Extreme Photo Etching and Soldering

#1 David Allen
Model RR Operations: Is it a job or are we having fun yet?
Cancelled at the request of the presenter. 8/15/09

#2 Dave Arendes
Realistic Model Railroad Scenery
A discussion of Topography and methods to create a realistic model railroad using a foam base. Include will be a discussion on various ground covers and ballast.

#3 Brian Block MMR (This is a 2 hour Hands On Clinic)
How to Create Realistic Stone Walls
Have you ever wanted to make a unique, not out of the box, Culvert, Viaduct, or Retaining Wall on your layout but didn't know where to start? During this clinic attendees will assemble a simple plaster mold, mix the plaster to the right consistency and pour it into the mold. Brian discusses the use of a mold release and sealing the plaster prior to the actual carving. Different rock patterns will be discussed and each attendee will learn what tools to use and how to best carve the rock faces into the plaster. Acrylic mixed stains and washes will then be applied to the finished carving to bring the stone wall to live. Attendees should bring an Xacto Knife to the clinic.

#4 Larry Cantral ~ Manufacturer's Hands On Clinic ~ Sidetrack Laser (This is a 4 hour clinic)
Santa Fe Depot of Colton, California
This is a four hour hands on clinic with a one hour lunch break. During the clinic you be instructed on the full assembly for beginning to end, including painting your finished model. This is a special Laser Kit Larry has developed with our Convention in mind. It is the Santa Fe Depot in Colton California which can also be a used as a multi-purpose building anywhere on your layout. These kits are of the highest quality and are produced in both HO and O scale. The scale for this clinic is HO, You can visit his web site at www.sidetracklaser.com

#5 Mark Carnighan
Mini Cameras
Ever wondered what the trackside view of the trains running through your miniature railroad empire looked like. Or even better, the engineer's or passengers' view. This clinic will explore the various ways that the current selection of low cost closed circuit and even wireless micro-cameras can be used on a model railroad layout. Some of the applications will include placing cameras inside different trackside structures in order to watch the trains go by in scale view. Other topics include using the cameras for control of remote and hidden areas and their cost vs. typical track detection systems. And last, but not least, the issues of on-board video will be explored and demos of the hardware will be shown. If all this isn't cool enough, it is all done in N scale.

Architecture & Civil Engineering for Model Railroading
Have you ever looked at a model scene and wondered why one looks more exact than another, even though the model building skills are equal. This clinic will present the various common design standards and ”rules of thumb” used in architectural design and some site planning. By knowing and applying the basic design rules, both scratch built and kitbashed structures may be built to look more realistic. And with some simple site design and civil engineering guidelines, the placement of the structures and their surroundings also can be more realistic.

#6 Georgia Dahlberg
Scenery that looks real, because it is real.
Clinics are great because of shared ideas. Bob Mitchell once mentioned running track through scenery that has been pre-created thus requiring bridges, cuts, fills and tunnels where they would have been placed by a real Civil Engineer. After 45 years of being a real civil engineer, I could appreciate his words. I started my scenery by scanning a Coast and Geodetic survey map (CGSM) of the Yucca Mountain area in Nevada onto a computer file which blew it up till it printed on 52 pages full of contour lines. This clinic will show you how you can transform any similar scenery to real looking model railroad scenery land forms in foam, quickly and accurately.

Finally, a layout of a lifetime of dreams!
I have long wanted to build a layout. After long years of work and saving, I finally finished a 20 by 40 foot two story addition on my house. The bottom is storage and a garage and the top is my workshop( 20 x 10 feet) and model railroad room (30 by 20 feet). I have been amazed at how fast you can fill a room like this using L girder framework and a mounting system I devised connecting directly into the roof truss and floor. In little over a month, I'm around the room with the first level of track-work rapidly following. DCC rules on this layout so let me show you the details which can help you get your trains

#7 Larry Dewsnup
Cheap LED Lighting for your Buildings (This is a Hands-On Clinic)
Larry's layout is on tour and he incorporates a lot of LEDs throughout. In this clinic he demonstrates how to use Christmas lights' LEDs as an economical approach to light your layout. A few people at each table will be chosen to solder and paint their own wall mounted commercial type light fixture with materials provided. There will be a model to demonstrate the effectiveness of his technique.

