red markers - Central New York Division

October 2015
VOLUME 33, NUMBER 07
RED MARKERS
Newsletter of the Central New York Division of the Northeastern Region,
National Model Railroad Association, Inc.
SERVING MODEL RAILROADERS IN AND AROUND CENTRAL NEW YORK STATE
NEXT MEETING . . .
November 1, 2015 Meeting
Cancelled
Central New York Division, NRHS Train Fair
Tractor Supply Exhibit Center,NYS Fairgrounds
Saturday November 7 - 10:00 – 5:00
and Sunday November 8 - 10:00 – 4:00
CNY Division
Model Railroad Auction
Saturday December 12, 2015
8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Camillus Senior Center
At this Meeting and in this Issue . . .
Calling All Modelers!
It will be all auction all the time at this meeting. The last auction we held in 2013
had an impressive array of model railroad and prototype railroad material.
SELLERS REGISTRATION: 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Please have your Seller Registration Sheet (found on page 7) & Lot Tags
(pg8) filled out prior to arrival,
Better yet, print & fill out the registration sheet now and mail it to Bill Bender TODAY!!
BUYER REGISTRATION & PREVIEW: 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
AUCTION: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
PAGE 1
VOLUME 33, NUMBER 07
“Loose Spikes”…
(Notes from the “Ashpit”)
The Brass Hats”
Central New York Division
- ELECTED Superintendent
Bernard Messenger
9388 Paris Hill Rd.
Sauquoit, NY 13456
(315) 737-7437
bernardmessenger@gmail.com
Asst. Superintendent
Ken Cameron
8462 Poolsbrook Road
Kirkville, NY 13082
(315) 687-3697
kcameron@twcny.rr.com
Chief Clerk
Ed O’Rourke
36 Nursery Lane
Syracuse, NY 13210
315-425-9224
eorourke@twcny.rr.com
Paymaster
Charlie Albee
215 Falls Blvd
Chittenango, NY 13037
315-687-3282
calbee1@verizon.net
- APPOINTED NMRA Achievement
Program Representative
Dave Martini
6943 Shannon Way
Liverpool, NY 13088
(315) 457-7437
kmartin1@twcny.rr.com
NMRA Member Aid Chairman
Jim Heidt, P.O. Box 25
Clockville, NY 13043
(315) 697-6227
jimheidt@hotmail.com
Division Clinic Coordinator
Bill Brown,
6002 Singletree Lane
Jamesville, NY 13078
(315) 454-2516
larcproducts@yahoo.com
Train Show Coordinator
Lenn Amrhein,
6306 Meadow Drive
Rome, NY 13440
(315) 334-4841
lamrhein@twcny.rr.com
Division Storekeeper
Ed Olszewski
(315) 488-4193
eolszew1@twcny.rr.com
Red Markers Co-Editors
Ed Olszewski and
Ed O’Rourke
36 Nursery Lane
Syracuse, NY 13210
(315) 488-4193
eolszew1@twcny.rr.com
eorourke@twcny.rr.com
Distributed through our web site at
www.cnynmra.org, domestic US Mail Delivery available, © 2015 CNY Division,
NMRA, All Rights Reserved. Printed in
USA.
October 2015
Don’t Get Left at the Station . . .
To stay onboard and keep receiving Red Markers email notices, you need to come to this meeting (or at
least every third meeting). If you absolutely can’t attend
and want to continue to receive a mailed issue, send
$3.00 to Charlie Albee (see left), make the check
payable to “CNY Division, NER”. Of course you are
always welcome to pick up the latest issue on-line at
www.cnynmra.org.
But money is a poor substitute. Come to the meeting
because your check book won’t have half the fun you
will!! We continue to grow and plan exciting things. So
don’t miss out!! Thanks.
PAYMASTERS REPORT
Paymaster’s Report
Balance, 07-02-2015
$2,054.93
Expenses
08-31-2015 Bank fee - $6.50
09-30-2015 Bank fee - $6.50
Income
Total Expenses
$ 13.00
09-20-2015 Raffle - $44.00
09-25-2015 NMRA/NER rebate - $85.20
Total Income
$129.20
Balance, 10-10-2015
$2,171.13
Respectfully submitted,
Charles Albee, Paymaster
Division Name Badges are available from Jim Heidt for $7.00. Price
includes postage to mail your badge to you by First Class Mail. No more of
this holding onto them or giving them to buddies to pass on. The $7.00
covers all costs.
