Page 1. TRAK Modular Railroading Society, Inc. N E W S L E T T E R. January/February 2004

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1 January/February 2004 Edited by Jim FitzGerald and Lee Monaco-FitzGerald TRAK Modular Railroading Society, Inc. N E W S L E T T E R NTRAK Website: Here is a grain elevator in a different shape than the Classic wood clad structures. This is in Boone, Iowa, on the Union Pacific main line between Chicago and Omaha. For other photos see the T-TRAK pages 8 & 9. The freight cars are part of a preservation group s collection. Photo by Lee Page 1

2 NTRAK 30th Anniversary Containers The 30th Anniversary Container two packs are now in stock and were a hit with modelers at the Houston N Convention. The deluxe innovation crew has produced a very attractive set. On one side, the container is marked NTKU 2003 and has the modern diesel logo. The other side is marked NTKU 1973 and has our steam engine logo. Each set has two identical containers. The body of the containers is GN Big Sky blue with flag red, white and blue lettering. There have been many changes in railroading in the past 30 years. Our first special runs were box cars, which were the major car type at that time. Now, 30 years later, containers have taken over from box cars and are a fitting DCC on NTRAK Layouts Using Digital Command Control on NTRAK layouts is not quite the same as it is on home layouts. The big difference, of course, is that in a home layout you can fully check out the installation one step at a time and it is usually on a layout that already runs well on a conventional throttle. The home layout is usually much smaller than the NTRAK layout and there aren t several other layouts with radio control in the same building. NTRAK layouts have a different mix of modules each time, a different location and NTRAK, Inc Officers General questions and Newsletter material. Jim FitzGerald, NTRAK President, Editor Lee Monaco-FitzGerald Corporate Secretary, Editor 1150 Wine Country Place Templeton, CA Phone & Fax ntrak@tcsn.net Next Issue Deadline:February 1st Page 2 way to mark our 30 years of promoting N scale modeling. To order, either go to our website ( or send $17.00 for the two pack, that includes postage. Additional packs, on the same order, are $15.00 per pack. Profits go to help support NTRAK. Send your order to: NTRAK, Inc, Brawner Dr Dumfries, VA more experts helping with cures, whether they are asked to help or not. John Wallis of the North Raleigh NTRAK club and several other interested NTRAKers are working up well researched details that should help all NTRAKers in getting a DCC layout up and running. As soon as we get agreement on the new Recommended Practices they will be published by NTRAK. Hopefully this will happen in early My goal is that it won t require changing existing modules, but will give guide lines for new modules and for those who regularly have their module in a layout using DCC. Check for more info. Renewals and orders Business Manager, John Cook Brawner Dr Dumfries, VA jcook@nvntrak.org Web Master, Bill Rutherford worj@comcast.net Web site: Deadline for Coming Events & other material is the 1st of the month before publication. (Feb 1st, Apr 1st June 1st, Aug 1st, Oct 1st, and Dec 1st.)

