An Alternative Approach to Layout Design in Modest
Spaces by
Brian Scace
The
concept of Nodal Layout Design is presented, especially applicable to
those whose available space for a model railroad would accommodate
something between a linear-design empire and a single-scene switching
pike.
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AP
Judging by
Charlie Flichman
When
you enter a model in any NMRA Model Contest, it is judged using the
Achievement Program Judging Guidelines. This is done whether or
not you are participating in the AP. So, come and see how these
guidelines are used to evaluate your model.
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Avoiding Minefields and Pitfalls on Your Nonprofit
Board by
Roger Cason
Do
board meetings have you bored? Do you keep having snafu's?
Do the same old administrative problems keep cropping up? . . . . .
This clinic offers specific "how to" suggestions on making your
nonprofit board and organization run more smoothly. These
suggestions apply to any nonprofit organization, not just model
railroad organizations (spouses, take note!).
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The
Art of Decaling by
William Mosteller
Bill
will demonstrate decaling an HO-scale box car and discuss decalling
issues.
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Basic
Techniques for Scratch Building in Styrene by
David Renard, MMR
 Dave
will demonstrate basic techniques and helpful hints for measuring,
cutting, and assembling sheet styrene to build structures and rolling
stock for your layout. These methods work well for scratch
building, kit bashing, or just enhancing models built from conventional
styrene kits. Bridges, tunnels, platforms, retaining walls, and
highways are effectively created from styrene.
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A Brief History of Model Train Control Systems
by
John Glaab and Gill Fuchs
Multiple
train control didn't begin with DCC. Since the 1930's modelers have
been trying new concepts to control multiple trains on the same track.
We trace the evolution from the crude multiple power pack systems to
the modern day electronic systems..
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Building a Historic Building - the Sheafe Warehouse by
Fred Willis
How
do you measure, research, and build that unique structure which
interests you? This clinic will show you how using the Sheafe Warehouse
as an example.
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Building
and Coloring Masonry Buildings by
David Emery
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Hands
On
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This clinic shows some tricks for designing, building, and then
coloring brick and stone structures. This includes simple computer
design techniques, the 'scribe and snap' technique for brick or stone
subwalls, sponge painting techniques for stonework, and some techniques
for coloring mortar and weathering. We will design, build and weather a
building side (useable as a backdrop 'flat'). Attendees should bring a
hobby knife with #11 blade and a straightedge/ruler (scale ruler
preferred).. Extra fare
$15.00.
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Building
In Wood - the Post Office by
Martin Brechbiel and Clint Hyde
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Hands
On
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In this Building in Wood Hands-on Clinic, the participants will
construct a Post Office kit that is laser-cut, and features window and
door castings, and a cast foundation. Kits will be available on
both HO and O scale. Participants must bring their own tools
(some will be provided, but having more is better), but the model and
glue will be provided at the clinic. It should be possible to
complete this structure in the 3 hour clinic. List of recommended
tools to bring: scalpel or x-acto with #11 blade(s), straight-edge,
90 degree inside corner angle, your favorite wood stain, sandpaper, and
small spring clamps (clothes pins). Extra fare $15.00.
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CadRail Update by
Dennis Vaccaro
A
review of the CadRail layout design program including program commands
and applications to layout design. Attendees will help design a sample
layout in the second half of the program. Reviews of new functions
learned since last year and a comparison of the new CadRail 9 at the
end of the program. Bring your computers to follow along with the
program. Convention attendees may bring their designs for review and
assistance with their questions about CadRail.
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| Ceiling
Tile Rock Building by Mark Andersen |
Hands On |
Mark will model for participants
the methods of building rock strata with ceiling tiles. To ease
time, pre made blocks of ceiling tiles in various stages of
construction
will be provided. These include glues rough tiles, wire brushed
and primed tile blocks, and color tinted ready for highlighting rock
samples. Participants need bring nothing in the way of tools or
supplies, everything will be provided by the clinician.
Bring a bag or shoe box to take away your personally made
samples. As a participant, be aware you'll be working with X-acto
knives, wire brushes, water base paints and equipment. Any and
all precautions for protecting yourself is your responsibility.
The clinician assumes no liability when participating in this clinic.
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| Cheap
and easy trees by Chuck Hladik |
Hands On |
Chuck will use Crepe Myrtle "flower buds" and black poly fiber to make
trees.
All attendees will get an 8 ounce bag of black poly fiber and the tree
they made. Extra fare $5.00. |
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Computer
Modeling Structures by
Chris Jessee
A survey of software and techniques for designing model railroad
structures.
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Creating a Stencil for Your Logo by
Gil Fuchs
 When
decals just won't do the job, you can't find them, or you can't get
your hands on an Alps printer - create and paint your own logo on your
preferred rolling stock using this technique, which is borrowed from
the world of PCB production. The process is not very complicated, using
your preferred graphic editing program (Corel Draw examples will be
shown), and materials available at your local Radio Shack store and
on-line. The result is a durable brass stencil that can be used over
and over with your airbrush to paint logos on a large number of cars,
engines, and/or buildings. As an added bonus, the printed logo can be
made to have the fuzzy look of sprayed-on lettering as in the prototype.
