NMRA MCR DIV 7 December meeting pictures:
Still under covid restrictions, we have our monthly meetings via Zoom. It works very well and we had 65 join for the meeting.
First the Agenda is presented.
Monthly schedule for the year.
Members present pictures of their models and prototype for the 'subject of the month' for member voting.
Main subject matter presented.
This month Tony Koester presented his Nickel Plate RR.
NOTE: All pictures deleted due to proprietary material.
Zoom works well as Div 7 didn't have to bring him to Cincinnati as Tony could present his subject matter from the east coast.
Tony did an outstanding job on the presentation as he explained the 'why and how' he built his layout.
Layout plan. For the most part, he kept his isles wide as most of us aren't getting any thinner! Notice in the plan that he 'walled off' part of the garage to get a longer mainline run (top of picture). He made the layout multi deck but no helixes.
Kept turntable relatively close to the isle. Make your yards large. Can never have too big of a yard.
He's big on duplicating scenes along the full size railroad. Full size (top picture) and model (bottom picture).
He found large pipe cleaners (brown stick in picture) and added foliage to make them look like bean crops. In the 40's and 50's beans were planted in rows.
Control panel boxed in with a building.
Shelves don't need to be wide. 8"-16", except where towns are, are sufficient.
Another way to make tall grass.
Photoshop (and other soft wares) to merge prototype pictures into back drops.
Two pictures merged. Side view of lumber building 'straight on' while street pictures gets 'perspective'.
Full size and model version.
Again, full size and model version. He duplicated a picture of his dad and siblings.
This is cool. An interchange: A 4" width backdrop that is about 4" high to hide the interchange track yet easy to access, if need be. Can see the line along the blue backdrop indicating the location. Some trees used to hide the entrance to the interchange.
Model of the full size.
Merging roads to back drop roads. Match the road to the back drop and not vise versa.
Making fall leaves on the ground.
Top shelf is narrow and no turnouts to reduce access to a minimum.
Stands to reach top levels.
We have layout tours after the meeting but, for now, they are virtual. These two are located north of Dayton.
Pictures were cut out and glued to foam board for the 'buildings' for giving 'depth' to the scene.
First time I've seen a golf course on an HO layout.
Ditto on the transfer table.
Nice to see 'full view' pictures to see how the layout is presented.