3 Lifetime Achievement Award To Hal Riegger For your lifetime contributions to the N scale model community Your dedication and creativity have significantly moved the model rairoad community forward for others to enjoy. July 26, 2003 In 1974 Hal Riegger had a module in the first NTRAK layout. It featured an industrial type electric locomotive with a pantograph that made contact with an overhead wire and got it s power through that wire and one rail. As the engine climbed a steep grade, he delighted in depressing the pantograph, causing the engine to stop dead and making a believer out of the person who had just asked: Does it really work from the wire? Hal went on to found NCat and produce a Newsletter and booklets on modeling trains using catenary (overhead electric) as well as trolley pole and 3rd rail in N scale. His work has been featured in the NTRAK Newsletter many times. In July 2003, Hal Riegger was the recipient of a lifetime achievement award in model railroading. It was presented by Frank Kenny on behalf of the NCat modelers. Hal contributed greatly to the model railroad community in general, both N scale and HOn3, earning the title of NMRA Master Model Railroader #105, building one of the first NTRAK modules, and developing the NCAT organization. NCAT is an N scale live-overhead catenary system. Hal's contributions have significantly furthered the development of the N scale community. Hal's first love, however, is pottery. He is a master potter, bringing the Raku style of pottery to the U.S., and has won many awards for his work. Raku is a style of pottery that is used in the Japanese culture for formal tea ceremonies. Hal has also written many books on Raku as well as several railroad books such as the Kettle Valley and the Camas Prairie. You can locate more information about Hal's achievements by typing in Hal Riegger at Google.com. Congratulations to Hal for his lifetime achievements. Hal may be reached at: Halpot@aol.com Jim s note: A few weeks after he was given the award, Hal fell and broke his hip. He is home now, but still quite weak. New From Micro-Trains Two new state cars have recently been released by MicroTrains. Both cars have black roof and ends with aluminum sides. The Alabama car is MT#21372, AL 1819 and $ The Missouri car is MT#21373, MO 1821 and $ They are the 8th & 9th in the series. Page 3

4 More From Micro-Trains The 95th body style produced by Micro-Trains is an 89 auto rack car. This is the style of the late 60 s with open top and sides that were in use before vandalism forced the change to the present enclosed type. A nice working detail are the fold down ramps that allowed autos to be driven from car to car during loading and unloading. The Southern logo is red, green white and yellow. The car is boxcar red with white lettering. TTRX , MT# and $ Happy Holidays is at the other end of the dark green 50 plug door car full of Christmas gifts. The snow couple and mouse in red, green, blue and yellow gaze out from the car. MT#38360, MTL 2003 is $ The 56 tanker is black with white lettering. The O in Southern has a green center. MT#110060, SO is $ The CP. Rail 50 fixed end gondola is red with the Pac Man black & white logo. MT , CP is $ Page 4

5 Aztec Beer Car #34 Aztec continues to produce their line of special Beer cars from small breweries. The latest is for the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co. of Chippewa Falls, Wisc. The 50 Life Like boxcar has the lumberjack logo in brown, green, black, flesh, gold and red on a white car. Part # MB is $27.95 each. Shipping is free on orders over $50. Check the Aztec Manufacturing Co. web site for other available N scale cars and products. The N Architect A laser kit for a trucking company building is based on a similar 50 s building still in use by Roadway Trucking. Loading docks are included and can be used on either side or both sides, depending on your application. The building is 4-1/2 x 7. The price is $ They also have a large 3 story Meat Packing plant kit with nine 11 x 4 laser cut sheets and numerous detail castings. It is 12 long x 5 wide and 5 high. $ The plant is based on a1914 building that is still in use on the Canadian National Railway. See your dealer or order direct from: The N Architect, 48 Kensington Ct, Hackettstown, NJ The N Architect Stock Yard kit includes all of the necessary elements of a modern stock yard operation including hay barns, shelters, unloading chutes and holding pens along with a selection of beef cattle, rolled hay bale and feeding trough castings. One or more of these kits will expand your meat packing industry. The completed model measures 10"(l) x 5"(w) and retails for $ Page 5

