CMT Chinook Siding - July 2014

HAPPY CANADA DAY

BREAKFAST WITH THE PRESIDENT usually occurs the 2nd Saturday of each month. Since Stampede is spread over 2 Saturdays including our BREAKFAST WITH THE PRESIDENT, (where CMT members will be taking up Parking duties), our CMT Breakfast will not occur on July  and will restart in August. Meanwhile, Canadian Pacific has decided to host the CMT Breakfast under their own brand name. Harrison said to me that he has recognized the idea has being so good at CMT that he wants to try to host their own Breakfast at Canadian Pacific and invites all CMT members   

The GMD-1’s have arrived and Garth has his. I also see Rapido is releasing a model of the Confederation train from 1967, (see below).

The 35th Southbank Auction set for Saturday, October 18 has a new viewing and start time for the Auction. Still located at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, 703 Heritage Drive S.W., doors open for setup/display/viewing at 0930 hrs. and new start time for the Auction action  is 1100hrs.

Weathering Clinic was a success on Saturday, June 28. CMT bought the coffee and donuts, Brian Keay hosted 8 modelers then some of us went across the street to visit Roger Walker’s home layout on HO and On3 scale. Brian showed us some really neat methods of weathering which can even be eliminated with water if we think we made a mistake. Brian has offered of run part 2 of his weathering techniques later on but I think it’s a good idea to practice what we have learned first. Brian taught us to use Gouche water soluable colors, how to get that rusted appearance in very fine dots and more. Part 2 will cover water soluable pencils  and more!  Roger has a really layout that runs very well and his scenery is great since he was a Geologist. Roger is a MMR.

Al Matchett and myself have returned from the annual PNR meet held in Tacoma and will file a joint report. From the Convention however I want to suggest 2 things to CMT members:

(1)   I am a serious advocate for the NMRA Merit Program known as the AP program. To help you become a better modeler at the very least and to help you get model/photo entries ready to take with you to the 2015 NMRA Convention in Portland or future PNR meets in Salmon Arm (2016) and Spokane (2017) or just to improve you modeling techniques,  I’ll bring in qualified judges to CMT to comment on, or pre-judge your model sometime after the October. Meanwhile, my best suggestion for you is to take digital photos of you model(s) and do your own judging. Remember, the camera never lies. A digital photo shows your mistakes. Please contact me so I can provide initial suggestions.

(2)   The 2015 NMRA Convention to be held in Portland from August 23-30, 2015. Their website has all the information you will need.  I’ve found that trips like this are affordable if you share accommodation and travel expenses. These meets are really a lot of fun, you learn and see so many new modeling techniques, layouts and you meet new friends so plan now to attend this or a future meet somewhere. 

FLAMES Hockey schedule is out for 2014-2015. They appear to start their regular season with a home game October 8 against Vancouver (Home game). There are only a few Wednesday games that affect CMT:

October 8 (Vancouver), December 31(Edmonton), January 7 (Detroit), February 4 (Vancouver), February 18 (Minnesota), March 11 (Anaheim), March 25 (Dallas), and end of the regular season is an away game on April 11.

I note with interest that RAPIDO is coming out with a release of The Confederation Train.

As part of the Expo 67 festivities a special train was created that toured the country promoting both Canadian history and the Expo. Equipment was provided by both CN and CP which included FP9As from both roads, a CN steam generator car and a consist of smooth-side passenger cars – all adorned with a bold and colourful paint scheme specially designed for the train. As a special audio treat, additional horns were added to the locomotives, tuned to replicate the opening four notes of “O Canada” !   The train departed Victoria, BC on January 9. It crossed the country, stopping at more than sixty towns and cities. Hundreds of thousands visited the train and its exhibits celebrating Canada’s centennial year and Expo 67. The train tied up for the last time in Montreal on December 5.

Rapido is pleased to announce the HO scale version of the Confederation Train. The Confederation Train set will include accurate FP9A locomotives (CN and CP versions) with DCC and sound; one working steam generator car; two baggage cars, and four intermediate cars all specially decorated in the train’s unique colour scheme. Thanks to our friends at ESU (who may be even slightly more nuts that we are) we will even include the “O Canada” horn notes on the dual-mode sound decoders!

RAPIDO also offers a special add-on set with six additional cars decorated as the display cars that toured Canada on the train with exhibits and historical displays.

These models will NOT be available separately and production of this train will be strictly limited! RAPIDO need at least 300 orders to proceed. Please do not delay, get your reservation in today!

As an added bonus each set will include one pair of special etched tumbler wine glasses! Bell-bottoms, hippie shades and tie-dye shirts not included. Bummer man….

  • CP FP9A #1867 (CP #1411 with unique rooftop cooling coil and tall winterization hatch)
  • CN FP9A #1967 (CNR #6509 Class GPA-17a with 36" fan and large winterization hatch)
  • CN operating steam generator car
  • 2 x Super Continental Line baggage cars
  • 3 x Super Continental Line 10-5 sleeping cars
  • 1 x Super Continental Line Buffet-parlor
  • Special ESU Loksound decoder featuring "O Canada" horn notes

MODEL RAILROAD HOBBYIST MAGAZINE: This month there are 2 articles on weathering boxcars, page 53 and 73.  What a great addition to what we learned from Brian Keay on Saturday.