Back to basics

Omscaler is back to basic construction on The Omega Scale Railway. Last week was track making using a different method that gives a better appearance. Also, last Saturday, omscaler got to go on supply safari. So happy. As part of track making, a more accurate tie marker was needed. Omscaler found three candidates at a craft store. What else was decided was that a blueish steel color marker and a safety yellow marker were needed too. These were added to the purchase. To top last week off (actually, Thursday), a new gluing and building guide was made. This will help make freight trucks and stirrup steps. These require attaching wheels to a back frame. Putting side frames on wheels also. So, as readers can tell, last week omscaler got very busy. Omscaler plans to get even more basic by working on new subsurface building methods. Along with this will be making modularized conveyor cord. A new drive linkage is on tap as well. At this point, omscaler always feels like he is forgetting something. First things first, omscaler

 

 

April Fools?

Hello again readers! Spring has come in force with just a little coolness still in the air. The latest project completed was a new design for turnouts. Last week was building both a test model and a production model. Last Thursday saw a successful installation on the Union City module at the NC&StL interchange location. Friday saw omscaler fooling around with the idea of making turnout parts on the laser. Omscaler did a test cut on Saturday and was not happy with the results. These turnouts may continue to be made by hand cutting. Happy April Fool’s Day, omscaler

 

 

The current state of The Omega Scale Railway

Omscaler has decided to inform blog readers of the current state of The Omega Scale Railway. The purpose of this is to answer general questions readers may have. For information about how The Omega Scale Railway began, readers will please note the section on the right of the blog, “About The Omega Scale Railway”. The first module built was the Murphysboro, Illinois, module. Salient features here are the GM&O passenger depot, GM&O freight house, the Hull house, a bungalow, two shot gun houses, some chickens and a cow as well as railway tracks along with some trees. Next, we visit the Union City, Tennessee, module. Here we have the Union Station passenger depot and freight house. The depot serves both the GM&O as well as the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis railways. Seen here are an interchange track and very small East and West yards. On the railway property are one shifter (switcher), one 2-6-0, Mogul, one 4-4-0, American, two 2-8-0 Consolidations. For passengers we have: one baggage car, one diner, one sleeper and two coaches. Freight cars: nine PS-1 boxcars, one outside braced wood boxcar, two flat cars, two gondolas, ten fifty ton open top hopper cars, four covered hoppers, one lone anachronistic wood sheathed boxcar and two cabooses. And to end our report, three automobiles. Still adding to the adventure, omscaler

 

Reflecting on a big project

 As blog readers are aware, omscaler has completed an extensive project. Specifically, rebuilding nine original boxcars to more realistic PS-1 type. This type is a Pullman Standard design with sheet steel ends and sides. It is distinguished by sheet metal extensions on the lower side edge which cover floor beams. The older boxcars were a very simple construction which was not rugged and as a result did not hold up very well. The original group was ten. One was taken out of service and rebuilt as a Frisco outside braced wood boxcar. Cars one through nine got the PS-1 attributes. Since one was a non-PS-1, this left nine to rebuild with a lone CB&Q boxcar being not rebuilt. Perhaps omscaler will redo it in the future. This project was a landmark effort in several ways besides the PS-1 configuration. The sides and ladders were laser cut. More accurate dimensions were adhered to. A new side frame making method was used. Also, a new stirrup step making method was used. However, some flaws were found. These will hopefully be overcome in future builds. Now, omscaler is taking the next step and moving on to other projects. Moving on down the line, omscaler

 

Only the lonely

This last PS-1 boxcar seems like a lone effort. Probably because it is the last in the planned series. The boxcar should be finished by the middle of this week. Omscaler is a little behind due to a family visit out of town over the weekend. Always good to get back home, though. See you in the next post, omscaler

 

 

The last three

As this post is written, the last three boxcars of the car upgrade project have been started. Omscaler is attempting, as far as possible to work on them together. The railroad name has already had to be reprinted at least twice due to being a little too large to fit between the ladder and the door. Now the application of the reporting marks and road name can be put on the cars. The wall to deck assembly will have to be done one at a time as there is only one assembly platform. This platform supports the car deck so the car sides will be the correct height. The reason for this is that the side floor beam cover gussets protrude downward below the deck. This gives us the correct appearance for the boxcar. As a further note, omscaler is strongly leaning toward redesigning the turnout as the next project. Then, undecided. Omscaler

 

Marching toward completion

As of last week, five of the nine boxcars slated for upgrades have been finished. As this post is being written, a Rock Island boxcar is set up for construction. Hopefully, it will go smoothly. Next will be three GM&O boxcars. Omscaler is considering making these with reporting marks only as this is the home road. However, checking the group of reference photos shows at least the road name as well. What is noted is that the ampersand is some of the pics is the standard font. Not the unusual ampersand seen which resembles a Cyrillic character. Omscaler does not recall any Russians involved with the early railroad. But, you never know. See you next post. Omscaler

 

