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Presenter:
Clinics
2024 Surrey Excursion will feature clinics by some of the hobby's top modellers, layout builders, and operators.

We have something for every skill level, and presentations to interest modelers from beginner to advanced. There are over 45 clinics and clinicians lined up, and details of their presentations are shown below.
Tabletop Clinics - Saturday Afternoon
Tabletop clinics provide an opportunity to engage with expert modellers as they demonstrate their techniques. Multiple tabletop clinics take place simultaneously in the same room, allowing people to move between presentation at will. It’s an informal format and can be “demonstration/lecture” style or “hands on” with viewer participation. Lots of opportunity to ask questions and get involved.
Click here for a list of Tabletop Clinics
Contact us at surreyexcursionclinics_at_gmail.com
Clinics are listed alphabetically, by Presenter / Clinician
HOTEL 1 A Visit to the New Westminster Southern

Rob is building a proto-freelanced layout inspired by the Fraser River Bridge at New Westminster BC and the numerous railroads that cross it. Some unusual techniques were used to plan the layout, including extensive use of Google Earth, Google Maps, and Streetview. As well as a discussion of planning and building the layout, the clinic will include details of some of the unique methods the author has developed for switch controls, lineside details, and open loads

Presenter: Rob Badmington of Calgary AB developed a passion for all things railroad since his first childhood train trip. This led to a 35-year career in the Engineering and Purchasing functions at both major Canadian railways. When not working on his model railroad, Rob edits Highball!, the PNR 6th Division newsletter, participates in operating sessions, and enjoys travelling and train riding whenever he can.

CPR Snowplows, Historical Overview

In this clinic Mike will discuss the history and development of CPR's snowplows; why they were designed they way they were and point out many idiosyncrasies of CPRs' plows. This clinic will be based upon his article on plows published in CP Tracks, the magazine of the CP Historical Association. He will touch upon how these designs affected the design of snowplows on other Canadian railways and how they compare to some US railroads.

Presenter: Mike Barone of Fruitvale BC has been active model railroader since mid 1960's but interested in trains since he was 3 years old. He got to see Canadian steam in operation while a small child living in Ontario. He worked at the CPR Nelson shops as a summer job while a student from 1968-1973, when FM's ruled the road. Mike was employed by Cominco/Teck for 35 years, worked at the smelter in Trail BC as steam engineer/operator. Now he is retired with too much to do

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HOTEL 1 Reflective Road Signs

This workshop will demonstrate an innovative technique on how to make realistic BC road signs that are accurately to scale and reflect light the way they should

Presenter: Aidan Botting of Burnaby BC has been interested in model trains since living beside the CP line in Bentley AB at 8 years old. He was the 2019 winner of the People' Choice Award with the Vancouver Train Expo and has been featured on CBC for the work done with youth and model trains.

Telegraphy: Prototype & Modeling

Railroads that operated in any timeframe from 1850 to 1970 often communicated via telegraph. Modelers add telegraph poles and lines to their favorite locales and time periods, although often without detailed understanding of the prototype. I collected prototype telegraph gear over the years, and finally decided that my rail operations needed their own equivalent. This clinic starts with a brief background of the prototype equipment and history of American railroad telegraphy, and finishes with the construction details to build your own realistic, telegraph operator, regardless of scale.

We will demonstrate some prototype telegraph equipment for attendees, as well as an “operating” telegraph office, complete with animated telegraph communications any modeler can build for their own railroad empire. Interested? …Let’s communicate.

Presenter: Geoff Bunza of Portland OR has authored over 50 articles on animation, electronics and modeling for Model Railroad Hobbyist, the New York Central System Historical Society Modeler, Railroad Model Craftsman, and The HO Collector.
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Modeling Working Cranes

Prototype cranes (both railway and earth-bound) often come equipped with a steam or diesel engine, pistons, gears, and accompanying machinery (which included front and rear lights, work lights, a whistle or horn, and sometimes a bell). They offer great opportunities for working models and animation. They can create quite a show with lights, sound, and action. This clinic will consider taking some models standing motionless and quiet and bring them to life in scale. This clinic will also look at different motor mechanisms for railway and tracked cranes, together with several different control mechanisms. Independent battery and direct power models will be included. Animation opportunities are explored as well.

