Grab Iron Posts

February Tacoma Clinic Report

February 16, 2013Written by Al Babinsky

Al Babinsky / Photos by Chip

MMR Gene Swanson opened the clinic on schedule as always. A total of 32 model railroad enthusiasts were on hand despite of Valentine’s Day.

It was announced that the Olympia Layout Open House would be from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on March 2^nd. The 4D BOD meeting would be at 1:00 PM on February 23^rd at Mitzel’s in Kent.

The video library was manned by Stu and open to check out or check in videos.

What’s new at the hobby shop was presented by Bill Deutscher from Tacoma Trains, under the many new things was a town in the box by Woodland Scenics, rolling stock, locomotives, and accessories from various manufacturers. BIll mentioned that this would be the last he would present what’s new at hobby shop because he had to devote more time to his regular job. He will be missed by all.

The model of the month (Bring and Brag) had a number of nice models, Walt Huston with a diesel for his Aberdeen, Tacoma and Spanaway Forrest RR, detailed and decaled. Chris Clancy with a Yard tower and tool shed scratchbuilt from lumber of a wood house kit, the shed with corrugated roofing. Dale Kraus with an Alexander Scale white metal crane kit, modified, weathered and painted. Jim Sabol with an O scale toy flatcar purchased at a swap meet, the car was actually brass and he was able to remove the metal deck install brake rigging and wooden deck on the car, next are proper couplers and complete trucks. Gene Swanson had two Santa Fe box cars and one NP reefer from his Dirty Santa loot. They needed major repair since most of the detail parts were broken. Gene was this month winner.

After the break the clinic for this month was by Al Babinsky on LED lighting for model railroad use. Since LEDs became available much progress has been made in size as well as intensity. The colors that are used in model railroading are available. Yeloglow LEDs from Miniatronics simulate incandescent headlights. Mini and Micro LEDs are so small they can be used in light fixtures and even small enough to be used in N scale. Resistors are normally used to restrict the current flow but now new devices are out that can be used, they called current limiting diodes, CLDs for short. They not available at this time but Mouser and DigiKey carry them normally. The information on the CLDs can be found NMRA magazine May 2012 issue. Al’s handouts listed the vendors and their web addresses.

A great clinic which everyone enjoyed and hopefully will be able to use the information on their layouts.

Next month clinic will be March 14^th at our usual place, the Pierce County Library Admin. Bldg. the corner 112^th Street and Waller Rd. We hope to see you there!

Tacoma Clinic

Olympia Clinic Report: Brian Ferris Does It Again!

February 16, 2013Written by Al Lowe

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Article & Photos by Jim Sabol

Olympia clinic members have come to expect highly informative as well as entertaining presentations from Brian Ferris at our monthly get-togethers. Brian’s February 15 clinic at Chuck Ricketts’ home was no exception: taking us PowerPoint by PowerPoint through the steps of creating a prototypical layout from conception to layout plan.

Keith Newsom and a full house have no trouble staying awake for Brian Ferris

Twenty-one happy modelers filled Chuck’s living room, kitchen, and dining room (an open plan with great sight lines) to learn from Brian how to pick a likely prototype area rich in modeling possibilities; research the geography, facilities, trains, commodities, and schedules for that area; and design a track plan that accommodates most of your favorite elements from that area and era.

Brian Ferris readies his PowerPoint presentation

Selecting the bustling Grays Harbor cities of Aberdeen, Hoquiam, and the surrounding communities, Brian presented slides of typical trains, an actual roster of train movements in and out of the area for a single week in the 1960s, and historical shots of the yard, locomotive, and industrial facilities served by the Northern Pacific, Union Pacific, and Milwaukee railroads.

Brian finished with an HO track plan for a garage-sized room that effectively included most of the elements from the choices that make Grays Harbor a great place to model and would be a ton of fun to operate prototypically—which is a huge emphasis among the Olympia group. Brian’s CAD rendition of the layout even allowed for some effectively interactive kibitzing and reworking of the plan—something else at which this group excels.

There were even rumors of groups with torches and pitchforks planning to storm the castle and raze Brian’s current layout to be replaced by the one he just described. But the torches went out before the mob could get to Brian’s house, which is a considerable distance away. And their pitchforks turned out to be merely large swizzle sticks.

