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Electric Railway Modeling School

Gateway Division Library of Model Railroad Articles

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Individual Clinics

Scenery — Bill Carl

This clinic shows how to do basic scenery on a module using foamboard insulation. There are almost 200 pictures so this clinic has been divided into 14 sub-topics: Assumptions, Foam, Hot Wire Tool, Track, Fill in Cracks, Paint and Grass, Fascia, Rocks, Touch up Grass, Trees, Backdrop, Bushes, Ballast, and Small Details.View clinic

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BackdropTutorial — J. Mark Chase
In this clinic Mark introduces the steps he followed from photo processing and manipulation to backdrop construction, tools, and methods used to go from a blank wall to a finished backdrop.View Clinic

Similar: Creating Backdrops Using Pictures by Marshall Abrams — Using Styrene For Backdrops by Mike McNamara — Backdrops by BrianSheron, MMR — Enhancing Backdrops by Mike McNamara

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Build a Warehouse roll-up door (Fine Scale Animation for Operation) — Bill Day, MMR

The clinic introduces fine-scale animation in support of operation. the clinic is about —Easy Animation—; virtually all of the animation is accomplished with Tortoise switches and turntable motors using black thread or music wire. The basis is a Design Preservation Module (301-35) with a roll-up door and a loading platform.View Clinic

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Constructing Pine Trees of the Southeast — Mike Hart
Constructing pine trees of the southeastern U.S., using stick, clay and caulk techniques together with tree root branches, build a model from scratch fallowing four easy steps to create a very realistic looking tree. The photo shows the type of tree modeled. View Clinic

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Creating Stencils for Your Logo — Gil Fuchs
When decals just won't do the job, you can't find them, or you can't get your hands on an Alps printer - create and paint your own logo on your preferred rolling stock using this technique, which is borrowed from the world of PCB production. The process is not very complicated, using your preferred graphic editing program, and materials available at your local Radio Shack store and on-line. The result is a durable brass stencil that can be used over and over with your airbrush to paint logos on a large number of cars, engines and/or buildings. As an added bonus, the printed logo can be made to have the fuzzy look of sprayed-on lettering, as in the prototype.View Clinic

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Detailing and Weathering the MER—s CNJ PS-1 Boxcar — Mike McNamara
Changing the appearance of a model to fit the era that you model. View Clinic

Similar: Weathering by John Paganoni, MMR — Making a Realistic Logging Car from a Plastic Flatcar by Raymond A. Long

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Digital Photography Tips & Hints — Bob Boudreau
Learn about taking pictures of your model railroad. Aimed at digital cameras; basic info can be used with film cameras. Advanced Techniques appropriate for both camera types. Note: this link limits access; if you cannot open the pages try again a little later.View Clinic

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Enhancing Backdrops — Mike McNamara
Add scenery between foreground trees and blue sky backdrop.Foam Core board cut to represent hills covered with ground foam provides a slight 3D aspect. Trees added in front to blend transition. View Clinic

Similar: Creating Backdrops Using Pictures by Marshall Abrams — Using Styrene For Backdrops by Mike McNamara — Backdrops by BrianSheron, MMR — BackdropTutorial by J. Mark Chase

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Electronics — Bob Clegg
Bob Clegg of the New Jersey Division has put together an animated PowerPoint clinic that will introduce you to some basic model railroad specific electronics without pain. The theme of the clinic is that "You Can Do Electronics". Bob provides, as a part of the clinic, sources of electronic components that are more economical than the usual Radio Shack supplies. View Clinic
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Installing Decoders in Steam Engines — Brian Sheron, MMR
Many models of steam Locomotives are not available with factory-installed DCC and sound, particularly older brass or die cast models. Brian shows you how you can install sound decoders in older steam locomotives relatively easy. He explains why the motor must be electrically isolated from the rails, and shows you ways isolate it. He also shows you how to get good electrical pickup from the rails for no-stall operation, and how to hook up and install a sound decoder (with or without a Current Keeper) and speaker in the tender.

View Clinic

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Installing Sound in an Atlas RS-3 — Brian Sheron, MMR

RS-3 diesels were a large part of the Long Island Railroad (LIRR) diesel roster around 1964. These engines pose a bit of a challenge for installing DCC sound because the shell snugly fits around the motor and flywheels. However, loud, clear diesel sound can be installed in these engines relatively easily.

View Clinic

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Intermediate Resin Casting — John Griffith
This clinic reviews how to make molds and then how to make resin castings from those molds. We will follow the process I used to model the East Broad Top's combine #14. We will discuss the trials and tribulations to produce adequate car sides and how to produce a cestatotry roof with see through windows. I demonstrate how simple one-sided molds are used to produce car sides and a roof.

View Clinic

Similar: Resin Casting Introduction by John Griffith

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Layout Ideas From The Opera — John Pursell

Incorporate various tricks and techniques that go into stage scenery into your modeling. (From MER Local.)

