Newsletter of the Tinplate Trackers, Austin, Texas
August 2001 – 30th Edition
A newsletter will be sent out every two months to the current members, past members, and visitors of the club. Please contact Steve Wise at 512-444-3310 or E-Mail him at swise@aoot.com if you have any information you would like to have included in future newsletters. All comments/submissions welcome!
Hi all! The last two months have been busy for the club; we completed the siding modules at our July workday and we had a great run at the Rail Fair show in Burnet. We also introduced a new father/son team into the club! We missed our layout tour for the summer, but I’m confident we’ll get a layout tour of some sort lined up before year-end.
September and October are going to equally busy as we have events in both months, one in San Antonio, and one in Flatonia. I hope to see everyone there!
Stevo.
PAST CLUB EVENTS
Club Work Day – July 28th, 2001
The club had another successful workday at Scott Smiley’s house. In attendance were Larry and Steve Wise, Ron Fiebelkorn, Scott Smiley, Ed Weltens, Adrian Elliott, and Rob and Grady Reynolds.
We finished up the siding modules by wiring new harnesses, rewiring three standard 4-track straight modules to make them siding modules, then finally setting everything up and working out the bugs (well almost all the bugs J). Additionally, we cleaned out the trailer, built brackets to hold the new siding modules, and built a shelf/bracket deal to better hold the spare tire. Pictures of the workday can be found on our Photo Album section of the club web site, http://www.trainweb.org/ttat.
Thanks to all who attended!
Texas Hill Country Rail Fair and Festival – August 18th
& 19th, 2001
The Rail Fair in Burnet was a success! We had a fairly large air-conditioned space on the square downtown for the event. This was NICE because it was over 100 degrees outside! We shared the building with the HOT G-Gaugers, and had a great turnout of spectators both Saturday and Sunday…more than most expected.
The yard modules worked well after a few kinks were ironed out. We had a short in the wiring that crossed track 4 main power with a siding. Scott found the short and fixed it Saturday. There are only a few minor enhancements that we need to make for future events, and we need a large poster with instructions on operating the blocks. Everyone who worked on them did a terrific job! The entire layout looked good. Pictures are available on-line at our web site: http://www.trainweb.org/ttat under the Photo Album section. Thanks to Brian Smiley for documenting the event!
Ira’s trolley line was setup on the outside (the spectators side), which I believe was a new configuration for the club. It seemed to work fine, and the kids sure enjoyed seeing them run up close.
From all reports everyone enjoyed the train ride and BBQ on Saturday
night. It was interesting seeing the
building in Bertram that was made into a mock-hotel for filming The Newton
Boys. The BBQ and drinks were a nice
way to end the day (I was exhausted Sunday J).
Ron and Bob talked with the Rail Fair people and they were pleased with the show we put on for everyone. The invited us back next year as well! We will have to re-evaluate the space availability as the date approaches since that building we were in might not be available then.
Thanks to everyone who helped make this event a success!
FUTURE CLUB EVENTS
2001 CLUB EVENT SCHEDULE
|
DATE |
SHOW |
PLACE |
STATUS |
|
Sep 29/30 |
Fall Train Show |
Live Oak Center |
Confirmed |
|
Oct 27 |
Austin Jamboree |
Round Rock |
Pending |
|
Oct 27/28 |
Czhilispiel |
Flatonia |
Confirmed |
|
Dec 1 |
Layout Tour |
TBD |
Pending |
Fall Train Show – Live Oak Civic Center
Our next event is the 13th Annual Alamo Model Railroad Engineers (AMRE) Fall Train Show. The show will be held at the Live Oak Civic Center on September 29 and 30. The show is open to the public from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 11am to 4pm on Sunday. We have been asked to set up Friday afternoon but we will need someone to tow the trailer to and from Live Oak and then we will determine our set up time.
Right now the space available for us to setup is 22' x 26' and they will let us know if they can use a larger display as we get closer to the date of the show. The AMRE Group will make a donation to our club and will also furnish us with a table to sell train items. They will also allow us to have a raffle if we want to hold one. Scott Smiley has purchased a Lionel Safari set that we can use as a raffle item. If you have any other items that can be used on a raffle or know of a business that may want to donate a gift certificate or other item to the club, let Ron Fiebelkorn know ASAP.
There will be a barbeque picnic for exhibitors/vendors on Saturday 5-8pm at the
Texas Transportation Museum, 11731 Wetmore Road. Written directions will be available at the show. If you are interested in attending this
picnic, please RSVP to Ron Fiebelkorn by September 8th.