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Designing Industries for Your Model Railroad by
Rich Mahaney
 This
clinic uses a systematic approach and questions to help model
railroaders select industries for their model railroads. Through a
series of questions and photos, we will look at a number of ideas
related to the selection of what kinds of industries that should be or
could be on your model railroad, how to increase car traffic to your
industries, and you will understand there is more to industry selection
than "going to a hobby shop and picking a box off of a shelf". There
are industries in the real world that are one building, to industries
that take a large part of a community, we will talk about all of them.
This clinic also illustrates with photos of many industry ideas from
other layouts and what other model railroaders are doing.
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Fine
Scale Animation by
Bill Day
A powerpoint presentation will
cover fine scale animation for operation, covering animated bascule
bridges, coal tipples, water tanks, roll-up doors, engine house doors,
ore bins, mine elevators, mine ramps, etc. Regional and national
award-winning models will be displayed as teaching aids.
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Getting
your MMR Authors Achievement by
Martin Brechbiel
So you're contemplating
working towards getting your Author Certificate in the NMRA Achievement
Program - does the thought of writing give rise to anxiety
attacks? Did you know that you can get credit towards this
certificate through giving clinics, producing videotapes &
web pages, your Divisional and Regional publications, as well as the
traditional article format in magazines? We'll go through all of
the rules and requirements, discuss "nuts & bolts", as well as step
through my personal experiences for tips and hints to be a successful
model railroad author.
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Grits
ain't just for breakfast anymore
by Chuck
Hladik
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Hands On |
We
will use grits to achieve a peeling/blistered paint effect. |
 Helix
Design Considerations, and Building the Behemoth Helix by
Mark Brunton
This
clinic discusses major design considerations of a helix, including
grades
(real and compensated), train out-of-sight time, footprint of a helix,
stringlining a train, etc., then goes on to show my own helix
construction as an example. Included in the example are the major
mistakes I made, and how to avoid making them yourself. A Handout of
useful design formulae and
considerations will be provided to attendees.
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Improving
Rolling Stock Operations Using Proper Maintenance and Car Weights by
George Bogart
A
demonstration of maintenance procedures and weight adjustments to
improve operation of new and existing rolling stock.
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Intermodal 101 by
Rich Mahaney
 This
clinic reviews intermodal containers, intermodal railroad cars and
railroad intermodal operations. In addition we will look at how to
transfer real railroad intermodal operations to model railroading. This
clinic will help model railroaders understand the many components of
intermodal operations and to include the many aspects of intermodal
operations on their model railroad. Handouts will be provided. The
clinic will last between 60 and 90 minutes.
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Intro
to Decoder Programming with JMRI/Decoder Pro by
Dick Bronson
A better tool for programming decoders. Decoder Pro simplifies the job
of configuring complicated DCC decoders by providing screens on which
you can select the various options and values you want.
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Introduction
to Layout Control with JMRI/Panel Pro by
Dick Bronson
Designing and Operating CRT based CTC control panels that reflect the
real-time state of your railroad and let you control it - almost like a
prototype dispatcher! Get started with the basics of how to build
a simple classic CTC panel image and use it to control turnouts.
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Introduction to Steel Mill Modeling by
John Glaab
 Many
modelers are intimidated by the size and complexity of steel mills.
This clinic will explain the basic elements of a steel mill, the
importance of choosing the time period for the mill, and how to take
existing kits to build a 1920's - 30's era mill
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Kit-Bashing
HO Freight cars by
John Johnson
Building prototype models of freight cars, with kits and parts from
Bowser, InterMountain, Branchline, Red Caboose, and MDC
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Making Dwarf Signals by
Marshall Abrams
 Learn
how to make a dwarf signal with a LED (Light Emitting Diode)
that's only .1 inch wide. The LEDs we use are nice because the light
from the individual chips light up the whole circle. This means that in
addition to green and red, they make a quite nice yellow if both the
red and green are turned on. They also come in a green-yellow version,
which can be used on the main line approach track and two red-green on
the main and side tracks.
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Modeling
Newport News, VA C&O in O Scale by
John Roberts
Prototype review of research and photos of prototype C&O and layout
progress
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Operations
Switchlist Software by
Marshall Abrams
Computer generated switchlists use tables of the cars on the layout,
their type, and potential delivery locations. The system generates
moves of appropriate cars to appropriate destinations, attempting to
avoid repetitious activity. I will describe how I use the RailOp
program. The presentation handout includes extensive web references.
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Q & A with the incoming MER Officers by
Roger Cason
Do
you have improvement suggestions for the MER? Complaints? Attaboys?
Meet the incoming MER officers. Find out "where they are coming from".
And, let them know where you are coming from. Here's your chance to
speak up.
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Rags,
Q-Tips, Steel Wool and Alcohol by
George Wiley
Presented will be a number of quick and easy techniques to improve the
appearance of your rolling stock and overall layout. Included will be
'toning', pre-ballasting, weathering basics, easy rust and a few other
short subjects.
