NASG Dispatch Articles by Bill Pyper

2017 #5 September

5

Model Railroad Magazines

The S Gaugian magazine is 55 years old this year. Don Heimburger started it in 1962 when he was 14!

2014 #2 April

26

Automobiles

The author describes a handy grid card that can be used to quickly measure the wheelbase and track/tread width of S-scale vehicles to compare them against prototype measurements, to see if the model truly is to scale.

2017 #4 July

14

Model Railroad Magazines

Booster ads (which support the finances of the Dispatch) can be placed in any issue, but the next issue will have extra pages.

2016 #6 November

10

Freight Cars - Stock Cars

The article provides photos, diagrams, prototype information, and suggestions for how to model a car that can transport live turkeys.

2015 #2 March

4

Model Railroad Retailers

The author interviews Anita Walter, owner of this model trains-only store in Atascadero, California. The store stocks S-scale products, consignment items, Lionel, Kadee, and scratchbuilding materials. She has a mailing list for those who model in S-scale.

2016 #4 July

2

Model Railroad Magazines

Changes to web site addresses, the inclusion of the Dispatch advertisers listing on the "S Resources" page of the NASG web site, and the new feature of additional pages to the Dispatch issue when you download the PDF version, starting this this issue.

2016 #5 September

38

Layout Detailing

Consider putting figures in your locomotives and automobiles on your layout. Put trains on empty tracks when composing a photo for the Dispatch. Starting the Scratchbuilding 101 column.

2016 #6 November

2

Freight Cars - Stock Cars

What is the connection between the holidays and trains? Turkeys in the town where the editor lived (continued on page 5, "Turkeys by Train"). Info about booster ads.

2017 #1 January

22

Freight Cars - Stock Cars

Some more follow-up information about poultry cars covered in the previous issue.

2017 #6 November

6

Model Railroad Organizations

The editor asks for photos for next year's Christmas edition, lists previous survey results, and mentions the various services the Dispatch offers to NASG members and clubs.

2020 #1 January

2

Model Railroad Organizations

The editor is retiring. New Dispatch advertising editor announced.

2017 #5 September

7

Model Railroad Organizations

Photos and a brief description of each of the 5 people that were elected for this year's NASG BOT election.

2018 #1 January

35

Freight Cars - Flat Cars

Several prototype photos of flat car loads.

2013 #5 October

14

Model Railroad Magazines

The new editor introduces himself, and how he plans to edit the magazine.

2013 #6 December

6

Model Railroad Organizations

The editor responds to feedback he got on the previous issue, the one he edited for the NASG.

2014 #1 February

7

Model Railroad Magazines

The editor of the Dispatch introduces his design idea of making the cover's text look like the font and style of a prototype railroad. Each issue will be different.

2018 #1 January

12

M.O.W. Equipment

Both prototype and model photos of large cranes used to deal with wrecks on the railroad. More photos are shown on page 39 of the online PDF edition.

2013 #5 October

30

Model Railroad Magazines

Basic how-to information for submitting articles for the NASG's Dispatch.

2014 #2 April

31

Model Railroads and Computers

The Dispatch editor, Bill Pyper, provides guidelines for how to write an article for possible publication in the Dispatch.

2017 #3 May

38

Freight Cars - Stock Cars

An update, indicating the Lehigh Valley Models' Palace Poultry car kit. David Tyner shares photos of the construction of his kit.

2018 #5 September

26

Model Railroad Shows

A brief listing of the awards won at this year's NASG Convention.

2014 #3 June

2

Model Railroad Magazines

The editor introduces the DCC series of articles, publicizes questions about S-MOD, and announces that the magazine's publication months will be changed later in 2014.

2014 #4 August

2

Model Railroad Magazines

The editor describes this issue and why one should belong to the NASG.

2014 #5 October

2

Model Railroad Magazines

The editor describes some changes in this issue.

2014 #6 November

2

Model Railroad Magazines

This is the first issue on the new schedule (Jan, Mar, May, Jul, Sep, Nov).

2015 #1 January

2

Model Railroad Magazines

Comments about the current issue, and ideas for future issues.

2015 #2 March

2

Model Railroad Magazines

The editor requests that contributor NOT use photo-forwarding services, starts his series on local hobby shops, and the upcoming NASG election.

2015 #3 May

2

Model Railroad Magazines

A note about grain elevators (covered in this issue), and the unfortunate duplication of Mike Fyten's article in the previous issue of the Dispatch and the S Gaugian magazine.

2015 #4 July

2

Model Railroad Magazines

A request for Christmas photos and layout stories.

2015 #5 September

2

Model Railroad Magazines

Membership renewals will no longer be mailed out starting in 2016. Booster ads. Many photos received related to the 2015 NASG Convention. The California State Railroad Museum has a static display of S-scale equipment.

