This is our sixth issue at the new site and the tenth overall. We want to thank those who have contributed material for this site. Our goal is to continue to offer information about fine model building with an emphasis on Proto48.

The Proto48 movement has been going for nearly 40 years and has gained the respect of many in the model railroading community. We often hear how neat P48 and but I started……… We encourage you to give it a try. You will find challenges to model in the scale but that is part of the fun to solve modeling problems. It is a departure from the current trend of open the box and put the train on the track. While you can use ready-to-run equipment built in China, you will have to change the wheels to run on the 4’ 8 ½” gauge. Once you do that you will find that there are other improvements that can be made to the details and soon you will become hooked. 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 4’ 8 ½” and scale wheel profile and continue throughout the model to create an accurately scaled replica of the 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. Proto48 standard gauge modelers tend to achieve even a higher level of detail and accuracy like their narrow gauge brethren.

What is New in Proto48 Modeler?
As Garrison Keillor so often says: “It has been a quite week at Lake Wobegon”. This update concentrates on new products and a few new photos. We did include a new tip from Jim Hickey on making a sprung coupler pocket for the San Juan Car Company AAR Type-E with a scale shank.

The big news event was the import Glacier Park Models of the classic Southern Pacific 0-6-0. The model was imported with P48 drivers and tender wheels making it a simple process to convert. The model sold out immediately. Glacier Park Models has promised more models in the future.

Proto48 Meet
Several P48 modelers have been talking about staging an impromptu meeting within a meeting during the Sunshine Models Prototype Modelers Seminar held in Naperville, IL on 26-29 October. While this is primarily a HO event, there are numerous clinics presented on prototype rolling stock. In addition, there a number of vendors selling photos of prototype equipment. Several Proto48 modelers attended the 2005 meet and made an impression on the attendees. You may have noticed the recent article in Railroad Model Craftsman July issue on Jim Zwernemann’s Rock Island single sheathed caboose.

The RMC editor, Bill Schaumburg, took notice of Jim’s model on display and asked for an article. RMC is very supportive of Proto48 and will publish quality articles. This magazine maintains an open perspective on all facets of the hobby. Consider attending the Naperville meet next year.

O Scale Industry News
The big news is the Glacier Park Models Southern Pacific S-12/ S-14 classes 0-6-0 switchers. The models are being built by Boo Rim, one of Korea’s top builders. They were delivered painted, sound ready and with optional Proto48 drivers and tender wheels. The project was a complete sellout. It turned out to be one of the finest 0-6-0 ever imported.

Keystone Models, Car and Locomotive Shop, and Pacific Limited are stopping the importation brass models from Korea. There has been a lot of turmoil in the Korean production capabilities in recent days. There is a shortage of skilled workers and the owners are busy shifting to other more profitable items. The one thing that is certain is that prices will continue to rise. Chinese factories have been spotty in terms of production and quality. Scratchbuilding and modifications to older imports are paths to building a Proto48 roster. There have been a large number of models imported over the years and they show up on eBay all the time.

As many of you may already know, Hundman Publications has ceased publication of the Mainline Modeler magazine. The last issue published by Hundman was August 2006. Bob Hundman’s magazine contributed significantly to the hobby over the years. He published numerous plans with extensive photo coverage of the prototype. In recent years, the magazine suffered from the lack of new and innovative material a problem shared with many magazines these days. There have been unconfirmed reports that a buyer has been found.

• "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:

O Scale National Show
20-22 September 2007 Indianapolis, IN
The O Scale National will be combined with the fall meet in Indianapolis. The show will be co-hosted by James Canter's Indy crew and the O Scale Trains magazine. The show will have an expanded format encompassing clinics, P48 and O Scale King meeting and layout tours. This is an excellent opportunity to see five Proto48 layouts within a few hours drive of the show. The show will hosted at the Marriott. There are several other hotels close offering a choice in price and accommodations.

O Scale West
15-17 February 2007, Santa Clara, CA
Show is held in the Santa Clara Convention Center adjacent to the Hyatt (formerly 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.
www.rodmiller.com/osw.shtml

Chicago Midwest O Scale Meet
17-18 March 2007 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.

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

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.

Supplier News:

American Switch & Signal
1945 N. Hwy 300 West
Winamac, 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. See the latest brochure in the Suppliers section.

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 is releasing three new O scale freight car kits this year. The first out is the Northern Pacific wood reefer patterned after the 90000 series. The patterns and pilot model are the work of Jim Zwernemann. Rick Leach has done a new and very accurate decal set for the model. Mike had all new plastic detail parts done for the kit.