6 Winterfest Turns Ten Northeast NTRAK will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of its annual Winterfest in conjunction with the Amherst Railway Society's "Big Railroad Hobby Show" at the Eastern States Exposition Center in Springfield, MA on February 6th, 7th, and 8th, Winterfest 2004 will feature an N-Scale Quiz Show Friday evening as well as the usual layout operations at the Big "E", contests, and the traditional Saturday evening banquet with a guest speaker and special anniversary events. The Hilton Garden Inn, Springfield's newest hotel and our convention center, is directly across the street from the Basketball Hall of Fame and minutes away from the Big "E", downtown Springfield, and Springfield's AMTRAK station. The "Big Railroad Hobby Show", offers three buildings full of layouts, exhibits, manufacturers and dealers in what, without a doubt, is the largest train show in New England. All are welcome to join Northeast NTRAK in celebrating the 10th anniversary of Winterfest. For more information and reservation forms see the Winterfest section at Northeast NTRAK's web site, See y'all there!... Seattle National Train Show There will be several NTRAK layouts at the NMRA National Train Show,July 9-11, There will be a large general NTRAK layout and it is being coordinated by John Benny of the Seattle area along with Brad Myers of the San Francisco area. Their clubs are furnishing the core modules for the layout and all module owners are welcome to join with them. Please contact John R Benny <jrbenny@gte.net> or (206) for more information. THE CAPITOL LIMITED N CONVENTION CHANTILLY, VA AUGUST 5-8, '04 The Capitol Limited, 2004 N Scale East N Convention layout will be part of a Greenberg Train Show, sharing a 100,000 sq. foot room in the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, Vir- Page 6 ginia August 5-8, Across the parking lot, about 300 away, is the convention hotel, the Holiday Inn Select Chantilly. There will be an additional small NTRAK layout setup in the Hotel lobby and all clinics will be given at the hotel. The Sunday breakfast will be at the hotel. There are also a variety of restaurants next door. The big layout will be running on Friday and will be part of the Greenberg Show on Saturday and Sunday. The N Scale Collectors Convention will be going on at the same general time (August 4 to 7) about a mile away. There will be shuttle service to their hotel and other alternate hotels. All Collector events will be available to N Convention attendees. Some events are extra fare for both groups. There will be home layout tours that include the John Armstrong, Pliny Holt and Lance Mindheim layouts. There will also be tours to local rail served industries, the local commuter rail yard and the new Air and Space Museum. The Hotel has shuttle service to and from Dulles Airport, but not to Reagan National Airport. A cab ride would be about $50, less if you ride the Metro part way. It will be a busy time for N scalers. We will have a combined schedule in a future issue so that you can do some advanced planning. LAYOUT PLANS FOR THE CAPITOL LIMITED CONVENTION by Matt Schaefer Currently the planning effort is on reliability and making an exciting layout. The Greenberg all scale show will cover 100,000 sq ft. total and of that the main Ntrak layout will cover 40,000 sq ft. with Room for 450+ modules ALL connected together included onetrak, TwinTrack, BendTrack, Ntrak, 4 track, etc. In addition to the return of all our Ntrak friends from Running Trains '96 in Alexandria, VA we will feature the newest ideas in flyovers, junctions, lift bridges, Nn3 and Lee's T-Trak modules and a demo of Digitrax signals that have just been put on the market. ROUTES - The layout will be in 2 main divisions, DC and DCC. The mix of DCC and DC controls will depend on the registration questionnaire. Through trains can "run through" over both divisions connected by a an engine change facility and "Division Yards"

