Modeling in 2 Rail O (1/48) Scale by John Sethian
John Sethian Thanks to: Martin Brechbiel, Chris Smith, Andrew Dodge, Rob Enrico, Ed Rappe, Neal Schorr, Jim Taverna and Rick Wright 1 Why Model in O Scale?
John Sethian2 1) O Scale gives the feel of heavy moving machinery
Rob Enrico3 2) O Scale’s scale sized details can be seen, or added, without too many heroics
John Sethian4 RIV 3) SIZE……...DOES…….MATTER
5 HO Scale Shark and Photography Assistance by John Swanson The two species of O Scale: 2 rail and 3 rail 2 rail 3 rail
• Electrical pickup: from each rail • Pickup: outer rails and center rail • Scale size wheel treads & flanges • Oversized wheel treads & flanges • Scale size couplers • Oversized couplers (generally) • Scale height rail and ties • Taller than scale rails and ties • Fixed pilots, undercarriage details • Swinging pilots /other trade-offs 6 • Requires broader curves (generally) to allow 36” rad curves Sub species of O Scale 2 rail 3 rail Conventional (Ed Rappe) Tinplate (Rick Wright) Scale 5’ (1.25”) between rails Traditional Lionel
Proto 48 (Andrew Dodge) Scale 3 Rail (Neal Schorr) Scale 4’ 8 1/2” (1.18”) between rails) Scale size, 3 rail track
7 Myth #1: A typical O Scale layout has: Unpainted (but highly detailed) brass models Bare plywood scenery Natural cinderblock backdrop
8 An example of an O Scale PRR layout:
Ed Rappe 9
2100 An example of an O Scale N&W layout:
Chris Smith10 Myth #2: An O Scale layout requires a gymnasium size room
11 J1 John Armstrong: 58” radius for broad curves, 46” conventional
Pages 46 & 47 12 Rob Enrico’s Monongahela Division: 21’ x 23’, 56” radius curves
Rob Enrico13 Martin Brechbiel’s layout: Overall Size 12’ x 10’
14 Myth #3: When it comes to O Scale- There’s just not too much to choose from
N Scale HO Scale O Scale
15 56 O scale Importers/Manufacturers F= Freight, P = Passenger, S = Steam, D = Diesel, E = Electric, (K) = Kit (excludes narrow gauge, logging, traction, or what I forgot) PRESENT F P S D E PAST F P S D E PAST (CONT) F P S D E American Scale X AHM X Joe Fisher X Atlas X X X X Alco Models X Keystone Model X B.T.S. (K) X Alexander Max Gray X X X DesPlaines Hob(K) X All Nation (K) X X Mullet River X Division Point X X Athearn (K) X NJ Custom Brass X X X X Golden Gate X X Auel X Oriental Limited X X Key Model Imports X X Berlyn Loco Works X X P Company X X Kohs X X X Bob Parri (K) X Pacific Fast Mail X X X Lionel X Car & Locomotive X X Pacific Limited X MTH X X Car Works X X Pecos River Brass X X X X Overland Models X X X X X Challenger Imports X Red Caboose (K) X P&D (K) X Fine Art Models X X SMR X X Precision Scale X X X X X GEM (K) X Sunnyside Brass X Protocraft (U) X Glacier Park Mod X US Hobbies X X Rich Yoder X X Hallmark X X Walthers (K) X San Juan Car Co X House of Duddy(K) X Weaver X X X X X Stevenson Pres (K) X I&I Reproductions X Westside X X Sunset X X X X X Intermountain X Williams X Wasatch Models X 16 Example 1: All PRR Steam classes “A” through “T” have been made in O Scale
Class Total MFG Class Total MFG A5 2 I1 4 B28 4 J1 5 B6sb 3 K4s 9 C1 3 K4s Lowey 4 D6 1 K4s Stream 1 D16 1 L1 5 E6 4 M1 6 F3 1 N1 3 G5 4 Q1 1 H3 1 Q2 2 H6 2 S1 1 H8/H10 4 S2 1
HH1 1 T1 5 17
Thanks to Bob Bartizek and Mike Havron for assistance Example 2: Just about every B&O steam engine has been made in O Scale
Class Whyte MFG Q-3 (USRA Light) 2-8-2 3 C16 0-4-0T 2 B-18 4-6-0 2 C-16A 0-4-0 1 P-5 (USRA Light) 4-6-2 1 Camelback 0-8-0 1 P-7 4-6-2 2 WM Mason 4-4-0 1 P-7e 4-6-2 2 EM-1 2-8-8-4 4 P-7d 4-6-2 2 Switcher (D30 USRA) 0-6-0 2 T-4A 4-8-2 1 S-1 (Big Six) 2-10-2 2 Q-4B 2-8-2 2 E-24 Consolidation 2-8-0 2 T-3 4-8-2 1
Thanks to Ray Grant and Terry Terrance for assistance Examples of PRR O Scale Steam
Ed Rappe
19 Evolution of PRR O Scale plastic Diesels
Atlas MTH Sunset Weaver RSD-7 F7 SD-9 RSD-12 2006 2012 2016 ca 1995
John Sethian20 O Scale freight cars are available for most any prototype
Jim Taverna21 No Shortage of Passenger cars, either!
