- O/G and Larger Model Railroads

protosounds and programming

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 01:02:55 +0000

Hello I am new to protosounds and programming. I am currently using the z4000 transformer, and I'm wondering if certain numbers do the same thing across the board or if all channels are specific by locomotive. Excuse me if my terminology is incorrect. Thanks in advance.

Variety in scale size of figs for o gauge

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 05:31:33 +0000

I forgot Lionel basically are not scale models and are not linear in proportions. Tried to populate my new passenger cars. Seats are too small, I will have to use MTH figs which are closer to S scale. Seats in dome cars in the dome are very narrow.

Graffiti Idea

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 13:53:59 +0000

I just saw the Skateboard Art stamps, so I got the idea that if cut correctly postage stamps could be used for railroad graffiti.

  483404-L2.jpg (Size: 48.84 KB / Downloads: 465)

I imagine it would work well in O scale too.
Here are a few stamps and a Scooby Doo and a BB-1 from Star Wars on a few cars:

  1000006539.jpg (Size: 66.41 KB / Downloads: 402)

  1000006542.jpg (Size: 77.85 KB / Downloads: 424)

  1000006543.jpg (Size: 116.99 KB / Downloads: 429)

New member

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 04:26:16 +0000

Thanks for the add!

Building a New Engine

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 21:57:10 +0000

Thought I would share my progress. I'm building a new engine for the layout.
The wooden, bass wood, deck is 9" long and 4-1/4in wide.
The undercarriage will be hidden with a skirt of wood later.

20190910_200059.jpg (Size: 166.03 KB / Downloads: 746)

New Heat Source for G Scale Railroad

Thu, 22 Aug 2019 00:22:08 +0000

So, I got the idea from a magazine about scale propane tanks. Our main office was using a fireplace as the only heat source.
Now, this winter we'll have a propane heater too

First: The office, a used caboose:

  Office.jpg (Size: 204.53 KB / Downloads: 907)

And then 2 views of the new tank.

  Tank1.jpg (Size: 230.37 KB / Downloads: 835)

  Tank2.jpg (Size: 170.38 KB / Downloads: 914)

When G Scalers Have Too Much Time

Wed, 25 Jul 2018 02:39:37 +0000

Singing fish on stake car

Singing coming soon

  Untitled 3.jpg (Size: 396.41 KB / Downloads: 696)

  Untitled 2.jpg (Size: 222.17 KB / Downloads: 805)

  Untitled 1.jpg (Size: 335.2 KB / Downloads: 690)

O scale 2 rail exhibition layout

Tue, 09 May 2017 13:18:45 +0000

Afternoon everyone!

With my HO Scale Exhibition layout now mostly finished (except for about a million jobs on my to-do list, but what layout is ever finished, right?), the attention of myself and my co-conspirator Ford has turned toward our next project, and the first truly 'joint' layout - this time making use of all that O scale stuff I've been hoarding for a few years.

The working title of the layout is West Box Street (please someone help me think of something better!), as a nod toward my previous layout, as well as the trackplan, which is a modified version of Shortliner's Box Street plan.

The idea is yet again a heavily industrialised urban area somewhere in the South East of the USA. Georgia or Alabama, maybe? That's still to be decided on.

As a departure from my usual slapdash approach to layout construction, every aspect of this new layout is going to be planned from the ground up from the start. Ford insisted on it, and I don't blame him, going on my track record!

This will need to be bulletproof before the first piece of wood is cut.

A trackplan has been settled on, and thrown together in SCARM to check clearances. All track is going to be handbuilt, and will follow the "FUnitMad" approach of tracklaying for that added realism.

Here's the trackplan:

The intention for the layout is to have full lighting, sound, and animated features, and Ford has even been kicking around the idea of an automated (or not) Day/Night cycle to make exhibitions even more interesting.

Whilst the actual construction of the layout is looking to be a while off yet, we've both started working on various other aspects of the build - I've begun work on rolling stock and structure projects, and Ford has been working on the lighting and using Arduino to animate doors, roller shutters, etc.

Photos and videos will follow of progress as and when there's something worth showing.

