This clinic will discuss and demonstrate how to utilize LCC to drive on layout lighting features with the added element of time.
Archives: Tooltips
CNJ Crossing Keeper’s Hut
For this clinic, I intend to take attendees through constructing an HO-scale Central Railroad of New Jersey crossing keeper’s hut based on a ‘kit’ of parts that I’ll bring. I intend to bring 20 kits. I will bring some tools, but it would be helpful if attendees brought their own hobby knife, cutting mat, file, and CA glue. The construction will take about an hour, and any remaining work can be done at home after the show. Clinic is free and open to the first 20 people who show up.
Steve Wysowski
I have been a model railroader since I was 4, having received an American Flyer set that I built up until I left for college. I re-entered the hobby after grad school, moved back to CT, and modeled turn-of-the-century equipment in HO. I built my locomotives from kits–MDC and Varney. I was a member of a club with a museum affiliation; the club modeled the town where the museum was located and I soon was scratch building structures from old photos and existing remains for the museum. I modeled the town of Canton, CT in HO scale. I built several structures on the club layout and a few are on the NMRA website.
My current layout is a representation of my home town of Derby, CT in 1913. It is freelanced, based on the New Haven RR. It is narrow gauge and while the NH RR never ran narrow gauge, I love the locomotives and the challenge of getting my stable of engines to run well. I built two outside-frame 2-8-0s from MDC kits, six 2-8-0s, and two 4-4-0s, as well as re-motoring and re-designing 8 brass for the period. All of these have sound, lights, and Keep-Alives! Rounding out the stable are 4 Blackstone 2-8-0s. All the cars are either scratch built or kit built. Some 40+ scratch built structures represent Derby, CT along with a bustling population of about 600 figures.
Building a Steam-Powered Doodlebug
I have been and still am fascinated by combine-style doodlebugs. While I prefer steam, I will talk about my entry into scratch building one, after having kit-bashed the machine I will be talking about principally. I will focus on tips for construction, making one’s own parts, and how to use existing hardware to make a one-of-a-kind model. While I model narrow gauge (HOn3) the techniques are applicable to any scale. Styrene is my current material of choice along with molded resin. I have also been casting my own pieces. Warning: casting in resin is addictive!
Modeling with the Masters: Mortar – How to Do It
In this clinic we will use different readily available products to enhance mortar joints on buildings. Participants will be afforded the opportunity to use stains and other products to provide a “better” look of mortar joints on brick walls and other building components. Participants are advised to bring rubber gloves. Free, and limited to the first 20 people who show up.
Mike Byle
Mike–Byle has been a train enthusiast his whole life. He was born into a family where his father was a Trainmaster and his grandfather was a brakeman with many other relatives working on the railroad. He worked on track gang as a college student and later professionally as a civil engineer designing railroad bridges and track. He received his first American Flyer train at the age of 3, and has modeled in all scales from N to G. He is the owner of CB Train Junction train shop and is a published author on railroad modeling. He has been an active member of the National Association of S-Gaugers and NMRA. He has conducted clinics on many topics and has won modeling awards. He writes a blog and has published articles in the Dispatch, S Gaugian, and S Scale Resource, and New York Central Modeler. He also restores and repairs classic toy trains and accessories to bring them back to life and creates custom, unique models.
Suspended G-Scale Railway
Mike–Byle will present a program on the design and construction of his new suspended G scale railroad. He built the line to take advantage of space around the ceiling of his train shop, since the floor space was occupied by three other layouts and retail merchandise. The presentation will include planning, materials used, and construction methods for the track and track support system, as well as, a clear guideway system to protect against equipment falling accidentally. He will describe the methods that made use of easily available parts and simplified construction.
Fred Willis
Fred–Willis is life member of the NMRA and a member of the New Jersey Division. New England railroads, particularly in Maine in 1900, are his primary prototype interest. His primary modeling activities are scratch building structures and cars and researching the history of small railroads and locomotive designs.
The Design and History of Early British Locomotives
In 1830 the first steam locomotive for American use, The Stourbridge Lion, arrived in the US from Britain. Even though it was primitive, it was built on 25 years of locomotive development and knowledge. This clinic will describe the first 25 years of British steam locomotive development, when there was no industry knowledge to draw on.
Building Models from Photographs – Lessons Learned
Structures abound in photographs; unfortunately kits of most structures do not exist. How can you build a structure model from a photograph? This clinic provides guidelines and ideas on how to research and build an accurate structure from a photograph. Also comments on using NMRA judging to achieve merit awards
