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PSC Banquet Proposed

Written by Al Lowe
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David J. Yadock

The Pacific Science Center Model Railroad show will be happening next January 18-20, 2014. It will be the 40th anniversary of this event. Since this will be a very important anniversary year it has been suggested that a banquet be held. The banquet would be on Sunday evening following the closing of the show. The cost per person would be around $10-15. Since the banquet would be held at their facility we would be required to use one of their caterers. At this time I would like to assess how many people would like to attend the banquet. If there is enough interest then we will have it at the Pacific Science Center. If there isn’t sufficient interest then we may need to re-think the plan and look for other options. We would need approximately 75 people in attendance. Please email me and give me your opinion. Thank you.

Model Train Show

Eastside Clinic Tonight — Special Announcement!

Written by Al Lowe
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JJ Johnston

Very Important: The Eastside Get Together will meet this Thursday at 7:30 pm. Parking! Due to a graduation ceremony at the Church during the first part of our meeting, parking lot spaces will be very limited. You are asked to park stadium style on the North end of the Church lot past our usual entrance. You also have some parking available on the side streets outside the parking lot entrance. Our program is one of those not-to-be-missed presentations by Jim Sabol.

Jim, Don Olsen and Warren Haack are making the last of the Pentrex’s series of great logging DVDs. Two DVDs to be shown at the clinic will show how this is being done. And some always welcomed comments by Jim. Of course bring your models, have some coffee & donuts and win some of the expensive door prizes Inside Gateway is NOT putting in Steve Depolo’s new Woodinville store. Our gain.

Bob Beise update: Bob has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He cannot drive any more, although he would like to attend our Thursday meeting. Bob lives in Woodinville and his phone is 425.488.2494 if you are able to give him a ride. Bob, a longtime member of the HO Modular Group, has many modules and wishes to sell them. You can contact him at ho_module@hotmail.com. And let’s keep him in our prayers.

See you tonight!

Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

Tacoma Clinic June Meeting Report

Written by Al Babinsky
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Al Babinsky

MMR Gene Swanson opened the clinic and welcomed 43 modeler and prospective modelers, Bruce Cranfield and Eddie (Herb’s grandson) were the newcomers. Under announcements it was mentioned the Testor is dropping the Floquil and other lines of railroad colors. Microscale has a conversion table for color replacements. The 4D is sponsoring the 2014 convention with Russ Segner at the throttle and he is requesting help. The Snoqualmie Museum received a donation of an N scale layout which they want to use for kids to operate and they are in need of rolling stock. The NMRA membership is dwindling so please renew your membership and try to get new members; a six month membership for less than $10.00 is a good start. John Novotney, who does our meeting room reservation, wants to step down and needs someone to take over. If I heard correctly is looks like Scott Taylor stepped up to do the job. Walt Huston presented Dave Fausset with his Golden Spike Award.

“What’s new in the hobby shop,” presented by George Boucier, had a number of new items including a couple of ready to use buildings from Woodland Scenics, very detailed and good looking.

We had a number of great entries in the Model of the Month contest: a caboose B&B diorama based on the one in Sequim, a weathered SP&s switcher, a 10 boxcar decaled and weathered set, 2 old time Maerklin tinplate HO cars, a sand house with elevated track and sand gondola, an O scale icing facility with milk reefer, 3 HO hoppers with gravel load, a Varney caboose cleaned to its former glory and Model Power one to compare, HO hopper and boxcar decaled with graffiti. The winner of the model contest was John Novotney, for his B&B diorama.

After the break, Dale Kraus presented the continuation of his clinic on “DCC: things you don’t need to know.” A very informative clinic with demonstration of programming, installation, and operation along with a good hand-out to remember the things you don’t need to know.

After the summer break our next clinic will be on September 12, 2013 7:30PM at our usual location at the Pierce County Library Admin. Bldg. corner of 112th Street and Waller Road. The clinic will be on Five Basic Steps For Better Photos given by Chip Van Gilder.

I will post the photos as soon as I get them from Chip.

Have a great summer and we’ll see you in September.

Tacoma Clinic

Testors Dropping Pactra, Floquil, PollyScale, and ColorArtz Paints

Written by Al Lowe
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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

News

4D Spring Meet a Great Success

Written by Al Lowe
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Russ Segner

On May 18-19, about 120 of us got together at the 4D Spring Meet to learn from our fellow model railroaders and share our experiences in the hobby. Attendees came from as far away as Eastern Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia.