During the breaks, attendees had a chance to descend the stairs into the wonderful world of Chuck Ricketts’ On30 Shelton, Sherwood and Sarazen Railroad with its terrific scenery and multitude of scratchbuilt structures and funky narrow gauge rolling stock. (Not allowed to say “cute.”)

One of the happiest moments of the evening was welcoming David Halliday back home from six months of logistics support in Afghanistan. Dave was home less than a week but he showed up at the clinic. Now that’s our kind of model railroader! Welcome home, Dave!

Jim Sabol made a pitch for NMRA membership, handed out free copies of the NMRA Bulletin, and provided bargain, special offer, 6-month trial memberships for only $9.95. Sue Ritter was first to sign up.

Sue Ritter holds an entire tavern in her hands

Carrying out the prototype theme of the evening, the Most Popular Model was won by Sue Ritter with a beautifully scratchbuilt rendition of the Brooklyn tavern, an actual establishment more or less famous in the southwest Washington hills between Rochester and Raymond. Sue downloaded and weathered her signs from the Internet.

Once again everyone in attendance had a winning ticket in the door prize derby which included a copy of O. Winston Link’s pricy book of Norfolk and Western art photos donated by Ronnie Beghin, decoders donated by Walt Huston, calendars, key chains, and a variety of gizmos from trucks and track to switch throws donated by Charles Lundberg (who is cleaning out his parts bins). Seeing that everyone present held a winning number, Robert Grove was moved to exclaim, “It’s a muracle!”

On March 15 (the ides! no problem unless your name begins with Caesar), we’ll meet at Scott Buckley’s home, where—unless prevented—Robert Grove and Jim Sabol will reprise their clinic from the recent National Narrow Gauge Convention on the railroads and restoration efforts of the DuPont Powder Works.

Join this happy group to see slides of DuPont’s ocean dock with its narrow gauge railroad and aerial tramway. Learn how to make nitroglycerin. Win a door prize! We’ll leave a light on!

Grab-Iron, Olympia Clinic

Next Eastside Get-Together on February 21

February 14, 2013Written by Al Lowe

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JJ Johnston

The next Eastside Get-Together will be February 21, Thursday, 7:30, Bellevue. We are excited to announce noted railroad modeler and artist Todd Gamble will be presenting a never before seen clinic on trees. As most of you know, Todd is the lead scenery professional working for Peter Hambling’s monster layout in Medina which most of us have visited for an open house. The incredible scenery was mostly built by Todd who continues to create scenery from photos taken by our friend Dave Hikel for this amazing project.

Todd’s Thursday presentation will be in two parts. He will do an actual demonstration of building a northwest conifer tree and he will bring materials for all of us to follow him in making a deciduous tree. Todd has presented for us before and his demonstrations have always been first rate. Don’t miss this great new modeling workshop opportunity and take home your own model tree.

Of course, we will offer all the other activities including model of the month, video rental library, the super mart for estate sale railroad items, free coffee and fresh donuts, plus door prizes from Steve Depolo’s Inside Gateway hobby store.

See you there!

Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

Eastside Get-Together January meeting report

February 13, 2013Written by Al Lowe

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JJ Johnston

JJ Johnston welcomed 40+ attendees to the first Eastside Get-Together for 2013. He introduced several visitors as well as his usual “dignitaries” (as defined by JJ!).

Frank Dekker reminded everyone of the Pacific Science Center show coming up on Martin Luther King weekend. More volunteers would still be welcome. Russ Segner talked about the tentative plans for the 4D Spring Meet on May 11 with clinics and annual meeting on Saturday and layout tours on Sunday (but only for those who attend Saturday). He cautioned, however, that these plans were still in the development stage and could change. Stay tuned.

JJ reported that the donations collected in November and December were used to help several members of the church and he read responses from the recipients. The recipients were most grateful for the help provided.

The Model of the Month again had several entries. An old California Scale Models (now Alpine Models) freighthouse kit, which was modified greatly by David Yadock, took the prize.

After a short break, David Woodrell, MMR, gave a presentation he had done at the National Narrow Gauge convention inSeattlein September honoring the life of Brian Ellerby.

