Tag Archives: Chicago

2013 Chicago O Scale Show – The Model Contest

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Lee Turner's RS-3

Lee Turner’s RS-3

This year I actually took the time to find the model contest room. I’m glad I did.

I’ve seen photos of Lee Turner’s LV RS-3 online before. Seeing the model in real life was even better then seeing the photos.

The modeling displayed in the room was fantastic! Because of the contest the names were not displayed with the models. In some cases I knew the models and who built them.

I would have liked to known who did some of the work. I guess I’m spoiled by the RPM-Meets were the modelers show their work with their names displayed and are there to talk about the models also.

Details on Lee Turner's RS-3

Details on Lee Turner’s RS-3

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Lucus Bartig’s Scratchbuilt Frisco 2-10-0

car float

Scratchbuilt car float

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Car float close-up

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Close up of the car float details

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First of a couple of snow plows

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Second snow plow in a more natural setting

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Jim Zwerneman’s MKT 77889 Scratchbuilt from Styrene, sides are individual boards with built up “z” Braces.Ends are from Southern Car & Foundry. Center sill, bolsters and draft gear are leftover parts form a Chooch Kit. Trucks are Yoder Proto48. Protocraft and Blalock decals were used.

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Jim Zwerneman’s MKT 77889, good view of the scratchbuilt Hutchins dry lading roof.

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David Friedlander’s NYC Transfer caboose built from a Russ Briggs Kit.

 

 

2013 Chicago O Scale Show – News

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Protocraft’s new boxcar offering.

As mentioned in the first post about the Chicago Show, Protocraft announced their next brass imported freight car. It is a 40 foot double door boxcar. I believe he mentioned this first offering is ACL prototype. They plan to do a number of different prototypes over the next few months. He did mention that the roller bearing trucks he imported were not going to be run again. So if you want these trucks in O scale or Proto48 buy them now before they are gone.

I also mentioned that American Switch & Signal had new Proto48 casting for a #12 turnout in code 125 rail. It was nice looking, I wish I had the room for them on my layout.

RY Models had their recent offerings of the ATSF BX3 and BX6 on display. They are sold out, but Rich was taking reservations on a short re-run of the cars. In his sales sheet on the table he mentioned the Bethlehem 52′ 70 ton Mill gondola and the PRR X37 family of boxcars. If you look closely at the photo in the first Chicago posts Rich had a pile of freight car photos, the ones I saw were of Mather prototypes.

Bob Lavezzi had a pilot model of a new steam locomotive from Weaver Models on his table. The model displayed was a three rail version of the model.

Weaver Boston & Maine P-4 4-6-2

Weaver Boston & Maine P-4 4-6-2

Weaver Boston & Maine P-4 4-6-2

Weaver Boston & Maine P-4 4-6-2

Weaver Boston & Maine P-4 4-6-2

Weaver Boston & Maine P-4 4-6-2

Weaver Boston & Maine P-4 4-6-2

Weaver Boston & Maine P-4 4-6-2

Weaver Boston & Maine P-4 4-6-2

Weaver Boston & Maine P-4 4-6-2

Weaver Boston & Maine P-4 4-6-2

Weaver Boston & Maine P-4 4-6-2

Weaver Boston & Maine P-4 4-6-2

Weaver Boston & Maine P-4 4-6-2

Rails Unlimited had their new Lehigh Valley Boxcar available at the show. They are available as either a flat kit ($85.00) or a built up body ($115.00). There is also a decal set available ($9.95) for the cars. Ted was also displaying two new resin cars, a Milwaukee Road Single sheathed boxcar and a Wabash single sheathed boxcar.

Rails Unlimited LV "Wrong-way" Boxcar.

Rails Unlimited LV “Wrong-way” Boxcar.

The LV Underbody.

The LV Duryea Cushion Underframe.

Rails Unlimited next models

Rails Unlimited next models

Keystone Models was also at the show and they had their last model produced on display. It’s the PRR H21a with “clam-shell” doors.

Keystone Models last offering the H21a's with the "clam-shell" hoppers.

Keystone Models last offering the H21a’s with the “clam-shell” hoppers.

Jim Harper of Red Cliff Miniatures had samples of his line of track components including his new switch stands.

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Operating Switch Stand available from Red Cliff Miniatures

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Non-Operating Switch Stand available from Red Cliff Miniatures

Strange to have an example of a NEW Lionel car at the show getting a lot of attention. Their new Automobile cars are a sight to see in person. I’m glad these cars are not in my modeling period, they looked great.

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2013 Chicago O Scale Show

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Photos just don’t capture how big the selling floor really is.

This was my second time attending the Chicago O Scale Show. The first time I attended the show, two years ago, it was great. This time was even better!

Wow! Mike Hill and his helpers did a great job with this show!

Even the 1700 mile round trip drive is worth it to go this show!

I attended the different meetings, sat in on a clinic, visited a couple of layouts and I even got to see the models in the contest room this time. It was a very busy couple of days.

