A. Louis Ertz's West Tennessee Central OST Interviews Reed Artim ...

at full speed and standing. Problems developed when passenger
cars were added. About 30 passenger cars with interior
lighting used up the AC/DC power assigned to the locomotives
and they just sat on the track with a low hum. A block
system was necessary to kill the passenger car lights when
they were sitting at the station and then a few other blocks
were added for other cars with lights, such as cabooses, work
trains, and others. I then decided to use the old standard
power supply. A Variac Power Supply System was installed at
each control panel and PFM sound was installed. I could then
switch from Dynatrol to the Variac or to PFM sound on either
loop with DPDT switches. Wiring to me was the most work
and without the help from a fellow model railroader, James
Cain, it would never have been installed as professionally as it
was. With all the blocks, power options, and signal interface
with the panels, I have over 70,000 feet of wire under the railroad,
all color coded and tagged. Turnouts are controlled with
push buttons mounted in the panel on a schematic track plan,
with indicator LEDs. Signals along the right of way are also
duplicated with LEDs on the control panel. There are seven
control panels, with one master panel, that has control of the
entire railroad and can give the other sub-panels control over
their portion of the railroad.
Background & Ballast Work
The wall background was a sky blue color rolled on. Then
the clouds were painted on with acrylic artist paint using a
broad brush. White with a touch of blue was used, twisting
the brush as you go. If you make a mistake simply roll over
8 • O Scale Trains
with the sky blue background paint.
White was air brushed on last to make a
distant haze in the background at the
horizon line. The foreground was
applied using sponges dipped in acrylic
artist paint, using a pie pan as a palate, to
simulate trees, foliage, and bushes.
Using Hunter Green with a touch of yellow,
I tried to match the foreground
lichen with the background. The ballast
work was done before the scenery was
done around the track. First, an application
of Elmer’s White Glue was applied
on either side of the sloping roadbed and
then sprinkle the ballast on this area and
let dry. Then the remaining ballast was poured on the ties and
spread out with an artist’s brush. When the ballast was in the
proper place, water spray was applied with a small amount,of
detergent added. While wet, I used a large toy plastic syringe
to apply thinned Elmer’s White Glue. Use plenty of glue and
let it get on all the ties and rail, After this portion of the ballast
is in place, carefully wipe off the glue from the rails and the
inside face of the rails. The white glue on the ties will dry and
will not show, as it will be clear and have a flat finish.
Every Saturday morning the local “O” Scale model railroaders
have an operating session running the equipment on
the West Tennessee Central and their prize pieces of equipment.
After the morning get-together, it’s off to the local barbecue
shop where more railroad shop talk continues. Then it’s
back to the railroad for some final switching.
There is always some new project to start and I look forward
to finishing the ones that I have already begun. ◆