John Bate brings a great model to Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's monthly model display

Since our October meeting was cancelled due to the social gathering restrictions of COVID-19, we will be featuring model displays this month from all of those who submitted during our September meeting. These submissions, which usually appear in The Lantern, the official publication of the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club, will appear on the WMRC blog site instead.  

WMRC Treasurer John Bate brought a terrific model to September's display. He modeled an N scale shipment of bales, which were transported to Western Canada in the drought years by the federal government. The pickets were scratch built from Styrene, and  the bales were made out of jute twine and tape. 

John Bate exhibits N scale signal at Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's monthly model display

WMRC treasurer John Bate brought in this nifty N scale 2-over-2 signal that he has been working on to the club's monthly model display. He started with a laser-etched brass kit from Train Cat Models (now no longer available). It was assembled with CA, then some parts were re-done with solder. Some old lumpy steel colored paint gave it a rather poor finish. It was then modified to enable the installation of four extremely tiny LEDs.

There are eight wires hand-threaded through the main vertical tube. The Styrene parts below the signal are to enable it to be easily inserted and removed from the layout. An Arduino with a short test program is being used to cycle all of the LEDs to test them.

John Bate is an outhouse modeller supreme

WMRC treasurer John Bate has been a very busy modeller who regularly brings at least one of his latest creations to the club's monthly model displays. At our November meeting he displayed a scratchbuilt N scale yard office, complete with a storage shed and a "two-holer" outhouse! Great work, John!

John used a .040 styrene siding sheet, a .040 styrene corrugated steel sheet, styrene L girders to brace the corners, and a styrene rod was used for the chimney.  Windows, doors and the roof were scavenged from leftover kit parts. We didn't open the doors of the outhouse to see if it was occupied.

Everyone had a great time at the Winnipeg Model Railroad Club's annual Klinic Karnival

 Ian Plett shows how to install DCC in an Athearn locomotive. It's not as easy as it looks!

Six of Winnipeg's best model railroaders were on hand at the WMRC's meeting on December 11 to share their skills at the club's annual Klinic Karnival. Ian Plett demonstrated how to install DCC in an Athearn locomotive. WMRC Program Director Morgan Turney showed how to make realistic trees out of common plants and weeds.

Ron Einarson showed off his exceptional talents of modelling with wood, Aaron Woloshyn held a clinic on making hydro poles, and Richard Mikolayenko showed how to scratchbuild styrene models using photo references. Virginia Braun held a clinic on building station kits. She gave some great modelling hints on how to model realistic looking stucco using Elmer's Glue, toilet paper, and an egg beater!

And it was hot dog night! Every December, the club holds their "Christmas banquet" of hot dogs, chips and pop at their monthly meeting. Much thanks to our canteen staff - Jean and Godfrey South, and their children, Frances and Tommy, for cooking and serving up such a great meal!

 Richard Mikolayenko shows the photo references he uses for modelling structures.

 Aaron Woloshyn uses a few basic tools to make realistic hydro poles.

 Virginia Braun has a truly remarkable talent for building miniature structures!

With just a pinch of this, a dash of that, Morgan Turney has made another great looking tree!