Friday Fun: MRH & NMRA-X Presentation

Happy Friday! Just a quick post to highlight a couple of fun things for this week's edition of Friday Fun!

First, my buddy Dean (way over in Calgary, Alberta, Canada(!)) gave me a heads up that The Valley Local was mentioned in the latest issue of Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine. I've had a few articles published over at MRH, and I occasionally post on their forum as well.

MRH July 2020, p. 28

They have a section in their magazine where they pick from the forum and my "Backed Up at the Backdrop" post got featured. Of course, since you follow this blog, you pretty much saw this already here - but it's cool to see it in MRH too!

And I definitely want to mention again that the NMRA-X is running its virtual national convention all this week. In fact, tomorrow (Saturday 7/18) is the last day - and I'll be presenting at High Noon!

Each of the days of the convention has a theme, and tomorrow's theme is model railroad operations. As it happens, I'll be doing a presentation on how I do ops on the Valley Line. I hope you'll have a chance to tune in, but if you can't cuz you're mowing the grass or washing the car, don't worry. This clinic - like all of the NMRA-X presentations - will be recorded and available for later viewing at your convenience.

So whether you're able to tune in live (when you can ask questions which hopefully I can answer :^) or if you choose to watch later, I hope you'll get a good sense of prototype operations. Even better if you have some information or tips that will help me refine my approach.

No matter what you're doing this weekend, whether down in the basement, in the train room, or sitting in your favorite chair, I hope it includes some time enjoying this great hobby. And maybe I'll "see" you sometime tomorrow!

Friday Fun(2): Getcher NMRA Convention Guidebook Here!

The NMRA (inter)National (virtual)Convention starts this Sunday! So be sure to check out yesterday's (and kinda today's) post for more info on that.

In the meantime, I've heard that some folks - especially those without Facebook accounts - are having trouble accessing the Convention Guide.

I know a Facebook account isn't required to view the presentations (and there's also a YouTube option), but it must be different for the guidebook, which is a file hosted on the NMRA's FB site.

So try this link, which the NMRA sent out via email Wednesday:
https://files.constantcontact.com/340ca15b201/2c093033-bb19-42d1-a052-f029bad99e57.pdf

Thankful Thursday/Friday Fun: NMRA-x (inter)National (virtual)Convention July 12-18

Since the National Model Railroad Association's (NMRA) Annual National Train Show and Convention has been cancelled this year (you can guess the reason), Gordy Robinson & Co. (of worldwide convention fame) have teamed up to provide an INTERnational NMRA convention, LIVE, over the internet!

Just like the IRL national convention, it lasts the Whole Week, starting this Sunday, July 12 and going Fifteen (15!) hours every day until Saturday night, July 18. That's almost two days' worth of clinics and presentations every day, from building your first layout, to layout design, structures & scenery, painting & weathering, operations, and more. Every day has a different theme and there'll be live roundtable discussions throughout - just like an actual convention, but from the comfort of your own home.

For all the details, including how to participate (you can access it via Facebook (you don't need a FB account) or YouTube) and a full schedule of all the proceedings, you can download the convention guidebook by clicking here or here, or by going to the NMRA's Facebook Group here and scrolling down the right hand side of the page under "Recent Group Files." If none of those options work for whatever reason, leave a comment below or send me an email and I'll send you the pdf file.

It should be pretty clear why this is a "Thankful Thursday" post . . . Not only am I thankful that, despite the current circumstances, we have technology that allows us to get "together" and share this hobby with each other, whether we're right down the road or literally on the other side of the world, but I'm especially thankful that there are folks that are so willing to step up and fill in the void left by so many event cancellations.

And it should also be pretty clear why this is also a "Friday Fun" post . . . because what could be more of a BLAST! than 105 hours of FREE clinics and presentations on this great hobby from all around the world?!

Heh - and it might be vaguely clear why I'm having this post do double-duty over two days. Not only do I want to get the word out . . . but I have a presentation myself to finish up! (my April presentation will be rerun Wednesday at 10a, but I'll be doing a live presentation on layout operations Saturday at noon).

