{"id":30,"date":"2012-10-06T19:27:27","date_gmt":"2012-10-06T19:27:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/smallmodelrailroads.wordpress.com\/?p=30"},"modified":"2016-04-28T20:04:11","modified_gmt":"2016-04-29T00:04:11","slug":"playing-with-o14","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/playing-with-o14\/","title":{"rendered":"Fun with O14"},"content":{"rendered":"

I always have several projects in the works at any one time. I like variety! One of the projects I am contemplating is a micro layout based on the copper smelting operations in northern Michigan. Inside the\u00a0smelter\u00a0buildings they used an industrial tram way. Both electric and\u00a0diesel\u00a0motors were apparently used. O14 looks like a very good candidate for any layout I might try.<\/p>\n

\"Quincy<\/a>
Quincy Smelter Map showing the various tram lines around the complex.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I cannot remember where I first heard of \u00a0O14, but I joined the yahoo group (http:\/\/groups.yahoo.com\/group\/O14\/<\/a>) to look at what others were doing and from there I found http:\/\/o14group.org\/<\/a>. Both sites have a wealth of information and samples.\u00a0Most O14 modelers are in the UK and other parts of Europe. The scale fits small and micro layouts well, which are popular in those areas. The number of companies producing track, locomotives and rolling stock is quite surprising when you consider this is a small niche market. A list of suppliers can be found at\u00a0http:\/\/o14group.org\/o14-manufacturers-and-suppliers\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I decided to give O14 a try-out before settling on it for my project. I contacted KBScale (http:\/\/kbscale.com\/<\/a>) and ordered their\u00a0WA073 – Three Platform Wagons, a\u00a0WA030 – Tipper Wagon and the \u00a0TSK02 – Track Sample Kit. KBScale is in the UK and I went with cheap shipping to the USA. Although I expected to wait a long time, I received all the items in good\u00a0time. From a cost factor all the items were a bargain (even after exchange rate) as far as I am concerned. Niche market items here in the USA can cost a lot.<\/p>\n

I quickly set about assembling the cars. I found the instructions clear and the quality of the items was very good. Anyone who has built a kit before should have no trouble. The only word of warning to others is to take great care in assembling the\u00a0bearings\u00a0and attaching them to the frame. Great care must be taken to make sure they are square and where they should be. Errors here will create a static model quickly.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Prototype dump car abandoned in the smelter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I painted the cars a brown primer color close to what I had found at the copper mines. I then used various weathering powders to highlight and rust the cars. I was quite satisfied with the results for a first try at a mining car.<\/p>\n

\"KBScale<\/a>
Finished cars, painted and weathered<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The next item to tackle was the track. I had never hand laid track before. I had always used flex track for my other projects. For a tram line (and to make it look correct) I will not have any choice but to hand lay. The KBScale track sample provided very good instructions and sleepers that keep the track in line. The kit also came with a track gauge to assist with keeping\u00a0everything\u00a0in gauge. I decided to lay the track on a scrap piece of 1\/2″ plywood I had. This\u00a0meant that I had to\u00a0pre-drill all the holes for the spikes. This was not a big deal since we are only trying 18 scale feet of track. If I am laying a large amount I will consider other options.<\/p>\n

A few cuss words and some bent spikes later (my fault not KBScale) I had the track down and was ready to weather it. I painted the entire base a dirty black and then went back over the track with\u00a0various\u00a0shades of rust and weather powders again. Then I cleaned and polished the rail surface.<\/p>\n

\"Freshly<\/a>
Freshly finished track<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Finished<\/a>
Finished cars and track<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I am very satisfied with the quality of the components and the results I\u00a0achieved\u00a0 I will\u00a0defiantly\u00a0be doing more with O14. When time permits I will purchase more track, a couple turnout kits and a locomotive to test some more. I am sure I will paint and weather things a bit different on the final project. I hope to be able and tour the old smelter first hand and get more info on original colors, what sleepers were used and track arrangements from the prototype. you can be sure I will be doing more O14.<\/p>\n

