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Mt Vernon NMRA Clinic Newsletter

Written by Al Turnbull
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There will not be a Thursday evening clinic on the second Thursday of April.

Instead, we’ll be holding the second annual joint program of the Skagit Valley / Whidbey Island and the Mount Vernon clinics.

9:00 AM, Saturday April 14
Mount Vernon Senior Center
1401 Cleveland Street, Mt Vernon

Click Here for map & directions

Rather than having an agenda of sequential clinics throughout the day, we’ll have concurrent sessions at several tables, with a “clinician” actively working on a subject, demonstrating techniques, answering questions, etc. It is an “up close” format, and in some cases, attendees may get to try certain techniques themselves.

There will be a “swap area” where people can bring items for sale, trade or give away. We did this last year and it was hugely successful. There will be 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 and it should be easy to find the owner of something if you are interested in it.
Note: access is only through the rear door (SW corner) – 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’ll be 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.

Please check the following session listings for more details:

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Mt Vernon Clinic, News, Skagit Valley and Whidbey Island Clinic

Mt. Vernon January Clinic Report

Written by Al Turnbull
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by John O’Connell

Ted Becker opened the Clinic with 15 attendees including a guest, Dale Bearden. Welcome Dale and we hope you will join us on a regular basis.

Announcements

Congratulations to Mark Malmkar for achieving the distinction of Master Model Railroader! He will carry the “MMR” designation in all future references! Well done, Mark!

Mark Malmkar presenting his Passenger Train Consist Clinic in 2017.

Al Frasch is moving to the warmer climes of Arizona and is planning the dismantling of his layout. Ted asked for the level of interest in a last and final visit to Al’s stellar layout before its demise. Stay tuned for date and time.

Ted’s announced the new NMRA program, called the NMRA Partnerships. It’s a member benefit that truly has a tangible payback. The NMRA has partnered with model railroad manufacturers of all sizes, giving them exposure on the NMRA website in return for providing generous discounts to NMRA members all year long. The link and a reminder will appear in future Newsletters in the Sponsorship section.

Looking ahead, the popular joint clinic with Skagit Valley / Whidbey Island is planned for Saturday, April 14. Rumor has it one table will have an enrolled agent from the IRS to pre-audit your valuation of charitable contributions of model railroadiana. Hold the date and stay tuned for more details.
Ted also floated the idea of a season ending field trip to Lake Whatcom Scenic Railroad in May. There was significant interest…details to follow.

Mike O’Brien has volunteered to take over as editor of the Newsletter and Clinic Report next year. Thank you, Mike!

Coming Events

February 8 Mt Vernon Clinic: Rich Blake, “Logging Speeder Evolution of the Pacific Northwest”
February 24, 25 WA State Model Train Show, Monroe
March 8 Mt Vernon Clinic: Dale Bearden, “Scratch Building Wood Structures”
April 12 NO MT VERNON CLINIC, SEE SATURDAY, APRIL 14
April 14 Joint Clinic, Mt Vernon Senior Center
April 15 4th Division Spring Meet, Bellevue
June 7 – 10 NMRA Pacific Northwest Region Convention, Spokane
September 15-19 Great Northern Railway Historical Society Convention, Bellingham

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Mt Vernon Clinic

Mt. Vernon – January Clinic

Written by Al Turnbull
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by Ted Becker

The theme for the January clinic (January 11th) at Mount Vernon is “Bring Your Own Project”. We urge all of you to bring a work in progress to work on during the evening. The tables will be spaced out like we did last year so there will be room to work and room to roam around to look at what others are doing. If are having a problem with a project bring it, there is a lot of expert experience available to help. If you don’t have a work in progress to bring come anyway. As always, you are more than welcome to display your completed models.

Don’t be shy. All model railroad projects are welcome. Wood, metal, plastic, paper or plaster. Structure, rolling stock, electronics, locomotive, layout design, painting, weathering, scenery, you name it.

Mt Vernon Clinic, News

Mt Vernon Clinic September 2017

Written by John O'Connell
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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, News

Mt Vernon Clinic Report – February 2017

Written by John O'Connell
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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.

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Mt Vernon Clinic

Mt Vernon Clinic Report January 2017

Written by John O'Connell
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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

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Mt Vernon Clinic

Mt Vernon Clinic Newsletter January 2017

Written by John O'Connell
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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.

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Mt Vernon Clinic

Mt Vernon NMRA Clinic Report – November 2016

Written by John O'Connell
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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 12 – Nick 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 9 – Bob Stafford, Retired BNSF Trainmaster will speak on Operations on the Bellingham Sub.

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Mt Vernon Clinic