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Making Dwarf Signals — Marshall Abrams
Learn how to make a dwarf signal with a LED (Light Emitting Diode) that's only .1 inch wide. The LEDs we use are nice because the light from the individual chips light up a whole circle. This means that in addition to green and red, they make a quite nice yellow if both the red and green are turned on. They also come in a green-yellow version, which can be used on the main line approach track and two red-green on the main and side tracks. View Clinic

Similar: Semaphore Signals by Jim Atkinson

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Signals & Detection — Marshall Abrams
Flashing lights, crossing gates, and trackside signals all provide visual interest to a model railroad. They can also inform the operators about track conditions to guide operations. This clinic describes installing and use of occupancy detection using current sensing and optical detectors used to control crossbuck flashers, crossing gates, and trackside signals and repeaters for Automatic Block Signaling (ABS). Products and installation are discussed and available products are surveyed. View Clinic
Similar: Semaphore Signals by Jim Atkinson
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Making Trees from Sedum — Bob Sprague
With easy to obtain and use primary materials, Bob shows you how to make some very realistic trees. The clinic also contains a handy list of materials for getting started. View Clinic

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Passenger Operations — Doug Matheson
Doug discusses passenger operations on the prototype, with lots of pictures. Much of the article deals with equipment available in large scale (1:29). Pre-1948, Pullman owned and operated the vast majority of sleepers (and some others cars too). Post-1948 till about the mid 1960s, sleeping cars were very much in evidence but were owned by the operating railroad. After the mid 1960s sleeping car services declined to just the few long haul routes Amtrak and ViaRail run today. Railroads also operated a very extensive express service and postal services. Collectively, railroads ran more head end cars than all other passenger cars put together. Much of the passenger switching is related to sleepers, express and mail services operating on specified routes.View Clinic
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Railroading Along The Waterfront With Walthers – Some Prototype Ideas And Future Directions — John Teichmoeller

This clinic is based on the Wm. K. Walthers' —Railroading Along the Waterfront— project rolled-out in 1998. The material included in this program is designed with several objectives:

To discuss the prototypes, as best identified, for the Walthers products

To discuss possible changes to models to enhance fidelity

To discuss other prototype variations amenable to kitbashing with Walthers products

To give you additional informational resources View Clinic

Similar: Using Structural Steel to Create Industries and Scenes by Tom Brodrick

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Realistic Finish on Brick and Stone Structures — Kathy Renninger

Custom model builder Kathy Renninger demonstrates some of the techniques she used to obtain realistic finishes on models which feature brick and stone surfaces. Her techniques were featured in the August 2004 issue of Model Railroader. View Clinic

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Resin Casting Introduction — John Griffith

This is an introduction to those who would like to do castings. It will provide you the information needed to do your own simple castings. It covers the safety, tools, and materials required. We will talk about making masters, walk through how to prepare a mold from a master, and demonstrate how to cast parts. Along the way it offers tips on what John finds works and what doesn—t. View Clinic

Similar: Intermediate Resin Casting by John Griffith

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Rocks Made Easy — Working with Rock Molds & Coloring with Dyes — Bob Johnson

Learn techniques for casting rock molds using molding plaster and assembling the castings into large, homogeneous formations. Emphasis is placed on blending the individual castings together and maintaining a realistic bedding plane throughout the formation. A major focus is on a quick and easy technique to color the assembled castings using a combination of washes,dyes, chlorine bleach and dry color powders. View Clinic

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Scenic Express Supertrees — Bill Carl

Longer and short methods to making Scenic Express Supertrees are presented. View Clinic

Similar: Constructing Pine Trees of the Southeast by Mike Hart

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Semaphore Signals — Jim Atkinson

As a modeler, Jim was only interested in a simple, single blade, three positions, upper quadrant signal. (from MER Local.) View Clinic

Similar: Making Dwarf Signals by Marshall Abrams

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Scratchbuilding a Small Wooden Freight Station and Platform — Martin Brechbiel, MMR

Now that you have a few old time wooden freight cars built, you need a place to stop and load and unload those items you—ve carefully crafted as flatcar loads or packaged goods from your gondolas. (From MER Local.) View Clinic
Similar: Scratchbuilding Wooden Freight Cars — Convert Your Flatcar into a Gondola by Martin Brechbiel, MMR

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Scratchbuilding Wooden Freight Cars — Convert Your Flatcar into a Gondola — Martin Brechbiel, MMR

The quickest and easiest extension from the basic flatcar. (From MER Local) View Clinic

Similar:Scratchbuilding a Small Wooden Freight Station and Platform by Martin Brechbiel, MMR — Simple Scratchbuilding Tool by Fred Willis

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Simple Scratchbuilding Tool — Fred Willis

A simple jig that is very useful in aligning and measuring parts. It is cheap, easy to make, and ensures parts are aligned properly. (From MER Local) View Clinic

Similar: Scratchbuilding a Small Wooden Freight Station and Platform by Martin Brechbiel, MMR — Scratch building Wooden Freight Cars — Convert Your Flatcar into a Gondola by Martin Brechbiel, MMR

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Using a Drill Press as a Milling Machine — Evert Beekmann View Clinic

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Using EXCEL to Create String Charts — Bob Reid,MMR

There is an easy way to display timetable in a visual way in Excel where the points that represent each train are connected by straight lines.
View Clinic View Completed String Chart
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Using Styrene For Backdrops — Mike McNamara

