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Mt Vernon and Skagit Valley / Whidbey Island Joint Clinic

By Al Carter

SECOND ANNUAL JOINT CLINIC – April 14, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

All are invited to Mount Vernon on April 14 for the second annual joint program of the Skagit Valley / Whidbey Island and the Mount Vernon clinics.  Rather than having an agenda of set clinics throughout the day, the format we employ is to have several tables set up with chairs around it, with a “clinician” actively working on a subject, demonstrating techniques, answering questions, etc.  This is sort of an “up close” format, and in some cases, attendees may get to try certain techniques themselves.

Also, we will have a “swap area” where people can bring items for sale/trade/free.  We did this last year and it was hugely successful.  No charge for table rent, as we are not looking to commercialize this.  You must put your name and price on each item.  You do not have to stand by your table; you should be easily able to find the owner of something if you are interested in it.

The location for this event is again at the Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland Street, Mount Vernon This is easily accessed from the Kincaid Street exit off of I-5.  West on Kincaid Street to Cleveland, and turn left (south) and go several blocks to the senior center on your right.

Note:  access is only through the rear door – the front door must remain locked.

Doors open at 9:00. Come in, have a cup of coffee and chat with old friends before the morning session begins!

No lunch is provided – you are on your own.  There is one “walk up” burger joint a few blocks away; otherwise, eating places are a mile or so north in Mount Vernon.  Or, bring your brown bag lunch – an eating area is provided.

Below is a list of “clinicians” and their subjects.  Most of these will either be morning or afternoon sessions, although some may continue from the morning into the afternoon session.   Schedule subject to revision.

Morning Session, 10-12 am:

  • Tom Buckingham – General layout construction, mounting Tortoise switch machines from above, joining Masonite, bending Micro Engineering flex track, layout lighting using LED’s–strip and flood.
  • Alan Murray – Precision wood construction techniques
  • Rich Blake – Hand laid track technique and servo control installation for turnout
  • Tom Hawkins, Scenery Methods with Ground Goop

Afternoon Session, 1-3 pm:

  • Cliff Aaker, Rocks and Roads
  • Al Carter – Building Hydrocal Structures
  • Mark Malmkar, Electrical Details for Structures
  • Ted Becker – Decoder Pro, Locomotive programming, Arduino.

This is a very informal get together with some outstanding modelers sharing their talents, techniques, and secrets.  We would love to have you join us!

If you have a topic that you would like to demonstrate, please contact Ted Becker (rail.bird@att.net).  It is not too late to add someone – we can set up more tables.  Remember, though, that these are not traditional “classroom” type of clinics, but more casual, live demonstrations of various techniques.

Al Carter

Mt Vernon Clinic September 2017

by John O’Connell

The September Mt Vernon NMRA Clinic was held at 7:00 on the 14th at the Mt Vernon Senior Center. Ted Becker opened the Clinic and welcomed 13 attendees. It seems summer travels are still not completed.

Announcements

October 7, 8 Lynden Swap Meet, Northwest WA Fairgrounds Saturday 9-5, Sun 10-4
October 12, Mt Vernon Clinic – Mark Malmkar, “Passenger Train Consists”
October 14, 15, Chehalis Swap Meet
October 14, 15, Chilliwack, BC Swap Meet
October 21, 4th Division Make & Take, Mt Vernon Senior Center
November 9, Mt Vernon Clinic – Ted Becker, “Bridges”
November 11, 12, Vancouver Train Expo 2017, Pacific National Exhibition Forum
November 14, Boeing Employees Swap Meet, Kent
December 14, Mt Vernon- Mini Clinics, TBA

Ted distributed a questionnaire intended to elicit areas of interest for future Clinics. A digital version will be distributed for those not able to attend tonight’s Clinic.

Tool Time

Ted shared two items of interest:
The first, a Pantograph which we all know is an instrument for copying a drawing or plan on a different scale by a system of hinged and jointed rods. Ever a railroad connection, the second definition is a jointed framework conveying an electric current to a motor from an overhead wire. Ted’s was the former.

Ted’s Pantograph

Ted’s second device was a tool for uncoupling cars in tight spaces.

