O Scale West 2024

[86TA355SR]

Any reports? Pictures? How was attendance?

Thanks.

[R.K. Maroon]

I attended OSW this year for only the second time, and the first time since 2015. It was a combined show of 2-rail O scale, which I would guess was 50% or more of the tables. with the balance a more-or-less even split between O narrow gauge and S scale. I didn't pay too much attention to the narrow gauge or S-scale offerings, other than to say there appeared to be a lot of nice equipment available.

There were no large dealers at the show or other kind of "show anchor". This would only have been a problem to somebody expecting to find a portable hobby shop type display with most of the standard items (paints, Kadee couplers, Labelle lubricants, etc).

There were several companies or custom shops there, including Jay Criswell with his Right-O-Way and other product lines. Bill Yancey was there along with the new owner of Bill's Modern Era O Scale line. I picked up card for the new owner but managed to misplace it between California and Texas. I will update this post if I find it.

Rod Miller was there as well. One might say "of course he was there", as he is the long-time show impresario. but Rod has moved to Oregon and has handed over the show running to others.

Mike Mangini of Mike's Model Works was there with a table full of nice models, including some custom-built passenger cars:


https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4xh9eklkc6ej7o8mllwmd/Mike-s-Model-Works-01.jpg?rlkey=o8pd0dfipn1k02c1aunyyauj2


https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6uzet7tlo6l5gsm0alhxb/Mike-s-Model-Works-02.jpg?rlkey=g2q6wb2vjjcwe1uytw80z6h48

As I understand it, he is planning to run a series of these and the cars he had were pre-production models. There were three Golden State cars and it was easy to dream of a full consist. Wow!

Gary Yoesle, who worked at Sunset for many (many) years was there with a nice table of models:

https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5f3gs2zpgoh1aeytwz87j/Gary-Yoesle.jpg?rlkey=98a7j1goihqrs3j5npokne9cg

Not a lot of older models of interest to me, but this Lobaugh Challenger was worth a look:

https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/hjq7hx79l3lknh2ke34vi/Lobaugh-Challenger.jpg?rlkey=f974ok20h1w4atp9lqe779m9r

This OMI COLA set of got a lot of looks, which seems predictable:

https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/u7b6fxex37xh9cz3waacn/OMI-UP-E6.jpg?rlkey=xickwvpnxbx8mkpm0h975aeeu

I didn't take any wide-angle photos of the exhibit hall, as these photos all seem to look the same (guys standing at tables full of trains). I can say that there were enough sellers there with enough product on the tables to keep me busy all day Saturday. I spent a good amount of time talking to old and new friends, so I didn't finish looking by the end of the day. To my surprise, the show ran through Sunday. That was good, as it allowed that one last look, but many sellers did not return on Sunday so that was a mild disappointment (but not an unexpected circumstance).

Overall, I would say there was a fairly good balance between parts, kits, entry-level models on one end, recent Atlas, Weaver, and Golden Gate plastic models in the middle, and nice imported brass at the top end. Fun show -- I hope the show continues, but only the organizers can say whether it will be viable going forward.

I will post again on the model contest and the layout tours
Jim

[86TA355SR]

Jim,

Thank you for the detailed and solid reply. Greatly enjoyed reading your post about the show.

Look forward to the model contest/layout pictures.

Aaron

[up148]

Ditto.

[R.K. Maroon]

Here are a few pics from the model contest. There were three steam entries:


https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/5mwylgb5p5so77szdmt7f/Steam-02.jpg?rlkey=taeanx99b7gjlup367pyhqc3r


https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/bclxalxbvk5gkvzg8ar12/Steam-01.jpg?rlkey=n4amqp7ec3xw3ijmz3erimm19

As a reminder, you can see a full-size version of any photo I post by clicking on the link below the photo.

Here are the two diesel entries:

https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0ymkcu3agdxl9034ojox7/Diesel-02.jpg?rlkey=gc1f59wrce4t310i38j8i42ld


https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/t6y5u3s292ikew5c2uocn/Diesel-01.jpg?rlkey=ofy8dsmhvp4kjfefpnfci1kn7

The modeler who brought the turbine provided this small information card:

https://dl.dropbox.com/scl/fi/lg8vcr5zc2ejkgnpwo70t/Diesel-03.jpg?rlkey=m2bkxyi1amlkmmx2ufw3a9sz6

Oh, how I wish all modelers would provide some background information on the models they show. I think it's important when evaluating and voting on these models to know if the model is it a factory model that has been custom-detailed and finished, a kit-bash, a scratch build, or something in between. Maybe the contest organizers could ask that each entry be accompanied by a poop sheet?

As I recall, there were entries in all categories except electric locomotives. Somehow, I managed to take photos of only the steam and diesel entries. I am not sure why that is, but I recall starting up a conversation with contest manager Bo Liljeberg as I made rounds and at some point I guess I forgot to take photos. Perhaps OGR or OSR will do better.

One last thing: Kudos to Bob Jarvis of St George, Utah, who had entries in four or five categories. Bob is a busy guy!

