Clinics
The clinic program features presentations by talented modelers, authors, and experts in every field of model railroading. The clinics vary in presentation style and some will include hands-on learning. We've lined up presenters from all over the PCR and even a few from beyond. Whatever your interest, we have the clinic for you.
To find a presenter, subject, or any word, use the "Ctrl+F" shortcut to search this page .
QwikLinks to Presenters (by last name)
Please note this list is TENTATIVE and subject to change without notice.
Any changes will be posted on the "News & Updates" page.
We have the following presenters scheduled as of: :
Clinics & Presenters
"LD-OPS SIG Track" indicates this clinic is a part of the LD-OPS SIG “Track” on Thursday. All convention attendees are warmly invited to these clinics.
Operations on Visalia's Kelsey Street & Shirk Street Sidings
LD-OPS SIG Track
LD-OPS SIG Track
Brewster Bird
Thursday
7:00 PM
Owl Room
Description of daily operations in the Visalia Industrial Park along the Kelsey Street and Shirk Street sidings and spurs. Brief historic overview of Visalia’s railroad history, kinds of products shipped on the railroad. Shows how to use a LDE ( Layout Design Element) drawn from current prototype in developing a working module/shelf/Freemo.
Shelf-Layout Prototypes
LD-OPS SIG Track
LD-OPS SIG Track
Brewster Bird
Thursday
8:30 PM
Owl Room
Why shelves? Why not! Are there real railroads built along shelf-like lines? Illustrated with several historical track plans from various sources, and current day on-line maps and satellite imagery. Finding a prototype that works for you. Reasons for existence.
Introduction to EduTRAIN
Robert Blake
Wednesday
10:30 AM
Lark Room (upstairs) NEW
Thursday
9:00 AM
Starlight Room
You’ve heard about EduTRAIN, the new Education and Training Program for the NMRA. What is the program all about? When can I expect EduTRAIN clinics? How are they different from existing clinics and labs? This presentation will provide an introduction.
Creating an EduTRAIN Clinic/Lab
Robert Blake
Wednesday
1:00 PM
Lark Room (upstairs) NEW
Thursday
10:30 AM
Starlight Room
You’ve heard about EduTRAIN, the new Education and Training Program for The NMRA. This presentation will provide additional detail on creating an EduTRAIN clinic or lab.
SketchUp and Rapid Prototyping
Handout (484 kb)
Handout (484 kb)
Jack Burgess, MMR #136
Friday
2:30 PM
Lark Room (upstairs) NEW
Saturday
10:30 AM
Lark Room (upstairs)
Rapid prototyping or 3D printing is one of those emerging technologies which can be easily adopted by model railroaders. Draw the unique part that you need in 3D using free software from Google, upload the file to a service bureau such as Shapeways, and receive your finished part in the mail a couple of weeks later. This clinic will provide a beginner’s overview of how to take advantage of this new technology. Some sample parts will be shown along with video screen grabs of using SketchUp to draw parts. Minimum design standards will be discussed which impact what can be produced using rapid prototyping. How to upload your files will be explained and, finally, a number of sources for more information will be presented including the 1000s of YouTube videos showing how to use all of the tools available to draw the parts in 3D.
A Case for C/MRI on Arduino
Chuck Catania
Thursday
4:00 PM
Owl Room
Thursday
7:00 PM
Lark Room (upstairs) NEW
The clinic will describe and demonstrate the implementation of model railroad signaling using control point nodes (cpNode) compatible with Dr. Chubb's Computer Model Railroad Interface (C/MRI). The system is built out of inexpensive, open source Arduino hardware.
Southern California Citrus Industry Operations
Bob Chaparro
Friday
9:00 AM
Lark Room (upstairs)
This PowerPoint presentation covers railroad perishable operations with an emphasis on the Southern California citrus industry, including refrigerator car preparation, loading, in-transit servicing, routing and delivery. We also will touch on packing houses, how a perishable train is assembled,
support facilities, mechanical vs. ice bunker cars, what is done with returning refrigerator cars and railroad operations which parallel citrus traffic. The presentation will focus on the years 1910 to 1971.
.
