And no, don't tell me to go to the Classic Toy Trains forums, which are for tinplate O scalers. I am talking here about actual 1/4" scale 2-rail model trains and this in theory should be the correct forum for such discussions.
So I have come into a quantity of older O scale trains, some of which are in need of completion and parts. Walthers has discontinued their O scale catalog and no longer makes or carries much in the way of O. I do have some old Walthers parts (pretty crude metal castings) but they are not right for these cars. The Selley O scale parts seem gone from the scene too.
And older lines of O have disappeared and I simply don't know where I should be looking for things like standard 40' boxcar ends (Dreadnaught), doors (youngstown) , ladders, running boards, brake wheel housings and wheels, stirrup steps and grab irons, underframe parts, and the like. My cars are metal but I have no moral objection to introducing plastic parts into the picture. I even have gone so far as to measure out some derelict Lionel 6464 boxcar bodies but even those parts are not quite full 1/4 scale although pretty close.
They are probably All-Nation or perhaps Zimmer, or maybe even old old Athearn O scale metal cars. All of which are long gone of course.
Who are the suppliers that O scale guys use these days? If I have some names I can find their stuff, but frankly even Google searches for O scale stuff - and perhaps I am using the wrong search terms - have run into a lot of dead ends, or they do not have the parts I seek.
Dave Nelson
PS I am not changing scales but I do have a few things in 1/4" scale that interest me or that I have on display. If I had a bit more space and a bit less ambition I'd consider O to be sure. In fact a good buddy whose HO layout was just in Great Model Railroads is becoming obsessed with 1/4" scale in Proto:48 format.
I believe Intermountain makes plastic well detailed O scale boxcar kits with seperate end castings.
.
I built one years ago. It might have been Red Caboose.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Oscale Resource
has a free magazine with ads plus some other info on their site.
O Scale Kings also has some info.
BTW Intermountain no longer makes O scale. I think Red Caboose is gone also.
Grandt Line has some detail parts
Most 2 rail O scale rolling stock is now RTR from Atlas or MTH.
You might find some stuff at train shows. I occasionally find old kits there. There are also a few O Scale shows each year - see the O Scale Resource magazine above for a list.
Good luck
Paul
Scratchbuilding may be useful for some parts, such as doors and ends, as Evergreen has a very wide selection of sheet and strip material available.Grabirons and stirrup steps can be fabricated from wire and/or brass strip material, available from Tichy, Detail Associates, and K&S.
Precision Scale
Wayne
I love 2 rail O scale. The thing that's keeping me from going that way is the cost of the track and turnouts. I researched it a few months back and if my memory is correct, the turnouts are around $90. I can't justify that kind of cost. So, I'll stick with the smaller stuff.
But, it is still in the back of my mind...
Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge
Sir, I am an HO scaler but I still go to www.protocraft.com to drool over what's available in O scale. Make that proto:48. There are parts such as brass cast brakewheels, brake gear boxes, youngstown doors, ladders etc. If I didn't have the annual GDP of a third world country invested in HO, I know where I'd be.
As far as track goes, if you want to keep it scale and aren't building Chicago Union Station or, BRC's Clearing freight yard, lay your own. In O, it should be a lot easier than the smaller scales and finer components are available. Good luck in your search and my hat is off to you for wanting to keep it scale.
Dave, I was in O scale back in the '60s, when Walthers and All-Nation were still supporting it with parts and kits. Then Atlas and AHM both came out with O scale lines, but with some peculiar choices for prototypes. They both had bobber cabooses and the usual selection of freight cars, some of which still turn up here and there (Ebay usually has a few sellers, at least some of whom don't seem to think their plastic stuff is valuable collectable antiques), but Atlas decided to model the EMD F9, which were fewer in real life than the F7 it resembled, and AHM decided to immortalize the Fairbanks-Morse C-Liner, which was also pretty rare in real life. When I went back into O in 1993 (eyes, y'know), I discovered the old standbys were gone, some taken over by other enthusiasts whoi have since moved on to that Great Model Railroad Room in the Sky.
