Wednesday, 15 April 2015
Help support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Frances South, one of the WMRC's youngest members, has Juvenile Diabetes.
At our April meeting, Frances gave a presentation to the club about living with Juvenile Diabetes, and to promote the TELUS Walk to Cure Diabetes. Frances is a youth ambassador for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation ( JDRF ).
"I am the 'take steps towards a cure' type�. Says Frances. "By fundraising for JDRF, I am committed to helping JDRF fund crucial research into cures, better treatments for and prevention of type 1 diabetes (T1D). What type are you? Be the putting your dollars to work type by clicking the "Support Me!" button."
To support Frances simply click here.
Please enter the name: Frances's Family & Friends, then click on Frances to support her.
There�s a great video on her page!
The TELUS Walk to Cure Diabetes provides individuals touched by type 1 diabetes (T1D) the opportunity to unite with others and to raise funds for research focused on curing, treating and better preventing T1D. Over 45,000 Canadians walk, share stories, and connect across Canada and become one community with participants in six other countries.
The TELUS Walk to Cure Diabetes is being held on June 14, at the
Assiniboine Park, Lyric Theatre
Registration is at 9:00 am. The walk starts at 10:30 am
The walk length is either 5 or 7.5 km
After the walk there will be food, music and prizes!
For more information, email Vicki at vzachanowich@jdrf.ca or phone 204-953-4479
On April 25, the JDRF will be holding their 28th annual Starry Starry Night Gala 2015 for Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund at the RBC Convention Centre. For more information contact Dorothy Ross or 204-953-4477
If you are unable to attend and would like to make a donation, please click on: A Starry Starry Night Gala 2015
"Setting the stage... Scoring some points, too."
The ambience of a layout area is important to me. Beyond railroad memorabilia, things like campaign materials, calendars, advertising signage and movie posters can help set a mood while defining time and place. There has been no shortage of such articles in the railroad press so hopefully I've learned something. I'm trying to build my inventory smartly.
Movie producer/director Barry Levinson has done four movies depicting his hometown of Baltimore during the post-war baby boom. Two of them, Diner and Tin Men are all-time favorites and absolutely drip 'Bal-a-mer' nuance. I am keeping my eyes open for these two posters. I'm also interested in anything Baltimore Colts (remember them?) and National Bohemian Beer, simply known as Natty Bo. I welcome readers to offer any advice on other items too.
???
Many of the photos you'll see on this blog have been framed and hung around the man cave, but a couple of new additions are really neat. My father-in-law is a retired New York City police officer, but unbeknownst to me, he worked for the New York Central Railroad right out of high school for a few years.
Read More..
Movie producer/director Barry Levinson has done four movies depicting his hometown of Baltimore during the post-war baby boom. Two of them, Diner and Tin Men are all-time favorites and absolutely drip 'Bal-a-mer' nuance. I am keeping my eyes open for these two posters. I'm also interested in anything Baltimore Colts (remember them?) and National Bohemian Beer, simply known as Natty Bo. I welcome readers to offer any advice on other items too.
???
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The coming-of-age comedy of five friends in Baltimore, 1959. |
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The hysterical home siding scams in Baltimore, 1963. |
Many of the photos you'll see on this blog have been framed and hung around the man cave, but a couple of new additions are really neat. My father-in-law is a retired New York City police officer, but unbeknownst to me, he worked for the New York Central Railroad right out of high school for a few years.
He apparently has been very quietly intrigued with my basement venture because he recently donated two artifacts that he has had in his attic. One is a blue lantern and the other is a spike, mounted on a plaque. Although neither is affiliated with the Old Main Line or even the B&O, I will proudly display them.??
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The spike came from the demolition of the Third Avenue 'elevated' in New York City, circa 1972. The lantern was used on the New York Central during train repairs in the yard. It signaled in no uncertain terms that the train was under service by repair personnel and could not be moved under any circumstances. The sign below is perfect for the former entry and was purchased from the B&O Historical Society. It is a recreation of actual management signage. Note the acceptable spelling of 'employes' for that time. That's not a typo.  ? |
That's about it for now. Over the weekend we'll get back to more construction issues in closing off the former entry with bench work and backdrop. But first, we'll have a very special 'Friendly Fridays' feature (say that three times fast). See you then.
