RMU 2024 Class Offerings
Our class offerings, listed below, are grouped to help you identify the location of the class. Most courses are self-contained so that anyone can attend any course. However, note that because of facility capabilities, all classes are limited to 20 attendees except as noted below. Classes are one hour and 15 minutes long, with a 15 minute break between classes.
Just a reminder -- you do not have to be an NMRA member to attend. The event is open to the public and the cost is only $10 no matter how many classes you register for. Please add another $5 if you want to bring any family members (one $5 covers all additional family members).
The classes below are arranged by classroom.
The last digit is the time slot during the day and the middle two digits indicate the classroom number(i.e., Class #101-3 is in Classroom 1 during the 3rd time period - 1:00 pm). Use the table to select those courses you would like to attend. Make a note of the particular class numbers you have chosen before you go the RMU 2024 Registration page to sign up.
CLASSROOM 1 | ||||
TIME | CLASS # | DESCRIPTION | INSTRUCTOR | |
9 AM | 101-1 | TIPS FOR CONSTRUCTING ELECTRONIC PROJECTS FOR MODEL RAILROADS: This clinic presents a number of design and construction steps which have proved useful in electronic projects for model railroads. A simple micro-controlled blinking LEDs project (e.g crossing signals) will be used to demonstrate the various tips and techniques. |
FRED MILLER MMR | |
10:30 AM | 101-2 |
CONSTRUCTION OF A K-1 TROLLEY CONTROLLER: This clinic presents the design and construction of a model K-1 Trolley Car Controller. The project includes use of Arduino micro-controllers to sense the use of various controls and issue applicable DCC commands through Digitrax Loconet. The controller includes throttle notching, air brake functions, air line pressure metering, circuit breaker simulations, door and gong operations- all with approppriate sounds. |
FRED MILLER MMR | |
LUNCH | Lunch is on your own | |||
1 PM | 101-3 | MODEL RAILROADING IN A LIMITED SPACE: Hesitant to build your railroad because you have limited space? Fred Miller moved into a high-rise condo and was faced with either "arm-chair" model railroading or continuing his life long hobby of building model railroads.This clinic is about he designed and constructed several "shelf layouts" to satisfy his desire for building an operating model railroad. |
FRED MILLER MMR | |
2:30 PM | 101-4 |
USING MICRO-CONTROLLERS IN MODEL RAILROADING: This clinic will explore some easy applications for micro-controllers an the NEW world of model railroading. Projects using Arduino series of micro-controllers to run servos for turnout control, crossing gates and other animation. The clinic will describe actual implemented projects on Fred's various layouts which have been described in MER Local "Electronics Corner" columns. |
FRED MILLER MMR | |
CLASSROOM 2 | ||||
TIME | CLASS # | DESCRIPTION | INSTRUCTOR | |
9 AM | 102-1 | WATER IS EASY: A description/demonstration of how I made a river after years of avoiding putting water scenes on my layout. |
DAVID MYERS | |
10:30 AM | 102-2 | FOAM TECHNIQUES, FROM CUTTING TO FINISHING:
|
KEITH IRITSKY | |
LUNCH | Lunch is on your own | |||
1 PM | 102-3 | |||
2:30 PM | 102-4 | THE STATE
OF Z: YES, WE CAN DO THAT TOO.
