The annual gathering of O scale modelers and collectors was just completed in Lombard, IL. The crowds looked good and there seemed to be a lot of enthusiastic attendees. The show managed survive the great COVID mess. It is now under the capable stewardship of Bradley Kowal after the Hill family decided to not to continue.
The great selling floor is where most of the action happens. It is sort of model railroadings “Field of Dreams”.
There are vendors and manufacturers arrayed throughout the floor. The show was thoughtful in providing a few chairs for the older folks like me who get tired standing around.
Another major part of events like this is the social contact and the renewable of friendships. In this virtural world it is nice to actually meet a person who you have communicated with via email or texts. Ah yes modern social medium.
3D modeling and printing has become a siginificant factor in O scale. Improvements in printer technology is now good enough to print a one piece. A nearly ready to paint model is just about there.
The show was very fortunate to have an amazingly talented guest from Austria. Meet Sarah Griessenböck
Sarah presented a clinic on 3D modeling to a large audience.
Some of Sarah work is shown below.
This is an interior for a SW-1 switchers.
This is an amazing GATC tank car created by Sarah.
We are fortune that these items are now available from a US vendor called 3D Central Trains.
Check out this producer for the Train Kitchen products as well as other designers.
MODEL CONTEST BEST IN SHOW
Jim Zwerennman won Best in Show this year. The winning model is a Chicago Great Western wooden caboose. I will provide more information and pictues of the model in the next installment.
So more stuff to share in the next post. Please tune for more good stuff.
Gene Deimling
Gene's P48 Blog 