2010 Minicon

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Modular layouts, always popular, were the work of the Meade Area Model Railroad Society with 15 highly detailed modules;

Mark reported that the clinics were excellent, all serving their advertised purpose, many attuned to operation. “Some,” he said, “were incredibly well-attended.” John Drye demonstrated weathering.
Click here for more clinic information.

There was a Lucky Strike Extra in a special demonstration by Ben Hom, a modeler who brought examples of upgraded Walthers X29 rolling stock. Ben showed how he did it, featuring examples of repairing, weathering and detailing, the essentials for a realistic roster.

“The best Mini-Con I’ve ever been to,” said a longtime modeler leaving the Chesapeake-Potomac Mini-Convention in Columbia, citing the modular layouts, educational clinics and what he termed the best convention site he could remember. The Mini-Con was held in the South Columbia Baptist Church. Superintendent Marshall Abrams, reflecting on the organization and joint effort of the two divisions, said, “It was a very successful operation, the way things came together with everyone contributing their best efforts.” He said he was especially pleased with the organization of the modular setups. “There was a great feeling and a great ambiance because everyone was in the same room. Starting with the White Elephant table, members could see how all the pieces fit together to create a final layout.” Clint Hyde, the ex-president of the Mid-East Region, organized and staffed White Elephant books, kits and memorabilia.				WElephant WElephant
				modulars modulars
Modular layouts, always popular, were the work of the Meade Area Model Railroad Society with 15 highly detailed modules;		MARRS5 MARRS5	MARRS7 MARRS7	MARRS8 MARRS8
the Baltimore Area Ntrak Club with 16 modules, including, in part, the Pennsylvania Railroad Station in Baltimore;
BANTRAK4 BANTRAK4	BANTRAK8 BANTRAK8	BANTRAK9 BANTRAK9	BANTRAK0 BANTRAK0	BANTRAK1 BANTRAK1
BANTRAK2 BANTRAK2	and the Northern Virginia NTrak club with an astounding 50 minimodules and the biggest classification yard in the room.	NVNTRAK T-TRAK set-up NVNTRAK T-TRAK set-up	T_TRAK3 T_TRAK3	T-TRAk house on fire9 T-TRAk house on fire9
Click here for information on these modular groups.	Clinics, organized by Mark Andersen, drew high marks all around. Click here for more information. One modeler showed off a sedum tree he had made, saying “it’s the most realistic tree I’ve seen and I’ve seen them all.” Then he said, smiling, “My wife will be growing sedum in the garden from now on.”		Bob Sprague-trees Bob Sprague-trees	sedum trees sedum trees
Mark reported that the clinics were excellent, all serving their advertised purpose, many attuned to operation. “Some,” he said, “were incredibly well-attended.” John Drye demonstrated weathering. Click here for more clinic information.		John Drye-weathering John Drye-weathering	There was a Lucky Strike Extra in a special demonstration by Ben Hom, a modeler who brought examples of upgraded Walthers X29 rolling stock. Ben showed how he did it, featuring examples of repairing, weathering and detailing, the essentials for a realistic roster.
Ben Hom Ben Hom	Clerk Bill Demas, as usual and as expected, greeted and registered modelers, holding sway at the registration table, counting money, encouraging formfilling and checking National Model Railroad Association membership,assisted by Chesapeake Superintendent Kurt Thompson. Working the election table were Russ Forte and Gerhard Klose.		Bill Demas registration779 Bill Demas registration779	Russ Forte, Gerhard Klose, Mark ANdersen Russ Forte, Gerhard Klose, Mark ANdersen
In the Contest room, Ed Price, Greg Meeks, Martin Brechbiel and Brian Sheron were among the judges, examining models for Achievement Program points and encouraging exhibits under the title Celebration of Modeling. When the dust had cleared, models by Brian and Jim Burnside had earned achievement points. In the popular vote contest, among models on display and those seeking points, Bill Day‘s bascule draw bridge took first, and Brian’s Halesite Landing and pickle car tied for second.
Model Display3 Model Display3	Model Display4 Model Display4	Model Display5 Model Display5	Model Display7 Model Display7	Ben Hom - HO scale freight cars1 Ben Hom - HO scale freight cars1
Ben Hom - HO scale freight cars2 Ben Hom - HO scale freight cars2	Ben Hom - HO scale freight cars 3 Ben Hom - HO scale freight cars 3	Bill Day - HO scale bascule Bridge 2 Bill Day - HO scale bascule Bridge 2	Bill day - HO scale bascule bridge 1 Bill day - HO scale bascule bridge 1	Bill Day - HO scale Steel Mill1 Bill Day - HO scale Steel Mill1
Bill Day - HO scale steel mill2 Bill Day - HO scale steel mill2	Brian Sheron - HO Pickle Car Brian Sheron - HO Pickle Car	Brian Sheron - HO Reading Stock car Brian Sheron - HO Reading Stock car	Brian Sheron - HO scale Halsite Marine Brian Sheron - HO scale Halsite Marine	Jim Burnside - HO Coke Pusher1 Jim Burnside - HO Coke Pusher1
Jim Burnside - HO Coke Pusher2 Jim Burnside - HO Coke Pusher2	Robert Johnson - O scale Traction models 2 Robert Johnson - O scale Traction models 2	Robert Johnson - O scale traction 3 Robert Johnson - O scale traction 3	Robert Johnson - O scale Traction models 1 Robert Johnson - O scale Traction models 1