More Color More Color - O scale trains

several of the Red Caboose reefer kitsand intend to do some work on themsoon. It may show up as an article inOST. Stay tuned.Large Layouts UnderwayIt was with great interest that I read inOST#3 the Importer Roundtable. Lesteveryone come to the conclusion there isno activity in O scale, please let meassure you that is not the case. However,the forum did confirm my opinion thatmany of the hobbyists are busy layingtracks and spending smaller sums ontrack supplies rather than buying largeticket items. [For] the past year and ahalf it has been all I can do to keep upwith the orders. Presently there are manylayouts under construction with a greatnumber in the “large” category. Thetrend toward greater fidelity in models ismanifesting itself in trackwork.Lou Cross, Right O’Way Models(Ed. note: Mr Cross manufactureshigh fidelity scale trackwork products.)Liked Beginners Bash & RoundtableO Scale Trains #3 arrived in mymailbox today, and the magazine justkeeps getting better. Although I havejust taken a quick glance, the BeginnersKitbashing conversion was a nice articleand it goes a long way to show beginningmodelers that, yes, they really cando kitbashing and it will turn out okaywhile sharpening their modeling skillsas well. The Importer Roundtable was areal nice addition and I hope thisbecomes a regular feature as it gives thereaders a sense of being kept in the loop.Thanks again for giving the O Scalers aquality product and for delivering sameon time, every time.Pete KlickRemembering Our HeritageIt is interesting how some of our ‘elders’complain about the new field of 3rail scale. I have only one request thatthey remember from where we ‘O’ scalemodelers came from with an outside38 • O Scale Trainsthird rail running along the side of thetrack which was our AC ground. HO ledthe way to understanding the use of tworails with DC as the source of power. Wealso should remember that we startedout in a scale 17 ⁄64" to foot (which wasvery difficult to use when scaling amodel. Hence the change to the now1⁄4":1ft with 17 ⁄64" track (scale 5'). EvenMax Gray, who I had the privilege ofknowing, built his models with a slightlywider steam chest to allow for the 5'track so the cross heads would be properlylined up to the cylinder and thesiderods would miss them. Big clubslike the NYSME and others changedover and re-wired their layouts and anage of 3rd rail disappeared until now itshows up in the middle of Gargraves andother wooden tied track (even with themiddle rail blackened). We owe a big‘Thank You’ to those 3 rail scalers outthere [who have] given the importers thequantity requirement to get our 2 railversions down in price. You can seewhere the short runs end up pricewiseand as a ‘runner’ I want my engines torun which is model railroading to me.This is just one man’s opinion and I amsure it will be challenged. Remember thefamous expression from Model Railroader;“Model Railroading is Fun.”Vince Waterman, Trackside SpecialtiesMore Roundtable FeedbackI found the Importers Roundtable discussionin OST#3 interesting in thecomplete absence of any acknowledgementof the positive impact of 3-railmodeling on O scale. I was frankly saddenedto see the feeling O scale is causingthe hobby to grow and not therealization that 3-rail hi-rail is where onewould expect most of the growth of Oscale to come from. Norm of Norm’s OScale sounded almost apologetic of thefact he sells AtlasO plastic. I think youwill find that of the manufacturers thatsell both O gauge and O scale, the 3-railcrowd is a much larger audience.To downplay the possible migrationto O scale of this group is just stupid.Not to encourage them to go the nextstep in their quest for detail is foolish.To insult them that they “play withtrains” is really a poor way to encouragepeople to invest in O scale.Brass is over priced, over delicate,and overrated to many operators oftrains. Perhaps the reason so much [ofit] sits on shelves in it’s original “brass”version versus paint is only for “snob”appeal. As mentioned, from three feetaway, many a plastic car looks betterthen brass.The fellow from Overland modelsthat complained that Mike Wolf copieshis engines. Well, I think he copies GMand GE. Overland may be the Cadillacof O Scale, but I’ll bet there’s a morerobust group of Chevy buyers buyingMTH. I certainly will not spend $6000for an Overland Coal Turbine, but I didpay $1000 for MTH’s. If Overland’sTower A in O scale starts appearing inads as a painted model at a “reasonable”price, I might be interested. Or I’ll waitfor a better price from Maryland.Tom Grimason(Ed.: I believe the point Brian Marshwas making is that Overland spends thetime and money to go to GM and GE toget their permission and cooperation tobuild the models they import.)Likes the Hall of FameKeep up with the “Hall of Fame”articles, and add a photo when possibleeven if it is an old one. As a new Oscaler, I’d love to see who I owe thanksto for keeping O scale alive and wellprior to the days of RTR kits and easilyavailable parts, etc.Take care, and continued success!Don DissingerFeedback on Observations #3Enjoyed meeting you at the receptionin Chicago and having the opportunityto chat about O scale and your new venture.Some comments on your “Obser-