Constructed the backdrop for the layout using styrene. (From MER Local.) View Clinic

Similar: Creating Backdrops Using Pictures by Marshall Abrams — Backdrops by BrianSheron, MMR — BackdropTutorial by J. Mark Chase — Enhancing Backdrops by Mike McNamara

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Using Structural Steel to Create Industries and Scenes — Tom Brodrick

Shows some of the use of steel after it leaves the mill and before it becomes a finished building. The emphasis is on distribution from the mill, basic explanations of shapes and their designations, the use of these shapes in the building frame; pictures,descriptions, and ideas about the equipment used in steel erection. View Clinic

Similar:: Railroading Along The Waterfront With Walthers — Some Prototype Ideas And Future Directions by John Teichmoeller

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Water Effects — Mark Sisk

Make water on your layout. View Clinic

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Airbrush for Model Railroading — My experiences — Clint Hyde

Airbrushes, Air sources, Paints, Target materials (wood, styrene, brass/metal), Techniques View Clinic

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Replacing the External Antenna on NCE Radio Cabs — Ed Rappe

I subscribe to the Yahoo NCE DCC users group and several years ago there was an article about replacing the external antenna on NCE radio equipped cabs with an internal one similar to those found on NCE's latest cabs. Over the years on at least two occasions I've knocked an antenna free from its soldered on connection to the internal radio circuit board. Re-soldering the antenna back on to the board was relatively easy — but I always thought it was a weak design. Last month I turned and the cab bumped the fascia breaking the antenna—s solder connection. Rather than repairing the break, this time I decided to replace the external antenna with an internal one. I found the old article and ordered several Splatch antennas from DigiKey — they cost only $2.08 each!. The first cab took about 1.5 hours to upgrade, later ones perhaps 45 minutes. The internal antennas are a permanent fix for issues with broken external NCE antennas and radio performance is great.

For anyone interested in replacing the external antennas on their NCE radio cabs I've attached the article. Side note — among my 4 NCE radio cabs I found two slightly different version radio printed circuit boards (J and K). The article references the K board but the same approach applies to the older J version as well. View Clinic View Article Link for ordering Splatch antennas from Digikey

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Railroad Worthy Industries — Mat Thompson, MMR

This clinic considers workflow of manufacturing and processing plants to help model industries with the size and bulk that justifies rail traffic. The results can add realism to a layout and improve a layout—s operations potential. Examples include kit-bashed and scratch-build industries. There are also examples of what parts of an industry are needed and not needed to suggest its size, examples of industries which handle many cars with little infrastructure, and how adding special car handling requirements can increase an industries traffic load and modeling interest. View Clinic

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B&O Marine Operations on the Ohio River — John Teichmoeller

This clinic Presents results of research to date regarding the B&O's various marine operations between Parkersburg and Pittsburgh. It Includes discussion of issues involving modeling "Western Rivers" style steamboats of particular relevance to modelers with West Virginia or Pennsylvania coal theme layouts. View Clinic Read "The B&O Marine Story"

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Details can make the Difference — Adding Details to Your Layout — Brian Sheron, MMR

The clinic will focus on the details that exist in real life, and how modeling them can add realism and bring your layout to life. View Clinic

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Making a More Prototypical Waybill — Mike White

This clinic covers the development, construction, types, and uses of more prototypical model waybills on your layout. Information on the few materials needed, and sources of supply are provided. Extensive references are also made available. View Clinic Read Waybill Clinic Notes

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Everything You Wanted to Know About Model Railroad Decals — Bill Mosteller

Who makes them, where to find them, who does custom work. View Clinic

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History of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad — Ronald Beavers

The presentation covers the period 1847 to 1867 form the beginning of the O&A RR until it is merged with the Manassas Gap RR with the focus on how the O&A was used during the Civil War. View Clinic

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Filling in the Model Contest Forms — Martin Brechbiel, MMR

A major impediment to entering models into the contest rooms at both Divisional and Regional levels occurs when the modeler is confronted with "filling out the forms" or "the paperwork". That phase or participating in the AP is apparently attached to countless myths, hysteria, and horror stories.This clinic presents an overview and discuss how to fill out the forms for entering your models into the contest room for optimal success. View Clinic

Similar: Obtaining the Authorship Certificate by Martin Briechiel — Demystifying the AP Dispatcher Paperwork by Kurt Thompson, MMR    There is also a Special Interest report Earning Merit Awards that discusses how to best score points in the NMRA achievement program for modeling cars and structures. View Report

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Electroluminescent Signs For Your Layout — Brian Sheron, MMR

This clinic describes what electroluminescent (EL) signs are and how they work. It then explains how to connect and install commercially available signs, and finally shows how custom signs can be created from EL kits that are commercially available.View Clinic

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Build A Waterfall — Marshall Abrams

A waterfall adds interest to your scenery. This clinic describes how to make a waterfall using clear plastic packaging scrap, EnviroTex Lite epoxy resin, Aleene's Original Tacky Glue, and bristles from a nylon paintbrush. We discuss how to built up rivulets or cascades to give texture to the surface of the waterfall. View Clinic

