May 2010 - the 4th Division • PNR • NMRA

Issue 520 • May 2010 Page 5
Clinic & Modular Group Reports
Eastside Get-Together
JJ Johnston / Photos by JJ Johnston
Reserve The Date: Thursday, May 20
Want to know more about operations? (The train kind, not the medical!)
Many layouts enjoy operating sessions. Now is your chance to learn more and understand
this facet of our hobby, so you can be invited to operate on someone
else’s pike or set up your own operations. Dave Liesse will present a comprehensive
clinic titled “Operations on the Apple Route,” how he operates on Amrail
(The Apple Route), a 20' x 30' N scale layout owned by Fred Henize. He’ll cover
the use of car cards and waybills, the track warrant system, plus how and why the
operating system was developed. Dave will explain how it was customized, how
things worked out, and will include photos.
Last month, over 40 of us were entertained by Dave Woodrell, who presented
an amazing clinic on creating scenery. Dave brought a 2' x 6' foam-based module
to demonstrate how he creates land forms with both foamboard and glue-gunned
paper spider webs covered with plaster cloth. He showed his ground cover technique,
beginning with latex paint, sprinkling on ground foam and decomposed
granite. He even showed how to put ground cover on a vertical cut using a spoon
of material and a photographer’s air blower. He covered bushes and shrubs and
how he makes trees from Super Trees armatures. He finished by showing photographs
of scenes from his own nationally-recognized Sn3 Rio Grande Southern
home layout. Absolutely fabulous! A special drawing was held to see who got to
take home his module and the lucky winner was Bob Rorabaugh, who fortunately
had brought his truck.
“Model Of The Month” included a stunning S scale café by George Chamber;
ties, supports and walkway for a curved trestle that Stu Rogers is building in N
scale; an amazing N scale module brought by Rob Jones; restoration progress
photos on work at the Snoqualmie Museum and a model of an NP 4-6-0 which
actually ran on the Snoqualmie line, brought by Russ Segner; and custom-built
display cases (without glass) showed off by Bob Rorabaugh ( which he plans to
build and sell to someone from his collection of different woods). The winner,
Jim Sabol, displayed his custom-painted, weathered and lettered D&RGW 2-8-2-2
in O scale. Great stuff.
Our May meeting will include the Stu Rogers video library, the Ferris Super
Mart, the Clay Hanson greeting and custom name tags, Steve Depolo’s Inside
Gateway’s door prizes, “Model Of The Month” and CJ Turner’s free coffee and
donuts (donations accepted). Come early to visit and make new friends while enjoying
an evening of camaraderie.
Tacoma Clinic
Al Babinsky / photos by Al Babinsky
MMR Gene Swanson called the clinic to order and greeted everyone. We had
two newcomers which were welcomed by all.
Dale Kraus announced that he has increased the store discount for this month
and that items are going fast. If you need something, better get to the store quick
because there are no new items ordered. Gene thanked Dale and Diane for all
they had done for the hobby and wished them good luck in their new endeavor:
retirement.
Scott Groff is changing scales and has many items for sale; if you’re interested please contact him.
Dave Woodrell in action
Eastside GetTogether member Rob Jones and his
mother make incredible baby quilts. JJ Johnston
presented 22 quilts to Vision House in Renton on
Rob’s behalf. Susan Camerer (left), Executive Director
& Co-Founder, and Mary Burton (right), Donor
Relations Manager show some of the quilts at Vision
House, a Christian-based social service agency
which provides transitional housing and support to
homeless mothers and their children, helping them
to achieve independence and self-sufficiency while
providing a stable, safe living environment. Thanks
to Rob & Mom!
“What’s New at the Hobby Shop” was presented by George Boucier including three annuals on logging, mining and coal, a number
of freight cars, and vehicles in several scales from various manufacturers.
The “Model of the Month” category featured scratchbuilt cabooses; a HOn30 (76mm gauge) double-ended critter; a water
tank built from a kit; a Master Creations building kit; a Walthers N scale kit; and an Ambroid wood dining car kit. The
winner was Gary Fredrikson with his O scale Backwoods Water Tank. The prototype was used on a logging line on Vancou-