President's Message - Puget Sound Garden Railway Society
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Volume 31 Number 5 May 2020
President’s Message
By Dick Friedman
I sincerely hope you are all safe and healthy. Being hunkered
down is no fun, but it's a lot better than being sick. Since so
many of us are "older adults", it pays to be especially careful.
Club activities have been severely affected, as you know,
and will be for at least another month if the "don't
congregate" rule continues. Looks like May 31 is the earliest
we'll be able to get together, but absent preventing or curing
coronavirus, stay put, please. We can keep in touch by
phone, Facebook, email, and making faces at each other
through windows!
I hope that you have found ways to keep your model railroading skills sharp! I've been working on my
photography, in hopes that when I get the railroad uncovered, I'll be able to show what I've done. We can
still help each other by answering questions. I've been doing that, and that keeps me busy. Be sure to
send pictures and or articles to Suzy Namba to share in the Flyer.
Meanwhile, a bouquet of micro miniature roses from my railroad's garden:
Page 1
3D Corner
By Dick Friedman
Last month, I showed how to make a window in a wall. Since then, I've added a second window and door.
Then I printed two of the finished building fronts and painted them. They are nearly finished, as I need to
put the attics on them. I didn't put them on the building fronts because my printer could not print such a tall
piece, and I had trouble printing the buildings flat because they curved up at the ends.
The door is similar to the windows, except you do have to be a little more careful about scale. In homes,
exterior doors are no smaller than 3 feet wide and no less than seven feet tall. They can be wider with two
doors or side lights, or transoms, but I chose a 3 by 7 door and put a small window in it.
Step 1: put a block that is about 4 mm wider and taller than the scale 3 x 7 foot door and about 2 mm
thicker than your wall in the place you want the door. This makes the door trim.
Step 2: make a second block about 4 mm shorter and narrower than the 3 by 7 foot door, but only about
4 mm thick. Make the second block a "hole" and place it atop the door block and center the two.
Step 3: raise the hole about 5 mm off the print bed. Group the two and the door will appear recessed.
Step 4: place two more holes for the window on the front of the door, and the second, larger hole, on the
back for the glazing to fit.
Lastly, I added a small porch, just another block a little larger than the door and the trim.
If you have any questions, or would like to have one of these, just drop me an email. I'll be around.
New & Returning Members
By Tom Silver
There are no new or returning memberships to report this month. Name tag procurement has been on
hold, which means the Langdons and the Janzens (new members last month) will not get theirs until after
the economy opens up, again.
Page 2
Our membership count stands at 86.
Note: Please communicate any changes in address, phone number, or E-mail address to me at
(916) 988-0536 or TandBSilver@aol.com.
Stay safe, everyone!
If you change your E-mail address and do not let us (Ben Shell, Suzy Namba, and me) know,
you will not be able to access the Member Area of the SVGRS web site, retrieve your monthly
Valley Flyer or board minutes, nor receive Email blasts with special notices.
NGRC 2020 Update
Posted April 15, 2020 on the NGRC website:
New dates for the 36th National Garden Railway Convention will be May 30th through June 5th of 2021. It
appears that hindsight is not actually 2020, but 2021!
We have officially gotten word from Marriot and the Gaylord Opryland Resort that the convention can be
transferred to the dates of May 30 - June 5 of 2021. We ask for your patience as we figure out details and
get our plans finalized - again - for events in 2021. We are hopeful that most events and plans can be
moved back one year to make the transition easy for everyone involved.
The DGRS (Denver) and BAGRS (San Francisco Bay Area) clubs have been working closely with us and
all have agreed to bump plans back by one year. So Denver will host in 2022 and the Bay Area in
California will host again in 2023. Nashville will be the place to be in 2021. We will do our best to keep
everyone up-to-date as we re-book events and venues in Nashville.
Marriott has sent emails to convention attenders who reserved rooms for the Opryland Resort, and they
have stated they have a link in the email that allows you to re-book for next year’s convention. If for some
reason the link is not present, or does not work, do not panic. We will have a new link posted on our
website once we receive it.
Admittedly, they asked us for a few days head start to send you messages and sent notice almost
immediately to folks, so we will need a little time to re-organize and get in touch with folks who have
questions. However, things look good for being able to move all events, meals, BBQ's... pretty much
everything back to 2021! (Our venue booking is already moving forward, full steam ahead.)
Please be patient with us. We are doing everything we can to get things re-organized for 2021. Folks
already had a lot to think about, but you can now change your travel plans and get ready for NGRC in
2021 in our beloved Nashville, TN. We know this will be a memorable event for everyone!
