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Modeling in 2 Rail O (1/48) Scaleby John Sethian

Thanks to: Martin Brechbiel, Chris Smith, Andrew Dodge, Rob Enrico, Ed Rappe, Neal Schorr, Jim Taverna and Rick Wright

John Sethian

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Why Model in O Scale?

John Sethian

3Rob Enrico

1) O Scale gives the feel of heavy moving machinery

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2) O Scale’s scale sized details can be seen,or added, without too many heroics

RIV

John Sethian

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3) SIZE……...DOES…….MATTER

HO Scale Shark and Photography Assistance by John Swanson

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The two species of O Scale: 2 rail and 3 rail2 rail 3 rail

• Electrical pickup: from each rail• Scale size wheel treads & flanges• Scale size couplers• Scale height rail and ties• Fixed pilots, undercarriage details• Requires broader curves

• Pickup: outer rails and center rail• Oversized wheel treads & flanges• Oversized couplers (generally)• Taller than scale rails and ties• Swinging pilots /other trade-offs

(generally) to allow 36” rad curves

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2 railConventional (Ed Rappe) Scale 5’ (1.25”) between rails

3 railTinplate (Rick Wright)Traditional Lionel

Scale 3 Rail (Neal Schorr)Scale size, 3 rail track

Sub species of O Scale

Proto 48 (Andrew Dodge)Scale 4’ 8 1/2” (1.18”) between rails)

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Myth #1: A typical O Scale layout has: Unpainted (but highly detailed) brass models Bare plywood scenery Natural cinderblock backdrop

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An example of an O Scale PRR layout:

Ed Rappe2100

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An example of an O Scale N&W layout:

Chris Smith

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Myth #2: An O Scale layout requires a gymnasium size room

J1

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John Armstrong:58” radius for broad curves, 46” conventional

Pages 46 & 47

13Rob Enrico

Rob Enrico’s Monongahela Division:21’ x 23’, 56” radius curves

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Martin Brechbiel’s layout:Overall Size 12’ x 10’

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Myth #3: When it comes to O Scale-There’s just not too much to choose from

HO ScaleO Scale

N Scale

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56 O scale Importers/ManufacturersF= 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 EAmerican Scale X Atlas X X X XB.T.S. (K) X DesPlaines Hob(K) X Division Point X XGolden Gate X XKey Model Imports X XKohs X X XLionel X MTH X XOverland Models X X X X XP&D (K) XPrecision Scale X X X X XProtocraft (U) X Rich Yoder X XSan Juan Car Co X Stevenson Pres (K) X Sunset X X X X XWasatch Models X

PAST (CONT) F P S D E Joe Fisher X Keystone Model X Max Gray X X X Mullet River X NJ Custom Brass X X X X Oriental Limited X X P Company X X Pacific Fast Mail X X X Pacific Limited X Pecos River Brass X X X X Red Caboose (K) X SMR X X Sunnyside Brass X US Hobbies X X Walthers (K) X Weaver X X X X X Westside X X Williams X

PAST F P S D EAHM X Alco Models X Alexander All Nation (K) X X Athearn (K) X Auel X Berlyn Loco Works X X Bob Parri (K) X Car & Locomotive X X Car Works X X Challenger Imports X Fine Art Models X X GEM (K) X Glacier Park Mod X Hallmark X X House of Duddy(K) XI&I Reproductions X Intermountain X

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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

Thanks to Bob Bartizek and Mike Havron for assistance

Example 2: Just about every B&O steam engine has been made in O Scale

Thanks to Ray Grant and Terry Terrance for assistance

Q-3 (USRA Light) 2-8-2 3 B-18 4-6-0 2 P-5 (USRA Light) 4-6-2 1 P-7 4-6-2 2 P-7e 4-6-2 2 P-7d 4-6-2 2 T-4A 4-8-2 1 Q-4B 2-8-2 2 T-3 4-8-2 1

Class Whyte MFGC16 0-4-0T 2 C-16A 0-4-0 1 Camelback 0-8-0 1 WM Mason 4-4-0 1 EM-1 2-8-8-4 4 Switcher (D30 USRA) 0-6-0 2 S-1 (Big Six) 2-10-2 2 E-24 Consolidation 2-8-0 2

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Examples of PRR O Scale Steam

Ed Rappe

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Evolution of PRR O Scale plastic Diesels

WeaverRSD-12ca 1995

AtlasRSD-72006

MTHF7

2012

SunsetSD-92016

John Sethian

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O Scale freight cars are available for most any prototype

Jim Taverna

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No Shortage of Passenger cars, either!

