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The Footplate, January 2017

Written by Russ Segner
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Russ Segner, 4th Division Superintendent

This is the first issue of a monthly article I will be publishing about the activities inside our 4th Division. I hope you enjoy it.

We have just completed the Pacific Science Center Model Train Show. Before that, many participated in the Christmas show at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma, The Great American Train Show and last weekend the World’s Greatest Hobby Show in Puyallup. We are well into our operating season.

These shows are our major outreach to the public and, in the case of the Pacific Science Center Model Train Show, the source of our annual funding. Last year, we added support for one more modular group and funded a trailer for the OmNi-Rail modular group.

So what’s ahead? The Tacoma Layout Tour, the 4D Spring Meet (which includes our annual Division Meeting), Spokane Falls Express (SFX 2017, the PNR Convention in Spokane), the NMRA Annual Convention (in Orlando, Florida), the National Narrow Gauge Convention (which will be in Denver, Colorado this year) and all our local clinics including the new Burien Clinic at the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archives in Burien. Does that leave any time to model and work on our layouts? Well, from postings in the Grab Iron and on Facebook, many of us are doing a lot. Please keep sharing comments and photos.

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Superintendent’s Message

Eastside Get Together (Redmond) Clinic on Thu, Jan 19

Written by Russ Segner
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Russ Segner

Date: January 19, 2017
Time: 7 PM to 8:45 PM, doors open at 6:45
Where: Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center, 16600 NE 80th Street, Redmond, WA 98052

Click here for additional clinic information including a map. There will be coffee and doughnuts for all. Bring a model or project to share.

Presentation

Mark Allen will present a clinic on how to build model trees for dioramas and layouts. His On30 Diorama “Storm King” won Third Place for Modules at the recent NMRA Convention in Portland. He will demonstrate techniques and materials needed to make his convincing model scenes.

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Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

Burien Clinic (Formerly Eastside Get Together South in Renton) Now Has a Meeting Place In Burien

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Russ Segner

What used to be the Renton Clinic (also called Eastside Get Together South Clinic) for all of 2016 will now be the Burien Clinic. We have been invited to the home of the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archives. This will give us excellent space for 40 or more. There is good parking and we can use the room from 6:30 to 9:30 PM.

The first meeting will be Thursday, January 26 starting at 6:30 PM. All the subsequent meetings are set for the fourth Thursday of each month and they will start at 6:30. The address is 425 SW 153rd St, Burien, WA, 98166. Click here for additional clinic information including a map.

Our first clinic in Burien will feature Paul Vaughn demonstrating how he kit-bashes plastic cars to get exactly what you want when a specific car is not commercially made. Paul is not afraid to cut up a new car kit to make something else. Paul has made many interesting Sn3 cars out of HO kits. He will present methods to accomplish projects by making new castings out of cut up parts and integrating weights within the castings.

We will also have a presentation by Gary Tarbox, Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archives to help us get acquainted with the facilities and work at the Archives.

Bring models, finished or under construction!

Burien Clinic

Redmond Clinic (Eastside Get Together North) on Thursday, Dec 15th

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Russ Segner

We all like surprises, well, most of us do. So, join us this Thursday, Dec 15th at the Eastside Get Together Clinic in Redmond for our annual “Gift Exchange”.

The meeting begins at 7:00 PM, the location is the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center at 16600 NE 80th St, Redmond, WA 98052. Additional details including a map can be viewed by clicking here.

Bring a wrapped item, funny or otherwise, worth less than $10. Or, dig into your stash of unbuilt kits and/or parts. Mark on the package what scale is appropriate. The packages are put in a pile on the table at the front of the room. We draw names to see who goes next and so on until everyone has received a mystery “gift”. The trick is that once you have yours, the next names can take it from you instead of taking one from the pile. If yours is taken, you get to choose another one. Confused? We will explain the rules at the meeting. It turns out to be lots of fun and lots of laughs. And, a few of us end up with some neat things we can actually use.

Refreshments as usual. Bring a model to display. Winner goes first for the “Gift” drawing.

Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

Eastside Get Together South (Renton) Clinic on Tue, Nov 22

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Russ Segner

The next meeting of the Renton (Eastside Get Together South) Clinic will be Tue, November 22 at the Renton Highlands Library (versus the usual Thursday, due to the Thanksgiving holiday). The evening begins at 6:30 PM with getting acquainted, with the presentation starting at 7 pm or so. Parking is under the library. Additional details including a map can be viewed by clicking here.

Our program will feature David Yadock. His HO scale layout, the “Dry Gulch & Western”, is very large and reminiscent of John Allen’s Gorre & Daphetid. David says “The presentation will explain techniques I use on my layout to hide unwanted items as well as making the layout room appear larger. I will also discuss how sections of the layout can be used for two purposes. Through the use of photos I will show some techniques that have worked on my layout and some that have failed. It should be of interest for both the experienced modeler as well as the newbie modeler.”

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Burien Clinic

Redmond Clinic (Eastside Get Together North) this Thursday, Nov 17

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Russ Segner

Our regular meeting will be held at the Redmond Old Schoolhouse Community Center on Thursday, Nov 17th. We will meet at 7:00 PM. Additional details including a map can be viewed by clicking here.

A new feature for future clinics will be announced by Alex Brikoff (Rail Photo of the Month contest – click here to view details).

I will be giving the presentation, titled “Elements of Layout Design”. This will be a discussion of examples based on your interests in theme, scenery, operation, and time period.

Bring a model to share. As usual, CJ will have refreshments for us.

Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

Eastside Get Together South (Renton) Clinic is October 27

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Russ Segner

We return to Renton Highland Library Thursday, October 27 at 6:30 PM for the Eastside Get Together South (Renton) Clinic. The library is located at 2801 NE 10th St, Renton, WA 98056. Parking is in the garage below the library. Additional information including a map can be viewed by clicking here.

We will discuss the upcoming Boeing Employees Model Railroad Club Swap Meet and plans for the Pacific Science Center Model Train Show.

Bring a model or project you are working on. For instance, I am working on a new mine structure for my layout. It will be a wooden bunker based on a photograph from old Newcastle, WA. This will be an opportunity to meet some new model railroaders and exchange ideas.

I can be contacted at russseg@gmail.com or 206-200-2211.

Burien Clinic

Eastside Get Together North (Redmond) Clinic is October 20

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Russ Segner

Coal Creek Lumber Mill on Russ Segner's Sn3 layout. It is scratchbuilt with stripwood.

Coal Creek Lumber Mill on Russ Segner’s Sn3 layout. It is scratchbuilt using stripwood.

Our next Eastside Get Together North – Redmond – Clinic will be October 20th at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center, 16600 NE 80th Street, Redmond, WA 98052. The meeting starts at 7:00 PM. Additional information including a map is available by clicking here.

  • Meet modelers from the eastside area (and others who drive from farther away).
  • Share ideas.
  • Show your model projects.

The Clinic presentation will be a discussion of scratch building with stripwood, led by me (Russ Segner). Bring your questions and suggestions on techniques, weathering, and lighting.

Coffee and pastries will be available. See you there.

Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

Eastside Layout Tour on October 1

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Russ Segner

On Saturday, October 1st from 1 to 5 PM is a wonderful opportunity to visit four fine layouts located about half an hour apart in Fife, Auburn, Kent, and Bellevue along the I-405 corridor and Kent / Auburn / Puyallup valley area. Take advantage of this chance to meet some great model railroaders and see how they have designed, built, and operate their layouts.

(Editor’s Note: The layouts are listed in south to north order. Two of the listings below have links to dedicated layout web pages, and the others have links to web pages with pictures of the layout.)

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Layout Tour

Eastside Get Together South (Renton) Clinic on Sep 29

Written by Russ Segner
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Russ Segner

The next Eastside Get Together South (Renton) Clinic will be in Renton at the Renton Highlands Library on Thursday the 29th (note – we’re meeting on the fifth Thursday of the month instead of the usual fourth). This is our first meeting of the clinic season and I am hoping that we have a good turnout. Our program will be “3D Printing” presented by Chip Van Gilder. Learn about this new and creative way to build that special model.

The evening begins at 6:30 with getting acquainted. Share some coffee and pastries and meet someone new. Bring a model to share. Parking is under the library. One of the nearby streets is under construction, so be careful finding your way. Additional details including an address and map are available by clicking here.

I hope to see you there.

Burien Clinic