REMEMBER - Contact our Chief Clerk if you ever have trouble receiving
your “Red Markers”. Also, if you need to change your e-mail address or
post office address drop the Clerk a line. The Division Chief Clerk’s contact
information is listed in “The Brass Hats” sidebar to the left.
Please have your articles and any items for “Loose Spikes” to us by the date
listed below . Remember, EARLIER IS ALWAYS BETTER! Thanks for
your support, Ed & Ed.
11/15/2015
PAGE 2
VOLUME 33, NUMBER 07
From The Freight Shed
October 2015
From The Dispatcher's Desk
"A CALL FOR HELP"
Your Northeastern Region of the NMRA needs you!
As some of you might know, our own Scooter Youst has
resigned his post as Region President for personal reasons
that have nothing to do with the Region. Scooter leaves with
great reluctance. Vice President John Doehring has agreed to
fill out Scooter's remaining term and announced to the Board
an immediate initiative. John has called on each of us Board
members, and on all Division Superintendents to scour their
division for good, able-bodied folks that might want to get
involved at the Region level.
. First off, let's thank the people of the Oswego
Valley Model Railroad Club and the Oswego
Railroad Museum for hosting our meeting and
making this on a fun day. Also, thanks to Keith
Kostoroski for opening his layout for our
enjoyment.
We are in the planning stages for this year's
Auction at the Senior Center in Camillus. I hope
you have a few items to bring to Auction off. Get
your paperwork done and send it to Bill Bender as
soon as possible. Two years ago we had a
successful Auction and this one I'm looking
forward to as well.
I personally volunteered at the Region level a few years back
and have found it to be an exciting and enjoyable endeavor.
President Doehring is creating groups of individuals for each
position and committee to make involvement easy and less
time consuming. GREAT IDEA! Much of the involvement is by
computer or phone conferencing with very little travel and
time requirements.
We here in the CNY Division have many great individuals that
could help advance our Region organization. PLEASE
consider volunteering. Shoot me off an email at
larcproducts@yahoo.com or give me a call (454-2516) if you
would like more info. Leave me a message if I don't answer
and I will get back to you shortly.
Bill Brown
Work and family commitments prevented Gary
Frost from hosting the November meeting at his
layout, so the November 1 meeting is cancelled.
Perhaps we will be able to visit his wonderful
layout next year. Speaking of which, the board will
be meeting soon to set up next year’s meeting
schedule. If you have a layout in some stage of
development we’d love to pay you a visit and see
your work. Remember, it doesn’t have to be
finished – sometimes we can learn more from an
in-progress layout than a completed one. Let one
of the board members know if you would like to
host a meeting.
I hope to see all of you at the Central New York
Chapter, NRHS Train Fair November 7 and 8 at
the Fairgrounds. Stop by the NER/NMRA/CNY
Division booth and say hello.
Regards,
Bernie Messenger
This comes under the heading of “A Prototype
for Everything.” This tunnel is on the Alaska
Railroad between Anchorage and Whittier.
One lane accommodates both rail and road
traffic. Signals control entry from either
direction. I'll have more of railroads in Alaska
to show you in a future Red Markers.
Ed O'Rourke photo
PAGE 3
VOLUME 33, NUMBER 07
(Loose Spikes, continued from page 2)
Note that the Division Auction date is Saturday
December 12. Auction seller registration forms
and Lot Tags are elsewhere in this edition. Fill out
a lot tag for each item you wish to auction and
attach it to the item. Complete the seller
registration form and Send it to Bill Bender!
The 2016 NMRA National convention is in
Indianapolis, IN, July 3 – 10, 2016. This one is a
LOOOONG days drive, or a fairly easy 2 day
excursion.
Ed O'Rourke receives the MOW Award from
Asst. Supt. Ken Cameron and previous winner
Bill Brown at the Train Watching event. A great
event. Trains came out eventually. Bill Brown
photo
October 2015
CNY Division NER/NMRA Meeting
Oswego Valley Railroad Museum
Sunday September 20, 2015
Call to order by Supt. Messenger @ 2:20 PM
Thank you to our hosts
No Paymaster’s Report – See Red Markers
Question regarding address of James Domser – Utica
Area – Red Markers returned unable to forward.
Ed will check with Jim Heidt.