Exhibitor badges will be handed out Saturday morning (7-9am) before the show opens to the public. Exhibitors will enter through the large rollup door at the rear of the building. A club member will be there to check them in.
Please let Ron know whether you plan on attending to operate and if you’ll be available for setup or teardown. We’ll also need volunteers to help push raffle tickets. Let Ron know if you can work the raffle table sometime during the weekend.
Mark this on your calendars today!
We are confirmed for the Czhilispiel in Flatonia. The dates for the event are October 26th-28th, 2001. Go see http://www.flatonia-tx.com/czhilispiel.htm for more details about the Czhilispiel. We will setup Friday the 26th and operate Saturday and Sunday. We’re approved for a 30x30 layout (isles extra), and we can hold a raffle. With such a large turnout, we stand to make significant $$ on a raffle.
If you are planning on attending and spending the night(s), you might consider booking lodging soon. Mary and I are staying at a B&B in Moulton, Texas, about nine miles south of Flatonia. There’s not much in Flatonia itself. There is a B&B, but it was booked already. We also tried Shiner, Texas, but all the B&Bs there were booked as well. If you are interested in B&Bs, look in and around Smithville, La Grange, Gonzales, and maybe Columbus.
Stay tuned for more details on the Czhilispiel.
Austin
Jamboree
Austin Model RR Jamboree is Sat Oct 27 at First United Methodist Church, 1004 N. Mays St. in Round Rock, Texas. The flea market/swap fest is 8:30-2:30, and layout tours are the rest of the afternoon. If we do this event, it would be setting up and operating our small layout for the flea market/swap fest.
The Jamboree event is still pending for us, but it will most likely happen. Ron talked to Tom Pierson a while ago and told him about our 4x8 layout and that we’re interested in setting it up at the church. He sounded positive and said most likely there will be room, but we still need to follow up and commit the date. Ron is driving this. If we do setup for the Jamboree, we need 2-3 people to help set up and operate our 4x8 layout at the church in Round Rock. This is the same Saturday that our group will be in Flatonia. Bob Stettner has signed up for running this layout on Saturday, but he needs 2 more people to help out. If you are not planning on being in Flatonia, and are willing to help out in Round Rock, let the group know via email or call Ron.
Also, we’re looking for loaner equipment to run on the small layout for this event. O27 trains and accessories will work best. Contact Bob if you wish to loan some equipment for the Jamboree.
Layout Tour –
December 1st, 2001
Unfortunately, we missed the summer layout tour at Buddy Burk’s house in August. Busy schedules have caused us to push this event out. Ron thought it would be a good idea to commit the date of December 1st for a layout tour. We can tour somebody’s home layout (maybe Buddy’s if the schedule works for him), or just set up our club 4x8 at someone’s house, run some trains and visit.
This should give us a fun and easy final event for 2001! Mark your calendars. More details on this will be worked out via
email.
Here is a preliminary schedule for 2002 so we can begin planning discussions. All the Club Fun Run events at the Branch Creek Estates clubhouse are noted as pending, while everything else is TBD for now. Jim Smiley has reserved the clubhouse on these dates, so they’re just pending until the group says “yes, let’s do it!”
I found the GATS events on-line and placed them on the schedule and I put placeholders for spring and summer New Braunfels shows, and a fall Liveoak event. These events are open for discussion…I just wanted to get something going soon to ensure a full schedule next year.
Please submit comments as well as news about any other prospective events to the TTAT members email reflector, ttat-members@aoot.com.
|
DATE |
SHOW |
PLACE |
STATUS |
|
Jan 19/20 |
GATS |
Houston |
TBD |
|
Jan 26 |
Club Fun Run |
Branch Creek
Clubhouse |
Pending |
|
Mar 2/3 |
GATS |
Live Oak |
TBD |
|
Mar 15/16 |
Club Fun Run |
Branch Creek
Clubhouse |
Pending |
|
Apr 13 |
Train Show |
New Braunfels |
TBD |
|
Apr 26/27 |
Club Fun Run |
Branch Creek
Clubhouse |
Pending |
|
Aug 17 |
Train Show |
New Braunfels |
TBD |
|
Aug 24/25 |
Rail Fair |
Burnet |
TBD |
|
Sep 28/29 |
AMRE Train Show |
Live Oak |
TBD |
|
Oct 25-27 |
Club Fun Run |
Branch Creek
Clubhouse |
Pending |
|
Nov 30/Dec 1 |
GATS |
Fort Worth |
TBD |
|
Dec 6/7 |
Club Fun Run |
Branch Creek
Clubhouse |
Pending |
Please welcome Rob and Grady Reynolds, our newest father/son pair into the club. Rob and Grady have been participating in club events since May and joined the club this summer!