So here's hoping you can spend some time with us at GATEWAY-X 2020. And if you can't sit in front of the computer (or on your phone or iPad) for 15 hours a day :^) don't worry, Gordy's recording everything and it'll all be available on the internets later, just like before.

Hope to see you there!

Friday Fun: ANOTHER Virtual Convention!

Riding the wave of success from the NMRA Worldwide Virtual Model Railroad Convention, Gordy Robinson & the NMRAx team have come up with another convention tomorrow, May 16.

Note: Being international, just keep in mind that these times are Eastern (New York, USA) time.

So be sure to adjust accordingly for your timezone!

And you'll definitely want to tune-in . . . just check out all of these great clinics and presentations!

click on image to enlarge

Since the Valley Local is sitting this one out, I'm looking forward to checking out some of these offerings myself. And rest assured, if the past is any indication, they'll also be recorded in case you miss one you wanted to see (and they'll eventually make their way to YouTube for those that aren't on Facebook).

But there's nothing quite like tuning in LIVE and knowing folks from around the world are watching with you. So hopefully you'll join me and your fellow modelers from near and far and take advantage of the wonderful opportunity technology provides.

Hope to "see" you there!

Friday Fun - Videos Galore!

For this week's version of Friday Fun I have a LOT of video content to share . . .

First off, for those of you that saw my Valley Line layout tour video and happened to notice that I missed covering the "Air Line" branch, or if you want more context & background to go with yesterday's "chase" of the Air Line local, be sure to check out the video below. I wanted to try out my new gimbal, and a quick tour of the "Air Line" seemed like a great way to put it through its paces.

Hope you enjoy it!

Next, for those of you not on FaceBook but who want to see some (or maybe all?) of the cool clinics and presentations that you missed out on during the NMRA's first Worldwide Virtual Convention, you can check them out here on YouTube!

Click here for the videos

Even better, they're now all cut up into segments by clinic/presentation so you should be able to find what you're looking for much more quickly.
Speaking of which, you can click here and go right to my presentation . . .

There are 12 videos uploaded so far, but there's plenty more to come. So be sure to check'em out!

And if you are on Facebook, and if you haven't heard, The Valley Local has its own FB group. Check it out by clicking here.

Hope you enjoy all the great model railroad content that's coming out these days and get to escape from the current craziness, even if only for a little while. . . . Have a great weekend!

NMRA-X Virtual Convention Videos

Thanks to all of you that were able to tune in to some (some tuned into all?!) of the great clinics, presentations, and layout tours during this past weekend!

(Note at the 7am ET slot, instead of the scenery clinic, Randy Hammill presents his journey to prototype modeling of New Britain, CT)

If you missed one - or all - (and I'm sure there are at least a few of you...), don't worry! Gordy & Co. have you covered 'cuz they recorded and have made available ALL 26 hours of content!

• Click here for the first batch (starting with Ralph Renzetti)
• Click here for the second batch (starting with "Daz" Lee)
• Click here for the third batch  (starting with Rob Clark)
• Click here for the final batch (starting with Tony Cook)

Of course, if you just want to go to see the Valley Local presentation, you can click here and fast forward to the 4:06 mark (at 1:58:40 left to go).

Thanks again to Gordy, Jordan, Martyn, Gert and everyone else that made this amazing, worldwide event possible!

Tune in to The Valley Local!

Today's the Day! Yes, the Worldwide NMRA Virtual Convention is actually going on now!

So be sure to tune in - especially at 1p Eastern Time when I'll be giving a presentation on using prototype inspiration and information to model a New England branchline (no points for guessing which one!)

The convention is being hosted as a Facebook Live Stream at the NMRA's Facebook Group.

Viewing is easy a 1-2-3:

1. Go here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nmragroup/
2. Click on "Follow Group" (you do not have to join the NMRA)
3. Answer the questions that the 'bot asks you.

And then Enjoy the Show!

