Staying On Track - May 1999 - Lubbock Model Railroad AssociationMain Page Articles May99 Timetable May99May Meeting
Monday, May 3, 7:30pm at the Highland Baptist Activity Center, 34th and Quaker. Bob Batson will show us how to make plaster scenery.
has found a better paying job, and is moving to Phoenix. Thanks, Jerry, for all the help. Good luck on the new job.
Thanks to all who helped set up and run the modules at the Lubbock Arts Festival.
Several is the club have expressed a desire for a module Special Interest Group. If you want to volunteer to start this group, say so at the next meeting.
Structures are an important part of most layouts. This 45 page book, with color illustrations on every page, that is about the most painless introduction to architecture I have seen. It explains why there is such a variety of styles and materials used around the world and at various times. I have always been curious about why certain styles of buildings predominate in different places and times, and this little book answered many of my questions.
This book can be checked out of the Groves Library.
A few weeks ago, I went to the Civic Center to check out a seminar about making water gardens. I learned several things that made me take a different view of backyard ponds. They are not as difficult to make or maintain as I expected. They don't breed mosquitos if you put some goldfish in it to eat the larvae. The water won't turn green if you follow a few simple rules about size, water depth, and have water lilies covering 1/2 to 2/3 of the surface.
So what do about water gardens have to do with model railroading? Two things: 1. You may want to model a pond on your layout. 2. If you build a garden railroad, consider a pond and waterfall in the design. Miami Valley Products makes some beautiful redwood bridge kits that would look great crossing over real water outside. A great garden railroad book to get is "The Large-scale Model Railroading Hanbook" by Rovert Schleicher.
Bill Heritage pioneered many of the modern concepts in pond design and maintenance. He explains not just the how, but more importantly, the why of everything about water gardening.
This book can be checked out of the Mahon Library.
May
3 - 7:30pm Meeting
10 - 7:30pm Home Layout Design SIG
19 - 7:30pm Executive Committee Meeting
July
all month - Mahon library setup
Sept
Narrow Guage Convention