2026 March “O” Scale Meet – Meetings and Clinics
Thursday March 19 -Sunday March 22, 2026
Updated February 5th, 2026
Meetings and Clinics are held in the Magnolia Room, unless otherwise specified.
Friday March 20, 2026
Discussion Meeting topics vary depending on participant interest. The Moderators will get things started and group participation steers the discussion. Everyone is encouraged to bring along models, parts etc that you’d like to pass around, share and discuss.
General O Scale Discussion Meeting moderated by Jay Escamilla. Jay, will discuss what is new at Sunset Models 3rd Rail and what to expect in the near future. From there, the discussion will open up to all who participate.
8:00 pm -9:30 pm Proto:48 Discussion Meeting moderated by Dave & James
Schultz
Saturday March 21, 2026
10:00am Santiago Pineda – Scratch-building a D&RGW 1000 series heavyweight
coach
This clinic takes a deep dive into the process of building and finishing a rare D&RGW 1000 series coach car. With its large windowpanes, unique roof lines, and curved skirts, this peculiar standard-gauge heavyweight car was constant sight on the ever-changing Exposition Flyer. The finished model depicts the car in its 1940’s, Pullman green paint scheme. It features prototypical undercarriage detailing with many custom-made parts, and a full interior following the car’s plan. With the model being built primarily out of brass, the presentation will touch on several building techniques and processes that can prove useful for any modeler.
Saturday March 21, 2026
11:00am Daniel Raible – Printing the Future in 3D
This presentation will feature a fun multimedia overview of 3D printing including aspects of the design process, material selection and different print capabilities for the purpose of generating useful and compelling finescale parts for your favorite prototype. The subject material is easy to understand for the beginner, and includes helpful tips to help make 3D work for you. Example resin, brass and steel parts will be available for handling, and the clinic will include a free giveaway. Daniel is looking forward to answering your questions, discussing the finer details and exchanging ideas on how to best advance the creative and technical possibilities offered by O-scale modeling through 3D printing.
A strong advocate of open-source collaboration, Daniel freely shares his designs online (https://github.com/DanielRaible76/3D-modeling) and conducts clinics and online tutorials to share techniques, exchange ideas, and crowdsource new projects.
Saturday March 21, 2026
1:00 pm Nick Bulgarino – Dead Rail/Battery Power. An Introduction
One of the fastest growing train control methods in Model
Railroading, especially O Scale, is battery powered (called dead rail by some). With many options for batteries and decoders, there is a need for a starting point, which this clinic will be. Nick Bulgarino, who performs these installations for others, will walk you through what battery power is, what options are available and what the differences and benefits are between the various systems. Please bring along your questions!
Saturday March 21, 2026
2:00 pm Marty Megregian – Building the Southern Railway Duplex/tractor
2-10-2+2-6-2 in brass
THE BEAST. Southern Railway, one of a kind duplex/tractor #5046. What it took to build and how-to from start to finish.
2:00 pm David Vaughn – Nickel Plate Modelers Meeting
Held at a separate location within the hotel. Meeting Room number
available at the March Meet Registration Tables.
Saturday March 21, 2026
3:00 pm Glenn Guerra – William E. Fowler and his Box Cars
A look into the origins of a type of freight car and some of the myths about those cars. We will look into other people involved in railroad car design at this time and how this all came together.
4:15 pm O Scale Central Membership Meeting and Orientation
Saturday March 21, 2026
7:00 pm March Meet Evening Social sponsored by O Scale Central
Located in the ballroom foyer after dinner. Cash Bar will be
available for a limited amount of time. The Foyer will be available all
night. After the cash bar, drinks can be purchased from the hotel
Bar/Restaurant and brought into our area.
Sunday March 23, 2026
10:00 am. Ken Burney – O Scale Two Rail and P48 Railroading
Facebook group Meet and Greet.
The annual get-together for one of the popular O Scale Facebook
Groups. Come meet your fellow group members or come on in and
see what the Facebook Groups are all about. Find out how and why
you want to join.
11:15 am open
NOTE: Additional Meeting Room available for small groups. Contact Committee at ChicagoMeet@yahoo.com for more information.