The 4D HO Modular Group no host breakfast Regular Member Meeting will be on Saturday, January 21, 2017. Brian Pickering will present the program: “A Clinic on LCC” (NMRA Layout Command Control standard). The open meeting is at 8:00 am at Mitzels American Kitchen in Kent. Additional information including a map can be found by clicking here.
I’m in the final stages of getting an article published in a major model RR publication. However, the editor has asked if I could get pictures of the subject (the RDC “Camera Car” I assembled for the 4D HO Modular Group) on a sceniced layout.
Is there anyone with a sceniced layout on which I could take some pictures in the next week or so? While the article won’t be published for a couple of months, the layout is coming due. I’m in Sammamish, WA, so obviously the East Side is most convenient for me, but I’ll be down at the Washington State History Museum model train show in Tacoma on the 26th and 31st, and am willing to drive a reasonable distance to get the shots I need.
Thanks. I can be contacted at bpickeri@gmail.com.
Russ Segner’s Sn3 scale steam critter.
The East Side Get-Together North Clinic (Redmond), held on 15 December 2016 at the Old Redmond School House, had the usual Bring-and-Brag plus the annual Dirty Santa gift exchange. Dave Cook brought things together after the coffee and doughnuts warmup.
Dave Enger displayed seven of his side dump gondolas for the evening’s viewers choice, and first (and last) gift pick. Russ Segner also brought in a dandy steam critter in Sn3 scale to show. Then on to the main event for the evening, the railroad-themed gift exchange.
The “Dirty Santa” exchange rules established way back when steam was king (I’m told) had some strategy to somehow finagle one’s choice during the proceedings. Early picks were at a disadvantage as maybe their choice for the evening may not have been revealed. Each item has to be unwrapped at the time of selection thus exposing it to a pack rat exchange. However, the pirated “victim” then has the choice of any other item that has been picked.
Note from Kent Sullivan: Hello regional NMRA friends, I am helping Richard Anderson of the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie to get the word out about saving this amazing all-wood Northern Pacific passenger car. It is rare in the extreme to find one in such complete condition. The issue is a chunk of money needs to be raised quickly in order to move it very soon, before the property owners condemn and destroy it. (It’s horrible to consider this happening but that’s exactly what is in store for the car in a couple of months.) The total cost to rehabilitate this car, if it can be moved soon, is projected to be far less than the typical restoration these days, due its superior overall condition.
Please, if you can donate to help raise the first chunk of money, contact Richard. His contact info is at the bottom of this posting. And, please forward this posting to anyone you know who might have an interest in helping – NP enthusiast or otherwise. The link is https://4dpnr.com/northern-pacific-parlor-car-1799-move-and-restoration/. Merry Christmas.
We all like surprises, well, most of us do. So, join us this Thursday, Dec 15th at the Eastside Get Together Clinic in Redmond for our annual “Gift Exchange”.
The meeting begins at 7:00 PM, the location is the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center at 16600 NE 80th St, Redmond, WA 98052. Additional details including a map can be viewed by clicking here.
Bring a wrapped item, funny or otherwise, worth less than $10. Or, dig into your stash of unbuilt kits and/or parts. Mark on the package what scale is appropriate. The packages are put in a pile on the table at the front of the room. We draw names to see who goes next and so on until everyone has received a mystery “gift”. The trick is that once you have yours, the next names can take it from you instead of taking one from the pile. If yours is taken, you get to choose another one. Confused? We will explain the rules at the meeting. It turns out to be lots of fun and lots of laughs. And, a few of us end up with some neat things we can actually use.
Refreshments as usual. Bring a model to display. Winner goes first for the “Gift” drawing.
Do you know someone who has been beating his brains out promoting our hobby and helping modelers (which is the same thing). Holding open houses. Giving clinics. Writing articles. Helping kids become interested in our hobby. Please consider nominating him or her for the Golden GrabIron Service Award (click here to see previous awardees) for 2017. Send your nominations, and how we can reach you, to jimsabol@msn.com or give them personally to previous awardees Ted Becker or Jim Younkins.
Thank you.
The next 4th Division Board of Directors meeting is Saturday December 3rd, 9:30 am, at Mitzel’s in Kent, Washington. As always, all 4D members are invited to attend.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
Tuesday December 13th is our Clinic. Subject for the clinic will be … Suggestions? Anyone from the Tacoma Clinic or the east side of the sound that can volunteer?
We will have a “Dirty Santa” gift exchange. Bring a wrapped gift. Something that has been hanging around and you no longer want. Or something new. Pass it on to one of your buddies. Value? Up to $15.
As usual there will be a “Show and Tell” and “Model of the Month”. Bring your family or a friend who is interested in Model railroading. Refreshments will be provided. Donations for the Kitsap Food bank will be collected.
Ted Becker opened the Clinic with seventeen in attendance including guests David and Paulette Sitzenstock of Ferndale and Mark and Chris Malmkar from Oak Harbor. During the announcements, Ted asked how many in attendance joined the NMRA due to their participation in the Mt Vernon Clinic. The answer: Six!
December 8 – Mini-Clinics, a virtual dim sum of railroad and modeling topics in bite size doses, including Al Carter, “Yet Another Way to Make Streets and Roads;” John O’Connell, “Catenary Poles.” There is still room on the agenda so let Ted know if you have a 10-15 minute topic.
January 12 – Nick Muff, “It’s All in the Details,” a clinic on how to add those important final touches to your model scene that take realism to the next level.
February 9 – Bob Stafford, Retired BNSF Trainmaster will speak on Operations on the Bellingham Sub.
4th Division, Eastside Get Together South Branch (Renton) Clinic, Tuesday November 22, 2016
Attendees at the Renton Clinic November meeting
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday we moved the meeting night up from the usual fourth Thursday to the fourth Tuesday. Russ Segner convened the gathering at 6:30 pm as we were in the Renton Highlands library and they are rather set in their ways on available conference room hours. These are very nice KCLS (King County Library System) facilities for meetings, but due to scheduling difficulties, the location may change for future meetings. There will be a Grab Iron post when that happens.