 CSD
RAILROAD MODELING UNIVERSITY
September 15, 2007
Activity
Report and Photo Gallery
The first annual Railroad Modeling University, sponsored
by the Carolina Southern Division, National Model Railroading Association, was held on Saturday, September 15, 2007 at Cook's Memorial Presbyterian Church
at 3413 Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road, just off NC 16. Registration began at 8:30 am
and we had 36 folks in attendance. Clinics and
activities begin at 9 am and ran until 1 pm.
Superintendent Rick Knight reports:
"Many thanks to everyone who participated in RMU 2007! There were 20 current
NMRA members in attendance and 16 prospective members. Not a bad turnout for a
first year event. A special thanks go to Carl, Fred, Dick, Frank and Gil for
taking parts of the program and passing along their knowledge to fellow
modelers. And special thanks to Jack and Chris for handling the registration
process. And a definite big time thanks to Colonel Bob for taking flyers and
posters to every train store, hobby shop and craft shop in Mecklenburg, Union,
Stanly, Iredell, Cabarrus, Catawba and Gaston Counties."
We conducted the following clinics:
This was the centerpiece clinic for the MRU. It covered building a
layout from "A to Z". Well, really, from "B" (benchwork) to "W"
(weathering), but we got close.
Model
Railroading with Modules by Gil Brauch
This clinic focused on both classic modular model railroading in all scales
and using modules (or sections, if you prefer) in designing and building
home layouts.
Light,
Motion & Sound Animation by Master Model
Railroader Fred Miller
Fred shared his award winning techniques to making your layout come 'alive'.
Building
Craftsman / Wooden Kits by Frank Binder
Some of us think wooden kits are too advanced. Frank showed us how advances
in kit design make it easy for us average modelers to build structures
worthy of The Masters.
Using the JMRI
Panel Pro
software to develop CTC boards
Our 'Digital Guru' showed us what it takes to get the most out of the
computer program designed to get the most out of operating sessions.
Setting up a
Layout for an Operating Session: Case Study: The Southern Exchange by
Carl Wessel
Our 'guest' clinician Carl, who is also a very active member of the OPSIG,
gave us some insights on how you can interchange cars between operating
sessions on different layouts.
There was also a small NTRAK
operating layout set up sponsored by the Central Carolina N Scalers.
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