I realize that many of you don't get The Marker Lamp, the official publication of the Lone Star Region of the NMRA. It is only published once a quarter and Nancy Reed always has an excellent write-up in the newsletter regarding our Division (Division 5). I have reproduced a slightly edited version here for us to read. The original (unedited) version appears in The Marker Lamp, Spring 2000, p. 7.The Lubbock Model Railroad Association has a new presence on the Internet. Check out http://www.onelist.com/community/LMRA, and see what is happening. You can contact members through the web site, post photographs, check or set up links, and see what is coming down the track. Speaking of that, the LMRA (which meets the first Monday of each month) is developing the program for 2000 to include not only modeling tips but information on prototypes. In May, John Lott will let us in on some original club information when he tells us about the "History of the Club Pike." The pike, done in HO scale, was a project of the club more than 30 years ago. Although it has undergone a few additions (some repairs and rewiring) it still runs and we use it at shows. It surely ought to be in some sort of NMRA record book for early modular designs even though the legs are metal pipes and it takes two people to lift some of the sections.
The Amarillo Model Railroad Association is now officially part of the Amarillo Railroad Museum. Their first preserved example of rolling stock arrived in December; a Helium car MHAX 1242. Their club pike is still up and running in Western Plaza. When next anyone travels up to Amarillo, president Jerry Michels invites us to go out to see the Helium car. But, at the moment, it is on TSTC property and that means private property so act accordingly. Of course, the Amarillo Railroad Museum is still negotiating for the land and the red tape seems to be getting shorter and shorter so the car will soon be on their own land. They expect to acquire more cars so perhaps we shall bear witness to the growth of a new railroad empire.
Jeff Ford reports that he is helping out as consultant to the Ranching Heritage Center (RHC), a part of Texas Tech University, in their project to refurbish the existing display of railroad material. The Santa Fe station at Ropes, along with a steam locomotive, stock cars, a caboose, and pens for animals, is part of the RHC's recognition of the railroad in West Texas. They are making necessary repairs and preservation improvements to enhance the structures for the public. The RHC is open daily. It also hosts special Ranch Days during which time, volunteers are in the station telling the history of the railroad out here. There have been, on occasion, cattle in the holding pens, as well. If you haven't visited the entire facility, it is great fun and worth the time it takes to walk around the grounds. There are buildings arranged more or less chronologically to show the history of settlement in western Texas with examples of dugouts, a one-room school house, bunk houses, even meat and cheese storage buildings, and several historic windmills. The railroad area is in the southwest section, just beyond the 666 barn. Of course, true rail fans can spot a steam locomotive a mile away so you hardly need directions!
Homer Morrow, the club librarian, asked to include this message in our June newsletter. He asks if you have any of the overdue or missing books and tapes that are checked out of the club library. If so, will you please bring them back or let him know you have them so he can update his records. It is frustrating not to know for sure where these items are currently located. Apparently some have been checked out for a LONG TIME. Please help Homer.
THE LSR ANNUAL MEETING AND CONVENTION
This year's annual LSR meeting will be held in Austin June 22-25. The web page for the meeting is http://www.main.org/lsr2000,. The convention hotel is the Holiday Inn. Their number is 512 448-2444. The convention has negotiated a special rate of $69.00 per night for from one to four occupants. Registration begins at 3:00 Thursday, June 22. The most popular events seem to be the operating sessions. So far the following layouts are confirmed for Thursday evening:David Barows (Cat Mountain & Santa Fe)
Chuck Ellis (Great Northern)
Kim Saign (Round Rock Railroad)
Brian Rigney (ATSF)
AustiN-Trak
Cyril Durnberger
Some layouts will also be open for operating sessions Friday evening.
When preparing plaster for casting rock molds (or anything else), the directions usually say to mix the plaster and water into a soupy mix the consistency of pancake batter. Some of us whose skills in the kitchen have never exceeded making coffee on a clear day, don't have any idea what pancake batter looks like. The editor counts himself in that camp. The actual "recipe" is two parts plaster into one part water. Works every time.
20TH NATIONAL NARROW GAUGE CONVENTION
Ok, Ok. So it may be a little early to be writing about the 20th annual National Narrow Gauge Convention, but hey - it's a great meeting. This year the meeting will be held in St. Louis from August 30 (Wednesday) to September 2 (Saturday). Registration begins at 4:00 P.M. on Wednesday. The show actually opens on Wednesday evening. There will be 44 clinics, a model and photograph contest, more than 20 home and club layouts (NOT all narrow gauge), module displays and open houses at several of the St. Louis based model manufactures. Registration includes a full complimentary breakfast each morning and a complimentary pass to the National Museum of Transportation. Their web site is:walden.mvp.net/~narogage/20thNNGC.htm.
Registration is $75.00. The convention hotel is the Renaissance St. Louis Hotel, Airport. Their number is 800 228-9290. So far, Jack Seay and David Lamberts are known to be going. Please feel free to join us. You definitely do not need to model in narrow gauge to enjoy this meeting. If you would like more details, please get in touch with me or catch me at the Monday meeting.
One could argue that the ultimate aging method for structures would be a fire. Indeed, this is a very effective technique to add that old and worn out look to your layout. Indeed, the late, great John Allen (of Gorre & Daphetid fame) actually built a fire extinguisher company out of wood and then torched it. Great effect. I have a structure on my layout that was partially burned. People often ask how I modeled the effect and are surprised to learn that - well yes - I lighted it on fire! Nothing looks like burned structure better than burned structure. On my building, I modeled the wood sides and then actually added the studs on the inside of the wall using HO scale 2x4s. I started the fire from the bottom of an inside corner and quickly put it out with a spritz bottle filled with water. The studs burned part way and gave a good effect of a fire that was brought under quick control. Try it. Be careful. Basswood burns fast!
This is part two of a continuing series on the techniques of weathering wood models. The first part appeared in the May 2000 issue of the newsletter. The next part will appear in the July issue.
(...discussing how to model peeling paint)
A second technique uses rubber cement. Weather and distress the wood (say the wall of an old building) as described in the first paragraph. Get a bottle of rubber cement and dab tiny amounts all over the wall of the building. It may be easier to thin the cement with rubber cement thinner. Let the cement dry for few minutes and then paint the wall (say white). Let the paint dry. Using a rubber cement pick up square (available at art-supply stores), dab over every place there is rubber cement. The pick-up will pull off the top paint, leaving the weathered wood showing.
NAIL HOLES
Builders of "craftsman" kits get hung up on details. One of these hang ups is placing nail holes in the siding of wood buildings to represent where the side boards were nailed down to the vertical studs (say on 16 inch centers). You can do this one hole at a time with a pin, but few are this masochistic.
Seamstresses use a device called a pounce wheel to transfer paper patterns to fabric; the wheel punches tiny holes in the paper pattern, then chalk is worked through the holes to transfer the pattern to the material, then you connect the dots. The wheels come in many sizes, but the ones with the tiny teeth seem best suited, at least for HO scale structures. Just line up the pounce wheel with the virtual stud and, using a metal edge as a guide, run the wheel down the wall leaving a row of "nail holes." If you reapply the black leather dye solution again, the dye fills the holes and makes them really stand out.