It was worth the trip to visit Larry Skoglund's layout near Morris, Manitoba

Long time WMRC members Gary Stempnick and Marcel Blair watch the Arduino controlled drawbridge rise on Larry Skoglund's layout, located on a farm outside of Morris Manitoba.

For the first time in two years, the WMRC held their monthly meeting outside of Winnipeg. On October 18 they went to a farm outside of Morris, Manitoba to visit Larry Skoglund's spectacular HO layout. Larry's layout was in a large outbuilding attached to his barn, and it was packed with magnificent scenery and many Arduino controlled features. 

Buttons were placed along the layout which controlled the drawbridge, lighting and sound effects, which included thunder and lightning coming from a menacing cloud over a town. The layout also sported an alpine ski resort, complete with a downhill run and an operating ski lift. 

The drawbridge traversed a model of a harbour which featured boats that ran on HO tracks. A magnetic controlled bus rolled down a highway and stopped automatically when the drawbridge was open.

Sadly, this would be the last time this layout was to be displayed, for Larry had just sold his farm and now has to dismantle his layout. It was well worth the trip to go and see it!

Larry's layout features an alpine ski resort with a downhill run and an operating ski lift.

A huge thundercloud threatens this prairie railroad town. Press a button below the layout and you can hear the thunder and see the lightning!

Larry's layout featured a system of tracks recessed under his harbour where boats equipped with HO motors and wheels could sail around it.

Also featured was a hydro dam with lighting and sound effects made to simulate rushing water.

There was also plenty of rail action to see on Larry's layout. Note the use of photographic backdrops which blended seamlessly on his layout.

Winnipeg Model Railroad Club holds another great clinic carnival and Christmas hot dog banquet

WMRC President John Bate conducts a clinic on Arduino animation and all of the fun things you can do with it, while Murray Brown and Bart Hasselfield look on.

What a great Christmas party we had on Friday the 13th! Rod Sarna, John Bate, Larry Leaven, Ian Plett and Marvin Fetch put on five great clinics for our annual clinic carnival while our members and distinguished guests feasted on expertly prepared gourmet hot dogs prepared by our master chef Mark McLellan! We even had a few former members, such as Ian and Zenon Lisakowski, drop by and join in on the fun!

The two Ians meet at last! Former member Ian Lisakowski watches WMRC program director Ian Plett conduct his model weathering clinic. 

Rob Sarna conducts his clinic on how to install a NixTrainz Decoder Buddy replacement board, a Soundtraxx decoder and speaker into an Atlas HO locomotive. Tony Prud'homme, owner of the Frog and Diamond Hobbyworks shows off his spiffy hoodie as he watches.

Long time members Tommy Kuchera (R)  and Marcel Blair watch Larry Leavens conduct a clinic on how to control a Tortoise switch machine from opposite sides of a layout with a simple circuit.

Marvellous and well seasoned Marvin Fetch conducted a clinic on how a seasoned model railroader constucts a building.

Winnipeg Model Railroad Club’s first clinic carnival in two years was a success

Tyler Fedoroshyn displayed his collection of models, structures and dioramas at the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's Clinic Carnival held on December 10 at the Charleswood Legion.  

It was a long time coming, but it was well worth it! The WMRC’s first clinic carnival in two years had some terrific clinics and a very good turnout. Much thanks to Program Director Dave Downie for organizing this great event!

  Tyler Fedoroshyn wowed the club with his spectacular display of modelling he did by making custom parts with his 3D printer. He also displayed several of his scratch built structures, which had detailed interiors.

Long time WMRC member Marcel Blair showed off his expert skills as he resurrected a 40 year old brass diesel engine. WMRC Past President Larry Leavens showed us how to “tune up” an inexpensive freight car to NMRA standards with weights, Kadee couplers and metal wheel sets.

WMRC treasurer John Bate couldn’t make it to the meeting, but he still was able to give a great presentation via Zoom about building turnouts using Fast Tracks jigs and using servo motors to operate them.

The club also held their annual Christmas hot dog banquet. Much thanks to our gourmet chefs, Dave Downie and Arlene Fetch, for cooking up all of those delicious tube steaks!

 Larry Leavens (right) shows WMRC President Bob Harrison how to upgrade rolling stock.

 

Marcel Blair shows Gary Stempnick how to revive brass diesel engines.

 

John Bate did his clinic about building turnouts using Fast Tracks jigs virtually via Zoom.

 

Some more examples of Tyler Fedoroshyn's models and structures.
 

Winnipeg Model Railroad Club holds first Clinic Carnival in two years

 Come one, come all to the WMRC’s first clinic carnival in two years! The fun begins on Friday, December 10, at 7:00 PM at the Charleswood Legion, 6003 Roblin Boulevard. The starting time of our meetings has been permanently changed from 7:30 to 7:00.
   We will also be holding our Christmas Hot Dog Banquet, so bring your appetites! We have a great line up of Winnipeg’s finest model railroaders who will demonstrate their skills.
        