#8 Barry Draper (2 clinics)
Surface Mount LEDs
Anyone building a layout is familiar with LEDs and has probably used them in the common 3mm and 5mm bullet shaped packages.  But LEDs are available in smaller packages, called surface mount LEDs .  These range from very small to truly tiny.  Surface mount LEDs can provide a cool source of bright light in any color that can be placed anywhere you need it.  I'll tell you where to get surface mount LEDs and show you how to handle, wire, and install them in your models.

HO Scale DCC Sound Decoder Comparison
Some modelers love sound in their locomotives and some hate it.  If you're one of those that enjoys sound you are faced with a moving-target in trying to decide which decoder to buy for sound installations.  I'll bring you up to date with information on all the currently available sound decoders to help to make your choice.

#9 Don & Kim Fowler, Ben Sevier, Gary Robinson, Rodger Gredvig, Bob Moore (This is a 2 1/2 hour clinic)
The San Diego Gang's Hands On Scenery Clinic
This double length clinic offers “hands on” basic scenery instruction for creating streets, rock castings, trees, ground cover and water. Attendees are provided with a one square foot foam block, and progress from one station to the next until their module is completed. Techniques will be explained, demonstrated, and mentored . Prizes will be awarded for best efforts. A $5.00 materials fee and pre-registration is required (limited to 30 participants.

#10 Rich Fritz
‘Box-Drops' Backdrops w/o Paint
Rich will be presenting a totally new way to do your backdrops. Especially for those of you who are a little afraid to tackle the job of becoming an artist overnight. He wouldn't divulge his secret to me…but he sure made it sound interesting and simple.

#11 Jim Fuhrman
Dressing Up Your ‘F' Units
A survey of available details for dressing up F Units to match prototype practices.  While these units look alike at first glance, there are differences in the details.  Some railroads, like the Santa Fe , made shop changes over time, making the quest for accuracy era-specific.  This clinic will help you sharpen your eye for these details and provide a guide for acquiring the right parts to outfit your F unit as your prototype did.

#12 Charlie Getz
Nifty Ideas and projects to upgrade/detail your buildings
This clinic will introduce you to new products, techniques and ideas to spruce up and detail your buildings.  Both commercial products and nontraditional materials will be featured. The techniques and projects are within the skill set of anyone and will customize any structure from your downtown stores to factory to residences. Examples will be on display

#13 Rodger Gredvig MMR
Animation ideas to enhance your layout
An encore presentation of his Animation Clinic will be offered by Rodger Gredvig, MMR.  In addition to well-known ideas and simple mechanisms for basic animation (oil rigs, head frame hoists, moving logs on a spar pole, saw carriages, etc.), there will be more complex examples (like horsehead walkbeams, windmills, etc.).  New to this year's clinic, permission has also been given to show several internal mechanisms from Rick Spano's famous layout loaded with animation, and the inner workings of perhaps the smallest operating layout in the world (an S scale layout in N scale in only 3/4") by David K. Smith

#15 Ed Hall MMR
Airbrushing....Tips and Techniques
Ed will talk about different styles of airbrushes and which to use for a particular purpose. He will talk about using Scalecoat Paint along with other paints, types of masking tape and tips on using it to make you paint job easier. He will show how to weather with an airbrush and using masks to make weathering easier.

#16 Jim Hanna
From Empty Room to Finished Model Railroad
A photographic History of the Construction of My Model Railroad. This is a rather big railroad in an average size room.  It is an operating railroad with 225 pieces of rolling stock and over 50 locomotives, steam and diesel DCC and sound equipped to choose from.  We operate on two Thursdays each month with three crews, two freight crews and one passenger.  The railroad is three levels with an eight level helix to get the trains from one level to the next.  During an operating session, no train goes thru any of the six cities on the layout more than once.

