T h e 4 t h D i v i s i o n o f t h e P a c i f i c N o r t h w e s t R e g i o n o f t h e N a t i o n a l M o d e l R a i l r o a d A s s o c i a t i o n P r e s e n t s

The Skagit Valley & WhidbeyNMRA Clinic

Wednesday, January 11, 2012Location: Summer Hill meeting room. Time: 7:00 PM

V I R T U A L R A I L R O A D I N G A N D T R A C K P L A N N I N G

For the January Clinic Rich Blake will show us the world of virtual railroading using train simulators and explore some track planning software options for model railroaders. We will also look at the various methods and applications of using train simulators to test operations, run prototype scenarios, visualize scenes and “scratch build” railroad structures and equipment in the virtual environment. Rich is an active duty Master Chief in the US Navy, lifelong narrow gauge and logging model railroader and an accomplished 3D computer graphic artist. He began his interest in train simulators while on deployments overseas where model railroading is not really an option. The train simulator provided many opportunities to enjoy railroading on the computer in virtual space and keep up his interest in model railroad planning, operations and route building. He expanded his skills in the simulator world by learning how to create and import structures, equipment and locomotives into the simulator becoming a “virtual scratch builder” using various 3D graphic programs. He has made several models that are i n c l u d e d i n t h e Australian published t r a i n s i m u l a t o r program “Trainz” and has made available s e v e r a l i t e m s o f content for Trainz to the railroad simulator community surpassing millions of downloads f o r e n t h u s i a s t s worldwide. His current ongoing project is re-creating the entire three foot g a u g e We s t S i d e Lumber Co based out o f T u o l u m n e California in Trainz Railroad Simulator. More pictures on page 6.

The Skagit Valley & Whidbey NMRA ClinicThe Skagit Valley & Whidbey NMRA ClinicThe Skagit Valley & Whidbey NMRA ClinicThe Skagit Valley & Whidbey NMRA ClinicThe Skagit Valley & Whidbey NMRA ClinicModel Railroad Calendar for January 2012Model Railroad Calendar for January 2012Model Railroad Calendar for January 2012Model Railroad Calendar for January 2012Model Railroad Calendar for January 2012

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14Clinic @ 7pm

Rich BlakeVirtual

RailroadingSummerHill

38th PSC Train Show

15 16 17 18 19 20 2138th PSC Train Showwww.4dpnr.org/PSCshow.htm38th PSC Train Showwww.4dpnr.org/PSCshow.htm

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 31Feb 4-5, Monroe, WA

United NorthWest Model Railroad Club's 21st Annual Show & Swap MeetEvergreen State Fairgrounds, Sat 10-5, Sun 10-4

For more info see www.unwclub.org/unwshow.html

Feb 4-5, Monroe, WAUnited NorthWest Model Railroad Club's 21st Annual Show & Swap Meet

Evergreen State Fairgrounds, Sat 10-5, Sun 10-4For more info see www.unwclub.org/unwshow.html

Feb 4-5, Monroe, WAUnited NorthWest Model Railroad Club's 21st Annual Show & Swap Meet

Evergreen State Fairgrounds, Sat 10-5, Sun 10-4For more info see www.unwclub.org/unwshow.html

Feb 4-5, Monroe, WAUnited NorthWest Model Railroad Club's 21st Annual Show & Swap Meet

Evergreen State Fairgrounds, Sat 10-5, Sun 10-4For more info see www.unwclub.org/unwshow.html

Feb 4-5, Monroe, WAUnited NorthWest Model Railroad Club's 21st Annual Show & Swap Meet

Evergreen State Fairgrounds, Sat 10-5, Sun 10-4For more info see www.unwclub.org/unwshow.html

Further information regarding the PSC Show on the Miscellaneous Info Page

Last Month’s Clinic: The last clinic was held at John White’s on Fidalgo Island. About 25 people came to run trains on his On30 layout and enjoy the joy of the season. Most attendees tried their hand at running trains according to the instructions written up by John and dispatched by Rich Thom. We had to stay out of the way of each other and make it through the “Loop” which was ably manned by John Mann. Also, the operators were able to see the first revenue runs up to Diablo! This is and will be, a fine layout for operations - well done John!!