Presenter: Geoff Bunza of Portland OR has authored over 50 articles on animation, electronics and modeling for Model Railroad Hobbyist, the New York Central System Historical Society Modeler, Railroad Model Craftsman, and The HO Collector.

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HOTEL 1 A Tour of The Western Midland

Railroads have been known to run late trains - but in the case of my Western Midland, the entire railroad is running late. About 65 years late, to be precise, because it's been that long since John Armstrong's plan for it was published in the December 1959 issue of Model Railroader. Although my Western Midland has not strayed too far from John Armstrong's original track plan which he entitled "Montana and Puget Sound", my concept could hardly be more different!

A CBC article by Ben Helms (Canadian Broadcasting Corp) can be found at http://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/features/Hidden_Museums It features greater detail about Mike’s marvelous layout and provides an interesting take on the current status of our hobby as well.

Presenter: Mike Chandler of New Westminster BC is a Master Model Railroader who has been in the hobby since his teenage years. Since retiring from a career in management with Canadian National Railways, he has become more active in the hobby and, in addition to building a home layout, has authored several articles for the commercial press, most of which deal with scratch building structures in Strathmore.

Railroad Engineering 102 - Bridges

This presentation will describe typical railroad bridge types and applications along with ground considerations so the modeller can select appropriate structures for their layouts, build realistic looking wood trestles and use appropriate scenery for the bridge type.

Presenter: Paul Clegg of Calgary, Alberta. A retired CPR executive with 37 years experience. Written many articles on CPR history, including the "Dominion" boxcar, meat and livestock movements, and building and bridge design.

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HOTEL 1 HOTEL 1 Model Railroad Operations - Things to consider for Hosts and Guests

Are you interested in operations? Are you considering hosting or attending an “Ops Session”? Are you a seasoned host or boomer with sage advice for others? This clinic will cover topics that can lead to a successful Op Session experience for everyone involved.

Operating Sessions can be a lot of fun and a great way to share the hobby with others! But Op Sessions can also be daunting for modellers that haven’t participated in one. This clinic will include a discussion on practical things you need to consider before hosting or attending an Op Session.

Presenter: Brian Ferris (MMR#751) of Olympia WA is a lifelong model railroader with interests in Northwest U.S. prototype railroads. His current HO scale Port Townsend Southern (PTS) is a modernized version of an historical railroad that existed in Thurston County, Washington, that features NP, UP, GN, and MILW trains.

HOTEL 1 Diesel Locomotive Sound and Operations

How to make the most of sound decoders in your diesel locomotive operations. Using the example of ESU LokSound decoders, we will explore the challenges and opportunities provided by modern sound decoders to enhance your operations. Modern sound decoders have introduced a new dimension to our modeling, one that allows us to further mimic the performance of the prototype. As with the other aspects of our modelling, incorporating sound and the features of modern sound decoders into our operations can range from the simple to the infinitely complex. Truly this can be a new aspect of our modelling.

Presenter: John Geddes of Vancouver BC has been a model railroader since childhood. As an electrical engineer, he has always had a strong interest in the electronics and computer side of the hobby.

HOTEL 1 A New Type of Benchwork - False Start and Lessons Learned

This presentation will describe an option to traditional benchwork:
  • How did the new benchwork work?
  • What happens when you have to move?
  • Plans for the new layout. Gadgets and more on the layout.

Presenter: Victor Gilbert of Vancouver BC has been an armchair modeller for way too many years; he decided about ten years ago just to Start. He designed a track plan for a small switching layout that will keep him interested, and is in the process of building that layout now.

HOTEL 1 Grade Crossings I Have Known

There are a great variety in the multitude of railway-specific and road-specific details in the vicinity of railway grade crossings quite beyond the crossing material itself. They should be part of our modelling efforts as we do our best to replicate our prototypes.

This fast-paced clinic will offer photos of the variety of prototype items that are seen in and around grade crossings including railway-related and road-related items through history. Crossing details go quite beyond the crossbuck which by itself can be quite varied. All too often these details abound on our prototypes but are missing (overlooked?) on our model railways. Each is vital in creating their own mini-scenes to make our modelling efforts come alive.

