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This is our fourth issue at the new site. Our coverage of
fine model building has been expanded to include modeling
by talented individuals like Brett Whelan and Jack Burgess.
Our coverage of Jim Harper's layout has been expanded courtesy
of our mild-mannered reporter from Australia, Brett Whelan.
O Scale West in Santa Clara, California was held two weeks
ago. It was another great show organized by Rod Miller and
his staff of volunteers. There were a number of operating
layouts at the show including Paul Martineau's sectional Proto48
layout.
This years contest had three exceptional Proto48 entries.
We were able to obtain a shot taken by Jim Ferreira of two
of the models. Bill Yancey entered a CP Rail modern steel
caboose that is a real work of art. Scroll down and you will
see a shot taken during the contest. There were two Proto48
steam locos entered by Norm Buckhart. The models were built
by Roy Pietschmann of Reno. We were able to get a photo of
the SP SE-4 built out of a Sunset A-3 Atlantic boiler and
a C-9 chassis. The other steamer was a WP 307 class USRA Heavy
2-8-2 rebuilt from an Overland brass import. We will try to
get a shot from Norm and post it in the next update.
We have a short modeling tip on modifying San
Juan AAR couplers to improve operation. The article is
based upon a method developed by Sheldon Schwedler of Coronado
Scale Models.
- "Photo Gallery" has several
new photos of fine ¼" scale models and layouts
- New articles in the "Articles
and Tips" section
- New products that are usable by Proto48 and standard O
(rolling stock)
- We have updated local shows and stocking dealers this
issue.
Photo by Jim Ferreira
Local Shows with Proto48 Content:
Indy Show
23-24 September 2005 Indianapolis, IN
James Canter hosts this two-day event. This year there will
be five Proto48 layouts open for tour after the show. The
opportunity to see five Proto48 layouts within a few hours
drive of the show is a unique opportunity. The show has the
usual selection of dealers, traders and clinics to fill you
time and to empty your pockets. Contact James Canter for more
information jcanternkp@aol.com
O Scale Nationals
This year the show will be held in St. Louis (Collinsville,
IL) at the Gateway Center. The site is about 15 miles
east of St. Louis in Illinois. The dates for the show are
June 15-18. There are lots of railroad attractions
including a large museum in a suburban of St. Louis.
O Scale West
February 2006, Santa Clara, CA
The show is held in the Santa Clara Convention Center adjacent
to the Westin Hotel. The show features clinics, layout tours,
and lots of sellers. Jim Harper presents a clinic on Proto48
for those interested in getting information from a long-time
modeler.
Chicago Midwest O Scale Meet
March 2005 Arlington Heights, IL
The show is held at the Sheraton Convention Center in Arlington
Heights. The show has a huge selling floor, operating layouts
including a Proto48 modular display. Woody Grosdoff or James
Canter usually hosts a meeting for Proto48 followers. Hill's
Hobby & Collectors Shop has sponsored the meet.
Stocking Dealers:
Des Plaines Hobbies,
1468 Lee St, Des Plaines, IL
60018
www.desplaineshobbies.com
Stocks Proto48 flex track, wheels and trucks ·
P&D Hobbies
31280 Groesbeck Hwy, Fraser, MI 48026
www.pdhobbyshop.com
Stocks conversion bolsters for converting P&D Bloomberg diesel
trucks to Proto48 as well as San Juan trucks and NWSL wheels
and conversions for diesel drives ·
Caboose Hobbies
500 South Broadway, Denver, CO 80209
www.caboosehobbies.com
Stocks San Juan trucks and wheels ·
High Sierra Models
4020 Kietzke Lane, Crossroads Center, Reno, NV 89502
www.highsierramodels.com
Chuck Gardner purchased the shop from Jim Harper and is continuing
to offer a wide range of Proto48 items. The shop is best stocking
dealer in the country. Track, track gages, lost wax turnout
kits, Right O' Way track parts, trucks and wheels ·
Coronado Scale Models
1544 Cypress Street, Phoenix, AZ 85006
(602) 254-9656
This shop has served the needs of fine scale modelers for
over 30 years. The owners are active ¼" scale modeler having
produced some beautiful locomotives and cars. Their shop offers
excellent mail order service and knowledgeable assistance.
You might check out the Photo Gallery for some of Stan Schwedler's
fine work.
Thanks,
Gene Deimling
Editor, The PROTO48 Newsletter
Supplier News:
American Switch & Signal
1945 N. Hwy 300 WestWinamac, IN 46996
574-946-7667
John Pautz has added several new switch parts to his lineup
within the past month. All of the parts are made from Right
O’ Way rail and are cast in nickel silver.
