Car 3R 52 4/205 Gulf, th TMCC, RS, Cruise, Smoke N&W ¶3OXJ FGE, CNJ, NP, SF 19 Century 2-8-0 Consolidation 639 ¶6WRFN GN, MKT, D&RGW, UP 3\URID[6KLSSHU¶V6XQUD\&$6SHQFHU *M-F 9-6 Sun 12-5 * CN, Army, GTW, BM, LV, MR, ATSF GN, WM, P&R, DRG, Unlettered ¶*RQGROD C&O, PRR, UP, Reading Col. 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Dbl Sheath Box 3R 43 2R 46 DD26 Wrong Side of Tracks 4 kits 119 DZ Products SD-9 Chessie, CIM, DMIR, NPR, RG 3-Bay Offset IC, Erie, GTW, CP, Susq, GN, ACL, Burl, UP, DSS&A, ''5DLQERZ%HYHUDJH´[´ 1000 Switch Machine 18 SPDT Relay 9 C628 Conrail, LV, SF, UP Fireworks , Apartment Building 59 CPR, SF, MP, BO, Blue Coal, CN, KCS B&M, FEC, NYC, TH&B, Rutland DZ-1010 Crossing Gate Set 79 SD-45 PRR, Frisco, SF, Rdg CAT+15 %DFNJURXQG)ODWV´/[´' 4-Bay High Side R&N, GN, CBQ, MM, Caboose 3R 60 2R 63 DZ-1011 Block Signal Detectors 19 SD60 SF, NS, UP NFL+15 2-Stall Engine House 139 Station 59 IC, NS, NW, CNW, MKT, B&O, LN, CN EV Chessie, GN, IHB, RF&P, CR DZ-1020 Crossing Signal Set 52 NW-2 RG, PRR, Seabd, Mon HD +15 9-Pannel GTW, PRR (2), N&W, B&O, Std Cupola N&W DZ-1030 Wigwag Signal Set 79 GP-20 NYC, SF, TC&W, UP Korber Models WM, VA, MEC, Rdg, NH, MR, T&P 8K Tank 3R 48 2R 52 Dow Chemical, 304 3-6WDOO5RXQGKRXVH´' 189 DZ-1200 Station Announcement 82 PS-2 CD Grain Hopper N&W, MR, AA *OREH6KHOO6KLSSHU¶V&)6LPRQLQ¶V GP-9 ACL, N&W, CP, WP, Erie, JC 304A Xtra Stall or 304B Extender 45 DZ-1220 Trolley Stop & Control 79 Lexan, GTW, Cargill, UP, MKT, FMC Art. Auto Carriers 3R 99 2R 105 Altoona Brewery w/Smoke 87 305 Sandhouse, 16 x 6 39 DZ-1240 Auto Stop & Reverse 38 PS-&RY¶G+RSSHU Amaizo, NS, IMCO, TTX, UP, NS 306 Diesel Shed 25 x 11 85 LV, MEC, MM, AA, C of GA, LNE, CNJ DZ-1260 Water Tower Animator 36 K-Line Specials ¶$LUVOLGH+RSSHU55 307 3-Stall Trolley Barn 85 4-Bay Centerflow Cargill, Pressureaide, DZ-1265 Fueling Station Animator 38 ´,QWHUXUEDQ PRR, Reading 150 Chessie, Erie, GN, PC, Sou, CGW 315 Grain Silo, 7 x 19 x 22 H 69 GTW, Shell, Corn, Stauffer, FMC, VT DZ-2500 TMCC Switch Machine 25 ¶(YDQV'EO3OXJ55 Passenger Blow-Outs 5RXQGKRXVH´'HHS 139 ¶)ODW&DU US Army (2), NH, Rutland, BN, WC, BMW, FVP, MNS Lionel 2005 Volume II 1<&´-Pk 450 10-Pk 725 320A Stall add-on 45 B&M, GN, WM, NP, Rdg, N&W ¶36-1 Box 2-R 56 3-R 54 J.L.C. Series SF Bi-level 6-Pk 499 Trans 2-Pk 160 902 Jaybar Corporation 6 x 8 23 Wood Side Reefer 29 DC 38 REA, NP, GMO, MP, GN, C&O, Erie, L&N, RF&P C&OLateAllegheny $1409 83´-3N´´-Pk 165 903 Skyline Steel 6 x 8 23 &20LG5DWK:HVFRWW,RZD6W0DU\¶V &1:´%L-Pk 150 4-Cars 299 Brookside, Carnation, CM&SP, CN ¶$$5%R[55 Scale GG-1 Red-5, Green-1 775 905 Blackshear Refrig. Transport 49 NH, SP, Erie, Pere Marquette $PWUDN´-Pk $229 Save $270 908 Shanahan Freight Company 67 ¶7DQNDC 41 Amaizo, Trusweet, Scale Steam & Electric Engelhard, Sunoco, SP, CGW (2), Cardox, 17K Tank Car 2R 59 3R 56 6DQWH)H´%XVLQHVV&DU 85 915 Quaker Foods 9 x 12 45 11103 Southern PS-4 Pacific 859 Kaolin, Cargill, Safety Kleen, Firestone Occidental, Olin-Mathieson, PPG, SHPX 355RU6)´%XVLQHVV&DU 916 Gen. Lt & Power, 12 x 48 93 11105 NYC L2a Mohawk 939 ¶7DQN32 DC 41 DuPont, Hooker, Pulpwood Flat 2R 48 3R 46 18373 NYC S-2 Electric 419 K-Line Scale Offerings 917 Gen Lt & Power Sub Station 32 C&O, SF, W.MD, D&H, GM&O Frost, Corn, Molasses, NH, CV, Staley Scale Rolling Stock 2-RShay 595 2/$1100 919 Acme Dye 6 x 9 x 9H 39 AC-2 Covered Hopper 29 DC 38 PS-/6&RY¶G+RSSHU5 921 JLC Manufacturing 49 BN, Continental, ADM, B&M,Transport NYC Heavywt 3-PK 279 Coach 95 Undec, Pac. Lumber, Lack Coal C&O, WM, B&M, Lack, PRR, SP, PS-2 Covered Hopper 3-Pk 96 926 Switch Tower, Bay window 25 UP, N&W, Sou, NH, NS, L&N 05/9:D\QH¶V)HHG6)5*355 Woodside Reefer 40 4/150 Del SF, MKT, Boraxo, PRR 950 American Flag Co. 