things i'd love to see in o scale 2 rail

quote:

and What work would that be????

Relocating radiator fans closer to hood end.
Replacing radiator grilles with shorter correct ones.
Carving off molded grab irons and replace with wire ones.
Replacing plastic handrails with metal stanchions & wire rails.
Adding snowplows and pilot details.
Replacing & relocating  air horn.
Changing air filter cover and other hood details.
Fit cab glazing, windscreen wipers, Sinclair antenna and GPS dome.
Various other modifications to match a prototype loco.
Repaint, decal, and eventually ....fit DCC/Sound.

The radiator fans & grilles are the worst aspects of the basic Weaver shell, apparently only applicable to very early GP38's.
Much of the other work wouldn't need doing if it was made by Atlas. Hence why I wish for a "decent" GP38-2, however unlikely that may be, or unrecognised as a need/gap in the market by anyone else.

 

I think the SD40-2 would be a success but for those of us for whom it is too big, I would second Mike DeBerg on the SW1500 and also throw in the CF7 (long life and lots of roads and Atlas and Sunset/3rd Rail will have the F7 to go underneath the CF7 shell...

 

I'd just like to see some real RTR turnouts and crossings that are in 1/48 scale the same track gauge as the real ones that are 4' 8 1/2" in gauge.  

 

Harumpf! Absolutely not! It's obvious it's the next "Mr. Coffee" prototype!

Rob says he wants 4' 8 1/2" gauge components.  Proto-48 has covered that area, and it is not wildly popular.  I think the better idea is 17/64 scale, O gauge, which allows one to convert without any effort at all.

 

The size difference, while noticeable, is not dramatic.  I build in both scales, for some unknown reason, and have double-headed 17/64 4-10-2s with similar 1/4" scale 2-10-2s with very little visual assault.  A small 0-6-0 in 17/64 goes well with 1/4" scale freight cars.

 

As usual, opinion.

 "I think the better idea is 17/64 scale, O gauge, which allows one to convert without any effort at all."

 

    Scratch building or locating old 17/64 equipment seems like a lot more trouble than putting P48 wheels in one's O gauge trucks? ........DaveB

How about a two rail version of a GE 44 Ton in two rail from MTH or Williams. It would be nice to have a 44 Ton without having to buy brass and deal with what it will take to put sound and DCC inside. A 44 Ton is perfect for small home layouts for those of us without a 25 x 40 foot train room.

 "I think the better idea is 17/64 scale, O gauge, which allows one to convert without any effort at all."

 

    Scratch building or locating old 17/64 equipment seems like a lot more trouble than putting P48 wheels in one's O gauge trucks? ........DaveB

 

 

I edited that four times - what that jumbled line says is:

 

"I thought we were discussing what we would like to see in O Scale, not what is available on the used market or what we can scratch build?"

Brad Strong will build RTR turnouts and diamonds to Proto 48 standards upon request.

My wants for 1/4" scale gauged track comes from my (and of course it's only my belief) that the future of O scale is modern era modelers for whom accuracy and detail counts.

 

Scale profile wheels on scale width track is a beautiful thing.    And having RTR track that is not only accurately gauged but contains all of the details of real track (accurate tie plates/spikes and all of the accurate bracing of turnouts and crossovers) would do for the hobby what the release of Atlas/Lenz (I think it's Lenz in origin) 2 rail track has done for the interest in the hobby.

 

I hate to say P:48 since that conjures up old people with opti-loupes and lathes doing tedious modifications to 50's steamers or scratchbuilders building contest quality models.   'Nother disclaimer, I'm a P48'er but with no layout yet I don't count.

 

Todays modelers want accuracy and fidelity without the long learning and building curve and with diesels scale wheelsets with the correct gauge are as simple as a drop in.

 

Disclaimer #2 - this is all my opinion and you know what they say about that.

In one sense I agree with you.  Proto-48 is the accurate track and wheel setup for 1/4" scale.  Some may disagree with me, but I maintain its popularity is limited somewhat by the need for perfect trackwork and wheels/equalization.

 

In the early days it was conceded that you could not have Proto-48 wheels on steam locomotives.  I believe now most Proto-48ers have gone to scale wheels.  I applaud their fortitude.

 

It has not caught on.  Believe me, I am with you - I have 1 1/8" gauge, which puts the outer wheel face at about the proper spot using 172 wheelsets regauged.  Very few folks care about our mis-matched gauge/scale, so it will apparently stay that way.

 

What I was pointing out is one can at least have accurate track gauge by using 17/64scale models, and believe me they exist.  Measure a few currently available smaller steam locomotives.  My Williams B6 models look perfect next to my 17/64 Harriman 0-6-0s.

 

I would love it if we converted all of O Scale to the proper track gauge.  It will not happen in my lifetime.  Fact.

Didn't Ed Duddy have code 138 done in p48?  I remember talking to him at one of the O Scale Meets and he said had tooling made for 138 and nobody bought any.  I know he had the inventory and tooling for sale, said it was a costly mistake.  People talked a big story but the market never happened.  

 

I'd love one of these:

 

 

There is code 138 and 125 P:48 track in 40" sections, Microscale took over the line and Norm at Protocraft sells it.

 

No RTR turnouts or crossovers though and especially no superdetailed ones though between Protocraft, the Irish Tracklayer and Lou Cross/ROW the details are there if you want to add them.  

 

Pity though since O scale really could showcase superdetailed RTR track. 

When people say to me, "Live your dreams"  I'd have to say 'I'd rather not be sitting naked in a room full of kids, taking an exam for which I had done insufficient study.

 

It's kind of nightmarish, Guys. 

 

What is it?

"There is code 138 and 125 P:48 track in 40" sections, Microscale took over the line and Norm at Protocraft sells it. No RTR turnouts or crossovers though"

 

     I think the problem is the time lag it takes to get enough folks interested in the new scale to support turnouts. Duddy was expecting too much too soon apparently? Since the whole layout has to be detailed at the same level as the track to get the desired results most guys don't mind building the P48 track as it's a lot easier than the other stuff on the layout. Commercial track and switches still look a bit oversize on their spike and other details due to the need to beef up the plastic a bit to make the track survive shipping and installation so it's never gonna look as good as well laid P48 handlaid track on wooden ties.....DaveB 

'How about a two rail version of a GE 44 Ton in two rail from MTH or Williams. It would be nice to have a 44 Ton without having to buy brass and deal with what it will take to put sound and DCC inside.'

 

for what it's worth, I put a Loksound select decoder and speaker in a Sunset 44 ton engine. both items are small in size but not in function. it was not a difficult job.