Category: Tacoma Clinic

Dale Kraus, Photos by Author

Twenty-two modelers were on hand Thursday evening for the Tacoma Clinic, hosted by Al Babinski. The topic for the evening was “Kitbashing/Building Better Buildings”, presented by Greg Price. Greg’s approach is simple and effective. It consists of:

1. Choose a kit to fit your purpose. Modify it if necessary.
2. Build a mock-up and see if it fits.
3. Paint everything before assembling the walls. Use muted colors outside and black inside.
4. If not lit, use a black view block. If lit seal light leaks.
5. Put lots of detail on the roof.
6. Weather everything.

Greg giving the clinic.

Greg has graciously allowed us online access to his presentation, click here to view the PDF (warning – large file, 28 MB in size).
 

The modeler’s showcase had five entries.

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Dale G Kraus, Photos by Author

Host Gene Swanson welcomed a full house Thursday night to hear Al Babinsky explain maintenance and lubrication procedures used by The Puget Sound Model Railroad Engineers (PSMRE) to maintain the four trains that run on the eight scale mile “auto loop” at the Washington State History Museum.

The two problems encountered at the PSMRE are gunk on the rolling stock wheels and wear in the locomotives. The “gunk” is a muddy substance caused by the mixing of airborne dust with the automatic transmission fluid used to improve wheel-to-rail electrical continuity. It can be removed mechanically from car wheels and from loco wheels using alcohol on a paper towel, cleaning one truck at a time while the wheels are turning.

Wear in locomotive drive trains is caused by lack of lubrication and foreign materials, mostly carpet fuzz, getting into the loco bearings.

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Al Babinsky, Photos by Dale Kraus

3D printed items by Chip Van Gilder

The clinic was opened by MMR Gene Swanson with 40 attendees including two newcomers, both of them N scalers. Gene asked that the attendees raise their hand when their military branch of service was announced and thanked them for their service. Helen McGovern was presented with an $1800 check for the Emergency Food Network. The contribution was made by the clinic attendees throughout the year.

I (Al Babinsky) asked for a volunteer to take over the clinic report due to the fact that my night time vision is not the best anymore (specially when it rains). It is a once a month job that requires taking notes during the clinic and creating a digital Grab Iron post (adding text and uploading pictures, typically supplied by Dale Kraus).

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Reported by Dale Kraus,
Photos by Chip Van Gilder

About 35 modelers showed up on a wet October 14^th. Host Gene Swanson moderated the shindig, and Bill from Tacoma Trains showed us several new and interesting items. In the modelers’ showcase, Larry Sloan showed us a new backdrop method printer on Gatorboard, Jim Clowers a kit-built double track Palmer Truss bridge, and Dale Kraus brought in the interior detailed scratchbuilt “Goldener Glocke” Inn. Terrell Goble showed us an airbrushed and detailed “North Coast Limited” in N scale and two Tacoma Rail SD’s (45?). Paul Vaughn had a group of custom decaled freight cars in HO, Sn3, and On30 scales.

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Dale Kraus

The October Tacoma Clinic will be held on Thursday, October 13 at 7 PM in the Pierce County Library administration building, 3005 112th St. E. Tacoma WA 98446. Click here to see additional details including a map.

Come, join the fun. Don’t forget to bring that model you’ve been working on.

Dale Kraus

The September 2016 Tacoma Clinic saw 30 members assemble at the Pierce County Library Admin. building for a presentation by Dale Kraus on laying out grades using a tool made from yardsticks. The tools are easy to make and will produce “close enough” grades that allows for curvature compensation without resorting to trigonometry.

Seven models were shown in the “bring-and-brag,” with the favorite being a brace of N scale logging trucks, all different, built by Tyler Whitcomb.

The October clinic will be held at the PC Library Admin building, beginning at 7 PM. Come join in the fun, and be sure to bring your latest or your favorite model. Additional info, including maps, are available by clicking here.

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Dale G. Kraus

The Tacoma clinic kicks off the season on Thursday, September 8 at 7 PM at the Pierce County Library Admin building, 3005 112^th St E, Tacoma 98446. Please note the starting time, as it’s one-half hour earlier than last season. Bring that project you worked on this summer and brag about it.

Additional details, including a map, are available by clicking here.

Dale Kraus

An early reminder: The Tacoma Clinic begins on Thursday, September 8. This fall we will be starting promptly at 7 PM at the Pierce County Library Admin center, 5107 112th St E, Tacoma (Parkland). Click here to view the Clinics page which has additional info including a map.

Now’s the time to get working and finish that summer project model so you can bring it to the clinic.

Article and Photos by Al Babinsky

Weathered freight cars from Larry Sloan, “Bring and Brag” winner

MMR Gene Swanson opened the clinic and made the announcement that beginning with the September clinic we would start at 7:00 PM. The change was made to ensure that we would be out of the building prior to 10:00 PM before the alarm system would activate. The regional convention at Salmon Arm BC and the 4D spring meet at Tacoma Community College (which had 84 attendees) were discussed.

The clinic was attended by 34 modelers.

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By Al Babinsky, Photos by Dale Kraus

N scale semis detailed and weathered by Tyler, “Bring and Brag” winner

MMR Gene Swanson opened the clinic on time as always, we had 33 in attendance including one newcomer. MMR Dale Kraus presented a Merit Award in Scenery to Wain Miller.

Other announcements included requests for mailing in your 4D ballots, a Rail Day show on May 14, 2016 in Oregon, and a plastic model show in Renton.

A discussion was held about changing the start time for the clinic from 1930 hrs (7:30 PM) to 1900 hrs (7:00 PM) due to the fact that the doors must be locked before 2200 hrs (10:00 PM). The computer system will set the alarm at that time. By starting a half hour earlier we will be able to finish around 2100 hrs (9:00 PM) and have time to clean up and stack the chairs. The new start time will begin with the September clinic.

Bill Sandstrom from Tacoma Trains presented a number of new items from Rivarossi, Athearn, Intermountain, BLI, and Microtrains. He also carries some items from Chip Van Gilder including 3D printed log cars in N scale and the Morton Station.

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