14 x 9 65 ¶0HFKDQLFDO5HHIHU 30 DC 39 50 Ton War Hopper 3R 44 4/172 Northwestern, PFE, Heinz Apple Butter, Stock Car C&O, N&W, MKT 46.50 -RH¶V3LFNOH)DFWRUy 14 x 9 59 CN, MEC, NW/MP, BN, UP, BAR, BNSF, GA, L&N Alton, Arbor, B&O, C&O Heinz Baked Beans, McLhaney, 954 Buck Island Canning 8 x 12 49 PA, Trop (5), MR, PFE, CNW, Snd + $15 PRR Exclusive 8# 49 4/190 8/370 PS-1 Boxcar Ches, RI, EL, Frisco 46 Peacock, Oppenheimer, Nash Mustard, 956 James Company 13 x 8 x 9H 59 Northeastern Caboose 37 DC 46 New PRR War Bonds 2 # in-stock C&O Hopper 47 3-PK 96 6-Pk 190 Century Beer, Robin Hood Beer, 957 Lewis & Sons Machine 6 x 8 24 PRR, NH, Rdg, CSS, CNW, CPR, MM, USRA 55 Ton Coal Hop 2R 46 3R 43 U30C CNW or U33C SF 372 Merchants Biscuit Call for 2-R List 958 Mill Works 11 x 7 w/Tower 45 ICG, L&N, WM, MEC, US Army, Sou, C&O, Lack, NH, P & Shaw GP-30 UP, CSX 337 Dummy 127 Transformers 959 Midland Supply 2-Story 8 x 6 32 Rut, GTW, CN, CV, DWP, LNE, MR, LV NE-6 Caboose 2R 63 3R 59 Chessie Crane 269 Boom Car 162 968 Jenco Freight Terminal 9 x 11 45 ¶)ODWZ$UP\/RDG 38 DC 47 NH, N&W, Conrail, NYS&W Boom Car with Crane Sounds 162 MRC Dual Pure Power 270W 225 MRC Pure Power 135W 145 969 Gen Lt & Pwr Office 6x13x12 59 RoadRailers 35 DC 39 Triple Crown, ¶:RRG5HHIHU5 UP, Conrail, SF, PRR, NYC Amtrak, Swift, CN, Express Track, Ice Atlas Beer, Phenix, Merchant, Bourke, Hot Box SF, MDT 105 K-Line 120W Variable w/Fixed 75 www.justrains.com Cold Express, Schneider Cplr Mate $10 Fairmont, Nash, ART, Eatmor, Reefer 3-PK 3# PFE, NP, NW 96.00 MTH Z-4000 355 Lionel ZW 355 I am once again turning over my soap box to OST Editor it’s pretty obvious that someone in that position doesn’t have Brian Scace. I’ll talk atcha next time. — Joe G. the time to spend wiring receivers and speakers, let alone building kits, or scratchbuilding more than a very select one O Scale Generations or two “gotta-haves”. That’s not to say the talent isn’t there I had a conversation with Mike Reagan, of Train America (Mike is an accomplished scratchbuilder, for example.) The Studios (TAS), the other day. For those of you who may not priorities are, understandably, different. “Dear, I’m going know, TAS is the pioneer in 2-Rail installation of TMCC sys- to the O Scale National and spend four days and a couple tems. Now, most of you know my personal aversion to the grand. By the way, the kid needs to be changed.” Yeah, right. command control systems that are out there today, though My generation can be somewhat defined by my initial I’m starting to wonder if perhaps my own personal feelings inability to fathom Mike’s comment, “Why would you want are no longer germaine. to do that? It’s my job!” I almost said that this was the way it’s I know, by virtue of this magazine, that there is a pretty supposed to be done. I’m used to doing everything myself, fair number of people out there who use and enjoy com- my own wiring, scratchbuilding rolling stock, buying unpaint- mand control in general. My mission (self-assigned) is to ed engines and painting them myself. Detail this. Solder that. explore the state of the art a bit, including options for more “Mother, are you using my four-jaw chuck to hold the pantry general use of the “proprietary” systems, such as TMCC. To door open again?!” Many in my generation have a mental this end, TAS has a couple of my Diesels; I just want to see block about a technology that we can’t “do ourselves”. I sure what the options are for the Diesel-era guys. do. Bear in mind that Mike is a young man, especially com- Mike’s generation grew up accepting what I could not. pared to me. When he took TAS out to a couple of Nationals, They grew up in an era when the cutting edge in technology he came away feeling that O