Ted’s Uncoupler

What I did Last Summer

Ted, Al Carter, Tom Buckingham, Ray Vaughn, Nick Muff, Paul Koren, Mike O’Brien and Marty Day all shared what kept them busy during off season. Many brought the fruit of their efforts

Previews

Ted introduced his November Clinic topic, Bridges and briefly showed the evolution of crossing obstacles from fallen tree trunks to marvels of civil engineering. This will be very interesting!

John O’Connell introduced a brief monthly segment in which he will share his progress and challenges as he builds a Diorama for display at home.

Mike O’Brien introduced “Forest Floors,” making forest floor scatters from natural materials, which he’ll do as a clinic in December.

******************************************
This is my last year as editor of the Newsletter and the Clinic Report and will pass the baton after the May Clinic. Roger Johnson’s organization and documentation of the process has made this very easy for me and I will pass it all off. Please let Ted or myself know if you would be interested. Painful to remind you of the obvious: No volunteer for editor: no Newsletter or Clinic Report.

 

Mt Vernon Clinic Report – March 2017

By John O’Connell   Photos:  Al Carter, Paul Koren, Bonnie Hollingsworth

March 9, 2017, Mt Vernon Senior Center

Ted Becker opened the Clinic with 14 attendees. The theme of this month’s clinic is Model Madness and as pictures later will attest it was a success despite light attendance.

Announcements

After the usual housekeeping business, Ted announced some upcoming events:

The April Clinic, April 13, will focus on the mini-clinics held over from December Clinic that had to be canceled due to weather. So far we are looking forward to:

Roger Johnson: Modeling blackberries.

Bonnie Hollingsworth: Update on models for the Skykomish Substation

Nick Muff: Using metal foil on structures

And, a Mystery Mini-Clinic.

The May Clinic is on Saturday, May 13th! There will not be a regular Thursday night Clinic in May. See Ted’s announcement of the details on this all day affair, which is a joint effort with the Skagit Valley / Whidbey Island Clinic. There will be multiple demonstrations (some with hands on opportunities), swap tables, work space for you to bring a project and work on it there. What a great way to wrap up the 2016 / ’17 Clinic year.

June 7-10     Pacific Northwest Region Convention, Spokane. Click here for details.

DPM Kit Build

Hey! These are coming together! Take a look:

Al Carter turned the respectable HO Walker Building (20400) into one of the seediest surviving businesses in town.

Check out all the effort and detailing he added to make this so spectacular in the Appendix at the end of this Report.

 

Paul Koren’s HO Walker Building (20400) is still in progress.He turned the back of the building into the front with a nondescript entrance to the bar with ubiquitous East coast glass block lighting. The cornice has been removed, Tichy doors and windows were substituted for the kit versions, and a basement with windows added. Paul promises a handrail will be added to the scratch built entrance steps. Finishing touches will include window glass and treatment, gutters, and, eventually, interior lighting.

Note that Al’s and Paul’s models are both based on the same DPM kit, the HO Walker Building (20400).

Ron Nelson’s Goodfellows Hall began life as DPM’s N scale Erik’s Emporium (51400) and is looking very good with the window treatment and tar water proofing on the roof.

Left: Mike O’Brien’s N Reed’s Book Store (51500) features interior lighting using a new lighting product, Just Plug, from Woodland Scenic. Right: Roger Johnson’s N Corner Turret Building (51300) features a copper clad turret and a roofing project in progress.

 

Bonnie Hollingsworth is building Kirsten’s Corner Café, O Scale (80200) as Luke’s Diner. She said the walls in this resin kit were warped and she’s still working to correct.

Bonnie is using photos to add realism to the interior.

 

Tool Time

Al Carter brought this Pakistani Finger Saver from Micro Mark. This 6” knob-held, beveled edge stainless steel straight edge makes scribing or cutting styrene or other material much safer. Also available in 12”, click here to see them on Micro Mark’s site.

 

Brian Jacobs brought this Spray Brush Manifold which allows him to have several brushes active at once.

Show and Tell

Al Carter brought his Kelso Millworks to illustrate a challenge. It is American Model Builders “Dabler Millworks” kit that he built about 15 years ago, and named after his friend and Tabooma County Railway crew member Jerry Kelso (now deceased).  The “issue” Al had was placement of the building on his current layout because the mill has some really neat features on all four sides, and the location he had earmarked for it only showed two sides.  Al continues, ”So I added a small peninsula to the layout bench work so the mill could be placed on a diagonal showing off all four sides.  A good excuse to expand the railroad, no?”

