O Scale Trains Magazine Online

The Control Thing
Things have changed quickly in the control system
world, since our last issue. Atlas O has dropped the 2-Rail
TMCC option and is (as this is written) going with a preinstalled
QSI sound/DCC system, instead. There’s been a
lot of snarling, wailing, and gnashing of teeth going on,
so here’s a couple thoughts from a clear (been on the
Wagon for, oh, three hours now!) head. There are a couple
of options for you guys and gals who feel left holding
the bag with a lot of TMCC two-rail Diesel power, and no
ball to go to anymore. I’m not getting into the dogfight
about changing systems again, so realize that these are
just options for the confirmed or committed TMCC types.
I’ll throw in a bit of a review, here, for Option 1. I got a
couple of RS-1s back from Mike Reagan at Train-America
Studios the other week. They did a pretty frisky turnaround
on them, and they run very nicely with the rest of
my Diesel fleet, which is all TMCC equipped. (You see,
I’m in the same boat you are.) This is certainly a viable
option, as these guys know the system and can install the
stuff you need in the tightest of quarters. Mike says that
these installations are not limited to just Atlas Diesels,
but can be made in just about anything you have. Anyhow,
the installations were neatly done, without banging
anything up, and they fired up flawlessly. Mike now has
my GP-35 to upgrade with EOB, and an SD-40 for a complete
installation job. I’m quite pleased with the work and
workmanship.
Option 2 came up during a talk with Jim Weaver (from
Atlas) at the York show this spring. Since Atlas is continuing
with TMCC for our 3-Rail brethren (and sistren), you
have the option of ordering a 3-Rail TMCC locomotive,
then ordering up a pair of two-rail trucks, spacer blocks
for the pilots, and scale couplers. Jim told me that these
can be had, available from Atlas. Unscrew the threerail
trucks, unsolder the pickup wires (mark ‘em, so you
don’t mix them up and fry anything!), re-attach the pilots
with the spacer blocks, add your couplers, and screw the
trucks on. Check with Atlas first, but I believe it can be
done pretty simply. I’ll try this stunt myself and see if it’s
as simple as I make it sound.
Option 3 is more of a reminder than an option, but
Weaver still (as of this writing) offers two-rail Diesel
power with TMCC. We’ll all just have to watch this
and see where it goes. Meanwhile, as benchwork goes
together at Scace’s New Digs, it’s still in the plan to block
the railroad and have plug-in/plug-out power sources and
control systems. Like the previous iteration, I’ll be able to
run my main emphasis of 1940s steam power with Locolink
(filtered DC source), steam power on good ol’ cabcontrol
(variable DC source), or lock the doors for some
Diesel-era memories using the TMCC system I’d committed
many a unit to (AC source). Just jack ‘em out and jack
‘em in. Who knows, maybe I’ll have a small roster with
DCC someday.
The Car Thing
This one comes up quite often, so I’ll throw in my
$0.02 worth one more time. There’s lots of angst about
the fact that all these neat diecast vehicles are 1/43 scale,
and our trains are 1/48 scale. Once again, I say, “Measure
‘em!” I can’t vouch for the modern-era stuff, but I
can throw my dog in the ‘30s – ‘50s era fight with some
thoughts and some facts.
I believe that the mid-1930s through mid 1950s stuff
was bigger than many folks think. I have a 12”/1’ scale
1940 Chevy in my garage. I can’t see over the fool thing,
so your little plastic guys shouldn’t be able to see over
theirs. I’ve measured out a few of the diecast offerings,
and they’re just not consistently in scale. You neurotics
can get out on the Web and find the wheelbases for just
about anything ever made. Then, holster up a scale rule
for the hunt, and you should be good to go. For the rest
of us, a couple figures in your pocket makes a dandy
perspective check. Just put a standing Arttista figure next
to your prospective purchase, and you’ll get a feel. Just
remember, after a couple decades of little cars in your
garage it’s easy to forget how big a Chevy sedan really
was. You might want to go to a car show or two and reacquaint
yourself with the cars from your chosen era. You
might be a bit surprised.
You will find some that are just too big. I’ve found a
perfectly huge collection of vehicles that feel right, and
are actually undersized for 1/43 (It would appear that
the car collectors aren’t quite as anal as we tend to be.) I
surely wouldn’t want to stuff an Arttista man, especially
wearing the obligatory period headgear, in one of those
1/50 Greyhounds that are widely available. That scale
disparity between the figures and that bus is an incredible
visual jar for me. My unsolicited advice? Don’t believe
the box when it says 1/43, or 1/50, or whatever. Measure
the fool thing, either with a scale rule or with an eye
and a figure. There’s more useful stuff out there than you
would otherwise think if you actually trusted these folks
to make ‘em to the scale printed on the box.
Stop the Wagon; I’m getting’ off!
Let’s go Exploring!
u
July/Aug ’06 - O Scale Trains •