Scalers were pretty resistant to moved with lightning speed. The advancement of capabili- TAS’ approach, and (to be honest) pretty resistant in general. ties is the goal. That pace is their norm, and so is someone I fit squarely in that mold (big surprise, huh). in a “tech-support” role to support that end. The result is, I told Mike that I, personally, liked TMCC from a user’s for Mike and his peers, the market for ready-to-run stuff with standpoint. What I didn’t like was my inability to just go command electronics, and all that goes with it, is out there to my hobby shop, buy a board, some wire, and a speaker and strong. You folks may not have the ready cash and time and toss ‘em in anything I owned. Mike said, “Why would (yet) that we do in my generation, but you’re a strong ele- you want to do that? It’s my job.” That answer, to be honest, ment of O Scale. You’ll only get stronger. floored me for a minute. After a bit of a pause, we started It’s easy to fall in the trap that our perspectives create for talking about the differences in perspective. It became clear us. We now have two generations so sharply bordered that to me that I had grossly underestimated a couple of points. one hardly even knows the other exists. My generation never First, the complexity of the technology had passed me sees Mike’s, so we start thinking O Scale is dying off. When by. Mike made it pretty clear that the configurations of his someone from Mike’s world sees my generation for the first boards, to accommodate the electronics that supported the time, it has to be a bit of a shock. technology, required him to design enough varieties to sup- I learned that, in spite of my best efforts, my approach port what became hundreds of combinations. The room (and that of my generation) has created such a comfortable available dictated the configurations, and the complexities environment for my O Scale psyche that I don’t really appre- involved real design work, not just Scace going a pickin’ ciate the needs, wants, and motivations (let alone the exis- what he thinks will suit. Once the configuration is designed tence!) of the next generation of O Scalers. I’m also coming by the pros, then an owner can do his own installation. to the realization that technology may have passed me by. The second point started coming into focus as the conver- I’m not comfortable with either thought. sation went to the fact that there are at least two distinct gen- Don’t take this as a “why can’t we just get along” diatribe. erations in 2-Rail today, Mike’s and mine. We’re so very, very, That’s not the intent. It’s probably enough to acknowledge different. Mike’s reception at SONC was a bit unexpected, that the situation exists. Both perspectives are valid, for their because he saw nobody from his generation there, who are respective generations. We need to remember that, and the real users of his product. He met my generation instead, so do you. However, I think this exploration of command who are pretty set in their ways and not given to change options and, perhaps a little of the world of the younger gen- them. eration of O Scalers, by an old O Scaler (who really didn’t Mike’s generation doesn’t go to O Scale West, Chicago or like the whole command system bit in the first place), is the National. They are the guys we were 30-odd years ago, going to be a lot of fun. I want to understand what you guys working a time-intensive career, paying a mortgage, wife- are doing. and-toddler. When I think about it from Mike’s perspective, Maybe you can teach an old dog a new trick or two. u

70 • O Scale Trains - May/June ’06 O C424/425 X29 Full-OST 0106 3/21/06 8:34 AM Page 1

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