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Cumbres & Toltec #488
Colorful Colorado
The Olympia Clinic Invites You To Join Us For A Presentation On Trains In Colorado
by
Scott Buckley
Friday, November 16th at 7:00 PM
at:
The Home Of Scott Buckley
7827 Western Ct. SE.
Olympia, WA. 98501
Please bring: a folding chair, if you have one, and
a modeling project to share with the group
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JJ Johnston welcomed a smaller than usual group of attendees this month (Presidential debate? Seahawks game?). Announcements included the Ravensdale Train Show, October 20–21, the 33rd Boeing Club Swap Meet in Kent, November 10, and the next 4th Division Board of Directors meeting, November 17 at Mitzel’s Restaurant in Kent.
There was no video library or Mart this month. There were three Model of the Month entries. David Yadock won (again) with his scratchbuilt King Truss trestle.
After a short break, Russ Segner gave a presentation on the DuPont Museum and the restoration work being done there. He said Fred Foreman, head of Public Works for DuPont, is leading the rehabilitation effort at the museum. The townspeople are also getting behind the effort and have provided a covered shelter and electricity for the on-going work. The current work is the rebuilding of a 3-foot, narrow gauge flatcar. There is a sibling car at Ft. Lewis that provides an overview of the finished product. Pictures of the DuPont car before reconstruction started revealed the extent of work to be done! The work crew is usually 4–5 people but more are welcome. It’s full scale, 12″ to the foot modeling! If you’re interested in helping out and getting experience rebuilding full-size railroad cars, give Russ a call at 425-228-7327 for more information.
The next meeting will be Thursday, November 15. This will also be our chance to make donations for our annual gift to the church for the support of those in need.
Don’t forget: the Boeing Employees Model Railroad Swap Meet will be this Saturday, November 10th from 9:30 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. at the Kent Commons, 4th Avenue N, in Kent.
Free on site parking at the Regional Justice Center. Admission, $7.00 adults; under 15 free with adult.
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On October 19th, PNR President Walt Huston and I presented Jim Younkins with his Master Model Railroader award #488. A lot of hardware is involved with becoming an MMR and it took both of us to give it all to Jim.
If you’ve ever seen Jim’s “Mud Bay & Southern” layout, you know how Jim earned his MMR. If you haven’t, it’s received plenty of press. Jim routinely opens his home during the Olympia Layout Tour, and is part of the Oly Ops operating sessions every November. Jim also schedules operating sessions throughout the year.
The Achievement Program, of which the Master Model Railroader is part, challenges model railroaders to better their skills through different disciplines in the model railroading hobby. There are 11 areas of work and, when a modeler earns Certificates of Merit in 7 of the 11 areas, he has his MMR. Jim earned his certificates in Electrical, Volunteer, Scenery, Structures, Civil, Author, and Cars. Jim has also earned his Golden Spike Award, often the first step in the A.P. program.
Jim joins other 4D’s other MMRs: Jack Hamilton, Dale Kraus, Max Maginness, Roger Nulton, C.J. Riley, Paul Scoles, Gene Swanson, Di Voss, and David Woodrell. Congratulations, Jim!
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Robert and Sherry Grove graciously opened their beautiful home and Wyoming-themed model railroad to 24 happy modelers and guests at our regular third-Friday get-together. Distinguished guests included Ed Liesse, PNR board member; Walt Huston, PNR president; and Ken Liesse, 4th Division Superintendent. The executive trio was in attendance to present our own Jim Younkins with his NMRA Master Model Railroader, the 488th modeler ever to achieve that rank. (See related story.)
Olympia Coordinator Ted Eggleston had a full slate of activities for the evening including tips, favorite models, and clinic and door prizes (many donated by Charles Lundberg). Paul Vaughn showed his ingenious yet inexpensive homemade switch controllers and later added a mini-clinic on resin-casting tall pieces.
We heard a short report on Tom Murray’s plans for developing the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad visitor center in three phases: first, a logging camp; second, a steam sawmill; and third, his 7½”-gauge railroad and a fully-rigged spar tree.
Beautifully crafted models were shown and described by Scott Groff,MikeVanderhoof, Jim Younkins, and Ryan Bates. Ryan’s kit-bashed and scratchbuilt Washington Iron Works mobile logging yarder won most popular model and will be a showpiece on Ry’s McCloud River Railroad. (See McCloud Railroad Progress Report for more details.)
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Jim and Mary Sabol presented the clinic, based on the book “Clothshell Scenery.” Jim, Mary, and Tom Todd had three little modules covered with basic clothshell ground in about ten minutes, with nothing to clean up, nothing to drip, and nothing to spill.
Ron and Carol Beghin offered their home for the December social get-together on December 14, one week earlier than usual. Speaking of the holiday season, you’d be in for a treat if you drive by Greg Wright’s home on the way to the Olympia meeting in December. Greg and Susan go all out with decorations and their house and yard are a stunning Thurston County showplace of Christmas lights.
Once again everyone present held a winning door prize number and carried home some treasure. “Itza muracle!” exclaimed Jim Elder.
About half of the money needed to meet the “matching gift” to the Magic of Scale Model Railroading exhibit at the California State Railroad Museum has been raised. An anonymous donor has offered $250,000 if we can raise a matching amount. In addition to NMRA member donations, manufacturers have made substantial donations. No NMRA dues are used to fund this project. Watch for an article in the November issue of NMRA Magazine for more details on the exhibit and fund raising efforts.
The newly formed NMRA Marketing Department is working with Amtrak stations in major cities to get modular layouts placed there in an effort to raise awareness of our hobby.
The Eastside Get-Together will be this Thursday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m., at the Bellevue Four Square Church. Don’t miss this meeting featuring our very own Russ Segner with a slideshow presentation about the work he and others are doing on the DuPont Railroad. As Russ says, “We’re model building at 12 inches to the foot, restoring a narrow gauge flatcar from rotten boards and rusty steel to brand new.”
Also lots of stuff for sale, the video library, the Model of the Month, free coffee & donuts (donations accepted) and our great array of door prizes donated from The Inside Gateway, plus lots to talk about and new friends to make.
See you down the track!
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In case you were not in attendance, the NMRA National Committee presented its Meritorious Service Award to the 4D’s own Didrik Voss, MMR, for his service as Standards & Conformance Department Manager. The photo shows Ed Liesse making the presentation at the 4D Summer Meet in Issaquah.
The Olympia Clinic will hold its next monthly meeting at 7:00 p.m., Friday, October 19, 2012. Please join us at the home of Robert Grove, 8132 Bo Court SE in Olympia.
Jim Sabol will present “Plaster-less Cloth-shell Scenery.” Please bring a folding chair if possible and a model for Show ‘n’ Tell. As usual, we’ll have door prizes and refreshments.
See you there!
As you may know, the 3rd Division is hosting the Pacific Northwest Region’s Convention next year, June 26 – 30, in Boise. Here’s what’s planned so far for the Snake River Special:
If you have never attended an NMRA Regional Convention, you’ve really missed a great time. Just ask me; I’ve been to eight and always have a great time!