Here is the list of some of the clinicians that are scheduled to present at the Smokey Mountain Rails 2008 Southeastern Region Annual Convention. The list is tentative and periodic updates will be provided.
Smokey Mountain Rails 2008 clinic lineup is varied and will have something for everyone.
Thanks, Ben Bartlett - Clinic Committee Chair
Working with styrene
Sat. 5/24, 1:30 PM @ room 316
By Ben Bartlett
Ben will discuss techniques, tools and materials he uses to scratchbuild or kitbash structures. He will use different aspects of four models to show how he produces styrene structures. There will also be a discussion on how he brought an old structure up to the quality of models he builds today.
Ben has been in model railroading for approximately 60 years. Currently, he is building his last (?) HO layout representing a fictitious division of the Erie Railroad. Ben is the Clinic Chairman for Smokey Mountain Rails 2008 and the Operations Chairman of the Apple Valley Model Railroad Club.
Scratchbuilding Trees
Fri. 5/23, 3 PM @ Terrace Auditorium
By Rick Beam
This clinic deals with how to build inexpensive, good looking scale trees in fairly large numbers. The technique
uses readily available materials to create both good looking foreground trees and very convincing forests at a
reasonable cost per tree.
Rick became interested in model railroading while in law school and joined the Metrolina Model Railroaders after
graduation. I enjoy designing and building the scenery. Rick works as a Criminal Defense Attorney to pay for his
train hobby. Wife, Cathy, and his two children tolerate his hobby.
Installing Sound in Steam Engines
Fri. 5/23, 3 PM @ Room 316
by Rick Bell
This clinic presents detailed steps and illustrations of advanced techniques for retrofitting a steam sound decoder into an HO scale locomotive. It will include the installation of a cam for chuff timing.
Rick is a 61 years old retired law enforcement official. His great grandfather, two grandfathers and a father in law all retired from class 1 railroads. He is on the board of directors of the Southern Railway Historical Association and a member of the N&W Historical Society.
Digitally Archive Old Railroad Negatives
Sat. 5/24, 11 AM @ Room 213
by Rick Bell
This clinic will demonstrate a process that can be used to digitally archive your old railroad negatives. Rick will use a light table, camera, masks and a computer to quickly digitize either black & white or color negatives.
N.M.R.A. Model Contests
Sat. 5/24, 10 AM @ Room 213
By Rob Bell
Why enter? How should the paperwork be filled out? Rob Bell will answer these questions and more. His clinic will not help your modeling, but it will help you understand what contest judges need to know. Rob has entered many N.M.R.A. contests. He has won awards, been “shot down” and will share experiences with you.
The Western North Carolina Railroad: Penetrating the Land of the Sky
Fri. 5/23, 7 PM and 8 PM @ Room 316
by Matt Bumgarner
Matt Bumgarner will present photos and discuss his current project- The Western North Carolina Railroad; Penetrating
the Land of the Sky. This book has been ten years in the making and details the construction of the WNCRR from Salisbury
to Asheville and points beyond.
Matt Bumgarner is a native of the Tarheel State and has spent nearly the past twenty years researching the railroads
of North Carolina. He has authored or co-authored a half dozen railroad books, and his company, Tarheel Press, has
published a dozen more. He resides in Hickory with his wife and three daughters.
The Wrong Way to Paint a Backdrop
Fri. 5/23, 2 PM @ Room 316
By Charlie Crawford
We’ve seen backdrops that were painted using artists brushes & tubes of paint. This is an alternative method using interior flat house paints, two inch brushes and some easy faux finishing techniques. With apologies to the late Bob Ross.
Charlie models the New York Central circa 1926-27. He is a member of the Atlanta Interlocking Model Railroaders, a modular club. He also serves as Operations Director for the Piedmont Division. Currently he holds AP Certificates for Cars, Chief Dispatcher and Volunteer.
Scratchbuilding 101 & 102
101 - Sat. 5/24, 10 AM @ Room 316
By Ron Gough
102 - Sat. 5/24, 11 AM @ Room 316
Starting from “scratch,” 101 will demonstrate the basic procedures and principles involved. Ron will provide a step-by-step process of how to apply the basics, including the construction of a simple structure and a box car. The 102 clinic will further expand and show how to build many different prototypical details.
Ron has been actively involved in the NMRA having served in many different positions all the way up to region president. A Master Model Railroader since 2003, he has received the Piedmont Division’s highest achievement, “The Engineer Award” in 2007.
A Brief History of the ET&WNC RR
Sat. 5/24, 11 AM @ Terrace Auditorium
By Johnny Graybeal
The narrow gauge ET&WNC, known as the “Tweetsie,” was the most famous narrow gauge railroad in the southeast. Johnny will give a brief history, emphasizing the busiest days of the line when multiple trains operated over a single track mainline.
Johnny is the president of the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina Railroad Historical Society and author of seven books relating to the railroad. He is also on the 2011 National Narrow Gauge Convention planning committee, and on the committee for the restoration of the Linville Depot.
Re-Visiting the Asheville Special
Sat. 5/24, 9 AM @ Room 213
By Philip Griffith
This clinic is will discuss one of the trains included in the series of Model Railroader articles called “Pike Sized Passenger
Trains”. The clinic will cover the model selection, painting and lettering that was used to re-create his HO scale version
of this small passenger train that ran between Asheville and Salisbury North Carolina.
