Let`s talk about "modern" stuff

I was at O Scale West in Feb.  I saw a lot of modern engines and cars.  I think that people who want modern diesels should check out MTH's 3/2 rail offerings.  Many of the MTH engines  can be ordered in the 2-rail version.  The new MTH PS-3 engines come with DCC installed.  MTH builds both 2 and 4 axel diesels.  

I also saw inter-modal cars and modern covered hoppers by Lionel and MTH.  All of these cars appeared to be excellent models to me.  I don't count rivets.  I also saw some modern tank cars and aluminum hoppers.  Yes, they would need to be converted to 2-rail.  Most of the avid 2-rail hobbyists have the skill to do their own conversions.  

There was a fellow at O Scale West who was selling converted boxcars and other 1950s era cars.  He appeared to be doing a brisk business.  Perhaps someone could contact him about converting modern equipment.

I really wonder if there is a large demand for modern equipment in O scale?  Most of the guys at O Scale West are 60 plus years old.  I am in the 70 + group.  The stuff that sells seems to be transition era equipment.  I went on the layout tours.  There was not a single modern era O scale layout on the tour schedule.  All of the O scale layouts that I visited are running steam.  I don't know of a single modern era O scale layout being built or being operated anywhere in the SF Bay Area and I have visited most of the O scale clubs and layouts in this area.  Come to think of it, I don't recall seeing photos of a modern era layout  being posted on this forum.  Are any modern O scale layouts being built anywhere?

I have the current issue of "O Scale Trains Magazine March/April 2015" in front of me. The front cover has a photo of an O-6-O steam engine.  The layout article is about a PRR steam era layout.  The main review is of the 3rd Rail N&W Jawn Henry steam turbine.  There is no modern era in this issue of the of the main 2-rail magazine.  

I think that people who want modern equipment are going to have to look at converting Lionel and MTH equipment to 2-rail for the foreseeable future.  Atlas appears to making only small quantities of O scale.  Weaver is concentrating on transition era cars.  3rd Rail is making transition era F units, etc., because that it what sells.  

Joe  

 "I don't know of a single modern era O scale layout being built or being operated anywhere in the SF Bay Area"

   Hi Joe, I had a modern era O scale layout a few years ago but decided to tear it down and build a new layout in S scale. The modern cars are quite long in O scale so one needs a lot of space. My modern S cars are about the same length as the older era O cars. I found that there was plenty of O equipment available to anyone wanting a modern era layout. As you noted it's very easy to convert three rail cars and many of them are very well detailed. I've seen over the years that the most popular modeling era is the one that most of the existing modelers grew up in so as time goes by the popular era will advance, 40 years from now the year 1990 will be as popular as 1950 is today.....DaveB

Joe,

That sort of increasingly supports the theory of staying with HO as modern & all eras for that matter are well supplied with what they want.

As Dave B well stated ,in 40 years, my era of interest probably will be well represented, but the flip side of that coin is,I'd be 97,so time's not on my side.

 Thanks,

Al Hummel

"That sort of increasingly supports the theory of staying with HO as modern & all eras for that matter are well supplied with what they want.

As Dave B well stated ,in 40 years, my era of interest probably will be well represented, but the flip side of that coin is,I'd be 97,so time's not on my side."

   Hi Al, If you want to model modern era in O scale I'd say go for it. My only reason for switching to S scale was I want to maintain a smaller house and yard in my old age. There's plenty of modern equipment available in O scale, not as much as HO or N scales but still enough to build a nice layout. The key is to not get greedy and think you need more stuff than you really do, and be willing to compromise on the railroad, type of locos run, etc. A nice modern O layout can be built as a shortline that runs older locos for instance( a GP20 was recently handing the freight here on the branch line) or one can model things like intermodal ramps or factory complexes that use switch engines for power( Atlas makes some great O scale switchers). If one models the mainline they can model trains that are running well used power, not everything requires the latest models to look right. Not too long ago I saw a youtube video of the present day car float operation on the NY-NJ rail line in Brooklyn that would be easy to model in O scale, SW1500 loco IIRC pulling modern tank cars and boxcars off the car float and down the middle of the street, the whole scene could be easily modeled in a typical garage in O scale.

 O certainly doesn't have the stuff that one can get in HO but I think the size more than makes up for it. There's a certain immediacy and drama about an O scale scene that HO can't create ....DaveB

Dave,

You're right on the money in your thoughts. I've had that conversation with myself many times-is what's out there on the market going to satisfy my overall goal.

Actually,i'm not looking with the year 2015 most recent stuff. I'm looking for MTH GP38-2s like they made in CSX. 2 of these could handle yard work,definately all local switching & MTH makes SD40-2s in modern CSX for long hauls,but I'm not at road trains right now,so that could wait. Atlas' model of their CSX GP15 would even do,but only 3 rail's available.

Tankers,boxcars,&modern grain hoppers are my main cars of interest right now. All are fairly well covered.

Track switches are a problem with BK seeming the cheapest avenue,but as I've got no wiring or handlaying experience, that's a problem. As far as room,I've got 17'x40'+& using shelving,more space than that.

Thank you,

Al Hummel

"Track switches are a problem with BK seeming the cheapest avenue,but as I've got no wiring or handlaying experience, that's a problem. As far as room,I've got 17'x40'+& using shelving,more space than that."

