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NMRA Celebrates 75 with New Logo

Written by Al Lowe
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NMRA

Welcome to the new NMRA logo and, in many ways, the new NMRA. On its face this wheel-on-rail symbol represents the oldest of the NMRA’s objectives: interoperability. Yet, it also represents the future. It’s a symbol of our willingness to keep pace with the changes all around us. Changes in our world, in our lives, in our hobby. While it honors the achievements of the past 75 years, it commits us to the continuation of those achievements in the next 75.

Most important, our new logo is a symbol of the NMRA’s commitment to you. As your wants and needs evolve, so will we, with expanded content on our website, easier accessibility to the information in our Library and programs designed to position us well for another seven-and-a-half decades.

NMRA now replaces National Model Railroad Association and becomes our brand, just as NFL, AARP, and CBS have become brands in their respective fields. We’ve even renamed our magazine NMRA Magazine to further reinforce that brand. And our website, www.nmra.org, will become your “portal to more fun in scale model railroading.”

So as we move into tomorrow, think of our new NMRA logo as a symbol of our promise to you – and our promises to each other – that we’ll all keep the hobby of scale model railroading alive, vibrant … and ready for the future.

News

July’s Clinic for Westside – Bremerton

Written by Al Lowe
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Marion Weston

July 13 we had a great turnout for Bob Jensen’s clinic on Structures, from kits. Bob brought some of his structures that he plans on using on his own layout and a warehouse that he has built for the Bremerton Northern Model Railroad Club’s new layout. Bob does wonderful work and discussed how to pick the kind of structures you might want to use on you layout.  Also discussed were different tools, adhesives, and what to use for weathering. Bob also stressed that you also need lots and lots of PATIENCE!

Dennis Hill and Bob Jensen tied in the ‘Model of the Month’.

The next Clinic will be held on August 10 and will be presented by Pete Rowe on ‘Scratch Build Structures’. Hope to see you all there.

Westside Local Clinic

Command Control Demystified

Written by Al Lowe
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Dale G. Kraus, MMR

Hello, everyone!

This is the first installment of a sporadic series about Digital Command Control. My intent is to be a “myth buster” and to present DCC in a non-technical, anti-geek-speak manner. Since the G-I is now in blog format, others are welcome to join in with questions, tips, and ideas for making DCC easy to understand and use. (Please note the use of “easy!”) For erudite discussions of the advanced uses of DCC, please go to the NMRA’s DCC Special Interest Group website: http://jdb.psu.edu/nmra/dccsig.html.

Onward! To kick this off, I will address two persistent myths: DCC is complicated and DCC is expensive.

Myth #1: DCC is complicated

DCC is a complex, feature-rich control system that has a vast and expanding repertoire of capabilities. Most systems come with a manual which, if read thoroughly by the newcomer, can be rather daunting. My advice: read only the “Getting Started” part of the manual and the Basic Programming section which deals with CV’s 1 through 6. Then simply replace your power pack with the DCC system. If you have two or more power packs and control your blocks with block selector toggle switches, replace one pack and throw all the selectors to the position controlled by that pack. Presto! You now have a DCC railroad. More on this in a later article.

Myth #2: DCC is expensive

For most home railroads, a basic system is all the DCC you’ll ever need. These systems have a 1.5 to 3.5-amp capacity and range from about $80 to $180. Unless you’re running large O scale locos, this will be sufficient. Basic decoders, good for N, HO and most S locos, run about $19 each. So, unless you’re running a one-horse logging show or switching pike, installing DCC can actually cost less than a comparable DC system. Remember, you have to factor in all the power packs, all the selector toggles, all the control panels, and that “spider-on-LSD” web of under-table wiring.

A Quick Tip

If you are using twin-coil solenoid switch machines, you can take the control wiring directly off of the track power buss. The track power is basically a 16-volt signal, which the solenoids will “see” as AC.

More later. Let’s hear from you all! And remember: when hooking up your system and programming your locos, read and follow the instructions! Comments are welcomed below!

Articles

AP Moments

Written by Al Lowe
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Jack Hamilton, MMR

There has been a lot of new activity this month but no awards generated. Some of the problem is that I was on travel most of May and, at the National level, a lot of effort is being directed toward the Milwaukee Convention and the NMRA Board of Directors meeting.

For those of you going to Milwaukee, at least one PNR member, Ed Schaenzer, First Division Superintendent, will be honored. Ed will be present his Master Model Railroader plaque at t the awards banquet.

