By Jeff Moorman

Next Clinic:

The next Seattle-North clinic is Thursday, December 1.

We’ll do another installment of our fallen flags mini-clinics, discuss things to consider if we are offered the chance to acquire someone else’s model railroad, and maybe view a little video on winter railroading.

Last Clinic:

Dennis T presented a mini-clinic on the Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway (or SP&S, reporting marks SPS). Interestingly the railroad was chartered in 1905 by James J Hill and never laid tracks anywhere near Seattle. The line mostly ran between Portland and Spokane, following the north shore of the Columbia River for a good part of the way. The story goes that Hill added the name “Seattle” to confuse his business rivals.

There followed a general discussion of things most observers or outsiders to the hobby want to know. The goal of this was to develop a list of topics for which we could put together displays, or handouts, or elevator talks to better communicate what model railroading is all about. Here, then, is our list of topics that (in our collective opinion) are the things those outside the hobby “most want to know”:

  • How to get started in model railroading
  • What is the difference between scale and gauge?
  • What is the best scale?
  • What does it cost?
  • What is DCC and should beginners use it?
  • How to know what track pieces go together

 

On a slightly different note, we also touched on some topics for which we, as model railroaders, would like others to know.

  • For the most part, there is no one single way of doing things in the hobby. Some ways may be more popular, but there are rarely absolutes.
  • There are a lot of different subjects you can learn from model railroading. For example, the basics of carpentry, electricity, economics/engineering/history of transportation systems, diorama construction, model building, etc.
  • You can buy almost all parts of a model railroad, including even the complete finished product. But doing so is not inexpensive, so you are likely to buy some items and build others. The hobby, therefore, provides experience in 3D, tactile craftsmanship.
  • Joining a like-minded model railroad group lets you share their expertise, but also provides a certain face-to-face camaraderie that many find appealing.

Thom K, (our resident modeler of European trains) brought a couple of models he acquired at a recent swap. One was a 1960’s era plastic kit by Kibri. The other was a built-up structure of indeterminate scale (around HO). It was a common-looking (for the Continent), multi-story, commercial/residential building. Most of the structure appeared to be thin birch plywood with wood and plastic details applied. Thom indicated these were done as piecework by German housewives in the 50’s and early 60’s. The builders earned a little extra money and added a bit to the “toy building” economy. Very interesting.

Directions: We meet at the Ronald United Methodist Church, 17839 Aurora Avenue North, Shoreline, WA. That is on the west side of Aurora (State Route 99) between 175th and 185th Streets and more specifically, between the Cadillac dealer on the south and Deseret Industries to the north. Going southbound on Aurora, make a right-hand turn into the church driveway immediately after passing the Deseret location. The parking lot is at the rear of the church. From the lot go up the steps to the main entrance. Once inside, the room where we meet is on your left. Click here to view additional info, including a map.

Meetings are the first Thursday of each month, usually September to May. In June we often do something different, so there is no “regular” meeting. Doors open at 7:00 PM and the program will start at 7:30.

Remember the next regular evening meeting is December 1, 2016. The next clinic after that will be January 5, 2017. Hope to see you there or at least sometime on down the line.