Each Monday I post the start of a new edition of the Book Club, which looks at an older issue of Model Railroader and readers are invited to post comments about any aspect of it that strikes them, just as we would in a real book club. The idea is to use the All Access Pass/Digital Archive ability to look at all the prior issues of MR. Of course those with hard copy versions, or the DVD of past issues that Kalmbach used to sell, are also welcome to comment. Indeed anyone is welcome to comment -- even if only to comment on someone else's comments! I notice we have hundreds of "hits" a week but far fewer actual comments. Let's keep talking here! I think perhaps I have gone on at too great a length in prior book club introductions so I will keep this brief and let you guys do more of the discoveries and discussions. With luck that will increase the amount of book club activity.
There are two projects in the issue that may interest present day readers: Bill Lorence shows how to take the classic Santa Fe caboose that Athearn sold for years (and commonly seen at swap meets today, and also available in other scales) and kitbash it into an early oil electric. And Charles T Pettus shows how he took the classic Mantua/Tyco 4-6-2 (a B&O prototype) and made it into an even closer replica of the B&O President class Pacific. The revivial of this model by Model Rectifier Corp as parts of its Model Power acquisition gives new life to this project, and again, Mantua Pacifics are very common items at swap meets.
The issue also sees the continuation of Gordon Odegaard's series on how to scratchbuild a steam locomotive.
The "MR Clinic" on page 133 (the issue has 155 pages) has a good introduction by Jim Hediger on plug doors for boxcars and reefers.
Here is a teaser -- a well known participant on these Forums has a nice picture in Trackside Photos.
Enjoy the March 1983 issue for this week's Book Club.
Dave Nelson
Last Days of the Duquesne shows what Paul Dolkos was doing before he built his B&M layout. I hope Kalmbach has plans for an update on his current Baltimore-based layout some time soon.
Page 18 has an ad for The Gould Company, predecessor of Tichy.
You can tell the Internet explosion and eBay are still in the future: Classified Marketplace covers the equivalent of four full pages in small type.
Whether you like the C&NW Galena Division track plan or not (too crowded for my tastes -- YMMV), the structure ideas are really interesting and useful. Kopay's furniture is another really nice building.
Gordon Odegard's Mikado build presents a lot of good ideas. Now that more and more modelers are going the diesel and R-T-R route, the availability of steam kits and kit parts is decreasing. Both Bowser and Roundhouse have stopped kit production AFAIK, and it's getting harder to find parts. Gordon modified an available trailing truck to be closer to his prototype. We may have to revert to his methods in the future to get what we want. In other current threads, we have seen some very nice mods to create very respectable RDG, LV, and D&RGW steam locos using styrene, body filler, etc. We may have to go back to the future.
Speaking of steam conversions, the Mantua Pacific article is of use even in 2015. Nowadays I think an even better model could be produced if an AHM cab could be used, from the 2-10-2/2-8-2/4-6-2. The tender could be improved by removing all rivets and replacing them with rivet decals in a pattern closer to the prototype. In later years, Andrews trucks would be more appropriate than Commonwealth. For the larger tenders, another option today would be the use of a modified tender shell from the Bachmann EM-1, but with Commonwealth 6-wheel trucks in place of the EM-1's Buckeyes. The EM-1 tender isn't exactly the right size, but it's visually pretty close. Many of these changes were not readily available to the author at the time, so his model is very nice under the circumstances.
Tom
And what about Kelly's beard on page 28?
I agree regarding the C&NW Galena division trackplan. Way too busy. It looks nice on paper but I bet it would a bear to build and maintain. It would probably look toy like when finished. I remember starting a track plan for that contest. It was going to be a point-to-point switchback logging operation with no duck under to enter the layout room. I figures with that short a mainline, why not use a switchback so trains would have to go back and forth several times to reach the other end of the line. I never did put the finishing touches on it and submit the plan but I kept the idea in my head and I am in the process of adding a branchline to my layout that will include a switchback logging operation.
I noted the Box Cab kitbashes on pg. 76 - 77 - 78 using simple Athearn steel bodied cabooses as a starting point. Given the current asking prices for the original Roundhouse units, the kit bash idea is tempting.
The detail in some of the articles was very interesting. The article on building a front pilot truck in brass caused me to consider how mediocre my own brass scratch building efforts of much simpler items has been. There was also the DIY wireless throttle and block detector circuits, and here I was proud of building some basic IR detectors and Keep Alives.
Apparently track cleaning machines were expensive in 1983 too. On page 138 there is an ad for an "Iron Horse" motorized track cleaner with rotating "abrasive" pads for $79.95!
Its always interesting to go back and see the modelling gems that appear in the older issues. For example the coal bins on pg. 60 actually contain three grades of coal. I'll have to do some research on what grades a local distributor would have stocked in the late 50s.
