Roadrunner Division

ROADRUNNER DIVISION 7

2ND HALF REVIEW

Roadrunner Robbie Robinson watches his Marklin Crocodile wander along the mainline of the Dona Ana Modular Group layout at one of our 2015 meetings.

The Roadrunner Division continues monthly activities since our May report. We visited a set up of the Dona Ana HO scale Modular Group for one of our meetings, and enjoyed two layout tours and picnic barbeque at a home layout in La Luz, NM with a view of the White Sands National Monument in the distance. Here are a few tidbits compiled from the last six meeting reports on our division blog:

http://nmraroadrunner.blogspot.com/

Our youngest member, Gavin Faivre, displayed an N scale diorama featuring a Blue Swish BNSF locomotive and several coal cars.

Monthly meetings - 6

Total attendance - 70, with many members attending more than one meeting

Layout visits - 3

Contests - 1

Models displayed - 36

Tips and techniques discussed - 25

Ralph Troeller packs loads of details into small scenes like this one.

Roadrunner Division meetings are informal affairs that feature member discussions on upcoming local events, local railroad activity, and sharing tips and techniques in regard to the models brought in for display. Any member who brings a model for display is asked to make a short presentation on their efforts. Members ask questions about the completed works and make suggestions for the next steps to take on unfinished works. Each five-to-ten minute model discussion is a mini-clinic of valuable information covering prototype detail, build methods, finishing, and weathering.

Eric Hansmann displayed eight recently painted, decaled, and weathered box cars. He also displayed a block of buildings created from foam core. It can be seen behind the freight cars.

Contest

Our division holds a couple of contests each year with a topic or theme approved by the membership. We have seen layout designs, weathering, scratch built sheds, and many other items submitted in the contests. This past spring, our members were encouraged to construct a model or diorama in a scale other than their primary scale. Three entries were judged at our May meeting.

The former Silver City, NM, depot was scratchbuilt by Myke Bruessel based upon several photographs. The prototype structure stood in Silver City from 1915-75.

Bill Welsh entered a diorama of D&RGW narrow gauge water tank scene in HOn3. He mounted his work on a Lazy Susan that offered a different view of the scene with each turn.

Ken Newtson displayed a diorama representing a portion of the mountainous Japanese Oito Rail Line in Z scale. The diorama base is 144 square inches.

Members voted all three dioramas First Place.

Dick Schriver displayed this N scale American Model Builders pickle salting station with lots of detail. He had discussed a difficult part of this build at a previous meeting and received input that helped him complete the structure.

Next Stops!

Our next contest entries are due in November! Members were encouraged to a right-of-way track scene. No habitable structures allowed. If building a diorama, it must be no greater than 144 square inches and should be no greater than 9 inch deep for display.

We meet on the second Saturday of each month to share ideas, techniques, and a few laughs. All Rocky Mountain Region members are invited to drop in when you are visiting Las Cruces, NM.