Label: What's in a name?

Hello again, faithful followers of The Omega Scale Railway. As indicated above, this week we're talking about the name. “What do I mean by that?”, you might ask. Well, as this blogger sees it, The Omega Scale Railway is the name of the scale. The way I have been blogging about it, it sounds like that The Omega Scale Railway is the name of my personal small scale railroad. This is a natural conclusion. However, I realized that maybe I should not refer to The OSR so possessively. Doing this slights the other Omega Scalers, though not done intentionally. These other practitioners of Omega Scale deserve their just dues. They may number in the multitudes (or not). They probably are too bashful or modest to comment or take credit. Probably concerned about my feelings as well. To put things to right, omscaler is active in Omega Scale model railroading, the 1/32nd inch to one foot, 1/384 scale model railroad. My “layout” is referred to as the “Union City Division”, based on the Gulf Mobile and Ohio railroad. The GM&O, a regional road, was based in Mobile, Alabama. The freight house featured here was in Union City, Tennessee. This location was chosen for modeling due to the availability of a diagram of the old freight house at that location. Hence, the Union City Division was born. Special announcement: The Omega Scale Railway blog was one year old on Valentine's Day! Happy belated Valentine's Day to you Valentiners out there. Omscaler is planning “A Look Back” series to celebrate this landmark milestone. See you in the following weeks. omscaler

Label: Nuts and Bolts             

Last week we wrote about housing for our imaginary railway. Now at this point I am not about to tell you that the housing situation is solved. Far from it. I'm not even going to say that it is even well started. Good things take time. The update this week is about production. The specific production goal right now is twelve boxcars, various types potentially. The goal also includes the shifter rework and a road engine and a caboose. I actually wish all this was done but accuracy and quality do take time. The sticking point has been a method to batch produce components. I am happy to report that the method was developed then upgraded. So, into the woods we go (!?). still busy, omscaler

Label: Transportation for the masses  

Last week omscaler wrote about housing. Now common transportation is being examined. Obviously The Omega Scale Railway is transportation. But what about non railway means of transport? During the railway era, transport evolved from walking, riding on animals or riding in wagons and carts to well-designed automobiles. The Omega Scale Railway will feature at least some of these. Back in the day, ox drawn wagons worked in tandem with railroads. More to come. Omscaler

Label: Houses for the masses

Yep, it's time to think about the people. Those hardy souls who toil and sweat to make modern transportation available for the rest of the population. After a hard day of working on The Omega Scale Railway, men and women need a place of refuge and respite. So, now is the time to plan for residences for the residents. We obviously need more than a freight house. Even though this makes do as a temporary abode. And what else? Stores, businesses, factories. As you have probably guessed, the list is growing exponentially. Yours again, a determined omscaler

Label: More progress    

Just a little update. Work is naturally ongoing. Currently, larger batches of production have been arranged. The last work aid, a marking gauge has turned out well. The plan is to now produce in groups with an eye toward a more robust Omega Scale Railway. Diligence will pay off. BTW, I noticed on Facebook that someone has made some railway equipment in 1 to 500 scale. 3D printing was mentioned. The example I saw looked great. I am going to try to get more details. Right now, I do not know much about the examples I saw. Busy still, omscaler 

Label: The Modular Way

Modularity. What is it? To most, modular homes, modular programming, modular furniture. I associate these things with contemporary technology. I am sure there were historic modular ideas. I just don't know about them or forgot about them. What is current and has been for years in model railroading is modules. They are quite prolific. I have made larger scale modules myself. I have an N-scale module in procrastinated progress right now. (good 2018 goal, eh?) Therefore, The Omega Scale Railway will be introducing modular design in 2018. I can hear the applause and cheers now. “Why modules for this scale?”, you might be asking yourself. Good question! “It seems like everything is small enough now!”, you might exclaim. Good exclamation! The answer. An eight foot layout is hard to put in the front seat of your car. An eight foot layout is hard to put under a standard length bed. An eight foot module is hard to put on the table with your green eggs and ham. (if you have a shorter table and like green eggs and ham.)  (bloggers note: the previous is from a Dr. Suess book, Green Eggs and Ham, Sam I am.) By now many of you are probably wondering why I am disparaging a beloved children's book. I am not. I am just saying there are times when something smaller is needed to get something more. Hence, modules. Once again, your compartmentalizing omscaler