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Olympia Clinic October Minutes

Written by Al Lowe
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Jim Sabol / Photo by Ed Liesse

Click photo for enlargement

Robert and Sherry Grove graciously opened their beautiful home and Wyoming-themed model railroad to 24 happy modelers and guests at our regular third-Friday get-together. Distinguished guests included Ed Liesse, PNR board member; Walt Huston, PNR president; and Ken Liesse, 4th Division Superintendent. The executive trio was in attendance to present our own Jim Younkins with his NMRA Master Model Railroader, the 488th modeler ever to achieve that rank. (See related story.)

Olympia Coordinator Ted Eggleston had a full slate of activities for the evening including tips, favorite models, and clinic and door prizes (many donated by Charles Lundberg). Paul Vaughn showed his ingenious yet inexpensive homemade switch controllers and later added a mini-clinic on resin-casting tall pieces.

We heard a short report on Tom Murray’s plans for developing the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad visitor center in three phases: first, a logging camp; second, a steam sawmill; and third, his 7½”-gauge railroad and a fully-rigged spar tree.

Beautifully crafted models were shown and described by Scott Groff,MikeVanderhoof, Jim Younkins, and Ryan Bates. Ryan’s kit-bashed and scratchbuilt Washington Iron Works mobile logging yarder won most popular model and will be a showpiece on Ry’s McCloud River Railroad. (See McCloud Railroad Progress Report for more details.)

Click photo for enlargement

Jim and Mary Sabol presented the clinic, based on the book “Clothshell Scenery.” Jim, Mary, and Tom Todd had three little modules covered with basic clothshell ground in about ten minutes, with nothing to clean up, nothing to drip, and nothing to spill.

Ron and Carol Beghin offered their home for the December social get-together on December 14, one week earlier than usual. Speaking of the holiday season, you’d be in for a treat if you drive by Greg Wright’s home on the way to the Olympia meeting in December. Greg and Susan go all out with decorations and their house and yard are a stunning Thurston County showplace of Christmas lights.

Once again everyone present held a winning door prize number and carried home some treasure. “Itza muracle!” exclaimed Jim Elder.

Olympia Clinic

Tacoma Clinic October Minutes

Written by Al Babinsky
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Al Babinsky

MMR Gene Swanson opened the clinic and welcomed all to the October clinic. Announcements were made for 4D Board of Directors Meeting on November 17th. November is National Model Railroad Month, the Boeing Model Railroad Club swap meet is on the 2nd Saturday in November, the 10th.

We had 35 modelers in attendance; three were newcomers. Bob McDuff is starting modeling in ON30 logging operations, Bill Gillespie and his friend Mike model in N scale.

George Bourcier presented what’s new in the Hobby Shop with books, 0-6-0 sound-equipped switcher from Mantua, and ready to use building from Woodland Scenics in N, HO, and O scale.

The Model of the Month contest had a number of models two of which were Dave Faussett’s entries in the Narrow Gauge Convention model contest. His black smith car won 2nd place and his other entry 3rd place. Dale Kraus had a substation and 15,000 volt transformers for catenary and a 760 mm scratchbuilt turntable. Scott Groff brought an O scale resin freight house kit slightly modified with individual planks on the loading platform. Jim Murrey had a Milwaukee Road Train shed built from three Walthers kits plus some extra parts; the shed featured scratchbuilt floodlight towers. Paul Vaughn showed some SN3 cars and a HO building converted into S scale. Patrick showed a planted field using corrugated cardboard as rows and green pipe cleaner as plants. Stew showed a 30-year-old work car kit and Walt Houston a 14-car reefer set. Chip had some old passenger cars he picked up at a swap meet that he was going to redo but found out that they were cardboard kits with the sides made of individual cardboard strips. The Model of the Month winner was Scott Groff’s O scale freight house.

The clinic was presented by Paul Vaughn on a three-color signal system originally designed in the 70s and updated for modern use with LEDs. The system was reasonable in cost and easy to build. The information for this system is online here.

Next month’s clinic will be at our usual place in the Pierce County Library Admin. Bldg. at the corner of 112th Street and Waller Rd. at 7:30 PM. The clinic will be presented by Paul Rising on scratch building. We will also present a check to NW Food Network from the donations that we have collected in the past year.

