From the Editor

This month we have a really BIG issue! Some members have come through and we have a few articles to share, one of which is OBSERVATIONS by Larry Hickman which may turn into a regular column!!

This issue also has some very nice layout photos from one of our new members and for those who missed the September "What I Did Over the Summer" meeting, we have a recap of what everyone brought and shared.

Read everything because we also have some exciting news on FREE KITS from Bar Mills!! So sit back, relax and enjoy this issues many topics.

View from the Cab

Clinic Corner

For the October clinic Jeff Schumaker will be talking about portable layouts, that is small, or micro, layouts that can be easily transported to shows and take little time to set up and tear down. He will be assisted by Jim Foster of Dayton, a member of MCR Division 3. Jim has displayed his three portable layouts, the Little Fork & Pike, the Stine Lichen Company and the Atlantic & Ohio at numerous events.

See you there,

Brian Burr,
Assistant Superintendent

October 25th Meeting Agenda

Here is a quick breakdown of what to expect at the meeting:

• Rip Track Table - Have items you want to sell or just give away? Put them on the table
• Business
• Show and Tell - whatever you want to share
• Break
• Door Prizes
• Clinic - Portable Layouts
• Closing Remarks - Announcements and Open Discussion Points

Doors open at 6:00PM, Meeting Starts at 7:00PM
Proclaim FM Community Center
7112 Angola Road,
Holland, OH 43528.

Layout Photos - Mitch Niemiec

The lighter side of the hobby

September Meeting Highlights

New York Central Panel Plant - by Ray Huber

OBSERVATIONS - by Larry Hickman

Model Railroading is one of those hobbies you enjoy or hate. By that I mean there are days when everything comes together and there are days you become so frustrated you want to take a sledge hammer and destroy everything. We have all been there, right? Layouts should be more than just trains. Yes, the movement of trains is paramount, but it also encompasses scenes where trains run through, whether these scenes contain cities, towns, flatlands, hills or mountains. Scenery will play an important part into transforming a layout. I have been in and out of this hobby for over fifty years and it has only been in the last ten years I noticed how much scenery can make or break a layout. I don't take credit for this. You only have to take time and go outside and look around. What do you see? I don't mean just glance, but study, what do you see? Make a mental note for later reference or better yet take a photograph, so when you begin or perhaps want to change something these visions come into play. From my observations the vast majority of model railroaders enjoy modeling summer as trees, shrubs and weeds burst forth in various colors of green, while a splash of other colors can be seen here and there in flowers, shrubs and even an occasional tree. Some modelers enjoy modeling Spring, while others enjoy Fall and still others enjoy modeling Winter. All of this is a personal preference. In my case, I am not a big fan of hillsides bursting forth bright colors as it distracts from what you want the visitor to see. It does give the "WOW" effect, but over time your eyes will keep darting back and forth to the bright colors as you are running trains. Some may agree, while others may not.

I like to describe Mother Nature in this way. In Winter, she is completely bare and asleep showing all her faults, but as spring approaches she starts to wake up, gets out of bed, showers and slowly begins getting dressed. You can still see and occasional fault, but not as much as she continues dressing. As Summer approaches she is now dressed to kill and ready to party and does so, until a chilly breeze reminds her bedtime is just around the corner. The starting of Fall reminds her she is entitled to one last fling, so she brings out her best wardrobe bursting forth into radiance of color to dazzle everyone and once more becoming the center of attention for the last time, before calling it a night and going back to sleep.

Before spending the time, money and effort on this creation one should have some idea what the end result will be and most of all expect to make many false starts before the final scene is completed. If you have done your homework a blank canvas lies before you like an artist at his easel. Over the years I have come to visualize scenes before starting or revamping by adding or subtracting various items such as structures, trees, roads and so forth. I think you get the picture. One problem I see with many modelers is change. My suggestion is don't be afraid of change and most of all learn to think outside the box. Again do your homework and if something doesn't work, change it and find something that will. Over the years I have redone many scenes as my knowledge has grown to become a better modeler. Some areas I have completely demolished and revamped more than once. As the years pass you will too.