Local Train Show

Wed, 24 Feb 2016 19:35:35 +0000

Last weekend was the local train show in Saskatoon. I helped a friend set up, run and take down his MTH O gauge layout. It was held in a museum which at best is fairly dark. We worked from six to eight thirty on Thursday night and from nine to about five on Friday to get it running. With more help on Sunday night it only took from four thirty till about eight to take down and pack back into its trailer. But it was a good weekend overall. Over 5000 paid admissions over the two days. Sorry about the dark pictures.

Operating Lionel cars, post war.

Thu, 31 Dec 2015 20:07:39 +0000

I have a question for someone about these cars. When I place them on the uncoupling/unloading track when I use the unloading button the coils to the couplers energize also and draw power from the operating solenoids. Is this normal or is there something going on I should look at. These cars are from 1948, the year before magnetic couplers. I haven't been able to locate a simple explanation of how the uncoupling/unloading track is supposed to work. Anything would be a help.

Thanks.
Charlie

Transformer for a Lionel 2141WS set

Thu, 24 Dec 2015 02:51:46 +0000

Hi Lionel guys, I have a question I know one of you will be able to answer. I just got today a 2141WS "O" set that is exactly the set I had as a 6 year old. It does not have a transformer and I would like to have the same one that my dad got for the set in 1949. The set has the 671 steam turbine with the whistle tender, operating milk refer and log dump as well as caboose and a hopper car. The transformer I had was not a monster but had 2 knobs, one for the whistle which had a spring to return it. If I have a number I am sure I can find one somewhere.
Merry Christmas
Charlie

2141.jpg (Size: 51.58 KB / Downloads: 1987)

McKeens & other doodlebugs

Sat, 25 Apr 2015 14:05:12 +0000

Some pictures of doodlebugs in 1/29 in various stages of the scratchbuilding process.
Up to now there are a rebuilt McKeen motor car, a unmodified McKeen and a rebuilt & streamlined gas-electric

UP's M-23 rebuilt (from gas-mechanic to gas-electric) McKeen car - basic body made from an Aristo-Craft heavyweight

McKeen car's shell with a non-Harriman knife-shaped nose (McKeens for Harriman lines received a parabolic-shaped nose)
Started from another Aristo-Craft heavyweight as a basic shell

PRR's #4663 - a shop-rebuilt former gas-electric, streamlined and re-motored to oil-electric

Basic shell from an Aristo-Craft Doodlebug

Regards
Norman

a 2' Wide Section of the Layout

Tue, 10 Feb 2015 11:50:32 +0000

Well there was 2' of untouched space on th alayout. I want to copy a tunnel cave in I saw on another layout. This one was in HO, so I'l have to work a bit harder to make it believable in 1:20.3

To begin with, here is the area

20150122_192658.jpg (Size: 440.23 KB / Downloads: 1767)

PA Live Steamers

Sun, 26 Oct 2014 22:47:41 +0000

Went to the Open House of the PA Live Steamers featuring G Gauge, 1/8 Scale and 1-1/2 Gauge

  IMG_5554.JPG (Size: 285.99 KB / Downloads: 1244)

  IMG_5556.JPG (Size: 439.75 KB / Downloads: 1307)

  IMG_5598.JPG (Size: 489.66 KB / Downloads: 1318)

Cherry Valley O Scale Swap Meet and Open House

Sun, 07 Sep 2014 14:08:04 +0000

I attended the Cherry Valley O Scale Swap Meet and Open House on Saturday, Sept 6, 2014.
The club is located in the basement of the Grace Episcopal Church, 7 East Maple Avenue, Merchantville, New Jersey.

The following link are pictures I took of the club layout. The catenary is coming along nicely.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing

Their Holiday schedule is as follows:

Friday Dec 5 6-9PM
Sat Dec 6 12-4PM
Sun, Dec 7 12-4PM

Sat Dec 13 12-4PM
Sun Dec 14 12-4PM

Sat Jan 3 12-4PM
Sun Jan 4 12-4PM

Sat Jan 10 12-4PM
Sun Jan 11 12-4PM

Paul