Right Of Way & Trackside Details, Part 1
Bob Chaparro
Thursday
9:00 AM
Lark Room (upstairs)
Exploring the use of details as a means to make your layout a more complete, interesting and unique model railroad environment. Details exist without the presence of a train yet are “railroady”, add realism, completeness and atmosphere beyond the train and structures, say to visitors this is not a Christmas display but a miniature transportation system, reinforce prototype or freelance railroad practice, and are simple and sometimes subtle. Many photographic examples of real world details will be presented. Part 2 follows immediately after this clinic.
Right Of Way & Trackside Details, Part 2
Bob Chaparro
Thursday
10:30 AM
Lark Room (upstairs)
Exploring the use of details as a means to make your layout a more complete, interesting and unique model railroad environment. Details exist without the presence of a train yet are “railroady”, add realism, completeness and atmosphere beyond the train and structures, say to visitors this is not a Christmas display but a miniature transportation system, reinforce prototype or freelance railroad practice, and are simple and sometimes subtle. Many photographic examples of real world details will be presented.
Passenger Terminals and Servicing Facilities: Prototype Examples
Robert Clark
CANCELLED
4/11/14
This clinic supplements my layout design clinic and focuses on the wide variety of
facilities needed to service passenger trains at terminals. It is illustrated with slides of
facilities, such as coach yards, Pullman buildings, commissaries, car washers, and mail and railway express buildings. Track diagrams of large city terminals are shown. Switching of these facilities is described. A handout includes specifications on servicing platform design and utilities such as compressed air, water, and electricity.
Layout design with a passenger train emphasis
Robert Clark
CANCELLED
4/11/14
Track plans for passenger train oriented layouts suggest how passenger terminals and mail line layout design elements can be pulled together. Layout design elements such as turning arrangements, express and mail facilities, and coach yard requirements such as car washers, servicing platforms, Pullman and commissary buildings, and craft shops will be covered. Main line elements include junctions for merging and splitting of passenger trains. Through stations with passenger car setouts and exchanges will also be discussed.
Weathering Freight Cars, a Hands-on Clinic
Paul Deis
Saturday
2:30 PM
Owl Room
Paul Deis will be offering a HANDS ON weathering clinic, sponsored by Bragdon Enterprises. Paul will discuss techniques he uses to weather equipment on his HO and 1:20.3 garden railroads using Bragdon's weathering powders, acrylic paints, and colored markers. Paul will supply a selection of freight cars from his railroad for you to weather or you may bring a car from your collection. (You can’t take Paul’s cars home with you!).
You have observed the diamond shaped signs on rail cars. You may understand that they are there to warn of the possible hazards of the materials in that rail car. What you probably want to know is what are the correct markings or signs that should be on the rail cars on my layout. With this clinic Paul will share with you a little history of the warning signs, now known as "placards" on railroad equipment. We will see what the correct placards are for what commodity in which era. We will start with the 1906 American Railway Association Regulations for the Transportation of Inflammable Articles and Acids and review the changes up to the current DOT regulations.
Rail Detector Cars, Theory and Operations
Dennis Drury
Friday
9:00 AM
Starlight Room
Saturday
2:30 AM
Starlight Room NEW
This clinic will cover the history and theory of operations of rail detector cars. It will also describe the affects these cars have on railroad operations, both prototype and model.
The Realm of Timetable and Train Order Operations
Fred Gamst
Saturday
10:30 AM
Starlight Room
This clinic is a PowerPoint presentation on timetable and train orders operations, also called TT/TO. While such operations can seem intimidating to newcomers, the principles are fairly straightforward. In this clinic, Fred will explain what you need to understand about TT/TO in order to run on a layout under TT/TO.
Interestingly, Fred is not a model railroader. He is a social anthropologist and professor emeritus at University of Massachusetts. He also wrote a book entitled "Hoghead: Industrial Ethnology of the Locomotive Engineer (Case Study in Cultural Anthropology)". Here is a monograph he wrote that might be of interest: http://ntl.bts.gov/data/num/90spr.pdf.