7 developed by the New Jersey Southern. We estimate the run on each division will be 30 to 40 miles. We need to know from individuals and clubs if they want their section on the DCC or Aristo Red Line Route. Clubs may be able to mix and use either DCC or analog on their subdiv. loop using blue, alternate blue or green tracks if they get approval of the DCC Master. Maps of the routes will be furnished later and tower operators will use the Zutter phone exchange like was used in '96. OPERATIONS - Based on the questionnaire replies extra activities may be offered such as road switching and a crazy session with fast timetables for bullet trains. There will be another division of the railroad in the hotel lobby right next to the bar... for late night madness and all night-long operations! Watch our web site, for last minute information. DATA GATHERING - In the coming months we will be working up plans with all the clubs on how many modules and the size and shape of their subdivs. and desired mix of DCC and DC. Width across the pit space should tightened to 8' to 12' so we can pack in 450+ modules. "Module arrival times for layout are from 8 Am till evening time on Thursday. The clubs that get there early can start running as soon as they get their individual loops hooked on to the spine and checked out. The tear down will be at 4 PM Sunday at the end of the public show." VALLEY FORGE - Some of you may remember the big train layout in Valley Forge, PA in That layout had 252 modules connected by the famous Diamond Mill Junction. That layout was very impressive and that is where I got my passion and big layout ideas. Then in '96 we had over 300 modules in a nice carpeted garage in Alexandria, VA and in '99 we had over 285 modules at No Bull #1 in Richmond. Edison had even more modules, including the Kitchen Sink. We should have twice as many modules in Chantilly as were in the Valley Forge layout and all in one layout! MODULES - As the layouts get bigger more coordination and extra planning is required to avoid bottlenecks and show stoppers. Also all clubs are requested to check all of the modules their club members are bringing for conformance with Ntrak standards. To speed up set up, those not with clubs will have their modules looked at when they arrive to see if all plugs are colored, pins on the plugs are clean and to see if any tracks are damaged and need repair, etc. A check list will be furnished. DIFFERENT CLUBS - We are getting questions on using JANTRAK from Japan and Bend Track. We will try to use NON-Ntrak modules if they can connect to Ntrak or onetrak. Lee's T-Trak Division and the Nn3 boys will be featured in separate layouts. The KSONS of Louisville, KY have said they are bringing more than 75 modules in their school bus. Our 160 x 250 layout space could fit about 8 school buses full of modules and Ntrakers. SPECIAL MODULES - All clubs are urged to bring lift out bridges to make walkthroughs as "some" members are getting older. Also if you have grades, loops or flyovers up to green you are urged to bring those to add extra loops, diverging routes, grades and more action. See Steve Jackson's Mann's Cliff with the flyover up to green on page 18 in the Sept-Oct Ntrak Newsletter. NVNtrak club members have 2 or 3 sets of these and both NJ S and N. Raleigh clubs also have the flyovers with grades so bring extra head end power to be prototypical. At this point we are wide open for your layout ideas. LAYOUT PLANNING - We want a design that has easy access between the DCC people and the Aristo people and out to the dealer areas. Our focus has to be on reliability as we are going into the unknown, the dark side with 450+ modules with over 80 miles of Red Line Routes. John Wallis of N. Raleigh Ntrak is running tests at his shows to determine preferred DCC block length, overload settings for PM 42's, optimum use of UR 91's, adding a second loconet and adding extra ground wires. In the future s we will be discussing reliability details, the shaping of the layout, and plans to keep the trains dispatched with a minimum of problems and show stoppers. Anyone can contact Steve Jackson, layout consultant, or me at: There may not be another convention like this in 1,000 years so don't miss it this time! Matt Schaefer Layout Coordination Dept Page 7

8 New N Scale Modeling by Lee Lee@T-TRAK.org T-TRAK on Tour Thank you for everyone s hospitality and the chance to display the T-TRAK layout and assorted displays at the--- Autumn Rails Show in N.C., Celebrate and reminisce at the Des MoiNes Club 20th Anniversary Show at the Boone, Iowa Fairgrounds and join the So.West Ca. TTOS Show in Pasadena, Ca. Boone, Iowa is a train lover s paradise. The Fairgrounds were right next to Union Pacific main line between Chicago and Omaha. A lot of setting up stopped to watch each powerful Page 8 beauty go by. It was a great photo opportunity, that I would not miss. Besides the neat trains the area has wonderful buildings to model. Here are a two more buildings beside the one on the cover. Photos by Lee

