Grab Iron Posts

Article and Photos by Rich Thom Unless Noted

Clinic Chair Rich Blake welcomed a bumper crowd of 31 who gathered at our Oak Harbor venue for the Skagit Valley and Whidbey Clinic’s first meeting of the 2018-19 season. Four from our “sister” clinic in Mt. Vernon joined us, and Rich welcomed as well two new guests whom we hope will become regulars: Dennis Persson and Jon Bentz. Dennis is building an n-scale layout, and Jon a large On30 pike. Jon, a member of the Pacific Northwest On30 Modular Group, has a 14’ x 39’ space for his planned southwest-Colorado themed “Rio Como” railroad, designed from the outset for operations. We look forward to the first open houses of both layouts—no pressure, Dennis and Jon! Rich thanked Susan Gonzales, our Program Chair, for the very successful Whatcom Railway event this summer, which drew over 40 participants from both the Whidbey and Mt. Vernon groups; if similar interest is expressed next year, the event may be repeated. Rich reviewed the regional calendar as well as upcoming clinics for the season. In October, the popular “mini-clinics” will be the program, followed by Mark Malmkar, MMR (on a topic yet to be revealed) in November. December will see our traditional “Wassail” evening of an entertaining program plus pot-luck, and January, a “make-and-take” evening. Spring programs are still open but one will definitely be a repeat of our joint sessions with the Mt. Vernon Clinic, at their venue, with lots of “hands-on” clinics in “walk-around” format.

Mike O’Brien from the Mt. Vernon party announced this year’s modeling contest, which he has titled the NMRA Build Competition and Photo Match Challenge, open to all Mount Vernon and Skagit Valley and Whidbey attendees. There will be three contest categories: (1) structures, scratch-built (any scale); (2) structures, kit-built or kit-bashed (any scale); and (3) rolling stock, scratch-built, kit-built, or kit-bashed (any scale). The Photo Match Challenge can be any of the above or anything else related/useful on a layout. The contest is open to individual or team entries. The projects must be new and not something contestants have built previously. The build dates are now through March 2019—so get going, modelers! Judging will be at the joint clinic next spring. Mike has donated about $1,500 worth of prizes in all scales from his business Xtrains Model Train Supplies. Thanks, Mike!
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By Rich Blake

The Skagit Valley and Whidbey clinic will start it’s 2018/19 season on 12 September at the Summerhill Retirement community rec room in Oak Harbor.  (165 SW 6^th Ave) at 7:00pm.  Our guest speaker will be Eric Erickson who will provide a presentation on the Great Northern steam locomotives and track plans in the northwest.  Eric will have several historical photos to support his clinic which came from the Charles and Dorothy Wood collection.  We look forward to some interesting and locally significant prototype history from Eric.