Aluminum
Brass
ABS Plastic
Steel Sides/ Wood Roof John Sethian22 Representative New(N) Train Show (TS) prices
N $77 Atlas N $169 Golden Gate Depot Sleeper TS $10-$40 Plastic Box Car TS $85
N $499 Atlas F7a $750 TS $80-$200 (Powered) Sunset Brass M1b (used)
23 Converting 3 rail cars to 2 rail: One way: change wheel sets & couplers MTH N6b. Only wheel sets and couplers changed! Another way: Change to 2 rail trucks from any of several sources • Intermountain (plastic) • MTH (die cast) • Rich Yoder Models (brass) • Scale City Designs (Zamac) • Precision Scale (brass) • Protocraft (brass) • Wasatch Models (brass) • GGD/Sunset (brass) • American Scale Models (brass) • Atlas (die cast) • Lionel • Athearn (Plastic) • All Nation • Weaver (die cast or plastic) A wide variety of couplers are available:
Kadee 700 series Type E Kadee 800 series
Protocraft Type E Atlas
Also: PC/Clouser, San Juan, Weaver, Scale City (fixed)26 Ref: Dan Pence, “Coupler Compatibility” O Scale Trains #77 trip & paint O Scale Decals are enjoying a Renaissance
OLD Champ Microscale
NEW Microscale Mt Vernon Shops Tichy Train Group Protocraft Clover House (dry transfers) Highball Graphics/Industrial Models Great Decals
CUSTOM Highball Graphics Shawmut Car Shops LBR Enterprises Do it yourself 27 You can super detail any O Scale Model
LIONEL N5-BEFORE There are 23 suppliers of detail parts LIONEL N5-AFTER PSC Smoke Stack
OSA corner grabs Midwest Scale Lumber Grandt Line NBW castings Grabowski Markers
PSC Brake Assembly
A Line Chain Yoder Trucks PSC PSC grab flanges Air Hoses PSC PRR cabin ladder
PSC grab irons Protocraft coupler Examples of 3 rail to 2 rail loco conversions
Lionel Sunset MTH MTH BF-16 M1b Aerotrain P5a Sharks
30 Principal suppliers of US style track
ATLAS FLEX TRACK MICRO-ENGINEERING FLEX TRACK (code 148 = 134 lb rail) (code 148,125,100, weathered or not) Also sectional track
LAY YOUR OWN: Micro Engineering (nickel silver rail) Right of Way (steel rail) 31 Switches: Many Options
READY MADE BUILD YOUR OWN Atlas (#5, #7.5, Wye) Right O’Way Industries
Fast Tracks Oscale Turnouts
Signature Switch Company MACHINES Tortoise (ONE EXAMPLE) 32 Control Systems : at least five options
DC • Runs everything
DCC • NCE popular for O Scale, Lenz also used • 10 Amp boosters (Largest layouts only need 2-3) • Decoders from NCE, QSI, Soundtraxx, TCS, etc
DCS (MTH) • PS-2 decoders can only be run with DCS • PS-3 decoders can also be run with DCC • DCS controller can run Lionel systems
Legacy/TMCC (Lionel) • Decoders can be run with DCS and Lionel control systems
R/C Battery Powered
• Sound and control: standard DCC system with radio throttles 33 • Signal Path: DCS command station >> transmitter >> air >> on board decoder Proto 48 uses narrower trucks & wheel sets. Flex track available, but many Proto 48-ers hand lay Andrew Dodge takes it to extreme, scratch builds everything
Andrew Dodge Colorado Midland There are many outstanding 3 rail layouts Example: Rick Wright’s CONUS Lines
•MTH FF2 •Arttista Figures •Chooch Building Front •MTH Lamp Posts •Vehicles •Miller Animated Sign •Weaver Switch Tower •Ertl Panel Truck Rick Wright 35 KD OST PRR Signals on Neal Schorr’s 3 Rail PRR Middle Division
PRR O SCALE SIGNALS:
CURRENT: Atlas MTH Z-Stuff Plasticville (signal bridge, no aspects)
PAST: Custom Signals NJ International Precision Scale
(Line Poles by Neal Schorr Weaver with Neal’s input) 36 Choice of scenery materials expanded in O: e.g. Christmas Village Trees…
Lemax Village Snow Queen Tree John Sethian 37 ….or Aquarium Plants, or Pot Toppers, or Christmas Decorations, or flower arrangement greenery…….
John Sethian 38 …or even LEGO Bricks
39 John Sethian Vehicles: precise & accurate models, huge range, but mostly 1/43 or 1/50
John Sethian40 Magazines Dedicated to O Scale
Online only (oscaleresource.com/)
Also OGR Forum Look for (ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/) periodic Has good source list) “High Rail” issue
41 O Scale meets and shows
Chicago Meet (March 2018) 2017 Chicago Meet
Strasburg, PA Meet (3x year)
O Scale West (May 2017)
Cherry Valley (NJ) (3x yr)
Indianapolis Show (Sep 2017)
York, TCA (Oct, April) mostly 3 rail lots of scenery, structures, figures, details, etc
O Scale National Convention Plus many clubs and local meets 2017: Springfield, MA (June)
2018: DC area (TBD) 42 THE END
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