Philip Griffith is a freelance photographer and HO scale modeler from Birmingham, Alabama. He is currently a member of the
Wrecking Crew model railroad Club and Secretary of the Steel Cityt Division. His modeling interests are varied, but his
favorites include Atlantic Coast Line (the purple years), the Frisco and the GM&O.
An introduction to Decoder Pro
Fri. 5/23, 4PM @ Room 316
By Dan Lang
Decoder Pro and Panel Pro are two programs contained in the Java Model Railroad Interface (JMRI) available as freeware. Dan will cover the basics of programming with Decoder Pro and how this tool can be used to simplify programming complex sound decoders in both paged and operations mode programming.
Transplanted from upstate New York and New England, Dan models the Boston & Maine’s Fitchburg Division in HO scale. He has authored DCC articles and given clinics on various aspects of DCC. He is a member of the JMRI user’s group and has used several versions of Decoder Pro.
Discussion of logging in the Western North Carolina Mountains
Sat. 5/24, 10 AM @ Terrace Auditorium
By Gerry Ledford
Gerry’s presentation will be on the Champion Lumber and Suncrest Lumber Companies. These companies had many miles of railroad and large sawmills not far from Lake Junaluska. His presentation will feature several maps and many photos of those operations.
Gerry is a native of Western North Carolina, growing up in Canton. His family was involved in the early lumber industry in this area; his grandfather was a superintendent for Norwood Lumber at Forney, N.C. His great uncle Louis Carr founded the Carr Lumber Company at Pisgah Forest, N.C.
Exploring Transfer Tables
Fri. 5/23, 2PM @ Terrace Auditorium
Joe Norris
Transfer tables can provide exciting operational features to both large and small layouts. Joe will show how they might be used and how to construct both manually operated and powered versions. Actual models will be on display.
Joe is an internet consultant and draws liberally on his background in electronic engineering to automate portions of his small layouts in HOn30 and On30.
Computer Control of the Layout 101
Sat. 5/24, 1:30 PM @ Room 213
Joe Norris
This clinic presents the basic techniques for automating operations with a computer. There will be a discussion of the equipment required, options available and a demonstration on a simple On30 layout. No computer sophistication is required.
Sanborn Fire insurance maps
Fri. 5/23, 3 PM @ Room 213
By Frank Pearsall
Part of recreating the prototype on our model railroads involves a fair amount of research. One valuable resource can be maps of the area you are modeling from the Sanborn Fire Insurance Company. This clinic will provide background information, handouts (with sample maps) and sources.
Frank started out as an HO scale New York, Ontario & Western modeler. He now models free lance On2 and On30. He is currently researching WW I 60cm (23 5/8 inches) gauge military railroads at Camp A. A. Humphreys (Fort Belvoir), Virginia in 1918.
High on the HOG: A Better Beginner’s Operating Layout
Sat. 5/24, 2:30 PM @ Room 213
By Scott Perry
The Heart of Georgia project layout is designed as a starter operations layout for those new to operating. Having been frustrated with the continual display of 4x8 layouts in popular magazines, Scott decided to re-think the 4x8 in HO and came up with a new design built around prototypical operations.
Scott has been an NMRA Piedmont Division member for almost 30 years and models in HO and On30. He has given clinics at the national, regional, and divisional level. He has published articles and was the editor for the SER SouthErneR. Scott owns Layout Design Service, a layout design company.
Scratchbuilding Signs
Fri. 5/23, 4 PM @ Room 213
Scott Povlot
Learn how to find and create unique signs to match your prototype and time frame. You will learn how to find real signs on the internet, print them at actual size using your computer and apply them to make realistic models.
Scott is in the Piedmont Division serving as the division webmaster. He is active on several committees including achievement program, train show and Piedmont Pilgrimage. He also served as an NMRA judge at division and region level. He is modeling the Central of Georgia Railway’s Atlanta District in HO scale.
Signaling Your Model Railroad
Sat. 5/24, 9 AM @ Room 316
By Stephen Priest
Stephen Priest will provide a study on the overall approach to signaling your layout. The clinic includes some thoughts on where to place
your signals and why; but is not a study on wire and glue. Graphics, images and video will be used to illustrate the clinic.
Stephen Priest is a Master Model Railroader and the editor of Scale Rails magazine. He will also be the keynote speaker for Smokey Mountain Rails 2008 Convention.
Southern Steam in Western North Carolina
Fri. 5/23, 4 PM @ Terrace Auditorium
By Tom Sinks
This clinic will discuss which steam locomotive types the Southern Railway used in Western North Carolina. There will also be a discussion of motive power requirements and how locomotives were allocated. Finally, Tom will show how to model SR steam with commercially available models.
Tom is an HO modeler who enjoys doing prototype research. He lives in Black Mountain, N.C. where he plans to model Centralia, Illinois. A railroad town, it was served by the CB&Q, IC, MOPAC and the Southern’s line to Saint Louis.
Modeling Maine
Sat. 5/24, 9 AM @ Terrace Auditorium and 2:30 PM @ Room 316
By Sam Swanson
From sea walls to rocky coast lines to white-capped wavy water, techniques used to model a Maine seaport can be used for a variety of locales. This clinic will show methods for completing a 2x4 foot module (emulating Frary & Hayden’s Thatcher’s Inlet layout). Details for a coastal scene will also be covered.
Sam has been in model railroading for the last 30 years. HO scale modeling interests include standard and narrow gauge, predominantly Appalachian logging and coal mining, in the 1930s. Currently, he’s building an 11x16 foot layout to include several dioramas featuring these themes.
