Bill Hupé

October’s Westside Clinic was one of the best in a long time. Eight long time participants – Jack Hamilton, Reed Cranmore, Steve Neupert, Tom Brittell, Jim Byerley, Pete Rowe, John Pichler, and I (Bill Hupé) – were joined by first timers Mike Hunt and Bob Wojcikowski.

As Clinic Chair I welcomed the new members. Both Mike and Bob are long time modelers who have been out of the hobby and looking forward to learning what is new in the hobby. When they stopped working on their railroads, mountains were made out of papier–mâché and rock faces were hand carved from Hydrocal®. John mentioned he was in the same place.

I brought everyone up to date on happenings in the Bremerton Northern Club. The next show is at the Veterans’ Home at Retsil, November 7th and 8th. I extended an invitation to all 4th Division members to come out and talk with the Vets.

Jack brought us up to date on happenings in and around the 4th Division, PNR and NMRA. He talked about the 7th Division show and swap meet in Vancouver, BC, November 7 & 8; the upcoming Boeing Swap meet in Kent, November 14; and the Great Train Show and swap meet in Puyallup, November 14 & 15. Jack also talked about his role in the NMRA both as Western Director and as the Chairman of the Membership and Member Retention Committee.

Pete Rowe presented Jack with an N scale Hamilton Electric Building he had built in appreciation of the wiring help he has given Tom Brittell on his layout rebirth. Pete also shared a 2-hole latrine and line drawings for the Port Blakely Lumber Mill’s Planing Building. He also shared a Campbell Scale Models Co-op Creamery he had built for Tom’s layout.

Steve Neupert shared some Oxford Diecast Vehicles.

Jack gave us an overview of the wiring “opportunities” and the resolution of these presented in Tom Brittell’s layout rebirth.

There was no clinic scheduled for this month so Jack asked the question of our new clinic members: “What would you like to see in a clinic?” Suggestions included “structures, weathering rolling stock, DCC programming and layout planning.” One of the new members (I think it was Bob) said “Why don’t we do a series based on the AP program?” We all agreed and decided the next three clinics would be:

  • November 10th – Basic Wiring, lead by Jack Hamilton
  • December 8th – Weathering Rolling Stock, lead by Walt Huston
  • January 12th – Layout Planning, lead TBA

Future 2016 clinics include “Creating Rocks Using Bragdon Enterprises Foam”, lead by Bob Jensen; “Basic Construction of Craftsman Building”, lead by Pete Rowe; and DCC Programming, lead TBA.

For those visiting the first time our clinics are held at the United Way of Kitsap Building in downtown Bremerton (647 4th Street) at 7 pm. Additional details (including a map and contact info) are on the Clinics Page.