-30- BONUS: RHETORICAL QUESTION OF THE DAY...
What best speaks to the universal ambience of modelers?
A) Two empty pizza boxes, some uneaten crusts and half a beer.
B) Piles of scrap foam that are ideal for something, someday.
C) A workbench strewn with tools favored by dentists and jewelers.
D) All of the above ?
A) Two empty pizza boxes, some uneaten crusts and half a beer.
B) Piles of scrap foam that are ideal for something, someday.
C) A workbench strewn with tools favored by dentists and jewelers.
D) All of the above ?
Monday, 13 April 2015
Winnipeg Model Railroad Club celebrates their 60th anniversary with a group shot
The gang's all here! WMRC President Emeritus Suzanne Lemon took this great group shot of all of our members who showed up for the club's 60th. anniversary bash, which was held on Friday, April 10 at the Charleswood Legion. It was truly a night to remember, and everyone had a great time reminiscing, eating anniversary cake, and viewing photo images of the WMRC's past!
(Below) James South can't wait to dig in and enjoy that big piece of cake!
"Tears of joy over new peninsula backdrop..."
The end was near for the bullnose backdrop. Perhaps sensing that its days were numbered, it began to lean slightly which made the ultimate decision to dismantle it even easier. After some basic mock-ups with cardboard, I determined that I wanted a more traditional teardrop, or balloon backdrop, for the end of the peninsula. The real questions were about how I would fabricate it and what materials I would use.
Since I had good fortune using the .040 styrene in my corners, I considered that, while also realizing that I then wouldn't be ripping more dusty hardboard, countersinking screws, spackling and sanding. The added cost was worth it. Sold!
The trick now was designing a mounting system for this broad expanse that I would most likely be mounting myself.
Happily, the single biggest improvement is that the layout now slowly reveals itself as the viewer walks around the peninsula. It expands both space and time. Very cool!
Veteran modelers surely already know this, but this is one of those mistakes that rookies sometimes need to make in order to really grow and improve. Duly noted. Lesson learned. Now it's time to move on to my next rookie mistake. What could it be?
But first it's time to catch my breath. Posts for the first two weeks have come daily. Now we'll move to every-other-day for the rest of the month. We'll see you Wednesday for some 'ambience.'
Read More..
Since I had good fortune using the .040 styrene in my corners, I considered that, while also realizing that I then wouldn't be ripping more dusty hardboard, countersinking screws, spackling and sanding. The added cost was worth it. Sold!
The trick now was designing a mounting system for this broad expanse that I would most likely be mounting myself.
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The vertical supports for the backdrop capitalize on the grid ceiling system using those clips screwed into T-nuts drilled into the end of 1" x 2"s. |
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The vertical supports are hung from the ceiling and attached at the bench work for added stability, giving the backdrop and bench work some independence from one another. Intuition based on Murphy's Law told me that this may be a good thing. (Reality confirmed this down the road). |
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A skeleton frame was completed with 1" x 2" horizontal strips as well as flexible lath at the end of the teardrop. Lengths of plastic 'end caps' were stapled at the top and bottom of the frame 24-1/4" apart to hold the 24" styrene. |
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At this point I already knew that this peninsula backdrop was going to be preferred to my earlier one. Thank goodness! I was happy to live with the loss of real estate. |
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The end caps provided runners or channels for the 24" x 96" sheets to slide into and made the job relatively easy for a single installer. |
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Looking from inside the backdrop, the sheets are mated to one another by a 2" wide gluing surface and the tops and bottoms are stabilized further with scrap styrene wedged into the end cap channels. |
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The ends of the styrene expanse are mated to the sheetrock walls in the same manner as the corners were coved. While the ends are solidly anchored, the rest of the entire peninsula backdrop essentially is free floating. |
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The seams in the styrene sheets were lightly spackled and sanded, primed and painted. They are impossible to detect. I am over the moon with this outcome. |
Veteran modelers surely already know this, but this is one of those mistakes that rookies sometimes need to make in order to really grow and improve. Duly noted. Lesson learned. Now it's time to move on to my next rookie mistake. What could it be?