PDF
Catalog
The new parts are:
#7 bolted rigid frog Code 100
#7 bolted rigid frog Code 125
#7 Manganese insert frog Code 125
#8 Manganese insert frog Code 125
#10 bolted rigid frog Code 125
#10 Manganese insert frog Code 125
#10 Manganese insert frog Code 138
16'-6" points (no filing of stock rails) Code 125
John expects to release the following parts in a few months:
#9 bolted rigid frog Code 100
#7 self guarded frog Code 100
#7 self-guarded frog Code 125
16’ 6” points Code 100
All of the parts are $10.00 each and are done to Proto48
track standards.
Chooch Enterprises Inc.
http://www.choochenterprises.com/html/ultra_scale_ii.html
Mike O'Connell has moved into a new building with expanded
space for production of his fine line of building and rolling
stock kits. Mike has been quietly adding new buildings to
his Ultra Scale II line. Each structure is based upon an actual
structure that existed. The designs were based upon actual
design documents.
Chooch is busy preparing new rolling stock kits. The War Emergency
53’ 6” flat car will be released this year. It
was a very common design adopted by 19 railroads. This kit
will be followed by models of the Northern Pacific wood reefer
followed by the 4700 class double door auto car. Both cars
are classic designs that were well traveled and lasted for
years.
Protocraft
3165 California Street
San Francisco, CA 9415-2412
(415) 563-1771, (415) 563-1798 (FAX), protocraft48@yahoo.com
Protocraft is a key supplier of Proto48 wheels, parts and
conversion sets. Norm Buckhart, the owner, has released a
new catalog. The catalog
has been posted on this site as a pdf file.
RL Design
14123 206th St.
S.E., Snohomish, WA 98296-3947
Rick Leach has released a bunch of new decals for Southern
Pacific freight cars. We have included a link to his latest
catalog including illustrations of the lettering styles. Rick
is hard at work on new Northern Pacific lettering sets for
road diesels ranging from the FT to the F-9 units. He is doing
freight, the pine tree passenger and possibly the Lowey passenger
units later. He has nearly completed lettering for GP-7/9
with lettering styles up through the six-axel U-boats. A set
of lettering to cover switchers is being done as well. Their
catalog is
available on this site.
San Juan Car Company
P. O. Box 1028
Durango, Colorado 81302
Phone: 970-385-5256
http://www.sanjuancarco.com
San Juan showed test shots of their new Southern Pacific G-50-23
general service gondola at O Scale West this year. John Parker
has made significant strides in the precision of his recreation.
He has raised the bar kit makers and importers of ready-to-run
equipment. The kit is being designed entirely on CAD programs
that are used to drive die cutting machines. The application
of this modern technology are reflected in parts like the
improved Dreadnaught ends. The ends are about 0.020”
thick and have a full improved Dreadnaught corrugation on
both sides. The sides are made up of the vertical and diagonal
“metal” braces done in very thin cross-section
styrene with a separate “wood” piece that will
permit some interesting weathering possibilities. The underframe
feature “Dreadnaught style” drop doors and full
brake rigging. John is going to do the G-50-20 composite car
with a different end and the ASF A-3 Ride Control truck. He
plans to follow that with the G-50-22 all steel car built
by Bethlehem. This car is nearly identical to a series on
the UP and WP. The SP kits will include decals produced by
San Juan Decals with artwork by Charles Givens. The cars were
built in 1949 even though they look like the USRA gondola
produced by Intermountain several years ago. The next project
beyond this is likely to be the Rio Grande 50’ double
sheathed wood car. You might have noticed that they now have
a website with more information about their products.
Smokey Mountain Model Works
35 Springwood Drive
Asheville, NC 28805-1626
Phone: 828-777-5619
Jimking3@earthlink.net
www.smokymountainmodelworks.com
Smoky Mountain is developing a new kit for the unique B&O
M-53 wagontop boxcar. This is a true signature car that could
be found all over the US from the 1930’s through the
late 1970’s. The novel design incorporated embossed
vertical ribs and curved edges at the top of the car side.
Another interesting feature was the Duryea cushioned underframe.
The kit will be composed of a urethane one-piece body with
styrene details like a Chooch kit. The basic body design is
being designed using CAD software. The design files will be
used to develop a 3-D master using a process called SLA. It
involves the use of a laser that traces the shape of the object
in a form of urethane. The process generates a very accurate
reproduction with fine details such as rivets as part of the
master. The master is then used to cast urethane production
parts using rubber molds and poured urethane resins.
This update posted: 4/29/2004
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