Rob got his first train set and ZW transformer for Christmas in 1954 and still has both of them. He also has his sister’s Lionel trains from 1942! They started setting up the steam engine around the Christmas tree after Grady turned 10 or so. That got him hooked. Now they both have decided to invest more time in this extremely fun hobby. As we all know, it is great for father/son!
Welcome Rob and Grady!
|
Lionel Announces
the Acquisition of IC Controls, Inc. |
|
CHESTERFIELD, MI--Lionel is pleased to announce the acquisition of IC Controls, Inc. and the services of Lou Kovach, former President and and owner of IC Controls. IC Controls was founded in 1996 with the intent to focus on automating model railroading through the use of electronics. Over the past five years, IC Controls has been established as a growing force in the O gauge model railroad command control marketplace. One of the new pioneering products produced by IC Controls is the TPC3000 Platinum, a track power controller that regulates 400 watts of power with smooth, realistic operation and 200 speed steps. It is compatible with Lionel, K-Line, Atlas, Weaver, 3rd Rail, and can access MTH's new Proto 2.0 advanced features in conventional mode using the Lionel Cab-1 controller. Lionel is acquiring the TPC Platinum as well as the rest of the product line, all inventory and the services of Lou Kovach and his organization. The IC Controls product line will enhance all Lionel electronics, especially TrainMaster™ Command Control (TMCC). "We are going to bolster the features of TrainMaster Command Control by taking full advantage of the technological advancements and innovative products that IC Controls has developed," John W. Brady, Vice President of Marketing for Lionel, said. Lionel will also continue to benefit from Mr. Kovach's railroading and electronic skills, which will ultimately enhance the entire Lionel product line, with Train Master Command control being of the utmost importance. Kovach will be involved as the Electronics Advisor for Lionel product development, from early concept through final production stages. With Kovach's expertise and the products from IC Controls, Lionel will be bring the industry the ability for hobbyists to operate all locomotives and accessories from all manufacturers, including Lionel, K-Line and MTH's Protosounds 2.0, using a single control system. "The purchase of IC Controls, Lou Kovach's expertise and our recent licensing of QSI patents, are part of a long-range plan to expand the capability of TMCC and further integrate the industry under the TMCC umbrella," Brady said. He added, "We, at Lionel, are convinced that standardization is a necessity in ensuring the future growth and well-being of the O-Gauge segment of the model train industry." "Bringing IC Controls together with Lionel is a strong market commitment. It will serve to achieve the original goals of IC Controls and allows Lionel to accommodate all of the needs of the marketplace with their TrainMaster Command Control system," Kovach said. "Without a doubt, this shows the true intentions of Lionel to bring quality compatible products to the market, thus carrying on the IC Controls tradition of providing strong customer service and producing products that are trouble free." Currently, IC Controls will continue to provide customer service to hobbyists who have purchased their products in the past. Ultimately, however, Lionel will assume these responsibilities within the consumer service department in Chesterfield, Michigan |
For those who have been collecting the Hallmark Lionel Christmas ornaments, the 2001 ornaments are at your favorite Hallmark dealer. This year they feature the Chessie 2101 4-8-4 Steamer and Tender that pulled the American Freedom Train in 1976. The engine lists at $18.95 and the tender $13.95.
I’ll bet you didn’t know your command control equipped engine had a personality. Neither did I until one of my Lionel Texas Special F-3’s started acting up. The interior cab light was flashing as if it was the strobe light on top of a Geep. I came across a web page at the Train America Studios site that explains what happened.
All command control modules are the same and are programmed to work in every type of command control engine Lionel makes. By switching the command control modules’ personality a terminal on the control board can perform different functions depending upon the engine it is in. The same control board in my F-3 can be used in a Geep, a diesel with smoke or a steam engine.
Apparently the terminal that controls the cab light in my F-3 is responsible for the strobe light on a Geep and in the process of programming my engine I must have set it to be a Geep.
