2005 Sn3 Symposium
Tampa, Florida

 

        What:

    Well it is all a memory now, but you can check out what you missed below. Click on the Bold Underlined Links. We are already planning ahead for a great time in Seattle, WA for February 2005. After that it will be Denver, CO in 2007 and St. Louis, MO in 2008. Mark these on your calendar so you don't miss out.

People are what make the Symposium's great and this year I made a point to capture that aspect of the fun thanks to some prodding by Tom Troughton over the years.

People Pictures

   

Manufacturers Room:

    We will would like to thank all the manufacturers that came to Tampa and also thank those that supplied door prizes for the Symposium. Great job guys and gals.

Mt. Albert Scale Lumber Co.
www.mtalbert.com

Rickety Rails Models
www.ricketyrails.com

Backwoods Miniatures
www.backwoodsminiatures.com

The Cimarron Works
www.cimarronworks.com

Banta Modelworks
www.bantamodelworks.com

1:64th Modeling Guide
www.modelingguide.com

P-B-L
www.p-b-l.com 

Heimburger House Publishing Co. 
www.heimburgerhouse.com

Mikes Narrow Gauge Models
www.mikesnarrowgauge.com

Grizzly Mountain Engineering 
www.g-m-e.com

Aspen Modeling Company
www.theaspenmodelingcompany.com

Pacific Video Distributors
www.darrylhuffman.50megs.com/custom3.html

Dave’s Sn3 Models
Dave.majcher@setoyota.com

Dana's Railroad Supply
4042 Deltona Blvd, Spring Hill, Fl
352-684-2484

 

 

Model Room:

    The model room was lightly attended as few models showed up, but there were some nice ones.

Motive Power - Bob Veefkind (HOn3)

Freight Car/Maintenance of Way -

Diorama/Module -

Tour Layout, Sn3 only - Larry Cox

Photo - Color, model & prototype -

Florida Cypress Plaques awarded for first place. Well, they weren't Cypress Plaques. Ask Jon Addison for the full long story the next time you see him...

 

What We Saw:

Layouts:

These were our preview photos, see how they compare to the actual layout pictures below.  https://2005sn3.tripod.com/photos.htm

 

    Ted Van Pelt, Sn3:

Ted has a wonderful Sn3 layout with all the scratchbuilt structures that go along with it.

   Jim Beatty, HOn3:
    The Hither, Thither & Yawn RR

    Layout Description: Jim's "Colorado-Flavored" railroad occupies about 140 actual square feet of a 2 1/2 car garage leaving just enough room to park "the cleanest car". The original 80 square feet of layout was loosely based on Malcolm Furlow's San Juan Central. Much of the 300 feet of track work including some of the 31 turnouts were handlaid in code 70, code 55 and even some in code 40! Operation is by way of radio-controlled Digitrax Big Boy system. Most of the rolling stock has been built to replicate as closely as possible a similar piece of equipment on either the D&RGW, RGS or the C&S. Some are unabashedly free-lanced for the HTYRR. There are many award-winning structures and pieces of rolling stock on the layout. Various sound chips and mini-scenes add to the fun of the layout. The trackwork is about 99% complete and operational and the scenery is also about 99% complete.

    Bob Veefkind, HOn3:
    Silverton Northern

 

     Sarasota Model RR Club, 3-rail O, O Scale, On3, HO, HOn3 & N:
    Myakka Valley RR

Layout Description: The Club has four permanent layouts. The 3-Rail Division is located at the head of the stairs. It is "J"-shaped along the wall and out over the stairs. The O-Scale Division downstairs has a 2’ by 100’ dogbone layout with memory control throttles. It includes an On3 coal mining branch running the full length of the layout.

The HO-Scale Division is R/C DCC controlled in a 19’ by 50’ area. It is fully signaled and operational on the standard gauge mainline. There is also a fully operational HOn3 logging and lumber operation branchline that interchanges with the standard gauge through dual-gauge trackage.

The N-Scale Division is in its own 19’ by 30’ room. There are two Divisions of mainline operation — a coal mine branch and a deepwater port. The N-Scale Division also has the capability of operating with either DCC or Analog throttles.

    Manatee Central Family Lines Railroad Live Steamers, 7.5", 4.75", 3.5" & #1 gauge:

The RR runs through 15 acres of Florida wilderness, across a swamp, 2 tunnels and several bridges.

 

    Roger Russell, Sn3:

Room Size 23 x 32
Era- 1950-51 - Total environment, backdrops & scenery is Colorado 
Rio Grande Southern, Rico to Lizardhead
Also includes Denver Rio Grande & Western
All made of natural materials, dirt & rock. No plaster involved.
Runs from 58” to 72” with overhead.  One area is similar to Windy Point on Cumbres & Toltec Railroad.  Gorges scale 150 feet deep. Bridge/Trestle scale 350 feet. All with PFM sound and basically complete overall.