Drew James Layout in September NMRA
Magazine.
Issue of NMRA Insurance and membership
requirements.
Considerable discussion.
Need to find out what the policy really covers
Moved Ed Olszewski, second Angel Bernard “That
the Board discuss and consider cover half
the cost of a Rail-Pass membership to
encourage NMRA membership –PASSED
UNANIMOUSLY
Chief clerk to provide member/non-member
lists to next board meeting.
Next BOD meeting - Friday October 16, 2015,
6:00 PM – Denny’s Oneida restaurant
Bill Brown reminded members of joint NER/MER
convention in New Jersey October 22 -25
Bill also discussed Region Leadership needs –
anyone willing to serve at the Region Level let
Bill know.
Considering idea of trip on Adirondack Railroad
October 10.
Raffle income $54.00 - $10.00 donated to Oswego
Valley Museum
Meeting adjourned 3:15 PM
Respectfully submitted
Edward J. O’Rourke, Clerk
Scene on Keith Kostoroski’s garden railway. The
bridge was built out of wood by Keith and his
neighbor. Keith is a retired Marine which
explains his U.S. Marine Corp train.
Ed Olszewski photo
Division meeting, Ed Olszewski photo
PAGE 4
VOLUME 33, NUMBER 07
October 2015
A CASE FOR BUILDING
MOCKUPS
By Ed Olszewski
Photos by the Author
Why are you settling for a plywood prairie when
you could have the beginnings of some buildings
and begin to see how well your railroad will
operate? Adding mock-ups, even 2 dimensional
ones, to your layout is easy to do. All you need is
an evening, some foam core and some wood
scraps along with building photos you have printed
out.
While traveling around the country I have had the
pleasure of meeting a number of model railroaders
and viewed their layouts. One of my favorite stops
is in Las Cruces, NM, the home of the NMRA
Road Runner Division . A few years back I was
fortunate enough to attend one of the Road
Runner’s division meetings in the Las Cruces
Railroad Museum. The members of the division
welcomed me in and I have become friends with
several of the members.
Recently, I was back in Las Cruces and met up
with friend and division member Mike Weiss.
Mike invited me over to see his layout
improvements since my last visit and an
impromptu operating session. Mike has added an
entire peninsula with a yard and a city industrial
area since my last visit. Rather than leave the bare
plywood Mike took a lesson learned from fellow
division member Eric Hansmann and painted the
plywood base a medium grey. This alone would
have been a good improvement over the bare
plywood but Mike went a step further and has
added mock-ups to the industrial area and along
the back side of the yard.
The mockups in the yard are a combination of 2D
flats and what might be called 2D+ flats. He has
also placed a couple of completed models into the
mix. He did the same thing over in the city
industrial area using 2D flats and some cardboard
boxes. No completed models here yet as he is
making sure the track arrangement will work. Side
note; based on my experience switching the
industrial area I think he has nothing to worry
about with his track arrangement.
Figure 1: Mike has used 2D mock-ups in his York industrial
area to check-out the track arrangement..
I want to talk about the 2D and 2D+ flats Mike has
created and placed around his layout. His 2D flats
are building photos mounted to foam core supported
by blocks of wood or small cardboard boxes. His
2D+ flats are building photos mounted to foam core
with the photo wrapped around the side for an inch
or two. In one evening you could take your printed
photos and make your own mockup flats.
How would you make a 2D flat? Along with your
photos get some foam core illustration board, some
spray adhesive and a sharp utility knife. Sit down at
your workbench and get to work.
Figure 2 : A couple of Mike's 2D photo mockups
The photos should be printed on heavy weight paper.
The thin 20 pound copy paper is too thin and might
wrinkle when sprayed with the adhesive and mounted
to the foam core. Using heavier paper, i.e. photo paper,
will result in a better finish to the photo and should
(Continued on Page 6)
PAGE 5
VOLUME 33, NUMBER 07
October 2015
The Case for Building Mock-ups (cont.. from pg.5)
eliminate wrinkling of the photo when mounted. I
recommend you leave your photo uncut at this point.
Spray the back of the photo with adhesive and place
it on a piece of foam core precut to the approximate
size of the photo. Taking a hint from sign makers, use
a black foam core. It will not be as noticeable. If you
can only find white foam core take a black marker
and color the edge to hide the white.
