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October Tacoma Clinic Report

Written 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 14th. 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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Tacoma Clinic

Tacoma Clinic Report, September 2016

Written by Dale Kraus
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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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Model Railroading and Home Maintenance

Written by Dale Kraus
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Dale Kraus

Sometimes things that you use to build your pike come in handy in the oddest ways. I’ve just finished fixing a coat tree that was knocked over, breaking out one of the slots that hold the legs in place. I needed some small brads to secure the splits while the glue dried, and was about to go searching a hardware store. Then the solution was found on my workbench: Atlas track nails. These little round head brads were the perfect size. Long enough to hold firmly and thin enough to avoid splitting the thin splits. Six of them did the job perfectly.

Ya never know what you may find on the ole workbench.

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Attacking the grade

Written by Dale Kraus
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Dale G. Kraus / Photo by Dale

Emerging from the first of two spiral tunnels and trailing a ballast train, the fireman of SDEV heavy 2-8-2 41 033 sands the flues as the engineer "grabs a handful" of throttle as he attacks the 2.7% grade at kilometer post 35.5 above Triberg.

Emerging from the first of two spiral tunnels and trailing a ballast train, the fireman of SDEV heavy 2-8-2 41 033 sands the flues as the engineer “grabs a handful” of throttle as he attacks the 2.7% grade at kilometer post 35.5 above Triberg.

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Picture Captions

Written by Dale Kraus
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Often a well-worded descriptive caption can turn a simple “record shot” photograph into a dynamic, interesting picture. In a still picture movement, effort, and sense of direction can be implied, creating an impression of time and purpose.

As an example, the attached picture is a rather bland shot of an electric locomotive emerging from a tunnel. With the caption, however, it becomes a much more captivating record of a train struggling to overcome a mountain grade.

SDEV in southeastern Schwabia

With the cooling blowers for its twin 26-pole motors screaming and the ammeters in the red, SDEV electric E68 046 is using all of the available 1250Kw to drag a freight up the 2.7% grade on the western approach to Triberg in southeastern Schwabia. There it will pause to cool the hot traction motors before making the final winding assault on “Das Teufelberg.” (The Devil’s Hill.) Click on photo for full picture.

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