    Dana’s Railroad Supply, HO:

A group of guys are in the beginning stages of building this layout in the back of Dana Jackson’s store.  The room is 20 x 20 with 350 feet of track and 3 main lines.  They are building a Union Station with 6 tracks & they have a yard with 3 running trains.  There is also two restaurants nearby with homemade food!

    Tim Godfrey, HO/HOn3: Coming Soon

I model the Sierra Railroad, West Side Lumber Company and the Pickering Lumber Company in HO and HOn3.
I also do Sn3 work on Jon’s Silverton Central portable layout.  He runs my Sn3 West Side Lumber locomotives on it as well. 
The layout is housed in an air-conditioned 1800 square foot building with the layout taking up about 1/3 of the building so far.
A lot of structures are built (many with interior detail) and scenery has a good start.

    Dave Sellers, HO: Coming Soon

HO Dayton & Southern 10 x 30 size. This beautiful scenic layout is located only 12 minutes From the hotel. This gem has tons of
structures...many either kit-bashed or scratched and it is filled with details. Set in the year of 1950, there is much to see on this RR!
 

    Thomas O'Rourke, HO: Coming Soon
   
Great Northern Railway, Whiskey River Division

    Some eleven years ago we decided to move from Naples to Ocala, which meant my beautiful model railroad (Dec. 1982 Model Railroader) would have to be dismantled. After salvaging everything I could from the layout, with help of two men, it took about six hours to tear it all down and haul it to the dump. 
    The decision to buy our present home was greatly influenced by the 24’ x 18’ outbuilding which houses my present layout. For me, it was ideal and exactly what I wanted. 
    Wallboard, a drop ceiling, and florescent lighting were installed as well as carpeting and air conditioning. Then came the bench work, and the Whiskey River Division was re-born. The HO, 3-level layout is in the NW United States during the late 40‘s to early 50’s.  Track elevations on the lower level range from 43” to 48”. The upper level double track mainline, hugs all four walls as it crosses a couple of rivers and goes through several mountain tunnels, abnd is 58” above the floor. Minimum radii for the upper level is 45”. The rest of the railroad, at the lower level is both single and double track with radii from 45” to a minimum of 30”. 
    Structures include scratch built timber bridges, buildings are made from kits (many of them Fine Scale Miniatures), with the most outstanding structure being a 6-1/2’ long, four-track, 84-chute, Great Lakes Ore Dock, which was built from scratch following plans obtained during a visit to the Great Northern Museum in Duluth, MN, in 1977. Added last year is a harbor complete with ore boat and appropriate buildings and boats. 
    Scenery and landscaping have long been one of my passions, and the layout is covered with mountains, lakes, and many, many handmade trees. The walls are decorated with cutouts from travel posters, photos cut from magazines, books and newspapers, as well as murals, all of which were mutilated to fit my room.

    Tampa Trolley System and facility tour.

    Larry Cox, Sn3:  

A/C Room size: 10' x 28' (upstairs)
Main line:    120 Lineal Feet
Track plan:  Stacked 'Dog bone'   
Unique features:  All 3% to 3.5% grades,  Mountains & and 7 Trestles
Stage of completion:  Trains run, Sounds, Hard shell complete and first 'layer' of Colorado dirt applied.

    Mike Suarez, Jr., HO:

H O 10' x 12' THIS LITTLE GEM IS FILLED WITH FINE SCALE MINIATURES KITS AS WELL AS A CITY SCENE ... EVERYTHING IS VERY WELL DONE. YOU WILL BE AMAZED WITH ALL THE DETAIL. ..INCLUDING A GREAT WATERFRONT HARBOR. SCENERY IS 80%

    Dr. Earl Smith, O 3 rail:

2,500 Sq Ft of Lionel You won’t believe this one!  Even a renovated real caboose in the yard!

    Jim Earle, Fn3:

Outdoor Garden Layout- Takes up ˝ of his back yard.  Colorado Narrow Gauge, Rio Grande Southern & Rio Grande.  1:20.3 Scale. All fine scale RR Narrow Gauge. From C-16's 2-8-0's to K-37’s 2-8-2's.

   Sun Coast Railroad Club:
    WWW.SUNCOASTMRRC.COM

THE CLUB WAS STARTED IN 1981& HAS A LARGE H O & N SCALE SCENERY IS 90% COMPLETE ON THE HO SIDE & IS QUITE BEAUTIFUL . THERE ARE MANY SCRATCH BUILT BRIDGES (DAN LEWIS) & MANY WONDERFUL
SCENES. THE BACKDROPS WERE PAINTED BY DICK DORSEY WHO ALSO ALONG WITH JON ADDISON WORKED ON MUCH OF THE SCENERY. THE N SCALE IS ALSO NICE!
 

