|
We continue to add new material with our fifth issue at
the new site. Our goal is to continue to offer information
and images of scale modeler’s work. Proto48 is a small
movement within the ¼” scale community. We have
been around since the 1960’s and continue to support
fine model building. Our focus is on standard gauge modeling.
Proto48 defines a gauge and wheel profile for locomotives,
cars and track but it also expresses concept of finescale
modeling. Our models start out with the correct gauge of 56.5”
and scale wheel profile and continue throughout the model
to create an accurately scaled prototype. Quarter-inch scale
offers railroad modelers a huge potential in terms of size
and mass. It is big enough to permit the craftsman to accurately
portray things like underbody details, doors, roofwalks and
ladders.
What is New in Proto48?
Warner Clark’s P48 Maumee Basin Lines has been added
to the Photo Gallery section. The photos were taken by a neighbor,
Richard Bourgeries who models in HO. You will find a mini-construction
article on rebuilding an Intermountain boxcar into a close
copy of the Bx-27 class. The construction focuses on building
the prototype’s unique Duryea cushioned underframe.
We also have a short modeling tip by master builder, Tom Mix,
on making rivets. It is a really simple method and very effective.
O Scale Industry News
As most of you have read by now, Atlas O, LLC has purchased the tooling for the P&D EMD F-unit product line. They intend to release the models with their usual vertical can motor drive and die cast truck instead the exquisite Korean brass trucks and smooth running drive. The Atlas drive is very difficult to convert to Proto48. I recommend that you stock up now rather than later. P&D is still selling his existing inventory. Atlas plans to release painted dummy units. It may be possible to install a new drive in the Atlas dummy.
Middle Division has announced a Chinese-made plastic X29 boxcar. Rumors of this car surfaced a year ago but the official word has been slow to surface. This is a very important car in steam era freight car history and should be well represented on your roster.
Challenger Imports decided to toss in the towel and exist importing of brass. This impacts a planned project of Southern Pacific S-12 and S-14 0-6-0 switchers. Precision Scale continues to import good quality locos as does Key, Car and Loco and Kohs. Sunset offers good running brass that can be converted but with certain compromises in accuracy and detail. They offer excellent value when the price is compared to the other importers.
Decals and dry transfers are going to become scarcer in the future. Clover House, Champ and C-D-S have announced an end to their production. This leaves Microscale and a few smaller firms to support O scale.
- "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.
Local Shows with Proto48 Content:
Indianapolis Show
September 2006 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.
O Scale National
19-23 July 2006 Parsippany, NJ
This year the show will be held in Parsippany at the Hilton
Hotel. There are lots of layouts to tour and of course, New
York City.
O Scale West
3-4 February 2006, Santa Clara, CA
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
18-19 March 2006 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. He has brought
out guard rails and points for Code 100 and Code 125.
Catalog
All of the parts are done to Proto48 track standards.
Chooch Enterprises Inc.
P.O. Box 1200, Maple Valley, WA 98038
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.
Mullet River Model Works
118 Hudson Court, Plymouth, WI 53073
http://www.mulletrivermodelworks.com
Mullet River Model Works is a new producer of fine laser-cut
wood kits. They offer a beautiful Soo Line wood caboose and
several railroad buildings. The picture and model shown below
are the work of Ray Grosser. He is a Soo Line HO modeler who
has been messing around with 1/48" scale.
Foothill Model Works
P.O. Box 470, Willits, CA 95490
http://home.inreach.com/jkitts/
FoothillModel Works has long been a supplier to the narrow
gauge community. They produce some very nice urethane kits
and some excellent injection molded parts useful to the standard
gauge modelers as well. One such part is the new Acme brake
wheel. It is very nicely done and was used on many standard
gauge freight cars.
Hobby Master
Sales@hobbymaster.net
http://www.hobbymaster.net
A new company has come on the scene based in Australia. Their
first offerings are laser-cut polycarbonate modeling aids
such as grab iron bending jigs and liquid cement/ paint bottle
holders. Their website lists a number of planned projects
like etched roofwalks and fire escapes. Brett Whelan is principal
behind Hobby Master which provides assurance that the products
will be of high quality. Check out their site.
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.
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.
Catalog
Greg Komar
13704 Country Court Drive,Tampa, FL 33625
Komar offers a wide range of high quality dry transfers covering
Midwestern and Eastern railroads in some detail. I have used
his sets with great success on several models. He doesn't
have a website but we loaded his latest listing on the site
as a PDF.
Catalog
San Juan Car Company
P. O. Box 1028
Durango, Colorado 81302
Phone: 970-385-5256
http://www.sanjuancarco.com
San Juan continues to make progress on their SP general service
gondola. It now appears that most of the major carbody parts
are done. It is hoped that the kit will debut at O Scale West
in February.
Irish Tracklayer
2682 West Palo Alto Ave, Fresno, CA 93711-1107
john@irishtracklayer.com
http://www.irishtracklayer.com
John Houlihan offers a line of lost wax brass castings for
steam, diesel, rolling stock, track and signals. The castings
are done by Associated Brass in the Fresno area. They are
first rate quality with masters done by the late Oscar Neubert
III. Oscar did much of the old Backshop line as well as masters
for others. He was one of the finest pattern makers and modelers
to live.The products sold by John cover SP diesels very well
and as well as some important steam parts. I have purchased
a number of them and think they are really great.
Precision Scale Company, Inc.
http://www.precisionscaleco.com
Precision Scale continues to announce new O scale models while
other importers are pulling back from the scale. They have
listed several large steam locos and passenger car sets including
Northern Pacific truss rod cars. If you are interested, contact
your local dealer or VFR direct to Precision. The passenger
cars shown below in this Al Farrow shot are what Precision
would like to import. The photo is from the collection of
Rick Leach.
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 a Southern 41'
flat car. This is an excellent choice since the cars ran all
over the US at one time. The basic car will serve at the basis
of a Southern gondola to be released shortly. Smoky Mountain
is planning to do a Norfolk & Western low-sided gondola as
well. The cars are made from urethane with injection molded
details including custom stake pockets. Jim King expects to
have the kit out this fall.
Southern Car & Foundry
970 Sunshine Lane, Suite D, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
http://www.southerncarandfoundry.com/
Owner, Jon Cagle, is busy working a three new Southern Pacific
and Union Pacific Harriman head end cars. He is working on
a 60' double door baggage, 40' RPO/Baggage and a 60' RPO.
These are excellent choice to start. The prototypes could
be found all over the country. Head end cars from various
roads would end up in unlikely places and trains. The kits
will be made of urethane with detail parts for some of the
basic underframe parts. You will have to add trucks, couplers,
brake parts and such. You will also need some decals and paint
to finish. We have included a sample section of a baggage
car side. The price has not been set as of yet or a release
date set.
This update posted: 12/16/2005
|