The Tukwila Embassy Suites was a suitable site and their staff was excellent, so much so that we have decided to hold the 2014 PNR Convention there next April. We expect that conference will as good or better. And even more of it!

If you enjoyed the 4D Spring Meet, please participate at next year’s PNR convention. We need new clinicians and more layouts and many volunteers to help with all activities planned.

I want to personally thank all the following clinicians, volunteers, and layout owners for their insights and hospitality. These people helped make a great weekend:

  • Greg Amer
  • Roger Nulton, MMR
  • Burr Stewart
  • Glenn Farley
  • JJ Johnston
  • Al Carter
  • Chuck Ricketts
  • Paul Scoles, MMR
  • Al Frasch
  • Bill Sornsin
  • Tom Beaton
  • Phil Holden
  • Brian Ferris
  • Lathan Sanford
  • Rich Blake
  • Greg Wright
  • Ken Liesse
  • Di Voss, MMR
  • Walt Huston
  • Al Lowe
  • Kevin Klettke
  • Jack Hamilton
  • Sherman Stevens
  • Ed and Gay Liesse
  • Robin Peel
  • Dan Segner

Superintendent’s Report

Ken Liesse

Russ Segner and his committee put together a great program for the Spring Meet, including some unique panel discussions on scenery, DCC, and railroad design. Special thanks to Russ Segner for his leadership in putting the day together; Kevin Klettke for developing the website and registration; Al Lowe and Doug Bulger for arranging the AV and computer equipment; Daniel Segner for keeping the computers updated and running; and Sherman Stevens and Gay Liesse for handling Registration.

At the Annual Member Meeting, held just before lunch, I gave the results of the recently held Division Election. Russ Segner was elected as our new Assistant Superintendent. Al Lowe was elected to another term as Director and is joined by new Director Michael Highsmith. Russ and Michael officially take office September 1st.

NMRA Western Director Jack Hamilton updated us on what’s happening at National; several things are coming that will be interesting to watch. When PNR President Walt Huston was asked to say a couple of words about PNR, he replied, “PNR rocks!” (Way to keep it literal, Walt!) Doug Auburg from the 2nd Division was also on hand to pitch for folks to visit Portland for the 2015 National Convention. The last Portland convention was a great success and we’re all looking forward to having National back in own area again.

The annual meeting is also when we hand out our Division’s annual awards. Unfortunately, Frank Dekker was packing for his upcoming move to Michigan, so he received his Superintendent’s Award before the day began. Frank has served the membership of 4D tirelessly and selflessly for years and he will be sorely missed. Mike Slease was the other recipient of the Superintendent’s Award for his work as the Division’s publisher, making sure everyone who is supposed to, receives any and all mailings from the Division. For years, Mike was responsible for printing and mailing Grab Iron to members.

The Golden Grab Iron Award was awarded to Russ Segner. This recognizes the Division’s outstanding member of the year and is decided on by the winners of Golden Grab Iron Award from the previous three years. Russ has contributed greatly to Division activities over the years and was instrumental in bringing the very successful Narrow Gauge Convention to the Seattle area last year. He also happens to be one pretty good model railroader! Congratulations to Russ for this well deserved honor!

Next year the 2nd Division was scheduled turn to host the PNR regional convention, but due to the above mentioned National in Portland in 2015, they asked if another division could swap years with them so they wouldn’t be burdened with putting on two conventions in two consecutive years. Our 4D stepped up and Russ Segner agreed to chair the committee for next year’s PNR convention. It won’t be hard to find, as we will meet at the same Embassy Suites in Tukwila. This year’s Spring Meet turned out to be a warm-up. So plan to attend the 2014 convention next April 23–26. Because of this, we will not hold a Spring Meet next year, but expect another in 2015.

Seven layouts were open on Sunday, May 19 for those who attended the Spring Meet. Maps to the layouts were handed out at the end of Saturday’s sessions. It was a widespread group of layouts, yet still possible to see them all in one afternoon. I want to second Russ’s “Thank You!” above to all who took the time to participate and open your layouts to your fellow modelers. And another “Thank You!” goes to all who took the time to visit.

I hope everyone who attended this year’s Meet had a good time.

Spring Meet 2013 Photos

Doug Bulger

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Convention or Meet

Be a Part of the John Allen Centennial

Written by Al Lowe
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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!

