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
The Pacific Science Center Show last weekend was a great success. It was attended by 13,948 paid visitors and was our largest crowd in seven years. The credit for this belongs to the following groups and individuals:
Lisa Murray handled much of the organizing of volunteers and paperwork needed to keep things running. This was in addition to her being an active participant with the HO modular group. Her son, Aidan, was also there as an operator. Lisa also chairs the Seattle North Clinic.
The staff at Pacific Science Center was excellent and were able to respond quickly to some of the last minute adjustments that always occur with such a large show.
The 4D Hi-Railers, led by Ed Ives, were set up right
inside the Denny Way entrance with a 14’ x 20‘ configuration. Club participants
included:
Wayne Grinnell Ed Ives Jack Klapwyk Woody Mathews Ed Pennington Dan Peters Gordon Sandell
4D Hi-Railers
The 4D N-Trak layout, led by Al Lowe, was set up in
the Ackerley building. Per Al: “We staged an 1,800 square foot layout, which
was set up in the allotted four hours and removed from the building in 61
minutes. Between which, we ran dozens of trains, did a lot of switching, and
discussed model railroading with hundreds of guests. All in all, yet another
good showing for our club, the Division, and the NMRA.” Participants included:
Neill Clift Stephen Clift Dave Cook Mike Donnelly Thomas Dye Edwin Hill Kyle Ilk Kurt Laidlaw Al Lowe Dennis Terpstra Bud Thompson Cole van Gerpen
4D N-TRAK Group
The 4D HO Modular group,led by Mike Slease,
was also set up in the Ackerly building with a 24’ x 28’ layout. The layout featured its well-known
video camera car, which drew a large crowd around the TV monitor. Members participating included:
Gordon Crawford Norm Curtis Bruce Davis Lou Davis Paul Fischler Brian Pickering James Monroe Aidan Murray Ian Murray Lisa Murray Joel Scott Mike Slease Larry Sloan Rob Staples
Thirteen other individual displays were involved in the
show:
ANorthwest Railway Museum booth was set up by Emily Boersma. She was assisted by several volunteers: Peggy Barchi, Jim Hale, Pete Kirchgessner, Michael Ledingham, Dennis Snook, and Harry T.
Bill Harper brought his interactive HO switching puzzle which challenged visitors (and volunteers) both young and old.
Mike Pettruzzelli had two operating N scale layouts on display. He was assisted by Jeff Weinstock and Caleb Wright.
Al Turnbull had two displays—one the kids could operate and one that clearly demonstrated the construction involved in building a module.
Operation Lifesaver had an info booth manned by volunteers Weylin Doyle, Carol Kachadoorian, Alan Nelson, Brian Sims, Mike Turcott, and Martin Young throughout the weekend.
Bob Stafford brought his N scale industrial layout depicting some of the switching involved at Boeing in Everett. His interactive display drew quite a crowd.
Russ Segner’s On30 display was also popular with little operators and had visitors queued up waiting their turns all day.
The 4D/PNR/NMRA Booth was manned by John Owens. He almost ran out of magazines and literature.
Baby Gramps was there along with Doreen to display his intricate and fanciful dioramas. They were assisted by Kevin Buster and Frances Wolfe.
Dan Kellogg had an excellent display and demonstration of techniques in modeling water features.
Kurt Laidlaw demonstrated the construction of an N scale module complete with track work and wiring.
Larry Sloan built and demonstrated a very effective display demonstrating the application of DCC systems.
The vendor, Ravensburger, brought loads of Brio and wooden trains for the little ones to explore throughout the busy weekend.
Dan Kellogg demonstrated water modelling techniques throughout the weekend. The example on the right was made with glue, water, toilet paper, paints, and clear gloss.
Kurt Laidlaw demonstrated the construction of an N scale module, complete with track work and wiring
Larry Sloan brought an interactive DCC display
Bob Stafford’s N scale industrial layout, depicting some of the switching at the Boeing plant in Everett, was popular with young and old
Bill Harper brought his always popular HO switching puzzle
Al Turnbull had two displays—one the kids could operate and one that clearly demonstrated the construction in building a module
Mike Pettruzzelli’s N-scale layout
ON30 layout for small operators
Operation Lifesaver works to reduce the likelihood of collisions between people/vehicles and trains through rail safety education
Northwest Railway Museum
Several volunteers helped in the loading in Friday night and
loading out Monday evening. They also
assisted the many exhibitors with rest and lunch breaks. Volunteers included:
Dave Enger Anton Faulk Fred Hamilton Eldon Jacobson Aidan Murray Ian Murray Paul OldenKamp Burr Stewart John Thompson Dave Woodrell David Yadock
Monday, January 20, is the next Mount Vernon NMRA clinic at the Mount Vernon Senior Center. The topic this month is “Demise of the Hobby Shop” – or – where do we get our supplies and trains now? There will be a general discussion on this broad topic, and the intent is to involve meeting attendees. So bring your suggestions and recommendations on where you buy your modeling supplies, trains, locos, etc. We want to hear from you!