Presenter: Fred Headon of Winnipeg MB. My home model railway focus is the CPR in 1958 east of Winnipeg (Canadian Shield) in a 14’ by 28’ space. The “Nolix” approach works to and from staging yards as part of reversing loops with operating sessions using three different shifts to serve five towns and industries backing the main yard.
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HOTEL 1 Beltlines and Terminal Railroads
Beltlines and Terminal Railroads are a particular form of railway, usually urban, serving a location for the mutual benefit of owning railroads. We will discuss examples, large and small, and suggest modeling possibilities.
Presenter: Paul Hobbs of Auckland, New Zealand. A model railroader since 1960, an NMRA member since 1971, helped at many conventions and presented clinics. He enjoys research into the history of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway
HOTEL 1 Business Cars, Private Cars
We will discuss railroad business cars and many different private cars that served on North American railways.
Presenter: Paul Hobbs of Auckland, New Zealand. A model railroader since 1960, an NMRA member since 1971, helped at many conventions and presented clinics. He enjoys research into the history of the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway
HOTEL 1 Methods for Building Structures
Methods and materials for basic elements and some details of structures: foundation, core, siding, roofing, windows, chimneys, etc. Clinic will illustrate methods and materials used for basic elements of structures: foundation, core, siding, and roofing. Successful construction of some details (ladders, chimneys, windows, etc.) will also be described. Emphasis is on scratchbuilding, but much of discussion is applicable to kit construction.

Presenter: Ron Hopkins MMR #952 of Edmonds WA has been a lifelong modeler but most active in last 20 years after switching from HO to On30. Structure building is a favorite aspect of the hobby.

Creating an On30 Shortline in a Bedroom-Sized Space
Layout portrays fictional railroad serving cedar shingle and canning industries of coastal Olympic Peninsula in 1940. It occupies 160 square feet around three walls and a peninsula. View blocks separate three major scenes. The Moclips & Beck's Creek RR is an On30 layout portraying a fictional shortline which serves the cedar shingle and canning industries of the coastal Olympic Peninsula in 1940. The point-to-point track plan occupies 160 square feet around three walls and a peninsula. View blocks separate three major scenes. The clinic will consider basic planning parameters, prototype inspiration, layout design and construction, and specific problem solutions. A satisfying layout need not require a large space.

Presenter: Ron Hopkins MMR #952 of Edmonds WA has been a lifelong modeler but most active in last 20 years after switching from HO to On30. Structure building is a favorite aspect of the hobby.

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Freight Car Anatomy 101 – Session 1 & Session 2
Have you always wanted to know more about railway freight cars? Why are they built the way they are, and what are the correct terms for all those parts? Learn the answers and much more in this two-part clinic covering the anatomy of freight cars from the wheels up to the roof and running board.

Presenter: Tim Horton of North Vancouver BC was introduced to model trains at a very young age and ha s been modelling the British Columbia Railway since 1983. He has authored seven books and numerous magazine articles on the railway and is a columnist and member of the Advisory Board for N-Scale Magazine. His N Scale layout was featured in Model Railroad Planning 2009.

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Model Railway Photography A Guide to Taking Better Exposures
Learn how to take better photographs of your layout and your models with this in-depth clinic on model railway photography! We will review the fundamentals of photography and look at practical examples for shooting layouts and models for various applications (e.g. social media, forums, publications, websites, etc.). A hobby within a hobby!

Presenter: Tim Horton of North Vancouver BC was introduced to model trains at a very young age and ha s been modelling the British Columbia Railway since 1983. He has authored seven books and numerous magazine articles on the railway and is a columnist and member of the Advisory Board for N-Scale Magazine. His N Scale layout was featured in Model Railroad Planning 2009.

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Yard/Staging Alternatives - make it move.
Presenting a very practical alternative to having a full yard with multiple tracks and many switches. Details using a traversing table to store or receive rail cars to save space used by turnouts. It is a real-world space saving option.