[more of the pictures taken by Rich Blake on page 5]

This year’s new competition was introduced at the October Clinic. This competition will be to build/modify a piece of rolling stock as per the ‘rules’ below. And, in case you think you can’t do this, remember that one of the categories is “ready-to-run”: take a car, weather it, add decals, add details like grab irons, and/or graffiti it! Four months still to work on it!

Skagit Valley & Whidbey NMRA Group Piece of Rolling Stock Competition Rules

IntroductionThe purpose of this competition is to build a piece of rolling stock according to the specifications below.

The entries will be judged by Di Voss [MMR, NMRA Standards and Conformance Department head,. Also, with his brother, the

NMRANet development person] at our April meeting in 2012.

Display of modelMaterial of your choice.On rails or plain surface. Only the rolling stock will be judged.

Rolling StockThe rolling stock may be of any type [Revenue, non-revenue] or any scale and any prototype.Piece must be weathered to some degree and decaled or hand lettered.Commercial parts on scratch built rolling stock are permitted.To win prize money Rolling Stock must have been built specifically for this competition.Other older scratch built or craftsman kits that have not won prizes may be entered for illuminated Scrolls only.

AdditionsThe judge will be asked to judge the rolling stock itself [see prize list].Animals and people and other details may be added to rolling stock.

Prize CategoriesBest rolling stock in each category [kit or kit bashed, scratch built, craftsman kit, ready to run]. The builder will decide which category he/she wants to enter a particular model in.Peoples choice irrespective of category.Three Honorable Mentions.

PrizesAll category winners will receive an Illuminated Scroll with their name and prize category and a monetary cash award.Competitors can enter rolling stock in more than one category but only one entry in each category.

If a competitor receives more than one award he/she will receive only the illuminated scroll for the second award.In the event of disputes the Competition Shepherd's and Judge's decisions are final!

Jack Tingstad, Competition Shepherd

T h e M i s c e l l a n e o u s I n f o r m a t i o n P a g e

From Brent Lambert, a previous and sometimes visitor to our clinics:“I have just purchased the MR 1934-2009 DVD set in a Quixotic attempt to regain some storage space here at home. As a consequence, my run of MRs (full years from the early 60s through 2009 and some random issues and full years from the 50s) is headed out the door and it occurred to me that the club might have a higher order use for them than choking the recycle bin. If they would be of use for any purpose whatsoever, I’d be happy to box them up and deliver them to any location in the WI-Anacortes area at a mutually convenient time. As well, there may be others like me who could add to the corpus and create a full run as a resource available to the technically un-inclined and/or ink-stained wretches who revere the tactile essence of the legacy technology (and I number myself among the latter; the real item is much handier and more “user friendly” than the electronic version, but – alas – substantially bulkier). Regardless, if they can be of any use whatsoever I shall bequeath them sans conditions.”

So, if anyone would find these to be of use, please let Brent know at: bdl5650@msn.com

The next Show & Tell is coming to our February clinic!!Bring a model, bring that new tool that you discovered, show how one can use an old tool for new uses, show how

you did a particular modeling ‘thing’, bring pictures of your progress. Maybe you found a good new supplier or maybe one that people need to stay away from. Whatever you wish to share, we would love to see/hear about it!!

The Swap Table Wi l l Return in January!!Again in January, bring anything that you wish to sell/trade/give away to the Summer Hill clinic side room prior to

the clinic. Please have the name of the seller/donator on the items along with a price.

