2025 On30 ANNUAL: What a time to be a modeler, especially in On30! We’ve added even more value to the On30 Annual, delivering amazing models, layouts, and building projects in O scale for 2025. Now in its 20th year of providing modeling fun and accessible narrow gauge for everyone, the On30 Annual is your definitive guide to O scale narrow gauge modeling. Order your copy today!
A Look Back… And a Look Ahead
A look back at 20 years of the On30 Annual, led by editor and narrow gauge modeler Chris Lane, and published by White River Productions.
Scratchbuilding with Scale Lumber: Evanoff Pattern & Foundry
Sometimes less is better. Model buildings are too often weathered to the point of total decrepitness, as if the whole world is ancient and crumbling into disrepair. Surely there must be some recently built, or at the least, some well-maintained structures in our miniature world? Rather than simulating peeling paint and rotting lumber, this O scale structure was modeled in a state of relative newness.
Ditching the Dummy
The dummy coupler at the front of my Broadway Limited On30 C-16 steam locomotive drove me to distraction. It made impossible any realistic narrow gauge operations, where front couplers were used nearly as much as those on the tender. I wanted a functioning coupler up there.
Speeder Shed Plans
Now that I’m concentrating mostly on On30, I thought it would be neat to duplicate the speeder shed in O scale and see what photos I could take of its interior using my current digital SLR camera. I drew full-sized O scale plans with a small CAD program on my computer and printed them off to use as templates for the model.
San Juan Car Co. O Scale Parts
After getting a few pairs of the excellent On3/On30 passenger car trucks, I was pretty excited when San Juan announced they would be doing a Jackson & Sharp coach. I was equally disappointed when they announced late in 2012 that the coach project was suspended indefinitely.
AMS On3/On30 D&RGW Short Caboose
The short caboose was once the mainstay office and living quarters for train crews throughout the Rio Grande’s narrow gauge operations. Decoration and minor detail miscues aside, this a very good O scale model of a numerous, well-known and well-preserved class of narrow gauge cars.
Creative Laser Design’s Quincy Station
Available in both O scale as well as HO scale, the Quincy station model by Creative Laser Design will find a number of uses on any model railroad being able to serve as a flag stop station, crossing guard’s shanty or small yard office just to list a few the possibilities.
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