Clinics

We are planning on having 200 clinics, running through the day with repeats so you can find the best time arrangements and get the most out of the convention. With so many slots to fill, the Convention Clinic Committee is in the process of assembling a list of clinicians and clinic topics. Clinics will be a big and important part of the convention. Our goal is to have clinics that address the wide and diverse interests and the varying skills and knowledge of convention attendees.

We are interested in clinics that address railroad history, operations, modeling techniques, new technologies, make-and-take activities, weathering techniques, layout maintenance, construction methods, modeling prototype railroads and structures and other railroad-related topics. They can be for beginners or for the most advanced.

Our facilities allow for us to have 8 clinics presented simultaneously throughout the entire convention. Clinics will be offered from the first day of the convention to the final day, beginning at 9:00a and ending at 8:30p. Over the course of the convention there are more than 200 clinic slots to be filled. Clinics are one hour in length including time for questions and answers. With the desire to have two opportunities for an attendee to catch a particular clinic, and the large number slots to be filled, we are asking that each clinic be presented twice.

If you have an interest in presenting a clinic, please complete the fillable PDF form. If you have more than one clinic you would like to present, please complete a separate form. If your clinic topic needs more than one session, complete a form for each session. The deadline for submitting clinic form(s) is December 31, 2024.

We are looking forward to seeing you at Station No.VI, 2025 NMRA National Convention!

We expect to release the list of clinics in the first quarter of 2025. Subscribe to our email list and follow us on Facebook for the latest updates!

Building Craftsman Kits – Dave Capron, MMR

Fifty years ago there were Campbell and Suydam kits. Scratch building was the only way to get great looking structures on your layout. Today there are hundreds of kits from dozens of manufactures. This clinic will cover both the basics of kit construction and how to build award winning kits and dioramas. The use of basic and advanced tools,adhesives, paints stains, washes and chalks will be covered. Construction techniques and various methods will be shown. Interior and exterior detail and signage is also demonstrated. We will quantify the difference between a layout model and an award winning Kit.

Enhancing Your Railroad by Lighting Structures and Scenes – Steve Harsh

By adding lighting to structures and scenes you can generate excitement and interest in your railroad. A small depot without lighting is just that. Add lighting and you can see people in the waiting room, the station agent selling tickets and railroad posters on the wall. The depot has now become a point of interest on your railroad. There is increased interest in lighting structures and scenes and this is reflected by the growth in commercial options available for lighting structures. The components and features of several commercial options will be briefly reviewed. The main focus of the presentation will be on the lower cost “do-it-yourself” method taking into consideration the desired results. Various lighting components will be reviewed including power supplies, bulb selection for different purposes, fiber optics, distribution systems, wiring, lighting control and new technologies. These methods and considerations will be illustrated with actual installations which reflect both daytime and nighttime operations.

Cumbres and Toltec Railroad – Bob Frankrone

Have you ever wanted to travel back in time? The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad is a living time machine that will transport you to a place and time when steam ruled the rails. Travel with Bob as he takes both an archival and present day journey on the Cumbres and Toltec RR.

Modeling Stone Arch Railroad Bridges – Neal Schorr

One of the signature items of the Pennsylvania Railroad were its stone arch bridges. Neal’s layout which portrays the railroad’s Middle Division features the three different types used by the Pennsy, including a tangent, curved, and skewed structure. All are highly accurate scale models and each required a different method to model them. This clinic will explain in detail how he constructed them out of hydrocal plaster to closely resemble the prototype.

Landscaping 101 – Brook Qualman, MMR

The bench work is done, the track is laid, and maybe a couple of buildings are built. What happens next? I will cover painting, weathering, and ballasting track. A brief mention of backdrops before streets and sidewalks. Moving on to terrain-dirt, grass, hills, bushes, trees, and water.

Love Those Loads – Bob Frankrone

Most model railroaders love open loads. Bob’s clinic features a variety of open load models that can be built from commercially available kits or easily scratch built from basic materials. Beginners and master modelers alike will enjoy learning how to create interesting and realistic open car loads. With plenty of photos from both the prototype and HO scale models, Bob’s clinic is always a real crowd pleaser. Bob is the author of the “Love Those Loads” series featured bi-monthly in the NMRA Magazine.

Weathering Basics – Norman Logan

Step by step discussion and PowerPoint presentation on the use of paints, alcohol,  markers, to weather railcars, buildings and other models. There will also be a handout of paint, markers, and tools. Finish detail painting will also be discussed.

Producing a Museum-Quality Backdrop for Your Layout – PART III – Norman Logan

Designing scenes with the use of clipped photos from magazines, internet photos and scene design for the lower 4” to the layout deck. During this clinic, Mr. Logan will talk about using and the installing of the clipped photos. There will be a discussion of matching photos to models on your layout. We will also discuss how to paint around and over photo create a scene that will blend in with the layout on the forefront.

I Love Tank Cars! – Rich Mahaney

This clinic explores the various types of tank cars based on the current DOT specifications.  The audience will learn about low pressure tank cars involving DOT spec 111, 111-CPC 1232, 117, 117R and AAR 211.  The audience will learn about high pressure tank cars DOT spec 105, 112, 114 and 120.  The clinic will also briefly look at cryogenic tank cars also.

Prototype Scratch Building – Houses and Other Structures – Brook Qualman, MMR

Make your layout really personal. I will show you how to research and scratch-build structures that no longer exist and those that do. My methods can be used for any structure. This clinic is on how I built several family homes for our Michigan Lines layout. It evolves into other significant buildings needed for the towns we are replicating.

Beginner’s Guide to 3D Model Design – Dave McMullian

High-detail 3D printed models and parts begin with CAD programs: Computer Aided Design. There are a number of free software programs available that provide everything you need to create your own designs and get them print-ready. We will review a versatile program that is easy to use as well as a more sophisticated platform for added complexity. The clinic will also look at online learning resources, examples of drawings and their 3D prints, and some things you should know to make your designs more compatible with 3D resin printing technology. Sample models will be displayed and reviewed.

Superdetailing Steam Locomotives – Dave McMullian

Virtually every aspect of constructing or modifying steam locomotives will be examined here. Topics include research, drive mechanism, lighting and electronics, running gear, use of commercial parts,  scratch-built details, and finishing. The clinic will focus on a Boston & Maine 4-6-2 that has over 1,000 parts and 300+ hours of construction time. I will share techniques that I learned along the way related to soldering detailed assemblies, fabrication from various materials, parts attachment, creating decals, and application of “rivet decals”.

Business Cars, Private Cars – Paul Hobbs

We will discuss railroad business cars and many different private cars that served on North American railways.