#17 Phil Hanna
Colorado Depots and Trains
Reminisce with Phil and travel back to the glorious 60's when steam was still alive and very active in the Rocky Mountains . When Phil lived in Colorado in the 60's he made many trips throughout the state taking slides of the depots and trains that served them including both Narrow Gauge and Standard Gauge. More than 145 photos will be presented along with his interesting stories.

#18 Jim Harper
Hand Laying Proto: 48 track
Jim is an ‘O' Scale Fine Scale modeler and this class offers techniques that would be of interest to modelers of all scales. Jim is a member of the Rocky Mountain Region.

#19 Carl Heimberger (4 clinics)
Custom tree from floral wire & steel wool
This clinic shows you how to build a trunk and branch structure of a tree from floral wire, so you can build a variety of different species of trees. Trees that will be demonstrated are Orange , Eucalyptus, Platanus, (sycamore) and Quercus (oak). The clinic will cover forming the wire trunk and branch structure, painting, forming the tree canopy from steel wool, and adding leafs. The clinic will be presented by a registered landscape architect, Carl Heimberger.

Track work for dummies and powered units also
This clinic will point out the pit fall of bad track construction and why it is critical to have track work that is dead on, so you can enjoy running train instead of putting them back on the track every five minutes. You will learn how to install turnouts and why they need to be insulated at the frogs, how to lay perfectly straight track, and why it is important to easement the curves on your layout, including a simple diagram for easement curves. The clinic is presented by Carl Heimberger

How to tune-up that shake the box car kit
The clinic will cover why it is important to have your rolling stock tuned up for enjoyable running of trains, instead of having to keep putting your cars back on the track. You will be shown how to gauge the wheel sets, tune-up the trucks so they roll on a 1% grade, the proper weight for your cars, and why the couplers need to be correctly set to the right height. This clinic will take an inexpensive shack the box car kit and turn it into a fine running car. The clinic is presented by Carl Heimberger.

Light weight scenery construction
This clinic will explore how you can build believable scenery from expanded foam insulation, light weight spackle, and rocks formed from casting resin in rubber molds. The clinic will discuss what is believable and geologically correct formations for rock out crops, right of way cuts and streams. Just because you build your layout on a chuck of plywood it does not have to be flat as a pancake. The clinic will also cover how to build believable asphalt roads, and how to paint rocks. The clinic is presented by Carl Heimberger.

#20 Jim Hinds of 'Richmond Controls'
Understanding and using LEDs
This clinic is intended to convey a basic understanding of LEDs with emphasis on model railroad applications. It will discuss how an LED works, the various LED colors available, LED packages, and important issues in successfully using LEDs in model railroad applications. There will be an explanation of DC motor voltage spikes, back-EMF, protection for "white" LEDs and recommended tools and materials for use in mounting LEDs.

Lighting Model Railroad Cars
Many modelers have discovered that adding lights to model railroad cars can improve the appearance of any scene that a train moves through. A wide range of car lighting is possible, including interior lights, tail lights, marker lights, signal lights, tail sign lights, FREDs, and more. Unfortunately, most model railroad cars do not come from the factory with appropriate lights installed or with provisions to support the addition of lights. Generally the lights that are easily installed do not achieve realistic or reliable operation. This clinic will address the materials and equipment generally available for lighting model railroad cars and the compromises presented to the modeler.

#21 Bill Jacobs
So You Want To Be A Judge?
This clinic is designed for three audiences: (1) those people who would like to become a contest judge; (2) those people who are already contest judges and would like a refresher, and; (3) those very crafty people who don't give a hoot about being a judge, but would like to get higher scores on their contest entries by hearing what judges are looking for. The clinic will be based on the NMRA Judging Guidelines and practical experience from long-time judges.

#22 Ted Johnson 
Wiring your layout for DCC operation
DCC got you a little confused. Be sure to come to this clinic and gain the confidence you will need to wire track, turnouts, reverse loops and more. A Module will be used to demonstrate techniques and materials needed for a trouble free installation.

#23 Kevin Looff & Rick Watson (Back to Back clinics)
Measuring Prototype Structures
Have you ever wondered when a manufacturer was ever going to get around to producing that building that you absolutely want to have on your layout. Wait no longer! Kevin and Rick will show you practical tools and techniques for measuring prototype structures in order to transform them to your own custom models.