Dave - thanks for the thread!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Shopcat And what about Kelly's beard on page 28?
Looking pretty stylish in some of the hipper parts of the US. In 2015. Which...is confusing.
The full-color MRC ad inside the front cover is kind of remarkable, more like a condensed catalog than the typical ad that appears there. The lead pic of an old-timer and his grandson/neighbor/kid down the block is pretty neat, with the youngster hold an Amtrak diesel and the "mature" fellow keeping a death grip on his steamer. Also interesing how they noted their powerpacks are compatible with narrowgauge...gee, I always thought we used those narrowgauge electrons back before DCC. Guess it was just ordinary electrickery.
Page 9, a 2/3 page ad for Walthers decals...weren't those the thingies that put letters on your cars???
Page 10, GSB Rail is still promising SD-40s. Oh well. But how about that N scale Bi-Polar?!!
And Model Railroader was planning a 50th anniversary conference. I did not know about that at all.
The dead rail folks won't want to miss the cartoon on page 36. Or part one of the Keith Gutierrez article on building a wireless throttle. Seems a bit bulky compared to my sleek new Apple WiThrottle, which required no extensive soldering or parts lists...
On page 39, the R. Robb Ltd HOn3 Rio Grande drop bottom gon was a thing of beauty, but a pain to build. Where else you gonna get one, other than brass? Blackstone was still decades away.
Page 68 has Bob Boudreau's amazing model of a steam shovel.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
Mike
I saw the steam shovel picture. I was disappointed that there wasn't a bigger article on it. I did a search but came up blank.
hon30critterI noted the Box Cab kitbashes on pg. 76 - 77 - 78 using simple Athearn steel bodied cabooses as a starting point.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
I actually bought one of those Santa Fe cabooses for that very purpose, some of the club members thought I’d seen the light and was going to model the A.T.S.F , and were not impressed that I intended to cut it up for other purposes.
I can see that now. Old guys clutching at their hearts while you dial 911 to get the fire brigade out to save them...
John Nehrich, now there was a prolific author around that time, lots of good articles too. I wonder if he is still in the hobby, or did he burn himself out?
John's still around AFAIK, just not as high profile as back in the day...
http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/john-nehrich
He's still actively involved as of last year:
http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2014/05/12/a-miniature-version-of-troy-and-its-past
mlehman The full-color MRC ad inside the front cover is kind of remarkable ... Also interesing how they noted their powerpacks are compatible with narrowgauge...gee, I always thought we used those narrowgauge electrons back before DCC. Guess it was just ordinary electrickery.
The full-color MRC ad inside the front cover is kind of remarkable ... Also interesing how they noted their powerpacks are compatible with narrowgauge...gee, I always thought we used those narrowgauge electrons back before DCC. Guess it was just ordinary electrickery.
Actually Mike, the older generation of MRC power packs, good as they were and are (and my 50+ year old Ampack still gives good service on a test track, and looks like new to boot) were not terribly good for the then-new can motors often used in HOn3 and indeed some guys found the lowest setting on the rheostat would not bring the smaller can motor to a full halt. They also were not ideal for narrow gauge where the prototype speeds were rarely over 30 mph. So it was indeed news that the newer generation of MRC power packs was better suited for HOn3 and the like.
Dave,
Thanks, that explains it. I knew there were some issues way back with some of the motors, but that was before I invested in narrowgauge and merely stood with my nose pressed to the plate glass at the Narrowgauge Shoppe...
That Controlmaster XI, I always lusted over that in the hobby shop. WAY beyond my means, IIRC, it was somewhat north of $120.
Interesting times - mix of old school suppliers and a lot of new ones coming on the scene. Micro Engineering was still Railcraft. Magazine was a lot of pages, but a LOT of multi-page ads. Prices - small ad shows Peco at 'affordable' prices - $9 or so. Sounds reasonable -then hit the Standard Hobby ad and see that Atlas Customline turnouts were $2.69!
New product announcements include the NJ Custom Brass Reading T-1 - first T-1 model since the old Gem version, and shortly thereafter came the first run by Overland.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Aaah! The Cary S-2 conversion shell! (p.38) I still have mine, got it assembled and mounted to the Athearn SW-1500... and that's about as far as it went. Still in the original box. I remember buying it at one of the bigger train shows.
Forever a shelf queen. Ed
mlehmanHe's still actively involved as of last year:
This issue came out 6 months prior to me getting into HO.
A ad for the GSB SD 40-2 was present with the following verbiage: "We will do everything we can to make sure you are fully satisfied with our products". Well that never happened as gearbox problems doomed this loco from the start.
The next page had a ad for Arbour Models, another one best left on the LHS junk table.
The Mantua article showned what you could do to a great running basic locomotive and detail it to a specific protoype.
The Walthers catalog listed for 10.95. I always bought a year old one which cut the cost considerably.
Jim