Presenter: Rhod Hubbard of Calgary AB started as a modeller in childhood with a small 6x4 foot layout. After being away from the hobby for several years, he joined a local N scale club around 2005 after visiting the CMRS SuperTrain show. He has built 4 modules that have been in SuperTrain shows and Heritage Park Railway days. The show modules have been used as a base for his home layout.

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HOTEL 1 Vancouver Harbour Commissioners Terminal Railway - an introduction
This clinic will provide a quick look at the little Vancouver Harbour Commissioners Terminal Railway, which began operation in the 1920s and was succeeded by the National Harbour' Board in the 1930s. We'll look at the route, construction, equipment, facilities, traffic & industries served, and a glimpse at some of its operating challenges during the early years of the west coast grain exports.
Presenter: Rob Kirkham of Surrey BC focuses on the history of railway operations into and around the Vancouver harbour area during the steam era. He is currently working on a small HO scale layout based on that theme.
HOTEL 1 BOSTON BAR – Modelling a compact CNR Division Point in the Fraser Canyon

Boston Bar has been an “away” crew change terminal since 1915 and still is today between CN’s rugged and scenic Ashcroft and Yale Subdivisions. Learn about how to model Boston Bar’s essential elements of this division point.

This clinic will cover all the prototype functions, track layout, buildings, servicing facilities and operations at this terminal in the steam era and how it has changed over the years to the present directional running with CN and CP westbound trains. Historic photographs, yard plans, station cards (building lists), dispatcher train sheets, employee timetables and other information will be utilized to provide ideas for modelling main line.

Presenter: Al Lill of North Vancouver BC has been interested in the Canadian National Railways and a model railroader since childhood. He has been on the editorial staff of CN LINES since 1989 and has served as Chair of the Canadian National Railways Historical Association since 2010. Al is currently modelling CNR branch line operations on Vancouver Island circa 1958.
HOTEL 1 Benchwork Industries and Other Interesting Industries to Add to Your Layout

In this 6o minute presentation we look at other industries and buildings made from structural members that are part of your benchwork. Also included are industries that hide layout controls or where there is only room for one side of the building.

Presenter: Rich Mahaney of Gobles MI has been involved with model railroads since that first "Christmas train set" arrived at age five. His grandfather often took Rich down to the tracks in the Grand Rapids area to watch trains with him, and his fascination has never left him. He models the Great Northern in HO scale and the railroads that interchange with it, moving perishables in the late 1950's.
HOTEL 1 Five Busy Railroad Traffic Locations for Your Layout (Interchanges, Freight Houses, Team Tracks, Bulk Transfer Facilities and Rail Car Repair Facilities)

This clinic looks at five busy locations that can be built on your layout to increase rail car operations, can use any kind or type of car on your layout, create rail car traffic and operations, can be used to support industries that don’t have a railroad spur and can fit into a small space on your layout.

Presenter: Rich Mahaney is a long-time NMRA member and was Superintendent of the Eastern Iowa Division in 2007 - 08. He is the President of North Central Region and is well known for his model railroad and railroad related clinics and photography. He lives in Gobles, Michigan, which is on the west side of the state between Kalamazoo and South Haven.
HOTEL 1 Interesting Flat Car Loads

This 45 to 60 minute presentation looks at a variety of “stuff” that is transported on flat cars by railroads. It answers the question, “do they really transport that “stuff” on flat cars for real”? It will give the modeler some ideas for their own flat car loads to build.

Presenter: Rich Mahaney is a long-time NMRA member and was Superintendent of the Eastern Iowa Division in 2007 - 08. He is the President of North Central Region and is well known for his model railroad and railroad related clinics and photography. He lives in Gobles, Michigan, which is on the west side of the state between Kalamazoo and South Haven.
HOTEL 1 Prototypical Accessories to Buildings and Communities for Model Railroads!

Take a look at the accessories and details that you are missing on your buildings and in your communities that stand out when you look around or travel around. The only thing you can say when you see these images is “OMG”! Most of these additional features can probably come from the scrap boxes or parts and pieces underneath your layout or on your work bench. You may not have much to buy when you search through “spare stuff”.