The good news is that Scale City Designs bought out the late John Kiel's line of All-Nation parts (he was the latest in a string), which also contained a lot of Walthers O scale parts John had reworked, and the folks at SCD have also been improving the line, releasing more and more goodies all the time. They have an online catalog with a wide array of freight, passenger, and diesel parts, some of which were designed to improve other manufacturers' cars and locos. There are a lot of other companies online selling detail parts for railroad use and architectural projects---even some structures. Use ironrooster's link to "O Scale Resource's" online magazine and you'll find manufacturers galore! I also belong to the O Scale Yard Sale, where other modelers buy and sell all sorts of goodies (including the P48, which doesn't interest me, either). It's free and not an auction site: prices are as stated by the sellers. It's a greaqt way to find specific items you need, merely by insterting a "WTB" ad. O scalers, I've always found, are even friendlier than those modeling other scales, probably because we've all "Been there, done that!"
Good luck and Happy Railroadin'!
Deano
Atlas also makes two rail O Scale.. In fact they make a beautiful two rail RS-1.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
trwrouteI love 2 rail O scale. The thing that's keeping me from going that way is the cost of the track and turnouts. I researched it a few months back and if my memory is correct, the turnouts are around $90. I can't justify that kind of cost. So, I'll stick with the smaller stuff.
I suspect that's part of the reason On30 took off the way it did with people wanting to move up to a larger scale. You can use track specifically designed for On30 (with larger ties spaced farther apart) if you want, or just use regular HO track - which makes it especially easy for people switching from HO.
wjstix trwroute I love 2 rail O scale. The thing that's keeping me from going that way is the cost of the track and turnouts. I researched it a few months back and if my memory is correct, the turnouts are around $90. I can't justify that kind of cost. So, I'll stick with the smaller stuff. I suspect that's part of the reason On30 took off the way it did with people wanting to move up to a larger scale. You can use track specifically designed for On30 (with larger ties spaced farther apart) if you want, or just use regular HO track - which makes it especially easy for people switching from HO.
trwroute I love 2 rail O scale. The thing that's keeping me from going that way is the cost of the track and turnouts. I researched it a few months back and if my memory is correct, the turnouts are around $90. I can't justify that kind of cost. So, I'll stick with the smaller stuff.
Even though they are undersized a bit, you can also use HO trucks. Plus HO couplers. And you can scratch build cars pretty easily out of wood. The grabs and brake wheel have to be O scale, but narrow gauge details like brake cyclinders were frequently undersized from standard gauge, so HO again can be used.
And most O buildings from Lionel, MTH, and Bachmann are undersized a little also.
Due to the cost, and the size requirements, O scalers have often banded together to form clubs. The NMRA was basically founded in the 1930's by several O scale clubs in the US coming together.
There aren't as many O scale clubs as there once were, but there are still some out there. We have a prominent one here in Mpls/St.Paul....
https://www.tcmrm.org/
I recommend Des Plaines Hobbies in Illinois:
http://www.desplaineshobbies.com/store/
They bought the O-scale line of brass detail parts from Custom Finishing years ago, and now make them under their own label. They also stock a lot of 2-rail O-scale merchandise. I've seen them at the Springfield (MA) Show every year.
BRAKIE Atlas also makes two rail O Scale.. In fact they make a beautiful two rail RS-1.
And, their end cab switchers are the finest running factory engines out there, IMHO.
Unfortunately, Atlas continues to have serious problems with O-scale manufacturing in China ... for quite a few years now. More engines runs were just recently canceled.
I look forward to Atlas getting the problem all squared away ... they make good stuff and are nice folks.
I have a little narrow ISL in 2-rail O scale along one wall, that I have some fun with.
dknelsonAnd older lines of O have disappeared and I simply don't know where I should be looking for things like standard 40' boxcar ends (Dreadnaught), doors (youngstown) , ladders, running boards, brake wheel housings and wheels, stirrup steps and grab irons, underframe parts, and the like. My cars are metal but I have no moral objection to introducing plastic parts into the picture. I even have gone so far as to measure out some derelict Lionel 6464 boxcar bodies but even those parts are not quite full 1/4 scale although pretty close.
If you're looking for parts for a postwar 'transition era' 40' long by 10' high steel boxcar, the old (early '70's) plastic Atlas O scale stockcars, sliding door boxcars and plug-door boxcars were quite nice, with separate roofwalk, handrails, underbody details, and interior floors. They can generally be picked up at model railroad flea markets or Ebay for around $10-15 each (sometimes less). I was a "hi-railer" from 1973-88 and the bulk of my freight car fleet were Atlas cars.