Figure 4: Mike had the space behind this mockup so he
used an old cardboard box as a support.
source who is no longer in business but fear not.
You can create your own building photos if you
have a camera and some ability to use a photo editor
to straighten out the lines of the building
photos you take. You can also make use of other
commercial sources of building photos. All you
need to do is get your photos and other supplies
together and get building. What’s stopping you?
Figure 3: Notice how the black foam core is not as
noticeable on this flat compared to the white foam core
of the back support.
With the photo mounted use the utility knife and a
steel straight edge to cut along the outline of the
building. The utility knife is stronger than a hobby
knife and will cut through the foam core easier with
less chance of breaking. When you have finished
cutting out the building flat use a #2 pencil to
darken the edge of the photo paper to get rid of the
thin white edge.
You can support your mockup with a scrap of wood,
a cardboard box or a piece of foam core. Choose
your support to fit the space available. I would
suggest you use a piece of wood if there is a narrow
space.
Figure 5 : Here are three types of structure models. On the
left is a 3D City Classics warehouse model, in the center is
a 2D+ mockup and on the right is a 2D mockup. You can
easily see how each will add depth to a scene.
Below: Here we see these 3D and 2D flats along the back of
York yard on Mike's Kingston Southern layout.
Mike used a number of these mockup flats to give
his industrial area a number of customers quickly.
Some of the mockups Mike created are what I refer
to as 2D+. You can see one of these at the right end
of the industrial area in figure 1. These mockups are
not going to replace a 3D model, but they will add
depth to your scene and give you a better feel of
how the finished scene will look
Mike used building photos from a commercial
PAGE 6
VOLUME 33, NUMBER 07
October 2015
CNY Division NER-NMRA: SELLER INFORMATION SHEET [___ of ____page(s)]
(Please Print Everything...if we can’t read it, you’ve wasted your time as well!)
(Leave Blank for Auction Clerk)
Name:____________________________Phone:(____)__________ Seller #________
Mailing Address (w/ Zip)_____________________________________________________
(Send to Bill Bender, Jr., 1112 County Route 37, Central Square, NY 13036)
Item Lot Number
001
Item Lot Description
002
003
004
005
006
007
008
009
010
011
012
013
014
015
016
017
018
019
020
021
022
If more than 22, strike out pre-printed lot numbers on next sheet(s) and renumber from 023 onward.
PAGE 7
Min. Bid Amt.
VOLUME 33, NUMBER 07
October 2015
CNY Division Auction
SELLER’S LOT TAG
Print these forms as needed, cut them apart,
PRINT Clearly all the information needed
INCLUDING your own lot numbers in the
“SELLER LOT NUMBER” Box after the dash.
Please number your lots in consecutive order
starting with “01” and have them taped to
your lots prior to arrival at the auction. This
Lot No.
Office use only
Seller's Lot Number
No. of
Min.
Pieces __________ Bid $_____________
Seller’s
Name (PRINT)______________________
is a reserved auction, you may set a minimum
Lot Description (PRINT)______________
bid amount for any lot you wish. You
___________________________________
can also Donate a lot(s) to the CNY Division.
Just write “Donate” on the “Min. Bid” line.
Buyer Pad. #
CNY Division Auction
SELLER’S LOT TAG
Lot No.
Office use only
Seller's Lot No.
Sold at $
CNY Division Auction
SELLER’S LOT TAG
Office use only
Seller's Lot Number
Lot No.
No. of
Min.
Pieces __________ Bid $_____________
Seller’s
Name (PRINT)______________________
No. of
Min.
Pieces __________ Bid $_____________
Seller’s
Name (PRINT)______________________
Lot Description (PRINT)______________
Lot Description (PRINT)______________
___________________________________
___________________________________
Buyer Pad. #
Buyer Pad. #
Sold at $
Sold at $
CNY Division Auction – Saturday December 12
Camillus Senior Center
Print these seller lot tags to attach to your sales lots
Seller Registration: 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Buyer Registration & Preview: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
AUCTION: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
PAGE 8
VOLUME 33, NUMBER 07
October 2015
Area Model Railroad Groups:
The Central New York Model Railroad Club:
The CNY Model Railroad Club & Historical Society, Inc. Fri., 7:30pm.
Operations 1st and 2nd Fri./month. New members and visitors always
welcome. Info and directions at www.cnymrrc.com
The Syracuse Model Railroad Club:
Wed. 7p at the layout in the Eastwood American Legion, James St., Syracuse.
