Peter's Model Railroading | My Library | Magazine Authors
Magazine Articles By Rusty Westermeier

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This article is about converting an American Flyer depressed-center flat to scale, and building a transformer load.

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The author revisits old S-scale products that might be available on auction web sites, but their quality is dubious, and they may require quite a bit of work to get them to run properly on today's layouts.

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The author continues to revisit old S-scale products that might be available on auction web sites. This column covers dealing with older freight car trucks (including re-gauging them to the current NASG standard). Several photos of discussed trucks are included.

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This article covers some of the older S-scale freight car kits that might still be available on the secondary market (in 2001). Covered are Rex Engineering, Super Scale (PermaBilt), Kansas City Kits, C-D Scale Models, Westbrook, Midgauge, Nixon Model Company, Bob Peare Engineering Corp, Sunshine Models, Northeastern Scale Modles, Kinsman, Stewart (now Ye Old Huff 'n Puff), Ambroid, Russ Mobley, and Quality Craft Models.

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The author describes the differences between open frog and closed frog turnouts, the anatomy of a turnout, what is available in S-scale, and building your own turnouts.

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The author reports on the 2002 NASG Convention product announcements. Includes several photos.

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The author describes how he scratchbuilt a scale test car, citing references he used (and even though a brass model was available).

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The author discusses philosophies held by some S-scale modelers, and things he would like to see be manufactured in the scale.

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The author describes his method for creating rivets in styrene, using a die-covered lightbox.

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The author reviews, in depth, the Kaslo PS-1 resin box car kit.

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The author reviews the Standard Railway Castings Company kit of the Great Northern double-sheathed, 40' box cars.

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The author describes how he made the American Models' rather generic wooden-prototype caboose into a more accurate CB&Q waycar. The article includes a photo of the model, and two drawings.

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The author describes how to build creates, concrete blocks, oil drums, gasoline tanks, and tank stands.

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The author adds more details to an American Models 4-bay hopper car and letters it for the CNW.

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The author describes how he used to model the period between 1900 and 1920 in S-scale, and what it took to model that effectively. Photos of example models are included in the article.

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The author takes a look at mechanisms in Bachmann On30 locomotives that could be used to scratchbuild S-scale locomotives, and how he was NOT successful in converting an 0-4-0.

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The author describes the Chester Industrial Arts Company passenger car kits.

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The author describes the Sylvania Models (originally Midgage Models) passenger car kits.

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The author converts a Bachmann On30 tank car into a freelanced S-scale model, but the article is mostly about converting Bachmann trucks for use in S.

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The topic is the (lack of) availability of S-scale steam locomotive driver wheels.

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In this article the author describes the bridge kits produced by Hunterline.

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The author kitbashes an American Models wood caboose into a four-wheeled bobber caboose. Includes photos of the finished model.

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The author discusses finding and using the HobbyTown universal set 100000K, and widening the Atlas and Rix Products rerailers for use in S.

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The author describes how he adds details to his American Models box cars.

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The author continues the series on how he adds details to his American Models box cars. This installment covers the brake system.

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The author continues the series on how he adds details to his American Models box cars. This installment covers the roof walk, end steps, end details, and air release rod.

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The author tackles detailing his streamlines American Models passenger cars. Includes construction photos.

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The author describes how he built a powered chassis for a Doodlebug, starting with an S-Helper Service SW diesel switcher chassis.

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The author advices about the pros and cons of 1/64"-thick plywood that is commonly used for laser-cut structure kits. He then reviews four of the kits made available GCLaser.

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The author discusses S-scale windmill kits.

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The author, having been an S-scale modeler for 50 years at the time, reflects back how he got started in the scale and how the scale has grown to where one can easily model in it now.

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The author makes the case for scratchbuilding your own turnouts, however, he recommends flextrack for regular track (the cost of handlaying regular track is higher than buying flextrack). He describes how he deals with the different ties, how to make and use track gauges,

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The author describes the use of Kadee HO-scale and S-Helper Service S-scale couplers and how they are used and installed on S-scale equipment.

