All of the Standard, Veranda and Propane Turbines imported by OMI were in the early to mid 1980's and all have the same tank drive. Double motors and dual transfer gearboxes with the lower portion hidden in the fuel tank (ie: tank drive). The early 8500HP was a decent looking model but the axle gearboxes are different than those used on the 4500HP Turbines mentioned above which actually looked like traction motors. The early 8500HP Turbine had cast zamac or pot metal gearboxes which created some problems too. The early 8500HP also used the tank drive so OMI added a fuel tank on the "B" unit to hide the drive which makes it wrong and easy to identify.
The best detailed and constructed "O" scale OMI Turbine by far is the 8500HP imported in 1993 and it is a work of art! Magnificent detail! Working lights, factory painted, detailed cab interior, derail chains on the tender trucks, tower drive; but only the "A" unit was powered so it was weak on pulling power. The "B" unit had opening doors with a scale model of the turbine prime mover inside. It truly was an O scale model of the best OMI HO Turbines of this period which were very, very nice.
I had one that Doug Cockerham repowered the "A" unit and powered the "B" unit and still retained the turbine prime mover and it was outstanding. Ran as good as it looked.
With all the complaints and caveats about these Turbines and other early OMI diesels you have to realize this was during the period the Korean craftsmen were learning their brass modeling skills. Virtually everything that OMI imported during this period was ground breaking and many have never been done again. Even with the inherent problems these models were all outstanding in their own right.
Steam locomotives had been built and imported for decades before the likes of OMI started importing diesels. Except for a few MG and USH diesels you had to buy kits and build your own. I'm so happy that Tom Marsh (OMI) was a Union Pacific nut or none of these UP models and many others would have come to light.
He was as prolific in bringing brass models to the hobby in the 80 and 90's as Scott Mann is today. We owe a lot to them and many others who preceded them.
Butch