Brian was founder and owner of Evergreen Scale Models, the fantastic styrene we all use in our modeling. The presentation showed Brian as a young man chasing trains for photos (as we have all done) and ultimately building his own layout. We had a look at some of the early projects he worked on in building his layout for controlling his turnouts. Surprisingly, they were made out of Evergreen styrene! Quite ingenious! Most of us think of Evergreen styrene being used largely by model railroaders, but the community of users is much larger! The styrene is shipped all over the world to practically any company you can think of for all kinds of uses; modeling, project design, prototyping of new ideas, etc. David did a wonderful job giving an insight to the person Brian was and what he did for the hobby and the plastic industry. Thanks, David!

Join us on Thursday, February 21^st for the next Eastside Get-Together. Watch the Digital Grab Iron for the announcement of the topic and presenter.

Eastside Get-Together (Redmond) Clinic

4D Board Meeting Coming Up

February 11, 2013Written by Ken Liesse

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Ken Liesse

The next 4D Board of Directors’ meeting will be Saturday, Feb 23, at 1:00 P.M. at Mitzel’s, on Central Ave. (84^th), just off the Valley Freeway in Kent. Any 4D member may attend the meeting.

If you have anything for the agenda, please get it to Superintendent Ken Liesse by Wednesday, Feb. 20.

News

Snake River Convention Special Model Contest

February 7, 2013Written by Al Lowe

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Bruce McCosh

As part of the Snake River Special Convention, the 3rd Division will hold a special modeling contest, based upon a specific structure kit. Jimmy Deignan, of RailroadKits.com, has created a small HO structure called Marshall’s Shipping ($15 + $5 shipping).

Models entered in this contest must start with a Marshall’s Shipping kit from RailroadKits.com. You can modify, kit-bash or extend it in any way you choose but you can’t spend more than $25 on additional items (i.e., figures, details, parts, etc.) Signs, paint and glue are considered “free” and aren’t included in the $25 limit.

You can make your model into any business you want (i.e. dynamite sales, boat shop, bakery, coal dealer, etc.). The only limit is your imagination. Models may be entered with or without scenic bases. This will be a Favorite Vote contest.

First, Second and Third place popular vote winners will receive $75, $50 and $25 gift certificates for merchandise at RailroadKits.com.

By the way, the Convention’s website has been updated; check it out now at http://pnr.nmra.org/3div/2013.html.

Convention or Meet

S. V. & W. N.M.R.A. Liaison Retires

February 5, 2013Written by Al Lowe

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Rich Blake / Photo by Al Frasch

Gordon Garnhart

After 8+ years of faithful service, Gordon Garnhart, our Skagit Valley and Whidbey Club NMRA Liaison, has handed over the reins to former 4D Superintendent Al Carter.

Gordon has provided monthly clinic reports for the Grab Iron and worked with the Division Treasurer to secure funding for our meetings. His efforts are directly responsible for growing our club from just a few members to now more than 35!

We also enjoy a fantastic monthly meeting venue in Oak Harbor at the Summerhill Activities Center due to Gordon’s efforts. Gordon also, on his own initiative, provides our club with a monthly personal presentation on current local and national publications and newspapers on railroad and modeling-related subjects. His articles are always a source of interest to club members. Gordon’s contributions and service to the club and the NMRA are greatly appreciated.

Skagit Valley and Whidbey Island Clinic

Operating on the Sherwood, Shelton, and Sarazen

February 4, 2013Written by Al Lowe

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Jim Sabol / Photos by Dave Faussett and Jim Sabol

“How happy were they, Jimmy?”
“Happier than a model railroader, operating on a DCC layout, with a fresh set of batteries, a smooth locomotive, and a clear board from the dispatcher!”

Layout owner Chuck Ricketts explains DCC controller to first time operator Dave Faussett

About once a month, a group of about ten guys, modelers in scales from N to 3/8,” gather at Chuck Ricketts’s home in Lacey to operate the Northwest-themed Sherwood, Shelton, and Sarazen Railroad in On30 scale.

At a typical four-hour Saturday afternoon session, the gang observes a twenty-four hour fast clock to run two first class passenger trains northbound (a.m.) and two southbound (p.m.), two through freights north and two south, a logger, a harbor local, and five or six extras. Yardmasters at Shelton and Oyster Bay drive their switch engines hard but prototypically to construct and deconstruct departing and arriving traffic, giving priority to livestock, perishables, and non-time-sensitive ladings.

