Al Babinsky

MMR Gene Swanson opened the meeting at our Veterans Day location at the All Nations Church in Parkland with a moment of silence for the fallen Veterans. He then asked for all that had served in the various branches of the Armed Forces to stand up and be recognized. We had a total of 37 attendees two of which were newcomers; Jeff Kuhns who models HO BNSF and UP present era and Paul Nolten who models the Monon RR, Roger is also a newly minted MMR. Mike Shaw presented the Video Library and said he would have the library available for the next couple of month.

What’s new at the hobby shop was presented by Tacoma Trains which included a new release from Athearn of a Genesis SD-70, PGE wide vision caboose and tank car, a Bowser Baldwin VO-1000 switcher, Accurail NP gondola, Woodland Scenics ready built Megawatts Transformer power station building and N Scale Station buildings, BLMA equipment shed and metal wheel sets. Kato N scale SD-45, Portland Car & Foundry Everett & Monte Christo box car.

In the Model of the month Jim Murry presented two Ambroid Caboose Kits built by his father one of them was rebuild by Jim. Dave Faucett with a Builders in Scale bait shop, one of three buildings in that kit. Paul DeMuth with a HO Grain Elevator partly scratch build and kit bashed. It was built in various locations during his AF tours mostly in Italy with materials from local shops.

The winner was Paul DeMuth with his grain elevator. Photos of the models can be seen in the digital Grab Iron submitted by one of the attendees.

The clinic for this month was a Power Point presentation on the Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg Germany by Al Babinsky. Al visited the largest model rail road in the world while on his trip to Germany. At the present time the rail road covers a 10,000 square foot area with a little over 7 miles of track. 830 trains operated on the rail road along with several thousand cars, trucks and a couple of ships which operate on real water. The operation is handled by 40 computers and is completely automatic watched by 3 operators.

Next month clinic is Gene Swanson “Dirty Santa” along with a feast, please bring a wrapped gift up to $ 15.00 and mark it as to what scale. The clinic will be at our usual place at the Pierce County Library Office Bldg at the corner of Waller Rd and 112th Street at 7:30 PM, hope to see you there.