You can get a free digital copy of Model Railroader magazine from the Winnipeg Public Library

This is no April Fool's joke. If you live in Winnipeg and have a library card, you can get a free digital copy of Model Railroader magazine. But you can't keep it forever. After three weeks it vanishes. We don't know why, it just happens. But you can read a copy of  Model Railroader magazine in three weeks, can't you? It's  a pretty good deal, and that's the usual time you're allowed to take out almost anything else from the library.

Here's what you have to do to get your free copy: 

Open your account, then log out.
The window for “Winnipeg Public Library’s Search Catalogue” shows up.
Click on Digital Library guide
Scroll down to quick links
Click on DIY and Learning guides  
Scroll down to hobbies and crafts, click to open.
Click on “more hobbies”
Scroll down to “books and eMagazines for Hobbies”
Scroll down to find Model Railroader magazine
Click on image or where it says  Overdrive - Model Railroader - eMagazine
Click on borrow.
A window will show up that says success. Click on “Read now in Browser” and it will show up. It’s yours for three weeks.
Click on the hand on the window to turn the pages.
When you’re finished reading, just close it. If you want to read it again, go to “My account” and click on “Loans” . It will show up again. Just click on “read now on browser”.
When you log out, you can just log in again, go to checkouts, click on digital checkouts and it will be there.

In the “More hobbies” window you can also scroll down to “Hobbies in our collections”.
There will be a link for “Model Trains”.

You’’ll find a list of 31 books (real books, no digital ones) about model railroading that you can place on hold. You can request that they be sent to your local library and you will be notified by phone or email when they arrive. Here's the link:

https://guides.wpl.winnipeg.ca/DIY
 

Marvin Fetch makes a marvelous freight shed from scratch

Former WMRC secretary Marvin Fetch built this freight shed entirely from scratch! Following instructions from an issue of Model Railroader magazine published in the 1960's, he built this shed using sheets of clapboard siding and strip wood. 

The shingled roof is made from the cedar lining from a cigar container. He flattened the cedar lining by placing it in a book for five months. Then he cut shingles from it and glued each one on, one shingle at a time. 

Painting and weathering was brushed on by hand. Marvin has proudly placed this model on every one of the five layouts that he has constructed throughout the years.
 

John Bate builds an adjustable track aligner for a swing gate

 

WMRC treasurer John Bate submitted this model to the club’s monthly model display of a three level swing gate he is building to go across the door in his train room. It is based on a article in Model Railroader Magazine written by TLR member Gerry Leone.

John says that it may get out of alignment due to house shifting or humidity changes, but this design will allow a quick adjustment of the horizontal position. Vertical alignment is assured by a simple mechanism.

He used a 6-32 bolt, nuts an washers, a small 6-32 nut removed from a 1/8” toggle bolt, a Styrene strip and PCB ties purchased from Fast Tracks at handlaidtrack.com.

A sneak preview of Denniz Rietze's new layout

The most prominent feature of Dennis Rietze's new model railroad is a peninsula supported by long carriage bolts attached to the frame of the layout. The support pillar underneath will not be needed once the layout has been installed in his apartment.

Former WMRC treasurer Dennis Rietze sent us some images of his new layout, the Twisted Creek Railway. Dennis is one of the most creative and inventive model railroader in the hobby. He’s well known for building an amazing layout in the crawl space of his split level house. He is having his new layout custom built to fit in the spare bedroom of he new apartment that he and his wife LuElla had moved into recently.

The plan is a modified version of one that appeared in Model Railroader magazine. As it is in an apartment, the layout has been designed to be free standing so none of the walls will be drilled into or damaged. It is supported by a series of pillars, which allows for wheelchair accessibility. As it is built in several lightweight sections using framed Styrofoam boards, it can be taken down and moved without much difficulty.

All of the backdrops are attached to the back side of the layout. The most outstanding feature of the layout is something that literally is outstanding! It’s a large free standing peninsula, supported by several very long carriage bolts that are anchored to the frame of the layout.

Dennis has also recycled several structures from his previous layout. His free standing peninsula will feature a modern grain elevator depot. Dennis, who was never shy about embracing new technology, has plans to put in a street with moving vehicles.

The layout uses pillars for support, which allows wheelchair access.

An inside view of the carriage bolts which will support the peninsula.

 Seen here is the street, which will feature high-tech moving automobiles.

The peninsula will feature a modern grain elevator depot.

 

 

Where was everyone at the TLR regional convention in Fargo?

The Thousand Lakes Region of the NMRA held a great regional convention in Fargo, North Dakota in May. Although many members of the WMRC are also NMRA members, only three of our members attended, despite it being just a four hour drive. But Model Railroader Magazine's Cody Grivno thought it was a great convention, and he posted a video all about it on the MR website, which he and Gerry Leone hosted.

So here's what you missed:

http://mrr.trains.com/series/mr-insider/2016/07/mr-insider-nmra-thousand-lakes-region-convention--fargo-nd-2016