Author: Russ Segner

We meet again online June 15 at 7PM.

Our meeting will feature A discussion on benchwork ideas and practices designed to encourage us all to build better and more quickly. Bring your experiences and suggestions to share, including some photos.

We will start, however with “A time to remember JJ Johnston, one of our best”. Take some time to remember and relate to us some of your memories of JJ. The family has not yet announced plans for a formal Celebration of JJ. That information will be shared as soon as it is available.

If you are not on our list to receive the link to the meeting, contact me at russseg@gmail.com.

Russ

Russ Segner

JJ Johnston passed away on Friday, May 26 at his home in Bellevue with his wife, Patt, at his bedside. JJ was a friend to many of us in the Fourth Division, a leader and fine model builder. He served many years as the leader of the Eastside Clinic and built it into one of our best attended. He was honored in 2011 with our Golden Grab Iron Award. He had a high regard and respect for his fellow modelers, many of whom became valued friends over the years.

We will remember his great smile, sense of humor and positive attitude. I never heard a cross word from him. We also remember his fine HO layout, The Puget Sound Iron Goat Railway. It was covered with detailed structures and humorous scenes, many of which told a story of their own. He was author of several articles in the Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette, had a cover on the Model Railroad Craftsman magazine and a DVD of his layout done by Trackside Model Railroading.

JJ was well known and respected for his work for over 30 years as a real estate professional. JJ was active as an instructor for the Association of Realtors and a member of the Master Builders. He handled the sale and acquisition of our homes twice for my wife, Susan, and me. He brokered several real estate investments for us as well.

He was a valued friend and good companion as we traveled together to model railroad conventions, especially to Colorado as I tried to lure him into narrow gauge.

He is missed.

Al Lowe has a short video tour of JJ’s layout on his YouTube channel here:

Most of you know JJ Johnston who led our Eastside Clinic for many years. JJ is now home in hospice care due to some long-standing health issues. Let’s send him some cards. If you don’t have his address, let me know.

Russ Segner
206 200 2211
russseg@gmail.com

There will not be a session this month. Instead, I am urging all 4D members to take a look at some of the recorded sessions from Off the Beaten Track, especially the May 9 session. That session included a presentation on DCC by George Bogatiuk of SoundTraxx. George is extremely helpful in understanding how DCC works, especially the CV’s.

Here is the link:
Click here to view our most recent sessions. This link will take you to a New YouTube channel “Narrow Gauge Off the Beaten Track”. There are clinics, vendors and layouts to view.

Our next Eastside session will be a discussion of benchwork; Basics like L Girder, Modules, Track height, Helixes, Support for backdrops, etc.

If you want to participate in our Eastside session, be sure you are on our email list by contacting Doug Oldenburg at douglas.oldenburg@yahoo.com

Russ Segner, russseg@gmail.com

Several did not get the notice and link for our last meeting. Doug Oldenburg has volunteered to help by updating the list and maintaining it. His email is douglas.oldenburg@yahoo.com

Please submit your email information to him directly. Tell others you know about our meetings held on the third Thursday of each month. If you have a suggestion for a topic to discuss or if you want to present, let me know.

Our next meeting will discuss BENCHWORK.

Russ

russseg@gmail.com

We will continue our discussion of various ways to handle backdrops and blend them into the foreground. We will also look at some of the framing techniques used by Brian Ellerby and others to create view blocks.

Join us at 7PM next Thursday. The link will be sent to all who have joined us before and are on our mailing list. If you want to be included, please email me at russseg@gmail.com

Russ

Here is the link to the March 16 Eastside Clinic. The meeting lasted a little over 90 minutes. The video has not been edited. It includes specific presentations from Lee Marsh, Terry Dillon, Jake Swaney, Larry Sloan and others. There is lots of chatter just like a live clinic, so it’s worth taking some time to enjoy.

https://1drv.ms/v/s!AhBTSQSpn0dnibR2XHu7VUtE7TSqGw?e=z4BHGB

Russ

Scenery Solutions – How to Handle Difficult Areas

We will follow our discussions of backdrops with various solutions many of us have used to deal with problem areas of our layouts. If you want to share ideas, contact me and be prepared to illustrate your solution with a couple of slides.

If you are not a regular attendee of our Eastside Clinic and would like to be added to the regular invitee list for the link, contact me at:
russseg@gmail.com

For security reasons, we require everyone to sign in with their real name, no clever nick names, please.

Russ

206 200 2211

Our discussion of Scenery and backdrops continues with at least two new panelists.
Terry Dillon will describe some work on hillsides and a tunnel entrance. Terry has a S scale standard gauge layout with a Pennsy theme,

Jake Swaney will share “ 3D Backdrops For narrow Shelves”

Join us for some practical ways to solve scenery isssus. Bring your suggestions and share your solutions.

Email me if you did not get the link. russseg@gmail.com

Russ Segner 206 200 2211

Scenery Solutions – How to Handle Difficult Areas

We will follow our discussions of backdrops with various solutions many of us have used to deal with problem areas of our layouts. If you want to share ideas, contact me and be prepared to illustrate your solution with a couple of slides.

If you are not a regular attendee of our Eastside Clinic and would like to be added to the regular invitee list for the link, contact me at:
russseg@gmail.com

For security reasons, we require everyone to sign in with their real name, no clever nick names, please.

Russ

206 200 2211