The second kit to be released will the Northern Pacific 4700 series single sheathed automobile care. This is a 50’ long car with an arched roof and automobile end door. All new tooling was prepared along with custom injection molded plastic parts for the Camel end door hardware. Like the reefer, Rick Leach is doing a new set of decals for this car as well.





The third car to be released this year is a Nickel Plate Road war emergency 40’ boxcar (8000- 8199 series). This particular car was built by Pullman in 1944 and with many lasting to the N&W acquisition in 1964. Chooch has decided to offer all of their exquisite plastic parts separately. These are the same parts that were done for their Ultra Scale line of rolling stock kits. They have been selling the parts at local hobby shows over the last few years. You can now buy them online at their website.



You will also find an extensive line of building kits on the Chooch website. Many of them are available as a façade so the can be used to create a backdrop to a scene without taking up a lot of depth. The kits are composed of urethane castings and laser-cut window frames. A number of the buildings offered were taken from actual drawings of historic building found the Tacoma and Seattle area. Their designs are classic and could be found in many parts of the country.

Mullet River Model Works
118 Hudson Court, Plymouth, WI 53073
www.mulletrivermodelworks.com/index.htm
Mullet River Model Works is a new producer of fine laser-cut wood kits. They offer a variety of kits ranging from simple structures, cabooses, freight cars and eventually a depot. The most recent offerings include a Milwaukee Road wood caboose, C&NW wood caboose, C&NW 40’ truss rod flat car. The kits contain decals and metal hardware for things like steps and portions of the underframe. I have included a picture of the Soo Line class B depot built by Ray Grosser.

Nickel Plate Models
13732 Lakeside Drive
Clarksville, MD 21029
www.trainresource.com/Nickel_Plate_Models.html
Here is a firm that has been around for a while providing O scale modelers very accurate decals and imported kits and finished models. The models follow the Nickel Plate Road prototype but have use to a wide range of models. They have recently released custom decals for the NKP yellow striped diesels both road and switcher styles. They have imported a range of custom etched and formed passenger cars and freights car from England. They offer Proto48 trucks for their recent war emergency caboose. Their products are high quality and are worth a look.

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
18498 Half Moon Street
Unit 203
Sonoma, CA 95476-4835 (707) 935-7011 (voice message)
protocraft48@yahoo.com
Website: www.protocraft48.com

Protocraft is a key supplier of Proto48 wheels, parts and conversion sets. Norm Buckhart, the owner, has released a new catalog. We recommend you contact Norm directly to get the latest information.

RL Design
14123 206th St.
S.E., Snohomish, WA 98296-3947
Rick Leach has released a couple of new decal sets this year. He had done a new set for a Rio Grande steel general service gondola, Rio Grande 53’ 6” AAR flatcar (fits Chooch kit) and a Western Pacific double sheathed boxcar ( fits San Juan kit). Rick has more sets in the mill. He just completed the NP reefer and 50’ boxcar sets. The latest flyer indicates the NP diesel sets are still coming as are new sets for tank cars like UTLX and GATX.

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 is nearly complete with the SP general service gondola kit. John Parker brought a sample to O Scale West. It is still lacking ladders and few minor details but it is awesome. The kit will likely show up this winter. It has been a long wait but one that is worthwhile since it will be his finest work to date.

Irish Tracklayer
2682 West Palo Alto Ave, Fresno, CA 93711-1107
john@irishtracklayer.com
http://www.irishtracklayer.com
John Houlihan is about to release a new line of signals based upon parts developed by N&G Signal Company (HO supplier) years ago but never sold commercially. There are two styles of semaphores covering upper and lower quadrant styles as built by US&S Company. The first offering will cover SP and ATSF prototypes but these will adapt to many other roads. He will also offer General Railway Signal searchlight signals again based upon the original N&G tooling. John is now offering laser-cut railroad buildings. The first offering is a ATSF interlocking tower that once protected the Yosemite Valley crossing of the ATSF mainline.


Precision Scale Company, Inc.
http://www.precisionscaleco.com
Precision Scale is going to expand the offerings of NP steel truss rod passenger cars. Chair cars, diners and a combine will be offered as a minimum.

Smokey Mountain Model Works
35 Springwood Drive
Asheville, NC 28805-1626
Phone: 828-777-5619
Jimking3@earthlink.net
www.smokymountainmodelworks.com

Smoky Mountain has decided to exit the O scale market to concentrate on S and HO. Jim King, the owner, was very disappointed with initial sales.

Branchline Trains
www.branchline-trains.com/
Branchline Trains is an established supplier of HO models. They recently entered into O scale with a line of laser-cut building kits. Currently, you will find nine different building kits available. A number of the buildings are based upon actual structures.

This update posted: 11/15/2006