Precision Turntables for the Discerning ModelerFEATURING PRO-DEX TM INFRA-RED POSITIONING & DYNAMIC BRAKINGNow it’s easy & exciting to operateprototypically: 1. Select direction2. Push run button 3. Watch bridgeadvance to any of 48 positions, thenslow & lock on desired track whenyou release button!AAA PRECISIONTURNTABLESPO Box 64, Plantsville, CT 06479, USA1-800-569-1423 • www.AAATurntables.com• Heavy-duty museum-quality construction• Realistic operation!• Painted and ready to run• Manufactured in all scales from Z to Gand all bridge sizes on a per order basis• Mfg in U.S.A. by skilled machinists usingCNC precision parts. Hand assembled & tested• Call for specs or visit our websiteTHE WESTERN RESERVE “O” SCALE TRAIN SHOWCLEVELAND, OHIOSaturday, November 3, 2007 9:00 am - 2:00 pmAdmission: $6.00 6’ Tables - $37.00LAKELAND COMMUNITY COLLEGEI90 and ST.RT. 306 (S.E. Corner)Held in the Auxiliary Gym / Athletic Center24 Hr. Police • Public Welcome • Free Parking • 2-rail “O” scale only • Please no other gaugesSORRY NO PASSES ACCEPTED AT THIS SHOW • THIS SHOW IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE WESTERN RESERVE O SCALE COMMITTEE WHO ANNUALLY PUT ON A SIMILAR SHOWBOB FRIEDEN - 9695 CHILLICOTHE ROAD - KIRTLAND, OHIO 44094 - 440-256-8141 - FAX: 440-256-174964 • O <strong>Scale</strong> <strong>Trains</strong> - May/June ’07
Up On the Roof?So I was up on the roof of my houserecently cleaning out the gutters and,after several brushes with death and/or serious injury, I safely climbed downthe ladder and was pleased to findIssue #30 of O <strong>Scale</strong> <strong>Trains</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>waiting for me. After carefully perusingeach page and every picture I havedecided to move my wife and family toOscaleland where I will never have toclean out a gutter again, because thereare no gutters or downspouts anywherein Oscaleland (at least in Issue #30 ofOST).As I thought about this further itoccurred to me that we model everyseason, including winter, all times ofthe day and night (sunsets being particularlyattractive), but we never modelrain scenes, hence no need for guttersand downspouts. Of course, rain mightindeed mess with our electrical distributionsystems but the rivers, lakes andponds we create look so real that it is ashame we couldn’t conjure up a goodrainstorm now and then with wateroverflowing the gutters and pouringdown the side of our scale model houses,barns and various other buildings.Perhaps someone skilled in digitalphoto manipulation could create aSpring shower or a Summer thunderstorm.Hey, why not a full blown hurricane?Now that would be a real test forthose gutters!Keep up the good work Joe. You’vegot a terrific magazine. Congratulationson five wonderful years and much successas you continue to celebrate the artof 1:48 modeling.Dick Nagle, Conn.O <strong>Scale</strong> National vs NMRAAs for merging, the answer is NO,the reason being that the NMRA membersthat I have met leave me with asour taste, as it pertains to O <strong>Scale</strong>. Iwas at a regional NMRA meet recently,and these members came across to meas being cold. When I registered, on myname badge I added the words “Modelin 2-Rail O <strong>Scale</strong>”. No sooner than I hadthe badge on, an NMRA member askedwhy I put that on there. Was I thinkingon getting someone’s attention? I toldhim you never know.I went to one clinic on scratchbuildingin brass. The person giving the clinicwas a “Master Model Railroader”. Hewas scratchbuilding O <strong>Scale</strong> trolleys.After the clinic was over, I went up tohim and told him that I model O <strong>Scale</strong>trolleys too, hoping I found a fellow O<strong>Scale</strong>r in the area. The first words out ofhis mouth were, “How many of themare scratchbuilt?” As soon as I told himthat I build from kits or I find them atshows RTR, you could feel the temperaturedrop to freezing; he wanted nothingto do with me, and just started talking tosomeone else.I did enter the model contest withan O <strong>Scale</strong> Diesel, the only entry in theDiesel category. This same person wasa judge. Because I didn’t scratchbuildthe cab on the engine (I just formed itfrom a piece of brass that was etched), Ilost points. This was his pet peeve, notscratchbuilt/no points, and he wantedto award me second prize because ofthis. But I did get the first place prize,because the other judge said it waswrong. And as for model contests injoint scales, I find that if there is an O<strong>Scale</strong> piece and an HO piece in thesame category, the HO piece gets thehigher award and they could both bedetailed to the nines.I did join the NMRA for a six-monthtrial period; out of the six issues of <strong>Scale</strong>Rails that I received, only one containedan article/layout on O <strong>Scale</strong>.So to put this all together, if theO <strong>Scale</strong> National and the NMRA dodecide to merge, I believe that the O<strong>Scale</strong> side will get lost in the shuffle. Tome, anyway, I think that the NMRA isjust about 1/87 scale and not 1/4” scale.Bill Wheeler, Fla. (by email)OL&N CorrectionThank you for printing my article onthe Osprey Lakes & Northern O <strong>Scale</strong>Railway. However, upon reading it, Irealized that between the rough draftand the final copy I submitted, recognitionfor my painter, Ross Wakefield ofPROTO PAINT, got left out. Obviouslymy locomotives and rolling stock are animportant part of my layout. They arenot only custom-designed and paintedby Ross, but are often extensively modified,lighting added, running apparatusreworked and fine tuned. His contributionsto my railroad, as with the othersmentioned in the article, are greatlyappreciated.My apologies to Ross for the omission.Brian Ottaway, CanadaA Quick ROTSEnclosed please find a check torenew my subscription because I don’twant to miss a single issue. Each oneis better than the last and I’m using theadvertisers to find the things I needquite a bit.I know this is an old trick but I wantedto offer it for other (and younger)readers.I was able to pick up a couple ofnice brass Pennsylvania railroad cabincars at the Kirkland show held in Ohiolast year. The holes for the screws forthe coupler boxes were worn and thescrews would not stay tight. I put a dropof my wife’s clear fingernail polish oneach screw and let it set up overnight.The next morning the bond was set andI’ve had no problem since making thisrepair. Should you use the clear polishon an exterior nut or bolt it can bepainted to match the existing color. Thebest thing is if you need to remove thescrew or nut the clear nail polish willbreak loose much easier than a comercialstyle locktight product.Hope this helps someone and I’ll seeyou in Chicago.Very truly yours.Phil Rowe,Errata for issue #30We neglected to credit Art Selby fortaking the photos of George Eschbach’slayout. We sincerely regret the omission.May/June ’07- O <strong>Scale</strong> <strong>Trains</strong> • 65
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