A lot of the hard work that many of you have put in over the past several years is now beginning to be recognized. There are more of your fellow modelers out looking for potential AP candidates. We have several recent additions to the AP fold as a result of simple visits for Golden Spike review or as an outcome of a visit to “come see what I have” or “come on over for an operating session on____”.

Achievement Program,

Tacoma N Scalers

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Walt Huston

The Tacoma N Scalers met June 3, 2010 at the Fircrest Recreation Center. The meeting was called to disorder at 7:30 and began with a review of the coming events for the next three months and a discussion of the newly announced products coming in N scale. A check around the room found that for some odd reason many people are turning their attention to outdoor things. This is odd because it’s still raining and cold most of the time.

The clinic for the night was “Signals” and was presented by Ed Hill. Ed was quite thorough, covering things not only from A to Z, but including a very thick handout for us to remind ourselves of just what Ed said/covered. Ed had prototype examples of various types and sizes of signals, spanning the time era of the ’20s to the present (he used photos, not the real thing). Everyone was happy to know all about signals and some are contemplating adding them to their layout. I don’t desire to rewrite my operating plan so I will leave the signals to others and continue to operate in the dark.

Our July clinic will be held on July 1, 2010 … that’s right, on the 1st. We will convene at 7:00 PM for the “Bull Session” and start the meeting itself at precisely (?) 7:30. The subject of the clinic is “Painting Brass.  The presenter will be Bob Judge and he will be backed up by Tyler Whitcomb (very far back).

The Tacoma N Scalers are a very friendly group of people who would be very pleased to have you join us for information, education and fun. We meet at the Fircrest Recreation Center, 555 Contra Costa in Fircrest, WA.

See you at the next meeting!

A work in progress.

More work in progress near by.

Tacoma N Scalers Clinic

Bill Messecar Gets A Visit

Written by Al Lowe
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Walt Huston

On June 21, 2010 Bill Messecar was visited by a team of AP evaluators who were there to check out his layout and see where he stands regarding several areas of the Achievement Program. Team members Ed Liesse, Dave Liesse and Ken Liesse were accompanied by Walt Huston and were quite happy with the results.

Bill asked us to evaluate his structures for the Structures AP category an we set about that task with vigor. First we looked at a wooden bridge that Bill scratch built from photos taken near Riverside, CA. The bridge is a beauty and earned a Merit Award  We next looked at his model of a plumbing supply which was converted from a coal dealer. This is a detail filled work of art that also won a Merit Award.

Next up was Bill’s Chiller House, scratch built from styrene and strip wood, with a few flex straws thrown in for good measure. Photos of the prototype provedthat pipes that looked exactly like those flex straws were indeed a part of the facility and located under the roof just where Bill placed them. He also added special effects such as “wet” areas below the icing platform. Excellent work, and a third Merit Award.

Bill earned three more Merit Awards, one each for the Riverside Freight House, another for the San Bernardino Yard Office and last but certainly not least, the very intricate Jennings Lumber where he added such details as the leather belts used to run the power saws and other machinery. We were not done yet, however, as we also evaluated Bills scenery for the Scenery Certificate. Bill has done a great job of setting his layout in southern California, specifically in Orange country. Bill has quite a few of the Orange packing houses surrounded by entire scenes that are quite eye catching. He has even dribbled a few oranges on the ground outside the loading docks/areas at the packing houses. A very nice touch. Bill earned the Scenery Certificate for his efforts.

Now Bill has earned the Golden Spike, and the Structures and Scenery Certificates, and is working on several other categories as he strives for Master Model Railroader. Stay tuned, I think Bill is on the fast track.








Achievement Program,

Cascadian International 2010 PNR Annual Convention

Written by Al Lowe
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Rob Jones, Convention Chair / Photos by Rob Jones

The 4th Division is proud to serve as host of the PNR’s Annual Convention this September 16–18, at the Embassy Suites hotel in Lynnwood, WA. Rooms are still available, so reserve yours today. Even though you may live within driving distance, you’ll have a much better convention experience if you can stay at the host hotel. You can learn more about the convention at the 4D website, 4dpnr.com.

Wednesday, September 15, begins with an Ice Cream Social, Swap Meet and BBQ.

Clinics will be plentiful, with a wide variety by MMRs like Paul Scoles, Di Voss, Jack Hamilton, and Jack Burgess (of the famous Yosemite Valley Railroad) coming all the way from the Pacific Coast Region in California. Many other locals will also give clinics, including Walt Huston, Doug Bulger and Dennis Hill.

Prototype Tours will include Seattle’s St. Gobain Glass Co.; the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, (including a tour of the facilities plus a rail ride); a special rail tour of a local shortline with a 30-mile ride for the first twenty persons to sign up (a once-in-a-lifetime chance!); and a tour of Boeing’s Everett Plant.