9 Boone, Iowa is a train lover s paradise. The Fairgrounds were right next to Union Pacific main line between Chicago and Omaha. A lot of setting up stopped to watch each powerful beauty go by. It was a great photo opportunity, that I would not miss. Besides the neat trains the area has wonderful buildings to model. Here are a two more buildings beside the one on the cover. Photos by Lee Inside Corners In the Nov-Dec Newsletter, the BASIC Inside corner size was listed as 20-1/4. The size should read 20-3/8, as the T-TRAK.org website Information Page shows. Here are both the BASIC and ALTERNATE inside corner drawings. The Basic Inside corner makes use of flextrack with Kato adapters at each end. The tracks have different radii to gain the clearance needed for the tight turns. The Alternate Inside corner uses all Kato Unitrack sections, as shown. The tracks are the same distance apart around the curve. Inside Corner T-TRAK Basic 25mm Track Centers (1.0") 12-1/4" max. 8-1/4" Track Centers 25 mm (1") Adapter # /8" sq. Max. 20-3/8" sq Use flextrack Electrical Connectors In regard to the question of connectors---- they are sold by Kato. # is a 35 track power extension. # is a 35 track power, male to 3 female sockets. 14-3/8" 8-1/4" Inside Corner T-TRAK Alternate 33mm Track Centers (1-5/16") Straight 2-1/4" 4 pcs # pcs. # /4" R 23-7/8" sq. Max. 18-1/4" sq 2 pcs. # " R 11" 11" R 12-3/8" R 1-1/2" to track edge Straight 2-1/4" 4 pcs # /8" 12-3/8" Adapter # /2" to track edge 12-1/4" max. GOOD NEWS! The new T-TRAK lapel pin is now in stock. Order a T-TRAK Patch and $3.50 each. See page # 23. Support the T-TRAK Youth Program. Page 9

10 North Carolina Train Show We attended a train show in western North Carolina in October. A large river named the French Broad flows through the area. The local NTRAK club couldn t resist using the name French Broad e'n'pire for their club. Chuck Place, who was active in the Sarasota, Florida club for many years, is now active in this club and brought along his modules when he retired to the area. This was a one day show, but there were many dealers and a large layout, complete with Junction modules, set up in a large gym. The public attendence was good despite rain showers and an off the beaten path location. This is a club module set with the mainlines swinging to the back and the Mountain Div track crossing over. Further down in the module set, the Mtn Div can join the red line and then there are crossovers to yellow and blue. The club yard starts beyond that. Page 10 This is another French Broad enpire club module with a rural flavor.

11 Jim Derr also was a long time member of the Sarasota Club and now lives in Georgia. He was at the show with some modules built by Terry Smith in Sarasota. Jim acquired them and has refurbished them. The extra deep module has the town streets on a 45 degree angle to the railroad. This scheme gives a good view of more buildings. Another Terry Smith / Jim Derr module features a stunt plane with a wing walker. The plane is animated and twists round and round with a cloud of cotton smoke behind it. Page 11

12 These are more photos of modules in the French Broad enpire layout. Between shows, many of the modules are in a layout in Chuck Place s basement. A number of crossovers have been installed so that the club members can do DCC operation with the yellow line being a series of passing sidings. Page 12

13 Tom Simmons of the French Broad enpire club made a flat car load of the new Athern John Deere tractors. So that the load could be used in the club s operating sessions, he made a second deck for the flatcar. Now, when the car is unloaded at the local farm machinery dealer and heads back to the factory, the bare deck has replaced the tractors. A nice change from having loads only in closed cars. Bob Shearer, another Sarasota club member, was at the show. Bob had a stroke in early He attended the Houston N Convention and was getting around much better at the North Carolina show. He and Chuck Place, in years past, have attended many train conventions together. After the show was over and the hall cleared out, the Derrs, Places and Shearers had dinner together and then, back at Chuck s home about midnight Bob had another stroke. He died a few hours later in the hospital. While a great shock to his family and friends, they all agreed that it was probably just the way he would have liked to have gone. A good day at a train show and the company of long time friends on his last day. We extend our sympathy to his family. Page 13

14 Iowa Train Show The DesMoiNTRAK club celebrated their 20th Anniversary with a free Train Show at the Boone Fairgrounds. A track plan was shown on page 25 of the July/August 2003 issue. The module below is by Tom Newell, a founding member of the club. The concept and detailing are excellent. The middle photo is of Ron Peterson s rural scene with a industry at the end of a siding. The module above is of a more urban industry area and is by Gary Page 14 Mathern.