2015 #6 November

2

Model Railroad Magazines

Observations from manning the NASG booth at the 2015 National Train Show. Photos taken at the event are shown on page 4.

2016 #1 January

2

Model Railroad Magazines

What it takes to write and submit an article and/or photos for possible inclusion in future Dispatch issues.

2016 #2 March

2

Model Railroad Magazines

The big "S" on the Superman pajamas might be used in promoting S-scale! Typing in the web site address exactly as it appears in the Dispatch when accessing the NASG web site. A.C. Gilbert's "The Man Who Lives in Paradise" is now available as an eBook.

2016 #3 May

2

Model Railroad Magazines

An evaluation of what the editor has accomplished, and how we need more advertisers to keep the Dispatch going and perhaps get bigger.

2020 #2 March

23

Model Railroad Organizations

The author shares notes he received from NASG members about ways to improve outreach by the NASG.

2021 #1 January

13

Product Review

The author reviews the company's beet gondola kit released in 2018. Includes prototype photos and photos of the kit parts and the model.

2015 #4 July

24

American Flyer

The story is about how Jim Bezek refurbishes old, non-functioning American Flyer accessories and brings them back to life again, using a passenger station platform as an example. Includes several construction photos.

2016 #4 July

4

Model Railroad Manufacturers

The author introduces the owner of RSLaserKits, showing some of their S-scale kits, and photos of their facilities and owner. Page 34 has a collection of photos that show the parts that make up the company's pickle car.

2018 #5 September

42

M.O.W. Equipment

A collection of prototype photos of scale-testing cars.

2013 #5 October

29

Scratchbuilding

The author describes how he built a small incinerator using an empty cinnamon container. He also shows how to build a smaller one using a spigot from a two-gallon water container.

2013 #6 December

28

Scenery - Homes and Lots

What color are sidewalks? The author takes a field trip to investigate (he goes outside!). Chipboard is the conclusion he reached for how best to model sidewalks in S-scale.

2014 #1 February

28

Structures - Industrial

The author shows how he used some bottle caps and drip-irrigation pipefittings to make a structure for moving Soylent Green into tank cars on a siding.

2017 #5 September

29

Structures - Trackside

Using some common household items, the author builds a water tank. Includes many construction photos as well as prototype photos.

2016 #5 September

25

Scratchbuilding

Using cotter pins and eyelets for eyebolts to hold railings and piping, and polling-pockets, respectively.

2016 #4 July

33

Freight Cars - Tank Cars

The author finds an old A.F. tank car in a junk sale, and repaints it for "Soylent Green".

2017 #5 September

41

Scenery - Streets

The author shares a collection of prototype signs that offer a bit of humor.

2014 #3 June

23

Scenery - Trackside

The author encourages all the add billboards to your layouts. He provides typical prototype dimensions. He then provides examples of how to make them. Includes prototype and model photos.

2014 #5 October

4

Scenery - Streets

The author describes where you can find, and how you can produce, S-scale signs for your layout. Includes several prototype photos, and step-by-step model photos.

2017 #3 May

22

Model Railroad Shows

A report of Dick Kramer attending the Railroad Hobby Show presented by the Amherst Railway Society and manning a table for the NASG. The Pioneer Valley S-Gaugers changes the club's name.

2018 #1 January

2

Model Railroad Magazines

The editor covers the magazine's deadlines, and suggestions for how to write a how-to article.

2018 #5 September

6

Model Railroad Organizations

The author describes what it takes to be the editor of this magazine.

2019 #1 January

2

Model Railroad Magazines

The editor indicates how you can ship CDs with article content to him cheaply. He also asks the readers for "how-to" style articles for the Dispatch.

2019 #2 March

2

Model Railroad Organizations

Info about NASG elections. Ways to help cut costs of the organization. Update on the 2018 NASG Convention car. A note about visiting the California State Railroad Museum.

2019 #3 May

2

Model Railroad Organizations

The editor reflects on the recent changes in S-related modeling press.

2019 #4 July

2

Model Railroad Shows

Things to do while at the 2019 NASG Convention.

2019 #5 September

2

Model Railroad Magazines

Some insight into the editor's world.

2019 #6 November

2

Model Railroad Magazines

The editor is moving, and also stepping down as the Dispatch editor. The "S Gaugian" magazine column, "Club Car", is now going to move to the NASG's Dispatch. Norman Bos joins as the Dispatch advertising manager.

2019 #4 July

6

Tools

Types of screws, their sizes, and drawings of each.

2021 #5 September

20

Freight Cars - Hoppers

The author describes how he built an older Lehigh Valley Models phosphate hopper car. The article includes many close-up photos of the process