O GaugeWatch.com

Installment #7 of my periodic list of interesting posts from the various O Gauge forums.  As you may have noticed from past forum roundups, I primarily focus on posts that feature "tips and tricks" you can use to improve your O Gauge model railroad. 

Common Sources for Layout Building Materials  on the OGR forum.  This post discuss alternative sources for building materials.

Chain Link Fence Question on the OGR forum.  Lot’s of discussion on how to model chain link fence on your layout.

Where To Purchase Back Drop Scenes on the OGR forum.  Discussion about sources for back drop scenes for your layout.

Cardstock Buildings on the Model Train Journal forum.  This is a good discussion about building   structures from printed card stock.

How To Make Inexpensive Conifer Trees on the Classic Toy Trains forum.  In this discussion you will learn how to make Conifer trees out of a furnace filter.

Corrugating Tin Cans. How? on the Classic Toy Trains forum.  Learn how to use a soda can to create corrugated metal material for use on your layout structures.

Place To Get Parts on the Classic Toy Trains forum.  In this discussion you will find a good number of sources for repair parts for your locomotives and rolling stock.

Installment #6 of my Forum Roundup:

John Allen’s Gorre and Daphetid Railroad by Ray Marinaccio on The Gauge forum.  In this post there is a link to photograph’s of John Allen’s layout.  John Allen modeled in HO but is considered to be one of the pioneers of model railroading.

Making Clay Clods and Old Dirt Roads by hminky on The Gauge forum.  If you are looking to model dirt roads on your layout check out this post.

Custom dry transfers? by raydunkin on Google Groups - rec.models.railroad.  In this post you will find several links to sources of custom dry transfers.

Need Transformer Advice by tumbleweed56 on Classic Toy Trains forum.  You’ll find plenty of advice on how to use your old ZW to run your modern models, including how to add a sound activation switch and circuit breakers.

Layout Base Color by bibeaud on O Gauge Railroading forum.  Good discussion about what color to paint the base of your newly built layout.

Vinylbed by Harry R on O Gauge Railroading forum.  If your thinking about using Vinylbed on your new layout you need to read this discussion.

Making a creek/lake by Larry3railtrains on O Gauge Railroading forum.  Good discussion about using Enviro-tex to model water on your layout.

Installment #5 of forum roundup:

Need Suggestions on Basement Layout Ceiling Lighting by Walter Matauch on the OGR forum.  Discussion about the best type of lighting and lamps to use to illuminate a layout.

 Hot Wire Foam Cutters by John Devlin on the OGR forum.  Discussion about foam cutters.  In the thread is a link to a Hot Wire Foam Factory which looks like a good source for foam cutting tools.

Plywood or Homosote by rrman on OGR forum.  Discussion about the use of plywood, homosote or a both for bench work and road bed.

Making trees by kettlestack on The Gage forum.  In this post kettlestack explains how to make trees from scratch.  His trees are for HO but the technique could be used for any scale.

Woodland Scenics Grass Mat by RT on OGR forum.  A discussion about Woodland Scenics new grass mat and indoor/outdoor carpet for a layout base.  In this thread you’ll find some good suggestions for the type of carpet to use for a layout.

Realistic Telephone Poles by southern rr on Model Train Journal forum.  Discussion about where to get realistic o gauge telephone poles.  The post also contains links to other posts about telephone poles in MTJ.  Be sure to check out HiRailJon’s links.

O27 track questions by jpbart2 on Model Train Journal forum.  Some good discussion about the pros/cons of using O27 track.

Type of Camera used for Train Pics by TheTrainMaster on Classic Toy Trains forum.  A short thread about the types of cameras folks use to take pictures of their layout.  Lighting is the key.

Quiet Table Layout by Chip Jackson on OGR forum.  A discussion about the various ways to build a quite table layout.

Here is installment #4 of forum roundup.

Traveling Boxcar by Lehigh Valley Railroad on OGR forum.  This discussion is about a cool idea.  The "traveling boxcar" is sent around the country to members that sign up to be on the recipient list.  Members take photos of the box car on their layout then send it to the next person on the list.

Suggestions on blacktop for layout.  In this post by darianj on the CTT forum, participants recommend ways to create blacktop roads, etc on a layout.

New to Ballast. Dumb Question by SpaceMouse on the CTT forum.  Discussion about how to ballast your O Gauge layout.

Coldness and Toy Trains by Munster518 on CTT forum.  A discussion about the the effects of storing trains in cold and hot places.

ZW Instructions by jimsiv on CTT forum.  If you own an old Lionel ZW transformer, you can get a link to the original repair manual in this discussion.

Cleaning a layout by quick on OGR forum.  Discussion about keeping layouts clean.

Great Stonework Article by mm00047 on OGR forum.  There is a link in this discussion to an issue of The Keystone Modeler that has plenty of pictures of stonework on the Pennsylvania railroad.

Another installment of my periodic roundup of forum posts from around the web that I found interesting and helpful.

Ready to Roll, Great Dealer Service by rahway valley on CTT forum.  Another story of a hobby shop giving good customer service.

Some Good Reputable Online Train Ordering Sites by TheTrainMaster on CTT forum.  CTT forum members comment on what they think are the best O Gauge hobby dealers online.

O27 Switch Track Options by pgtr on CTT forum.  Anyone interested (like me) in using O27 track because it is inexpensive and/or is better for small layouts will want to check out this thread on O27 switches.

Shelves for Trains Display  by Norm on OGR forum.  Some good advice about shelves to display your trains.

What is the best glue for foam board?  by 3rdrail4me on OGR forum.  If you are thinking about using foam board for the first time, check out this thread.

Inside Fastrack Switch…. by BradK on OGR forum.  Every wonder what the inside of a Lionel Fastrack switched looked like?  BradK posted a picture of it in this thread.

Sunday Photo Fun 1-29-06 by scott.smith on OGR forum.  Great photos in this thread, especially CSX  Fan’s photos of the catenary lines he just installed on his layout (about halfway down on second page).

Cutting Atlas O Track by amalie on the Atlas forum.  Some advice on what tools to use to cut Atlas O or any other track.

Here’s another installment of my periodic roundup of forum posts I found to be interesting.

O Scale or O Gauge??  Posted by George Gast on OGR forum.  Explains the difference between O Scale and O Gauge.

Yer Fragmented Market  Posted by Trigtrak on OGR forum.  Many opinions on the current and future state of the O Gauge hobby.

Nascar + Lionel = Bye Bye Bankruptcy!!!  Posted by tsgtbob on OGR forum.  This one touched off some heated debate resulting in 136 replies and counting. Many different opinions on NASCAR, it’s fans, and their willingness to support Lionel’s new NASCAR items.  The following post by LionelPWCOperator really struck a nerve:

I don’t think NASCAR will do anything for Lionel. In marketing terms
NASCAR has a low-income demographic composed of uneducated individuals
who drink, smoke, and watch a lot of sports on TV. This demographic
lacks the purchasing power to buy Lionel products, and Lionel wasted
its money on the NASCAR license. This type of demographic is better
suited to the alcohol and tobacco industry which does very well with
NASCAR.

The Village of Greenbrook  Posted by Charbonneau on MTJ forum.  In this thread, which started in September of ‘05, Norm Charbonneau keeps everyone updated on the progress of his layout.  Norm appears to be considered a legendary modeler by O-Gauge enthusiasts and one look at pictures of his layouts explains why.  It’s a long thread so just skim through it to find the pictures.