One business meeting monthly, others are work sessions. Info: Jim Beach at
315-437-6221.
Salt City N-Trak, Ltd.:
Meeting schedule / location t/b/a as the club is no longer located at the
Eastwood American Legion. Operating 14' x 42' N-Trak modular layout
which often tours. Info: Rich Petitto at 315-437-2037.
FUNTRAK:
The Frankfort United N-Trak Model Railroad Club, Inc. meets at members
homes, meetings are scheduled and posted in FUNTRAK's newsletter each
month about two months ahead of the actual meeting date. Info: Brian King
at 315-292-7066 or Clayt Farrall at 315-735-6268.
http://funtrak.net
Cayuga Valley Model Railroaders:
Thur. 7:00p and on most Saturdays at 9:00a at the club at 3 East Genesee
Street, Auburn, over Speno Music Store. Info: Call Bernard Watkins 315283-2584. www.facebook.com/cayugavalleymodelrailroaders
Oswego Valley Railroad Association:
The group operates the Oswego Railroad Museum dedicated to the historic
preservation of railroad history in the Oswego County area. Open Memori-al
Day to Labor Day on Sat, Sun and holidays Noon - 5pm. The museum is
located in the city of Oswego at 56 West First St. The Oswego Railroad
Museum Offers a 1950’s era 24' x 36' operating layout of the southern
Oswego County area and an extensive railroad library. Contact Bill Nickolas
at 315-342-0028. http://oswegorrmuseum.org
Central New York Modelers:
The CNYMOD group has moved to new quarters in the Museum of Sci-ence
& Technology (The MOST) in Downtown Syracuse. Info: at
www.cnymod.com or by contacting President Andy Rezsnyak at 440-4511 or
e-mail cny187@gmail.com.
Central New York Large-Scale Railway Society:
Meets at Driver’s Village (the former Penn Can Mall), with a major layout
under construction, www.cnylsrs.com. Info: Bob Loran at
rloran@windstream.net.
The Bullthistle Model Railroad Society:
Third Wed. of the month, 7:00 p.m. at their headquarters at 33 Rexford Street,
Norwich, NY, and open Saturdays from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and on special
events... all in creating visual and operable multi-scale displays of historic
railroading in Chenango County. Info: Elton and Anethma Ire-land at (607)
334-4522 or club President, Philip Fairchild at (607) 847-8551,
lpfair@frontiernet.net
CNYNRHS Model Railroad Group
This group maintains O gauge and HO Scale modular layouts. Currently
meeting 7 to 9 PM Thursday evenings at the warehouse behind JR Junction Train
& Hobby, 2716 Erie Blvd. East, Syracuse. It is recommended that you call ahead at
451-6551. Info at http://www.cnynrhs.org or e-mail to modelrr@cnynrhs.org
European Train Enthusiasts, CNY Chapter
Round robin meetings. 'N' scale modular layout, Info: Gordon H. Davis at
315-451-3199 or 492-8000, gdavis4@twcny.rr.com
PAGE 9
2015 CNY Division
Schedule
Sunday, Feb 22nd 2-4 PM
SMRRC Show and Open
House, Syracuse, NY
Sunday, April 26 2-4 PM
Len Amrhein
Model & Photo Contest
Sunday, June 7 2-4PM
Bob Loran
Saturday, August 8 12-4 PM,
Division Picnic hosted by Bill &
Judy Brown
clinic by Jim Heidt
Sunday, September 20
12:00 – 4:00 PM
Keith Kostoroski/
Oswego Valley Railway Museum
Model Showcase
Sunday, Nov. 1 2-4 PM,
MEETING CANCELLED!
Saturday, Dec. 12
Auction at the Camillus Senior
Center
Details in This Issue!
Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016
1:00 – 4:00 PM
Division Banquet
Rusty Rail, Canastota,
Sunday, February 28, 2016
2:00 – 4:00 PM
SMRC Train Show, Eastwood
American Legion
Sunday April 3, 2015
2:00 – 4:00 PM
This could be at
your layout!
VOLUME 33, NUMBER 07
October 2015
Camillus Senior Center, 25 1st St. Camillus, NY 13031
Central New York Division, NMRA
Red Markers News Letter
36 Nursery Lane
Syracuse, NY 13210
PAGE 10