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Operating With Single Cycle Waybills — Mike White
This clinic describes and explains an operating scheme for use with single-cycle waybills. Starting with the standard Setout, Hold, Pickup method in use by many, it expands this system to encompass many different types of waybill and freight movement conditions. View Clinic
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Creating Backdrops Using Pictures — Marshall Abrams
Use of pictures to produce backdrops is one of the hottest trends in realistic modeling. This clinic will cover how picture postcards, card stock models, photographs and other media can be used to make backdrops. Marshall will focus on urban scenes. Extensive web links are included.View Clinic

Similar: Using Styrene For Backdrops by Mike McNamara — Backdrops by BrianSheron, MMR — BackdropTutorial by J. Mark Chase — Enhancing Backdrops by Mike McNamara

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Detailing Athearn Blue Box Freight Cars — Nigel Phillips
Athearn Blue Box freight cars — we probably all have a few. Have a look underneath though — the brake gear is back to front! The story goes that the blueprint was upside down during the tooling for the under-body. With the trend to higher heights in baseboards, brake detail (or the lack of) is becoming more obvious and a modeling "must have" item. This clinic describes how to correct the position of the brake cylinder, air reservoir and triple valve, and add air lines, brake levers and wires using styrene strip and rod and copper or steel wire. The results meet my "3-foot" standard (if it looks good from 3-feet) and budget (the scrap box supplies nearly everything). Commercial brake kits with finer detailing (AB and K) give a much more prototypical look for those who like to get close-up. They are also a good source of various bits for a bash-build. Adding coupler trip-pin levers and air lines at the ends of the cars. View Clinic

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Expanding the Long Island Railroad — Brian Sheron, MMR

In 2015, Brian expanded his Long Island Railroad. Like most modelers, he was faced with questions such as "what to model." and "how to design the expansion." Brian explains how he made these decisions, which resulted in modeling Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, and the Long Island Rail Road's car float yard in Long Island City. In his clinic, he explains car float operations, benchwork construction, including simple ot;Helvetica","sans-serif";">View Clinic

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Expanding the Long Island Railroad — Brian Sheron, MMR

In 2015, Brian expanded his Long Island Railroad. Like most modelers, he was faced with questions such as "what to model." and "how to design the expansion." Brian explains how he made these decisions, which resulted in modeling Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, and the Long Island Rail Road's car float yard in Long Island City. In his clinic, he explains car float operations, benchwork construction, including simple construction of curved backdrops, and installing a Faller Car System. His presentation walks you through the process with many photos and diagrams. View Clinic

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Backdrops — Brian Sheron, MMR

Model train layouts are mainly constrained by two factors, limited available space, and accessibility. Both of these factors will inhibit the viewer's perception of depth when viewing a model railroading scene, unless we can add backdrops to our layouts that will impart the feeling of depth. Brian will describe various techniques that a modeler can use to achieve the perception of depth on their layout. His clinic presentation includes many photos that show these techniques. View Clinic

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Keep Alive — Gil Fuchs
Locomotives that stall on a gap or dirty track can be a source of frustration and a nuisance during operations. Keep alive devices are add-ons to the locomotive DCC decoder that can alleviate this problem. This clinic will cover installation and usage, as well as construction of a simple DIY Keep Alive device. View Clinic

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Modular Model Railroading — Clarence Guenther
Modular model railroading is a practical form of model railroading for space challenged model railroaders. This clinic explains what modular model railroading is and discuss its advantages and disadvantages. We will discuss the differences between modular and sectional model railroads and present different modular formats. View Clinic

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Thirty Five years of Tips and Tricks — Brian Sheron, MMR

This clinic presents dozens of handy tips and tricks that solve (or help solve) model railroading problems, or at least make some difficult tasks easier. These include: wax paper behind windows; sandpaper to simulate asphalt parking lots; simple signs from your computer; smaller scale buildings as background; using modern vehicles on older period layouts; simple third rails and cover boards; bending styrene plastic; making roads disappear; and simple commercial outdoor lights. View Clinic

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Weathering — John Paganoni, MMR

The purpose of this clinic is to demonstrate the use of weathering/aging techniques for engines, railroad cars, and structures. Focus is on subtle weathering using mostly chalks and chalk-type products such as —Doc O—Brien—s—, Bragdon Enterprises powders, and colored artist chalks from craft stores. A PowerPoint presentation, with pictures, will be used that was produced by Mat Thompson, MMR to highlight weathering and aging on HO scale models from the late 1940—s to early 1950—s. Emphasis is on subtle weathering versus heavy weathering because the prototype railroad (Central Vermont) I model maintained their equipment in excellent condition. Models will also be on display for members to review subsequent to the presentation. A major objective of this effort is to encourage members to participate in the NMRA Achievement Program and share their experiences in building and weathering their models. The purpose of this clinic is to demonstrate the use of weathering/aging techniques for engines, railroad cars, and structures. Focus is on subtle weathering using mostly chalks and chalk-type products such as —Doc O—Brien—s—, Bragdon Enterprises powders, and colored artist chalks from craft stores. A PowerPoint presentation, with pictures, will be used that was produced by Mat Thompson, MMR to highlight weathering and aging on HO scale models from the late 1940—s to early 1950—s. Emphasis is on subtle weathering versus heavy weathering because the prototype railroad (Central Vermont) I model maintained their equipment in excellent condition. Models will also be on display for members to review subsequent to the presentation. A major objective of this effort is to encourage members to participate in the NMRA Achievement Program and share their experiences in building and weathering their models. View Clinic
Similar: Detailing and Weathering the MER—s CNJ PS-1 Boxcar by Mike McNamara — Making a Realistic Logging Car from a Plastic Flatcar by Raymond A. Long
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Working Diaphragms — An Origami Approach — Nigel Phillips

