Scenery is the artistic presentation of one’s layout. This clinic will delve into the issue of design/concept; the importance of doing field research concerning the flora and fauna; colors; and the selection of structures and their settings on the layout. We will discuss backdrop and tunnel issues, foundation materials for scenery, how to complete the work, applying landscape vegetation and some water issues while building a ford. This will be a brand-new clinic, not a repeat or rehash.

Since the earliest days of the hobby, manufacturers have offered rolling stock models decorated for prototypes that often had no resemblance to the model.  We’ll examine a few of these models, discuss what the prototypes really are, and how to properly model them.  Along the way, we’ll touch on the history and the background of the models themselves, prototype research, and resources.

"I’m a model railroader. Why would I be interested in ships?" you say. Well, come aboard the S.S. Covid as we cruise through the many bays and inlets of the world in search of fascinating locales where trains and ship meet. Then we take a look at some construction tips and techniques that will help cinder-stained ferro-equinologists to become master model ship builders.

At first glance, C&O’s Alleghany Subdivision was simply an efficient double-track connection between Hinton, West, Virginia and Clifton Forge, Virginia. Looking a little closer, though, we find several interesting operational opportunities that compliment regularly scheduled trains:

• Foremost, the parade of helper engines running between Hinton and Alleghany, Virginia

• Alleghany’s turntable was frequently used by special passenger moves supporting the C&O-owned Greenbrier Hotel (as many as 248 annual special moves)

• And there was traffic connecting with Cass, West Virginia (off the Greenbrier Branch) at Ronceverte, West, Virginia

We’ll explore my operational plan as it has evolved so far, as well as (with your help) barnstorm some future ideas.

The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway-owned Greenbrier Hotel at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia and the C&O-served Homestead Resort, at Hot Springs, Virginia were powerful magnets for the railroad’s passenger business.

•         The in-the-middle-of-nowhere, Greenbrier Hotel supported regular and special passenger trains with a 32-car passenger yard

•         On C&O’s Hot Springs Branch, its famed mixed train of hoppers, Pullmans and a caboose ran right up to the end of passenger service in 1971

Using the archival resources of the Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society, Bryan describes how this fascinating operation is incorporated on his C&O Alleghany Subdivision layout.

Butch shares the unique materials and techniques he uses to create supremely realistic modern-era rolling stock.

The Lakeside Sub is a modern proto based layout housed in a 1200 square foot basement.  The presentation will discuss design, construction methods, and construction lessons learned.  Construction methods discussed are TGI beams for benchwork, and material for curved backdrop construction.  Also discussed are the different types of sub roadbed including Masonite spline.  The prototype extends from Pasco, WA to Spokane, WA on a single deck.  The layout will be fully signaled using Bruce Chubb’s CMRI system.   

Over   time, David realized he doesn't have enough time, skills, or money to model   and run every freight car that catches his fancy. He used an RPM mentality to limit the scope   of his model buying and building to have a fleet on his layout that looks   like and operates like his chosen prototype: the Atlantic & Yadkin   Railway in 1934. While he doubts   anyone else chooses that time and railroad, many of the questions he asked and   the resources he found can be applied to just about any prototype you wish to   model. David will share with you what he has discovered on his personal   journey. And if that doesn't inspire you to follow his footsteps, you still   might just learn something new that may help you, should you decide to be an   "RPM modeler" too.

Take three well-known heritage layouts, the most famous of which is John Armstrong’s Canandaigua Southern, cut them up, move them and combine them into a single track plan filling an 18x90 foot space. Featured in Great Model Railroads 2016 and Terry Terrance videos, much has been added and upgraded since those publications. David Vaughn will tell the story of his layout, but will also offer lessons learned and checklists on whether and how to save old layouts. The layout is also open12 noon until 3:30 on Sunday afternoon for MARPM attendees. Layout is about 50 minutes from the RPM Hotel.  

This clinic provides an historical overview of the Ohio Central Lines (T&OC, K&M, and Z&W) from its coal mines in Appalachia to its coal dumpers on Lake Erie. Modeling tips will be presented using data from the 1919 Railroad Valuation Series.

This clinic will cover several freight and passenger carkit bashes for cars that are not available on the market as well as a few that were available in resin but are no longer offered. It includes techniques and methods with model photos of under construction and finished projects as well as some prototype photos of the cars that are subject to the kitbashes.

Ever get the urge to completely tear out and redo a scene on your layout? Perhaps you feel the need to exercise the new skills you have acquired since you first built it? Maybe you want to bring the scenery up a notch using the latest tools and materials? Or perhaps you need to replace that unreliable track? Fear not. You can do this!

Following a brief history of the B&M station at State Line, New Hampshire, Jim will describe the steps he took to completely replace and (presumably) improve State Line on his HO scale layout. Track, scenery, and the photo backdrop were all replaced. There will be a particular focus on the tools and materials used to recreate a bog on both sides of the causeway there.

