Author: Russ Segner

By Russ Segner

Why I signed up several years ago to serve as Superintendent.

Serving as your 4D Superintendent is a privilege. I get to act on behalf of all members in trying to enhance the experience of model railroading. So, I have tried to meet as many members as possible, ask them what their interests in the hobby are and what skills they were interested in sharing. I have learned a lot that helps me in my modeling and I am constantly surprised and challenged to do better in my model building. There are a lot of you out there who do share and teach others.

Recruiting remains the biggest challenge, trying to get others to share experience and expertise. Many have been willing to do so. That’s why we have such a successful schedule of local clinics and modular layouts. There are also very strong regional efforts such as Oly-Ops and the annual Tacoma Layout Tours.

The benefits to me include working with you and others on the Board and at the events such as MOHAI and Pacific Science Center shows. So, I thank all of you who do give time to the hobby through 4D activities.

Officers of 4D such as Superintendent are elected every two years. Several years ago, I ran successfully for Assistant Superintendent and then became Superintendent. After many years now, I became concerned that others might want to put their views forward and lead us to greater success. That’s why I said I would like to step away to give someone else the opportunity. So, I have recommended to the Board that we will extend the nominating period one more month to see.

If you want to serve or nominate someone else, contact Lisa Murray, Nominating Committee Chair, mattinata@outlook.com.

Thanks for reading.

Russ

George Bogatiuk, Director of Sales and Support for Soundtraxx will be at the Northwest Railway Archives in Burien this Sunday evening for a special presentation and clinic on Soundtraxx decoders.

Bring all your questions about installations and programing decoders for your specific locomotives.

The meeting will start at 6:30 at the Archives located at:

425 SW 153^rd St

Burien, WA

For more information or questions, contact me at:

russseg@gmail.com

206 200 2211

George Bogatiuk, in charge of Sales and Support for Soundtraxx will be at Eastside Trains In Kirkland on Thursday from 4p to close.

He will have a vendor table at the Monroe Show Saturday from 10a-5p and Sunday 10a-4p. He will be giving a clinic on Saturday morning at 10:45 “Introduction to Tsunami2 and setup.” Things the decoder can do for you and why you want it.

He will also give a clinic Sunday evening at 6:30 at the Pacific Northwest Railway Archives in Burien.  That address is:

425 SW 153rd St.

Burien, WA

Please email me if you are interested.  

Russ Segner

206 200 2211

russseg@gmail.com 

The February 2020 Eastside Get Together Clinic will meet WEDNESDAY, February 19, 2020. Please note that the third Wednesday is our new meeting day going forward until the June 2020 clinic.

The Clinic will meet at the:
Redmond Community Center at Marymoor Village
6505 176TH AVE NE, Rm. 202
REDMOND WA 98052-4930

Doors open at 7:00 PM and meeting starts promptly at 7:15 PM

Since last month’s clinic was cancelled due to snow, let’s start off the first clinic of the New Year by bringing our best models, projects and photos to the clinic for the new “Bring, Show and Brag” portion of the clinic and show off what we’ve been up to in our train rooms so far this winter! Be prepared to talk to the group for a couple of minutes about the models or photos that you brought to show. The results from our voting have been tabulated for the “Mini Clinic Event” topics. The top four most voted for topics are:
• Wiring for DCC, Bus and feeder wires, Accessories
• Servo switch machines
• Fine-tuning and maintaining locos
• Weathering rolling stock and/or engines

Although I already have a volunteer for the DCC clinic, at this point, I still need three more volunteers to step forward for the other three topics.

This month’s program will be presented by Nick Muff and Al Carter from Mt. Vernon, WA. They will present their outstanding clinic on “Decaling”. I’m sure we’ve all, at one point or another, applied decals to our models. Sometimes with less than desired results. So, come to Wednesday’s clinic and learn about different techniques for applying decals of different types to various types of surfaces. This promises to be a very informative and interesting clinic.
We will also have refreshments and snacks available as always.
See you there!!
By Alex Brikoff, 02/12/2020

Please bring your dioramas to the Boeing Swap Meet.  If they are not fully detailed, that’s ok. You will be able to take them home and can continue to work on them before the Science Center Show in January.

Please bring a 3×5 card telling something about it and your contact information. We will need to look at them by noon and you will be able to take them back by 2pm. I will have tables in the Gymnasium where they can be displayed.

Thanks for your efforts and thank you for sharing.

Russ
206 200 2211

Ken Liesse just posted this. Ken speaks for all of us in our appreciation of Gene Swanson

“It is with great sadness that I report the passing of my friend, Gene Swanson, MMR last Friday in Tacoma, WA. Gene was a fixture in 4D/PNR and had just won the President’s Award from the NMRA in June of this year. Gene ran the Tacoma Clinic for over two decades and was instrumental in building the popularity of that meeting. He was also a member of the Puget Sound Model Railroad Engineers and built several of the structures on the layout, mostly from scratch. Gene preferred to work in wood, but would “stoop” to plastic on occasion when necessary.

My own association with Gene began when I started attending the Tacoma Clinic. Gene’s welcoming nature brought me into the group and made me feel at home. His layout was the first I assessed for MMR and I was very happy to be on hand when he was awarded this honor. He also invited me to help out with a traveling museum exhibit, which culminated with me doing the figures and animals for a traveling display depicting how the railroads tamed the west that visited several museums around the country.

Ever a high school sports fan, Gene was very encouraging to my son, who was a budding high school sports photographer when they met. They formed a friendship of their own, and Gene ended up commissioning my son to do a photo book of Gene’s layout, which ended up with four separate printings.

Gene will be missed by all in 4D and PNR.”

Thanks, Ken.

I am aware of several who are building dioramas for display at the Boeing Swap Meet November 9. There is still time to get one ready. Rules are simple:

12″ by 24″  

Railroad theme

Any scale

Give it a try to show off some of your skills and challenge others to get those kits out of their boxes and built.

Questions? Contact me at 206 200 2211. Russ Segner