Tacoma Clinic Report for November

Al Babinsky, Photos by Dale Kraus

3D printed items by Chip Van Gilder

The clinic was opened by MMR Gene Swanson with 40 attendees including two newcomers, both of them N scalers. Gene asked that the attendees raise their hand when their military branch of service was announced and thanked them for their service. Helen McGovern was presented with an $1800 check for the Emergency Food Network. The contribution was made by the clinic attendees throughout the year.

I (Al Babinsky) asked for a volunteer to take over the clinic report due to the fact that my night time vision is not the best anymore (specially when it rains). It is a once a month job that requires taking notes during the clinic and creating a digital Grab Iron post (adding text and uploading pictures, typically supplied by Dale Kraus).

Walt Huston’s N scale pipe loads, the Bring and Brag winner of the November Tacoma Clinic

“What’s New at the Hobby Shop” had a few item from a couple of manufacturers. The “Bring and Brag” portion of the clinic had a slide projector showing Chama on the Cumbres and Toltec railroad, and an old LaBelle reefer kit assembled by Gene Swanson with dry transfer decals. Walt Huston brought a number of N scale flatcars and gondolas with pipe loads of various sizes made from materials such as drinking straws. Chip van Gilder showed off more 3D printed items like a metal wrench and grab irons. He also showed several cab roofs made with different types of plastic materials (to compare and contrast the different materials). The “Bring and Brag” winner was Walt Huston with his pipe loads.

Gene Swanson’s reefer

After the break Paul Rising presented his clinic on internal lighting of structures. Creating realistic lighting involves a lot of work, making sure that no light escapes through corners and walls. The light source should also not be visible but designed to be replaced with minimal effort. Paul provided printed handouts describing what has to be done to accomplish the job. The clinic was accompanied by a Power Point presentation which showed several buildings undergoing the modifications and installations of the light source. With the finished building lights on in darkness, the effect was very realistic.

December’s clinic is “Dirty Santa” – bring a model railroad related wrapped present marked with scale (HO, N, etc). Food and drink will be served. We meet at our usual place the Pierce County Library Admin. Bldg. the corner of 11^th street and Waller Rd. at 7:00PM (19:00 for the military types). Additional details including a map can be viewed by clicking here.

Steve’s wood kit of a deck flat girder bridge