        Robert Weaver – Photo Editing: Robert is amassing a collection of old photos, slides and negatives. He will show how he tackles the job to improve the quality of the images. Robert will explain the software that he uses.
        Marcel Blair – Resurrecting an Alco Models Brass Diesel: Marcel will show how he gets an old brass diesel model to run again. Replacement parts for a 40 year old model need to be found and adapted to fit. Here is your opportunity to learn how you can rebuild it!
        John Bate – Fast Tracks turnouts: John is a N Scale modeller who builds his turnouts using Fast Tracks jigs. Whether you model in N, HO or O Scale, if you want to build your own turnouts, the Fast Tracks system will work for you. A demonstration of using servo motors to control the turnouts will also be done.
        Larry Leavens - Freight Car Tune Up: What do you do with that $5 prize freight car you bought at Mega Train when it will not stay on the rails? A little tune up is needed. Couplers, correct weight and new wheel sets will greatly improve the performance of any rail car. Most ready to run cars are too light and might derail on curves or while being pushed through a turnout. The NMRA has a standard weight practice that will keep them on the rails. The Kadee coupler has become the standard coupler for HO today. For most cars it’s a simple swap, but for others it may take some work. Replacing plastic wheel sets with metal ones will greatly improve the operation.    
        Neil Carleton – Weathering: Neil will show how you can weather your rolling stock and structures using pan pastels and AK pencils. He'll have some models that he's working on so you can see his technique.
        Tyler Fedoroshyn – Model Building: Tyler will show samples of custom detailed and weathered locomotives along with 3D printed detail parts that he's created with his 3D Resin Printer. Tyler will also display an early winter scene in a freelanced village.
        
              The Legion requires proof of full vaccination for entry. Masks will be required at the meeting. Please bring a "tin for the bin" for Winnipeg Harvest. We will have a photo display, but there will be no model display.  If you can’t make it, please email us at wmrc.trainclub@gmail.com and we’ll send you a link. Only the business portion of the meeting will be broadcast on Zoom.
 

Marcel Blair brings two frieght cars to the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's monthly model display

Long time WMRC member Marcel Blair showed off his excellent modelling skills when he brought two freight cars to the club's monthly model display at the club's January meeting. The CN stock car was entirely scratch built from plans by George Taylor. He used Northeastern Scale Lumber to build the model. Trucks, couplers and add-ons such as the brake wheel are commercial parts that he purchased. His second entry was a CN tank car that he kit bashed using a flatcar and a Varney model tank. Both models were painted, decaled and weathered by Marcel.

Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's January meeting features modelling Fowler box cars

We start the new year with 2 clinics from a pair of long time WMRC members. First off, Marcel Blair will conduct a clinic about modelling the Fowler box car. Marcel will talk about the history of the Fowler box car and then talk about how he creates his models.

Next on tap we'll have Cliff Davidson will hold a clinic titled "The summer of 2018".  Cliff loves to rail fan and he did a lot of rail fanning last year. He will entertain us with just a few of the highlights of what he was able to catch at track side.

The meeting starts at 7:30PM on Friday, January 11, in the Tank Room at the Charleswood Legion, 6003 Roblin Boulevard. Wheelchair accessible. The canteen will be open, and we'll have a 50/50 draw and our monthly model display. Not a member? Not a problem! Guests are always warmly welcomed!

Memories of the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's 2018 Spring open house

WMRC Gateway Western Superintendent Gino Kost mans the popular interactive John Allen Timesaver layout at the club's 2018 spring open house and train show.

What a party! We had a great turnout at our spring open house and train show this year, and we raised twice the amount of funds that we raised in 2017! Much thanks to all of our displayers and volunteers who worked so hard to make this show a resounding success. Everyone had a great time, and we all look forward to seeing all of you next spring!

NMRA No. 1 Northern Division Superintendent Ian Plett and Neil Carlton run the division's Free-Mo layout, which was the largest operating display at the show.

Marcel Blair was kept busy running John Sinclair's collection of G gauge trolley and streetcars.

Robert Weaver ran a modelling clinic for both days during the show. 

WMRC blog editor and Social Media Executive Paul Ullrich (a.k.a "The giraffe car man") happily ran his very popular and kid-friendly Lionel O gauge portable layout all weekend.

More memories of the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's 2016 spring open house

 We proudly accept all types and gauges of model railroads in our club, even Lego! Tommy South, one of our youngest members, built this fine Lego MOW inspection vehicle, which is displayed on WMRC Blog Editor Paul Ullrich's O gauge Lionel portable layout.

 Long time WMRC member and retired CN engineer Marcel Blair displayed some G scale trains at the show. They're bigger than most model railroad gauges, but still small than the ones he was used to handling when he was at work!

 One of the most popular displays at the show was the Women of Model Railroading exhibit, showcasing the amazing talents of our club's female modellers.

Right behind Marcel Blair's massive G scale display was Suzanne Lemon's Z scale layout, which is by far the smallest model railroad gauge commercially available. 

Zane Lewkiw: In memoriam

   The WMRC and Winnipeg's model railroading community lost a dear friend last week with the passing of Zane Lewkiw.

    Zane (whose real given name was Zenith) was a long time member of the Winnipeg Model Railroad club. He was also one of a small group of model railroaders, such as Paul Smith, Marcel Blair and Fred Shannon, who also worked for the railroads. Both he and Marcel were engineers for CN.

    In recent years, Zane kept contact with his fellow model railroaders through the 'lunch bunch", who met every Wednesday at the Foody Goody in Transcona. Although Parkinson's disease had taken his toll, he still managed to attend last year's Manitoba Mega Train Show, even though he was in a wheelchair.

    A memorial service has been planned for a later date, which is to be announced.

   We're going to miss you, Zane.