Jim Sabol works the dispatcher’s desk with timetable and fast clock

Station stops by the fast passenger trains are brisk but adequate for customers to board and disembark safely. All activity is charted and facilitated by a dispatcher with a timetable, lots of coffee, a sharp pencil, an OS sheet, and phone communication with station agents (who double as passing engineers OS’ing their arrival at each station). The dispatcher remotely operates working order boards at each station to confirm a train’s authority to proceed to the next control point, where the engineer again OS’s his progress.

Layout owner Chuck Ricketts assigns duty to Yardmaster Greg Wright at Oyster Bay

The SS&S is no plywood central. Operators run their trains through beautifully executed scenery and backdrops, and a multitude of mostly scratchbuilt, appropriately dated and located stations, tipples, liveries, quarries, sawmills, water towers, docks, and warehouses. No matter what scale a person models at home, after ten minutes operating on the SS&S, a visitor feels as if On30 is the perfect scale—at least for today.

Jim Elder checks out several of many structures he scratchbuilt for the wharf on the SS&S

Frequent operators on the SS&S include Scott Buckley, Ted Curphey, Mike Davidson, Josh Delp, Brian Ferris, Scott Groff, Robert Grove, Ryan Bates, Charles Lundberg, Allan Manson, Roger Nulton, Sue Ritter, Jim Sabol, Marvin Schurke, Robert Scott, Doug Walters, Larry Williams, and Greg Wright, assisted by first time operators Lee Bishop, Dave Faussett, and John Phillips. Layout co-builders, maintainers, and troubleshooters include Jerry Barnes, Jim Elder, and Jerry Julian.

The busy Sherwood sawmill was designed by Chuck Ricketts, scratchbuilt by Chuck and Jim Elder, with machinery built by Bob Staley

Chuck Ricketts’ Sherwood, Shelton, and Sarazen will be open to visitors on March 2 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. as part of the annual Olympia Layout Tours.

Olympia Clinic, Operations

Seattle-North Clinic – Next Meeting Feb 7, 2013

February 3, 2013Written by Jeff Moorman

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By Jeff Moorman

Please come join us on Thursday (February 7) for our next clinic. Our general topic will be using photography to improve your modeling.

In January we looked at attendee’s favorite sources of data for researching railroad history, primarily for the period of the first half of the 20^th century. Certainly Google came up as well as the myriad of railroad books that have been published. Like everything else on the web, it is probably best to try and confirm the facts you get online.

A couple of less known sources were mentioned. Just as the NMRA Library is working on digitizing its archives, so are libraries, museums, and archives all over the word. And it is not just scans of pictures that are available. Old books are scanned to DVDs and some of these make their way onto the web. All sorts of paper documents are imaged as well. It was suggested you do a Google search for “digital archives” or maybe “photo archives” to find this material.

Of course not all archives are digital yet. Libraries and museums often have collections of photos, papers, and memorabilia that are not on regular display. It doesn’t hurt to ask at your local library. As an example the Bellevue Community College branch of the Washington State Archives has a 1930’s photograph of almost any building in King County. These were taken as part of a depression-era arts project, but are not available online.

Other sources for early 20^th century information are reproductions of Sears’ mail order catalogs. They will show you what fashion and household products were in vogue, as well as prevailing prices.

Show and tell had the same two participants as last month. Dennis T had a pile driver in On3. Although not this regular scale, he “rescued” the car some years ago and has been working at making it look presentable again.

Rob J had a selection of rail maintenance equipment all from resin castings. They made an impressive display. Rob also had a log car and 2 resin fire trucks. I’m of the opinion that Rob might just have an inexhaustible supply of N-scale resin vehicles.

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 175^thand 185^th 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 February 7 and the one after that is March 7. Hope to see you there or at least sometime on down the line.

Skagit Valley & Whidbey Clinic Feb 13th

January 29, 2013Written by Al Lowe

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Allen Frasch

The Skagit Valley & Whidbey NMRA Clinic presents a great clinic this month on February 13th: “How to Model Roads and Streets” by world-famous modeler, Al Carter. Just kidding about being world-famous (unless you count YahooGroups), but he does present a good clinic about roads and streets.

We will meet at the usual place, Summer Hill Retirement facility, OakHarbor, at 7:00 pm. Please email afrasch@whidbey.com if you need directions.

Read our PDF Newsletters here.

If you would like to receive these newsletters via email every month, email afrasch@whidbey.com.

Skagit Valley and Whidbey Island Clinic