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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-
vations” column. The historian is still agood idea as is the Hall of Fame. HoweverI don’t know that there is enoughmaterial to run these continuously for agreat length of time. Why not alternatethem; Hall of Fame in one issue, Historyin the next. That doesn’t overload thebook with non-modeling stuff yet keepsan “O Scale Heritage” column going.The dealer Roundtable report from theMarch meet was very interesting. It putsa great perspective on the equipmentmarket today. Since the brass importersare doing only big engines it leaves theunder $1000 market open to Weaver,Atlas, etc., to come out with small andmedium size steam locos (and dieselstoo) that can only help the surge of interestin 2-rail O Scale.Article suggestion: There are still alot of the old AHM 0-8-0 Indiana HarborBelt kits (unmotorized) floatingaround. There are one or more for saleat almost every train meet. As built withthe AHM motorizing unit (very scarcethese days) they were not the huskybeast in model form that the prototypewas. Locomotive Workshop did offer amotorizing kit for a while that made itinto a decent pulling engine. How aboutan “upgrade” article on this engine.Either take the plastic kit and build it ona brass frame with decent motor anddrive or take an existing loco and putthat new drive under it. It seems to methis is the kind of construction articleyour magazine is aiming for. Mythought here is to get a decent locomotiveat a reasonable price. Another angleis that these have been built up into 2-8-0 types. Explain what it takes to do that.Bob Smith(Ed.: Anybody out there willing to dothe AHM 0-8-0 bash article?)Wants Trackwork ArticlesLooks like another good issue, buthope you get some articles dealingspecifics on layouts, like trackwork andscenery, especially smaller home type Oscale layouts, rather than big club jobs.Would also like to see an article on trackand track components available frommanufactures. Also how about moreinfo leaning towards the smaller Oscaler, who is limited to smaller fundsand resources.Mike Pierce(Ed.: Mike, we’re working on a trackworkarticle but it now needs to wait forthe Atlas 2 rail components. Next issuewill feature a small layout.)What We Need Is... More Track ArticlesMy issue [#3] arrived yesterday. Ibelieve it is your best issue yet. Ienjoyed the milk car article and theRoundtable discussion.I am a hi-railer. I run scale-sized,transition period equipment (40s and50s) for the B&O, C&O, and WM. I amalso in a modular club that has set upnumerous displays throughout the DC-Baltimore Metro area. Some of ourequipment is equipped with scale wheelsets and Kadee couplers.Things that would be helpful to knowinclude currently available track, how itcompares (Microtek v. House of Duddyv. old Atlas/Rocco track v. new Atlastrack v. 2 rail Gargraves), availability(how long does it take to fill an order?),availability of turnouts, and cost.What would be of immediate help tonew 2-railers and 3-railers alike wouldbe a guide to freight and passenger cartrucks, wheelsets, and where to orderthem. It would also be good to knowabout Kadee [couplers]. Which coupleris best for what type and make of carand, what is the best source?My suspicion is that if 10 percent ofthe 3-rail community decided all at onceto convert to 2-rail, today’s 2-rail industrycould not meet the demand. I haven’tseen that discussed anywhere. I alsothink that the 3-rail converts are notgoing to be the same breed as the woodand metal craftsmen. Nobody consistentlyhas that much time. We are goingto be more of the ready to run variety,sort of super-sized HO guys. We willlike to super detail and paint, but I thinkeven plastic kit makers have learnedthey need to sell their cars as RTR.So I guess where I am going withthis is that 2 rail is about to change fromthe way it has been. It will have to so itcan grow. Thank you for the magazine.Gary Matthews◆O Scale Trains • 39
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Page 16: Product News & ReviewsReview: SGL L
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Page 21 and 22: OSTReed ArtimInterviews O Scale Rea
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Page 25 and 26: Another custom built structure.This
Page 27: eaking windows, peeling paint, you
Page 31: Using a hobby knife. I carved off a
Page 34 and 35: Modeler's Shelf34 • O Scale Train
Page 36 and 37: INTRODUCING...ATLAS O SCALE TRACK I
Page 40 and 41: O Scale Hall of FameFrank Ellison w
Page 42 and 43: Crapolafrom theCupolaJohn C. SmithP
Page 44 and 45: Proto48 ModelingGene DeimlingModel
Page 46 and 47: EventsSeptember 2002Rhode Island, W
Page 48 and 49: from the car. This will be a bit sh
Page 50 and 51: This C&NWclass E5Pacific wasbuilt b
Page 52 and 53: Detailing a Weaver GP38-2“It’s
Page 54 and 55: ObservationsJoe Giannovario, Editor
Page 56: New In Stock - from Pecos River Bra

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