P.S. The track kit comes with a “I Love O14” button. Nice touch!<\/p>\n

\"Button<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I always have several projects in the works at any one time. I like variety! One of the projects I am contemplating is a micro…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[19],"tags":[41,44,43],"class_list":["post-30","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-small-layout-ideas","tag-modelrailroad","tag-modelrailway","tag-smallmr","wpcat-19-id"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/kbscale_cars.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p4e6yk-u","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1915,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wwi-light-railways-modelrailroad-modelrailways-train-modeltrains-wwi\/","url_meta":{"origin":30,"position":0},"title":"WWI Light Railways","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"November 11, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Back in February 2013 we took a quick look at the\u00a0WWI Military Railway\u00a0as inspiration for a small layout. Since today is November 11, Veterans Day, here in the USA (Armistice Day, Memorial Day, Remembrance Day in other parts of the world), I thought it would be a good time to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Prototype Railroads"","block_context":{"text":"Prototype Railroads","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/prototype-railroads\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/ThroughBuilding.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/ThroughBuilding.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/ThroughBuilding.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":108,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/consider-the-small-layout\/","url_meta":{"origin":30,"position":1},"title":"Consider the Small Layout","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"October 14, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"NOTE: Many of the sample layouts featured in this article were borrowed from\u00a0Carl Arendt's web site. Links back to appropriate page on Carl's site have been provided. Among North American Model Railroad Hobbyists, there is a\u00a0predominant\u00a0thought that a \"real\" layout is one that fills a large space such as a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Small Layout How To Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Small Layout How To Articles","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/articles-on-small-layouts\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Carl Arendt's Squarefoot Estate Railway, G scale in one square foot","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/sqrfoot1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":18,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/peshekee-river-railroad-ho-shelf-layout-design\/","url_meta":{"origin":30,"position":2},"title":"Peshekee River Railroad – HO Shelf Layout Design","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"September 15, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"My larger model railroad project centers on a freelance railroad that traverses northern Michigan from Champion to Arvin on Huron Bay. Although the overall layout will be large it is being constructed in 12 x 48 inch pieces. So this will be a collection of small layouts. The northern Michigan\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Modular Layouts"","block_context":{"text":"Modular Layouts","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/modules\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Arvin Slate Quarry as it looks today","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/10\/arvinslate_today.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3075,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/small-layout-challenge-2020\/","url_meta":{"origin":30,"position":3},"title":"Small Layout Challenge 2020","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"January 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"One of my favorite layout designs by Carl Arendt is Carl's Imports. Carl designed the micro layout to fit in a shoebox. Using what he referred to as an \"intercontinental research project\", Carl determined that the optimum sized shoebox (male variety) was determined to be 13 x 7 x 5\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Small Layout Design Ideas"","block_context":{"text":"Small Layout Design Ideas","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/small-layout-ideas\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/challenge.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/challenge.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/challenge.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4242,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/huron-bay-terminus-railway-slate-mining-in-michigan\/","url_meta":{"origin":30,"position":4},"title":"Huron Bay Terminus Railway – Slate Mining in Michigan","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"February 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"There is some question if the \"Huron Bay Terminus Railway\" actually existed as an entity. For sure there was a 36\" tramway which served the slate mining efforts around Arvon in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The tramway had a dock which jutted out into Huron Bay and there was a slate\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Prototype Railroads"","block_context":{"text":"Prototype Railroads","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/prototype-railroads\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dock_and_Loco.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dock_and_Loco.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dock_and_Loco.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dock_and_Loco.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dock_and_Loco.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Dock_and_Loco.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1381,"url":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/layout-spotlight-great-lakes-hon30-modular-group\/","url_meta":{"origin":30,"position":5},"title":"Layout Spotlight \u2013 Great Lakes HOn30 Modular Group","author":"Marshall Stull","date":"August 22, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Each year the\u00a0Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad holds\u00a0Railfan Weekend. This year I was able to attend and be part of the SE Michigan Free-mo layout display. The\u00a0Railfan Weekend\u00a0includes train shop tours, historical rail interpretations, tuneful train whistle blows throughout the weekend, and a special photo run. One layout which i\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Layout Spotlight"","block_context":{"text":"Layout Spotlight","link":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/category\/layout-spotlight\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_3485.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_3485.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_3485.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_3485.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_3485.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/IMG_3485.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1017,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30\/revisions\/1017"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smallmr.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}