Interestingly, Fred is not a model railroader. He is a social anthropologist and professor emeritus at University of Massachusetts. He also wrote a book entitled "Hoghead: Industrial Ethnology of the Locomotive Engineer (Case Study in Cultural Anthropology)". Here is a monograph he wrote that might be of interest: http://ntl.bts.gov/data/num/90spr.pdf.
Conversation with the NMRA President
Charlie Getz
Thursday
2:30 PM
Lark Room (upstairs)
Updates, news, views and scuttlebutt on the NMRA. What is happening and what is coming for your organization. A spirited Q&A session is always a highlight. Bring questions, concerns, cheap shots, but no tomatoes please! All scales welcomed.
NEW Basic Airbrush Techniques
Ed Hall, MMR #242
Thursday
8:30 PM
Lark Room (upstairs)
Ed will discuss basic use of an airbrush including paints, thinning, viscosity, taping techniques, and cleaning.
Detailing and Painting the Southern Pacific 1941 Lark Streamliner Passenger Train
Ed Hall, MMR #242
Thursday
1:00 PM
Lark Room (upstairs)
Ed will discuss adding additional detailing to a Coach Yard brass passenger train. He will also discuss the best paint and decals available to make a realistic passenger train.
How Operating Sessions Can Get You AP Certificates
Chuck Harmon, MMR #529
Friday
4:00 PM
Lark Room (upstairs) NEW
Chuck will relate how holding operating sessions on his layout helped earn several AP Certificates, leading to the designation of MMR. He will have a PowerPoint presentation pointing out the layout improvements that were necessary for improved op sessions which helped earn the Civil Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Master Builder Cars, and Master Builder Structures Certificates. He will show how documentation was prepared and presented and how the judging was performed. He hopes to illustrate how participation in the Achievement Program improved operations on his layout and provided enjoyable and effective op sessions for his friends, encouraging others to participate in this educational program. In time remaining he will show how his crew uses Tony Thompson's modified car card system. Questions and answers will finish the presentation.
21st Century Layouts: Why Modules Have Made Traditional Layouts Obsolete
LD-OPS SIG Track
LD-OPS SIG Track
Paul Ingraham & Steve Wesolowski
Thursday
1:00 PM
Starlight Room
Why are modular layouts replacing traditional layouts? For many practical, operational and flexibility reasons. How just 4 modules equal/can make 24 different layouts: your math may vary, depending on module design. Principles of single and multi-level modular construction..
Where's My Station Today?: Modular Waybill Operations
LD-OPS SIG Track
LD-OPS SIG Track
Paul Ingraham & Steve Wesolowski
Thursday
2:30 PM
Starlight Room
How DO you operate when ALL stations and industries move every operating session?
NEW Railroading During the Transition Era
Tommy Johnson
Friday
10:30 AM
Lark Room (upstairs)
Retired locomotive engineer Tommy Johnson discusses aspects of prototype operation during the transition era and afterward.
Hostling the ATSF LA Roundhouse (Renamed, was "Hostling Redondo Jct. Roundhouse")
Tommy Johnson
Friday
4:00 PM
Starlight Room
The secrets (and sometimes insanity) of getting the engines out on time (usually) at Santa Fe's Redondo Jct. (LA) roundhouse, as explained by a retired Santa Fe engineer.
NEW The State Belt
Bill Kaufman
Friday
8:30 PM
Starlight Room
A trip through a very interesting prototype. The State Belt Railroad of California was owned by the State of California and ran along the San Francisco waterfront from AT&T Park, where the Giants play now, past the Ferry building and Fisherman’s Wharf, and out to the Presidio. From 1892 to 1992 it serviced piers and businesses in a very urban environment. Hardly a trace remains. Crooks, earthquakes, strikes, and wars, the Belt saw it all. [Note: Bill is the author of a soon-to-be-released book on the State Belt. The book is being published by Signature Press and some information is available here http://signaturepress.com/forth.html]
Operations for Dummies
LD-OPS SIG Track
LD-OPS SIG Track
Bill Kaufman
Friday
1:00 PM
Starlight Room
The purpose of this clinic is to provide beginning operators with enough information that they can feel good about participating in operating sessions. It focuses on four questions:
- Which cars go where?