In and out

As of last week, the picture of the L&N boxcar was taken down and the ATSF boxcar was put up. Seems like progress on The Omega Scale Railway has speeded up a little. At this point, the next ATSF boxcar needs a roof and running gear to be placed into service. Next, omscaler plans a Western Pacific boxcar. Then come Rock Island. GM&O will bring up the rear. Working away, omscaler

 

Not yet

Omscaler is still working on a pair of ATSF boxcars. One of these was referred to last post. Part of the delay was due to the decision to rework the railroad name and slogan on the L&N boxcar. Omscaler knew better (but got excited). Readers may want to check the top pic on the blog and see if they think this is an improvement. Also, omscaler decided to make all the needed logos for the boxcar upgrade at once. This proved to be harder than first thought. More than one attempt was needed on more than one boxcar. As of this post, it looks like we are good to go. We will get them done, omscaler

 

 

A slow start

Last week was more parts making. This week is getting started a little slowly due to the Groundhog Day holiday. However, the ATSF box car will be started this week and maybe completed. Omscaler believes he has enough parts to get everything done. Omscaler is also looking at another turnout redesign but that is on the back burner. Also, this past weekend, the GM&O consolidation (2-8-0) that was in for repair was returned to service. It is now working in Union City. Gearing up to go, omscaler

 

Another one done

Omscaler is proud to announce the completion of L&N 15628, PS-1 boxcar. To restate the highlights, we have laser cut sides, doors, and ladders. Total parts count is approximately sixty-six. The boxcar also features the new side frame construction method. A new stirrup step building method was used as well. Omscaler is thinking the next boxcar upgrade will be an ATSF of the same type. Continuing to build, omscaler

 

More progress

Omscaler is delighted to report that the next boxcar rebuild is making good progress. As of this post, the main portion is done and the roof will be built next. After that, the running gear will be built and installed. A picture should be posted on this blog as soon as possible. Hoping the new year is going well. See you next post, omscaler

 

A (another?) cautionary tale

Hello again faithful readers. This week’s caption does indeed indicate some unexpected challenges. As mentioned before, a major boxcar upgrade project is in the works. The first was a Southern Railway PS-1. This project turnout pretty well. After this, omscaler was going ahead to work up a batch of car sides in sufficient number to complete the upgrades. Last Saturday afternoon omscaler set up the laser cutter cut file and decided to use the project outline feature in the software to make sure the cardstock was in the correct position. The button was clicked on. The laser head moved to the vertical position and then...nothing. No further movement. Omscaler got somewhat agitated rather quickly. A check of the laser operating software was done. Another trial outline was started. No go. At this point, omscaler began looking over the laser itself. It was discovered that the right-side x-axis pulley belt was not engaging. To find out why, omscaler disassembled the housing. The so-called belt tensioner. What was found was about four cracks total in the bottom and top of the pulley bracket. Omscaler definitely became very puzzled at this point. There was a vague recollection of bumping the laser cutter frame while moving it off the table to clean that table. What to do? First idea: check price of an entire replacement laser cutter. Doable but very reluctant. Second idea: check price of a replacement belt tensioner. Very affordable but decided to wait. Third idea: get out the super glue and go to work on a repair. This was fiddley work. However, patience and persistence were rewarded. Now, the laser cut boxcar sides project is over fifty percent completed as of this writing. After getting the laser cutter back on track, literally, another issue reared its ugly head. What was happening was that when the cardstock was cut, some details were burned beyond recognition. This was very puzzling due to the success with the first boxcar. Different laser settings were tried. Not successful. This after cutting just one boxcar side. Finally, omscaler thought, “Let's get real basic and use the preview feature." When this was done, what was seen was that some cut lines were to be cut multiple times. This was what was burning the details off. Somehow, what appeared to be one thick line on the cut diagram was actually “stacked lines”. The cut diagram was gone over line by line, and all unnecessary lines were eliminated. This took several tries. As mentioned above, the project got back underway. Omscaler is still unsure how multiple lines got put in the diagram. It probably happened when the basic cut diagram was converted by hand from the preliminary diagram. Omscaler says you always pay for your education.

 

Let’s take a look back.

Welcome to 2025! omscaler is super optimistic about this year. Lots of things planned. Lots of goals on the list. To set the stage for this year let’s look at what got done in 2024. The last completed project was the PS-1 boxcar. This project was very innovative. Features: True PS-1 sheet steel sides were recreated. The sides and door were laser cut. It is an open-door boxcar. Actual boxcar number and reporting marks were applied. Next was an improved turnout design. Features: One moving part. Along with this omscaler made a number of switch stand targets. The Union City module was completed. This module has an interchange track. Another first for The Omega Scale Railway. Figures were made for the railroad. Trees were made. Automobiles were built. Several structures were built or installed (one built a few years back). An improved pocket box for carrying a sample was purchased. A prefabricated track building method was developed. To support railcar upgrades, a parts backstock was begun. An improved car truck side-frame building method was developed. Whew! Omscaler thinks he may have forgotten one or two things. The PS-1 boxcar was also the beginning of a major boxcar upgrade. As of writing this post, there are nine more to go. So, as readers can see omscaler has been busy. 2025 sees a list of about twenty goals for the new year. Omscaler will stay busy. Until next post, omscaler