Presenter: Rich Mahaney is a long-time NMRA member and was Superintendent of the Eastern Iowa Division in 2007 - 08. He is the President of North Central Region and is well known for his model railroad and railroad related clinics and photography. He lives in Gobles, Michigan, which is on the west side of the state between Kalamazoo and South Haven.
Robson/West Robson 1901 Passenger and Rail Barge Operations
A video history of rail operations at West Robson/Robson including track plans, photos and schedules. A video simulation of the CPR rail ops and rail barge ops on both sides of the Columbia River following the 1901 CPR Schedule, along with a ride on the SS Minto sternwheeler.

Presenter: Dave Marecek of Victoria BC. A model railroader since early childhood, currently interested in history and proto-ops, and has been modelling digitally the full-length Columbia & Western, Columbia and Kootenay and Spokane Falls and Northern.

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HOTEL 1 DCC Decoder Keep Alive for Thrifty Modellers
Learn how to build your own DCC decoder Keep Alive for less than $10 per unit. Will include installation guidelines in diesel and steam locomotives, and non-powered models such as cabooses or passenger cars. Note that I model in HO scale so the keep alive is designed to fit in that scale or larger.
Presenter: Al Matchett of Calgary AB has been a model railroader for the last 35 years. He have served on the Calgary Model Railway Society board in the past and been on the SUPERTRAIN model railroad show organizing committee for the last 8 years.
History of Abernethy and Lougheed Logging Co.

Abernethy and Lougheed Logging Company (ALLCO) and its affiliates logged extensively in the Stave and Alouette watersheds north of the Fraser River, operating between 1905 and the early 1930s. For a short time in the 1920s they were the largest logging show in British Columbia with 700 employees and a fleet of Heisler and Climax geared steam locomotives.

Using maps and historical photographs the presentation will review the company' formation, early logging at Mt Lehman / milling in Maple Ridge, clearing the Western Canada Power Company' Stave Lake reservoir, Sitka Spruce logging for the Imperial Munitions Board during 1918-1919, postwar reorganization, and, logging in the Alouette Lake area north of Maple Ridge in the 1920s during the company' pre-depression era heyday.

HOTEL 1 Presenter: David Morgan of Maple Ridge BC. He has researched and written about the history of ALLCO and other local steam logging shows north of the Fraser River and has extensively explored the old railbeds with his faithful dog. He is a member of the Forest History Association of BC and the Dewdney - Alouette Railway Society (DARS) and models the ALLCO in HO scale.
Building an HO CNR J3-b Pacific

This clinic will detail the building of an HO Scale Canadian National Railways J3-b Pacific steam locomotive. This is a limited kit that was produced by Andy Malette It is based on some of the parts of the Bowser USRA Light Pacific. I will start with the assembly of the chassis, move on to the drivers, then follow through to final assembly.

The convention delegates will see the evolution of the model from a pile of parts to a not readily available, working HO scale locomotive. It will require multiple soldering techniques, electrical wiring, fine tuning, and detailing. I plan to install DCC/sound but will stop short of painting. I will be learning many of the construction methods as I go and will share them with the attendees.

Presenter: Ken Robertson of Delta BC is a semi-retired geoscientist. When he was a toddler, his father worked for the CNR in Southern Ontario. He often took him to the Spadina Roundhouse to see the steam locomotives. The smell of coal smoke and grease got in his veins. On his second Christmas in 1955 his grandparents gave him an American Flyer trainset. He still has it. Ken has always had an interest in railways and was fortunate to work and socialize with several leading figures such as Omer Lavallee, Jim Shields, to volunteer at the Museum of Technology in Ottawa, help in the rescue of the first CPR Passenger car in Blairmore, Alberta; to list a few.
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DuPont – the Dynamite Train

The DuPont Company constructed a dynamite factory in western Washington in 1906 to supply the west coast and Alaska with blasting materials used in logging, mining and construction. This 1,000-acre site on Puget Sound was served by a 3-foot narrow gauge railway. The railway ran throughout the plant and delivered explosives to a dock for shipment by freighter up and down the west coast. The equipment was unique and included compressed air, battery and diesel-powered locomotives. Several pieces of the equipment are preserved today.

