In this post-Thanksgiving lull, I’ll share some Naperville/Lisle RPM meet comments and photos from fellow Pre-Depression Era modeler Ray Breyer. The event was held in late October and has been an annual event in a Chicago suburb for a couple of decades. The photos and notes here are from Ray’s one-day experience.
Category: RPM meet
Recovery
As mentioned earlier, I participated in the RPM-East prototype modeler meet held in Greensburg, Pa at the end of March. It was another festive weekend of railroad history, ideas, models, and time shared with old and new friends. Nearly 500 models were on display and 37 presentations filled the schedule. About 165 attended this two day event. A couple of photo galleries are available for viewing. These offer a decent review of the models on display at the meet.
The New England/Northeast Railroad Prototype Modeler meet is up next on the calendar. This will be held in Colllinsville, CT on May 29 & 30. Make you plans to attend and soak in some good ideas.
What’s next?
That’s always a good question for me. In addition to the time at the prototype meet, I visited many of my family members in the metro-Pittsburgh region. I arrived back in far west Texas in time to be hit by spring allergies that are now loosening their grip. I need to survey a few hobby projects and dust off a couple of drafts for the blog to keep this fresh. There are always a few more ideas to share. Stay tuned!
– Eric
At the Proto Meet!
Here we are at RPM-East in Greensburg, PA. I’m posting this as a demo during my Introduction to Blogging presentation. There is a lively bunch of people here and the model room is filling up with some outstanding displays. Click on any image here to review a larger size.
Last night I operated on Ken Hanawalt’s Turtle Creek railroad until my legs had decided to call it a night. Several others RPM-East folks were operating on other area model railroads.
Friday is coming to a close but there is much more on tap for Saturday. I hope to post additional images soon.
Spring RPM season again!
As winter thaws, it becomes RPM season. Railroad Prototype Modeler meets are a great way to recharge the batteries after a tough winter. A solid presentation schedule and an extensive model display room are the two main components of these events. You will also meet some great people who share similar interests. I’ve enjoyed great conversations at RPM meets over the years that have pushed my model projects along. Many of these conversations have turned into wonderful friendships.
I’ll be attending RPM-East, which is coming up in just a couple of weeks. My presentation is about halfway ready.
Here’s a short list of upcoming RPM meets. Support the event that is close to your neighborhood.
- March 26 & 27 – RPM-East in Greensburg, PA
- March 27 & 28 – Savannah Prototype Modeler’s Meet
- March 28 – Western Prototype Modelers Meet in San Bernadino, CA
- May 29 & 30 – New England/Northeast RPM Meet in Collinsville, CT
- June 20 – Bay Area Prototype Modeler Meet in Richmond, CA
- August 7 & 8 – St. Louis RPM Meet in Collinsville, IL
- September 25 & 26 – Mid-Atlantic RPM Meet in Fredericksburg, VA
If I missed your event. drop me a note in the comments below.
Another year
New Year’s Eve is a time when many people assess the last twelve months and look ahead to the next year. Goals are set and promises are often made. Let’s take a look around the blog and the hobby room to see what has happened in 2014.
I like a year end reviewing as the number of projects and activities often surprises me. While I did not make as many blog posts as in 2013, I kept pretty busy with my layout and Mike’s layout in Las Cruces. I attended at least one operating session a month and I finally hosted a few sessions on the B&O Wheeling Freight Terminal. These become more satisfying each time and are a major reason why other projects keep moving along.
I’ve also been attending the monthly meetings of our local NMRA division, the Roadrunner Division. It’s been fun to interact with the other members and share tips and techniques. I’ve brought back at least one new idea from each of the meetings. I also traveled back to Pennsylvania last spring for the Valley Forge Railroad Prototype Modelers meet. It was great to see a bunch of old friends, take in presentation details, and operate on a couple of the layouts open for the event.
I won’t offer up my plans for 2015, but I do have three major projects and goals that I hope to achieve. Details will be shared here, of course. I also look forward to attending the RPM East event near Pittsburgh in late March, as well as the June NMRA Rocky Mountain Region convention in suburban Denver, CO. I’m most certain there will be more operating session details shared here, as well as freight car kit builds, and weathering factory output.
I hope you have set a few goals for the New Year. Railroad modeling becomes more enjoyable as we meet new challenges.
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