Grab Iron Posts

Technology is upon us. Just in time, it seems since, all our normal gatherings have been shut in. No train shows and no clinics. No visiting others layouts. Bummer.

By now, many of you have discovered the power of meetings online. With Zoom, we can meet while sitting in the comfort of our own home. No need to drive across town in the rain and traffic. No need even to shave or get out of our very casual comfy clothes. Munch discreetly on a snack and sip a cold one while a well organized presentation is displayed before us.

Now we can visit beautiful layouts without fighting for a close parking space or elbowing into a crowded layout room. We get to really see all that is there. Our host has an opportunity to thoroughly tell the story of his railroad vision. And, since it is recorded, we can visit it again, anytime.

Our clinics can easily accommodate larger attendees and the presentations can come to us from anywhere in the model railroad world.

Thanks to Burr Stewart and Bill Messecar for organizing and presenting this to us. The schedules appear regularly in the Grab Iron. So, turn on the computer and tune in.

Russ

By Al Babinsky

A Maerklin Z scale layout on a 2×4 table with removable legs. Come with lots of a accessories Amtrak F-7 and passenger cars, UP F-7 and GP -38 caboose and various freight cars and Maerklin track cleaning car. Two stall engine house, gravel loading facility and several buildings including a station. Layout not finished but is operational in analog only. Must be picked up or will deliver within Seattle area for gas fee.

Asking $ 300.00

Contact me at babinskya@comcast.net

Al

By Al Babinsky

1998 Roco HO DB ICE set. This is an early 1:100 scale Digital set complete with early Roco Lokmaus and oval track and extra cars. The reason the set is 1:100 scale to make the train appear smaller as in real life compared to the 1:87 scale. Asking $ 150.00 contact me at babinskya@comcast.net for photos and more info.

Thank you,

Al Babinsky

By Burr Stewart

This Saturday, August 22, 10:00am to noon, will feature another pair of local area layout tours on Zoom, sponsored by the NMRA’s PNR 4th Division. The first is a tour of Al Lowe’s N scale modules, set up in his garage, featuring some amazing N scale scenery craftsmanship. The second is Greg Wright’s 1:32 (3/8” scale on HO track) north central Washington freelanced Consolidated Republic Mining Company layout, by looking closely a the six mines and two mills served by this unique model railroad, that he scratch built.  After each 30 minute presentation there will be 15 minutes for Q&A. Here is the Zoom information you need to watch it:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87624697618?pwd=dnF6L3Y4L2QyTHhHWVZpL1ZmTHI4Zz09

Meeting ID: 876 2469 7618
Passcode: 272952

Announcing the Eastside Virtual Get Together Clinic to be held on THURSDAY, August 20, 2020 at 7:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time

Hello, everyone!  I’m happy to announce our next Eastside Clinic will be held virtually on ZOOM next Thursday, 08/20, starting at 7:00 PM (We have switched back to Thursdays by popular demand!).  Since our clinics are virtual these days, I would like to extend an invitation to the entire 4^th Division and encourage you to join our Clinic next Thursday.  You’ll meet some of the other modelers here in the Puget Sound area and see some of the outstanding model work that is being done.  The log in info for the clinic is below.  So be sure and save the date for the August Eastside Clinic next Thursday, 08/20 at 7 PM!

Topic: August Eastside Clinic Zoom Meeting

Time: Aug 20, 2020 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86859299442?pwd=YVJ3SU8xV2h2MUtwZ0NzNU53WjJLdz09

Meeting ID: 868 5929 9442
Passcode: 909838

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Meeting ID: 868 5929 9442
Passcode: 909838

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdkPF48Ufd

Our virtual Clinic this month is titled “Scenery- Making It Work for You and Your Layout” and will be presented by David Yadock.  David is a very talented local MMR modeler.  The clinic will examine scenery planning and execution specifically on David’s Dry Gulch & Western Railroad.  It will look at scenery base materials and some various techniques used to create realistic scenes that can be applied to your layout.  There will be information for the novice to the expert model railroader.

After the Clinic, we will have some time for other folks to show off their latest model work in our “Show and Brag” segment.  The Clinic will wrap up with some administrative comments.

Alex Brikoff, 08/14/2020    

by Burr Stewart

The next 4DPNR Virtual Layout Tour will be shown immediately following the bi-monthly board meeting this coming Saturday morning, August 8.
The Board meeting will start at 10:00am, and the layout tour will follow it, at approximately 11am.
All members are welcome to observe the board meeting.
This week’s layout tour will be Greg Price’s HO Matheson & Western RR. His freelanced railroad is based in the Northwest. It’s 1953 and Greg will take you on a ride on the morning freight thru the cities and towns he has created. You’ll travel along the waterfront in Port Farley, then thru Stephenson, a small farming community. Then the big climb begins into the mountains. Great vistas with many bridges will highlight the climb to Cloverdale. Home to many businesses, including Diamond Brewing. Continuing the climb you’ll pass thru the mining town of Doyle before entering the city of Matheson.
It’ll be a great trip! 

To join this meeting, here is the Zoom info:
Topic: 4D PNR Board mtg & Greg Price layout tour

Time: Aug 8, 2020 10:00 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83009972278?pwd=NnMzUWlQSGgyUXJnRnNkUWRwVlp4Zz09

Meeting ID: 830 0997 2278
Passcode: 486837

Now that we are doing so much of 4D activity online, I want to encourage many more of our members to use Zoom. Here is a Primer prepared for an upcoming National Narrow Gauge Convention online.

Russ Segner

A ZOOM Primer

You have been invited to join a Zoom meeting. What do you do next?

Joining Zoom
• Click on the link which appears in the email.
• Join the meeting using your computer audio.
• You may see a message that indicated the Host is not ready for you to be granted permission to enter the meeting. Just be patient. Most of the time you will join right in the meeting.
• You will see your image on the screen with others.
• In most cases your microphone will automatically muted.
• The host may unmute you to interact with you.
• You can unmute yourself and speak by depressing the space bar and talk while holding it down.
• Try not to talk over someone already speaking, just wait your turn.

Presenting
• Get ready first
• Have your presentation open and ready to start with a single click.
• Share screen is the button at the bottom of the page near the middle.
• If you want to share additional mages, open the new image file and then press New Share
• When finished, press the Close Share button.

Noise on line
• It is essential that your environment is silent. No barking dogs, radios, lawn mowers or noisy grand-kids.
• If you are using a laptop or desktop computer with a built-in microphone, background noise will be a much larger problem; we recommend using a noise cancelling headset such as the Sennheiser PC-8 USB.
• If there is noise on the line, and it is not originating with your computer or background, you might need to ask the moderator to mute that person, or to remind everyone to be muted while you are presenting.

Chat Box
• The Chat Box allows participants to ask questions. The moderator will keep an eye on the Chat Box on your behalf, and help with the review of questions at the end of your presentation.
• If you need to type a response in the Chat Box, when you hit the Return key, it sends the message.
• You can select whether to respond to ‘All’ or to an individual attendee. For our purposes, just respond to ‘All’.

Slide Delay
• When you advance to the next PowerPoint slide, there is a delay before that new slide appears on the attendee’s screens. It is a good policy, when you advance to the next slide, wait for 2 or 3 seconds before you start speaking about that slide. Otherwise, viewers get confused.

Presenter Notes
• It’s a good strategy to have a written outline of points you want to remember, if they do not all appear on your slides.
• Speak slowly and clearly throughout your presentation. The technology is good, but it is less than perfect, and the viewer’s equipment may be less than ideal.
• Try to resist the temptation to tell ’war stories’ or go off topic.
• Send the moderator a pdf of your presentation for distribution.