News

PNR 2014 Layout Organizers Needed

Written by Cliff Green
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Russ Segner

Memorial Day weekend is a time for us all to reflect on all those who have given so much of their lives to keep us free and safe. So, when we are asked to volunteer for the small stuff, it is good to keep it all in perspective.

So, I offer some of you an opportunity to help with next year’s PNR Convention. I need some help organizing the layouts for tours. We need a list of those who are interested in holding open houses and what days will work best for them to be open. It is currently envisioned that any one layout will be open only one day, so the layout open houses will be organized by area; north, south, east and west of Puget Sound.
If you have questions, call me at 425 228-7327 or email me.

Convention or Meet

Seattle-North Layout Tour June 6, 2013

Written by Jeff Moorman
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By Jeff Moorman

The Seattle-North June layout tours return on Thursday, June 6. 2013. And this year we have made some changes to let more folks participate. We have seen the success Olympia has had with self-guided tours and are going to adopt that scheme, but we are still going to do it on our regular June clinic night. And we are going to keep the destinations secret until the event starts.

The tour starts promptly at 7:00PM in the parking lot of the Edmonds Amtrak station, 211 Railroad Ave, Edmonds, WA. There you will be given directions to other destinations. Four layouts (all in SW Snohomish County) will be available for viewing. Each layout is open for at least 2 hours between 7:00 and 10:00PM. Two of the layouts will be in O scale (one narrow gauge) and two will be in HO (again, one will be narrow gauge).

As with all things in life, some rules apply:

  • You must be an NMRA member (or guest of an NMRA member) to participate.
  • Directions will not be given out in advance. Don’t ask.
  • Carpooling is strongly encouraged.
  • Please be considerate of the layout owners and their neighbors when parking and visiting.
  • There is no charge, so be extra generous in your praise and thank you to those who have made their layouts available.

See you at 7:00PM on the Thursday the 6th.

Layout Tour, Seattle-North Clinic

Olympia Clinic May Report

Written by Al Lowe
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Holy Tension and Compression, Batman!

Story and Photos by Jim Sabol

Newcomers Fred and Norma Jean Renspies seem glad they came. We hope they come again.

Newcomers Fred and Norma Jean Renspies seem glad they came. We hope they come again.

Our host, Scott “2012 4D Golden Grab Iron Service Award Winner” Buckley, welcomed twenty eager modelers and friends to his Tehama Valley RR layout room for May’s get together—in daylight yet! Scott greeted six first-timers including Ron Brown, Mark Clemons, Dean Cody, John Guydish, and the Renspies: Fred and Norma Jean. It was nice to see globe-trotting Jim “nothing small about N scale” Younkins back safely from his trip down under.

Much discussed was the group’s recent field trip on Amtrak to the Columbia Gorge Model Railroad Club for a day of guest operating on the giant Portland HO layout. Ron “call me coordinator” Bartels did a first rate job of organizing the trip and Jim “Lights! Camera! Action!” Elder shot some great video of trains on the layout

Ted Eggleston and Robert Grove look pleased at being able to find the right PowerPoint buttons.

Ted Eggleston and Robert Grove look pleased at being able to find the right PowerPoint buttons.

Clinicians Ted “swipe your martini” Eggleston and Robert “why not model Wyoming?” Grove presented a well-organized and visually arresting program on the nature and location of prominent railroad bridges in the state of Washington. Ted and Robert educated us painlessly on the wide variety and engineering skill evident in our state’s massive railroad bridges—wood, steel, concrete—on both sides of the Cascades.

Jim “hardly ever anything to say” Sabol reviewed the plan for next month’s G.O.P.H.E.R. (Greater Olympia Prototype History & Engineering Research Society) 7th annual outing on June 22 at the Ballard Locks. Manager Byron Cole should have his Ballard Terminal Railroad ex-Milwaukee EMD SW-1 running for us. Members of other 4D clinics are welcome to attend and get a free hot dog lunch by emailing me.

Once again it was discovered that everyone in attendance held a winning door prize number and carried home some form of loot, from HO cars, to switch machines, to great calendar pictures. “It’s a muracle!” exclaimed an amazed Jerry “I hope I win something good” Barnes.

Greg Wright conducts a mini-clinic on car weathering.

Greg Wright conducts a mini-clinic on car weathering.

Greg “making it a habit” Wright won most popular model with his 1:32n20″ scale boxcar. This month’s Narrow Gauge Gazette features part one of a series of articles on Greg’s layout open house.