Presenter: Russ Segnerof Newcastle WA has been involved in the hobby since the 1970s. He started collecting Milwaukee Road models while working in Industrial Real Estate Development for the railroad. He was building his third HO layout when he discovered narrow gauge in 1991. He built and currently operates his Sn3 Coal Creek Lumber Co. layout.

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HOTEL 1 Make Only New Mistakes – Session 1 & Session 2
This two-session clinic will describe the three stages of layout design:
  • Conceptual: what story are you trying to tell?
  • Structural: resolving the big compromises with your space.
  • Detail: track planning and other details
This approach focuses on your objectives for the layout, resulting in a layout you will be happy with for the long haul. It includes many examples of do' and don'ts of layout design.

Presenter: Cal Sexsmith of Saskatoon SK. A lifetime model railroader and retired Civil Engineer Currently building a layout set in Saskatchewan' forest fringe in the 1960s in a two-car garage.
HOTEL 1 Prairie Town Layout Design
Using prototype station ground plans this clinic will explore various common track designs found in western Canada. The clinic will emphasize modelling the typical and how to create a believable representation of a prairie town on your layout.
Presenter: Cal Sexsmith of Saskatoon SK. A lifetime model railroader and retired Civil Engineer Currently building a layout set in Saskatchewan' forest fringe in the 1960s in a two-car garage.
HOTEL 1 Covered Wagons across North America
This slideshow will cover the railfan favourite covered wagons – EMD/GMD F units being the primary subjects on numerous Canadian and US railways. Particular attention is paid to the CN and CP fleets, but there is coverage of a number of US railways. And a few non- F units might sneak into the presentation as well.
This will be a slideshow style presentation, letting the pictures do the talking.
Presenter: Marc Simpson of Coquitlam BC has been a slide and negative collector for decades, with a collection of over 100,000 images. Besides slides and negatives his other expensive hobby is building an HO scale layout of the Hudson Bay Railway between The Pas, MB and Flin Flon, MB and points north. He has had numerous articles published in both model and railfan magazines, and blogs about his modelling and railfanning adventures at https://hudbayrailway.blogspot.com/ and https://ageologistchasingtrains.blogspot.com/
HOTEL 1 You Don't Have to be an Artist to be an Artist
Tips on and presentation of simple backdrop painting techniques that will make you want to pick up a paint brush.
Presenter: Steve Starkof Nanoose Bay BC is a life member of NMRA and PNR and has been involved in model railroading for 71 years (O27, HO, G, and primarily N since 1968). Steve is modelling a 24' X 32' Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway layout on two decks. He holds 7 AP certificates, including Master Builder Scenery and Master Builder Prototype Models.
Using Triage to Stay Focused on the Model Railroads Purpose of Fun

There are so many "sub-hobbies" in model railroading that can consume you. Burr will share how he keeps focused on the end goal of his model railroad and keeps his layout enjoyable by balancing effort on other temptations.

Presenter: Burr Stewart of Seattle WA has been a model railroader since childhood and is a recent RMMBC clinician on the topics of DCC braking, Signaling, Operations and Modeling the Prototype (BN around Seattle). He has a basement layout in Seattle and has become the host of a popular YouTube channel on model railroad operations called @muchfunwithtrains.

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A Design for the C&W2.0

You would think it would be easy to take an existing layout and fit it into a new space almost twice the size of the original. But the process of designing the new Columbia & Western 2.0 in N scale presented quite a few challenges and lessons in layout design. This clinic will present some of the challenges, frustrations, and insights gained in designing the C&W2.0. While the design for the new layout is more or less completed, we will explore some of the strategies used to obtain a design that balanced incorporating an existing layout into a new space, with different priorities for what the owner wanted in a layout

Presenter: Brian Stokes of Edmonton AB is a lifelong model railroader. Fortunate to be introduced to prototypical operations at a young age he has designed and built several layouts with an operations focus. He has been modelling the CPR and Great Northern in the B.C. Kootenays for 20 years in HO, and more recently dabbled in Proto:48. He brings an interest in history and design to explore innovative ways to create prototypical models and layouts.