- How do you get them there?
- How do you keep from running into each other?
- How do you make money at it (or lose the least)?
Planning and developing the State Belt
LD-OPS SIG Track
LD-OPS SIG Track
Bill Kaufman
Friday
2:30 PM
Starlight Room
A new clinic (with some recycled bits) on the ideas that went into creating a 12’ x 12’ layout based on the San Francisco waterfront. It discusses some of the goals and how they were implemented. Operations are a major focus, as is recreating the environment that the railroad operated in.
Layout Design SIG Forum Meet & Greet
LD-OPS SIG Track
LD-OPS SIG Track
Bill Kaufman, Moderator
Thursday
7:00 PM
Starlight Room
All convention attendees are invited to join the Layout Design Special Interest Group (LDSIG) members for a roundtable discussion. We’ll start by introducing ourselves and our layout design objectives and then move into discussing topics submitted from the floor. We will stay on design topics for about 90 minutes and then reconvene as the Operations SIG (OPSIG) and move on to operating topics. Please bring your design or concerns and we will take them up as a group. In the past we have often discussed a layout plan and then discussed how to maximize the plan’s operating potential.
Operations SIG Meet & Greet
LD-OPS SIG Track
LD-OPS SIG Track
Bill Kaufman, Moderator
Thursday
8:30 PM
Starlight Room
All convention attendees are invited to join the Operations Special Interest Group (OPSIG) members for a roundtable discussion. We’ll start by introducing ourselves and then move into discussing operating topics submitted from the floor. Please bring your operating concerns and we will take them up as a group. We usually stay until the hotel staff kicks us out.
Nn3 Overview
Tom Knapp, MMR #101
Wednesday
2:30 PM
Lark Room (upstairs)
A history of narrow gauge modeling in the “small scales“ (1:148-1:160); a review of currently available commercial products, including track, motive power and rolling stock; some techniques, with specific reference to the Pacific Coast Railway Nn3 display.
Modeling the Pacific Coast Railway’s San Luis Obispo Facilities
LD-OPS SIG Track
LD-OPS SIG Track
Tom Knapp, MMR #101
Wednesday
4:00 PM
Lark Room (upstairs)
A review of the prototype railway facilities in San Luis Obispo, and the construction of an Nn3 diorama/model of these facilities based on the survey, with no compression.
Modeling With The Masters
Clark Kooning, MMR #225
Wednesday
through
Saturday
At Coast Rails 2014, we will be presenting a Modeling With The Masters (MWTM) program. Clark Kooning, Master Model Railroader, from Toronto, Canada, is coming to San Luis Obispo to present a series of hands-on make-and-take clinics, usually only held at NMRA National Conventions. Sign-up and reserve your seat for one of the most exciting NMRA programs ever brought to the PCR!
Each session lasts 2½ to 5 hours and starts with a workshop, followed by a hands-on session where you will actually build a model aided by Master Model Railroader Clark Kooning. He will assist you, answer your questions and share his modeling expertise, skills and techniques. When the session is finished, you will be able to take your project home.
See the dedicated "Modeling With The Masters" webpage for more information, tool lists, and to reserve your seat. The deadline to sign-up has been extended to Wednesday, April 23, 2014.
San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum (SLORRM)
Brad LaRose
Friday
10:30 AM
Starlight Room
History of the development of rail travel in San Luis Obispo County. History of the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum. Museum overview. Current Projects. This is a must-see clinic if you plan on visiting the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum during the Saturday Open House from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. See the "SLORRM" webpage for the schedule of events at the Museum.
NEW Railfanning Made Easy: Basic Ferroequinology
Pat LaTorres
Wednesday
7:00 PM
Lark Room (upstairs)
As model railroaders, it always makes the modeling easier when we are more familiar with the subject of our modeling. In this clinic, Pat LaTorres, a long time rail fan will give out a few of his tips and tricks to
tracking the Iron Horse in its native environment. He will touch on some of those things that will make the experience a bit less stressful and also give some insights on where to find the subject. While the natural range of this beast has been substantially reduced in recent years, the opportunity to catch it in the wild is still there for those that wish to make the effort.
