Page 4 - March April 2017

President's Car
Robin Swan
In February I visited the Swans (Stanwell, Windsor & Northolt Group) and was made very welcome. We had an interesting exchange of ideas and views. Thank-you to the host for that evening and the whole group. On the 4th March I attended the first day of the two day Freemo South 2017 event at Merstham Village Hall. It was organised by Dan Spalding and a team of others. The organisation that goes into such a meeting / event is truly amazing. Personally, and on behalf of the Region, I would like to thank all those involved. The concentration of those driving the trains, the dispatchers etc was intense. But at the same time, those not on “duty” found time to chat and exchange / share experience. So it was a day of hard work, fun and friendship: a day in the life of the British Region of the NMRA. A day that is replicated in many parts of the Region.
A new member and his wife from Ashford in Kent made a trip over to see what it was all about. They were made very welcome by everyone and I hope enjoyed themselves and made new friendships. I intend to make similar visits during the rest of the year. My personal finances may inhibit that: train travel is not cheap!
I recommend listening to Gordon Robertson’s Podcast from The Scottish Division of the British Region. The link is: https://scotlandnmrabr.podiant.co/e/34d5fd2e56afc8L/
I listened to it while doing some NMRA Administration. Kathy and Gordon make many interesting comments including a selling point of NMRA. It is the people you meet and friendships you make. To me that has always been a major reason to belong. I am pleased to announce that Gordon has agreed to do the Podcast for the whole Region. He is also taking over from Niall Smith as the Scotland Division Representative. To Niall a big thank you for all the work and support you have given to the Scotland Division and to the British Region.
I have an affinity with Gordon’s home of the Kingdom of Fife. My middle name was my great-grandmother’s maiden name — she was Eliza Napier of Gallatown, Fife. My grandfather watched the building of the Forth Railway bridge — completed in 1890. It was from him that I acquired my love of trains: well his interest in railways and eating his
ration allowance of ice creams. For younger members it was 1946 and sweets were strictly rationed. You handed over your money and a coupon. Why mention this; it is a bit obscure, but just that I hail from all four corners of Britain (Two Scottish Grandparents, One Cornish and One English/Welsh), so the region is made up of different railroad preferences, scales, modelling abilities , etc. We are the stronger for that. So let us embrace all.
Can I add to the requests from Martin and Dean? Please can we all communicate our knowledge and skills to other members. The mediums available to us now are the printed word, E-News, Podcasts, Facebook, etc.
An excellent example of that is the Back to Basics series. Although I have read all the articles in that series, I have been good at recycling but bad at preserving that series. So is there a requirement for the Region to publish the Back to Basics series as a booklet? It could be provided to all members and would make an excellent addition to the Welcome Pack to new members. Your views on this would be very valuable. There will be printing cost to us. Please let me have your views by letter, text, email, voice on 0791-9955880 or robin.swan@icloud.com. I will be at the Spring Meet in Crewe on the 1st April. Please give me your views and suggestions. Equally any member of the Board will welcome speaking to you. Sharing with any of us will be sharing with all — we operate as a team.
So building on that theme, and thinking about being more inclusive and making better use of our talent base, can we the BOD invite members to join us at BoD meetings. Given the constraints of space and finance let us know if you would like to attend and we will accommodate as many as is practical. There are many reasons for this. They include:
A/ Your experience / advice / grass-roots knowledge - all constructive views are welcome.
B/ It will provide an opportunity for prospective BOD members to learn how we work as an organisation
Running the NMRA (BR) involves the members as well as the Board.
FROM THE HEAD END David McLaughlin
Welcome to my third ‘From the Head End’. A big ‘thank you!’ to the team that put on the excellent gathering at Benson on 14 January 2017! It was a very special event and another special opportunity to meet many of you and enjoy some wonderful models of North American railroads! I was particularly thrilled to see some outstanding O scale roofs featuring very delicate laser cut shingles – the operating team generously sharing know-how! – and I’m now in the process of commissioning an HO scale version of the shingles as well as a series of laser cut windows for a new scratch built model of the Church of the Transfiguration at Blue Ridge Summit, PA to go on an emerging Freemo module.
My recent model building has been focussed on preparing a scenicked single track display/running track for our dear long-standing NMRA BR friend and Freedom of the Region holder, Derek Frow. Many of you will undoubtedly remember Derek and Glenys’ delightful ‘First Wednesday’ gatherings at their Combe Down home on the edge of Bath.
Now complete and delivered to Derek and Tina, the 2.2 metre long track has allowed me to develop some new scenery techniques – including some recently developed ‘static grass layering spray’ by WWS Scenery Manufacturer (www.wwscenics.co.uk). This was introduced to me by Master Model Railroader Kathy Millatt’s excellent how to video series. Do go to Kathy’s website and check out her wonderfully informative and inspiring how to videos as well as her great layout tour and a very cool four sided scale – I’ve printed one out and laminated it – brilliant!
Kathy Millatt MMR is featured on Scotland Division Representative, Gordon Robertson’s excellent new podcast. The podcast link is https://scotlandnmrabr.podiant.co/e/34d5fd2e56afc8L/
It runs for 1 hour, 4 minutes and 40 seconds – sounds a long time but it’s excellent listening and some great new things being discussed – I listened to it all in two very enjoyable sessions. Gordon has generously agreed to
continue producing podcasts as a series of NMRA BR podcasts in response to a request from NMRA BR President Robin Swan.
NMRA BR member Brian Moore’s excellent Freemo modules – Quisling is featured in both a recent issue of Railroad Model Craftsman as well as the March 2007 Continental Modeller. Brian has generously given me permission to quote his CM conclusion:
Amongst the American outline modelling fraternity in the UK, modular model railroading is becoming increasingly popular, offering as it does the ability for an individual to construct a small, affordable, and relatively simple layout at home which is then easily carried to a venue and joined to others to create a much bigger and operationally satisfying set-up. And there is no need for masses of stock either – all each participant needs to bring is a relatively small number of cars and a single locomotive. Crucially, the modular concept provides an antidote to the historic ‘lack of space at home to build a decent sized layout’ frustration amongst UK modellers. Just build a module instead, and then with a few others you can play regularly on a much bigger layout. We are happy to say that we have seen the future of model railroading and, for us at least, it is modular. Why not find out more, and join the fun? Well said, Brian! And thank you for the clarity of that great message! Please be assured that I look forward to meeting you and to hear first hand from you about what you enjoy (and don’t enjoy) about the NMRA BR so your 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 Crewe on 1 April 2017, and at Christow Freemo in May 2017 as well as this year’s convention at Derby! Please introduce yourselves.
Happy railroad modelling!
4 ROUNDHOUSE
April 2017