Bonus Report

Here is Greg’s mini-clinic on how he created this nifty little car for his Consolidated Republic Mining Co Railroad:

I built this box car from a Boulder Valley Models On30 kit. I altered the underframe to get the couplers to the correct height and modified the roof to produce a taller car. Otherwise, it was built per the directions.

Boulder Valley Models supplies great painting instructions for replicating metal cars with their kits and on their web site. The car was first painted a rust brown color, then bright silver from a spray can was sprayed at arm’s length to splatter silver spots on the brown. It looks awful but it’s not done yet. Splotch on some rubber cement and let that dry. Then wet one side at a time with water (or saliva, per the BoulderValley instructions) and, using a salt grinder, let the ground salt fall on the wet car side. It will stick when the moisture dries from the side. Repeat on all the other sides.

Greg Wright’s most popular model of the month.

Greg Wright’s most popular model of the month.

Now paint the car its final color. In about an hour, use masking tape to peel off the rubber cement and salt. Underneath will be combination of rusty and newly-worn bright metal spots. Pick any stubborn rubber cement or salt off with a pointed stick or leave them on for some additional texture where rust is under the paint but hasn’t broken through yet.

Use chalks or weathering powders to adjust any rust or metal spots that seem too regular or out of place. I used Dr. Ben’s weathering solutions on the metal roof.

Part of the crowd frowns at the no-more-Floquil rumor.

Part of the crowd frowns at the no-more-Floquil rumor.

Olympia Clinic

Eastside Get-Together May Report

Written by Al Lowe
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Story & Photos by Ed Liesse

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JJ Johnston greeted 35 attendees with his traditional welcome speech of introducing Board members and MMRs. This time we had a few extra “guests,” Raoul Martin (former owner of Northwest Short Line), Fred Hamilton and Mike O’Connell, our featured clinician for the evening.

Announcements included Russ Segner commenting on this Saturday’s Spring Meet and the Layout Tours on Sunday and the fact that 4D would be hosting next year’s PNR Regional convention. He didn’t mention that he is the Chairman for that convention and will be looking for help to put it on!

Jim Sabol snuck in from the Tacoma and Olympia clinics with an invitation to join the G.O.P.H.E.R.S (Greater Olympia Prototype History & Engineering Research Society) at their Excursion and Picnic at the Ballard Locks in Seattle. This includes time to watch the lock activities as well as the BNSF main line bascule bridge on the west end of the lake, hot dogs and fellowship, and then taking a look at the Ballard Terminal Railroad, with maybe a cab ride on their SW-1! If you’re interested, let Jim know at jimsabol@msn.com.

Frank Dekker announced that his house was sold and will be leaving the area soon. He will be loading a trailer starting Thursday, May 26 for several days and would appreciate any help you could offer. They will be leaving town the first week in June, heading to Holland, Michigan. If you can help, contact Frank at rekkedrails@juno.com.

JJ announced that he is looking for volunteers to do clinics next year and would like to have the schedule full before we break for the summer. If you have a clinic you’ve been wanting to present, now’s your chance! Let JJ know at jj@jtwice.com. He also reiterated that Steve Depolo had moved the Inside Gateway hobby shop to Woodinville and had maps to the store available.

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Several entries were in the model contest and Mike Laughlin’s nicely lit inside-and-out train station took the prize. Two items displayed by Frank Dekker were 1’ x 2’ dioramas built by Russ Hendrickson many years ago that were donated to 4D after his death by his wife. Frank said they could use some tender loving care to clean them up and get them operational again and was looking for someone to take them home and provide it. They could be used as promotional material at the various shows. Anyone interested should contact Frank (quickly, as he’s moving!).

After the break, Mike O’Connell gave us a slide presentation on Tacoma and Spokane in the ’60s and ’70s. This was a collection of pictures, taken by Mike as a young man, of the Northern Pacific yards in Tacoma, including some aerial shots showing the tide flats. Various pictures of engines, structures, freight and passenger cars brought back memories of a bygone era. These were taken back when the railroads were a little friendlier to railfans. Mike, of course, embellished the pictures with his narration, which gave a little more insight to his “misspent” youth and college days chasing trains! A great time was had by all seeing these vintage photos of fallen flags equipment. Thanks, Mike.

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Our door prizes tonight were graciously donated by Mike O’Connell from Chooch. Great flatcar loads!

Our next Get-Together on June 20 will be the last one until September. We look forward to having you join us!

 

Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic