November 2014 Volume 26 No 03 Issue 281 A 100% NMRA ... 2014.pdf · 20th December – NMRA...

November 2014 Volume 26 No 03 Issue 281A 100% NMRA Affiliated Club

Membership is for a period of twelve months from the time of joining.Please note; schedules for club activities are notified in Train Talk - RAILWAY TIMETABLE - Page 38, and via email, if you have an email address and are not on our members email list, please advise ASAP so you can receive up to date news.Send to email; [email protected]

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in ‘Train Talk’ are not necessarily the opinions of the DDMRC Inc. or it’s members.

PLEASE NOTE: Any personal items left and/or used at the club premises or events attended and/or organised by the club are the responsibility of the owner of said items.

The DDMRC Inc. Takes no responsibility for any loss or damage thereof. MOTION:04/02/03.

MEMBERSHIP FEESOne membership level only.

Ordinary @ $85.00* For Twelve Months

(*Includes basic NMRA membership)

2 Table of Contents/Club Information 26 Stolen Locomotives6 27 OOPS! (Bob Claydon)7 Teditorial 28 Merry Kringle (8 On The Footplate 29 Stolen Loco recovered8 Non Railroad Humour (Bob Claydon) 30 Splitter’s Swamp Creek (Geoff 9 Walthers Modelling Tips Burns)10 NMRA Division 1 report (Lynn 33 The Dunlop Way (Ben Dunlop)Zelmer) 36 The Big Move14 Monday Night Mail Train (

38 Railway Timetable17 Ipswich Workshops 40 6029 (Rosalie Loring)18 DDMRC Christmas Function (Bill Waterhouse)19 Massive Sale20 Garratt Lovers Rejoice (Rosalie Loring)22 Wuiske’s Wunder World (Adam Wuiske)

Trangie Valley (Arthur Hayes)Charlie Getz)

Ken 37 Dick Calling (Dick Stracey)House)

ADVERTISER INDEX:3 Train Pictures4 AR KITS5 Wuiske Promotions38 My Tool Store39 Southern Rail Models

Darling Downs Model Railway Club Inc.All correspondence mailed to:

DDMRC Inc.PO Box 883

Toowoomba Qld 4350

DDMRC Inc. Internet HomepagesWebsite:

Email: ddmrc.com.au

[email protected]

‘Train Talk’ Volume 26 No 03 (issue #281)November 2014

ABN 32 998 681 418

A 100% NMRA Affiliated Club

President Brent Smith 4687 7607Vice President Alick Hodges 4634 4838 Secretary Ted Freeman 4638 0397TreasurerCommittee Peter Bates 0414 994 966

Doug Clarkson 4528 2584Bob Claydon 4630 1465 Lionel Kearney 4613 5785

Bill Waterhouse 4639 2434

Club Number 4638 1408

ON THE COVER: Peter Dusha's Trangie Valley. It was Barron Gorge in Sn3.5 originally, after showing for many years was retired and all S stuff and scenery removed back to cork level and rebuilt based on NSW Blue Mountains type area over the past few years. Photo; Arthur Hayes. Another photo of Trangie Valley on page 6.

2

7

Now the exhibition year is all but over, we need to concentrate on our next major project, the move of club property from Old Maudsley House in Baillie Henderson Hospital to our new extended building at the Toowoomba Showgrounds.

The first move is scheduled for this coming Saturday the 8th November, you can get all the details on page 36 of this issue, “ALL HANDS ON DECK!”.

Our next scheduled event at the Showgrounds will be the Annual Toowoomba Swap Meet to be held Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th February 2015.

Between now and then, it would be nice to get things underway in the extension at the Showgrounds.

Looking inside the new extension, it appears we have plenty of room, well! fact is, we have a lot of stuff to shift into it and there will be a necessity to rationalize some of our possessions, lets not get carried away though, throwing items out haphazardly will hit us in later times.

The planning of the new permanent HO layout can get underway, I am sure we will be calling meetings to discuss this important aspect of the clubs future, our lease at the Showgrounds takes us to the year 2033, so permanency is reasonably assured, we have criteria to abide by, but there is nothing outrageous to accomplish.

This lease at the Showgrounds is in actual fact, with the state government, our tenure with the Showgrounds is primarily one of maintenance and agreed occupancy, by the time a new application is required, I will be 86 years of age if still around, hopefully I won’t have to go through all the hassles again, this mainly means - lets encouragement the recruitment of new members, mention the benefits to people you know that may have even the slightest interest in the hobby of model trains.

As you are aware, to be a member of the DDMRC Inc., a basic NMRA (National Model Railroad Association) membership is a requirement for insurance reasons, the NMRA has been around a long time and benefits all of us in the hobby.

Most members are probably not familiar with the objects and benefits of the NMRA beyond the necessary insurance requirement, take the time to have a look at the NMRA Australasian Division website and have a good look around, there are different levels of membership with varied benefits, I personally have a full membership where I receive the Australian Quarterly publication ‘Mainline’ as well as the monthly NMRA Magazine from the USA, the latter is a high quality publication relating to the NMRA worldwide, whereas the Mainline concentrates mainly on what is occurring in the NMRA within Australia.

2015 is shaping up to be a very important and interesting year for the DDMRC Inc. and the hobby in general, make sure and be a part of it.

http://www.nmra.org.au/

8

Showgrounds Museum Coordinators:

Special Sale Items: There is a policy at the DDMRC Inc.

New Members:

The production of Train Talk and Construction of the Showgrounds Museum & Display Centre has been made possible through the generosity Club Shirts:

Layout Coordinators:

Available now are quality pens inscribed with the club name

You , say g’day to @ $3.00, 25th Anniversary Magnets @ everyone that comes along to the $1.00, 25th Anniversary Coffee Mugs @ clubhouse, visitor, new member or old $6.00 and Key rings @ $1.50, complete and invite them to ‘get involved’, we are pack for just $8.00.all in this hobby for the same reason - “To have fun” Model Railroading ‘IS’ The Welcome to Christine World’s Greatest Hobby.Crawford ‘and Brendan’ and Joe

Saccasan, both into HO scale, please make these new members feel welcome.

A limited number of club shirts are available at just $30.00 each.

HO - Bill WaterhouseZ/N - Bob Claydon

Ted Freeman - GeneralAlick Hodges - HO JamestownRussell Hartwig - N Byers Junction

“MUST HAVE FUN”

Bob Claydon

A small boy is sent to bed by his father. Five minutes later.....'Da-ad....'‘What?'‘I'm thirsty. Can you bring a drink of water?' 'No, You had your chance. Lights out.'Five minutes later: ‘Da-aaaad.....' ‘WHAT?' ‘I'm THIRSTY. Can I have a drink of water??'' I told you NO! If you ask again, I'll have to smack you!!' Five minutes later.......'Daaaa-aaaad.....'‘WHAT!''When you come in to smack me, can you bring a drink of water?'

9

Is it Warm in Here?Since many of our layouts are set in the summer months and in the years before air conditioning was common in warmer climates, it might be getting pretty stuffy in some of those structures along your railroad right about now. Fortunately, you can give the little residents who live inside a break, and have some fun with a couple of quick and easy modeling projects.

Adding replacement windows to new or older buildings is an easy option, as there are several aftermarket windows available with positionable sashes. Installation may require a little cutting and filling, and some touch-up paint.

Another option is to simply remove the lower half of one-piece windows. You’ll need a hobby knife and new, sharp blades — pay attention to how you’ll hold the parts and always cut away from your hands.

Look closely at your windows and you’ll see they’re actually a little lower than the frame. Again, working carefully, use your knife and gently scribe along the edge

where it meets the frame — don’t try to cut the piece all at once, go slowly, make several passes and let the blade do the work. Do this for all four sides, and pop out the sash. Smooth the opening and the cut edges with a bit of sandpaper, and paint if needed. Add the glazing and carefully cement the lower sash on the inside of the frame.

Homeowners and shoppers will welcome some new curtains behind those windows too, which add realism and block off any lack of interior details inside. Window shades can easily be modeled using bits of paper cut to fit and taped or secured on the inside wall with a bit of white glue. You’ll also find all kinds of printed curtains and shades to add color and variety with a few minutes work.

For more ideas to beat the heat this summer check out your Walthers Reference Books or visit us online at walthers.com.

10 NMRA DIVISION 1 (QUEENSLAND)(www.Zelmeroz.com/anmra-1)

COMING EVENTS

th 15 November – Ian Wellings, Lunch available.th20 December – NMRA Christmas Lunch

The above events start at 10.30am unless otherwise published.

NOTICEEllis Thorley, one of our members from the Sunshine coast, passed away

stsuddenly on 31 July.

ConventionThe Regional convention, held on the Gold Coast, was a great success thanks to Martyn Jenkins and crew.The venue was first class and the venue rooms presented themselves as places to talk and rest as well as to attend to those things we expect a convention to do.The air-conditioned venue was appreciated even though it wasn’t a particularly hot time. We began to think, “What can we do in the future with a venue like this?”The venues proximity to a good shopping centre, the ease with which we could get things in and out, the easy parking, etc. all made the place a welcoming experience.The Clinics were well attended. A couple I had heard before in their earlier presentations. The presenters had good aids and had obviously found ways to make their clinics more informative and user friendly.I feel that in Australia and particularly in Queensland, we don’t make much of a job of the model contest. I realise that scratchbuilding is sadly, almost extinct; but kit-bashing is acceptable and gives you a chance to show your techniques to other members and to receive the platitudes of others. I know of a few great scratchbuilt models in our Division 1 and I know of even more wonderful and creative kit-bashed models that I would love to have seen there. One thing I think we should remember is that, few if any of us go around a model display and think who won or how many points the models received. Rather we go and see what fine models are on show and try to discern how they were built. You also get a chance to talk to the creator so that you can learn first-hand.The Light Rail workshop tour and rides were appreciated by those who attended on the Sunday after lunch.There weren’t a lot of items for sale but some brisk trading was noted.Our Division 1 modules drew a lot of attention and it was nice for we, the module owners, to be able to give attendees a drive which hopefully gave them a better opportunity to understand what we were modelling and why. I hope that some members who had never seen the modules went away hoping to fire up their locals and get into that part of the NMRA themselves.One of the most important aspects of Conventions seemed to be amply fulfilled. We had an area of round tables and chairs next to the modules and the official tables. These were in good use all weekend and many friendships were made there and old friendships rekindled. I often hear members and other modellers say that the NMRA has a very comfortable and friendly atmosphere and that’s one of the advantages of this Association. (continued on page 11)

11

(continued on page 12)

NMRA UP Club VisitthThe NMRA Qld. met on October 18 in the Union Pacific Model Railroad Inc.

Clubrooms at Holland Park. Bob Brown welcomed the NMRA members on behalf of UP Club president, Paul Skehan who was interstate.

Eighteen NMRA members and 9 UP Club members witnessed a variety of trains running on the large complex layout. The layout is much improved with DCC running and extensive lighting effects in buildings and in other areas.NMRA members were invited to run their DCC equipped rolling stock under supervision of a UP member. Noise and confusion reigned for a time but fun ensued.The trains ran were an eclectic mix. A Santa Fe ‘Super Chief’ with illuminated cars looked spectacular. A colourful SP ‘Daylight’ train ran almost non-stop. A 4-6-2 K-4 sounded great and ran well in front of Pennsy heavyweight coaches. An early UP Challenger showed what she could do on a freight train. A long string of SP covered hoppers added to the variety as did the streamlined Wabash ‘Blue Bird’.The owner of an errant grain hopper (from an off-line road now long gone) graciously accepted the Bad Order Form sending said hopper to the RIP track.

A stop for a bar-b-que lunch allowed the wheels to cool before running recommenced.As running trains was the order of the day formalities were kept to the minimum.Superintendent Martyn Jenkins Advised that the Gold Coast Convention was a success and that the Helensvale venue was being considered for future NMRA shows.The only Show and Tell item was a model of a Victorian Railways six-wheel switcher made in Europe, and presented by Martyn of course.Martyn thanked the UPMR Club for their invitation and presented them with a plaque in appreciation of a very enjoyable day.He mentioned that the next meeting would be at the residence of Ian Wellings, 38

thTalara St Currimundi at 10.30am on November 15 , 2014.

Comment - What ColourFor some time now, Floquil have stop making the special paints that many of us used. This has been a huge blow to the hobby but it is time that we consider alternatives.I’m not sure of how many of us do a lot of painting and finishing. I know I do, and quite a few others in the hobby in Division 1 do. We are the ones who spend time at Train Show commercial stands buying up the remaining Floquil colours we need. There are acrylic alternatives but while most of us have tried them, the consensus seems is that Floquil did a better job. That’s the problem. Some of the best work our modellers do is repainting and finishing particular items of rolling stockI think that some of this accurate modelling being done locally, would be very presentable to such critical groups at the Prototype Modelers Association in the U.S.A. If you look at your rolling stock rosters, there are many one-off diesels and other rolling stock that make this hobby so interesting and preserves a historic approach to some modelling.Just the other day a group of us were discussing the possibility of having a one day meeting about this paint problem to ascertain what colours we deem accurate and what are good substitutes for the Floquil colours we now miss so much.

(continued from page 10)

I imagine some of you couldn’t care less, but this is a great hobby because it is so broad and because there is a lot of cross-pollination and sharing among practitioners.Maybe one of us should have offered a clinic in the convention about this but we have all been moping around hoping a new product will turn up.Some time ago the MicroScale decal people issued a substitution list on their website. Unfortunately, much of it wasn’t acceptable. No doubt it worries them that without people keen to paint rolling stock and aim for high standards, their decal sales will drop. I hope not, as there are already too many ‘holes’ in the availability of decals with Walthers, Champion and Herald King out of the market. A quick glance of one of their old catalogues almost makes you weep with the disappointment of today’s offering. MicroScale have a great range but there are still holes. We couldn’t expect a single company to produce everything, but combined, they covered a huge range.Having got this far on this subject I must acknowledge some of the leading lights among us in the field of super-detailing, especially with paints. These are the members to appeal to if you want to know something in this field. One of the most beautiful locos in Division 1 is a BN cream and green diesel detailed by Bob Brown. Bob has many other locos to his credit as well. Eddie Stavleu has a remarkable ability to come up with accurate colours using automotive paints and paints from other sources and uses them appropriately in an exciting way on rolling stock. Bob Cuffe has fine finished more locos than most of us and has some stunning locos that he has gone to enormous trouble to present correctly. Ted Freeman from Toowoomba is responsible for many of the neatest decaling jobs around and while he does a superb job himself, his manufacture of special decals of great quality is a bonus we appreciate. Mainline editor, Robyn Taylor is also noted for good finishes in painting and in decal production. Ron Everingham produces many great models of his own unique construction and his finishes are up there with the very best. George Stainlay who we visited recently certainly has an eye for reality with his finishes of NSWGR models and a fleet of his rolling stock is very prototypical with subtle nuances of colour and texture.I’m sure I left several outstanding examples out. These are the people whose models are really worth studying and come to think of it, who could form the nucleus of a group to discuss the ‘Floquil problem’. What have they found to be the way to go? Are their experiences useful to us all and can we come up with some consensus of methods that could be used to advance in the presentation of our models?I intend over the next month or two, to find some standardised method of assessing the colour of MR paints. Over many years writing about the colours of birds I have found that there are some difficulties in describing colours and many scientist, while

they might know a lot about biology, etc., they don’t describe colours correctly.To this end I have the Methuen Handbook of Colour and the American Natural History Museum’s Naturalist’s Color Guide. Once I can build up accurate descriptions, I should be able to find mixes of other paints to equate with Floquil.

12 (continued from page 11)


13However, such a task needs some critical eyeballing by the experts I have mentioned, as well as others. So don’t be surprised if I badger you for ideas and criticism. Anyone wishing to make comments on this important subject will certainly get my ear and with their permission, we will publish comments about this subject.

Visit to Leigh Craig’s thOn Saturday 16 August we met as a Division at the premises of Leigh and Glenda

Craig at Woodhill in the Beaudesert area. Although a rainy day there was a good roll-up and what a potentially great layout we saw. Leigh has built a massive lined shed with all mod cons including a toilet, shower, kitchenette, meeting area, workshop and a rather large layout with at the present, laid track but little scenery.It’s going to take a lot of scenery to fill the required spaces but there are tremendous opportunities here for running long HO scale trains and great operations. Leigh has chosen to use Peco track and has installed gracious curves, gentle grades and many wide open spaces.Martyn Jenkins conducted the short formal meeting and told us about musings from the Regional discussions. There has been no increase in fees locally for almost ten years but unfortunately fees may have to go up and the suggested amount is by $5.Other avenues are being explored to keep costs within reason and the advent of an e-Mainline are a possibility as this is where the greatest cost for the Region lie.Show and Tell was short but interesting. Leigh Craig showed us a PVA wood glue sold by Masters Homewares that’s very strong and a gallon is only $17.80, a vast saving and quality to match. It is called Titebond Wood Glue and comes in three strengths grading from very strong to something super. Smaller quantities are available with an appropriate decrease in price.Martyn Jenkins showed us some of his latest work with his 3-D printer, including shop fronts, ore car, complete shop and other items. Martyn also showed his two Class NA Puffing Billies made by Haskells.Ken Leitch showed his Amtrak “Operator Life Saver” in N scale. He also had a wedge snow-plough in HO scale by Walthers.Also shown was a track cleaner system by Aztec Manufacturing which cost $100.We all enjoyed the great hospitality offered by Leigh and Glenda and wish Leigh well in filling that vast space with a great railroad.

More Model Railroad NewsI see that Dremel now have a 3-D printer on the market. A little lower in price than most offerings; this may put the machine more into the hands of railroad modellers.While plans are available off the internet now, the greater number of modellers involved with this technology, the more plans will become available.


14

Ken House-Adelaide Model Railroaders

Thank you to those who came to the operating session held on the Kanunda and Emu Flat Railway on Monday September 8.

This session was held after Margaret and I had spent an enjoyable sunny July and August touring Queensland in our RV. Rod has been away to the UK and Peter S has also been doing the grey nomad thing in Queensland. Both of them have enjoyed their time away.

PROGRESS

Although I was away most of the last two months I had time to fit new gears in the two Train O Rama 930s so there is no longer any annoying clicking sound when running them.

The time table underwent quite a bit of alteration to discontinue the local passenger running from Foster at 1254. In it’s place there is now the Emu Flat passenger departing Cooper at 0655 which travels to Emu Flat stopping at all stations. Where the loco runs around it’s train before retuning to Cooper stopping at all stations.

THE SESSION

The session began on time with four operators and myself present. Sol and Peter S were the two road crews, Rod Kanunda Yard master, John H the hostler and myself as controller.

I caused some confusion mainly with the Grain extra and the livestock train because I had forgotten to turn the waybills for both of those trains as well as leaving the cards in the boxes for last session. I had also forgotten to move a day forward. We were able to resolve both of these issues with out too much trouble. I guess that I was some what out of practice. On the plus side there was only a couple of minor mistakes in the train list. I was pleased about this considering how much of the train list I had to rewrite because of the changes to the passenger trains.

Peter S encountered a few run away's during the session. After some investigation the problem was found to be a loose connection to the cable on the bottom of the yellow hand piece. These small telephone plugs are not that robust so please do not stretch the hand piece cables but try to move along to another facia socket in a more suitable position.

The new time table ran well with the Emu Flat passenger departing right on time from Cooper but arriving back considerably late and the only other train to run late was the last train of the night the Up Mount Gambier goods.

On checking out the layout it appears the Kanunda SM confused ALGX 5U which should have been left at Kings Petroleum with ALFY 252 which was to be returned to Mile End. Kings had not finished unloading cans of grease, kero and oil. So ALGX was sent back to kanunda on an extra train

Having said all of that the session ran smoothly enough especially after a break and was enjoyed by all.


15


P.S. here the train photos from my holiday to Queensland.

C510 & EL63 at Nevertire NSW

Emerald railway station

Mid-train helper on 3’6” gauge coal train heading for Abbot point near Bowen

Injune Qld

Front garden in Bowen


Bundaberg sugar mill 2’ gauge cane train

At Emerald 3’6” gauge

Bowen coke plant

Coke plant in Bowen

Murals at Cleremont


17

The Workshops Rail Museum will be alive with the sound of Making Music, the one day event that will have children engaging with one of the world's most treasured art forms on Sunday 16 November.

Youngsters will explore a musical journey through workshops, singing and dancing performances, craft and interactive play.

Museum Director Andrew Moritz said it’s the first time the team have put on the event, which takes inspiration from the social history of The Workshops.

We're expecting some giggles with performances from King of the Kids Tim Jackman, plenty of smiles at Lil' Fi's half hour Rhapsodaisy Rail Music workshops and hands on activity at the Shake Rattle and Roll music craft workshop," he said.

"Music is one of the many simple pleasures of life, evoking different emotions and reactions, and while it has many benefits for children's development, it's also just a lot of fun.

"The railway has been the inspiration for many songs in popular culture, here and around the world and we figured we'd bring a different style of creativity to our young visitors."

Coloured streamers, paper plates and plenty of glue will have youngsters making their own musical shakers to take home.

"Music has played its part in The Workshops culture, as entertainers would give performances during lunch time on pay day, amongst them was country music king Slim Dusty," Mr Moritz said.

"The Workshops also had a Railway Band that would perform at interstate competitions."

Chugging to its own rhythm, the mini train ride gives children a gentle ride around the Museum grounds and grown-ups a chance to relax. Charges apply.

Entry to the event is included in the standard Museum entry admission fee, so visitors can enjoy the show and experience the Museum's hands on exhibits and stories of rail in Queensland's past.

For more information contact The Workshops Rail Museum on (07) 3432 5100 or visit theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au.

18

Hi fellow members,To celebrate the Christmas Season and another year of model trains we are trying something a bit different and having a Christmas Breakfast at the Downs Steam Railway Museum, corner Ball and Cambooya St., Drayton, Toowoomba, just off Anzac Ave.We have made a booking for Sunday the

th7 of December from 08:00, a guided tour of the facility is included as part of the breakfast.

The menu includes fresh fruit, fruit juice, yoghurt, muesli, other cereals and several hot options including sausages, bacon,

eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, toast and unlimited tea and coffee. The cost is $25 per head.

So come along and catch up with your

fellow members before 2014 turns into

2015.

We will need to know numbers before the

end of November so please contact Ted or

myself and let us know how many are

coming.

Email to or phone me on 4639 2434

Regards; Bill Waterhouse

[email protected]

19

Ted Freeman

20 Garratt Lovers Rejoice6029 Returns to the Rails

Submitted by Rosalie Loring


21(continued from page 20)

22


Chapter 90 - 30/09/2014

Here we go again with another long awaited rant from the world’s most inconsistent “blogger”.

Life at the Wuiske Asylum has been rather hectic, as most of you would have no doubt guessed by our lack of updates. The Asylum warden Jade (aka Attila the skirt) has been promising that if I behave myself she will tell me where she’s been hiding the antidote.

As predicted, I have given up on ever finding out if this mythical antidote actually exists as good behaviour and me just don’t seem to work well together. That aside, we have been extremely busy with the usual round of shows as well as working on our upcoming products... But that’s for another chapter.

Since my last escape attempt when I managed to get all the way to sunny downtown Rockhampton (under the clever pretext of attending a show), we have attended the Strathpine show put on by the Railway Modellers Club of Queensland. This show is always a great

one.

It is also one where we can get a chance to actually catch up with a few of you. All the while, it is being run by the inmates of the RMCQ asylum. As the RMCQ asylum is making a valiant effort in experimenting with having an open air asylum run by the inmates, they should be applauded for their efforts.


As ever, their show was a joy to attend and we thank them very much as usual. Between Rob and myself, we even managed to upload a video to our you tube channel to show what it’s like setting up at these shows.

Unfortunately, Jade managed to add a couple bloopers onto the end.

Obviously these are like the globally ignored nude photos of Eleanor Roosevelt... and completely fictitious and cleverly cut together from dynamic

cardboard cut outs that vaguely represent some ugly, long haired bloke from Planet Jandowae. In any case, I’m sure there will be a link floating around here somewhere.

Whilst down for the RMCQ show, we finally managed to turn up at Wayne McDades house to view his layout. This is one layout that Wayne has been trying to get us to see for some time. As ever it is one layout that I am now kicking myself for taking so long to go and see.

His layout, which is modelled on an area not too far removed from Planet Jandowae is, without doubt, one of the best QR layouts I have ever seen. His attention to detail has to be seen to be appreciated. Once again, we did a video for our you tube channel about this layout. Much of the filming was, of course, done by Rob.

It should be pointed out that Rob has as much technical abilities with a camera as an extremely unambitious mollusc. Even with such heady handicaps, Rob actually did a pretty good job of filming the layout and as a result we have decided to increase his daily allowance of bird seed.


24


If you think Rob has done an expert job of filming and deserves an extra special serving of birdseed, you can write to us at “I’ve lost my glasses and think Rob deserves more birdseed”, Care of Wuiske Models, P.O. Box 131, Jandowae, QLD, 4410.

As above, I’m sure that Jade will post a link somewhere around this part of the page.

All jokes aside though, both Rob and I were both REALLY impressed with Wayne’s layout, the detail he has captured, without

over crowding the scene and most importantly, capturing the feel of the Darling Downs in Queensland. Well done Wayne. If any of you are lucky enough to be invited to see his layout, take the opportunity and do so, you won’t regret it.

After having returned from the Strathpine show, we resumed our normal routine of being as busy as a one legged man in a bum kicking contest for a few weeks and then made our way down for the Redlands Model Railway Show.

This one is always an enjoyable show for us (wait, don’t I say that about all of them?) as it is run by a great group of men, women, badgers and lunatics (managed to catch 4 of them in this photo) and it is also right in the heart of my old stomping grounds. As such, it means I get to catch up with my family.

The Redlands Show is also one of the few shows where Jade, Keith and Addy get to come along and play trains. As usual, it also fell on the occasion of my wedding anniversary, Jade’s too actually come to think of it.



Being a nice round number for our eleventh wedding anniversary, Cindy and the Redlands Model Railway Club guys presented us with a bunch of flowers and a card signed by all those who attended. Thanks guys, it really meant a lot to us.

The Redlands Show was also the first time my brother Craig had come along and helped out with a show. As such, we have to thank Craig for his great help with set up, pack up and shutting Adam up.

After the show, we stayed down in Brisvegas for a week in order to catch up with family and then attend the NMRA convention on the Gold Coast. But that is a story for the next chapter. With any luck, the next chapter will be put up before the

next Mayan calendar runs out. But I guess, with that, we shall see how we go.

The House is

CLEAN!

26

For all friends and friends of friends, please keep a look-out for the two miniature train engine locomotives pictured (a Blowfly and a H16 4-6-2 English tank).

The Illawarra Live Steamers Railway club was broken into recently, and both of these locomotives were removed from the carriage shed. Evidence of scratches on

one of the other locomotives in the shed indicates that they were most likely after the copper boiler for the scrap value, which is a couple of hundred dollars compared with the thousands of dollars and hours gone into building these. Both locomotives have been to several clubs, running at Galston, Mudgee, Canberra and various tracks.

If you see or hear of anything to do with these locomotives please contact me, or the Wollongong police on 02 4226 7899. The boiler number of the Blowfly is stamped AA-92-01 and the Tank ( commonly known as Warrick) is NC-07-0140.

Scrap metal dealers in the Illawarra are being notified of the theft, if you know of any within the greater NSW region that deal in copper please alert them, just in case.

Live Steamers and Model Engineers of Australia.

Greg Coleman, President, Illawarra Live Steamers, 0448 294 192

27

Bob Claydon

This is what a truck loaded with 50 tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate did recently.

Thought you might be interested in these photos. It's interesting to go to Google Maps and find where Angellala Creek crosses the Mitchell Highway just before it enters the Warrego River and see a good 'before' contrast.

28

A few words from the NMRA President Charlie Getz

It is traditional this time of year to wish our friends and family "Happy Holidays" to cover Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa and any other winter holidays I may have overlooked. So please do accept my most sincere wishes for this holiday season as you are all friends and all part of the NMRA family. So as not to take sides, I wish you all a Merry Kringle, in honor of Kris Kringle.

And it is fitting to celebrate model trains this time of year as the public, for better or worse, associates the holidays with

model trains. Blame Lionel's brilliant marketing or that model locomotive sticking out of Santa's sack in vintage ads, but Christmas used to mean toy trains as gifts for children. Given our collective average age, I'll bet many of you received a train set for Christmas in your youth. Isn't it wonderful that our brothers and sisters in the Toy Train collectors hobby are still ensuring a Lionel Christmas is possible?

Now it is Christmas 2014, which seems amazingly unreal, yet trains are still a part of our holiday season and every day in between. Our biggest challenge remains rekindling that passion the public once felt for trains and reminding them of how much fun trains were and continue to be. We should all be selling the hobby of model railroading not necessarily the NMRA.

Heresy?? Perhaps. And I do not suggest ignoring the NMRA or not promoting it. But we need more hobbyists first and memberships will follow. As I have said previously, no other hobby offers the breadth of or opportunities that model railroading does.

That is the message we need to convey, and train shows are the best place to do so. Most train shows consist of vendors with new or used products and modular layouts in a variety of scales. All are very helpful in demonstrating what this hobby has to offer. But why not a NMRA table offering basic advice on how to get started in the hobby or even what the hobby is all about? We have a wonderful story to tell. And we have an obligation to share that story with those expressing an interest in the hobby. We all are Ambassadors of Model Railroading. Promoting the hobby ensures the hobby continues.

It is after all, up to us to spread the word.

29

Some good news but also some bad news from Greg president of the Illawarra Live steamers. The LSRR tank loco has been recovered and as was feared the loco was stolen for the small amount of copper which was in its boiler.

A post from Greg: the locomotive is in a very bad way. The local newspaper as well as t h e T V crews have b e e n i n attendance today, and m o r e i s h o p e f u l l y going to be recovered tomorrow.

The boiler has been completely r e m o v e d along with

almost all of the copper pipe work, using what appears to be a crowbar and bolt cutters. The sheet metal surrounding it has been peeled and ripped off, as well as small things being broken just for the hell of it.

30

Evans Gap Station The small stature of this line meant that the station building should reflect the same. In an earlier post I was going to in stall awning posts to make the construction easier. The posts were never cemented in, it was just too busy. Evans Gap station now has a simplified awning, much better.

I used 'Cambells' HO corrugated iron for the first time on this model, and I just love it. It's really fine both in corrugations and thin in material thickness as well. The model seen in these photos has had some slight weathering on the walls to tone down the colour and 'fade' it a bit. I tend to favour the games workshop paints for this as they dry brush without going clumpy or powdery, an issue I've had a few times with the Tamiya acrylics.

The roof itself has not been weathered yet, still plan to using some paints, washes and chalks I think.

The awning and roof I built separately to aid in painting and also so that it would be easier to build. If there are too many parts attached you can be sure that I'll break something off before it's finished.

The spot on the layout where the station is going has had some work done as well, gravel platform, and a few weeds. The water tank has not been 'delivered' to the locals yet, so they wait patiently for its arrival. As for station naming boards, well I just don't think I've got enough time to get them up before the RMCQ Show this weekend. If you happen to get there, come on over and have a chat,

Evans Gap Station progress Now that the weather is warmer all the yard jobs have been getting in the way of the modelling pursuits. However the 'endless' spring list seems to be a little shorter now so I can get back to the modelling bench.

The station building at Black Mountain has a great light on the end of it, as I've mentioned in previous posts. So it is the first job on the to do list. I've used some .080" brass tube for the light support post and a couple of pieces of wire (.040") some brass strip, a Tichy train group light fixture, and some magnet wire. The photos tell the story so far.

Geoff Burns


The Tichy Train Group light is a great moulding and just the size I was after, I hollowed it out a little bit as it's moulded solid with a bulb protruding to paint. Then drilled out the centre .080" to allow it to thread onto the brass tube. The bend was done around my pin vice giving about a 2 foot diameter to it.

Here you can see the universal jig (BLUE TAC ;-) that I use to solder on the two mounting wires to the back of the tube. You can see the brass strip on the RHS already drilled out, and under the wires are two lines that are the distance apart that the holes in the strip are.

Another technical jig in use for this one as well. I just had to make sure the balsa was thicker than the distance on the model between the wall and the outside of the roofing.

Here's all the brass bits together, a trial fit before painting. The last job is to trim the mounting wires so that they don't foul the 'inner' wall on the inside of this outer shell. It's all had a bit of undercoat , including the magnet wire so that it looks the part

disappearing into the woodwork on the building. I have a mini LED to attach once this is all dry, then it will be mounted.

Naming boards on the station building are the next job. Ages ago Mike gave me an article he'd written about how to print a black background with white lettering using 'word'. I've used it several times, even for making up wagon codes when there wasn't a decal suitable. The jist of it is that you do a background shading of whatever level you like. Obviously for a black background you make it 100%, then make the lettering white in colour, simple really and it works a treat!


(continued on page 32)(continued on page 32)


Font, size, etc are all that you need to play around with, even bold comes in handy, especially if you get down to a font size of 4. (you can highlight the font size and type over it to get lower than the default settings) If your doing a wagon I found printing the 'decals' in several colours or levels of shading enabled you to match the colour to what ever colour of grey your wagons are coloured in. If you have some matt spray, or artist fixative it's worth giving the paper a hit before cutting and gluing to the boards so that the black doesn't smudge.

That'll do for now, I'll bore you with some photos when it's all together,

Ooroo, Geoff.

Hi Brent,

I have just read the latest issue of Train Talk and want to congratulate you and your club on the progress you have made with the club building at the show grounds.

While I do understand that a lot of the effort is down to Ted Freeman these things cannot happen unless there is a strong club with leadership in there as well.

The club has done well and should be able to progress especially when you are clear of the Baillie Henderson noose you currently have.

