Skip to main content

Grab Iron Posts

Eastside Get Together – Redmond

by Alex Brikoff

The December 2017 Eastside Get Together Clinic will meet on December 21, 2017.
Doors Open at 7:00 PM and Meeting starts promptly at 7:15 PM at:
The Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center
16600 NE 80th Street
Redmond, WA 98052

We will begin by mentioning any noteworthy, upcoming model railroad and railfan events in the area. We will also have our Model of the Month and Rail Photo of the Month contests. We are going to drop the categories for the Photo Contest, so any railroad themed photo, model or prototype, is welcome! So, bring your best models and photos for the contests!

We will be having our annual Christmas “Dirty Santa Gift Exchange” this month. Everyone is asked to bring a small gift to participate. It is requested that the gift be inexpensive (less than $10 – $15 value) and gift wrapped with ONLY the scale marked on it if necessary (no names).

We will also have refreshments and snacks available.

See you then!!

Golden Grab Iron Service Award

by Jim Younkins

Each year, the Golden Grab Iron Service Award is given to the Fourth Division member who best exemplifies outstanding service to the organization. The winner is chosen by a committee comprised of the previous three winners of the award. We are proud to present well over a half century of award winners, each of whom sacrificed many hours to this hobby we love.

It is now time to choose a deserving recipient for the 2018 Golden Grab Iron Award. The committee would like your help in identifying candidates for next years ward. With your nomination please include a brief summary of his/her contribution to the hobby.

Please submit nominations to Jim Younkins at: jcyounkins@comcast.net, Ted Becker at: rail.bird@att.net, or Greg Wright at: gregorywright2002@yahoo.com.
It is important that you get your nominations to us as soon as possible so we have time to process them and select a winner.

Thank you in advance for your participation,

Jim Younkins

Help Needed

Help is needed to transport the small 4 x 6 foot HO layout from Issaquah to Tacoma. Kurt Laidlaw and some others will use it in a retirement home. A pickup with canopy or a van will be needed.

Contact me at 206 200 2211 and I will coordinate the move.

Russ Segner

Olympia Clinic

by Greg Wright/Jim Younkins

It is time for the Olympia Clinic November 17th meeting.

Bill Busacca will be presenting:
Weathering RTO cars with Pan Pastels and other weathering tricks.

Bill will show photos of a number of different techniques—both paint types and powders to create the affects you need to create the best scenery you can.

Remember, we are at the
Thurston County Court House,
2000 Lakeridge Drive SW.
Building 1, Room 152.

Join us at 7:00 pm on November 17, 2017.

Tacoma Clinic Update.

Accidently omitted in the November report was the Model of the Month winner.
Paul Vaughn took the honors with his On30 car barge and apron.

Don’t forget, Dirty Santa is coming to the December meeting. Dec 14 at the Puyallup Community Baptist Church.   See the main Nov report for details.

November 2017 Eastside Get Together Clinic – Redmond

We meet this Thursday.

Doors Open at 7:00 PM and Meeting starts promptly at 7:15 PM at:
The Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center
16600 NE 80th Street
Redmond, WA 98052

The November 2017 Eastside Get Together Clinic will be on November 16, 2017. We will begin by mentioning any noteworthy, upcoming model railroad and railfan events in the area. We will also have our Model of the Month contest and Rail Photo of the Month contest. The Photo category this month will again be Prototype – B & W. So, bring your best models and photos for the contests!

Our clinic this month will be “Building the Virginia and Truckee Engine House with Plaster Castings” by Bob Oakes. Bob has just returned from the Virginia and Truckee Historical Society annual convention in Carson City where this clinic was very well received. He is also modeling the Virginia and Truckee on his home layout.

We’ll also have refreshments and snacks along with great door prizes.

An URGENT request: PLEASE bring your models to show in the Model of the Month Contest. They don’t have to be finished, we love to see in-progress work as well. Also, please bring any Black and White Prototype Railroad photos you might have to enter in the Rail Photo Contest. Both contests are in dire need of improved participation!

Meetings are the third Thursday of each month, September to June. Doors open at 7:00 PM and the program will start at 7:15 PM.
By Alex Brikoff, 11/10/17

November Tacoma Clinic

Dale G. Kraus

Photos by author

Twenty-seven model railroaders gathered at the Pierce County Library administration building on November 9 and were called to order (sort of) by Wain Miller, substituting for the ailing Gene Swanson.

The topic for the evening was  The Art of The Streamliner, a fascinating computer/slide program  narrated by railroad historian Joe Welsh.  The program covered both steam and diesel streamliners, including the Twentieth Century Limited, the Broadway Limited, the Super Chief, the Burlington Zephyr, and others.

The modeler’s showcase again had only three entrants: Warren Kerr’s Hon3 2 truck shay. Paul Vaughn’s On30  kitbashed car float, and a four building Swiss  village by yours truly.

Warren’s Shay

Paul’s Car Float

Dale’s Village

We REALLY need more models.  C’mon, guys and gals. This January bring along something to show.

Remember. the December clinic will be held   at the Puyallup Community Baptist Church, 1318 9th Ave SW, Puyallup WA 98371.  It’s the Christmas party, so bring your appetite and a gift for Dirty Santa.