15 Lee and I attended the Train Show along with Dale and Suzi Blust from the St Louis area. Dale didn t bring his Tornado module, but did bring some extra DCC equipment for the layout. John Dillavou and his wife from Denver were also there. They are interested in the ghost towns of Colorado and brought a N scale display of a typical ghost town scene that they use as part of talks they give on the subject. John works at Caboose Hobbies now. There was an extensive string of onetrak modules with strategically placed industry and yard modules. Most of these single track modules were built by Larry Rinehart. Larry s swing bridge was powered by a slow motor for a realistic opening and closing. A couple of people were fishing below the bridge. Page 15

16 The DesMoiNTRAK club layout at the fairgrounds featured the UP Chicago to Omaha main line just across the parking lot. There was a steady stream of trains going by. Just west of town is a long high trestle on the UP main. A container train was heading east in this photo. Also in Boone, Iowa is the Boone and Scenic Valley Tourist Railroad. They bought the last new steam engine made in China as production stopped several years ago. The engine is giving good service along with diesels and trolleys on the busy tourist line. Their tracks cross the same river as the UP bridge show above, but upstream a ways. The tourist train stops in the midle of the bridge, giving the riders a long view in each direction plus down. Page 16

17 NTRAK Swiss Division 10th Anniversary Felix Gaehler and Hans R. Egli have sent along photos and information on the club s 10th Anniversary layout last Fall. To build their largest layout so far, the club used two Junction modules for two NTRAK loops plus a onetrak switching branch and special interchange to another Swiss sectional layout. There were 70 modules in total. Modules from Austria and Germany joined the Swiss club s growing number of modules. There was also a wooden BRIO set for the youngsters and a Marklin for older children to run. There was also a T-TRAK layout and Lee has a photo of that in her column. The layout was in operation for two days in a large facility near Zurich. The club uses DCC extensively and kept multiple trains running. Many of the trains are US prototype and longer than the local visitors are used to seeing. There were about 1,200 visitors to the show. This is now an annual event in early November. Visit their web site for more information. This mountain scene has a branch that is used to connect to the onetrak branch of the layout. It was built by Thorsten Schulz of the German NTRAK club. Page 17

18 With this column, I begin a series of occasional articles about "Ntrepreneurs", that small group of enthusiasts who not only model, but who also produce model railroad material commercially, particularly in Nn3. Mostly, but not always, they are "basement operators" with a talent for creating things they cannot purchase, and who suddenly discover that they might combine their hobby with a business. Their motivation ranges from financial need to a desire to "give something back" to the hobby. Often it is all of that. The move from modeler to manufacturer requires imagination, technical expertise and, perhaps most of all, courage. Most of us have no idea of what it takes to bring even one new product to market. The financial challenges alone are enough to give pause, as you will see when you read their stories. Our first N-trepreneur is Dave Berkheimer, a rather quiet-appearing, easy-going guy, who is neither, once you get you know him. Dave and I attended the 2003 National Narrow Gauge Convention in Denver, where we were both involved in the large Nn3 layout there. He collared me right away and insisted on demonstrating his newest product, a beautiful Page 18 laser-cut mill right out of the late 1800s. It was just the first offering in his line-up, with more products in the pipeline. Here is Dave, in his own words: "My introduction to "toy" trains came from under the Christmas tree. In my case it was a Marx train set, smoke and all. In the years that followed the Marx gave way to an HO set courtesy of Santa Claus. Later, I started looking at model train magazines and almost immediately decided that N was the scale for me. But, due to monetary pressures, I stayed an armchair modeler throughout high school, college and beyond. Then, about 8 years ago, I purchased a cheap little GloorCraft kit and the bug bit again. Only this time I could afford the hobby. With my interest in model railroading rekindled, I looked around to determine just what I wanted to model. For some reason logging lines intrigued me the most, probably because of the dramatic scenery. During a visit to a local bookstore I picked up my first copy of the "Narrow Gauge and Shortline Gazette." Once again dumb luck intervened, as that copy of the Gazette featured the Nn3 Snake River Railroad of Roger Hood. Bingo! Narrow gauge was just what I was looking for. It had everything I wanted: small workhorse engines, lots of dramatic scenery, and Roger

