Category: O Scale & Proto 48

This category includes all posts on O scale and Proto 48 topics.

I began building freight car models in O scale in 2008. At that time, while editor of the Seaboard-Coast Line Modeler magazine, I built an Intermountain O scale 1937 box car model for an article in the magazine. I enjoyed it so much that I have continued to build a few O scale models every year as a hobby-within-the-hobby.

My models are built to the “Proto48” standard. American O scale is 1/48 scale but the track gauge is unprototypically 5-feet, zero inches (sometimes called “OW5”). Proto48 is the same 1/48 scale, but the track gauge is the prototypically correct width of 4-feet, 8-1/2 inches. The models are the same, but the wheel gauge is exact-to-scale. Moreover, since Proto48 is generally recognized as a fine-scale standard, most modelers who adapt to Proto48 tend to build models to a higher standard.

My long-term goal is to continue building freight cars for the time being, and build a small Proto48 switching layout when I finally retire and settle down.

O Scale & Proto 48Leave a comment

No 179: New Proto48 Builds

Golden1014

Years ago I had dinner with Ted Schnepf. Ted is a former Milwaukee Road track guy and now runs an online and traveling hobby shop called Rails Unlimited (http://railsunlimited.ribbonrail.com/). I explained to Ted that I had an HO layout and was fully-invested in HO scale, but I also enjoy building Proto48 freight car models as a side-hobby. Ted said, “Oh yeah, you’re what we call a rubber-gauger. That’s a guy that bounces back and forth between a few scales.” New Proto48 Builds I’ve lived back in the St. Louis area for a little over four months now, and in that … Continue reading No 179: New Proto48 Builds

Freight and Passenger Car Modeling, O Scale & Proto 48, Prototype Topics, Railfanning & Museums1 Comment

No. 178: Freight Car Modeling, November 2022

Golden1014

Above. This former PRR Express X29 greets you at the gate of the Age of Steam Museum in Sugarcreek, Ohio. Unfortunately for me, this was as far as I got into the museum, as they were closed the day I got there. In September I flew to Baltimore to pick up a car at the port and drive it to St. Louis.  I flew to Baltimore the morning of Sept 20th, picked up the car, and drove all the way to Sugarcreek, Ohio.  On the way I stopped in Blue Ridge Summit, PA to visit Mainline Hobby Supply—that was cool—and … Continue reading No. 178: Freight Car Modeling, November 2022

Freight and Passenger Car Modeling, O Scale & Proto 481 Comment

No. 158: O Scale Work, and Central of Georgia Auto Car

Golden1014

I took a few days off of work before Memorial Day and went on three day-trips with the family over a five-day period. The most interesting was a road trip to Belgium and Luxembourg with my son to buy beer. My son and I went to a neat place in Arlon, Belgium called Mi Ougemi Houblon to buy a variety of craft beers.  It was a cool store and a lot of fun, and the guy working there was very friendly.  We drove to a Del Hayes grocery next to buy a stroop waffles and more beer–this time the easy-to-get stuff from … Continue reading No. 158: O Scale Work, and Central of Georgia Auto Car

O Scale & Proto 485 Comments

No. 149: Display Cabinets for the Train Room

Golden1014

Over the recent Labor Day weekend–when covid restrictions were relaxed and travel to France was still possible–I took a day of leave and went to Verdun, France, site of the tremendous, 11-month-long German army assault during World War I.  I visited the excellent War Museum there, three vast graveyards, many of the battlefields, the Ossuary, and Ft. Douaumont.  It was a beautiful day but a very sobering learning experience.  It’s hard to believe it was real. Above.  Some of the trench lines still exist.  They can be found all over the place.  This one, near Ft. Douaumont, has been preserved … Continue reading No. 149: Display Cabinets for the Train Room

Freight and Passenger Car Modeling, O Scale & Proto 48, People1 Comment

No. 128: Russell Tedder…and Progress on Proto48 Models

Golden1014

In 2008 I was bitten by the O scale bug. That summer I spent three weeks at Little Rock AFB with some Air Force ROTC cadets, and because they couldn’t drink, I didn’t either…so I spent a lot of evenings and weekends building models over in officer billeting.  It was on this trip that I met Russell Tedder, and my friendship with Russell and his crew made it a truly, truly memorable trip.  I’ll write a little more about Russell later. Anyway, one of Russell’s friends ran a great hobby shop just outside the air base, and in addition to … Continue reading No. 128: Russell Tedder…and Progress on Proto48 Models

Freight and Passenger Car Modeling, O Scale & Proto 48Leave a comment

No. 114: Proto48 Freight Car Update

Golden1014

Here’s the view out of my third floor train room window.  It is not fit for man nor beast out.  It’s a good time to get some modeling done instead. We had a big conversation last week on the Groups IO Proto48 list–moderated by master builder Gene Deimling–about the P48 models are people building this winter.  I’ve been working very slowly on a few models with the goal of fully completing four or five models a year.  Here’s an update. Wabash Auto Car This is an essential freight car–the Wabash single-sheathed double door auto car.  I bought this model a couple of years ago from Rails Unlimited at … Continue reading No. 114: Proto48 Freight Car Update

Freight and Passenger Car Modeling, O Scale & Proto 482 Comments

No. 82: What’s in a Name?

Golden1014

Juliet said this about roses, meaning it doesn’t matter what you call roses…they’ll still be beautiful.  I could say the same thing about box cars.  They’re beautiful no matter what you call them. Maybe I should re-name this post What’s in a name Color? One of the most enjoyable things about modeling the late steam era is the wide variety of house cars–the different types and sizes of cars. Another thing to consider is the wide variety of car colors.  Getting the car color right is just as important as everything else and luckily the paints are out there that let us model color … Continue reading No. 82: What’s in a Name?

Freight and Passenger Car Modeling, O Scale & Proto 485 Comments

No. 81: Progress on Freight Cars – Mar, 2018

Golden1014

My family and I spent the weekend in London at a high school swim meet.  The meet was held at the London 2012 Olympic pool, which was really neat, and we also spent a couple of days sightseeing in the city and elsewhere. My son photographed the sign above at a very deep subway (“Tube”) station in central London.  At one point we had to change trains and we had to take a winding staircase about 12 flights down to one of the deepest stations on the system.  Way down at the bottom there was this sign on the wall.  Pretty cool, eh?  Just wish I … Continue reading No. 81: Progress on Freight Cars – Mar, 2018

Freight and Passenger Car Modeling, O Scale & Proto 482 Comments

No. 65: Progress on Freight Cars, Oct 2017

Golden1014

A quick post on progress of freight car model construction and also construction of the Portage Tower models for Mike Moore’s layout. Proto 48 Models I was able to finish a lot of small projects this week and also contemplate a few new ones.  First I finished installing the running board for an Intermountain 1937 double-door box car that will be finished as an SAL AF-3.  I scratchbuilt the latitudinal running board supports and am not terribly happy with them, but they are much better than the kit-supplied parts.  The running board is an aftermarket part from Protocraft.  The car … Continue reading No. 65: Progress on Freight Cars, Oct 2017