Original placement of the Kelso Mill, but only two sides are visible.

Al added a peninsula to his bench work.

Positioned prominently on the peninsula, the mill will be visible on all four sides! Al’s message: “Don’t be constrained… if you need to, just build more bench work!”

 

My Workspace

Al Carter shared his work space story with us:

“Moving from a home with a layout room and a separate 10×14 work space/shop area to a much smaller combined layout/workbench area has caused me to really be creative in space utilization.  My work area is about 4×7, with a swivel chair between two workbenches – a “main” one and a second for painting/weathering.  I’ve made extensive use of roll around drawer units, and also found some nifty stamped steel 1″ deep drawers (Lee Valley/Veritas) that are great for small tools right under my workbenches.  Larger tools, such as soldering equipment and motor tools and the like are stored on a rolling cart kept under the work bench.  Everything under the layout is on wheels for easy access.”

Main modeling station

Painting and weathering station

A vast collection of wheeled drawers add efficient organization and orderliness to a tight space.

There seems to be just enough extra room for a TV and a DVR. No harm watching an inning or two while waiting for the glue to dry.

 

The Program

March Modelness, a Hands-on Working Session. Quite a few brought projects to work on along with tools and materials.

I was so busy checking out MMR Nick Muff’s traveling storage box, I almost missed the project he is working on. It is Walther’s Cornerstone HO Miss Bettie’s Diner (933-2909). The Rolykit rolls up on itself into nine sealed compartments… perfect for taking a project along while travelling.

 

You’ve already seen Paul’s Bar and Hotel up close. No wonder he has a calm sense of satisfaction.

Brian Jacobs brought his work space as well his project, Harrison’s Hardware, O Scale PF5891.

 

If this was anyone but Mike O’Brien, we might be concerned what he’s wiring up here.

 

Ted Becker is assembling a fire escape. Note the raised work surface that brings the project closer to eye level and saves the back.

Regarding the fire escape, Ted commented, ”I found this very difficult as there is little to hold the parts together.”

 

 

Appendix

DPM Kit #20400 Walker Building – Al Carter – 3/5/2017

General:
Primed with red/brown primer
Mortar = Baking Powder
Weathering = Pan Pastels

Front: 
Sign = Scribed wood, stained w/Prismacolor markers, then dry brushed white.
Lettering = ½” alphabet stencil; red colored pencil
White Peeling Paint (3rd floor) = Typewriter correction paper burnished onto surface
Storefront = Smalltown USA w/ styrene filler strips
Burglar Bars = Gold Medal Models (brass)
Venetian Blinds = Builders in Scale
Signs = Blair Line styrene signs

Interior:
Window Displays with tuba, saxophone, clarinet, flute, TV, radio, misc.
Left side:             Covered Stairwell = Bar Mills kit, reinforced
Covered Stairwell corrugated roofing = thin (tissue) paper copy of “texture” from web

Back:
Burglar Bars = Tichy casting
Electric Masthead = metal casting
Electric Conduit = phosphor bronze wire
Electric Meter = metal casting
Downspouts = scratch built from styrene

Right side:
Windows Blanked Out = cement block paper (Micro Mark)
Stair Risers = styrene casting (unknown origin)
Stucco (upper) = Model Railstuff stucco
Stucco (lower) = Lightweight spackle

Roof:
Tarpaper = Builders In Scale roofing paper
Chimney = Styrene (unknown origin)
Roof Access Hatch = Styrene
Vent Pipe = Ngineering tubing

 

Mt Vernon Clinic Report – February 2017

by Al Carter, Bob Stafford and John O’Connell

Ex-Great Northern Station, Bellingham

Nineteen hearty souls braved the worst weather of the winter to attend the Clinic. Ted Becker opened the meeting by welcoming our honored guest, Bob Stafford.

Announcements

The idea of having a Saturday clinic in May was suggested and the proposal was well received. This would be a joint operation with our sister clinic in Oak Harbor. Three possible formats were discussed and Multiple Demonstrations won hands down, or I should say hands up. Several people volunteered to do demonstrations. Details to follow, but reserve the day.

