Al Babinsky
MMR Gene Swanson opened the clinic in his usual manner and asks if any newcomers were present. Patrick Smith introduced himself as a newcomer to the hobby. We had 47 modelers attending the clinic. Under announcements, TNW presented a YouTube video advertising their swap meet at the Tacoma Freighthouse Square on May 14–15.
A moment of silence was held for our 4D superintendent Dennis Hill who passed away on Tuesday the 12th of April.
Mike Shaw announced that there will be a 100th Anniversary celebration for the Tacoma Union Station on May 1st.
George Bourcier from Tacoma Trains presented what’s new at the Hobby Shop which included a N scale 11-car UP city train consist, box cars with graffiti applied and many other items.
The Bring and Brag (Model of the Month) had many fine entries including a scratchbuilt log car; a gondola with a river rock load; a 2-story outhouse marked U.S. Army; an N scale Donovan’s Transfer Co. dockside building with lighthouse; an U.S. Army caustic liquid tank car in DB markings; three geared logging locomotives, Shay, Climax, and Heisler (the Shay and Climax included sound); a Lincoln-style cabin printed on paper and then assembled; a scratchbuilt static grass applicator; a Jordan miniatures chain drive Mack dump truck; N scale box cars weathered with chalk; O scale brass Milwaukee Road Bipolar re-motored, with re-manufactured gear boxes for all drive axles; a Sierra West kit of a tractor repair shop with LED lighting and a forge with flickering fire; and, last but not least, what the owner called his dinner train: a set of boxcars with advertisements for various food and beverage products. The winner of the Model of the Month was Dennis Reeves’s N scale Donovan’s Transfer Co and Lighthouse.
The clinic, “About Water,” was presented by MMR Gene Swanson. Gene wanted a shallow, slow, clear river flowing over a smooth rock bed. He experimented with various products such as Modge Podge, Triple Thick, Realistic Water, and Magic Water. He also tried combinations of different products and found that Triple Thick and Realistic Water gave him a somewhat cloudy mixture which looked a lot like water with sediment in it. The combination that satisfied him was Triple Thick and Realistic Water, which dried clear and did not wick up. Again a great clinic and thanks to Gene for sharing this with us.
Next month’s clinic will be May 12th at our usual location, the Pierce County Public Library Admin. Bldg. at the corner of 112th Street and Waller Road at 7:30 PM. The clinic presenter will be Duane Damgaard speaking on “Mines.” Hope to see you there. Bring some of your modeling friends or potential modelers. Photos of the Model of the Month should be published soon.
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