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Text Box: Special points of interest: Clinic of the month A tree modeling clinic will be conducted following the meeting on February 25th Saturday. Small hand tools required, call Tom Brunner for info and reservation. Work Schedule Every Thursday and Saturday are work days at the clubhouse. There are plenty of tasks to be performed.

Text Box: March 2006 Usually in this space I talk about how great the club is and what wonderful progress we are making. Don’t worry I’ll get to that in a little bit. But first I want to share a personal experience from the last couple of months. Recently a bedroom in my home became available. I decided to build a model railroad in at least part of the bedroom. I was told that I would have to share the bedroom with a trundle bed. A trundle bed, as far as I am concerned, is something that takes up time and space and doesn’t serve much of a practical purpose. It had spent the last couple of years stored in our garage where it took up mostly space. When my daughter moved out at the end of the year the trundle bed and I raced to see who would get to the bedroom first. It was a tie. Anyway, I now had an opportunity. Before I go much further I have to provide some of my background for you to fully appreciate the rest of the story. Many of you have only known me as the President of NCMRS and therefore someone who has great knowledge about all things to do with model railroading, construction, scenery, etc. In

Text Box: fact I have belonged to the club for just over two years and while I could tell a hammer from a screwdriver - you drink a screwdriver - I didn’t have very much skill in using either. Prior to this time I was last involved in the hobby when I was 10 years old. My knowledge of “how to do things” has been very limited and like many of you I have been reluctant to get involved in construction for fear of doing something wrong or embarrassing myself. However, I had made a commitment to build a home layout and now I was stuck. I bought the Model Railroader book on bench work. Must have read that seven or eight times. I even took it on a trip to Northern California for my “quiet moments”. Then I looked at and measured every piece of club bench work that even remotely looked like something I would have to build. The day finally came when I found myself at the Home Depot parking lot with a list, that I had made, of materials for my bench work. I also bought a few essential tools such as a square and an 18-volt drill. During this time I consulted with some of the club Guru’s. As expected everyone I talked to was very helpful. Tom Bruner even drew up a plan based on my room size and what I wanted the layout to look like.

On Saturday, February 25 the club meeting will be held at 10:00 am, at Boney’s Marketplace,

1820 Oceanside Blvd., Oceanside, Ca. Members, guest and visitors are invited.

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By the second day I had my tables completed and bolted them together. The Superintendent (Tom Bruner) came by and gave the ok. I had passed the first test. Next was the risers and sub-roadbed. Recalling how the club members had installed riser and plywood sub-road last year, I tried the same thing, including leveling and it worked! I only had to do a couple of pieces of sub-roadbed over. But each time I learned a little bit more. I didn’t get frustrated as I had with other home handyman projects.

I now have cork roadbed down. Track has been ordered. Work is starting on my sidings and I am starting on a couple of bridges. All of this happened because of two things. First I wanted to have a home layout. Second, I had watched, learned and helped on our club layout. I am a long way from finished but

President

NCMRS

North County Model Railroad Society

Boney’s Marketplace

1820 Oceanside Blvd.

Oceanside, Ca. 92054

(760)-722-7366

www.ncmrs.org

President Continued	2
Old Number 24	3
When the Winds Blow	3
DCC Decoders #1	4
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