|
JOHN DUINO | |
CLASSROOM 3 | ||||
TIME | CLASS # | DESCRIPTION | INSTRUCTOR | |
9 AM | 103-1 | MODEL RAILROADING 102: The presentation will continue with a few basics of model railroading. This time we will go forward with some do's and don'ts in layout design and look toward developing that first layout plan. |
ANDREW STITT | |
10:30 AM | 103-2 | OPEN | ||
LUNCH | Lunch is on your own | |||
1 PM | 103-3 |
GETTING STARTED WITH LASERS AND 3D PRINTERS: In this clinic you will learn some high level basics on how to utilize FDM- style (fused deposition modeling) 3D printers and open-frame diode lasers to design and build structures on your layout. We will review what software is required and how to develop a basic design from start to finish. |
CHAD BARNETTE | |
2:30 PM | 103-4 | OPEN | CLASSROOM 4: White Elephant Room | |
CLASSROOM 5: MODEL EVALUATION ROOM | ||||
CLASSROOM 6 | ||||
TIME | CLASS # | DESCRIPTION | INSTRUCTOR | |
9 AM | 106-1 | OPEN | ||
10:30 AM | 106-2 | OPEN | ||
LUNCH | Lunch is on your own | |||
1 PM | 106-3 | OPEN | ||
2:30 PM | 106-4 | |||
CLASSROOM 7 | ||||
TIME | CLASS # | DESCRIPTION | INSTRUCTOR | |
9 AM | 107-1 | |||
10:30 AM | 107-2 |
INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERSTATE RAILROAD: An interesting slideshow from steam to Norfolk Southern on the Interstate Railroad, an Appalachian coal hauling railroad. |
DAVE CHANCE | |
LUNCH | Lunch is on your own | |||
1 PM | 107-3 | |||
2:30 PM | 107-4 | |||
CLASSROOM 8 | ||||
TIME | CLASS # | DESCRIPTION | INSTRUCTOR | |
9 AM | 108-1 | LIGHTING THE LAYOUT:
|
NEAL ANDERSON MMR | |
10:30 AM | 108-2 | CUSTOM
TURNOUTS ON GLASS: This class involves a step-by-step method of creating custom turnouts on a sheet of glass at the workbench over a paper template. |
RICHARD SHULBY | |
LUNCH | Lunch is on your own | |||
1 PM | 108-3 | AN INTRODUCTION INTO JMRI: This is an introduction into the world of JMRI to help participants get started in Operations Pro. Joe will show how to add rolling stock, locations, trains, routes and then produce a train to run the layout. |
JOE SKORCH | |
2:30 PM | 108-4 |
|
JOE SKORCH | |
CLASSROOM 9 | ||||
TIME | CLASS # | DESCRIPTION | INSTRUCTOR | |
9 AM | 109-1 | THE ABC'S OF BUILDING CRAFTSMAN STRUCTURE KITS:
|
JACK DZIADUL | |
10:30 | 109-2 | |||
LUNCH | Lunch is on your own | |||
1 PM | 109-3 |
SOLDERING MADE EASY:
|
ROY BECKER | |
2:30 PM | 109-4 | |||
CLASSROOM 10 | ||||
TIME | CLASS # | DESCRIPTION T-TRAK DISPLAY | INSTRUCTOR | |
9 AM | 110-1 | |||
10:30 | 110-2 | |||
LUNCH | Lunch is on your own | |||
1 PM | 110-3 | T-TRAK | LARRY PAFFRATH | |
2:30 PM | 110-4 |
CLASSROOM 11 |
TIME | CLASS # | DESCRIPTION | INSTRUCTOR |
9 AM | 111-1 |
WWII MILITARYLOADS AND INDUSTRIAL LOADS IN THE LATE 1940's: Overview of building a military train returning from WWII and industrial loads of the same era. The clinic reviews military equipment returning from the European theatre in the late 40's and industrial loads in the late 40's early 50's. |
ED SMITH MMR |
10:30 | 111-2 | MODEL RAILROADING IN SHORT PIECES: In this clinic Gil discusses ways to build a layout even if you don't have a basement, spare room, or special outbuilding. He covers Joe Fugate's "TOMA" concept, several versions of modules as well as sectional layout building concepts that apply to all the more popular scales. |
GIL BRAUCH MMR |
LUNCH | Lunch is on your own | ||
1 PM | 111-3 | ABC'S OF SCENERY: This is a discussion of basic scenery concepts. It covers topics to be considered in planning and installing scenery on your layout ranging from the selection of locale and season, materials that can be used and tips and techniques to bring your layout from "plywood plains" to a "living wonder". |
GIL BRAUCH MMR |
2:30 PM | 111-4 | SCENERY FROM THE BACKDROP TO THE FACIA: This clinic is an overview of scenerytechniques from the back to the front of the layout. |
ED SMITH MMR |