I was wondering, is there anybody on the forum that does on30? I model in On30 quite a bit, and with summer now here, I can work on my layout. Gives me an excuse to use tight curves and grades in that room I posted about![:-,][(-D] I was planning to spiral it around the walls, like the whole thing is built on a helix. Minimum radius? 18 inch. Minimum turnout? No.4. Atlas code 83 flex.
What are other people doing? I’m interested; pics would be nice![:)]
-Crewman
I changed form HO to On30 a few years back. Welcome aboard. I started with the Bachmann T boiler shay, love those shays! When I saw it at the NMRA conventoin in Florida it was just an un painted pre production model. I was hooked. I use mostly bachmann rolling stock because they got the proportions right in my opinion. San Juan makes some great kits but they are On3 with On30 trucks. They look wrong beside Bachmann stuff. On30 is between 2 foot and 3 foot. The size of 2 foot is much smaller than 3 foot prototype. Bachmann got it in between. Have fun its a whole new world when you build stuff in O scale.
Dave
I too fell for Bachman (their little Porter) and some side dump cars. I’m building a small diorama based on a seaside theme; the size allows me to do a board-by-board construction just like real 1:1 buildings. It’s amazing the amount of detail work possible in this bigger size. I’m not dumping my HO and N. Although, if I lost all my HO and N scale stuff, I’d have no qualms whatsoever about going full time ON30.
While I still have a ton of HO scale equipment and a pair of modules, I am mostly concentrating on On30 equipment and activities. Possibly for a shelf layout.
Here are two of my projects:
A long caboose kitbashed from two short Bachmann On30 models
A Bachmann Davenport diesel with a Backwoods Miniatures detail kit added.
In addition to G scale narrow gauge, I also model in On30. I think it’s a great scale/gauge combination in that it offers all the advantages of O scale with HO conveniences. Those locos from Bachmann are beauties - and affordable.
Count me in, too! I switched from HO about 5 years ago and now model someting resembling the Chili Lines in New Mexico.
Here’s a quick picture of part of my layout, the scene is still under construction.
By the way, O Gauge Railroading is going to have a special issue devoted to narrow gauge; many of the articles, I am told, will be on On30.
Crewman, it sounds like you will have a very interesting layout. Keep us posted. I’d love to see how it progresses.
Jim
Some day…Hopefully going to start with a diorama soon.
Some On30 links of interest.
http://www.freerails.com/view_topic.php?id=239&forum_id=3
http://gold.mylargescale.com/Scottychaos/OscaleNGResourcePage.html
Bob-Great little Davenport! Nice weathering.[tup]
In the recent "last layout " topic I outlined my druthers for becoming an O-Scale modeler. I have always said that if I ever went back to HO-Scale I would either return to narrow gauge or traction. Without really close examination the On30 advertisements in the hobby press always catch my attention and I suppose I am a potential convert. Tell me! were I to consider converting to On30 what kind of a minimum radius am I looking at?
One of those link lists I posted has an article on this. They said most short equipment works down to 12" with some of the Bach 2-8-0’s and Shays needing 18" They had a list of all the commercial locos and what radius was minimum. I remember only 1 Blackstone model was listed as needing 22".
RT-Here’s that list. Go to SJacks first post. It’s a PDF file and lists most locos.
http://www.mylargescale.com/Community/Forums/tabid/56/view/topic/postid/5146/Default.aspx
Yes, loathar is right. Most of the On30 stuff will take 18 inch radius fine. There is one model however, that is absolutely horrible in this aspect. The MMI K-27 requires a 26"+ radius (so it says).
-Crewman
Nice work, Railphotog! I like the long caboose!
I’ve had a few qualms with my davenport. Have you ever tightened down the gearbox cover on the bottom? I don’t think it should cause problems, but when I screw it down tight, the whole thing becomes jittery… Has anyone else had problems with it? Otherwise, I love it! It pulls twice as much as my porter!
-Crewman
Try going to YAHOO and under groups type in On30, many sites devoted to this “Whimsical/Fun gauge”. Or try the following links.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/On30conspiracy/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/On30/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Portable_On30/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Maine_On30/
These groups run the gamet from 1000 members to 40 members.
George
Hi!
I have an easy question for you narrow gauge folks… Seems to me I heard/read that HO track works with some O narrow gauge trackage. Is this true, and if so, what is it (i.e. On30, On2 1/2,)???
Thanks,
Mobilman44
Yes HO track will work with the On30 and On2 stuff, but the rivet counter people are not into On30 as much as the other narrow gauge scales. On30 denotes track width in inches between the rails in real life 1:1 scale 4’ 8" for standard guage trains. You can purchase more realistic On30 track from a variety of sources that sell track such as, Micro-Engineering and PECO.The ties are spaced farther apart to give it a more realistic appearnce but HO track can be used too.
George
On30 is On21/2. For some reason it has been called On30 in some mags and On21/2 in others. Its been debated to death and no need to go on with it here I dont think.
I have a number of locos, all are bachmann except for the 2-8-0 with sound by Broadway. Two shays,two 2-6-0s one 0-4-2T and one forney with sound. All are great runners. The 0-4-2T was an adventure to install DCC in.
Dave
BK Ent. sells narrow gauge turnouts too.
http://www.troutcreekeng.com/bko.html
Looks like we might have a little narrow gauge thread going.[tup](like the N gauge one)
I’ll probably start out with a diorama. If I do a layout in On30 I’ll probably go with ME or BK code 83 turnouts. Does anyone know which hand laid ties would be compatible with these turnouts?
I want to buy the right ones since I’ll probably have to get a bag of 500-1000.
Besides BK turnouts, LITCO also makes turnouts for On30. They come RTR either with ties or gauged with a few soldered PC board ties (you can add additional ties for realism). Caboose Hobbies stocks them.
Sort of correct. ALL magazines and manufacturers call the scale On30. Only MR continues to call it On2-1/2 for some perverse reason.
I have read on some forums that LITCO’S are no longer made. Is this incorrect??
I also see that BK lists wood and PC ties for it’s On30 turnouts on their site. Do these look OK with the ME turnouts?