I have seen many nice layouts, but the biggest distraction is dirty, dull and lifeless scenery. There is nothing worse than seeing nice models running through these scenes. Don't be cheap and refresh the scenery every couple of years as layout lighting and dust can dull scenery. Trees play an important part in scenes. This is especially true if modeling heavy wooded areas in various parts of the country. If your trees look like a tornado has blown through your layout, it is time buy or better yet learn to make new ones. Many of my background trees are nothing more than a certain type of weed and once finished, takes on the look of distant trees. I finally found out the official name of this weed and it is called Aster Umbellatus. When you look closely at the photo you will notice the various branches shooting upwards in different directions supporting white flowers. These little branches will become the makings of your background trees after dying. The tops are cut off and grouped together in bunches of two or three weeds giving the look of a full tree in summer. These are then sprayed with 3M 77 glue and dipped in small buckets of colored coarse turf by Woodland Scenic or other manufacturers of your choice. Once ready these are touched up with different shades of green spray paints if needed. Fall is the best time to harvest this weed as the tops break off in bunches. While building the layout I would get four or five garbage bags full and make twenty to thirty trees per bag. Once finished they are installed on the layout as background trees. Remember these are background trees and they don't have to be as perfect as foreground trees. Planting foreground trees will hide any imperfections if done correctly. Many of my foreground trees are from Scenic Express with sagebrush trunks or at times other types using branches of the Aster Umbellatus plant as trunks. The Scenic Express material is broken off into small pieces and glued to the sagebrush with the glue of your choice. I use Walthers Goo to glue these pieces onto the limbs adding just a little "Goo" and using my fingers to push each piece onto the branches. These are then sprayed with hairspray and again course or fine turf is sprinkled on and set aside until dry. I like to do this over some type of container catching any material that doesn't stick to be used again. Once everything is dry these are planted on the layout. I don't paint the trunks, unless the tree is something unusual such as Aspen. I have found most visitors don't bother looking at the trunks, but look at the overall effect of the scene. I am not a big fan of puffball trees as most trees are not round. In my opinion these look like round balls stuffed on hillsides. When looking at my backgrounds you will notice an occasional Poly-fil tree. I will talk about these later. Before planting my trees I usually spray the hillside with some type of dark color to represent shadows. In areas where openings can be seen these are finished with various types of grass, weeds or shrubs. Remember weeds and grass will take root anywhere there is moisture and sunlight. If you are really industrious you can also make pine trees from the various products on the market. I decided to buy mine as I don't have that many. Once all your trees are planted start adding bits and pieces of left over material such as smaller trees, shrubs, weeds etc. in front of the foreground trees. If done correctly this should complement the overall effect of the scene. I have seen layouts where everything has to be perfect, here is a hint. Mother Nature isn't perfect, so why should you.

I will finish this with grass. No, not the kind you smoke, but the kind you see in nature. Take a look around your yard or better yet a pasture or field. You will notice a multitude of grasses blended together to form different colors of greens, yellows and many times brown areas will also be seen. On many layouts usually only one color or another is present representing these areas. Grasses and weeds intermingle with each other like peanut butter and jelly. I like to use different fine turf colors mixed together from various manufactures when modeling. Static Grass is a great product, but mix different colors and heights together for a natural effect. Even yellow wheat and soybean fields before harvest may have a small amount of green sprinkled here and there having sprouted from the crop planted from the previous year. Weeds and grass grow everywhere including around foundations of buildings, docks, sidewalks and roads. Wherever there are open areas in most cases you will find some type of shrub, weed or grass.

Let's talk about Poly-fil you know the green fine material you pull apart squeezed into a bag. I have used this material in many different ways over the years. By spreading it very thin it can also be used to represent a tree, not a round ball like a puffball trees, but a decent facsimile of one. Take one or two small Aster Umbellatus branches and spread this material lightly over the top, until you are satisfied. The Poly-fil is sprayed with a good cheap hairspray and weed or grass is sprinkled onto the fiber or you can lightly mist this with various colors of green spray paint. This is set aside until dry and added to the layout. Depending upon the location I usually cut the trunk to fit a certain area before planting.

I have also used this material to act as filler in various places to represent bushes that have grown together and spread into various directions. By stretching this material very thin, and I mean thin, it can be placed on the layout in these areas you would usually see in hedge rolls, steep valleys, over grown fences and even telephone poles. You have seen this growing up the sides of telephone poles, right? This is again sprayed with hairspray and is covered with weed, grass, red, white or yellow flower material from Woodland Scenic. I lightly blow this material onto these areas using a thin piece of cardboard material or even paper folded into a "V" shape. When I do this I add just a small amount of this product at a time and repeat the process until the effect I want is achieved.

There is another material I saw being used for scenery in a video to represent briar bushes made from a furnace filter. I am not talking about the thin kind, but the coarse kind with the metal trim used to hold it together. I had to try this so I purchased a package, which contained two green filters. After tearing this material into small fine pieces from two to three inches in diameter it was sprayed with an abundance of hairspray. This loosen the stiffness of the filter and while wet was planted on the layout in various areas. I recommend using some type of thin disposable gloves such as surgeon gloves as it can become messy with the hairspray. I then gave it a light coat of fine grass and was completely satisfied.

If finances are tight, try to do one section at a time. Learn to take your time and do it right. Step back once and awhile and check your work. The finished product may amaze you. As I stated before, "Scenery can make or break a layout, don't skimp as it will show. It is better to have too much as not enough." If you make a mistake fix it with scenery and no one will know, but you.

These are some of the ideas and observations I have seen or used over my time in this hobby. I have tried many products from nature as I am trying to save a buck wherever I can just like everyone else. My layout is modeled in the hills of West Virginia and Mother Nature has provided us with an abundance of materials to use in this hobby. Learn to take your time and study it, you too may be surprised as to what is out there, I know I did.

One note, I found spray cans of air for computer keyboards from Dollar Tree are great getting into those hard to reach areas that accumulate dust.

Enjoy the hobby and most of all have fun.

Upcoming Events

If you know about an event happening in our division, please let us know so we can make everyone aware. If a club is having an open house, setup, or other activities, we could help promote it!