Multiscale Module Modeling in One Organization
Phil Lawyer
Thursday
4:00 PM
Lark Room (upstairs)
A traveling modular, multiscale DCC club, integrating HO and N scale modelers. A major focus is on bringing youth into the club. Monthly general meetings are held at the Oceano Railroad Depot. Bi-annual train shows and Model Railroad Days, open to the public, are also held at the Oceano Depot. We frequently travel to exhibit our modules at train shows, such as World's Greatest Hobby and Great Train Expo. We also adopt other clubs' standards for our own applications.
Background Furnace Filter Fir Trees or How to Make a Forest in a Fast Easy Way
(Extra-Fare Clinic - $5.00)
(Extra-Fare Clinic - $5.00)
Lloyd Lehrer
Friday
4:00 PM
Owl Room
This is a hands-on clinic to make one or two fir trees in the scale of your choice. You will cut and apply furnace filter material to create your own fir-style trees, with a little guidance from the instructor. You will learn how to shape, grain and stain a trunk, then apply the “branches” and flock your tree. All materials included.
This is not an open clinic. You must purchase a ticket to pay the materials fee to attend this clinic.
This is not an open clinic. You must purchase a ticket to pay the materials fee to attend this clinic.
| Materials Fee | $5.00 |
Sagebrush Armature Trees
(Extra-Fare Clinic - $5.00)
(Extra-Fare Clinic - $5.00)
Lloyd Lehrer
Thursday
2:30 PM
Owl Room
This is a hands-on clinic to make one sagebrush tree in the scale of your choice. You will get in touch with the creative side of your brain and apply polyfiber materials to create your tree with a little guidance from the instructor. You will learn how to make a trunk, and then apply the fiber and flocking to get the branches you want and create your tree. All materials included.
This is not an open clinic. You must purchase a ticket to pay the materials fee to attend this clinic.
This is not an open clinic. You must purchase a ticket to pay the materials fee to attend this clinic.
| Materials Fee | $5.00 |
How to Use Servos and Frog Juicers to Control Turnouts
Duncan McRee
Friday
7:00 PM
Owl Room
Duncan is the owner of Tam Valley Depot. The clinic will talk about using R/C servos for switching turnouts. Duncan will show tips and hints for using the servos effectively and show the various options for controlling the servos from simple fascia controls to sophisticated JMRI interfaces. Duncan will also talk about his Frog Juicers – the simplest way to automatically control the polarity of a frog on a turnout powered with DCC. Only a single wire is needed and there are no mechanical parts. The Frog Juicer senses when a wheel closes the gap to the frog and switches the polarity as needed. The Frog
Juicer is compatible with all DCC systems and most brand of circuit breakers and auto-reversers. Several examples of different set ups will be available for inspection.
The Dead Rail System 1 – Never Clean Track Again
Duncan McRee
Friday
8:30 PM
Owl Room
Duncan is the owner of Tam Valley Depot and in this clinic will present the Dead Rail System 1 (DRS1) for controlling your trains using on-board batteries and radios for the DCC signal. The system is an add-on to your existing DCC system, allowing you to keep all your existing throttles, as well as allowing you to run a mix of track-powered and battery powered locomotives on the same track. The system has been installed in locomotives from HOn3 to O scale. Duncan has been using the DRS1 for almost 2 years and will discuss the trade-offs between regular DCC and battery power. Also discussed will be the differences between DRS1 and the other systems available and how they can be mixed and matched. A couple of example installations will be available for inspection.
Nuts and Bolts of Planning and Building the NWP
LD-OPS SIG Track
LD-OPS SIG Track
Ed Merrin
Wednesday
7:00 PM
Starlight Room
Thursday
4:00 PM
Starlight Room
This clinic presents the conceptualization, planning, and construction of a functioning HO railroad representing operations of the Northwestern Pacific in 1958. Included are the establishment of an operating scheme and the development of a track plan capable of supporting it in a specific space available. Featured topics include multiple deck construction, unique use and scenic treatment of the helix , and the execution of preplanned scenic treatments, including
transitions between scenes that help create the illusion of distance.