Prototype Structures Measurements to Models
Now that you have measured the prototype structure, Rick and Kevin we will discuss techniques for developing plans and making the models.

Presenter's Bios

Rick Watson has been a model railroader for 40 years. He put himself thru college as a professional brass painter. He is in the process of building a layout based on the SP Exeter Branch and is a member of the Grand Canyon State Model Railroaders modular club. Rick is very active in the Arizona Division as Division Director, Spur Line Editor, and webmaster. He is a regular operator on a number of railroads in the Phoenix area and participates in operating events around the country. Rick is also working on becoming a Master Model Railroader.

Kevin Looff has been a model railroader for over 35 years. He is a member of the Grand Canyon State Model Railroaders modular club and currently serves as Contest Chairman of the Arizona Division. His is an excellent structure modeler and has effectively used the techniques presented in the clinics to build models. Kevin is also working on becoming a Master Model Railroader.

#24 Duncan McRee (2 clinics)
Using R/C Servos for Model Railroads
In this clinic we will look at how to use inexpensive servos of the type used for controlling model airplanes and robotics for controlling turnouts, semaphores, grade crossings and just about anything else that moves on the model railroad.  Servos are small and compact yet rugged and powerful.  They make ideal turnout motors being low profile and simple to install.  They have not been widely used in the past because they need a special control signal that is generated by a microcontroller.  However, with microcontrollers being very inexpensive it is now possible to power your switches with servos for prices competitive with the venerable tortoise.   In the clinic I will describe the controllers I have built and show a number of examples of the servos being used on my own and other modelers layouts to control turnouts and semaphore signals.  More info at http://www.tamvalleyrr.com

Model Photography for the Web
The web is a great place to share your photos and get your layout noticed but those beautiful very high-resolution cover shots you took may not work so well on the web.  This clinic I look at how to take photos that work for the web.  We will start out with some photography basics and then cover what to do with those photos on your computer. The clinic will look at the best ways to compress your photos and how to take make the lower resolution work for you instead of against you.  We will also discuss how to put up your own web site the easy way with drag and drop software.  There will be lots of nice pictures to look at.

#25 Gordon Miller
Building structures for beginners
Cancelled as of August 17th, 2009

#26 Bob Mitchell (5 clinics)
Creating the 'Perfect Pine'  (This is a Hands-On Clinic)            
Join Bob as he takes you on a journey from concept to manufacture of the "Perfect Pine".  Bob is the owner of Perfect Pines and this clinic will first look at what went into the development and execution of the product including the specialized tools used to make these innovative trees.  Bob will review special uses for the trees including hiding backdrop shadows, disguising outside corners and blending in mirror edges.  This clinic is also "hands on" and all attendees will leave with their own finished tree ready to place on the layout.

Scenery w/o Molds, Plaster, or Paint (This is an Audience Participation Clinic)
Learn this technique of using Polyisocyanurate Closed Cell Foam to create every part of your scenery and layout bench work, including Roadbed. Bob Demonstrates how to create Rocks, Boulders, Creeks, and Basic Contours using this product that is available at Home Improvement Centers.

Hand laying Track Made Easy, w/o Spikes, Gauges, or Templates (This is an Audience Participation Clinic)
Always thought hand laying track was too much work…will think again. This method uses real wooden ties and is done without the use of Spikes, Track Templates, or Gauges. This is also a sure fire way to built wooden trestles in place

The Illusion of Mirrors
Be it the Wizard of Monterey's "Gorre & Daphetid" or your own railroad empire, mirrors make a difference.  John Allen had more than 30, most of which were undetectable.  This clinic demonstrates some of the many uses with the aid of actual models the audience can examine and have fun with. Bob had the opportunity of visiting the "Gorre & Daphetid" in 1970 when it was almost finished and has been an advocate of mirrors ever since, regardless of the size of your layout. He shares his experiences with the audience and demonstrates some of John's favorite tricks on visitors.  