Once again, the new dates will be for May 30th through June 5th of 2021.
Apparently hindsight is 2021! :)
Page 3Modular Report
By Bob Dean
As of now the next two modular set ups are still on for Colfax Railroad Days, September 21st & 22nd and
International Railfair October 10th & 11th at the Scottish Rite Temple. We are hoping to have some work
parties for the modules this summer when things get back to normal.
SVGRS Club Members’ Covid-19 Isolation Activities
The Epsteins report they worked a little on the layout, planting grass in the center and adding a sprinkler
line. Carole’s plantings at the back are looking great. She dug up and replanted the area next to the
mountain.
Mike put in pavers in a new seating area, back behind the pool and around the front pond.
Carole expanded her vegetable garden with tomatoes, beans, pluots and berries. Her iris bed is starting to
bloom quite nicely. They also added 10 chicks – 3 Russian Orloffs, 3 Silkies and 4 Polish.
Page 4And finally, they just enjoyed the spring blooms – roses in the eucalyptus, azaleas, roses and flag iris.
PS: For those stuck in the mud, they built a road to the modular trailer last summer!
Mike & Carole hope everyone stays safe so we can all be out and about real soon!
The Nambas have been working in their front yard putting in drip irrigation, planting ground covering
plants, replenishing the ground plane with 6 yards of mulch and 3 yards of gravel, as well as placing the
better part of 3 tons of moss rock as edging next to the sidewalk. They have also put in a little time on the
“granite” mountain in the back corner of the layout, and hope to have it in more presentable shape in time
for the General Meeting in October!
Ray Smith reports he has been passing the time with scratch building and trying a few new building
techniques… and some have actually worked. First, he located a couple of photos online and printed
them out. Then, using 1:24 scale he was able to come up with some rough measurements and adjusted
the dimensions as needed for visual effect and to fit their small yard.
Pictured on the left is a barn measuring 25 in wide x 14 in deep and
14 in to the roof peak. It is hard to see, but he located a miniature
weather vane online for the cupola. The walls are made from 3/8 in
plywood with 1/8 in x 1/16 in strips each glued 1/4 in apart onto the
plywood. The added strips give the walls a raised effect and looks
realistic from a distance. The barn doors are made from redwood
strips cut 1/16 in deep and 1/4 inch wide. Crosspieces were glued
Page 5onto the wood strips and the doors clamped between two small pieces of plywood until the glue dried to
prevent the doors from warping (note: wax paper between the door and the plywood used for clamping is
an easy way to prevent the excess glue from bonding to the plywood pieces). The doors overlap the
opening and slide on a simple track.
Creating a realistic roof was a challenge. He tried using metal, making wood shingles, stone casting and
finally settled on a simple and inexpensive method. For the barn, he simply glued 1/8 in by 1/16 in wood
strips 1 inch apart on top of the plywood roof; spray painted the roof and sealed it with an oil-based
polyurethane product. From a distance the roof looks to be metal roofing. In the future, he says he may
use his wood burner to make some horizontal relief cuts to give the appearance of overlapping metal for
additional effect.
Ray also built a farmhouse measuring 16 in wide
x 24 in deep and 16 in to roof peak. The walls
are made from plywood with a shallow cut relief
groove cut 1/4 in apart. The roof is made from
2x4 redwood ripped into strips, each 1/16 in thick
and glued to a plywood roof. Then redwood
strips were cut to 1/8 in by 1/16 in and glued on
top of each seam. The strips added a depth to
the appearance lending to a more rustic look that
the finished look of the barn. After the glue dried,
he sealed the roof with Minwax Helmsman Spar
Urethane. The advantage of this product is that
it protects the wood and gives it an appearance
of copper metal. He hopes the spar varnish will preserve the redwood during the hot summer sun…this
summer will be a test. At worse, he can remove the roof and
replace it with actual copper material.
The Silvers report that due to gym closures, their exercise has
taken the form of more walking, often a birding session along
the nearby American River parkway.
The Crawfords have been setting up their front yard train for their
neighborhood "Treasure Hunt". The local community group has an
online game for people who are sheltering in the neighborhood, but
take a walk now and then. There are a number of homes that have something special to look for, from the
sidewalk (no entering the property). Ken puts out a different train each day (as long as there is no rain) so
they can "visit" any day and see something a little different.
What have you been up to? If you would like to share, please send me a note and some pictures!
