Category: News

Ken Liesse

Have you seen the article in the NMRA Magazine about Build A Memory? The NMRA instituted it with Lowe’s Hardware for helping people get started in model railroading by giving instruction on how to build a module. Where does 4D come in? We are one of the first divisions to participate in the program.

Our first BAM session will be November 16 at the Great Train Expo in Puyallup. However, we need some folks to help with the process. 4D has always been a hotbed for modular construction, so there is a lot of available talent. Some of you are probably planning on going to GTE anyway, so this is the perfect opportunity to help the division while you’re there.

If you have module building experience, or teaching experience, or both, please donate a couple of hours to this effort. This is a great way to give back to the hobby as well as promote our great hobby by showing the general public how easy it is to actually build a layout.

Walt Huston and Jack Hamilton will be spearheading this effort, but they can’t do it alone. If you’d like to help, contact Walt (walthuston@earthlink.net) and let him know you’re available.

Ken Liesse

The next meeting of the 4D Board of Directors has been set for Saturday, November 2nd. It will take place at the Mitzel’s Restaurant on 84th in Kent at 1:00 pm. All 4D members are invited to attend the meeting.

If anyone has agenda items for the meeting, please get them to Secretary Jean Melvin no later than Wednesday, October 30.

Ed Ives

I spoke with John Salzetti today. He sounds well and alert. He is currently being checked out in a hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. He expects to be there another ten days or so. (I don’t know the name of the facility.) Upon his release, he plans to either live with his daughter or in an assisted living facility in that area. I assume John will not be returning to this area soon if ever.

You can call John on his cell phone 206-920-6344 or email him. I’m sure he’d love to hear from you.

Al Lowe

A few weeks ago, John Salzetti, former 4D Assistant Superintendent, Board Member, and icon of the Hi-Railers O scale modular group, had some difficulty walking. He is currently residing in Room 246 at the Caroline Kline Gallard rehab facility, 7500 Seward Park Ave, Seattle.

He is now using a walker and hopes to head for home soon. Meanwhile, he’d be glad to have visitors or you can call his cell phone, 206-920-6344.

Ken Liesse

Just a reminder to everyone that Bob Beise’s memorial service will be this Saturday, August 10th at 11:00 A.M. at St. Jude’s Church, 10526 166th Ave NE in Redmond. There will be a reception immediately following the service at the church.

One word of caution for those traveling to the service from the south: I-405 northbound will be closed all this weekend in Bellevue, so an optional route to Redmond is advised.

Jack Hamilton

One the most coveted awards bestowed on any member in the NMRA is the Fellow Award. The Fellow of The NMRA Award recognizes those individuals in the NMRA who have fostered the organization and the hobby and have increased an advanced social interaction and the social benefits of the hobby. The Fellow Award is not awarded annually or at any set time period but is given on when recognition is due. Seldom are two fellows named in the same year and it is perhaps even less common that recipients are related.

This year, in recognition of over 50 years of sterling service to NMRA as personal ambassadors, mentors, and leaders who have made several divisions and regions much better by their presence, Gay and Ed Liesse have been recognized by NMRA and named NMRA Fellows. Because Gay and Rd were not available for a formal presentation at the annual NMRA Banquet, the presentation was made during the meeting of the NMRA Board of Directors. There can be no doubt that the Gay and Ed, who have meant so much to us in PNR and especially the PNR Fourth Division, as well as the members of PCR, are well deserving of the recognition. Gay and Ed have each also earned just about every other honor that we may bestow upon them, being recipients of the Golden Grab Iron, PNR President’s Award, and PCR President’s Award.

Our most sincere congratulations go out to both Gay and Ed. We are proud and lucky to know you and very honored to be able to serve alongside you.

Norm Curtis & Di Voss

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Bob Beise on July 17, 2013, from cancer. Bob was a great model railroader who was a strong member of the 4th Division HO Modular Group. He was constantly building or changing his modules, all the way to the end. Even in the last few months, he was planning on building a layout at his house.

He held several critical positions within this group and was key in maintaining and increasing its membership. Bob was always willing to help new and old members in building their own modules and was a major contributor to the 4D modules, building corners, wye, yard, etc.

Bob was always the first to volunteer his time to help give clinics and man the modules during train shows throughout Puget Sound. He has been a member of NMRA since March 1989.

He will be especially missed by the HO Modular Group for his effort, equipment donations, knowledge, and skills. He always had a vision for the future and kept us moving ahead. He was the consummate example of a good member, attending most functions, constantly building, and contributing relentlessly. I know that one of Bob’s regrets was not earning the MMR, although he earned at least three merit awards in the last few years. He continued working on it right until the end. The model railroad community will miss him greatly.

His Memorial Service will be August 10th at 11:00 A.M. at St. Jude’s Church, 10526 166th Ave NE in Redmond. There will be a reception immediately following the service at the church. He will be interred at the Tahoma Military Cemetery in Tacoma

Send condolences to: Robert Beise Family, 12527 NE 148th St, Woodinville, WA 98072.

Walt Huston

In case you haven’t heard, Testors is dropping many of the paints we modelers use. Fortunately, other firms have stepped up. For example, Microscale Industries posted a reference chart to identify substitute paint colors for Testors’ Floquil paints at http://www.microscale.com/ResourceCntr_Floquil.html.

I inquired about the future of their paint products and received the following email from Testors Customer Service department:

Trends in model railroading have changed over time. Creating product for weathering and scenery has been more of the focus as train cars have moved to pre-decorated. The good news is that the same great products for weathering and scenery can be found in Testor’s CreateFX line that is available now.

We’ve made the decision to exit the following businesses within the Testor ® Brand family: Pactra®, Floquil®, PollyScale®, and ColorArtz®. This will enable The Testor Corporation to return to our foundation of success: providing premium, innovative product that inspires creativity. We will continue to accept orders and ship product for a limited time based on available quantities.

Going forward, the following brands will be critical to our success and development: Testor®, Model Master®, and Aztek®. These brands will be infused with marketing support, innovation and operational efficiencies.

Decisions such as these are never easy. We appreciate your passion for our business. We look forward to introducing you to this exciting new product line that is great for today’s modeler as well as future generations.

Best Regards,
The Testor Corporation
Consumer Affairs Department

John Le Forestier, for the JAM Project

July 2, 2013 Is the hundredth anniversary of John Allen’s birth. John created the world-famous Gorre and Daphetid Railroad. This year, your fellow model railroaders everywhere are asked to salute the Wizard of Monterey with a flapjack (pancake) breakfast, complete with strawberry JAM and coffee. Then raise your cups in a salute to John.

If you don’t like flapjacks, substitute something else but JAM is essential! Why jam? “John Allen Memorial.” Strawberry jam is the most appropriate, since it’s the main field crop in the Monterrey/Carmel area, where John lived.

You may also consider spending at least a few minutes that day looking at John’s fabulous photos of his amazing model railroad!

Try to get together with other railroaders to help mark this special date!