Also, the Modeler’s Showcase is always in need of more participants. Please bring something to show. It need not be finished – a work in progress is just fine.
Speaking of modeling supplies and trains, if you have stuff that is excess to your needs, bring whatever you have and offer it up on our “Buy/Free” table.
Finally, our member Karl Kleeman has authored a book, The Early Railroads of Whatcom County, and Karl will have copies available at the discounted price of $25 (regular $29.95) and this also includes a DVD, too. Hot off the presses!
Pre-clinic dinner at Round Table Pizza on College Way in Mount Vernon, at 5:00 pm.
Clinic Chair Rich Blake welcomed 21 to our first meeting of 2020. Rich was also the evening’s presenter giving, first, a comprehensive review of the 39th National Narrow Gauge Convention held last September in Sacramento. The four-day event featured 54 clinics; 7 modular groups; several special museum and shop tours; and 34 layouts open to convention attendees. Rich’s photos of contest models, dioramas, modular layouts, and the 9 layouts he visited all displayed very high levels of modeling skills.
Rich’s California visit culminated in a very unique event indeed: a special railfan steam-up on the Niles Canyon Railway (www.ncry.org) commemorating the 150th anniversary of the transcontinental railroad’s completion, featuring the newly-restored articulated logging locomotive the “Skookum,” a rare 2-4-4-2. Niles Canyon’s Clover Valley #4, a 2-6-6-2T also recently overhauled, was steamed up and double-headed with Skookum (Figures 1 and 2).
Fig 1 – Clover Valley #4 (left) & Columbia River Belt Line #7 “Skookum” (Photo: Rich Blake) Fig 2 – Skookum #7 (Photo: Rich Blake)
Many steam locos returned to service have dull histories, spending decades rusting away in city parks or museum backshops, but Skookum’s is especially colorful. Baldwin built the 2-4-4-2 Mallet (compound) for Tennessee’s Little River Railroad (https://littleriverrailroad.org/skookum) as their #126 in 1909, but it was too heavy for their rails and they returned it to the builder. Baldwin’s salesmen aggressively pursued northwest logging and short lines to unload their white elephant and in 1910 sold it to the Columbia River Belt Line Railway in Oregon, where the loco worked for ten years. (The Skookum is currently lettered for this first northwest owner.) After 1920 it worked on a number of Washington state lumber companies, the longest stint (1933-1955) with the Deep River Logging Co. as their No. 7. There, in 1955, it rolled off a trestle into a muddy streambed and was abandoned until pulled out five years later by rail enthusiasts. It was disassembled piece by piece and hauled out of the woods to Snoqualmie where it sat for 30 years. It was moved again at some point to Mount Rainier Scenic Railway’s grounds where it sat in a rusty pile for many more years. A succession of dedicated steam preservationists led by Chris Baldo of the Willits Roots of Motive Power team rescued the loco and Skookum was eventually restored by the Oregon Coast Railway shops in Garibaldi OR to running condition in March 2019. “Skookum” is a Native American word meaning “powerful, brave, sturdy” and this old Baldwin product surely lived up to its name. The first of its kind, Skookum encouraged Baldwin to market more articulated Mallets in the northwest, selling many.
Fig 3 – Dave Clarke’s 2-4-4-2
HO-scale reproductions of Little River Railroad #126 were imported by Gem Models, around 682 of them altogether, over the course of four runs in 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1982. Fig 3 shows one of the 1982 run, produced by Jonan. This run featured can motors and supposedly more detailing than the earlier versions. This beautiful example was painted and lettered by Dave Clarke, our clinic’s master of brass model rebuilds, after installing a sound decoder, speaker, and lights.
Fig 4 – Tom Hawkins’ 2-4-4-2
Fig 4 is another 1982 Gem 2-4-4-2 that Dave Clarke upgraded with DCC and sound, painted and lettered for Tom Hawkins’ HO-scale Port Thomas and Southern Railroad (styled after the Olympic Peninsula’s Port Townsend and Southern). Tom reports that it’s a beautiful runner.
Fig 5 – Rich Thom’s 2-4-4-2
Your reporter plumb forgot to bring his “Skookum” to the meeting, but here it is anyway (Fig 5), photographed on his Coldwater Creek & Cascade Railroad. Rich’s model is from the first 1962 run that Gem imported, made by Akane Model Railroad Co. of Tokyo, and was found in a consignment sale in Sacramento. Gary Jordan, brass hat of the Gilpin Tram multi-gauge layout in Mukilteo, did the upgrade, replacing the open-frame motor with a can motor and installing a Tsunami decoder and 1-inch speaker. It’s the best-running loco on Rich’s layout, with stunning sound.
Fig 6 – Jon Bentz’ On30 Fire Car
In other Show and Tell, Jon Bentz brought in a very nicely-done On30 Fire Car (Fig 6), a kitbash of a Morgan Hill kit (www.morganhillmodels.com). Good news: Jon’s new layout is nearing beta-testing for operations. We’re pleased since we are down to only two layouts hosting regular op sessions on Whidbey Island and it will be exciting to have a third to encourage ops enthusiasts to ride the ferry to our pleasant isle. No pressure, Jon!
