By Roger Johnson and John O’Connell, Photos by Roger Johnson and Kevin Klettke
On the evening of April 14, Ted Becker kicked off the Clinic with 16 regulars and 3 newcomers in attendance at the Mt Vernon Senior Center. A special welcome to Chuck Wilkey, Dick Wilskey and Bonnie Hollingsworth. We hope you’ll join us again.
Announcements
April 30, 14th Annual Olympia Layouts Tour, Olympia. Details
May 12, Mt. Vernon Clinic. Kevin Klettke wil present “Fleet Weathering”, a reprise of his clinic at PDX 2015 on efficiently weathering large fleets of rolling stock. Visit Kevin’s website at http://wnrr.net.
Another Sample of Kevin’s work
May 14, 4th Division, Pacific Northwest Region Spring Meet, Tacoma Community College. Click here for more information.
Finally, the May clinic will be our last of the first half of this year. Keep an eye out for the September Newsletter.
Ted led the discussion on future Clinic topics:
- Airbrushing – we hope to set up some spray booths and let folks learn by doing. 25 undecorated box car shells (donated through NMRA) will be available for practice painting.
- “One kit” contest where entrants start with the same kit and then build/kit bash it as they wish. Judging at end of season. Mike O’Brien, Xtrains, offered to supply DPM kits at his cost. Monthly “progress” demonstrations.
- “Choose” a model contest – similar to the one kit idea above but without the common starting point. Monthly “progress” demonstrations.
- General Q & A session might be included in future monthly agendas. This would be an opportunity for a participant to ask about anything related to model railroading about which he/she has been unable to find the answer from other resources
Final Diorama Presentations
Ted Becker was up first with a laser kit bashed engine house. He modified the building by making it longer, adding larger windows and adding operating doors at both ends. He used paper shingle prints for the rusting corrugated metal roof. Although there was no diorama to show it off the building, he did such a good job on the building he was forgiven for the oversight.
Ted Becker’s Engine House
Next was Tom Buckingham’s very nicely done NP design freight house by American Model Builders. The highlight was Tom’s description of applying the paper strip, sticky backed shingles. You had to be there to appreciate it.
Tom Buckingham’s NP design Freight House
Al Carter developed a triangular diorama which will be incorporated into his layout. His presentation also included a rather humorous description of his efforts (eventually successful) at making a HO scale chain link fence.
Al Carter’s Diorama
Mike O’Brien, our resident scenery expert, displayed his N scale diorama which includes a scratch built engine house, tall evergreen trees and deciduous trees decked out in fall colors.
Mike O’Brian’s N Scale Diorama
Show and Tell
In John Biagio’s absence, Mike O’Brien showed the laser kit Penryn Fruit Co. built by John. Although it was his first laser kit effort, it looked great. Good job, John!
John Biagio’s Penryn Fruit Co.
Ron Nelson showed an O scale laser kit outhouse. He improved the kit by making working hinges for the door and an interior including a “one hole” seat and, of course, a Sears catalog. Nicely done, Ron!
Ron Nelson’s Outhouse
Tom Buckingham showed a couple of Ed Fulasz kits built for him by Al Carter. Ed Fulasz makes hydrocal and resin kits. The first model ia a gas station and repair shop. Al added additional detailing.
Gas Station and Repair Shop by Al Carter
The second, Johnson’s Grocery Store, is also an Ed Fulasz resin kit. It features a printed interior with LED illumination and, again, various details added outside. Al named this Johnson’s after a neighborhood grocery near where Tom grew up in Renton.
Johnson’s Grocery by Al Carter
Nick Muff showed a work-in-progress project wherein he is converting a 2-8-8-2 steam engine into a Kansas City Southern 2-8-8-0 locomotive. This required shortening the boiler by ½”, accomplished by removing a section of the boiler about two thirds of the way to the rear and concealing with an invisible seam.
Nick Muff’s KCS 2-8-8-0 Conversion
Bonnie Hollingsworth introduced herself to us and shared some of her background with us. She says she has been interested in architecture for a long time and decided she wanted to begin making laser cut buildings. She taught herself to use the Corel Draw program to do the design work but has been using a friend’s laser cutter to produce the parts. Up to now most of her work has been to reproduce historic buildings around the northwest for groups interested in preserving the memories of the buildings. She expects to receive her own laser cutter within a few days and hopes to soon begin designing and producing building kits for the model railroad industry.
She brought some structure parts for Show and Tell, pointing out the three dimensional nature of the parts created by rastering, or sweeping the laser back and forth many times to in essence carve out some of the surface of the plywood. One of the samples demonstrated clapboard siding very realistically. Another did the same with roof shingles. Thank you, Bonnie, and good luck!
Tool Time
Nick Muff showed an aerosol can of Mess Master, made by Design Master, for use in removing lettering from rolling stock without damaging the underlying pain or plastic. A floral cleaner, it is available at Michaels.
Ted Becker shared a number of things during Tool Time:
- An aerosol can of Liquitex paint, the advantage of which is that it is water based and safe for indoor use. However, he was not completely satisfied with the coverage or resulting texture.
- A spray booth he constructed, the basic shell of which is a plastic storage tub. He added two computer-like, but larger, fans, a couple of furnace filters and fittings to attach a 6” exhaust hose.
- A nail polish remover pump bottle. Fill it with alcohol or other solvent/cleaner of your choice and you have a ready supply at the press of a finger.
Adjournment
Ted adjourned the Clinic at 8:45.
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