Page 6Sacramento Valley Live Steam Museum #1 Scale Track
By Bob Dean
We have completed the expansion of the elevated track at Hagan
Community Park. This project was supported by so many
donations, volunteers' efforts and the SVLSM. The project's final
design and construction were overseen by Phil & Stephanie
Huntingdale, Craig Griffin and many dedicated helpers.
Hundreds of feet of code 332 brass track along with #6 switches
were donated to build the layout. It consists of two loops that are
over 300 feet long and a third loop that is electric powered and over
100 feet long, all with 10 foot minimum radius curves. The total
amount of trackage on the layout including its many sidings is about 1000 feet.
There are two lift bridges that allow access to the inner areas of the layout, but my special focus has been
on a 3 foot high trestle that is double tracked and 10 feet long. The trestle area also has a raised planting
bed from end to end. Part of this trestle was on display at last January's annual luncheon and just last
week it was put in place.
Access to the layout is currently restricted but we’re hoping to be back open to the public by this summer!
SVGRS Classifieds
WANT TO RENT OR BUY:
Resistance Soldering kit for soldering Code 332 brass rail.
If you have one available, please contact David Jansson at sirdavej@yahoo.com or 408-
398-2497 or 916-791-0233.
2020 CALENDAR
Date What Time Where
May 2020
May 2 Old Clarksville Days Cancelled
May 9 General Meeting Cancelled
May 14 Board Meeting 7:00 pm TBD: digital or in person
Page 7Date What Time Where
June 2020
June 13 General Meeting 11:00 am – 1:00 pm TBD: can we meet?
July 2020
July 9 Board Meeting 7:00 pm TBD
July 11 General Meeting 11:00 am – 1:00 pm The Turos’ RR
August 2020
August 8 General Meeting and 11:00 am – 1:00 pm The Franz’s RR
Barbeque
September 2020
September 9 Board Meeting 7:00 pm TBD
September 12 General Meeting 11:00 am – 1:00 pm The Abreu’s RR
September 21-22 Colfax Railroad Days TBD Downtown Colfax
October 2020
October 10 – 11 International Railfair TBD Scottish Rite Center
October 17 General Meeting 11:00 am – 1:00 pm The Namba’s RR
November 2020
November 12 Board Meeting 7:00 pm TBD
December 2020
December 12 Swap Meet, General TBD TBD
Meeting and Pot Luck
Other upcoming events:
May 31 – June 6, 2020 – 2020 National Garden Railway Convention, Nashville, TN,
https://ngrc2020.com/ Postponed to May 30 – June 5 2021
July 12 – 18, 2020 – NMRA, St. Louis, Missouri, http://www.gateway2020.org/ Cancelled
Page 8 July 2020 – National Summer Steam-up, Sacramento, CA, http://www.steam-events.org/ Cancelled
September 2 – 5, 2020 NNGC – St. Louis, Missouri, http://40nngc.com/
February 6 - 8, 2021 - New Zealand National Garden Railway Convention, Christchurch, NZ
June 28 – July 3, 2021 – National Garden Railway Convention, Denver, CO,
https://www.denvergardenrailway.org/index.php/national-garden-railway-convention/ Postponed to
2022
2022 – National Garden Railway Convention, Santa Clara, CA Postponed to 2023
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The Valley Flyer is the official publication of the
Sacramento Valley Garden Railway Society. The
purpose of the society is to provide regular meetings, a If you have any DIY articles with photos,
newsletter and projects that promote model railroading. non-club related events, or train related
Annual dues for a family membership are $25. Dues photos you would like to share with your
should be directed to the SVGRS, P.O. Box 276031, fellow club members, please submit the
Sacramento, CA 95827-9998. Checks should be made information and photos to your editor by
out to SVGRS. the 25th of each month to be included in
Address questions regarding SVGRS to the President,
upcoming editions of this newsletter.
Dick Friedman at rfriedma@pacbell.net or by calling (916)
363-6059
Sacramento Valley Garden Railway Society
Information for the newsletter should be submitted to the
Editor: Suzy Namba at jnamba@winfirst.com or by calling “Valley Flyer” – Suzy Namba, Editor
(916) 995-6864. Articles may be reprinted without
permission solely for the use of non-commercial media if
credit is given and a copy of the publication mailed to the
editor.
The 2018/19 Officers are:
President Dick Friedman (916) 363-6059
Vice Pres. Bob Dean (916) 726-5689
Secretary Sandi Haslett (916) 725-8828
Treasurer Ken Crawford (916) 366-3128
Director Gene Haslett (916) 725-8828
Director Bruce Runner (916) 300-2680
Director Jeff Namba (916) 995-6861
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