Author: Russ Segner

Russ Segner

The November 13 swap meet last Saturday was great for many reasons:

• We met so many old friends face-to-face even if we didn’t recognize each other at first behind the masks.
• Many attendees got some real bargains.
• Many others freed up space on their layouts or in their garages.
• The 4th Division got a nice cash infusion from sales of donated items.

We are particularly grateful to Clay Hanson and the estate of Mike Murray for many donated items.

Thanks to so many of our members who helped set up and man our sales tables:

• Ed Ives
• Jack Klapwyk
• Dan Peters
• Wayne Grinnell
• Marc Sachnoff
• Mike Donnelly
• Al Lowe
• Dennis Terpstra
• Robin Peel
• Roger Nulton
• Burr Stewart

It was great meeting so many in person again. AND, there’s lots of great bargains left over. I’ll post some lists of items for members to come by and bid on over the next weeks. Watch for lists in future Grab Irons.

There are some large items left from the Murray estate donated to the 4th Division. These include lumber, a large desk, ladders, portable work bench and the spray booth. If interested, contact me as soon as possible. There are photos of the lumber and some other items in the garage and a photo of the desk still in the train room.

Here is a link to photos of the spray booth:

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AhBTSQSpn0dniYQ0iZJ83aR6odKDrg?e=uomLnM

Russ 206 200 2211

The 4th Division will have tables at the BOEING SWAP MEET November 13 at the Kent Commons. Several items available are donations from local members who have taken their layouts down. Some items are unusual and should go for significant prices. These include an IWATA air compressor, a UNIMAT lathe and several quality airbrushes from AZTEK, BINKS and PASCHE.

The Hi-Railers will have several interesting items. Most of the items I am bringing are HO or applicable to any scale, scenery materials for instance include a number of rolls of printed backdrops. A great amount of painting supplies will be available.

Half of the money raised from the estate of Michael Murray items will be a donation to the 4th Division.

If you would to see the IWATA compressor or the UNIMAT before the Swap Meet, contact me directly at 206 200 2211 or by email at russseg@gmail.com.

Russ

The local model railroad scene is finally beginning to open.  Already, the Lynden and Maple Valley shows have been held and the HO Free-Mo group led by Larry Sloan will be set up at the Tacoma Holiday Food & Gift Festival in the Tacoma Dome starting October 21 through 24.  These guys know how to pick a venue.

Our local clinics are now operational again, although most are still virtual.  Check the Grab Iron for details on each clinic.

Next up is the Boeing Swap Meet in Kent November 13.  We will have a 4^th Division table selling items donated to 4^th Division over the last year.  There will be bargains galore, so come and collect more stuff to stash for future model building. Ed Ives is leading that effort.  I will be there and any of you who can are invited to join us for a while to greet people and promote the 4^th Division.

By the way, Clay Hansen’s layout was picked up by a newer member who will restore it to operation in his home in Tacoma.

We will have at least two modular layouts at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma for the Annual Model Train Festival December 17, through January 2, 2022.

There is no word yet on a possible show in 2022 at the Pacific Science Center or at Monroe.  Stay tuned.

I want to also bring to your attention the scheduled National Narrow Gauge Convention  September 1-4, 2022 at the Murano Hotel in Tacoma.  The 4^th Division is participating.  Clinics will be lead by local and national presenters. Manufacturers from all over the US and Canada will be there. So, you can meet model railroaders and suppliers seldom available locally.

In addition, there will be a contest room with classic work by some of the best modelers anywhere. It will be an opportunity for you to put your best work on display. Last, there will be self guided tours of over 30 local layouts in several scales and gauges.

Check out the website at www.seattlenngc.com

If you are interested in getting involved, please let me know.

Russ Segner, 4D Superintendent

Long time 4D member Clay Hanson is no longer able to work with his layout and needs to have it removed from the home. It is a well built HO 5.5 foot by 10 foot layout constructed to move. Over 100 cars and a dozen locomotives (many DCC equipped) are included. The layout and all the equipment are available and free to anyone who will take the entire collection.

Here is a link to a PDF with photos of what is included.

https://1drv.ms/b/s!AhBTSQSpn0dniP4HwMAWgBmVLDJiHw?e=ZlbRq2

Contact me if you have questions.
Russ Segner – russseg@gmail.com 206 200 2211

The website for the Seattle 2022 National Narrow Gauge Convention, to be held in Tacoma, WA next September 1-4, is now live at seattlenngc.com. If you haven’t done so already, take a look. We plan to have a very full program of layouts, vendors and clinics. The 4th Division is participating in a big way.

I am the Clinics Coordinator. So here is a chance for you to present a clinic on a national stage. Not a narrow gauge modeler? Well, structures, trees, people and water work for any gauge and some of our members here are outstanding modelers.

Are you interested in presenting a clinic? Please let me know. I am available to chat online most anytime to answer any questions.

Russ Segner
russseg@gmail.com

We will have an online session this Saturday at 1000 to discuss how to make our meetings better. We will talk about how to prepare a presentation and how to present it.

Even if you are already comfortable with presenting, join us to share your experience. We also want suggestions on future topics for clinics and general meetings.

This meeting is for all members, not just leadership, so get involved and share your ideas and experience.

Zoom will be with us for some time, so let’s do our best to communicate with each other and the public.

Russ

Here is the link to the meeting:

Russell Segner is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: 4D Zoom Planning
Time: Sep 4, 2021 10:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82516359187?pwd=c1M4NjZmb01tczFLNm9pdk1HZ3BjZz09

Meeting ID: 825 1635 9187
Passcode: 891509
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It seems that Zoom meetings will continue for some time, which means our clinics and many meetings will be virtual for months to come. That’s not necessarily bad news since many of us have been able to better share with others across the entire Fourth Division. After all, traffic and weather have become great impediments to face to face meetings.

We will hold a Zoom meeting this coming Saturday, September 4, at 10:00 AM. We will discuss the many issues involved such as training leaders and members in how to be as effective as possible. Join us to learn the mechanics of Zoom, how to best run meetings, and how to prepare and present on Zoom.

Please join to share what you have learned and what you want to see added or changed. Please join and participate even though you may not have joined any of our other presentations.

The link to the meeting will be posted this Thursday.

Russ Segner, 4D Superintendent

I’m clearing out all my magazines. These are;

Model Railroaders from the 50’s to this year

Craftsman

Timber Times

Train Shed Cyclopedia

All are in good condition and organized by year.

They are free to anyone who will come and get them. Call me at 206 200 2211 or email me at russseg@gmail.com

Russ Segner

Many of us enjoyed the first day of the National Model Railroad Association Annual Convention today.

“Rails by the Bay” brings to us a lot of really good information and a fine experience with model railroaders all over the world. I urge you to check it out and get involved.

http://www.pcrnmra.org/NMRA2021/registration.html