I was surprised to find that no one has ever actually documented a Red Caboose GP-9 rebuild. Now lots of folks know that P&D Hobbies makes a repower kit, some don’t. Also some, but not many, know that Des Plaines Hobbies makes a brass frame for the Red caboose GP-9. So, I’m going to show how to rebuild a Red Caboose GP-9 here. It does not require any power tools other than a drill and a soldering iron. I’m also going to add DCC with sound. (more…)

Do professional railroaders approach a switching situation differently from model railroaders? You bet they do. First, I’d wager they don’t consider the switching at various industries as a game to be played for entertainment value. It’s work for them and has real and serious consequences in terms of time, money and personal safety. (more…)

I made a video of a super-detailed Atlas O turnout with a hidden throwbar (which I will detail later here) and a San Juan Car Co. switch stand. I rigged the switch stand to turn when the turnout is thrown. Also shown is the micro push button used to activate the servo switch motor. (more…)

I’ve added issues from #33 thru #39 to the free Free Dowloads link and I’ve updated the All Time Review Index thru issue #50 (which will be released in about 10 days). Have fun.

Joe

On Friday evening March 12, of the Chicago March Meet held in Lombard IL, Joe Giannovario, publisher of O Scale Trains Magazine, moderated a panel discussion on the state of kits and kit building in O Scale today. (more…)

Construction Photos

And so it begins! The first photo illustrates several changes to the room.

Two of the things that have come up in the new survey are; (1) Photos in the mag aren’t large enough, and (2) we’re not making effective use of the blog. So, I’m going to try to remedy some of that here. I’m posting larger photos of the layout construction here on the blog and you can post comments if you like. (more…)

I know it has been a couple of weeks since I’ve posted anything. Life and work keep getting in the way. We just did the galley review for issue #50 today, and work will start on 51 soon. Spring is finally here, with yard work beckoning on top of everything else. I’m working up a review of Joe’s roundtable discussion from Friday night of the recent March Meet. It was a good discussion that deserves a wider audience than was able to attend in person. We are working on lots of ideas for how to move the magazine and the hobby forward while bringing you O Scale information and resources you can use. Stay tuned.

Mike Cougill

Just got back from the Chicago show. Sunset has re-opened reservations for the N&W Class M 4-8-0. If you are a fan of the M, make sure you get your reservation into Sunset. Details are not firm at this time but it looks like it will be offered with two tender types, short/4-wheel and long/6-wheel. It will also be offered lettered N&W or Strasburg RR. It will also be offered in 2-rail and 3-rail. So take yer pick.

This is the original M, not an M1 or M2. I’m on the hook for a pair. Anybody else? Let Sunset know.

I tinkered around at the bench and after looking over the prototype photos Greg Elems sent, I came up with the arrangement shown below. I think it turned out well. (more…)