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Red
Iron as Scenery and Destinations by
Tom Brodrick
This is a different look at how to use steel on the layout. First we
will examine the different shapes. Their prototype uses, corresponding
modeling sizes, loading and unloading, and the ways that you can model
steel fabricating industries for your railroad. After fabrication comes
the field use of the steel where you will delve into the erection and
staging for a construction site model on your railroad. The main lesson
I want you to leave with is that a properly staged building under
construction can be as interesting to build as a completed one. The
clinic will deal with construction and steel from pre-WWII to the
present. A CD of the photos used and charts will be handed out.
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 Retooling 3 control panels into 2 redundant panels by
John Swanson
Three
panels, which had only minor overlapping functions, have been
eliminated with all functions combined on each of two new panels. The
task included 2 diode matrixes, and in excess of 150 LEDs and 80 push
buttons on each panel. The area covered is Spencer Yard on the NVMR
club layout's Western North Carolina RR. A significant portion of
the layout is controlled by the panels, including Salisbury Station,
the north and south ends of Spencer, red, blue, and gold line route in
and out of Washington and Atlanta (hidden areas), interchange with the
Blueridge trolley system, the Wye interchange between the blue line and
the Western North Carolina westbound, the round house, steam engine
service, diesel engine service, and the ice house. It is anticipated
that the NVMR club layout, located in Vienna, VA, will be a featured
open house, allowing participants to see the subject control panels
installed and operational. The project has spanned several years and
required well over 1500 volunteer hours, as extensive upgrades to
wiring and other control elements were ultimately necessary.
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Sawdust Scenery by
Noll Horan, MMR
An
easy, realistic scenery technique using sawdust and white glue using
Jon Addison's methods. A simple, non-mess approach to convincing
scenery for your model railroad, dioramas, etc. Examples may be seen of
Jon Addison's beautiful Sn3 modular layout by 'googling'
silvertoncentral.com for more information and photos
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Start-up OPS using car cards and waybills by
Roger Sekera
This
clinic is designed to get you started in OPS using only car cards and
waybills. No fast clock, dispatcher, radios, or time tables but may be
verbal or written warrants, a system that I use on my own
ClinchValleyLines.
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Tank Cars 101 by
Rich Mahaney
 This
clinic explores the types and features of current tank cars, looks at
model railroad tank cars, tank car loading and unloading facilities,
industries that use tank cars, how to increase tank car traffic on your
model railroad and tank car rules that the railroads use. Handouts will
be provided. The
clinic will last between 90 and 120 minutes.
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Timetable
and Train Order Operation by
Steve King
This
3 hour clinic covers all the basics needed to begin operating
on a railroad using timetable and train order rules. Steve will
cover the principal operating
rules that govern TT&TO operations, and you will use those rules to
simulate operating over the mythical East and Western Railroad during
the class.
You'll learn how to move across the railroad using the basic "Rights of
Trains" concept, practice copying and using train orders, and develop a
working
knowledge of TT&TO. Attendees will receive a handout with
information helpful for starting TT&TO operations on their own
railroad, and everyone attending
will have the opportunity to try out their skills by participating in a
TT&TO operating session at one of several great local
railroads. Advance registration for the
class is required so that we may plan operating layout
assignments. The
Consolidated Code of Operating Rules book
will be provided to all registrants.
Extra Fare $15.00
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 Using
the PC as a
modeling tool by
Fred Miller, MMR
An
outline of the many ways a personal computer can be used to support
your model railroading activities including design, construction,
operation, documentation and entertainment.
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Weathering Rolling Stock by
John Drye
There
are as many weathering techniques as there are colors of dirt. Two of
the most popular are painting with washes and drybrushes (lots of
thinned paint and just a little paint, respectively) and dusting with
artist chalks. The first step is to take a look at prototype cars to
see how nature ruins the railroads' collections. If you model the
modern era, all you need to do is to continue to photograph the train
after the engines pass. If you model an older era, there is a
tremendous variety of published material with good color pictures of
dirty, rusted, dented, stained and grungy rolling stock. Just what
we're looking for! This clinic will describe the steps required to use
these techniques to make your own rolling stock look like it works for
a
living.
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What to Do With That "Old Era" Railroad Equipmnet by
Rich Mahaney
This
presentation will give model railroaders some ideas on what to do with
"old era" railroad equipment. "Old Era" railroad equipment becomes
available if you decide to change railroad time periods (1940's to 2007
as example), equipment that crashes to the floor, cheap plastic cars
purchased years ago that are replaced with the quality cars of today,
railroad equipment interest changes, etc. These are all real examples.
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| Wood Trestle Bridge Building by Steven Willis |
Hands
On
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This class will cover the building of Wood Trestle Bridges. i will
include the discussion of scale vs. building to scale. Selection of
material - Pros, Cons, and Cost. Using a Balsa Striper. The design of
your Bridge and the building of a Jig. The assembly of a Trestle
Bridge. You may build as many bents as time permits (and materials).
The Jig, glue, any Bents/Bridges that you make, and extra building
materials are yours to keep. The provided jig can be modified so you
can build the bridge you have been wanting for your layout. Materials
provided: Glue, Jig, Building Material, Rule. A knife to cut the balsa
wood will be needed.
Extra fare $6.00. |
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