You will learn to make working diaphragms from paper (and optionally from thin styrene sheet and wire) that are useful for older locos and passenger cars. While the result will not be "fine-scale" modeling, they will pass the 3 foot standard (it looks OK from 3 feet) and the cost of materials is minimal. Participants will design, cut, and assemble working diaphrams for diesel loco consists and passenger cars. The example used in the clinic is an early Pullman passenger car in HO scale, but the technique is easily adapted to other diaphragm designs and scales. Skills required: If you can accurately cut, fold, and assemble (glue) paper, you can make diaphragms. View Clinic

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Switch List Software — Marshall Abrams
This clinic presents a computer program model railroaders can use to generate freight traffic on their own railroads. Computer generated switchlists use tables of the cars on the layout, their type, and potential delivery locations. The system generates moves of appropriate cars to appropriate destinations, attempting to avoid repetitious activity. The clinic describes how to use the RailOp program and also addresses JMRI Operations. View Clinic

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Introduction to Model Railroad Operations — Marshall Abrams
Model railroad operations simulates the movement of trains on a railroad. Like any simulation, some details are emphasized and other details are suppressed according to the objective of the simulation. There are many choices to be made in establishing the rules and procedures for a model railroad operations simulation. This clinic provides a systematic survey described by Car Forwarding and Traffic Control Systems. Car Forwarding can be defined as is the purposeful movement of rail cars from one location to another. Prototype car forwarding is determined by customer needs. Model railroads simulate this part of the activity to varying levels. Two methods are popular for arranging model railroad freight: Car Card & Waybill, and Switch List.

Prototype Traffic Control is the purposeful movement of trains from one location to another, as determined by customer needs, physical constraints, and the desire for profitability. In the model railroad simulation we typically schedule or sequence trains. In rough order of increasing complexity, model traffic control includes: Random — run anything, anytime; Sequential — trains running in a specific order; and Timetable & Train Order (TT&TO) — trains run by time (usually using a fast clock) according to rules patterned after the prototype. View Clinic

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Oahu Sugar Company — Hawaiian Railroads — Nick Kalis
Modeling in Fn3 the narrow gauge Oahu Sugar Company as it appeared and operated in 1944 under wartime conditions. This layout demonstrates how the techniques of European exhibition layouts can be applied to an American semi- permanent layout. Two themes will be evident - sugar cane operations and WWII as it effects the home front.
Benjamin F. Dillingham founded the Oahu Sugar Company (OSC) on 20 acres of land leased from James Campbell in the vicinity of Waipahu. In 1897 its first locomotive arrives and in 1899 the first harvest of sugar cane is accomplished. Additional locomotives follow. The plantation grows to over 12,000 acres of leased land. By 1939 the railroad reached sixty miles of three-foot gauge track plus an unspecified amount of portable track on which 939 plantation cars (860 four- ton cane cars, fifty flat cars, and 29 other cars) operated. The presentation includes extensive use of photographs. View Clinic

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Modifying RTR Turnouts and Making Your Own From Scratch — Nigel Phillips
The aims of this clinic are 2-fold: Modifying RTR turnouts to make them DCC friendly and looking more like the prototype; and constructing turnouts from scratch to fit your layout (and not the other way around) when what you want is not available as an RTR item in the code rail that you use. Many RTR turnouts come as power routed designs, and depend for electrical continuity through the frog on a physical contact between the point blade and the stock rail. Simple wiring modifications and frog isolation will make them DCC ready. Some of the examples covered will be converting old power-routed Shinohara turnouts to 100% DCC compatibility, changing those pressed point blades in Peco turnouts to solid rails, and making a left- or right- hand crossover from two regular left- or right-hand turnouts. Constructing your own turnouts is not complicated, and is very cost effective with some simple homemade jigs for the frogs and point blades or with (expensive) CNC-tooled jigs if you have large numbers of turnouts to make. The clinic describes how to make inexpensive turnouts using your own jigs and simple tools, how to solder the frogs and rails to copper-clad ties, and how to wire the turnout for DCC. Some of the examples covered will be a #6 wye and a double 45—diamond crossing. View Clinic

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3D Printing Without A Printer — Gil Fuchs
3D printing has made a major impact on Model Railroading, as it has solved a long-time problem in the hobby of the viability of small run productions. 3D printing allows the modeler to obtain exactly the model he/she desires at the desired time, team up and share projects with others working on similar designs or road names, and/or print their products at home. Getting a one-off unique item is not an issue, and if one spends the effort to acquire some CAD skills, models can be designed using a computer with free software, the only major cost being one's time. Several approaches to 3D design and printing, currently available for modelers, are presented and compared. Areas where 3D printing can be successfully applied are reviewed with examples with references to relevant resources to help get you started. View Clinic