Going North Over Cuesta
Bruce Morden
Wednesday
10:30 AM
Starlight Room
This clinic will include a descriptive narrative of the trip from San Luis Obispo to Santa Margarita. There will be historical and contemporary photos and discussion of the railroad, construction of the route, tunnel construction and reconstruction, landowners, place names, other interesting stories. This is an ideal clinic to attend if you are planning on taking the "Over the Cuesta Tour" Wednesday afternoon.
Using Sanborn Maps and Aerial Photos for Layout Design
Bruce Morden
Wednesday
8:30 PM
Starlight Room
Saturday
1:00 PM
Starlight Room
Layout design based on research from Sanborn Insurance maps, aerial photos, railroad maps, USGS topographic maps. Examples and sources will be provided.
Black Gold, White Earth
Bruce Morden
Saturday
9:00 AM
Starlight Room
Using historical information and contemporary photos and videos, we will take a trip from San Luis Obispo in 1894, south through Pismo Beach, Oceano and Guadalupe, where we will detour east on the Santa Maria Valley Railroad discussing the growing produce, sugar beets and oil. We resume our trip south to Surf, then through the flower fields, the streets of Lompoc and up some of the steepest railroad grades in Southern California to the mine at White Hills.
Cheap Trees: Making Trees For Modelers with Little Money and Less Talent
Bob Pethoud
Thursday
10:30 AM
Owl Room
Two clinics in one: Making deciduous trees by twisting florist wire and making conifer trees from chopsticks, bamboo skewers, and furnace filter material. The twisted wire method was featured in "Model Railroader", January 2014 issue.
How I Search-Select-Design a Layout: An Adventure in Layout Design
George Pisching
Wednesday
7:00 PM
Owl Room
A program examining a way to develop a model railroad layout. The class will look at a series of processes to develop layouts; for yourself and for others. We will be looking at sites on the Internet.
Attendees should bring their laptops or tablets to this hands-on clinic.
Attendees should bring their laptops or tablets to this hands-on clinic.
Building Evergreen Trees
Roger Rasmussen
CANCELLED
4/03/14
Learn about methods and materials for creating realistic conifers using real wood trunks. Make a great looking 9 or 11 inch tree in about fifteen minutes Roger from Coastmans shows you how.
P87: New Technology
Andy Reichert
CANCELLED
4/18/14
CANCELLED
4/18/14
An illustrated talk, with video and hands-on demonstrations of Proto:87 progress and equipment here on the Central Coast, followed by working examples and a discussion of how many Proto:87 inspired developments can improve HO modeling as well.
Building Jig-less, "Fast and Easy” Plastic Turnouts
Andy Reichert
CANCELLED
4/18/14
Explanation, demonstration and lots of hands-on experience of building Fast and Easy, HO Turnouts. Parts and tools provided. Opportunity to purchase your finished result at a big discount if you wish.
Building Stunning “Working Scale Model” HO (and/or Proto:87) Track and Turnouts
Andy Reichert
CANCELLED
4/18/14
Explanation, demonstrations and lots of hands-on experience of building Ultimate, HO
Turnouts. Parts and tools provided. Opportunity to purchase your finished result at a big discount if you wish.
Modeling Realistic Street Running in HO – Trains or Trolleys
Andy Reichert
CANCELLED
4/18/14
Progress report and presentation on easily and highly realistically modeling street track and turnouts for HO trains, trolleys, industrial and harbor trackage. Illustrated and with hands-on examples and working modules.
The Golden Soldering Ceremony, Utah, 1869 Or Whatever happened to hand-laid track?
Andy Reichert
CANCELLED
4/18/14
A lighthearted, but accurate and informative, illustrated and hands-on, presentation on the appearance and working technology of real track, in comparison with traditional modeling. A thorough and helpful recap of how model track actually works (or should), including dispelling many modeling myths, and lots of model tips with examples and demonstrations to help everyone get their own pikes to “zero derailments” and near 100% reliability. Practical and simple solutions to overcome the problems of even using code 88 wheels. How newer ways of modeling can bring it back to the same sort of matching realism that we now enjoy with the latest model locomotives and cars, without skill, tears, loss of reliability, or bankruptcy.