I was impressed with the last exhibition and the efforts made to collect in one area a range of layouts and displays from the basic to the big units. That is a very hard mix to achieve especially in to-day’s climate. Do not be disheartened by the numbers attending as there is clear evidence that it is a nationwide event. My recent trip to Sydney Show was to say the least disheartening. Numbers for the event were reported as being 2,600 on Saturday, 600 on Sunday and Monday has not been mentioned. But from my observation it would not have been much more than 1,000 maybe at the max 1,600. The mix of traders to exhibits was around 2 to 1. I think you are in the right mindset by having more and more craft stands as well. That way you cater for the other partners and I think as it gets known and promoted properly you will eventually grow.

While AR Kits continues to progress with new products happening on a regular basis there are some changes afoot to ensure our growth and survival for a number of years to come. Our product is robust and can handle the rigours of active modellers but we will I believe crown our range with re-runs of our diesels as RTR models with North Yard mechs.

We also propose to give your club the one and only full collection of the AR Kits Range as a display for your museum. It will be the repository of a lot of the AR Kits memorabilia. That is if your club wants it.

Once again to you and your members congratulations and keep up the great work.

Regards

33

Fridays are Great! I only need to work half a day which means I get home after 1pm.

If it is sunny this can mean a good afternoon in the shed with the airbrush, painting or weathering some models.(Depending on the family)

Today I decided on some weathering. This was to try and reduce the amount of projects I have on the go. A very productive afternoon today meant that I got about 15 wagons and 2 locos weathered. This post will feature some of the wagons.

NPJH 35611 Limestone hopper. You may remember it from a previous post.

The graffiti was done by me with a paint pen from the art shop.

Same hopper, other side. The graffiti art came from photos of other limestone hoppers I have.

NPJH 35604. The dark patches on the hopper represent repairs and repaint.

This was done with a blue Nikko, also purchased from the art shop.


Ben Dunlop

Same hopper other side. The white streaks are from the previous L7 decals, which have now been covered by the new owners, freight corp. A very common theme on these wagons in service.

NPJH 35653. SRA red with heavier graffiti. Again done by hand from photos of limestone hoppers.

The other side, looking like it may have spent quite some time in a siding to have copped this amount of abuse.

NPJH 35689. SRA red again with repair patches on its sides.



Opposite side with similar repairs. Again done with a red Nikko from the art shop.

FBW 1185. Another blast for the past. Finally complete!

Next month these locomotives get the dirty look!


36

On Saturday the 8th November we are beginning our move of club property from Baillie Henderson Hospital Old Maudsley House to our new extended venue at the Toowoomba Showgrounds.

To accomplish this move successfully and with ease, we need as many members and vehicles as possible.

If you have a trailer, trayback, ute, or ‘B’ Double, we can make use of it!

We will be kicking off at 10am on this day and continuing until everyone has had enough, the more we get done on this day, the less we have left to do.

At the showgrounds, we have two entry ways available, the original roller door at the front of the building and a side roller door on the Eastern side of the new extension, the latter has a dirt ramp leading up to it, unless it happens to rain, just about any type of vehicle can negotiate this climb.

There are also two personal access doors in the new extension where smaller items can be carried in.

This is an exciting and important time in the history of the Darling Downs Model Railway Club Inc., be a part of this BIG moment in our history!

37

North Korean train è

North Korean diesel loco ê

North Korean electric loco ê

Xiamen North Railway Station China é

ç Pyongyang Railway Station DPRK

38

THIS COMING EVENTS LISTING IS PRESENTED AS ACCURATELY AS KNOWN AT THE TIME OF PRINTING, IF YOU WISH TO CONFIRM ANY DETAILS AND/OR HAVE ANY OTHER EVENTS FOR LISTING, PLEASE SEND THE INFORMATION TO THE CLUB EMAIL ADDRESS -

PLEASE ADVISE ANY ERRORS.

NOTE:

ALL EVENTS SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION

* *November

December

[email protected]

Wednesday nights occasionally at the Baillie Henderson clubhouse. Saturday afternoons at the showgrounds, unless notified otherwise.

Indicates limited access at the ShowgroundsSaturday 8th, Moving from Baillie Henderson Club Rooms (see page 36).

Monday 1st, Committee meeting McDonald’s Margaret Street, commencing at 7.30pm, all members welcome.

Sunday 7th, To celebrate the Christmas Season and another year of model trains we are trying something a bit different and having a Christmas Breakfast at the Downs Steam Railway Museum, corner Ball and Cambooya St., Drayton, Toowoomba, just off Anzac Ave. (see page 18 for details)

My Tool Store

P.O Box 210

Aspley

QLD 4034

Phone: 0411 605 726

We handle the full range of Micro-Mark products, if it is not on our website, we can get it for you, we place frequent orders with Micro-Mark.

November 201440

November 2014 Volume 26 No 03 Issue 281 A 100% NMRA ... 2014.pdf · 20th December – NMRA...

Documents

Transcript of November 2014 Volume 26 No 03 Issue 281 A 100% NMRA ... 2014.pdf · 20th December – NMRA...