3 8 t h A n n u a l S c i e n c e C e n t e r Tr a i n S h o wEach year, the 4th Division contracts with the Pacific Science Center to put on the Annual Train Show. This is the

division’s largest fund raiser of the year! While not a swap meet type show, it is a great way to introduce the public to the World’s Greatest Hobby. Frank Dekker and Jeff Moorman have been coordinating the show for many years, but

could use some volunteers for the three day run. This year’s run is January 14, 15 & 16. If you are interested in helping man/woman the exhibitor’s door, help with set-up or take-down, or helping with some of the hands-on

exhibits for the kids, contact information is below.Info:- Frank Dekker, 425-746-6964 (evenings), rekkedrails@juno.com, or Jeff Moorman, 206-367-2377, kb7rr@arrl.net or see

www.4dpnr.org/PSCshow.htm

M o d e l R a i l r o a d F e s t i v a l December 26, 2011 - January 1, 2012 10AM to 5PM Washington State History Museum, Tacoma Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors age 60 and older, $6 for students and military with valid ID, Children ages 5 and under free. Members of the Washington State Historical Society are free. From the PNR press release:While Santa's elves produce a lot of train sets each holiday season, they can't hold a candle to the quality and scale of the ones on display each year at the Washington State History Museum's Model Train Festival. Running the week after Christmas, the 16th annual event will showcase eight model train displays designed and assembled by model train enthusiasts from across the state including: Boeing Employees Model Railroad Club, Cannonball Express, Pierce County Lionel Club, Mount Rainier N-Scale, 4D NTRACK Group, 4D PNR HO Modular Group, Puget Sound Model Railroad Engineers and Washington State Operation Lifesaver. The displays will occupy every floor of the museum and include the largest permanent model train layout in the state. As an added attraction, this year's festival will also feature a presentation on The History of the Great Northern Railroad and the important role it played in the development of the Pacific Northwest. The presentation will be hosted by Randy Dasho Sr., a local railroad historian who spent 43 years as an employee at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The presentation will run from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on December 28 and December 29 and is free with paid admission to the train festival.

If you have any information, good websites, things for sale of a model railroad nature or whatever, send me a note and I will add it to this page in the future editions as space permits.

More from the Wassail evening at John White’s Skagit Valley Eastern Railroad, Sauk Oso and Western, and Wickersham and Chuckanut Light Railway

Looks like this little piggy wants to go to market....

All pics by Rich Blake

More of Rich Blake’s Virtual Railroading

Skagi t Val ley & Whidbey NMRA Cl inic Schedule 2011/2012Notes: All regular meetings are held at the Summer Hill Community in Oak Harbor from

September through June on the dates shown starting at 7:00pm or as otherwise announced.

NMRA Membership is encouraged, but not a requirement for attendance.

DATE COORDINATOR SUBJECT PRESENTER

09.14.11 Jim Tartas Visit to Dr. Nick Muff’s KCS Layout Nick Muff

10.12.11 Rich Thom Q & A - Panel of Experts. 5 Experts !

11.09.11 Al Frasch Wellington Disaster - Vis Major Martin Burwash

12.14.11 John White Wassail and Other Delights. John White

01.11.12 Rich Blake Virtual Railroading Rich Blake

02.8.12 John White A View from the Head End on Amtrak Tim Miller in the Pacific Northwest

03.14.12 Rich Thom Steam from the Cape to Victoria Falls Rich Thom

04.11.12 John White The Reality and Model of the Everett Di Voss & Monte Cristo + Competition Judging

05.09.12 Al Frasch How to Drive a Steam Locomotive Barry Anderson

06.13.12 G & V Jones How to Airbrush. Dave Clarke In and o/s G & V Jones Garage

Back up OfferingsLocal N Scale Manufacturer. Gold Medal Models [Loren Perry]Electronics. [Harper/Mann/Jones ?]Back Drop Painting. [Who ?]

Extreme Emergency Reserve.[ In case of last minute presenter cancelation].A Ride on the Orient Express- Slide Show [John White]

Volunteers or Press GangedNMRA Liaison and Reportage Gordon GarnhartKeeper of the Purse [aka the Bucket] Jack TingstadLayout Design Aficionado Tom HawkinsThe DCC Man John MannNewsletters and Announcement Flyers Al FraschRefreshments Phil & Susan GonzalesKeeper of the Rolls[aka the Membership Roster] Rich ThomLibrarian Susan GonzalesClean-up Artists Vera & Gordon JonesThe Tin Can Gaffers Curt and Iver JohnsonCompetition Shepherd Jack Tingstad Meeting Co-ordinator John White