The Sierra RR’s Jamestown Shops, a Walking Tour
Bill Schaumburg
Wednesday
8:30 PM
Lark Room (upstairs) NEW
Friday
7:00 PM
Starlight Room
This clinic takes a brief look at the development of the Sierra RR’s Jamestown yard, then takes a docent’s type tour of the site, one of the few continuously operating steam railroad roundhouses and shops in the U.S.
Installing Decoders
Mark Schutzer
Friday
7:00 PM
Lark Room (upstairs)
A beginner's guide to installing decoders in locomotives. This clinic will show you how to install decoders in both steam and diesel locomotives. The decoder selection process is discussed, followed by installation examples in both steam and diesel locomotives. Examples of advanced sound decoder installations are also illustrated.
Model Photography
Mark Schutzer
Friday
8:30 PM
Lark Room (upstairs)
This clinic will discuss techniques for photographing models and other items on your layout. A brief review of some photography basics will be included. Lighting, depth of field, macro photography and focusing will be covered in detail. If you are a beginning photographer and want to learn how to use your digital camera to take photos of models and layouts this clinic is for you.
Super Detail an N Scale SP PA2
Gordon Searle
Friday
1:00 PM
Lark Room (upstairs)
Modified an existing “kitbashed” N scale Con-Cor PA2 (originally purchased as a PA1). Extracted the old extruded parts out of the PA shell and installed updated details. Manufacturers such as, Gold Medal Models, Sunrise Enterprises (now out of business), Scale Replicas (also out of business), Microscale Industries, BLMA, MV Products, Evergreen Scale Models and Archer 3D decals, are all responsible for helping to make these newer upgrades possible.
NEW Life After Floquil
Pete Steinmetz
Wednesday
8:30 PM
Owl Room
Floquil and Poly Scale Paint brands are no more. Are modelers left stranded? Hardly. Pete Steinmetz will discuss other brands of paint and their uses for model railroaders. The quest for alternatives turned into an article in the March 2014 issue of Model Railroad Hobbiest. This clinic will expand on that article and cover many more brands.
Santa Fe Ops in the Central Valley: Ops Nightmare - Wrecks
Terry Taylor
Wednesday
2:30 PM
Starlight Room
Saturday
4:00 PM
Lark Room (upstairs) NEW
PowerPoint presentation of train wrecks on the Santa Fe in the Central California San Joaquin Valley from early times thru 1982.
Transition-era Tank Car Modeling
Tony Thompson
Wednesday
4:00 PM
Starlight Room
Friday
2:30 PM
Owl Room NEW
Basics of tank-car construction are described, to clarify modeling variations among prototypes as well as challenges in reproducing them. Car handling and usage is also described to help understand modeling choices. Several kinds of tank car projects are presented, for both insulated and uninsulated cars in HO scale, to illustrate techniques and approaches to these interesting prototypes.
NEW Build a Turnout in an Hour
Tim Warris, Owner of Fast Tracks
Saturday
10:30 AM
Owl Room
Saturday
1:00 PM
Owl Room
In this commercial clinic, Fast Tracks owner Tim Warris will take you thru the process of using the Fast Tracks system for building turnouts. Tim's friend, Clark Kooning, MMR, will help Tim narrate the whole procedure as Tim builds a complete turnout in about an hour. During this clinic you will be able to view Tim building the turnout on a large projector screen so everyone can get a good view of the process. So come on out and enjoy this fast paced and fun clinic.
Oil and the Railroads of the Central Coast
Tom Zehnder
Saturday
1:00 PM
Lark Room (upstairs) NEW
Saturday
2:30 PM
Lark Room (upstairs) NEW
This clinic with explore the historical connection between the oil industry and the railroads on the Central Coast. This includes oil production, the coming of pipelines and the construction of refineries. The SP, UP, the Pacific Coast Railway and other railroads have played and continue to play a major role locally with the oil industry. The clinic will also showcase modeling opportunities to represent oil related facilities.
See you in San Luis Obispo.
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