But first it's time to catch my breath. Posts for the first two weeks have come daily. Now we'll move to every-other-day for the rest of the month. We'll see you Wednesday for some 'ambience.'
-30-
BONUS: RHETORICAL QUESTION OF THE DAY...
True or false? The author's wife has suggested that the inside of the peninsula teardrop might be an ideal location for her husband's 'time out' when she deems it necessary.?
Sunday, 12 April 2015
"Not too bullish on the peninsula backdrop..."
The peninsula backdrop was built according to plan and all went smoothly. I was especially proud of the bullnose end I achieved with the use of a ripped length of 2" PVC. But something was not right in little Jimmy's railroad land.
I had fancied the opportunity to see both sides of the layout from the end of the 'blob,' especially to see multiple angles, which would otherwise be very limited on the balance of my narrow shelf design. I wondered if seeing an expanse of the layout from one point might maximize the viewer's overall layout experience, and even suggest a layout larger than its reality.
But whatever this bullnose backdrop was selling, I wasn't buying. I even went on one of my preferred websites, the Proto Layouts Group, to ask about this. If memory serves me, never a safe proposition, I believe there were multiple viewpoints and a very definite and resounding, "Who really knows?" mixed with a few, "I'm not really sures."
I do specifically recall the esteemed Andy Sperandeo saying that it was easier to photograph on this type than something like a teardrop or balloon. But Tom Patterson of CW&E fame, and Joe Atkinson of the IAIS, provided some photo evidence of their backdrop treatments. Each effectively forced the visitor to discover the layout gradually as they walked around the end of the respective peninsulas.
I was going to noodle with this. Tomorrow, we'll see where it brings me. See you then, and keep those cards and letters coming.
Read More..
I had fancied the opportunity to see both sides of the layout from the end of the 'blob,' especially to see multiple angles, which would otherwise be very limited on the balance of my narrow shelf design. I wondered if seeing an expanse of the layout from one point might maximize the viewer's overall layout experience, and even suggest a layout larger than its reality.
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The backdrop was framed with the traditional 1" x 2" on 24" centers. It extended 4' out from the wall @ 90 degrees and then splayed off at an angle of about 15 degrees for another 8'. It is only anchored at the wall and bench work.? |
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The 1/8" tempered hardboard was attached with counter sunk drywall screws, allowing a 6" opening at the top for air circulation. The end was fabricated by slicing a piece of 2" PVC and slipping it over a chamfered 1" x 2" at the end to mate with the hardboard. |
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It's hit or miss with me for countersinking screws, but this is an example of the finest two I have ever achieved. Hallelujah! Just right and ready for tape and spackle. |
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Spackled, sanded, primed and painted. The backdrop is good to go... I suppose. |
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Here's a view from the new entry looking back at the angled backdrop. |
I do specifically recall the esteemed Andy Sperandeo saying that it was easier to photograph on this type than something like a teardrop or balloon. But Tom Patterson of CW&E fame, and Joe Atkinson of the IAIS, provided some photo evidence of their backdrop treatments. Each effectively forced the visitor to discover the layout gradually as they walked around the end of the respective peninsulas.
I was going to noodle with this. Tomorrow, we'll see where it brings me. See you then, and keep those cards and letters coming.
-30-
BONUS: RHETORICAL QUESTION OF THE DAY...
The question of how a backdrop 'expands' the layout experience is...
A) Strictly a philosophical one open to interpretation and debate.
B) Clearly a practical one based on rationality and pragmatism.
C) Stop it. You're starting to freak me out with this 'thoughtful' stuff.
?
A) Strictly a philosophical one open to interpretation and debate.
B) Clearly a practical one based on rationality and pragmatism.