Tacoma Clinic

Eastside Gets Wet

Written by Ken Liesse
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Ken Liesse

It would probably be a good idea to get the report of last month’s meeting out before this month’s takes place.

JJ Johnston welcomed everyone back from summer break and gave us a recap of the Narrow Gauge Convention that was just ended. There were about 1,700 folks who attended, representing 17 different countries and 41 states. Dave Woodrell did a tribute to Brian Ellerby, which JJ will try to get for one of our clinics. Thanks to the core group of about 20 people who came together to put the convention on.

In our gathering were brothers Walt and Allan Scotson, who were in the area visiting. Allan is from Finland and was having a grand time touring railroad attractions in the area. Both brothers are also ministers, so they felt right at home sitting in front of Pastor Bob Rorabaugh.

Roger Ferris and Bobj Berger presented the Mart and Stu Rogers provided the video library. Di Voss won Model of the Month by default, since he was the only one who brought anything. Guess folks were having too much fun in all the sun we had over the summer to do any modeling. For the tip of the month, Mike Murray showed us the Pricom Dreamplayer, a sound playing device that works off an ordinary SD memory card.

After the break, Eastside favorite Dave Hikel gave us a wonderful clinic on making water using Envirotex. Envirotex is a commercial product that can be found at Ace Hardware, TruValue or on the Internet. The product is a two-part epoxy that cures clear in about three days with zero shrinkage. It is a sensitizer, so gloves, a respirator and a well-ventilated area are a must when working with Envirotex. Dave showed us how to mix the parts together and how they self-level once poured. Special effects can be done by agitating the mixture at various times during the curing process, including forming waves or ripples on the water. The water can also be colored by adding plastic coloring during mixing. Another option is to paint the river (or lake) bed before hand as the water does dry clear. All in all a very neat product for making realistic water for your layout.

Eastside’s next meeting will be held October 18th.

Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

NMRA InfoNet News for October

Written by Al Lowe
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Gerry Leone, NMRA Communications Director

About half of the money needed to meet the “matching gift” to the Magic of Scale Model Railroading exhibit at the California State Railroad Museum has been raised. An anonymous donor has offered $250,000 if we can raise a matching amount. In addition to NMRA member donations, manufacturers have made substantial donations. No NMRA dues are used to fund this project. Watch for an article in the November issue of NMRA Magazine for more details on the exhibit and fund raising efforts.

The newly formed NMRA Marketing Department is working with Amtrak stations in major cities to get modular layouts placed there in an effort to raise awareness of our hobby.

  • The NMRA website is undergoing a facelift and update under the direction of our new IT Director, Ben Sevier, and his web team. Members should see the changes within the year.
  • As part of an effort to improve communications with members, and specifically those who don’t receive NMRA Magazine, the NMRA leadership team is discussing adding an “eBulletin,”  a short, concise emailed newsletter which will list NMRA news, announcements, and other important information. It won’t replace NMRA Magazine, but instead will be an adjunct to it and will be available free to those members with email. A proposal will be made to the Board of Directors in February.
  • The Executive Handbook and By-Laws Committee is currently working diligently to simplify and shorten both documents, making it easier to understand our organization and how it’s run.
  • The Winter Board of Directors Meeting will be held inAtlanta,Georgia, February 8-10, 2013. All NMRA members are welcome to attend. Times and location to be announced.
News

Eastside Get-Together scheduled for Thursday, October 18

Written by Al Lowe
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JJ Johnston

The Eastside Get-Together will be this Thursday, October 18 at 7:30 p.m., at the Bellevue Four Square Church. Don’t miss this meeting featuring our very own Russ Segner with a slideshow presentation about the work he and others are doing on the DuPont Railroad. As Russ says, “We’re model building at 12 inches to the foot, restoring a narrow gauge flatcar from rotten boards and rusty steel to brand new.”

Also lots of stuff for sale, the video library, the Model of the Month, free coffee & donuts (donations accepted) and our great array of door prizes donated from The Inside Gateway, plus lots to talk about and new friends to make.

See you down the track!

Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

Next Olympia Clinic Friday, October 19

Written by Al Lowe
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Jim Younkins

The Olympia Clinic will hold its next monthly meeting at 7:00 p.m., Friday, October 19, 2012. Please join us at the home of Robert Grove, 8132 Bo Court SE in Olympia.

Jim Sabol will present “Plaster-less Cloth-shell Scenery.” Please bring a folding chair if possible and a model for Show ‘n’ Tell. As usual, we’ll have door prizes and refreshments.

See you there!

Olympia Clinic

Snake River Special, PNR 2013 Regional Convention

Written by Al Lowe
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Tom Waters, Co-chair

As you may know, the 3rd Division is hosting the Pacific Northwest Region’s Convention next year, June 26 – 30, in Boise. Here’s what’s planned so far for the Snake River Special:

  • The Boise Hotel and Convention Center is the location.
  • All of the usual functions are included, including clinics, model contests, prototype tours, silent auction, and a two-day train show.
  • We start Wednesday evening with a BBQ at the Boise Depot and Joel Slagg’s clinic about the history and move of BigMike.
  • Bruce McCosh’s web page includes registration details, hotel information, and much more.
  • We also have some new things in the works, so keep checking the web page.
  • If you are interested in presenting a clinic, contact Bob Parrish.
  • There are 30+ people actively planning this convention. But don’t let that stop you from helping.

If you have never attended an NMRA Regional Convention, you’ve really missed a great time. Just ask me; I’ve been to eight and always have a great time!

Convention or Meet

Next Seattle North Clinic is October 4

Written by Jeff Moorman
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By Jeff Moorman

Please come join us this Thursday (October 4) for our next clinic.

I apologize for not getting this write-up out sooner, and for not including a description of what happened in September. You can look forward to a double report next time.

We meet at the Ronald United Methodist Church, 17839 Aurora Avenue North, Shoreline, WA. That is on the west side of Aurora (State Route 99) between 175th and 185th Streets and more specifically, between the Cadillac dealer on the south and Deseret Industries to the north. Going southbound on Aurora, make a right-hand turn into the church driveway immediately after passing the Deseret location). The parking lot is at the rear of the church. For regular meetings enter the lower, left side of the church from the rear lot.

Meetings are the first Thursday of each month, except July and August. In June we usually do a tour. Doors open around 7:00 PM and the program starts at 7:30.

Remember the next meeting is October 4.

Hope to see you there or at least sometime on down the line.

Seattle-North Clinic

Santa Train Tickets On Sale Now

Written by Al Lowe
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Sue VanGerpen

The Northwest Railway Museum proudly offers the 44th edition of Santa Train, one of its many special events for families and biggest fund raiser of the year. You and your family are aboard a vintage train, watching scenic Cascade foothills outside your antique coach window, as you journey from North Bend to Snoqualmie, with wheels clickety-clacking beneath you. The train pulls into the station and Santa Claus waves from the platform. You alight from the train to the aroma of freshly-baked cookies. You hurry to the railway kitchen car for hot cocoa and coffee to go with your cookies. Santa awaits your family in the depot with a small gift for each child.

You and your family can be part of this Northwest tradition by ordering your Santa Train tickets today at www.trainmuseum.org. Santa (and cookies) await you!

The two-hour holiday celebration takes place November 24–25, and December 1–2, 8–9, and 14–15. Purchase your tickets now at www.trainmuseum.org. Buy soon — the Santa Train sells out in advance. Tickets are $20 per person age 2 and up. There are seven hourly departures, from 9 AM to 3 PM.

New this year:  A special needs Santa Train at 9:31 AM on Friday, December 14. Contact info@trainmuseum.org to order tickets.

Fascinating Facts about Santa Train

Museum volunteers bake over 24,000 cookies in the coal-fired ovens of the railway kitchen car every year for Santa Train, beginning at 5:00 AM to be ready for each day’s visitors.

The Depot Bookstore is brimming with gifts, ornaments, and books that are sure to delight.

The Museum’s Giving Tree offers the opportunity to share your holiday with someone who might not otherwise receive a gift. Simply bring a new, unwrapped gift with you to Santa Train and place it beneath the tree.

Northwest Railway Museum