Clinics
The following list gives the clinics currently offered at the convention. Brief descriptions and scheduled times of each clinic will be included here as the convention dates approach.
“Hands On—Build a Small Bridge”
- Led by Larry Alfred, MMR/Miles Hale, MMR
Bridge Supervisors Larry and Miles will show you how to construct a small trestle bridge easily. A bonus—you build the bridge and you get to take it home. All supplies and tools will be provided.
***$5 fee payable when you pick up your registration packet.
“A Realistic Track Environment”
- Led by David Bogard
David will show you how to create scenery that really makes your trains feel like they are as real as your imagination.
“Using the Prototype as a Guide to Design Your Layout and Operating Session”
- Led by John Breau.
John will demonstrate in this clinic his method of taking prototype information and
turning it into a plan for designing your layout and any operating sessions that you may
wish to do.
“CG&S Railroad—History, Planning & Building”
- Led by Gary Davidson
This clinic is some history of my Cedar Gulch & Southern Railroad layout, the planning
and building of this layout. I will talk about some good tips I learned and some things not
so good.
“Track Cleaning”
- Led by Joe Fugate
Joe has written many books and has recorded videos on making the trains run with minimal
problems. In this clinic, he will focus on the methods he has for making the track clean
and running at its best.
“Beginning Operations for Dummies”
- Led by Gary Hankins MMR
If you would like to start operations this is a great clinic to get you started. Gary will give
you the basics of setting up a card system that mimics the movement of the real
railroad’s cars all in a simple to use form.
“The Ottawa Junction Railway”
- Led by Chuck Hitchcock MMR
Chuck has modeled railroads from the Kansas City area for many years and has
published articles in the national hobby press. Come and hear him discuss the building
of his newest railroad, The Ottawa Junction Railway.
“Layout Planning for the New Space”
- Led by Kent Hurley
Kent has recently moved to a new house in Joplin, Missouri, where he has the space for
a new and larger railroad layout. In this clinic he will discuss some of the parameters of
his wishes and how they are coming to life on the layout floor.
“SETTING UP FOR OPERATIONS”
- Led by Mark Juett MMR
If you are interested in model railroad operations, there are several things to consider
even if your track is operational and the scenery complete, or if your model railroad
could be named the Plywood Plains RR. Assuming you have developed an interesting
operating plan, or even if you have not yet finished it; there are some other things to
consider. How will you dispatch trains? Where and how will you build a Dispatcher’s
Office? Will you use radio, telephone, telegraph or another method to communicate?
What method will you use for car forwarding? What paper forms will you need? Time
Tables, Clearance Forms, Switch List, Bad Order Forms etc. How will your operators be
able to identify locations and industries on your railroad? Come join us to discuss these
subjects and more.
“Beyond the Basement—Interchange Staging”
- Led by Mark Juett MMR
Model railroads, like the prototype, need to connect to other railroads for more
economic prosperity. Prototype railroads interchange cars and loads with many other
railroads. Cars and loads should go “beyond the basement”. If you model an earlier
time, the number of railroads with which you interchange may be many more. Look at
some examples of live interchanges that don’t require a lot of space or labor to operate.
Cars leave the railroad for long periods of time. New cars come in their place. The
methods are easy, and only require basic carpentry skills. Car Cards, JMRI Operations
or several other systems can be used to track and move cars.
“HO to 2-Rail in the Same Space”
- Led by Kevin Leyerle
A brief discussion and Power Point presentation about how I've transitioned from HO
scale to 2 Rail O Scale on my home basement layout. O Scale is much more than being
twice the size of HO. I'll discuss and show some photos of what I've encountered along
my O Scale journey.
“Judging/Merit Evaluation Clinic”
- Led by Ryan Moats MMR
These two masters of judging will give you some insights on how to help your models
score their best possible points. It will make a better modeler out of you as well, so
come and better yourself.
“Argentine Operations”
- Led by Dan Munson
Dan has been a Yard Master in real life and he brings to this clinic some of the
knowledge that we all need to make our railroads better and more prototypical.
“Derailments”
- Led by Dan Munson
Dan has worked many derailments on the real railroad and this clinic will show some of
the processes of making the line whole again so the trains can run.
