Clinicians: Kurt Thompson, MMR & Brian Kampschroer

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CLINIC: Hands-On: Hobgoblin and Elf Earn Their AP Electrical Engineer Certificate (Again)

DAY: Friday

TIME: 7:00-10:00p

ROOM: Wayne

DESCRIPTION: As the owl from the old Tootsie Pop commercial used to say when asked how many licks to the center of a Tootsie Pop, “One, two, three...” Since beginning working on his MMR back in 1993, Hobgoblin has often wondered what is the least amount of time it would take to assemble a layout that would meet the requirements of the Model Railroad Engineer - Electrical. After mulling over this idea for over 25 years, we are going to find out with this hands-on/seminar-style clinic. The clinic will now take that thought exercise and try to prove or disprove the theory it can be done in less than a day. We’ll see if the layout can be built, be functional, and qualify in one long clinic for the AP Electrical certificate, using Atlas HO prefabricated track and electrical components. So let’s get working on the railroad.

No fee, but preregistration required.

About the Clinician...

Hobgoblin (a.k.a. Kurt Thompson, MMR #619) has been playing with model trains since age 4, well over 50 years. He is currently serving as the President of the Mid-Eastern Region. Previously he served 5 years as the start-up Superintendent of the Chesapeake Division and two years as the Vice-President of the MER. He ,of course, holds the Electrical AP certificate.

Elf (a.k.a. Brian Kampschroer) has been involved with the NMRA at the Regional and National levels since 1979 and involved with model trains since he helped his brother wreck his father’s incipient model railroad when he was just seven years old. He currently serves as the Mid-Eastern Region Treasurer. Previously he was a founder of the Susquehanna Division and a Director of the MER. He is working on his MMR slowly and surely. Elf also holds the Electrical AP certificate.

Elf and Hobgoblin met many years ago during the 1990 Pittsburgh Limited National Convention. Over the intervening years, they have often run into to one another at regional events. For the past 3 years, they have been working closely as members of the MER Board of Directors.

If you’re curious as to why Kurt is nicknamed Hobgoblin, look up the quote about consistency in Bartlett’s Book of Quotations. The rest of the story is known by the MER Board.