Brass

ABSPlastic

Steel Sides/Wood Roof

Aluminum

John Sethian

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Representative New(N) Train Show (TS) pricesN $77TS $10-$40

Golden Gate DepotSleeper

$750

N $169TS $85

Atlas Plastic Box Car

Sunset Brass M1b (used)N $499TS $80-$200

Atlas F7a(Powered)

Converting 3 rail cars to 2 rail:One way: change wheel sets & couplers

MTH N6b. Only wheel sets and couplers changed!

• 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)

Another way: Change to 2 rail trucksfrom any of several sources

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A wide variety of couplers are available:

Ref: Dan Pence, “Coupler Compatibility” O Scale Trains #77

Kadee 700 series Type E

Protocraft Type E Atlas

Also: PC/Clouser, San Juan, Weaver, Scale City (fixed)trip & paint

Kadee 800 series

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O Scale Decals are enjoying a RenaissanceOLD

ChampMicroscale

NEWMicroscaleMt Vernon ShopsTichy Train GroupProtocraftClover House (dry transfers)Highball Graphics/Industrial ModelsGreat Decals

CUSTOMHighball GraphicsShawmut Car ShopsLBR EnterprisesDo it yourself

You can super detail any O Scale ModelLIONEL N5-BEFORE

LIONEL N5-AFTER PSC Smoke Stack

OSA corner grabs

GrabowskiMarkers

Protocraft coupler

PSCBrakeAssembly

Yoder Trucks

PSC PRR cabin ladder

PSC grab flangesPSC

Air Hoses

A Line Chain

Grandt Line NBW castings

Midwest Scale Lumber

PSC grab irons

There are 23 suppliers of detail parts

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SunsetM1b

MTHAerotrain

LionelBF-16Sharks

MTHP5a

Examples of 3 rail to 2 rail loco conversions

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Principal suppliers of US style track

ATLAS FLEX TRACK(code 148 = 134 lb rail)

Also sectional track

MICRO-ENGINEERING FLEX TRACK(code 148,125,100, weathered or not)

LAY YOUR OWN: Micro Engineering (nickel silver rail)Right of Way (steel rail)

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Switches: Many Options

Signature Switch Company

Atlas (#5, #7.5, Wye)

Oscale Turnouts

READY MADE BUILD YOUR OWNRight O’Way Industries

Fast Tracks

MACHINESTortoise(ONE EXAMPLE)

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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• Signal Path: DCS command station >> transmitter >> air >> on board decoder

Control Systems : at least five options

Proto 48 uses narrower trucks & wheel sets. Flex track available, but many Proto 48-ers hand lay

Andrew DodgeColorado Midland

Andrew Dodge takes it to extreme, scratch builds everything

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There are many outstanding 3 rail layoutsExample: Rick Wright’s CONUS Lines

Rick Wright

•MTH FF2•Arttista Figures•Chooch Building Front

•MTH Lamp Posts

•Vehicles•Miller Animated Sign

•Weaver Switch Tower

•Ertl Panel Truck

KDOST

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PRR Signalson Neal Schorr’s 3 Rail PRR Middle Division

PRR O SCALE SIGNALS:

CURRENT:AtlasMTHZ-StuffPlasticville (signal bridge, no aspects)

PAST:Custom SignalsNJ InternationalPrecision Scale

(Line Poles by Weaver with Neal’s input)

Neal Schorr

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Choice of scenery materials expanded in O: e.g. Christmas Village Trees…

John Sethian

Lemax VillageSnow Queen

Tree

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….or Aquarium Plants, or Pot Toppers, or Christmas Decorations, or flower

arrangement greenery…….

John Sethian

…or even LEGO Bricks

39John Sethian

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Vehicles: precise & accurate models, huge range, but mostly 1/43 or 1/50

John Sethian

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Magazines Dedicated to O Scale

Online only(oscaleresource.com/)

Also OGR Forum(ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/)Has good source list)

Look for periodic“High Rail”issue

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O Scale meets and shows

Chicago Meet (March 2018)

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 raillots of scenery, structures, figures, details, etc

O Scale National Convention2017: Springfield, MA (June)2018: DC area (TBD)

2017 Chicago Meet

Plus many clubs and local meets

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THE END