    Jon Addison, Sn3:
    Silverton Central
   
    http://users2.ev1.net/~on30/SilvertonCentral.htm

   

    Largo Central Railroad Live Steamers, 7 1/2" gauge:
   www.lcrailroad.com/
 

THIS RAILROAD WAS STARTED IN 1991 AND HAS 6,700. FEET OF MAINLINE TRACK INCLUDING A TUNNEL AND A TRESTLE. IT WINDS THROUGH THE BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS OF LARGO CENTRAL PARK

  

    Lou Ullian, On3:
    Coon Creek Lumber Co.   

THIS WONDERFUL RAILROAD OCCUPIES A 24'BY 27' ROOM. IT FEATURES A LONG CURVED TRESTLE, A COMPLETE SPAR TREE SCENE, A PROTOTYPE SAW MILL & TOO MANY GREAT MODELING AREAS TO MENTION HERE!!! THERE ARE 36'' FIR TREES & THE SCENERY IS FANTASTIC!!! THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE BEST LOGGING RR YOU'LL EVER SEE.
 

   Joe Brook, Jr., Sn3:
    Denver, South Park and Southern

It is Colorado narrow gauge in Sn3 based on the Denver, South Park and Pacific / Colorado and Southern and the Rio Grande Southern in the 1935-1942 time period in a 10`X13` room.
It is all steam , hand laid track, scratch built structures, trestles, bridges and trees, with DCC control ( Digitrax ) and Soundtraxx sound chips.
Photographic backdrops are made from blow-ups of photos that I took in Colorado.
The layout has been featured in several magazines and calendars.
      Model Railroader calendar 1999 ( October )
      Model Railroader-5 times
      Mainline Modeler
      Sn3 Modeler
      S/Sn3 Modeling Guide
      S/Sn3 Modeling Guide calendar 2004 ( January )

 

FLORIDA FAMILY FUN ATTRACTIONS:

     While in Tampa we visited the famous Original Hooters restaurant and
BUSCH GARDENS

 

Clinics:

Ted Van Pelt - Building Scenery

           Ted has been involved in Sn3 for quite some time.  He has built many wonderful structures and his Sn3 layout is a must see. He will demonstrate how the real terrain, changes in color from one area to the next.

 Gerry Cole – Sn2, The Narrower Narrow Gauge.

          Gerry will discuss the Maine prototypes that have now come on the scene in Sn2 as well as many new products. S-Scale structures, turnouts, track, locomotives and rolling stock will be covered.

 Jon Addison – Realistic Scenery Made Easy

          Jon, the builder of the Sn3 Silverton Central on display, will demonstrate this simple yet extremely realistic scenery method. He will build a scenery diorama right in front of you.

 Dan Lewis – Realistic Bridge Building

        Dan is one of the best bridge builders, you never heard of.  His fantastic bridges will be on display on the Layout Tour at the Suncoast Model Railroad Club near the hotel. A must see! So come to the clinic and learn how it is done by one of the best!

Tim Godfrey – Westside Lumber Co.

        Tim is not only a fine modeler, but also a self described “Westside Nut”. He will entertain you with his vast knowledge about this wonderful Logging Railroad.

Ken Ehlers – Building Structures

          Ken is well known in narrow gauge circles, having won many contests.  His Sn3 layout has been featured in the Gazette and the Model Railroader. He will demonstrate his many skills and knowledge.

 Brian Nolan – Weathering Structures

          Brian burst onto the narrow gauge scene in a big way!  He won 1st Place and the Mt. Albert’s Award for his 0 Scale Diorama in St. Clara (N.N.G.C.) 2004. It was the first time he had entered a National Contest! He will demonstrate how he makes those buildings look so real!

 Jon Addison- 20 Tips to Become a Better Modeler

          Jon often gets asked how this or that is done on the Silverton.  In this clinic he will share with you some of the secrets that have made the Silverton such a hit with the general public. You will be surprised to see how simple some of the techniques are to learn.

 Dave Revelia – The Art of Figure Painting

          Dave has won two of the last three Best of Shows at the Narrow Gauge Conventions. His 3/8” tractor repair shed was a big hit last year in St. Clara. If you want to learn how to paint your figures better, this is the clinic for you.

Dick Dorsey --- Painting Backdrops

          Dick is a natural talent and will demonstrate a backdrop painted before your very eyes. His work will be on tour at the Suncoast Model RR Club.

 

It you enjoyed the Symposium or the pictures of it, take a minute and thank Roger Russell at: RAILROADROGER@msn.com & Dianne Cox at:   ccox3@tampabay.rr.com  

Webmaster: Pat Turner
email:
CandSn3@mindspring.com
Updated: 03/01/05