The process used to set your engine personality to the right one for the options it has is a pretty simple one using the CAB-1 remote:
|
0 |
STEAM WITH SIGNAL SOUNDS |
|
1 |
DIESEL WITH SIGNAL SOUNDS |
|
2 |
DIESEL WITH CAB LIGHT AND SIGNAL SOUNDS |
|
4 |
STEAM WITH SMOKE |
|
5 |
DIESEL WITH STROBE LIGHT |
|
6 |
DIESEL WITH CAB LIGHT/PB-1, FT's |
|
8 |
DIESEL W/SMOKE Dash 9 (New), C420, SD 60-70, SD-90 |
|
34 |
New 6-2800 Series Hudsons and Pacifics, West Side Shay |
|
36 |
Alco PA'S - NEW IN 97, W.P./NYC F-3 and Texas Special |
|
74 |
MOHAWK W/IR Tether and Commodore Vanderbilt (Black), Allegheny, Big Boy, Class A, Atlantic, T-1, 773 Hudson |
|
75 |
SOO LINE SD-60 |
|
740 |
J1E
HUDSON & SF WARHORSE (both loco & tender must be on track) |
|
750 |
CONRAIL
DASH 8, 1999 Centennial SD-40 |
|
760 |
BNSF Dash
9 |
This procedure is also essential when upgrading an engine to Command
Control or replacing a bad Command Module.
Check the Train America Studios site at http://www.trainamerica.com/ or Lionel’s FAQs under their Customer Service section at http://www.lionel.com/ for more information.
By Ira Schneider
You have probably seen the four new skyboards I made. Since I got a
lot of questions about how I made them, I thought I would share the process
with you.
I started by looking for backgrounds on the Internet that I could use for the
skyboards. I found that Backdrop Warehouse (http://www.backdropwarehouse.com)
had some very nice images. However, these backdrops were 10.4 inches x 8
feet as single backdrops, at a cost of $50. I needed 8 inches x 4 feet for
each skyboard and didn't want to spend that much money for the skyboards.
I found that the enlarged images of their backdrops had no wording interfering with the pictures. I downloaded one of the images, cut it in half, trimmed each piece to be in proportion, and scaled them to 8 inches x 48 inches.
My ink jet printer (an Epson Photo 870) comes with a holder for roll
paper. However, Epson doesn't sell any roll paper that fits my printer
and is at least 8 inches wide. I got a roll of Epson Photo Paper, which
measures 13 inches x 32.8 feet. I cut this roll with a hacksaw to a width
of 8-1/2 inches. My image-viewing program (PMView) let me scale the image
to the size I needed and the printer driver let me specify that the paper was
8-1/2 inches wide and 4 feet long. I printed the two images normally and
reversed to get the pictures for the four skyboards.
I then glued the pictures to the skyboard material (12 inches x 48 inches x 1/8
inch boards). After the glue dried I coated each picture with spray-on
clear glossy polyurethane to protect the pictures from damage.
September 8th, 2001
Ft. Worth, Texas - 21st Lone Star Rail Fair. Will Rogers Memorial Center (Amon G. Carter Exhibit Hall) 10 am - 5 pm. Over 50,000 square feet of air-conditioned dealer space and will also include operating layouts. Early admission available. FOR MORE INFO: Terry Adams, 4220 Shannon Dr., Ft. Worth, TX 76116. Phone: (817) 732-2117, FAX: (817) 732-2117, E-Mail: tadams1@worldnet.att.net
September 15th & 16th, 2001
The 19th annual Temple Model Train Show, sponsored by the Central Texas Area Model Railroaders, will be held at the Frank Mayborn Convention Center. For additional information contact B. Alson at 254-857-3906.
September 29th & 30th, 2001
The 13th annual Fall Train Show will be held at the Live Oak Civic Center, 1801 Pat Booker Rd. The show is open to the public from 9:00am to 4:00pm Saturday, and from 11:00am to 4:00pm on Sunday. Contact Fred Ellis at 210-930-2988 for more information.
October 6th & 7th, 2001
The Houston GATS show will be held at the Astrodome/Astroarena located at 8400 Kirby Drive. The show is open to the public from 11:00am to 5:00pm each day.
October 13th
& 14th, 2001
Texas, Fort Worth — The Lockheed Martin Recreation Association is sponsoring its 19th Annual Railroad Show, to be held October 13-14, at Lockheed Martin Recreation Association, 3400 Bryant Irvin Road. Show hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, and from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Admission: $6.00, adults; children 10 and under, admitted free. For more information, contact: Robert Bray, 1820 Spruce Lane, Benbrook, TX 76126; (817) 249-4965 (6:00-10:00 p.m. CST) e-mail: robert.l.bray@lmco.com
October 27th,
2001
The Austin Jamboree will be held in Round Rock at the First United Methodist Church which is located at 1004 N. Mays St. For more information call Tom Pearson at 512-388-2918 or Chuck Ellis.
November 24th & 25th, 2001
The Forth Worth GATS show will be held at the Convention Center which is located at 1111 Houston St. The show is open to the public from 11:00am to 5:00pm each day.