Label: Heading toward year's end

Wow! We are already at November's last week. Thanksgiving time is here. It seems like the year has blown by. Traditionally, many people would have a model train running under the old Christmas tree. I like this time of year. However, many people do not have happy memories at this time. Sometimes, family problems are inadvertently highlighted. Often by strife, want or family problems in general. We here at The Omega Scale Railway are mindful of this. Hopefully, you faithful reader, will think about this as well. Even if you are one who is not so happy at the holiday season. We all can feel better by being generous or a help to those who may be in need. Your friend year round, omscaler

Label: Freight house going up

     A new freight house is being constructed for The Omega Scale Railway. This effort is our very first structure for the OSR and we are excited to relate this to our reading public. As a matter of note, the small town train station was a major hub of activity in a bygone era. The romantic allure and atmosphere of this public place is not now understood or appreciated. However, movies from that time period often include this place as an exciting starting place for the stories they portrayed. And in real life, the excitement was palpable. The passenger's comings and goings were the stuff of real life drama. Especially for small town America. As an adjunct to the station's passengers, freight and parcels were coming and going as well. Sometimes the freight activities were right in the next room. Often they were in their own special building. Hence, our construction efforts. And, for very small towns, passengers left from the freight house. The freight agent being the ticket agent as well. ALL ABOAARD!, omscaler

Label: This is exciting!

Yes! We now have a clear path forward. We have always had a plan, but this is different. I can feel the electricity in the atmosphere. It is all coming together. I feel buoyant. The turnout issue is a non issue. The solution has already presented itself. There is something about seeing a vision materializing that just rev's me up. In my mind's eye I can see an extensive 1/384 layout that includes water features, bridges and foliage. As Teddy Roosevelt would say, “Charge!”. Yours from a low orbit, omscaler

Label: OMG again again!

Last installment related the omscaler was laboring to get things in order (I skipped the obvious 'back on track' pun). We got that done. But now the actual retainer is giving us fits. We will prevail. This is critical. The entire project is at stake. As you previously read, there was a delay regarding the possibility of printing track components. Omscaler was busy during the delay gathering actual historic car reporting marks from websites thereby building a large database of this information. Now we do have track specifications and a working test track. (we still needs turnouts [switches]). Now, we would like to execute the plan. But, we gotta' get the retainer right. And we will. omscaler

Label: OMG! Here we go again!

Last installment, omscaler related the account of the “reworked” test track. Well, now it seems that the “improved” trackage looks better but, now tolerances are “improved” as well. What does this mean? Well, fellow travelers, it means the as usual erstwhile (and patient) omscaler must now “rework” so called equipment retainers. The old retainers are now too thick and prone to tear off. Not a good outcome for industrial equipment at all. Hopefully, by the time you, the reader see this, all will be well. Still persistent, omscaler

Label: More complicated

And now it gets more complicated. As I complete the “reworked” test track, I can see where there is the need for a turnout (also called switch). The reason being that when the main oval is complete, there is no way to put equipment into/ on the track. This is one aspect that readers may not yet comprehend. Specifically, The Omega Scale Railway is so small that it is powered by a sub-surface conveyor. The turnout then is necessary to put equipment onto an oval track. This is, a matter of fact, what happened before. Your omscaler got the cart out in front of the horse. I got the oval assembled without the drive cable. I did leave a panel on one side for the purpose of mounting the drive unit and placing cars with their subsurface retainers on the track. However, this was not what was needed. So, now we have our ducks in a row. And forward we go! (Hey look I'm a poet!) Omscaler

Label: “The Laws of A-Track-shun” [The Laws of Attraction?]

Well, as you readers know, last installment of The Omega Scale heralded the completion of the test track. And, to be honest, it worked nominally well. However, to be completely honest, the level of “reworking” was quite high. And that is the problem with being somewhat of a perfectionist. Perfectionists like me now see the idea of “if you're going to rework it, at least make it better.” so, that is what is now in progress. This will delay some other efforts but will make the perfectionist in me happy. BTW, I wonder why I can't be like this as far as my own housekeeping chores? Oh, well I guess I can't be perfectionist in everything. Pick your battles, eh? Anyway, along with reworking the test track, the 0-6-0 shifter now needs reworking. It got “damaged” during the initial break-in of the test track. No pun intended or enjoyed. The plus side of this is that the shifter needed details added anyway.  Also, a boxcar was “damaged” too, but has how been repaired. It looks like all this “damage” is giving new meaning to the term “test track”. Still persistent, omscaler