The Crowd at the Proto48 Meeting

The Crowd at the Proto48 Meeting

There were two meetings held during the show, The Proto48 on Friday night and the O Scale Kings on Saturday morning. There was over 80 people at the Proto48 meeting, I wonder how many were actually Proto48’ers? The Proto48 meeting was hosted by Jim Canter and Paul Hanson.  Different manufacturers spoke to the audience:

  • Jim Canter of Canter Rail Services demonstrated his tie strips, he also mentioned that they are looking into bringing back his track templates.
  • Jim Harper of Red Cliff Miniatures spoke to the crowd about his line of track components including his new operating switch stands.
  • John Paultz of American Switch & Signal spoke and announced a new turnout kit for a #12 turnout.
  • Norm Buckhart of Protocraft announced several new offerings, first was a new model of a 40′ double door boxcar. Their Clouser Type “E” coupler is being revised and going to be imported assembled. Norm showed off a new 2 3/4 inch speaker and also spoke about his modified Tsunami decoders. He did announce a couple of new trucks in the works and that the 70 and 100ton Roller Bearing trucks will not be re-run.
  • Ken Burney of WK Burney Scale Models announced a line of cast structures based on typical southern buildings.
  • Rich Yoder of RY Models also spoke. He thanked the Proto48 crowd for their support of his products over the years. He also promoted the Strasburg O Scale Shows.
The crowd at the O Scale Kings Meeting

The crowd at the O Scale Kings Meeting

The next morning the O Scale Kings held their meeting. Bob Lavezzi chaired this meeting. Maybe it was the early hour of the meeting or maybe people had nothing to do the night before during the Proto48 Meeting, but there was a big difference in the audience. They had maybe 20 people in the room. They spoke for a while about that fact, and they spoke about the name of the group. The biggest news (for me) was that this year’s O Scale National in Wooster will likely be the last. Nobody has stepped up to put on the show for 2014.

John Paultz (American Switch & Signal) at his table.

John Paultz (American Switch & Signal) at his table.

Rich Yoder behind his table.

Rich Yoder behind his table.

 

 

Headed to Chicago

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Ruby and Pearl trying to go with us.
Ruby and Pearl trying to go with us.

The wife and I were packing and getting ready to go to the Chicago O Scale Show and it looks like someone wants to go with us. That’s Ruby in the suitcase and Pearl in back keeping an eye on everything.

Looking forward to the trip and the show. I will have more to say when I get back.

2011 Chicago O Scale Show

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Well for the first time in my life I got to go to the Chicago O Scale Show. I’ve wanted to go for a long time, something always got in the way of my attending the show. This year mother nature tried with 10 inches of snow predicted in Cleveland the night before I was to drive through.

Now this is not just your average show, I was amazed how big it was. It was bigger than most of the Nationals I’ve been to and they do this every year. It did make me wonder why are we stuck with so many small shows here on the East Coast? Why are none of our shows even a third the size of this show?

The selection of models for sale was amazing. I’ll focus on some of the new models I saw at the show.

Ted Schnepf from Rail Unlimited had some new resin kits at the show, of interest to me was the USRA Mill Gondola (Reading GMk and GMl.) One of these kits came home with me so I’ll show you photos of that soon as I start to build it. He also had a new Santa Fe Reefer that looked nice.

Norm Buckhart of Protocraft was there with some new models. It was nice to finally meet Norm and talk to him about his products. He had a brass sample model of the ACF Reefer he is about to import. He also showed us a Roller Bearing truck that will make the modern guys very happy. Too modern for me, so I didn’t get too excited about it.

Jon Cagle of Southern Car and Foundry had his Harriman cars on display along with his new CP Mini Box. The Mini box is starting to ship I ordered mine at the show. The masters for the car were done by Gene Deimling and the car is great. The major part of the kit is a one piece body plus a roof.  I’m looking forward to building the Mini Box and I can’t wait for more freight cars from this new company.

Keith Wiseman also had two new resin cars on his table. One was a Southern prototype and the other was a Southern Pacific car. I was also glad to see he had available the C&O Builders Plates again. I need to order some of their Baldwin Builders plates for my upcoming Baldwin projects.

There were a number of other dealers I got the chance to talk to about parts for projects. Stevenson Preservation Lines  was there and I got to pick up a version of the Hodges Trailing Truck that is needed for the K1 Project. We’ll talk about this in depth in a future post here.

Stevenson also had a built up Fox Truck from his castings on display at his table. I know there has been a lot of talk about the importance and need for this truck. Now it seems that three different manufactures have a version for the five modelers across the country that have been lobbing so hard for this truck to be made. With so many other things that are missing in O Scale why?

Middle Division had a resin XL camp car for the PRR on display at Al Small’s table. I’m not sure how these will be sold either through Al as built up cars or as kits. Al Small had one of these in the model contest and took second place in MOW equipment (I think.) I had a chance to see the masters for these cars last Summer at their casters. I was in there to get an idea of the services he offered. HO modelers will note these are cast by the same company that is doing the Baldwin Babyface freighters for ARHS.

Rick Yoder had some new models on display at the table, trouble was they were too popular, as there was always a crowd around the table and I didn’t get a chance to talk much to Rich. I know he was taking orders for his new USRA 70 ton triple and a ACL Watermelon car.  I’ll need some of the USRA Triples for my NYC interchange traffic coming from Newberry Junction. Also Rich was taking orders for his PRR 2d-F8 and PRR 2D-F12 trucks.

Glad he was busy though as other Brass importers were signing a gloomy song. It appears that Keystone talking about not doing any more freight car models. They STILL did not have their PRR 2D-F8 truck available. I first saw samples of that truck in 2000, in the basement at Cherry Valley as we were rebuilding the railroad. It doesn’t appear any closer to reality today than it did ten years ago.

Next up I’ll talk about the layout tours.