NASG Dispatch Articles by David Heine

2016 #1 January

8

Model Railroad Shows

The author reports about the event held in Houston, Texas. Includes photos of Sn3 models and layouts.

2017 #1 January

12

Model Railroad Shows

The author describes his visit to the National Narrow Gauge Convention in Augusta, Maine in September, 2016. There was quite a bit of S, Sn3, and Sn2 at the show. Includes several photos taken at the event. More photos can be found on page 34 and 35 of this PDF version of this issue.

2014 #3 June

16

Model Railroad Shows

The author reports about this event in Dallas, Texas. Includes many photos.

2016 #4 July

7

Model Railroad Shows

The author relates his trip to Florida to attend this event, and what all happened there. Includes two pages of photos.

2019 #6 November

11

Operations

The operating barge system from Frank Titman's Spiral Hill Railroad layout was saved and then reinstalled on Bert Mahr's Conrail & Eastern Railroad. Includes many photos of the barge in action, and fully describes the move and integration of the layout section.

2014 #5 October

10

Electronics

This installment covers the system components needed for a complete DCC system.

2014 #3 June

18

Electronics

The author introduces DCC, what it means, what it allows the layout operator to do, and how it works.

1999 #6 December

14

Model Railroads and People

The author introduces himself, describes his layout, and shares a number of photos.

2013 #6 December

9

Product Review

After describing the purpose and history of the Shay geared steam locomotive, the author provides an in-depth review of the locomotive.

2011 #3 June

11

Locomotives - Steam

With this issue the "Sn3 Column" is renamed. This article covers the new P-B-L hybrid K-27, a ready-to-run Sn3 steam locomotive that features a combination of plastic and brass to reduce the cost (and the super fine detailing) as compared to pure brass models.

2011 #5 October

18

Model Railroad Shows

The author reports on the 31st National Narrow Gauge Convention which was held in Hickory, North Carolina on September 7-10, 2011. Includes a few photos of S-related items at the show.

2012 #2 April

22

Layout Design

The author shares an introspective about the direction of his current layout.

2013 #1 February

16

Freight Cars

The author shares a good number of photos of models are older ones in his collection.

2013 #2 April

21

Layout Construction

An update about the author's layout, since it will be open before and after the 2013 NASG Convention. Includes an updated track plan.

2013 #3 June

16

Layout Construction

The author shares some photos of his layout, which is open during the 2013 NASG Convention.

2014 #2 April

11

Track

The author describes his reasoning for, and his method of, hand-laying track. Instead of using ready-made components, he designed his layout the way he wanted to, and then built the track accordingly. David's layout uses standard-gauge, and three-foot and two-foot narrow-gauge lines.

2009 #6 December

22

Model Railroad Shows

This article is a brief review of the 2009 National Narrow Gauge Convention in Colorado Springs, CO.

2010 #1 February

20

Track

Using N-scale track to model an Sn22 tramway (using banta modelworks' kit T-2121, Sn2 Ore Tram Mine Cars).

2010 #2 April

21

Model Railroad Shows

A review of the 25th Sn3 Symposium, held February 24-27 in Houston, Texas.

1995 #6 December

31

Model Railroad Shows

After the author introduces himself, he reports on the 1995 National Narrow Gauge Convention held in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. S-scale was well represented in the model contests at the convention.

1996 #1 February

28

Model Railroad Philosophy

After explaining what Sn3 is, the author describes the benefits of Sn3 over HOn3.

1996 #2 April

28

Model Railroad Philosophy

This is a product review for the Berlyn Locomotive Works Sn3 car kit, a C&S Type II box car. Includes a photo. Part of the article got chopped off during editing of the magazine; the text is included in the next issue's column.

1996 #3 June

26

Locomotives - Steam

The author describes how he built his Sn3 Heisler, by converting an IHC HO standard-gauge Heisler. There is a sidebar to includes the remaining text from the previous issue's article that got chopped off.

1996 #5 October

8

Locomotives - Steam

What would it take to model in Sn42? The author recommends using HO-scale track, and some projects for conversion to S-scale.

1996 #6 December

25

Layout Construction

The author looked to the EBT prototype to figure out how to move coal on his layout between standard- and narrow-gauge.

1997 #1 February

24

Layout Construction

In this column the author covers various non-S-scale kits that can be used to model Sn3 cars. Includes photos of some of those projects.

1997 #2 April

24

Layout Construction

Covers how goods were transferred between narrow-gauge and standard-gauge cars. Also covered are how to have two identical cars, one with each type of truck to simulate transferring the car by swapping the trucks (includes photos).

1997 #3 June

24

Layout Construction

In this article the author describes how he converted a 4-6-0 Mantua HO-scale locomotive into an Sn3 model. Includes a parts list, and a couple of construction photos.

1997 #5 October

22

Track

Prototype and model information about dual-gauge track and turnouts.

1997 #6 December

17

Track

How to model in other narrow gauges other than 3-foot in S-scale (Sn2, Sn42).

1998 #1 February

13

Product Review

The author reviews the B.T.S. EBT flat car kit.

1998 #2 April

20

Locomotives - Diesel

Prototype information about diesel locomotives used on narrow-gauge railroads.

1998 #3 June

24

Locomotives - Diesel

The author takes an HO-scale Atlas U36C mechanism, re-gauged it for Sn3, and mates it with an S-scale American Model GP35 shell. Includes one photo of the final model, as well as photos of powered box cabs and an Sn3 critter.

1998 #5 October

23

Track

The author suggests trying to build an interchange between standard- and narrow-gauge tracks. The article also contains information about an Sn2 discussion list.

1998 #6 December

23

Track

The author continues with how to model an interchange between standard- and narrow-gauge tracks.