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The author revisits the S-scale Miller Alco 1,000hp switcher and the Nord/Stinton Mikado locomotive kits that were available in the late 1940s. For their time they were innovative, but they were always poor runners. He also discusses the Superscale version of the Alco switcher that came out at about the same time.

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The author mentions that his layout is soon to be expanded. He also describes a scratchbuilt steam locomotive that his friend bought, and an Alco switcher at a recent show. Photos of both models are included in the article.

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The author describes the current state of vehicles available to S-scale modelers, and how he and others modify them to look more realistic (such as using HO-scale truck tires for passenger car tires).

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The author evaluates the Life-Like Trains (division of Walthers) #433-1378 Modular Stock Pen for use in S-scale.

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The author describes the 4-6-0 kit produced by American Scale Model Corporation of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

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The author describes how to build steps for older wooden and heavyweight passenger cars. Includes photos of pre-manufactured ones. Please note that Rusty refers to an article on my web site in his article, but its web site address is now this one: https://www.pmrr.org/Articles/indexDiesel_LocomotivesPRR_NW23Convert_To_Scale.php (the same content, though).

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The author adds more details to S-Helper Service reefers, and explains what these details are for.

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The author shows how he adapted the Walthers HO-scale Car Shop (#933-3040) kit for S-scale.

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The author provides tips and tricks to kitbashing or scratchbuilding a caboose. He covers creating end railings and ladders, roofs, and floors. Photos of several of his models are included.

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How to model local coal dealers in S-scale.

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The author compares using cardboard, wood, and styrene for scratchbuilding structures, and concludes with how to build multi-pane sashes for windows.

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The author describes one of the kits by Imagine That! Laser Art.

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The author provides information on the various Rex steam locomotives, and some of the modifications he has made to some. Includes photos of them.

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The author builds the NASG's Kermit's Kleaning Kemicals modular building kit, and gives his opinion of the final result. The kit was developed by banta modelworks. Includes two photos of the author's completed model.

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The author describes his experience building the Grand River Models' Prince Edward Express structure kit. Includes photos of the model, including one built by Dick Karnes.

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The author describes the mechanical switch machines he makes himself.

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The author describes building the two Sidetrack Laser special-run kits, the "Certified Truck Scale" and the "Howard S Craftsman" house kits.

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The author reviews the past and present availability of S-scale hoppers, and covers detailing the American Models and American Flyer cars. Photos of many of the hoppers are included.

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The author describes how he replaced the trucks of the Miller S4 model from the 1940s. Includes construction photos.

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The author covers the two 6-wheel Commonwealth passenger car trucks available at the time, the American Models and Scenery Unlimited ones. Includes photos of both models. A photo of the SSL&S one is also shown.

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The author reviews the current (at the time) situation of heavyweight passenger cars in S-scale.

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This is the author's second-to-last column, and he provides his views on the current state of S-scale and what he has learned since he started writing the column.

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The author describes his thoughts on designing and building his unfinished layout. Includes several photos.

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The author continues by completing the construction of the CB&Q caboose based on an American Model model. He used HO-scale trucks.

Scale Scenes

The author covers the various wheels available in S, and covers the various dimensions of parts of the wheels and what is used in S. In particular, the author describes the wheels that are available from NWSL, including the Proto:64 wheels.

The Scale Scene

The author covers passenger cars manufactured by Chester Industrial Arts, Midgage, Sylvania Models, Train Stuff, Strafford Metal Products, Super Scale Models, and Nimco.

The Scale Scene

The author covers the product lines of Sunshine Models, Liberty Models, Mainline Models, Regal Kits, Wisconsin Central, Train Stuff, and how they compare to the products available in 2002.

The Scale Scene

The author covers HO- and S-scale couplers that S-scale modelers use, and provides examples of how to install them.

The Scale Scene

How to add details to American Models' heavyweight baggage cars. Shows a couple of photos, a drawing, and a jig.

The Scale Scene

How to add handrail and brake wheels to American Models' heavyweight baggage cars. Shows a couple of photos and a jig drawing.