19 showed me that it could be done in N scale. Right away, I started to look for items needed to start my first Nn3 layout, which would be based on the narrow gauge roads of Colorado. Only there just wasn't much out there. And while Nn3 has made leaps and bounds in the past few years, as far as products are concerned, there are still areas that need filling. Prototypical Colorado structure kits seemed to be one of those areas. Once I found my direction, I began to buy and assemble structure kits. I bought just about every type of kit from every wood kit manufacturer. You know how it is: Inside every model railroader there is a pack rat just waiting to get out. I began to look closely at the kits I was assembling and thought: "Gee, I sure would like this kit a lot better if " On the day I opened my first laser-made kit, I knew then that this was something that I wanted to do as a business, but wasn't sure how it would ever happen, because laser tables are extremely expensive. Then luck struck once more -- I was laid off. Now I know what you're thinking: "how can being laid off be lucky?" One lucky thing was that my company gave me a fairly decent severance package, which I then used as starter money for the laser table upon getting a new job. The other good thing was that the spare time between jobs gave me the chance to learn the skills for designing my own kits. I learned during that period that I needed to develop many techniques; some were obvious and some were not. The obvious fell into what I call the "design" category. For example, CAD skills were a must. While it is true that most laser tables will read and cut parts from graphics programs, it's just not practical to create the type of drawings necessary in those packages. Another skill that must be nurtured is the ability to visualize things three-dimensionally. Designing laser-cut kits is a lot like Page 19

20 designing a puzzle. You have to see the kit in your minds eye before you even start the design process. Some of the less obvious skills (at least for me) came under the heading of what I call "packaging". Among these skills was photography and writing. Thank goodness for digital cameras. But of all things involved in preparing a kit for release, writing the instructions has been what I dread most. Once the kit has been designed, the actual production is pretty much a piece of cake. You just plunk your material down on the table and cut away. You would think that, anyway. But the reality is that once you have your first pass of the drawings done and cut, you then must assemble the kit to make certain that everything fits properly. I've been assembling at least three of each kit (with some tweaking done after each build). But outside of that, production is really pretty painless, if you follow safety precautions for your particular laser table. One thing to be concerned about when starting a new venture is the financial aspect. I've been lucky in not having to cross all of the usual hurdles most new businesses must navigate. And although I've had to take out a small personal loan, I haven't had to draw up a formal business plan to show proof of concept like most businesses must do to obtain start-up funding. Quite frankly, I'm not sure that a bank would have given me a loan if I had gone the conventional route. Because I'm not dependent upon my kit business for support, I'm afforded certain freedoms that other companies may not have. For example, I can spend more time developing kits and be less concerned about whether or not a kit will immediately be profitable. Believe me when I say that my financial expectations are long term. The amount of time that I've invested in the business so far is nowhere close to being recouped by the price of my kits. My pricing goal is simply to make the kits comparable to other kits, and I think affordable, given their quality and uniqueness. My marketing consists of two basic methods: word of mouth and a web site : This will continue to be my plan until I've developed enough products to warrant a more diversified approach to advertising. All in all, the whole undertaking has been and will continue to be a learning experience. I've come to appreciate the amount of work that goes into designing and producing a kit of any type. Judging from my financial returns so far, I would have to say that it's really a labor of love. And beyond the fact that I'm actually designing and producing structure kits that I would like to see, I feel that this is truly the way I can contribute to the promotion of Nn3 modeling." Dave can be reached by at: mailto:brrrrk@aol.com or at (Editor's Note: Dave's web site covers not only his products, but provides an overview of how he develops a product step-by-step, shows some of the kits he hopes to market in the future, and generally offers links to other aspects of modeling in Nn3. Dave's structures are meant mainly to fit into Nn3 layouts, but their 1:160 ratio makes them N Scale in every way.) Page 20