“Cast a Giant Shadow—The Art & Science of Satisfying Operations on a Smaller Layout”
- Led by Bret Overholtzer MMR
If you normally think of operations as being for the “Big Guys”, then you are in for a treat
because Bret believes in big ops on a small platform.
“Rebuilding the Santa Fe Bicentennial Locomotive 5704”
- Led by Stephen Priest MMR
Steve and his graphics crew contributed a lot to the making of the paint scheme for Engine 5704. Come and enjoy the slides of the transformation.
“Building a CTC Machine for Your Model Railroad”
- Led by Stephen Priest MMR
Modern times call for a big time concept - the CTC panel. Come hear the reigning
leader in big time CTC panels show how he constructed one of the biggest and most up
to date CTC panels.
“A New Method to Make Your Own Figures”
- Led by Marty Vaughn MMR
Marty started making figures from an old NMRA tape/slide clinic titled Minute Men.
Recently he started using new materials to make the figures more flexible and to add
more detail like coats and vests. This clinic will show you how to do it.
“How to Paint Figures for Your Layout”
- Led by Marty Vaughn MMR
Marty has been painting figures and detail parts commercially for over 30 years. While
there are many different methods used by painters, he’ll cover those that work best for
him, from brushes to paint, to prep, to finishing washes
“Getting Started With Brass”
- Led by Martin Wade
Brass opens up all new horizons of Proto availability and options. But it also opens Pandora’s box of learning new techniques, tools, and pitfalls. Join Martin as he shares his "startup” journey into the brass engines of HO/HOn3. He will share what he had to add to his “tool-belt” to get started.
“Modern Tortoise Control”
- Led by Martin Wade
With 3D printing, Amazon tools, and “virtual” panels there are new ways to use those tried and true Tortoise turnout controls. Many techniques will bridge across to other turnout controls as well. This clinic will walk through some of the latest options including locally designed 3D printed parts for getting your layout “under control”.
"Foamcore Buildings for Foreground or Background”
- Led by Jim Hogben
Learn how Jim creates buildings for his layout using Foamcore. Basic materials: 1/16 or 1/8 inch Foamcore, scale doors and windows, scale lumber, or card stock and paper.
“Building Detailed Structures v.2.0"
- Led by Lind Wickersham
This clinic describes additions to and modification of kits, and scratch building techniques that will enhance your structures.
"Trees"
- Led by Ray Brown
Ray is going to make a forest that contains all kinds of trees. He will include both
conifers and deciduous trees.
"Water"
- Led by Ray Brown
Come see Ray’s methods of creating water for both still water (lakes and ponds) and
running water (streams and rivers). He will also cover making waterfalls.
“Boxes, Piers, and Bulkheads: Creating Strong Supports for Your Bridges”
- Led by John Fales
Bridges are essential in railroading as there are many situations where your track work
must cross a gap. This could be a natural canyon, valley, stream, or man-made
obstructions, roads, buildings or another section of track work. The support structures
for these bridges are critical for the life of the bridge yet they are often after-thoughts
and overlooked. Why are these supports important? What supports are appropriate in
given situations to realistically modeling real situations? This clinic will help answer
these questions and more as we take a look at bridge abutments.
“Documenting Your Model Railroad Through Video”
- Led by Ron Marsh
Ron has 50,000 subscribers on YouTube and is one of the most prolific creators of
model railroad videos. Come hear his ideas for showing the progress of your railroad
and maybe sharing your creations with the YouTube world.
“Geology & Model Railroading”
- Led by Greg Ohlmacher
Greg is a real geologist so come and hear some ideas about how to make your scenery
really look like “Mother Nature” had a hand in making your railroad come to life.
“Signaling for Model Railroads – The Basics”
- Led by Bill Scheerer, MMR
This clinic introduces modelers to the basic principles of prototype signal systems
necessary to model them, including the types of prototype signal systems, their
relationship to methods of operation and their components. It then discuses how to
apply this knowledge to designing and implementing signal systems on a model railroad
including locating signals, the aspects displayed and digital I/O requirements. An
opportunity to ask your questions about signal systems, both model and prototype, will
be provided.
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