As a bonus, Bob will also be presenting portions of his clinic on "Tin Foil a Forgotten Modeling Medium".  Demonstrated are incredible rocks and tunnel liners (without plaster or molds), 'O' Scale clothing, unbelievable tree bark, and more. (Some of these items are part of the mirror clinic models).

Extreme Photo Etching and Soldering
During this clinic you will have a chance to see the Micro-Mark Photo Etching system being used to create individual gears, drum ends and pulleys from .005 and .010 brass and then gang soldered one atop of the other to create unbelievable relief patterns not available through castings. Also demonstrated is the ability to make N, HO and O scale 20' Loggers Saws by the dozens at the same time, Embossed rivets for boiler sheets, and much more. Bob is currently building a Logging Donkey Engine in brass and using these techniques to create all the gearing and firebox components.

#27 Bob Moore
Yakima Valley Transportation Co., A Traction Freight Line
After the Yakima Valley Transportation Company became an interurban line with 40 plus miles of track they found they could haul LCL in the consists' express motor car.  Then they found the express car could move only up to four freight cars. Now owned by OWR&N (UP), in 1920 they bought a used electric motor that could handle eight cars and a real freight line was born.   Bob will give a quick history, and show both historic photos and 1976 pictures of an afternoon chasing and riding the electric motor of a freight.

#28 James Moore
Model Railroad Structure Design
The class will cover using Sketch Up for model railroad structure design and an introduction to the Bevelmaster Sanding Jig for scratch building . Jim is a truss designer for a commercial truss company and has a line of laser cut buildings using Mat board instead of Bass Wood.

#29 Chuck Nauman
Aspects of Model Railroad Photography
Successful model photography requires that you (1) know how your camera functions, including how to access and manipulate its features and capabilities; (2) know the basics of good photography, especially lighting, proper exposure, depth of field, and composition; and (3) know how your computer and applicable software can enhance your imagery. If realism is your objective, the models and scenery should be highly detailed. These aspects and their application will be explored.

#30 Bruce Petrarca (2 clinics)
DCC Ready: the Good, the Bad and the UGLY!
A discussion of “DCC READY” locos in HO and N scales. Which really are, which try to be and which have major issues. Illustrated with photos and drawings, based on real life cases from a professional installer with 50 years experience in electronics.

How Do I Get the Sound Out?
There is a bit of art to making on-board sound work. Bruce will offer practical suggestions and hands-on examples from his years in professional audio. Don't just turn up the volume – make the system more efficient! While the techniques will focus on HO scale, the concepts are adaptable to any scale.

Presenter's Bios…Who is the presenter?

Bruce Petrarca has been soldering since he was 7 and has been a licensed ham radio operator since 12. He has bachelors and masters degrees in Electronic Engineering and extensive experience in electronics manufacturing, including MIL-SPEC and high volume commercial operations. He designed his first “Hi-Fi” speaker systems when he was in high school, over 40 years ago, and they are still in daily use! In 2001, he started Litchfield Station ( www.LitchfieldStation.com), a major supplier of DCC equipment and accessories worldwide, propelled by his electronics experience.

#31 Linda Petrarca
Sky, Clouds, & Trees
Sky, Clouds, Trees is a slide show and lecture with a Q&A for as much time is available.  We will discuss how each of the elements Sky, Clouds and Trees fits into your backdrop and some methods of creating those elements. We will discuss how to create a sense of perspective, depth and how to size your backdrop to fit with the various scales.

Bios…Who is the presenter?
The instructor, Linda Petrarca, was a Corporate Trainer for U S West, American Express and has been painting for over 35 years.  She and her partner Lisa enjoyed a 6-year business creating Faux Finishes and murals for businesses and residences in Washington state and Arizona.  She has been part of Litchfield Station now for almost 4 years.

Linda treats backdrops as a specialized form of mural, and shares tricks professionals use to make scenes more realistic.  Whether your railroad
is a 2x4 N scale, or a 40 foot G scale, this overview will help you create a backdrop that will add interest and believability to your layout.