21 Greenberg s Toy, Train & Hobby Show Sat. & Sun. 10am - 4pm, both days. $7 adults, children under 12 are FREE. They support NTRAK clubs by providing extensive space and honorariums for NTRAK participation in its shows. Each show is a family event, with advertised features such as NTRAK layouts. To participate, please contact: Greenberg Shows, PO Box 1192, Lombard, IL (630) , Staff@Greenbergshows.com - York Expo Center, York, PA... Jan Charlotte Merch. Mart, Charlotte, NC... Jan Pittsburgh Expo Mart, Monroeville, PA... Jan Dayton Hara Arena, Dayton, OH... Jan 31, Feb 1 Jacksonville Ag Fair, Jacksonville, FL... Feb 7-8 Fort Washington Expo Center - Fort Washington, PA... Feb N. Atlanta Trade Center, Norcross, GA... Feb Prince George Eques Ctr, Upper Marlboro, MD... Feb New Jersey Expo Ctr, Edison, NJ... Mar 6-7 Ohio Expo Center, Columbus, OH... Mar Exhibition Hall, Maryland State Fair, Timonium, MD... Mar Shriners Auditorium, Wilmington, MA... Mar Dulles Expo & Convention Center - Chantilly, VA... Aug 7-8 Scouts in uniform, FREE. Greenberg Shows cordially invites clubs and individuals to participate with layouts, demos and club tables. We look forward to hearing from you. East Valley Lines N Scale, Traveltown, Griffith Park, off Ventura Freeway. 11AM-4PM Free. Large club N layout in operation. Info: Lowell Majors, January weekends, Lansdale, PA (Jan 3&4, 10&11, 17&18, 24&25) Keystone NTRAK M RR Club open house. In basement of Kulpsville Antique and Flea Market, 1375 Forty Foot Rd. Operating layout and displays 12-4 each day. Contact Stan Houpt (610) Jan 17-18, Plano, TX 19th Annual Dallas area Train Show. Plano Centre, 2000 E Spring Creek Pkwy. 10-5, $6 per person, under 12 free. Layouts and dealers. Contact Bart Bartholomew. dbarthol@earthlink,net Feb 6-8, Springfield, MA Winterfest N Regional Convention and Train Show. Three buildings at the Eastern States Exposition Center. Special N activities at the Hilton Garden Inn. See page 20 for details and at March 5-7 Bournmouth, Dorset, UK N-TRAK UK 2004 Convention, East Anglia Hotel. Three NTRAK layouts plus 3 display layouts plus dealers. Contact David Ballam. david.ballam@ntlworld.com Note: We try to include any information about NTRAK or N scale layouts that will be at the events listed. If you send in a notice, please include that information. If space is tight, notices that don't mention N scale will not be published. Jim. March 5-7, Ogden, UT Hostlers M RR Club 2004 Festival, Ogden Union Sta, 25th St and Wall Ave. Layouts and displays. $5, under 12 free.fri 5-9pm, Sat 10-6, Sun Mike Murphy (801) April 24-25, Monroe, WA 12th annual M RR Show and Swap Meet. Evergreen State Fairgrounds Sat, 10-4 Sun. $5, $3 seniors and under 18, under 12 free. NTRAK layout, modular layouts and dealers. Contact David Moser. Dmsltjo@msn.com Aug 5-8 Chantilly, VA Capitol Limited, 2004 N Scale East Convention, Dulles Expo Center and Holiday Inn. Huge NTRAK Layout, largest yet. 30,000 sq ft. All scales Greenberg Show, 100+ Vendors, Layout Tours, Clinics and Prototype Tours. Hotel $89 single or double, includes breakfast. See page 6 for more info. NMRA National Conventions 2004 Seattle, WA, July Cincinnati, OH, July Philadelphia, PA 2007 Detroit, MI, July Anaheim, CA 2009 Open, East Coast 2010 Milwaukee, WI, 75th Anniv Page 21