1999 #1 February

20

Locomotives - Steam

The author shares his research into prototype narrow-gauge steam locomotives. He also briefly describes the Sn3 models produced up until that time. Two prototype photos of locomotives are included.

1999 #2 April

20

Freight Cars

How to build a reasonable selection of freight and passenger cars for narrow-gauge trains.

1999 #3 June

20

Locomotives - Steam

This column covers outside frame locomotives, Sn3 2-6-0 availability, achieving a "family look" among your equipment. Includes prototype photos of a Cumbres & Toltec K-36 outside frame 2-8-2.

1999 #5 October

24

M.O.W. Equipment

This column covers how to model a rotary snowplow in Sn3. Includes several model photos.

1999 #6 December

13

M.O.W. Equipment

This time the author covers what is available in two-foot narrow-gauge in S.

2000 #1 February

29

Railroading

The author describes logging railroads, and how one might model one using available S-scale products.

2000 #2 April

18

Railroading

What did narrow-gauge railroads actually transport? The author compiled a listing of the RGS' transported goods in 1940.

2000 #3 June

26

Locomotives - Steam

Using an MDC HO-scale Shay to build one for Sn3, and how to do the conversion. Includes final model photos.

2000 #5 October

24

Locomotives - Steam

How to model in Sn3 and shifting your era to the early part of the 1900s.

2001 #1 February

14

Layouts - S

The author shares the track plan and a full description of his multi-gauge, 25'x33' layout (S, Sn3, Sn2).

2001 #2 April

22

Locomotives - Steam

Narrow-gauge lines kept their rolling stock lettering to a minimum to save on money. Also covered are the possibility of kitbashing an HO-scale Bachmann Shay, and how an On30 Bachmann engine might be better suited for S-scale standard-gauge as a kitbash.

2001 #3 June

20

Locomotives - Steam

The author provides tips and a bit of a product review of the Railmaster Exports 4-4-0 kit. Includes a model photo.

2001 #5 October

26

Railroads

The history of the Rio Grande Southern, and ideas on how to model it in S-scale. Includes several prototype photos, and a bibliography of published materials on the RGS.

2001 #6 December

21

Track

This column discusses narrow-gauge curves, grades, clearances, and rail.

2002 #1 February

20

Railroads

Narrow-gauge railroads in Ohio.

2002 #3 June

8

Railroads

How to model the EBT in S-scale. After a brief introduction, the column covers motive power, freight cars, passenger cars, cabooses, standard-gauge cars, and structures. Includes several prototype photos, a map, and an example timetable.

2002 #5 October

23

Model Railroad Shows

The author reports on the 2002 National Narrow Gauge convention in Providence, Rhode Island.

2003 #3 June

20

Layout Design

A recent move has prompted the author to start a new narrow-gauge-focused layout. In this column, he reviews the things he learned from his previous layout, and the plans for the new one. A track plan is included.

2003 #6 December

20

Layout Design

The author moved again, so the previously-shared layout design is revisited with some new ideas. Includes the new, new track plan.

2004 #1 February

20

Model Railroad History

This article chronicles the history of U.S. narrow-gauge prototype railroading.

2004 #6 December

8

Model Railroad Philosophy

The author makes an argument for why one might want to model in narrow gauge.

2005 #1 February

30

Structures

Tips and tricks for building structure kits.

2005 #5 October

24

Model Railroad Shows

The author and his wife manned the NASG booth at the 25th National Narrow Gauge Convention in Dearborn, Michigan. He offers a complete review of the show, from an S-scale perspective. Includes several photos.

2006 #5 October

24

Locomotives - Steam

Photos of the author's Sn2 equipment by Train & Trooper, as well as two P-B-L Sn3 pieces.

2006 #6 December

18

Model Railroad Shows

The author reports on the 2006 National Narrow Gauge Convention in Durango, Colorado. Includes two photos.

2007 #1 February

18

Freight Cars - Flat Cars

(note that the article's page number is "20", but should have been 18) The topic is the construction of the BTS-09013 kit for a West Side Lumber Co.'s 24' flat car. Includes two photos.

2007 #2 April

18

Track

(again, note that the article's page number is "20", but should have been 18) The author is getting ready to lay ties and rail on his home layout. The article covers what a rail height's code number mimics in the real world (as scaled down to S). Several test tracks are described to prepare for the formal track work.

2007 #5 October

26

Model Railroad Shows

The author reports on the 2007 National Narrow Gauge Convention held in Portland, Maine, including which new S-scale products were available from the various vendors. Includes several model and prototype photos.

2008 #2 April

20

Model Railroad Shows

The author reviews his attendance of the Sn3 Symposium held in February in St. Louis. There were 10 S/Sn3 layouts open for tours. Includes several photos.

2008 #5 October

20

Structures - Industrial

The author shares his experience building the Pro Patria Mill by banta modelworks.

2008 #6 December

16

Model Railroad Shows

The author reports about the 2008 National Narrow Gauge Convention in Portland, Oregon. Includes several photos taken at the event.

2009 #1 February

20

Model Railroad Shows

A basics article on "scale" vs. "gauge", what is narrow-gauge, how and where the various narrow gauges were used, and the history of narrow-gauge prototype railroads.

2009 #2 April

18

Model Railroad Shows

This article is a review of the 24th Sn3 Symposium held in Clearwater, Florida from February 25th to the 28th. Photos of some of the narrow and standard gauge layouts that were open during the show are included.

2010 #5 October

22

Model Railroad Shows

Overview of the 30th National Narrow Gauge Convention held in the St. Louis area on September 1st through 4th, 2010. Includes photos of Sn3 and Sn2 layouts and modules.

2013 #6 December

26

Track

The author re-evaluated the rail heights for his sidings and branch lines. He shares the research he did (standard- and narrow-gauge).