    Al, That's a great sized space for O scale, not so big as to be overwhelming but plenty of room to design a nice track plan that could be built in a reasonable time span.  As for the turnouts don't worry, O is large enough that building them from scratch is pretty much fool proof. All the parts are big enough to see well and be easily handled and the tolerances are wide enough to be forgiving of construction errors. I used the old generation Atlas code 148 flex track along with hand built code 125 turnouts on my O layout and never had any problems with construction or operations. For a branch line or short line layout I'd use code 125 or even code 100 rail for the turnouts and matching flex track from Micro engineering( or handlay if one enjoyed it, a Kadee spiker with code 100 rail goes very fast). When you get to the point of needing turnouts you'll find plenty of instruction online and can ask questions here if you need more. I'm planning to hand lay the turnouts for my S scale layout in a similar manner. To make the task easier I'd suggest refining the track plan to use as few turnouts as possible just like the modern railroads have done. It seems like most modelers tend to use too many for the amount of operations they conduct......  DaveB 

Hi,

someone whrote "plenty of modern stuff"?

I can`t find plenty of them-sorry....perhaps my requiremente at to high--when i compare a H0 Athearn Genesis or a Exactrail freight car with a 0 scale model, i found those details perhaps on newer Atlas stuff or on Brass models. I expect separate grab irons, etched walkways and other parts.

Why i make 0 scale? I try to overtop the details level, that i have reached in H0. Beginns at handlaid tracks and ends in whell detailed rolling stock. For me, i can`t tolerate cars with molded on grab irons (you can remove the, yes, but it`s a lot of work.). 

Can anyone tell me, why you can`t get Atlas or MTH high cubes in modern schemes?

Or Atlas DD 53`?, or MTH Funnel Flows in Omya?

But when you look around, wooden Box cars,Reefers or now PS1`s, more then enough. Even in the transition era, there are many missed types of cars.

Are the  batches made of those high cubes such less? Whats the reason?

Why do the manufacturers close their eyes? How should a 0 newbie start an modern theme, when he have no chance, to get the needed stuff?

my thoughts

kindest regards

Elmar

 "How should a 0 newbie start an modern theme, when he have no chance, to get the needed stuff?"

    The key is approach it one model at a time. Check out ebay and find something suitable to start with then go from there. If you can't find the exact model you need for a certain railroad or location  change the scene to something the available models  fit. If the size of O is most attractive to the person they find a way to make it work, if not they go to HO or N scale. ....DaveB

Assorted containers would be fantastic!

Regards,

Swafford 

Hmmm. There's one in there I've never seen before ????

Hi Joe,

My inventive container for http://swaffordtransport.com/Home.aspx  

Regards,

Swafford

Yard Tractors would make a great addition to any 21st Century Intermodal Yard.

Regards,

Swafford

Mr Nelson:

Me too. I've had trouble with Shapeways' site. Let me know if you have progress. Originally I didn't but then they modernized something.

Al Hummel

Email:ahummel72@yahoo.com

WOW!  Really???  Hmmmmmmmm.

Sometimes all these modern updates aren't what they're cracked up to be,made in the name of making things,"easier."

Oh yea!! COMPUTERS!! These days you can't get along with'em or without 'em. Hummmm...sounds like me & my wife at times???? That's a much easier subject though,got that all figured out. Women have no faults,men have only 2..everything they say & everything they do. Wouldn't know what to do without her,just had to throw in a needed laugh.

I bought 4 derails from them before they "updated" things & they're definitely nice.

I'm trying to figure out how to make these models the "Sliding" type derail that uses a switchstand...sure it can be done, any ideas there?

Thanks for keeping me updated,REALLY appreciate it.

Al Hummel

I bought a new computer the tail end of last year. I made 1 order of the Shapeway derails before that on my laptop which was fine but like you,through updates to their system,the 2nd order gave me problems. Like you I was having problems but just forgot about trying anymore.

I never tried with this new desktop,but I hit "buy now" then it takes me to payment method which wants my card info. I'm reluctant to give that over the Internet because of all the hacking. Can you tell me if they use Paypal? I've got that all set up on ebay,but don't know if they allow that @ Shapeways?

If I can get through on my order & you're still having trouble,how many derails do you want & I'll get them for you. You can pay me through my Paypal or Postal Money Order or personal check. It'll take longer that way to allow for mailing time, to allow the check to clear,then mailing to you.

It had all my mailing information from the 1st order I placed in the system this time. This computer & theirs,must be "talking" to each other.

Let me know if you get through or not & if you keep having trouble I'll see what I can do.

Thanks,

Al Hummel

Are you on Internet Explorer? ............Try using Foxfire browser.

Regards,

Swafford 

I logged onto my account I have not used for 3 years, updated my address and made purchase without difficulty.

Paul

Shapeways have informed me the two sets of derails I ordered have been built and are in the mail.

The problem with modeling what's going on right now is that its never a constant. If you want to kepe buying models of the newest power and rolling stock and changing your operations to reflect changing times on the real RRs, be my guest.

But I'd assume that most people don't model 'right now' as a timeframe primarily because a past timeframe is a constant and doesn't require changing stuff all the time...

"But I'd assume that most people don't model 'right now' as a timeframe primarily because a past timeframe is a constant and doesn't require changing stuff all the time..."

   Yeah, the big problems would be that new prototype stuff takes a few years to show up in model form so modeling today would take constant scratch building ,and as the time frame advances one would be constantly taking models off the railroad then have to sell them or end up with a big pile of useless stuff......DaveB

I believe that all layouts these days embrace modern technology somewhat.  While I still run conventional, you can find engines with electronic e units, electronic horns, rail sounds, car sounds, IR sensors that operate the signals, AC/DC converter boards and LED lighting. While using basic operation (for reliability and peace of mind) modern technology is still very much a part of my layout. When you discuss "modern trains" what is the determining factor

Box arrived in the mail today.  Thats great service.