The Proto48 Modeler continues to offer modelers the latest information, tips and inspiration with this the 11th issue. As always we are indebted to the modelers who take the time to send material to share with others. We hope that this spirit of sharing will continue allowing us to bring fresh material to the web so that it can be enjoyed by everyone.

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, roof walks 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?
We have added a photo article from John Pautz on converting a Sunset Southern Pacific P-8/P-10 pacific to Proto48. The article is not a detailed step-by-step description but a series of captured photos that show the important modifications to this brass import. The approach can be applied to nearly any import so there is something to be learned even if you don't own the specific model described. The model shown here is what the basic model looks like if you had purchased one when they came out a year ago

We also have added gallery of James Hickey photos covering his early work on Proto48 models.

We have added some new photos of models featured at O Scale West this year. You can find the pictures in the Gallery section.

Last but not least, Brett Whelan has returned to modeling and promises to contribute new material in the future. He has also established a new Yahoo group called P48 Layout and can be found at this address: groups.yahoo.com/group/p48layout/

Speaking of Yahoo groups, there is a group dedicated to Proto48 on Yahoo and it can be found at: groups.yahoo.com/group/p48_modeler/

Prototype Modelers 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 in late 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 2006 meet and made an impression on the attendees. Proto48 modelers captured 3 awards for their work. Jim Zwernemann and Robert Leners were recognized by a largely HO group as having superior models on display. In addition, A.T. Kott, James Hickey, the Schwedler Brothers, Mike O'Connell and others put our a nearly full table of Proto48 models.

O Scale Industry News

The big news is the Glacier Park Models, now a division of Hi Tech Details is continuing with their O scale steam locomotive program. Their first effort was the Southern Pacific S-12/ S-14 classes 0-6-0 switchers. The models sold out almost immediately upon hitting the country.

The next release will be another jewel from Boo Rim, one of Korea's top builders. They are building four different models of the venerable Southern Pacific C-8 and C-9 consolidation. The new models will be delivered painted, sound ready and with optional Proto48 drivers and tender wheels. The pilot model of 2698 is stunning. The locos being done are 2698, 2722, 2799 and 2811. The models will be available with the post-WWII style "Southern Pacific" and the pre-war "Southern Pacific Lines". The prototypes selected are different from the much earlier PFM locos.

• "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. www.2k7oscalenat.com/

O Scale West
7-9 February 2008, 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
March 2008 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

Stocking Dealers:

Des Plaines Hobbies
1468 Lee St, Des Plaines, IL 60018
www.desplaineshobbies.com
Has an extensive stock of 1/48 items with some Proto48 available.

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
www.choochenterprises.com/html/ultra_scale_ii.html
Mike O'Connell has released three new O scale freight car kits this year.

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.

You will also find an extensive line of building kits on the Chooch website. Many of them are available as a false-front 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. Mullet River has been upgrading their kits with etched brass parts for underframes. They provide the bend lines and dimples where a rivet can be impressed. Glenn Guerra recently showed off a new water tank kit with an etched brass platform and assembly jig. He has added several new cabooses to his product line including a Central of Georgia, Soo long caboose and the Yosemite Valley

RY Models
7 Edgedale Court
Wyomissing, PA 19610
www.richyodermodels.com/
RY Models has been importing a number of Proto48 models in recent years. They are going to be importing a Baldwin S-12 switcher and the National B-1 50-ton freight truck. Check out their website and see their extensive line of products in standard O Gauge and Proto48.

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. They are also the source for many different NKP decal sets including the NKP War Emergency boxcar release by Chooch.

Hobby Master
Brett Whelan has decided to put on hold the business pending more time to properly develop products.

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. They are working on getting the old Chooch brass/white metal line of trucks back on the market. Each truck has required considerable engineering work to get them to run properly. Norm Buckhart, the owner, has released a new catalog. We recommend you contact Norm directly to get the latest information. There is also a rumor of new website for Protocraft.

RL Design
14123 206th St.
S.E., Snohomish, WA 98296-3947
Rick Leach is busy working on his latest project for a comprehensive set (s) of decals for Northern Pacific diesels including switchers, GP/RS first generation and freight F-units. The decals will screen printed with accurate color matching. Look for the release of the decals later this year.

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
www.sanjuancarco.com
San Juan is busy working on his new line of ready-to-run On3/On30 cars and locos. The general service gondola and retooled AAR coupler are waiting available time to complete. The latest information is that the gondola will be out in the late summer timeframe.

Irish Tracklayer
2682 West Palo Alto Ave, Fresno, CA 93711-1107
john@irishtracklayer.com
www.irishtracklayer.com
John Houlihan continues to release new parts all of the time. Check out his website for the latest product information. You will find tons of brass detailing parts for steam, diesel, rolling stock and signals. He is also releasing a line of laser-cut wood structure kits.

Southern Car and Foundry
970 Sunshine Land, Suite D
Altamonte Springs, FL 32714
Phone: 828-777-5619
jscagle@msn.com
www.southerncarandfoundry.com

Jon Cagle is about to release his new SP/UP head end cars. They are made of urethane and etched brass details. The model will have a one-piece body and require minimal assembly to complete. You will find a shot of his HO kit to give you an idea of the kit makeup and a shot of production master prior to molding.

Precision Scale Company, Inc.
www.precisionscaleco.com
Precision Scale is offering a wider selection of classic steel NP heavyweight cars in three basic color schemes as well as undecorated brass. They are gathering reservations so if you are interested you should contact your local dealer.

This update posted: 5/8/2007