Here's the schedule of events, with times for North/South America & Hawaii:

Last minute change:

At 7am ET, instead of "Quick and Easy Scenery" you'll get to see my buddy Randy Hammill give a presentation on his layout. So be sure to check it out!

Friday Fun: NMRA Worldwide Virtual Convention, April 24-25

The current worldwide pandemic has forced all of us to change long-standing plans. From weddings, to vacations, to conventions and other events, all are on hold for the duration. Even the National Model Railroad Association's annual convention has been cancelled. And they didn't even cancel during World War II!

Now, in the grand scheme of things, the cancellation of a model railroad convention isn't the biggest deal in the world - but Gordy Robinson of the British Region of the NMRA has decided to address this worldwide problem with a world wide solution . . .

A Worldwide, 24 Hour, Virtual Convention

So, starting at 7pm Eastern Time TONIGHT, the NMRA will be hosting a Full 24 Hours of LIVE streaming layout tours, clinics, and informative presentations. Click on the image below for a full list of all the events:

There are folks participating from, literally, all around the world - and this may be your only chance to see some of them and their amazing layouts and presentations. I was even able to squeeze in there myself, early Saturday afternoon.

All this is happening live, in real time, and - just like a real life convention - you'll be able to participate too by asking questions & interacting with the presenters.

Best of all - unlike a real life convention - admission is free. Yes, the only "price" of admission is that you have to follow the NMRA's Facebook Group - and that's only necessary because that's where the live feed is being streamed.

So I hope you'll look over the Schedule of Events, pick the ones you find interesting, and make plans now to join us on the World Wide Web for the internet's first World Wide Model Railroad (virtual) Convention!

Hope to see you there!

(And if you're still not convinced that this is going to be awesome, click here to hear all about it from Lionel Strang and Gordy Robinson himself)

Tuesday Tips: Attending a Worldwide Virtual Convention & the Best Static Grass Glue?

If you follow the The Valley Local on Facebook (click here), you've already heard me mention a very cool event coming up this weekend! It's a Worldwide Virtual Convention hosted by the National Model Railroad Association - a full 24 hours of LIVE clinics and layout tours. And all you have to do to "attend" is to join the NMRA Facebook Group (click here) since they'll be hosting the live stream.

Joining the FB Group is free. All the convention will cost you is some sleep. Here's a list of list of all the events (click on the image for a larger view):

BION, I've tried to get them to shorten the longest title on the page . . . %^)

Hope you can join us - and if you do, let us know!

Now, on to today's tip . . .

One of the most frustrating things about using static grass is its tendency to just lay down and not do its job. It has only one job - and that's to stand nice and upright and, you know, look like "grass."

There are of course a few critical items that will help static grass perform its job: 1) a good static grass applicator, 2) a light mist of water to help conduct electricity, and 3) a vacuum to pull the grass vertically. But the 4th critical component is the glue you're using to stick the grass to your layout.

Facebook definitely has its drawbacks, but one of the things it's great for is following your favorite modelers and while checking out Mike Rose's latest efforts, he mentioned that one of the reasons his static grass comes out so nice is the type of glue he uses.

So, of course, I had to get some and try it out:

This is the stuff - Elmer's Carpenter's Wood Glue MAX

Here's what it looks like out of the bottle - it has some distinctive "specks" in it and it's definitely a bit thicker than the white glue I've been using.

If you're worried about the color, this is what it looks like when it's dry.

Don't let the color fool you - the key is to apply it and spread it as thinly as you can. And just do a small area at a time: apply/spread glue with a brush, spray a light mist of water for conductivity, put in your grounding pin, and sprinkle the grass on with your applicator. After waiting just a couple minutes or so, go over it with your vacuum - just close enough to "pull" the strands straight up, but not close enough to pull the strands out of the glue.

When you're done, it should look like this:

I'm always interested in learning how folks do their static grass. Different techniques may yield different results. And if there's anything that I'm discovering is important in making scenery effective, it's variation. So be sure to share your experience and tips in the comments!