The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad (reporting mark RBMN), sometimes shortened to Reading and Northern Railroad, is a successful contemporary regional railroad operating in eastern Pennsylvania, with headquarters located in Port Clinton, PA. The RBMN provides freight service on 300 miles of track, with its mainline consisting of the Reading Division between Reading, PA and Packerton, PA, and the Lehigh Division between Lehighton, PA and Dupont, PA. In addition to freight service, passenger excursions also run along the RBMN system. This clinic will describe the history and operations of the RBMN and why it’s an interesting prototype to model.

The PRR’s H21 class 4-bay hopper car, numbering almost 40,000, may have been the largest class of freight car on U.S. railroads and traveled on rails far beyond those of the PRR.

This clinic will begin with a rundown of the various subclasses, illustrating and discussing physical changes over the years, then take a brief look at similar designs used by other railroads. John will then review the various models that have been available for the H21, and  offer some points for those interested in enhancing their models of these cars. The clinic concludes by showing some survivors, updating the information in the book, Pennsylvania Railroad Steel Open Hopper Cars.

Composing scenes requires an entirely different set of skills than building individual models.  In some ways it’s more challenging in that it doesn’t lend itself to the step 1, step 2, step 3 directions we’re used to with kits.  This clinic will address topics such as how many scenes to include on a layout, the spacing between them, the elements to include, their arrangement, and the size and shape of the elements within a scene.

The techniques, tools, tricks, and associated building aids that Martin uses to scratchbuild wood truss rod cars will be presented and demonstrated. These will be in use as they applied to building a potential array of cars as piles of sticks and detail parts get transformed into cars otherwise unavailable. This session will specialize in gondola cars, but other cars may make an appearance during the day.

Progress continues on Marty's layout, inspired by the Central Vermont Railway of the steam era.

Finger Lakes Railway Corporation is a short line railroad that owns and operates 167 miles of track from its Geneva headquarters. 

The Alabama Southern Railroad, headquartered in Tuscaloosa Alabama, is a small bridge line that features a unique locomotive roster, extensive interchange and bridge traffic, connections with three class-one railroads, extensive trackage rights, big trains, and an industrial customer base that is far larger than one would expect. In this fast-paced presentation, we will look at the scope of their operations using hundreds of photographs, maps, diagrams, and charts. The ABS is an exciting must-see railroad that just begs to be modeled.

Ron has been constructing a prototype based model of the PRR Chestnut Hill Branch. It was a commuter line originating at the PRR mainline in North Philadelphia and going 11 miles northward towards the city outskirts. While much of the branch was suburban in character, the first two miles served a number of large industries, such as the Budd Co., Philco, and Midvale Steel. Because the layout is of modest size, only a portion of Midvale Steel can be modeled. The first area to be modeled includes the company headquarters and the adjoining scrapyard. Since both the headquarters and the craneway are scratchbuilt, techniques in modeling these structures (including the use of a digital craft cutter) will be described. Also some of the critical archival material used in the project will be reviewed.

In this presentation, Shannon will examine the RF&P's last locomotives, the GP40's, GP40-2's, and the GP35's. He will also differentiate between the several different paint schemes these locos wore. In modeling these diesels, he will talk about paint, details, and decals in getting these locomotives up to RF&P specs.

This clinic will include extensive history on the car's development and ends with kit construction and modeling

techniques. 

This presentation will cover how to create superdetailed HO scale models of the PFE fleet in the early 50s, covering the fleet at that time, available (and not) kits, paint and lettering schemes, specific details and how to put it all together.

Participants should bring a car or two to learn how do quick and easy weathering with Ammo by MIG products. Donation accepted for material costs. 

Todd will present the latest from his Catasauqua Branch layout build.  This clinic will focus on his current work to research, plan, and build “downtown” Catasauqua, PA in 1/87.  He’ll discuss his approach to selectively editing this prototype scene, the addition of a Lehigh Valley Transit streetcar line, plus a variety of updates on rolling stock, motive power, and scenery projects from elsewhere on the Catty Branch.

In the Summer of 2014, Tom Jacobs began his journey of building a large, multi-deck Reading Company-themed HO scale layout in a 20x36 freestanding building.  Now, nine years later, he is approaching completion of benchwork construction, trackwork and wiring, and will soon drive the Golden Spike. This clinic will give an overview of the layout's theme, key modeled locales and traffic, and how Tom is preparing to begin prototype-based operations on his Reading Division.

The Tools, jigs, and building aids Tony uses to scratchbuild details plus other odd RR modeling ideas. A couple of methods on how to hold these tiny parts during their creation. Includes one very uncommon freight car conversion from a basic Bowser 100 T 3 bay coal hoppers to NS/NW H49 & H11 designs.