Fig 7 – Rich Blake’s Bachmann 2-4-4-2 Coupled to Jon’s Fire Car
Finally, since “Skookum” was a theme for this meeting, Rich Blake brought his On30 Bachmann 2-4-4-2 to couple up with Jon’s Fire Car (Fig 7). It bears little resemblance to Skookum but at least it’s a 2-4-4-2 compound! This loco is slightly weathered with a few added details and features a Tsunami 2 decoder with unique “articulated” chuff sounds. Does anyone know Bachmann’s prototype for their popular 2-4-4-2?
It’s almost time for our annual really BIG SHOW. This is the major source of funding for activities within the Fourth Division. Three of our Modular Groups, Hi-Rail, N-Trak and HO will have very large operating layouts. In addition, there will be eight other exhibits including smaller modules and switching puzzles. There will also be several demonstration tables describing various modeling skills and techniques.
All this involves a great many of our members. I hope you are one of them. If not, there are still opportunities to participate in many support roles. We need help assisting the loading in of all the modules and exhibits on Friday evening, preparation and distribution of signs and printed materials, helping in the break room and providing relief breaks for those operating the layouts and displays.
So, I need to hear from many of you. Please consider helping for at least four hours on one of the days. Parking is provided for as well as admission to the event. It is your opportunity to contribute the continued success of the Fourth Division and share time with other model railroaders.
Give me a call at 206 200 2211 or email me at russseg@gmail.com
The Pacific Science Center Show is coming soon. January 18, 19 and 20. Our modular groups will be there as well as several individual members with their displays.
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We have some extra room this year and want to set up several demonstrations of the skills and techniques we use in our model building. We already have one offer to demonstrate a N scale module under construction; trackwork, wiring and scenery. I am looking for someone to demonstrate kit construction and perhaps special scenery techniques; rocks, trees and water.
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If you are interested or know of someone who might also be interested, please contact me as soon as possible. This is an opportunity for individuals or teams to show how it’s done.
Thanksgiving weekend was a great success led by Ed Ives for the second year. Three of our modular groups: 4D-Ntrak, HO, Hi-Railers and several additional small layouts and displays participated. The feedback from MOHAI staff has been very positive and we expect an even better event next year.
Here are some shots of the activities:
On30 switching puzzle
HO module
NTrak
On30 layout
Wooden Trains
Wooden Trains
Hi-Rail
HO kids layout
Operation Life Saver
Bob Stafford N scale
Dan Kellogg N scale layout
NTrak
NTrak
NTrak
NTrak
Coming up next weekend on Friday December 20, many of the same groups will be at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma for 11 days. This is a great show and I encourage you to go and attend to support this effort. The displays are very well done and it is a chance for all of our 4D members to share time together.
Clinic Chair Rich Blake welcomed 26 to the November meeting, first reviewing the upcoming calendar. Dec 11th will feature our annual Wassail, a tradition dating back at least a dozen years, with all invited to bring a (finger-food) potluck dish to share. The pre-clinic dinner at Alfy’s in Oak Harbor is annulled for this meeting only, and the starting time for the Wassail is 6:30 pm. For the January get-together (Jan 8th), modelers are invited to bring their latest models for detailed discussion of how they created them, and having their models judged (if they wish) for NMRA Achievement Awards.
Fig 1 – Jon Bentz Describes Progress on his Railroad
Several clinic members have layouts in progress including Jon Bentz (Fig 1), who described the status of his Rio Como Railroad. Filling the better part of a 14’ x 39’ room, the On30 pike re-uses many of Jon’s scratch buildings on all-new benchwork. A car float operation is featured. Helping Jon with the construction among others is Cliff Aaker and Alan Murray; Alan, for example, is building the overpass (Fig 2)—a work in progress—for a spot on Jon’s layout.
Fig 2 – Alan Murray’s Overpass (In Progress)Fig 3 – Ted Becker’s Banta Kit
Ted Becker brought in a model for display (Fig 3), a Banta Modelworks HO-scale “Crick Hollow Hardware and Miners Supply.” Ted has thoroughly re-purposed the structure and varied the details.
I have learnt over the years that things just do not happen without volunteers, be it the PTA, Boy Scouts, junior Baseball or commercial operations such as Boeing. They, Boeing, need volunteers in order to conduct the evacuation testing and certification of a new airplane. So for us, the 4th Division, we must have volunteers to man the events such as the Spring Meet, the Science Center show, the MOHAI show and others or they just DO NOT happen.
We need your help at the MOHAI show during the Thanksgiving weekend with the equivalent of a minimum of six persons all day for each day of the three day show. So far I have but three volunteers for part of one day each. Part of a day volunteering is great but I need a lot more of you doing just that.
So what would a volunteer be asked to do?
We have a number of owner operator displays where the operator will need some relief from time to time during the day. You could be attending temporarily to the BRIO display or the switching display or running a train on a small seasonal display. You will be selling nothing, just keeping trains off the floor and engaging in light hearted conversation with the public.
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.