Layout tours next
Jim

[bob turner]

I won more than my share of those contests. After my first losses to nicely painted USH and factory painted Overland, I started advocating the same thing - tell us what this is!

But nope. Won’t happen.

My models were always identified - construction, commercial parts, prototype notes. I did discover that in a popularity contest, weathering is 90%; whether it is scratchbuilt about 5%; and the other 5% was related to the popularity of the prototype.

If my post misses Jim’s point it is likely because his photos do not show on this device, and it is not yet time to turn on the big Dell.

[bob turner]

Big Dell! Photos are superb! Would love to know about that SW1. The UP Consolidation appears to be a factory painted 3rd Rail. If I ran the contest, factory painted would be excluded.

The MTH captures the imagination! I believe those were die cast bodies. I should hire him to power my U-50.

And the Garratt has to be scratchbuilt, right? Nicest lines I have yet seen on a Garratt, except I prefer blunt ends on the tenders. One of the Seattle scratchbuilders did Garratts - a friend of Woody's.

The 0-10-0 deserves a comment as well - probably a modified AHM?

We shouldn't have to guess.

[86TA355SR]

Jim,

Once again we owe a huge thank you for taking the time to document and write a wonderful reply. I and many others greatly appreciate your effort. Bravo!

I can share some info on the UP Consoldiation #525. The modeler and I are friends, he built it within the last year. He likes to build smaller UP locomotives and this particular model Is a combination of manufacturers-USH boiler/mechanism, PSC parts, and Sunset SP tender modified for UP. UP only had a one Consolidation with Walschert valve gear, which he scratch built. The whole purpose of his build was to feature this unique running gear. Last, he painted and finished the model.

I believe the NW2 also belongs to the same modeler who built #525, my friend. Seem to remember him sending pictures in the past.

The modeler who scratch built the Turbine tender knocked it out of the park-fantastic job. Took a lot of time to build. Beautiful.

Once again thank you for the report/pictures, Jim.

Aaron

[ScaleCraft]

Sorry. Can't let this one go past.
Appears to be two plastic Rivarossi IHB 0-8-0's spliced. I can understand two sand domes, have an issue with two steam domes.
All-weather (vestibule) cab, sort-of spliced into a standard cab with tapered rear roof.
TWO sets of steps, not quite right, GS-4:

https://spdaylight.net/Engines_files/gs-4_eng_side.jpg

UP 0-10-2:

https://cs.trains.com/cfs-file.ashx/__k ... URR303.jpg

Never say never, but you know.....and not sure what that home roll-up barbeque shield is in front of the coal load......

Can't say any more as the needle on my BS Detector fell off. Other than a wide Sharpie simulating Bunker C leaking out the fuel tender hatch on the turbine.

[ScaleCraft]

Half a bottle of Super Glue, my BS Meter needle is back in place.

Search as I might, can't see an SW1 there. Nicely detailed A-N NW2, yes.
Garratt?

Know a bit. Never, ever seen a 2-8-4+4-8-2. Other way around, yes, but with Garratts, one never knows:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/124446949@N06/50022997781

Where's the valve gear? Air pumps?
Deep fish belly frame?
Interesting rendition anyway. That first set of 4-wheel trail trucks looks to be turned around, hitting the support. Oh, well.
Closer?

https://directoryproductimages.blob.cor ... 322-100616

Interesting, too, is the Southern Pacific logo that appears to be on the water bunker.

[R.K. Maroon]

Contest manager Bo Liljeberg reports that the turbine took first place in the diesel category, but there were plenty of votes for the NW2 (which is the nicest GMC/All Nation NW2 I have ever seen).

In the steam contest, there were votes for all three models, even the free-lance 0-10-0 (it's a great hobby). The UP consolidation took first place.

Aaron is correct -- the 2-8-0 and the NW2 are the work of the same modeler.

I still can't believe that AHM spent their development dollars on the IHB 0-8-0. Sure, it's big, but the road is rarely modeled, there were only three prototypes (as I recall), and it doesn't readily fill in for many (any?) other prototypes. Yes, they sold a bunch, but wouldn't they have sold many more if they had modeled a USRA 0-8-0 or (better) a bread-and-butter 2-8-0? The only upside I can see is that, as an inexpensive plastic model, it inspired kit-bashers from A to Z, much like the Atlas F9.

Jim

[up148]

Great photos and nice models. You should send some of your models out there Aaron. You'd be taking some awards home.

[E7]

I won more than my share of those contests. After my first losses to nicely painted USH and factory painted Overland, I started advocating the same thing - tell us what this is!.

I feel sorry for the person that wants to win so badly, they pull a model out of a box. Pathetic!

Rich

[bob turner]

I don’t think they have that motivation - I think they have not given the idea of a “contest” much thought at all. It should be the contest organizers who demand at least a minimum data card, indicating how much work the submitter or current owner has done.

I, and others, have suggested that. Nope.

[86TA355SR]

Great photos and nice models. You should send some of your models out there Aaron. You'd be taking some awards home.

Thanks Butch, very kind of you.

Sure want to make this show in the future.

Aaron