Feb 25/26          United Northwest Model RR Club Swap Meet, Monroe. Click here.
Mar 9                  Mt Vernon Clinic, Bring a project, materials, and tools and work on it and get your questions answered by the local experts. Well, not experts, but experienced modelers……
Apr 13                 Mt Vernon Clinic, Mini-Clinics. Watch this space for details.
May 11                No Thursday evening Clinic!
May 13                Multiple Demonstration, all day event at the Mt Vernon Senior Center. Details coming soon.
Jun 7-10              Pacific Northwest Region Convention, Spokane. Click here for details.

Read More

Mt Vernon Clinic Report January 2017

By John O’Connell

When Ted Becker opened the Clinic, we had 33 in attendance including two guests, Chuck Tracey and Ron Gutzmer and first timer, Steve Pickens. Welcome all!

Upcoming Events and Clinics

February 9: Bob Stafford, Retired BNSF Trainmaster will speak on Operations in Bellingham

February 25, 26:   United North West Club’s Train Show, Monroe – http://www.unwclub.org/unwshow.html

March 9: Hands on Working Session

April 13:  Mini-Clinics

May 11:  TBD

Kit Build

Mike O’Brien was pleased to note that we have 13 kits in progress as evidenced by their builders bringing their projects and putting them on display. A great start!

A sample of DPM kits in progress

Read More

Mt Vernon Clinic Newsletter January 2017

by John O’Connell

When: 7 PM, Thursday, January 12
Where: Mount Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland Street, Mt Vernon, WA
Click Here for map & directions

The Program

Master Model Railroader Nick Muff will present “It’s All in the Details.” In Nick’s words, a model railroad can be viewed as a work of art: first, the broad strokes and the background, then, the middle ground and foreground, and finally, it’s time to paint in the fine details. It’s these fine details that make the whole art piece come alive. Adding important final touches to your model railroad scene will take realism to the next level.

Tool Time, Show and Tell and the Table in the Back

If you’ve found a tool or gadget especially helpful, bring it in and share it with the Clinic. If you’ve been working on a project, bring it in as well. If in photo form, be sure and let Ted know so he can have the laptop fired up.

We also encourage folks to bring along items for sale or swap, or even “freebies” – we’ll have a table for those items in the back.

Read More

Mt Vernon NMRA Clinic Report – November 2016

by John O’Connell, Photos by Ted Becker and John O’Connell

Ted Becker opened the Clinic with seventeen in attendance including guests David and Paulette Sitzenstock of Ferndale and Mark and Chris Malmkar from Oak Harbor. During the announcements, Ted asked how many in attendance joined the NMRA due to their participation in the Mt Vernon Clinic. The answer: Six!

Upcoming Programs and Events

December 8 – Mini-Clinics, a virtual dim sum of railroad and modeling topics in bite size doses, including Al Carter, “Yet Another Way to Make  Streets  and Roads;” John O’Connell, “Catenary Poles.” There is still room on the agenda so let Ted know if you have a 10-15 minute topic.

January 12Nick Muff, “It’s All in the Details,” a clinic on how to add those important final touches to your model scene that take realism to the next level.

February 9Bob Stafford, Retired BNSF Trainmaster will speak on Operations on the Bellingham Sub.

Read More

Mt Vernon October 2016 Clinic Report

by John O’Connell, Photos by Rich Blake, John O’Connell

Thursday, October 13, Mt Vernon Senior Center

Despite the weather, we had a full house for this much anticipated Clinic. Ted Becker kicked off the evening with introductions: first time guest John Filippone and returnees Tim Silva and Jim Tartas.

Kit Build

Mike O’Brien reported that 25 had signed up for the Kit Build and he is ready to distribute the kits to the clinic members. It’s not too late if you haven’t signed up and chosen a kit. Let Mike at sales@xtrainsmodeltrains.com know and he can help you find the right kit. Plan to bring your in-progress project each month for Show and Tell.

Al Carter shared an important tip for first time builders: due to the molding process, building corners are not always square so it’s vital to “square” the edges on a flat surface, e.g. plate glass with adhesive-backed sand paper. Roger Johnson put together a compendium of helpful tips that he sent out to the distribution list. It is included in the Appendix at the end of this report. Roger also shared a YouTube video on building DPM kits. Find that by clicking here.

Read More