Some years ago, I posted an article (here) about how Bill Johann also worked in HO later in life, building a dual scale layout and winning the venerable RMC kitbashing award for a HO Diesel model.

And also, readers might have wondered about the slow posting lately from me. Besides the demands of works and life, I did need a bit of a break from OO gauge. I realized that with writing the book I had worked on a lot of projects that were not easy, and most of the projects I had ready to work on were also not easy. Plus, it was too hot to use what had become my main “big project” workbench in the garage. I was not burned out exactly, but I needed some easier hobby projects.

The solution was I dug back into my HO models, mostly dating to high school or early college. Several needed simple updates, and I had other models with parts available that made relatively easy projects. And I had a nice place inside to set up a simple loop as a test track.

A Scale Comparison

First up is this comparison of RS-2 models. The OO scale model is Schorr, and the HO model is modified AHM. I put some effort into this one back in the day, including making the handrails and modifying the exhaust stack. But I did not update the drive back then, and also it was the very first engine I lettered for the Orient and had black lettering. I removed the decals gently, updating it to a more standard scheme, and took the drive out and modified the weights. It makes a nice dummy model.

More HO Models …

With recent the switch to Tamiya paint for my standard Orient scheme, I worked over a series of models with that paint as well. First up is this pair of locomotives. The Alco C-430 is a Tyco model, built in high school. The paint and lettering is as originally done. But I had left in the original drive, not a smart move. It took a little work to get the parts together, but I built up dummy trucks using vintage Lindsay side frames. The GE on the other hand is a new model, built up from an undecorated Athearn model that of all places was in a lot I won from the Morlok OO auction. Hopefully he would approve, it runs well together with the big Alco.

Periodically I think about if I left OO gauge behind, what would I build? The answer is I’d think about building either Sn3 or 1970s/80s ATSF in HO. This Athearn locomotive is one that I bought a couple years ago for parts, it did not run and lacked handrails, but sitting on a shelf it began to speak to me as a project. I fixed the drive, worked up handrails from parts I had saved from another model I parted out, and also changed the number among other small changes. Then you need a matching caboose. This AHM model I had at one point lettered for one of my first freelance lines the Virgil and Quincy RY. I also built an interior for it at the time with a Suydam kit. Then I stripped it, it got very stalled, was in a box for many years. I however, had some Champion ATSF decals, and the red paint, so it made sense to put it all back together better than I would have ever done years ago. The pair runs nicely together.

Finally, while I had decorated a HO locomotive for my Madison Quincy and Southern line many years ago, I had never built a caboose. The MDC caboose was acquired on eBay and built up into a nice model of the type I had in mind. The Tyco car in the rear, that was kind of an afterthought, but I had the model and the paint so now I also have a modern caboose in HO to run with the big Diesels.

Sticker Shock and Future Plans

Another thing I have considered, if I ever build a different layout, is to make one with an intentional forced perspective, with HO in parallel in the background – perhaps my Orient in front and ATSF in the background. But one thing that may keep me from doing more in HO was the sticker shock of looking at what HO models really sell for now. But this was good thing to realize, as it adjusted my thinking as to my OO, it does fit the budget better, great hobby value at not too much $.

I did enjoy this brief HO adventure, which is probably over but for a few more minor projects. I also have a handful of TT models; I might get those out too and work them over. I should eventually get to them … but for now be watching for more OO projects on the way. Last night I was starting to work over some Lionel models, moving the reproduction trucks over to cars that have been heavily rebuilt to free up original trucks for some other models. And, it is cool enough to use my main shop again, with parts recently purchased that will go toward various planned projects.