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Prototype—Based Track Planning — Robert W. Sprague
Railroad Prototype Modeling (RPM) is trying to replicate the appearance and operations of real railroads as faithfully as possible in miniature. Applying this philosophy to track planning presents particular challenges, because few modelers have enough space to reproduce prototype track layouts and distances in scale and still maintain operating interest. View Clinic Visit Bob's Web Site
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Ships and Boats for the HO Waterfront — Mat Thompson, MMR

The HO scale Oregon Coast Railroad has a major seaport and several smaller dock and pier scenes. This clinic focus on ships, boats and harbor buildings available and the reasons why they may or may not be suitable for a specific location and era. View Clinic

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Obtaining the Authorship Certificate — Martin Briechiel, MMR

This clinic addresses part of working towards your Author Certificate in the NMRA Achievement Program without any quaking in fear with memories of those endless term papers or reports at the office that tormented you in another time and place. This category is really far less intimidating than you think and is readily achievable while being a creative experience that encompasses giving clinics, videotape, web pages, or the traditional article publication format at a variety of levels. The clinic goes through all of the requirements & rules, discuss the "nuts & bolts" of "how to do it". Secondly, this clinic includes Martin's experiences with personal hints and tips for being a successful Model Railroad Author from an NMRA clinician through to being an Associate Editor and columnist. View Clinic
Similar: Demystifying the AP Dispatcher Paperwork by Kurt Thompson, MMR — Filling in the Model Contest Forms by Martin Brechbiel, MMR.    There is also a Special Interest report Earning Merit Awards that discusses how to best score points in the NMRA achievement program for modeling cars and structures. View Report
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Demystifying the AP Dispatcher Paperwork — Kurt Thompson, MMR

Chesapeake Division's AP Director and MER President (2018-) goes over the requirements and paperwork needed for a member to earn this AP certificate. In a setting more of a seminar than a clinic, Kurt presents the paperwork he submitted 25 years ago when he earned his first AP certificate. If you are interested in seeing through the "fog of the requirements" or just have some questions about your own paperwork, this clinic is for you. Remember that this certificate was easy enough that Kurt earned his. View Clinic

Similar: Obtaining the Authorship Certificate by Martin Brechbiel, MMR — Filling in the Model Contest Forms by Martin Brechbiel, MMR.    There is also a Special Interest report Earning Merit Awards that discusses how to best score points in the NMRA achievement program for modeling cars and structures. View Report

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Downsizing to a Shelf Layout — Fred Miller, MMR

Many model railroaders hesitate in building a layout because of limited space. When Fred Miller moved to a high-rise condo he was faced with either —arm-chair— model railroading, or continuing his life-long hobby of building a model railroad. This story is about how he designed and constructed a —shelf layout— to meet that desire for building an operating railroad. View Clinic

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Estate Planning for Model Railroaders — Marshall Abrams
This clinic is addressed to model railroaders who are uninterested or unable to continue and want to dispose of their model railroad assets. It also applies to the estate executor who doesn—t know much about our hobby and who has many other things on his or her mind at the time. Topics include: priorities, inventory & value, high value items, written instructions, planning for layout disposition, selling, scenarios, fees, scenarios, references, professional services, and using eBay. View Clinic There is also a Special Interest Report. View Report

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History of Model Railroad Control Systems — John Glaab & Gil Fuchs
The clinic is a review of technologies, systems and methods developed as part of the evolution of model railroading, to support the fundamental need to run trains sharing the same layout and track — from the late 1800s to recent years. The first part of the clinic covers early attempts to provide multiple train control, analog systems and the shift from central panels to walkaround train control. The second part covers digital systems and standards, ending with a call to action for members — to promote standardization for the benefit of the hobby. View Clinic
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Insurance for Your Model Railroad — Marshall Abrams
Most model railroaders never think about insurance. This clinic will help you to determine whether your homeowners— insurance sufficiently covers your model railroad. A decision will require some data gathering and decisions on your part: These questions will be addressed:

What coverage does your homeowners' policy provide?

What are all the components (e.g., motive power, rolling stock, structures, scenery, benchwork, scenery, structures, wiring, track, power and control electronics), of the railroad worth?

What is your subjective assessment of the risk?

Are you going to include repair labor in the insurance? Custom builders are expensive and unlikely to be willing to do repair work on site.    . View Clinic There is also a Special Interest Report. View Report

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Introduction to C/MRI — Jay Beckham
This clinic is an introduction to Computer/Model Railroad Interface. Some of the content is provided by Dr. Bruce Chubb. It will cover some fundamental electronic and electrical information as it relates to C/MRI. Also, it will cover the basic parts that are used to provide signaling and the operation of a CTC system. It will also cover some alternative circuits that relate to C/MRI. It will not cover JMRI or LCC. View Clinic
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Introduction to Micro-Controllers — Terry Terrance
Ever wonder what a microcontroller is? Ever wonder what it can do for your model railroading endeavors? This clinic will describe what a microcontroller is, how it works and what it can do for you. After a survey of some available microcontrollers, we'll transition to focus on the Arduino, the grandad of experimenter's microcontrollers. The Arduino's hardware and software will be described. View Clinic

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Layout Background Sound — Fred Miller, MMR

Adding background sounds is a way to enhance the "multi-dimensional" effect on your layout. Industry, city, or country sounds broaden the viewing and operating experience. There are a number of commercial "sound boards" offering pre-recorded or recordable capabilities with prices ranging from $10 to $100 and varying quality of the recorded sound and playing time. This clinic explores available options including easy construction alternatives. View Clinic

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Modeling Urban Scenes — Brian W. Sheron, MMR
Brian's HO scale Long Island Rail Road primarily models many urban and suburban scenes found on Long Island, including Brooklyn, Queens, and Penn Station in Manhattan, and the town of Huntington further out in Suffolk County. His clinic focuses on how to plan an urban scene for your layout, identifying the key elements that make up urban scenes, and then explaining what the key modeling components are for each element, and how they all can be combined to produce realistic scale model urban scenes. Brian discusses how to create realistic backdrops for urban scenes. He also discusses using techniques such as —cutaways— to model underground stations, and also modeling overhead subways, or —Els—. His clinic presentation contains many photos that illustrate the techniques described. View Clinic

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Molding and Casting in Hydrocal and Resin — Jay Beckham
This clinic covers the basics of producing one-part rubber (RTV) molds from scratch built or other masters. It also covers making castings from the molds using two- part resin and plaster. The master is a HO Scale item useful to most model railroaders. View Clinic

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Multi-Function Animation DCC Decoder — Fred Miller, MMR

This clinic is about a custom designed inexpensive decoder developed to operate lights, sounds, and motion for animating buildings on a layout. This decoder operates from DCC track power and accepts DCC commands to initiate the animations. The construction and details of the decoder are presented along with several animated demonstration buildings operated from both a LocoNet time-of-day Scheduler and a standard throttle. View Clinic
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Vinegar, Pickles and Railroads ... Oh My! — Rod Vance, MMR
This clinic talks about modeling the pickle and vinegar industries during the time period from the late 1800s to the early 1970s. We'll talk about how pickles and vinegar were made and processed, including looking at the typical structures and facilities used in their production. We'll also talk about the special railroad cars used to transport pickles and vinegar. We'll finish by surveying some of the structures and freight car models commercially available in our hobby that can be used to represent the pickle and vinegar industries. View Clinic

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Visual Aids and Wiring Techniques — Pete LaGuardia
Pete demonstrates wiring techniques used to control turnouts, double-slip turnouts with LED, and controlling tortoises from multiple locations. Along with visual aids used to assist operators both doing visits or operating sessions. These techniques and wiring aids have been featured in model railroad over the years. View Clinic
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Working With A Professional Layout Designer — Fred Scheer
Fred walks you through a bit of history, then choosing to use, and picking, a layout design pro. He explains how things go, from pre-planning to a completed design. Fred addresses time, cost, and the re- design issue; and mentions a couple of surprises along the way. You'll get a quick look at Fred's railroad and hear about the inevitable "What-I'd-Do-Differently" list. And, there's a short list of some resources now available to the design-challenged that weren't around 10 years ago. . View Clinic
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Focus Stacking — Norm Reid & Jeff Fleisher
Every model railroad photographer faces the same problem: how to get the locomotive and caboose both in sharp focus. While traditional film techniques can help, one of the best methods now possible with digital technology is focus stacking.

Focus stacking involves making a sequence of photos at varying focal points, then "stacking" them to create combined images that are sharp throughout. The clinic will present two methods for creating stacks and demonstrate the hardware and software needed to produce stacked images. Examples are presented. View Clinic
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Fantasy Meets Reality — Alex Belida
In this clinic Alex explains how he enhanced the experience of building his fictional Eureka and South Pass RR by writing his own history for the railroad and by creating articles portraying events in its turn-of-the-century Nevada locale. Then he discusses how he discovered there is a real life prototype for his operation and how that is shaping his future plans. View Clinic
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Having Fun with Operations — Mat Thompson, MMR
Operations is a fun way to increase your enjoyment of model railroading but in the beginning it can seem intimidating. This clinic focuses on helping you understand what happens during an operating session to help you get over the new-guy confusion. Mat starts with easy things you can do beforehand and then discusses the operating jobs you can expect and how to do them.He'll cover the few rules you actually need to know and suggest a few things you might want to bring. He'll even talk about the no-no's — things not to do if you ever want to be invited back! View Clinic
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Railfanning — Dave Arday
This clinic has two parts. The didactic first part covers

The relationship between model railroading and railfanning,

Safety issues,

Types of railfanning, and

Railfanning information sources.

