MultiPlex sectional O scale track late 1930's early 40's

[ScaleCraft]

Carey,

Sure, my days of just giving stuff away are quickly coming to a close. I grow weary of boxing stuff up and sending stuff for free and then not even getting a thank you. I will say this, I remember who they are and plan on no continuation of freebies. I guess I find it rather irritating when I see things posted that I've given away and then not get credit for anything. As a matter of fact, I'm looking at seven packages going out in tomorrow's mail and four of them are giveaways. Okay, I better stop now.

Anyway, please email me your address and I'll mail you the items. Yes, please share at your convenience. If you want to pay a little, I'm cool with that.

Jay

Yeah. Here I had figured the post office lost those bolsters. So we're packing up for a short trip last night and today...and I find this flat rate box in my wife's stuff upstairs...see my name...and yours. So, I guess you did send it, I guess it did get here, but she was expecting a box for an upcoming birthday or something, and it got "misplaced".
I will open it either tonight or when we get back...and thank you.

I went and looked, you shipped on 15AUG or thereabouts.
I wonder if any other stuff is hiding upstairs.

[Jay Criswell]

Dave,

It's more than just bolsters. There are bolsters, side frames, springs, axles w/sets, etc. Some parts are metal, some are plastic. Basically, I just filled the box with Athearn truck parts.

You're welcome,

Jay

[Carey Williams]

Hello all

Jay was very kind to send the Multi-Plex catalog (1938) ...thank you .... great stuff ! Shame more folks did not order it at the time .....snap together O scale ...2 or 3 rail (outside please) .
I've scanned the catalog and posted it on O scale forum as they have more photo space .
please see link
https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/topic/mul ... 4374154029

Cheers Carey

[ScaleCraft]

Dave,

It's more than just bolsters. There are bolsters, side frames, springs, axles w/sets, etc. Some parts are metal, some are plastic. Basically, I just filled the box with Athearn truck parts.

You're welcome,

Jay

Last night I finished going through it all. Sorted parts into ziplock baggies.
Assembled trucks if for no other reason than to keep them together.
Repaired the archbars I initially needed the bolsters for, and used the 2-rail wheelsets to replace the tinplate sets.
Repaired the spring perch spreader bars on the Auel trucks, cleaned, lubed and re-assembled. I have about 30 assembled trucks now, maybe more, plus parts.

Now I need to find a source for springs for Athearn trucks.
Any ideas?

This is great. I have so many 0 cars in boxes with no trucks, I can fix them!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

..... a source for springs for Athearn trucks.
Any ideas?

I imagine that several here would like to know the answer to that question!

[robert.]

Springs. send a sample to a company like this.
https://www.acxesspring.com/small-springs.html

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Springs. send a sample to a company like this.
https://www.acxesspring.com/small-springs.html

An option, but I'd also imagine that the problem of replacement springs is one that has been solved several times over the past 30-40 years given their propensity to launch into space never to be located again.

[John Webster]

http://www.leespring.com/catalog_download.asp

McMaster-Carr Type springs into the search window and pick compression springs.

All you need to know is the outside diameter, the wire diameter and the free length (the length of the spring laying on the workbench). You are looking for a spring that matches the outside diameter +/-.005, the wire diameter +/-.002 and the free length +.060 -.030. The Athearn springs are probably music wire. The ends are closed but not ground.

The freely downloadable Lee Spring catalog includes lots of useful information on springs.

Both outfits sell online and by phone, accept credit cards, ship same or next day and sell in quantities from 10 to thousands.

I have purchased springs from both companies many times over the last 40 years and have always been satisfied.

I didn't pick out the part number because the only Athearn springs I can identify in my pile of stuff are from plastic archbar trucks and may be different from the springs found in metal Bettendorf trucks.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I didn't pick out the part number because the only Athearn springs I can identify in my pile of stuff are from plastic archbar trucks and may be different from the springs found in metal Bettendorf trucks.

I think that they are the same - I toss every extra spring that I get associated with all Athearn trucks into a ziplock bag for future use and have never found any to not be useful in any Athearn trucks. Different bags for different trucks.....

[jwmathews]

Very interesting discovery of high-quality trackwork from pre-WW2.

Carey asked about photos of the NY World's Fair layout. Lionel's MODEL BUILDER magazine had an article or two about that exhibit with several photos during the time frame 1939-41.

Best of luck, Carey--I sincerely hope you get that layout working.

[Carey Williams]

Hello all

Here we have some action packed photos of the Multiplex layout going together ....giant jigsaw puzzle with a few pieces missing ... trying to fit it in the basement and integrate it with the shelf layout ..so I can still get to the shelves .....all part of the fun ...

Cheers Carey

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[Carey Williams]

Hello all ... more progress on the Multiplex layout ...adding plywood to the table ... only 3 sections of track missing ( from main section) .of the layout ...4 sidings into yard / station also missing ... so dig in the old track bin to retro-fit . The main layout has electric switches with relays ...I suspect this was a semi -automatic train control ... one train could sit on the passing siding whilst the other does the layout ..return to the siding and the other train would go out.
The switches into the yard / station and turntable are all manual ..judging from the switch locations ..you ( engineer) would run from the center of the layout and your "switchman" would be on the outside throwing switches for the yard .

Tonight paint the plywood !
Cheers Carey

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[Carey Williams]

Hello all

The layout is up and running ... still lots of fine tuning to be done . The raise and fall at 2% is a bit steep ..but mandated by height needed within the available track length. Curves are about a 9' diameter ..so tight for "modern" standards of the O scale world, but fine for medium and smaller pieces .
I had hoped to run the Mini-Scale Hudson pulling a string of matching Mini-Scale Pullmans ....but engine 2 rail ...cars 3 rail ( outside 3rd rail ..as if ) . I used a Mini-Scale Pullman as the clearance checker for when laying track ...as it is about the biggest thing that is out there in "proper" O scale (17/64ths) .
The layout was no doubt the plaything for an "economically comfortable" gentlemen with a specific "hobby" room for which is was designed. The only addition I've done to the layout is the roundhouse ... originally there was a single removable spur which was the "service track" loosely sitting on the layout pushed up to the turntable ... with felt to slide in place ..you would run the engine in the track and lift the track section to your work bench for servicing ( ballast was oil soaked.) ... I cut the "service track " to fill one of the missing sections of the layout .
Still need to hook up the switches , finish the station terminal yard , lead in rail joints, scenery , and a million other details ..it has been a fun project .
Here is YouTube video link to see the Mini-Scale run around the layout ...pulling a mix of old cars ... Scalecraft reefer, Alexander Pullman, and two unknowns ... (no ten penny nails holding the sides on ..so not Walthers ? ) the criteria in car section was insulated wheels and couplers.....(oh close coupled cars with rubber diaphragms do not like 9' circles.. all a learning curve ).
The shelf above the Multiplex layout is the outside 3rd rail layout ... I tucked the Multiplex under the shelf layout to create a bit of a tunnel .
Cheers Carey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_dByWcGwww

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[John Webster]

That's quite an accomplishment. The rolling stock seems to handle the curves and switches well.

[E7]

Carey,

Looks pretty good to me and the radii of the turns look pretty realistic. Engine runs nicely!

Rich