Page 30 - January February 2017
P. 30

 From The Head End David McLaughlin
Welcome ‘From the Head End’. A big ‘thank you!’ to the team that put on the excellent 2016 NMRA BR Convention at Meriden! It was a terrific event and a great opportunity to meet many of you and enjoy some wonderful models of North American railroads as well as learning new things in the excellent clinics – sharing know-how!
The excellence of many of those models is in no small part due to the outstanding commitment and diligence over many, many years of Steve Park in his role as the Achievement Program Chairman in his continual encouragement of NMRA BR members to enhance their modelling skills by their taking part in the Achievement Program. President Robin Swan’s presentation to Steve Park and his wife, Noleen, at the convention dinner was a wonderful occasion celebrating Steve’s selfless gift of his time and talents with Noleen’s support over several decades and marking his retirement from the AP Chairman role. Keith Webb has now taken on this important role for the Region.
I’m obviously keen to meet as many NMRA BR members as possible (as well as fellow North American model railroading enthusiasts to share the enthusiasm of the NMRA BR with them and encourage them to consider their own membership and participation in the NMRA BR). With that in mind, following the Meriden convention I have met fellow NMRA BR members and other North American enthusiasts at Wycrail near High Wycombe, Freemo modellers at Western Union near Plymouth and at Warley at the NEC near Birmingham.
 In between meeting fellow NMRA BR members and enthusiasts I’ve been enjoying the personal challenge of the Achievement Program. So far I have my AP Certificate for Master Builder – Structures and I’m now working towards Chief Dispatcher, Master Builder Scenery and Model Railroad Engineer – Electrical.
And I’m enjoying the challenge. So in the spirit of enjoying a challenge, I’ve embarked on the NMRA BR Winter 2016/17 Modelling Challenge (see Roundhouse, October 2016, page 20) with the idea of completing the Western Maryland Railway’s Blue Ridge Summit Station (see Roundhouse, October 2016, page 25) as well as creating three new Freemo modules – each 20” x 36” (490mm x 914mm) with legs that can either be set for the Freemo standard height of 45” (1143mm) or at the lower height of 873mm (34.37”) to enable the three boards to be an extension to my existing home-based model railroad but to also be capable of being taken to Freemo gatherings! The three module boards and their legs are now complete and await staining a pale grey. And then let the modelling continue!
Please be assured that I want to meet folk and hear first hand from them about what they enjoy (and don’t enjoy) about the NMRA BR so their views can be considered by the BOD as the BOD considers the care and future development of the Region and its membership.
So I look forward to meeting you at future events and this year’s convention! Please introduce yourselves.
I wish you all a happy and inspirational new year!
David McLaughlin
 Vice President - on behalf of the BOD
  RAIL JOINER / FISHPLATE TOOL
Even if you don't have arthritic fingers and failing eyesight like myself, I am certain that you will find this a useful time-saving tool when track laying, especially when the track is already fixed down. Mine is for Code 83 of course but it could apply to any track size. Using a piece of track filed to a blunt point, not as sharp as a point blade although you could use a discarded one, drill and fix a 10 BA (55 drill) or maybe a 12 BA nut and bolt through the side of the rail at exactly half a joiner's length from the blunt end. Wrap some tape around to form a handle. To install a new joiner insert it into the blunt end and use it to approach the rail to insert. The nut and bolt stop it moving up the tool and ensure it goes on at the correct depth. I am very disillusioned with tools sold for cutting rail. They invariably produce bulges in all directions which prevent the joiner going on. Even with a cutting disc, one needs to use a flat file on the top and bottom, and a fine needle file on both sides of the waist. The other end of the tool can be used to open out the joiner slightly if necessary. You will just not believe how easy it makes this common task.
Ron Gager - Inventing and sharing Knowhow.
 BASEBOARD & MODULE TRACK JOINS
In our hobby so many of us buy things at Maplins. I am always at pains to tell the staff that what I am buying is for model rail and hope others do the same. At last it seems they have produced something maybe aimed at just us?
We have all spent awkward time cutting large Veroboard/printed circuit board into suitable pieces to solder track to at baseboard joins. They now stock an item just a good width, and with the circuit break already down the middle. This we always had to file away.
The price is quite exorbitant at £6.29 but this stuff is quite expensive anyway. One cut for each item and you are done, although you need to drill holes to fix it to the baseboard, unless you have screws that fine or decide to use pins and glue. I have never soldered track to brass screw heads, thinking that baseboard distortion/movement can so easily be adjusted for, over a large distance, if necessary, with Veroboard and a quick soldering job. Of course we lay the track across the gap, solder both sides and then cut it. (Sorry if I am offending grandma again!)
I am sure some members will find this item worthwhile.
Ron Gager - Sharing Knowhow (New Discovery)
   30 ROUNDHOUSE February 2017














































































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