Bob Chaparro: Establishing an Era For Your Model Railroad

The purpose of this presentation is to identify visual cues that establish the era one is modeling

Michael Eldridge: Enhancing Paper Structures

Note: This is a make-and-take clinic. You must register for this clinic in advance (click here to register). There is a small fee for materials.

We will build a paper structure using several improvements for this type of structure, including some simple techniques and some ideas for using 3D printed and laser cut parts.

Bruce Morden: North Over Cuesta

Travel from San Luis Obispo to Paso Robles seeing photos of actual sights and historic photos of the route.  This is an important clinic to attend if you have signed up for the excursion on Amtrak Thursday afternoon.  If you are not on the excursion you can travel virtually and see most of the sights and learn the history of the route including the tunnels and bridges..

Ed Hall: Basic Airbrushing

Origin of the airbrush, types of guns, paint and taping techniques

Seth Neuman: Arduino-based Circuits For Operation

Seth will describe simple Arduino based circuits for implementing Train Order Board control, Operators’ approach indicators, Interlocking plants, Morse Code systems and other useful effects.

Bob Chaparro: Freight Car Tune-up Tips

The purpose of this presentation is to help you enjoy the operating your trains through tips for making your freight cars operate more reliably.

Michael Eldridge: Creating Human Figures for 3D Printing

A look at ways to create scale human figures, including scanning live people, drawing with 3D drawing packages, and a software application that creates realistic, posable figures

Bruce Morden: Black Gold and White Earth: Railroads along the Central Coast

This is a visual trip south from San Luis Obispo covering both the current and historic railroad activity and major industries served.  Primarily Southern Pacific, the presentation also covers the Pacific Coast Railway, the Santa Maria Valley Railroad and the Pacific Southwestern Railroad.  Photos of recent and historic railroading in this part of the Central Coast of California.

Seth Neuman: Model Railroad Communications

Seth will describe the history of Dispatcher to Train Communications on the prototype and how to model them in your model railroad’s operating scheme. He will cover design considerations, matching your communications to the operations of your prototype, system design, equipment selection including use of period telephone and telegraph equipment or inexpensive modern equivalents.

Bob Chaparro: Open Carloads

A look at loads modelers can duplicate with an emphasis on general service flat cars and gondolas in the steam and transition eras