Some good news and some bad news

Election brings some new experience and energy to the BOD

Two new members will be added to the Board of Directors.  Anton Faulk and Robin Peel are running unopposed for Director positions.  Both are professionals in the tech industries and each model in slightly different aspects of our hobby: Anton models  European railways and Robin is a narrow gauge modeler.  And we get to keep Al Lowe who will move to Assistant Superintendent.  So, look for some real emphasis on the technologies emerging in our hobby.  Kurt Laidlaw, our current Assistant Superintendent, has agreed to take on Education Chair.  He will coordinate creation of new clinics and expand the successful Make and Take Clinics.

Some new layouts are underway – Mike Stepner is well into his new layout, Steve Cox is beginning and Larry Sloan has a new house getting ready for layout plans.  But, some are going away.  Bill Scheef passed away last winter and his layout will be open for one last time on the 17th.  Another friend of mine,  Stafford Jones has a fine layout in Issaquah, but it must be torn down and removed completely by September. So, his loss is perhaps an opportunity for some of our members to get bargains from his extensive inventory. Much of his layout maybe can be salvaged for reuse.  Here is a link to photos of his layout.

https://1drv.ms/f/s!AhBTSQSpn0dng5B1jiQS6M2Z6kr_iA

It is HO with SP&S, GN and NP equipment. He has many fine structures, new electronics such as Tam Valley Frog Juicers and circuit protectors, code 75 Peco track, etc. He will hold an open house June 17 from 9:00 to 4:00.  His address is:  2151 NW Pacific Elm Drive, Issaquah ( a condominium complex, watch for signs).  His phone is 425 223 0139.

Our summer will be very busy outside at local railway museums.  Many will travel to railway sites around he region and some will attend regional and national Conventions.  Next week is the PNR Convention in Spokane, July will see many at the NMRA Convention in Orlando and a bunch of us will travel to Denver in August for the Narrow Gauge Convention.

So, get out and do some rail fanning, attend a convention or visit a location like Kitsap Live Steamers or Train Mountain.  All of these will inspire us.

Russ Segner, your Division Superintendent

206 200 2211

Dale G. Kraus

Photos by author

The May clinic was brought to order by MMR Gene Swanson at the Lakewood Library.  After brief announcements,  Wain Miller was presented a civil engineering Merit Award for a scratchbuilt  double-diamond level crossing.   Wain is one  piece of track-work away from  his Model Railroad Engineer – Civil     certificate.

 Greg Price  Presented his excellent clinic on Building (and improving) Wooden Structure Kits .  An extensive, detailed handout provided a step-by-step recap.  His tips included: 1. Inventory the kit first. 2. Square up the sides. 3. Paint everything before assembly. 4. use a squaring jig when assembling.  and many others. Greg uses a sponge to color the sides, and distresses the siding for extra detail.   A light India ink wash then brings out the detail. Some of the buildings he used as examples are shown below.

The modelers’ showcase was very sparse.  A scratchbuilt coaling tower by your humble author and  Russ Segner’s old PFM brass 2-6-6-0 and water tank car were the only models shown.

The next clinic will be held  at the Pierce County Library admin office (3005 112th St. E. Tacoma 98446) on June 8 at 7PM .

The PNW RPM is this Saturday!

The Pacific Northwest RPM crew is back for another year of Rails By The Bay, the Northwest’s own Railroad Prototype Modelers (RPM) meet. The gathering is scheduled for Saturday, April 29, 2017, 9am to 5pm, in Monroe, WA at the Evergreen Fairgrounds. There is a great clinic lineup this year, including a special guest from a well-known industry manufacturer:

-Bruce Barney: Modeling Gunderson Chip Gons with 3D printing.
-Craig Townsend: The Yellowstone RR.
-Jim Ruffing: Great Northern boxcars
-Blaine Hadfield: The Past, Present, and Future of Exactrail.
-Robert Scott: Simpson logging.

You can see more details as they develop, here on the northwestrpm.com website:

http://northwestrpm.com/RPM_Meet.htm

Robin Peel assembles an Sn3 turnout at the Fast Tracks clinic.

Three new MMR’s are David Yadock, Dale Kreutzer and Bill Busacca

All our MMR’s in attendance, Max Maginness, Roger Nulton, Chuck Ricketts, Jack Hamilton, David Yadock, Di Voss, Dale Kreutzer, Jim Younkins and Bill Busacca. Congratulations to all of you gentlemen.

Russ Segner

We just had a great weekend at the Bellevue Sheraton. The 4D Spring Meet which is our Annual Meeting was attended by 80 members. Ten clinics included a Make and Take “FastTracks” session with 14 working furiously to finish a hand built turnout.

Paul Rising presented a clinic on backdrop painting.

The Golden Grab Iron Award was presented to Greg Wright. Greg was out of town, so, Jim Younkins accepted the award on his behalf.

Jim Sabol reads citation and Jim Younkins accepts the Golden Grab Iron Award on behalf of Greg Wright

Russ presents the Superintendents Award to Jim Sabol

There were over 80 in attendance to share the clinics, fellowship, a very nice luncheon prepared by the hotel and to enjoy a presentation by Ron Perrone in charge of track construction for Sound Transit and Link Light Rail.

Three candidates for Board positions, Anton Faulk, Robin Peel and Al Lowe were introduced.

We are already planning for next year, probably in the northern part of 4D territory.

Next Saturday is a Board of Directors meeting at MItzel’s in Kent.

Russ Segner, 4D Superintendent

Russ Segner

The Mt. Vernon and Oak Harbor clinics are joining forces to bring you the first-ever joint clinic event. This will replace the normally scheduled May clinics at Mt. Vernon and Oak Harbor.

This event will be a “multiple demonstrations” format. Experienced modelers will demonstrate various aspects of model railroading. You will be free to roam and decide which demonstrations to observe and ask questions. Some may offer “hands on” opportunity.

10:00 am to 3:00 pm, Saturday, May 13, 2017 at the
Mt Vernon Senior Center, 1401 Cleveland Avenue, Mt Vernon, WA

Coffee and snacks will be available, bring a brown bag for your lunch. A dining area will be available for eating, drinking and general social gathering. A list of nearby eateries will be available.

A swap table will be available if you have items to sell, trade or give away.

There will be a model display table for you to display your diorama or DPM structure projects from your clinic. Other model railroad items are welcome.

Table space will be available if you want to bring a project to work on.

Clinicians confirmed so far:

• Mark Malmkar – passenger car interiors
• Paul Koren – resin kit assembly
• Mike O’Brien – fir trees (hands on possibility)
• Roger Johnson – decal application
• Al Frasch – fences &/or deciduous trees
• Dick Haynes – weathering buildings
• John O’Connell – making bracket arm poles for overhead wire

Tentative Clinicians, TBD

• Doug Nighswonger – scratchbuilding structures with styrene
• Al Carter – roads or pan pastels
• Ted Becker – kit assembly (wooden cars, plastic cars, wood structures) or electrical/electronics/Arduino

Two volunteers are needed to fold and return tables and tidy up.

If you have questions or can volunteer to help with cleanup, contact Ted Becker at  rail.bird@att.net