Tabletop Clinics

Tabletop clinics provide an opportunity to engage with various modellers as they demonstrate their techniques. Several tabletop clinics will take place simultaneously in the same room, allowing people to move between presentations at will. It’s an informal format with lots of opportunity to ask questions and get involved.

Click Here for a list and description of the Tabletop Clinics We've listed them on a separate page. Click above or at the top of the Clinics page to be taken to the lineup of Tabletop Clinics. These clinics will take place on Saturday, May 25 in the afternoon.

HOTEL 1 Basic Scenery – Methods, Tips and Techniques. Session 1 & Session 2

The first session will focus constructing and laying the foundation for a home, portable or modular layout. I'll briefly discuss benchwork and module construction, pointing out the items to watch pay attention to. I'll explain the different techniques of plaster, hard shell, foam and other types of scenery base. I'll go on to explain general painting and staining. The second session will briefly recap elements of the first session and then go on to amplify on plasters, types and techniques. I describe how to shape and carve foam and how to incorporate castings. I'll further explain painting, staining and highlighting to bring out the texture of the base. I will cover basic ground scenery and then explain larger elements. There will be a discussion of buildings, detailing and the elements that bring a scene to life.

Presenter: Al Turnbull of Monroe WA started playing with trains sometime in the fifties. He managed to put together a few small layouts, then with school, career, marriage and kids wound up just a tad distracted. Started looking into getting back in the hobby just after the turn of the century. Happily, a gentleman he worked with convinced me to join his club. Al joined the Mt Rainier N-Scale Club in 2003 and has participated in many shows since with MRNS assisting with design, installation and maintaining of the wiring and control panels. He has given several clinics at regional events on the West coast concentrating on Scenery, Trees and Electrical wiring.

HOTEL 1 Basic DC/DCC Wiring.

This session will focus on wiring methods and techniques. Applying a basic understanding of types of wire, power supplies and controls will be shown. I'll show the types of wiring differences in DC vs DCC layouts and how to incorporate both in a system. I'll further explain ways to deal with reversing loops and turnouts. I'll cover basic troubleshooting techniques and what to watch for when wiring and checking out a layout.

Presenter: Al Turnbull of Monroe WA started playing with trains sometime in the fifties. He managed to put together a few small layouts, then with school, career, marriage and kids wound up just a tad distracted. Started looking into getting back in the hobby just after the turn of the century. Happily, a gentleman he worked with convinced me to join his club. Al joined the Mt Rainier N-Scale Club in 2003 and has participated in many shows since with MRNS assisting with design, installation and maintaining of the wiring and control panels. He has given several clinics at regional events on the West coast concentrating on Scenery, Trees and Electrical wiring.

HOTEL 1 HOTEL 1 Around the World on the Last Working Steam Railways
Working steam railways, around the world, are all but gone. Since 2000, the number of locomotives has declined from a few thousand to at best a few dozen. Come along on a photographic adventure around the world and back in time, to mines, smelters, mills, jungles, frozen forest lands, deserts, mountain passes, workshops and more to witness steam last days.

Presenter: Robert Turner of Nanaimo BC has been modelling and photographing trains as long as he can remember. The prolific author has written 20 books on transportation history and several hundred articles and reviews for RMC, journals and other publications. For the past 25 years Robert has been working on documenting the last working steam railways around the world.
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HOTEL 1 MAKING STRIPWOOD AND STYRENE LOOK MORE LIKE REAL WOOD
In this clinic, I will show how I texture, grain and paint raw stripwood and raw styrene strips. Making styrene look like wood is a little more difficult, and the ideas I will present in this clinic apply to raw styrene strips, and to craftsman type styrene kits.

Presenter: Roger Walker of Calgary AB has been a model railroader for over 50 years, and am now MMR #506. I have worked in HO, HOn3 and On3, and have an HO layout featuring contemporary CPR operations. My present love is working with craftsman kits and scratchbuilding in On3, with a Rio Grande narrow gauge theme dating around 1939. I have served on the Board of the Calgary Model Railway Society, organizing their clinics for six years.

Guide for Presenters
Last Updated June 4th 2024