C) Stop it. You're starting to freak me out with this 'thoughtful' stuff.
?
Saturday, 11 April 2015
The Winnipeg Model Railroad Club celebrates 60 years with a birthday bash
Suzanne Lemon, Morgan Turney, Frances South and James South all take turns posing with "Duffy" the WMRC's mascot from the 1983 NMRA Railway Jamboree Convention. Duffy has been residing in a fire engine at the Winnipeg Railway Museum, but he was able to make it out to the Charleswood Legion to help us celebrate our 60th anniversary. 
From left to right: Our three most senior members, Moe Smith, Norm leathers, and Roger Kendl have the honour of cutting the club's special 60th. anniversary cake while WMRC Vice President Dave Downie watches.
WMRC Junior member James South hams it up in front of the cake, while WMRC Treasurer Gary Stempnick enjoys one of the first slices. It was a Jeannie's cake, from Winnipeg's famous Jeannie's Bakery. It had that special Jeannie's cookie base, of course!
Wasn't that a party! Everyone had a great time celebrating the WMRC's 60's Anniversary at our last meeting. Besides the wonderful cake and the special guest appearance of our old mascot Duffy, we also were treated to a trip down memory lane with a presentation featuring vintage images from the club's rich history. It was great to see so many old faces again (which weren't so old when the photos were taken) and have the chance to relive some of the club's greatest moments of the past six decades! Here's to 60 more years of great model railroading and fellowship!
"Not that there's anything wrong with that..."
One of the beauties inherent in our hobby is that it offers participants the opportunity to set priorities and choose areas of emphasis. In short, we decide what's important and what's not. We do what we like to do and try to minimize that which we don't (like electrical!).
During the last couple of years, several bloggers have utilized a commercial service that manufactures plastic labels which modelers can customize to use as layout identifiers on their fascia. I had looked into this, but after I determined exactly what I needed, I concluded that it was $100 better spent on flex track and commercial turnouts.
I wanted to base my labels on B&O depot signage so I turned to Power Point and tinkered around for awhile exploring different commands and applications. After some trial, but mostly error, I learned how to produce what I wanted in size, shape, font, color, etc. Each measures 1-1/4" x 4-1/2".
Of course the beauty here is that the lads who chose to purchase the commercial labels happen to lay their own track and build their own turnouts, and unlike me, they seem to actually enjoy wiring. Beautiful!
And now if you'll excuse me, I'm being paged by my two very hungry buddies, Stormy and Duffy. Apparently I've lingered too long at the computer. Tomorrow we get back to my peninsula's bullnose backdrop that's been bugging me. See ya.
Read More..
During the last couple of years, several bloggers have utilized a commercial service that manufactures plastic labels which modelers can customize to use as layout identifiers on their fascia. I had looked into this, but after I determined exactly what I needed, I concluded that it was $100 better spent on flex track and commercial turnouts.
I wanted to base my labels on B&O depot signage so I turned to Power Point and tinkered around for awhile exploring different commands and applications. After some trial, but mostly error, I learned how to produce what I wanted in size, shape, font, color, etc. Each measures 1-1/4" x 4-1/2".
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I included mileage markers and directional indicators with the station names to avoid having too many labels on the layout fascia. I'll print this sheet out on mid-gloss peel-and-stick paper and cut out each label. I'll experiment with mounting directly to the fascia as well as to styrene backing to determine what looks best. |
Of course the beauty here is that the lads who chose to purchase the commercial labels happen to lay their own track and build their own turnouts, and unlike me, they seem to actually enjoy wiring. Beautiful!
And now if you'll excuse me, I'm being paged by my two very hungry buddies, Stormy and Duffy. Apparently I've lingered too long at the computer. Tomorrow we get back to my peninsula's bullnose backdrop that's been bugging me. See ya.
-30-
BONUS: RHETORICAL QUESTION OF THE DAY...
True or false? The inclusion of two cute dogs into this blog is nothing more than a cheap, shameless stunt directed at the female demographic.?
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