#32 Phil Piet
Indiana Jones and the United Verde & Pacific
The Fun & Rewards of Researching an Obscure Prototype
Join UV&P enthusiast, Phil Piet, on his adventure of discovery as he became an amateur industrial archaeologist to learn the secrets of his favorite local prototype. Ghost railroads are a lot of fun to research and model. Phil will take you on a slide show trip along the UV&P right-of-way… then, now, and on Phil's freelanced G-scale layout. Whether your modeling interest is prototypical or freelance, you can use these techniques to bring more fun and satisfaction into your modeling world. Discover the pleasures of light hearted research into ghost railroads and the rewards of integrating your research into your own layout.

#33 Kenny Rhoads
Santa Fe 's Superintendents Business Cars. ~The 400 Series Cars
Santa Fe Superintendent's Business Cars. The 400 series (shorty) cars. Santa Fe had 18 of these 60 foot business cars. There are ten known to exist today. We will look at their history, current locations and status. We will also look at the restoration of the 405 at the Arizona Railway Museum in Chandler, Az

#34 Gary Robinson (2 clinics)
Grassinator
This clinic discusses the use of static grass, or flocking, to create scenery. Differences in available materials, use of the applicator, and demonstration of a home-built applicator are topics that will be covered. Participants will receive a parts list and construction instructions.

Pulpwood Yard
This slide presentation will describe the operation of a truck-to-railcar pulp wood transfer facility, and suggest ways to represent the facility on your layout. The operation, facilities, and equipment at the yard will be described, and a list of possible kits, or suggestions for kit-bashing or scratch-building a replica will be offered.

#35 Ben Sevier
Managing your DCC railroad with Decoder Pro ®
More and more model railroad operators are discovering the joy of managing DCC and sound equipped locomotives and other devices. Dealing with CV's, consists, "programming on the main" and other new terms can be confusing and frustrating - there has to be a better way!!  There is! Decoder Pro ® from the JMRI Project is a free computer program that talks to your DCC command station and allows programming all the various settings of the decoder. The program runs on Macintosh, Windows and Linux computers, is based on Java (a free software development language), and is very easy to use with a graphical interface. This clinic is a live demonstration and basic tutorial on Decoder Pro ® , and a discussion of the other modules available in the program. The demonstration will show programming both sound and non-sound locomotives, creating a basic inventory of equipment and other features of the program, along with a discussion of interfacing with various DCC systems, the requirements for "boosters" for decoder programming, and various options available. If you think programming DCC is too hard, you need to attend this clinic!

#37 Don Stewart
Tips to Building Better Models  
Ever wondered how people build those contest winning models? Want to improve your models? Here are a few tips to building better models.
Don will show how to build, paint, decal and weather models to get the most from your efforts. Even if you have a built-up model, there are some techniques that can be used to get a realistic finish. The tips are simple and effective. A handout will help attendees remember these tips.

#38 Dale Tripp
Epoxy Casting of Small Parts using Silicon Rubber Molds – Part 1
This clinic includes preparing a master part that you want to make a duplicate of. Mounting the master part and preparing the forms to retain the Silicon Rubber that will be used to make a mold. Then we will pour the material into the  molds and set aside to cure overnight.  We will work with 1 to
1 part Silicon Rubber.  And we will include a number of different parts as masters. This clinic will teach you to prepare both one part and two part molds. (Part 2 concludes the next day –Clinics can be taken separately)

Epoxy Casting of Small Parts using Silicon Rubber Molds – Part 2
In this session we will remove the molds created in the first session
from their forms and prepare them to cast epoxy parts.  We will them mix
the Epoxy and pour the material into the molds. After a short period we
will de-mold and examine the parts for defects, stressing, and what to look
for to avoid problems. (Clinic Part 1 is not a prerequisite for this clinic)

#39 Rick Watson
Weathering Rolling Stock with Oils
Rick takes you though his techniques for creating realistic weathering on your models using artist oils and turpentine. Weathering can be from very light to very heavy. Based on a Mainline Modeler article

#40 Harold Whiteley
Modular RR Bench Work
This clinic is a demonstration of new ways to construct modular train tables that weigh less, set up and disassemble faster, easier to handle, uses new materials, an brings our methodology into the new century.