Layout Tours will be in two flavors: Guided Tours and Open Houses. The Tours take you on a bus (for a fee), while the Open Houses are free (but you have to drive yourself or arrange your own carpool). There will be three Tours each day. Layouts on Tours include: Russ Segner’s Sn3 layout, JJ Johnston’s HO layout, and many more! Open Houses are scheduled separately and include: Tom Enloe’s HO layout on Saturday and Roy Cutler’s and Walt Huston’s N Scale layouts and more!

Operating Sessions are scheduled before, during and after the Convention and include Tom Enloe’s HO layout on Sunday and Roy Cutler’s N scale layout Friday evening.

Non-Railroad Tours and Events are also planned. There are many fine restaurants, entertainment, and shopping in the area. As always, see 4dpnr.com for complete information.

Friday morning’s PNR Annual Membership Meeting is open to all PNR members.

Saturday evening’s Banquet will be quite affordable and will feature as guest speaker John White on “The Inside Story on Developing Concrete Ties.” John was lead engineer in the development project. It begins at 7 PM.

And there’s loads of fun in-between. Hurry and register now so you don’t miss out! Go to 4dpnr.com, click on Cascadian International 2010 and follow the links. You can pay with Paypal or by mailing a check. For additional info or questions, contact Rob Jones, CI2010 Convention Chair, or Dennis Hill, 4D Superintendent, or any of the Committee members listed on the website.

This convention is for NMRA members only. You must be a member at the time of the Convention. So either sign up for regular membership or, if you haven’t been a member of the NMRA during the past two years, a RailPass will be included in your registration.

Convention or Meet

Seattle-North Clinic

Written by Al Lowe
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Bobj Berger / Photos by Bobj Berger

Our May Seattle-North Clinic required close attention from the roomful of attendees. Roger Ferris held the group’s attention with his detailed and enlightened history of model train development. This laid the groundwork for the remainder of his clinic about how to make your rolling stock dependable and compatible not only with your own rolling stock, but in being a responsible guest on other layouts. All of this from using common shake-the-box-kits to create quality rolling stock of which anyone would be proud, as well as working toward your AP qualifications. Great job, Roger, for this entertaining and informative clinic!

“Show & Tell” produced some interesting items we have not seen before including: a huge and fascinating scale model of a coupler brought in by Bob Keeney; Rob Jones continued to share his great collection of nifty N-scale items, this time with brass caboose and locos; Bob Rorabaugh unveiling his newly-designed train display cases which he now builds commercially; and CJ Riley, MMR completing the pilot model of a Sears & Roebuck mail order house laser kit that Jim Bainbridge designed and is preparing for production.

For the June clinic we had our Annual Layout Tour Field Trip, viewing a couple of layouts as well as a 1:1 scale railroad in Woodinville. Sadly, in the past we had partnered with the Metro Employees Historic Vehicle Association, which would provide us with one of their restored vintage buses, so everyone could travel together for conversation and announcements. But this can never be done again because the Federal Government gave money to Metro and some private bus companies complained that they were being cheated out of revenue (that our 501.c.3 can not afford to pay!). Now those old buses owned by the group cannot be used for things like this. Bummer, as the vintage bus was a big part of the allure of the tours.

Have a great summer, get some railfanning done, and get ready to attend the Cascadian International Convention in Lynnwood this September 15–18. But first, I hope to see you at the September 2, 2010 Seattle-North Clinic, where we’ll share our annual “What I Did With Trains This Summer” and other fun stuff! One story for sharing will be from our June Clinic outing.

Remember, we’ll meet at the Ronald United Methodist Church, just north of 175th and Hwy 99, on the west side, between the Cadillac dealer and Deseret Industries. We meet the first Thursday of each month, except July and August, in the lower level around 7 PM. We’ll be back with Roger and the MART; Chris with refreshments and “Show & Tell;” Jim with more door prizes; and Stu with the Video Library. As always: Be there or be an even-sided rectangle.

Seattle-North Clinic

Westside Local

Written by Al Lowe
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Marion Weston

The May 11 clinic in Bremerton saw 20 members and 3 guests in attendance. Steve Neupert presented “How to Create Small Bodies of Water on Your Layout.” Steve had models with different stages of detail so that we could see how things would look as we go along. It was very interesting.

Dan Weston won “Model of the Month” with a wooden bridge originally built by Ralph Wasmer, who died a few years ago. Dan has added ties and weathered rails. The bridge will be used on the branch line of the new layout for the Bremerton Northern Model Railroad Club.

Westside Local Clinic