The remainder and majority of the clinic consists of slide shows from several railfanning trips, including the Cumbres & Toltec, Western Maryland Scenic, the Tehachapi Loop, White Pass & Yukon Route, and the Canton RR, with a little bit of background information on each. View Clinic
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Building a Turntable — Nigel Phillips
Lazy Susan, M12 and the Gear-head. No, not a pulp fiction novel, but how to build a small turntable using readily available components at a fraction of the cost of a proprietary kit or a RTR one. The first build Nigel describes is an On30 "gallows" DCC turntable, 7.5" in diameter, built using a 2" square Lazy Susan bearing, an M12 (12mm diameter) bolt, and a gear-head 12v DC motor that is rated at 2 rpm at 12v, and even slower if desired. Electrical wiring is probably the most challenging part, as 2 separate circuits are usually required, one for the motor (DC), and one for the track (DCC). Some extra items such as a pulse-width speed controller, and a track polarity reverser, are covered (the bells and whistles). The second build Nigel will describe is a wood platform turn-table using a 6" diameter Lazy Susan bearing, again in On30. He uses the same approach but different in detail. Some of the issues in polarity reversal, track power wiring and indexing are reviewed. The basic components come to about $25, adding the bells and whistles is about an-other $50. View Clinic

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Design Enhancements — Nick Kalis
This clinic applies artistic concepts to improving the story our layouts tell. Topics covered are: 1) Four steps in design (pick the story, design your scenes, select your scale, design as you build); 2) Design Basics; 3) Seven Principles of Design. . View Clinic

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Building the Building for Building the Layout — Jerry Stanley
Jerry knows that building an actual building just for the layout takes a level of expertise beyond most modeler’s ability. He addresses the process to select a building site, what type of building to build on different terrains, the basic requirements to provide a set of plans for a building permit, and “things to consider” when designing your hobby room building to get these things done correctly. View Clinic There is also an article. View Article

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Success With Static Grass — Todd Hermann
Static grass seem daunting, but it's not that hard to get good results with the right materials and a little practice. In this clinic held at the Hobby Barn on January 30, 2021, Todd Hermann shared some of his techniques that he uses to achieve the look he wants to achieve on his layout. View Clinic
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Modeling in 2 Rail O (1/48) Scale — John Sethian
Much this presentation pertaines to how accessible O scale is, dispelling myths about O scale being too expensive, requiring too much room, and that the layouts are “plywood central” without scenery. The larger size gives the feel of heavy moving machinery, and fine details can be added and seen without heroics. Most equipment is readily available. The clinic includes sources, suppliers, and techniques. You may come away with a changed outlook on O scale! View Clinic
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Modeling the B&O West End — Terry Terrance
Terry Terrance's M∓K Junction Model Railroad (O Scale) is part of the “double humped” B&O crossing of the Allegheny mountains. The grade on Briery Mountain (Cranberry Grade), the crossing of the Cheat River at Rowlesburg, WV and the grade up Laurel Mountain (Cheat River Grade), is depicted in condensed form on this layout. Rowlesburg was a helper station as trains needed to be pushed up the grades in both directions out of Rowlesburg. The track is designed to create the feel of the prototype with heavy grades and very little tangent (straight) track and to be scenically sincere, that is, trains pass through a scene only once. There is quite a lot of information in the clinic and related layout tour. View Clinic    View Layout Tour

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Modeling the Railroad of the Civil War & more — Bernard Kempinski
Bernie is a freelance writer who has written dozens of magazine articles and several books on model railroading. Bernie uses some of the latest technology and techniques to build his 19th Century Civil War O scale railroad, including laser cutting, photo etching, 3D printing, spin casting, battery powered locomotives, and a microprocessor controlled telegraph system. His blog is a journal following the history, design, construction and operation of his 1/48th - (O) Scale model railroad depicting the U. S. Military Railroad (USMRR) Aquia-Fredericksburg line in 1863, and other model railroad projects. He is also the proprietor of Alkem Scale Models, a cottage industry specializing in fine scale kits and detail parts. View Blog*    View Video — How to Operate the Aquia Line    View Video — The Port of Los Angeles HO Scale Layout Project    View Video — WWI Battle of Cambrai     View Video — (more) Battle of Cambrai     Visit Alkem Scale Models*     View Book Review — Model Railroads Go To War    View Book Review — Waterfront Terminals and Operations
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Clinic Libraries

Electric Railway Modeling School
This schoolhouse is a repository for articles on electric railway modeling (street cars) and for recording electric railway prototype facts that can be used for modeling purposes.

Room 1: Catenary and Trolley Wire — Construction and Operation

Room 2: Track Construction & Operation

Room 3: Electric Railway Vehicle Painting & Lettering

Room 4: Electric Railway Vehicle Couplers

Room 5: Repowering and Rewiring

Room 6: Modeling Tips

Room 7: Traction Models

Visit Electric Railway Modeling School Clinics

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Australasian Region Clinics
Australasian Region of the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) covers Australia, New Zealand and some Pacific Islands. The purposes of the Region are to promote, stimulate, foster, and encourage by all manner and means the art and craft of model railroading and the preservation of the hobby's history, science, and technology.

Visit Australasian Region Clinics

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Pacific Coast Region Clinics
Here are links to clinic handouts and presentations given at PCR and Division events. Not all clinics from the event will be listed. Only the presentations and handouts provided by the clinician will appear here.

Visit Pacific Coast Region Clinics

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Gateway Division Library

Here are links to clinics, articles, photos, and reference materials on model railroad related topics.

Visit the Gateway Division Library

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Last modified: October 26 2022 17:18:30.