Model Train Journal

All,

If your interest is modeling steel mills, you're in luck!

2018 Steel Mill Modelers Annual Meet (Kent, OH)

THE OHIO WORKS
July 12—14, 2018
Kent State University Hotel & Conference Center
215 S. Depeyster Street
Kent, OH 44240

More information can be found at: http://smmsig.org/

You do not have to be a member of the NMRA.

I've attended three of these meets over the past 5 years and they are a wealth of information. In fact, this year I am giving a clinic called "Modeling Weirton Steel". The meet brings together O, HO, and N scale modelers with all levels of experience. There is truly something here for everyone from the novice to the expert. You will come away with lots of cool ideas and practical ways to put steel related structures and operations on your layout.

I hope to see you there!

George

As with so many things these days, I wish I was younger and closer.
But I'm old and too far. Alas.

rogruth wrote:As with so many things these days, I wish I was younger and closer.
But I'm old and too far. Alas.

Roger, not to worry.

Next year's meet will be held in Birmingham, AL. We're planning it now (I'm on the BOD).

George

Got a wife, got a family,
Earn my livin' with my hands.
I'm a roller in a steel mill,
In downtown Birmingham.

Randy Newman, Birmingham, 1974.

Just wanted to remind you that the meet is about 3 weeks away.

Walk-in's are accepted.

Hope to see you there!!

George

Gang,

The meet is in the history books. It was very successful. I will try to post some photos in the next few days.

Roger, I'm afraid I have some bad news. Next year's meet will not be held in Birmingham. There were a host of issues, including a dearth of steel mill model layouts, that caused the leadership to drop the venue. The 2019 meet will be held in Indianapolis.

George

Thanks for the info, George.

G3750 wrote:The 2019 meet will be held in Indianapolis.

Dates known yet? Might be interesting to have it in conjunction with the Indy O/S scale meet.

Rufus, I'll check on the dates for you.

In the meantime, here are some fabulous model photos from the layout tours. Unfortunately, they are all HO.











Nonetheless, they are beautiful models.

I got a lot of ideas (very dangerous ) from the meet.

George

Yes, they are beautiful.

Wow, those are massive in HO...I'm beginning to understand the footprint of the Panhandle 2.0 footprint for the butt-end of such a facility.

G3750 wrote:Rufus, I'll check on the dates for you.

Thanks

In the meantime, here are some fabulous model photos from the layout tours. Unfortunately, they are all HO.

Maybe fortunate but just keep telling yourself you only have to multiply everything by 1.81 to make it fit in your space

I got a lot of ideas (very dangerous ) from the meet.

Step away from the backhoe, sir!

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:

G3750 wrote:Rufus, I'll check on the dates for you.

Thanks

In the meantime, here are some fabulous model photos from the layout tours. Unfortunately, they are all HO.

Maybe fortunate but just keep telling yourself you only have to multiply everything by 1.81 to make it fit in your space

I got a lot of ideas (very dangerous ) from the meet.

Step away from the backhoe, sir!

I think I might have been the only 3-rail O scale person in attendance. Ironically my clinic, which dove into space utilization, backdrop usage, yard trackage, and intra-mill train movements on Panhandle 2.0, got a lot of positive feedback.

The ideas I'm talking about are related to the details and interiors of mills. I took over 300 photographs, primarily of the layouts on tour.

George

healey36 wrote:Wow, those are massive in HO...I'm beginning to understand the footprint of the Panhandle 2.0 footprint for the butt-end of such a facility.

Paul,

One of the big differences between Panhandle 1.0 (18" x 10' for Weirton Steel) and Panhandle 2.0 (7' x 10' for Weirton Steel) is the ability to use the yard in front of the mill buildings. I couldn't do very much with cars in the previous version. The other difference is the backdrop; having one that I can push cars into to hide / exchange makes a big difference and adds to the illusion of a working mill.

George

G3750 wrote:

Rufus T. Firefly wrote:

G3750 wrote:Rufus, I'll check on the dates for you.

Thanks

In the meantime, here are some fabulous model photos from the layout tours. Unfortunately, they are all HO.

Maybe fortunate but just keep telling yourself you only have to multiply everything by 1.81 to make it fit in your space

I got a lot of ideas (very dangerous ) from the meet.

Step away from the backhoe, sir!

I think I might have been the only 3-rail O scale person in attendance. Ironically my clinic, which dove into space utilization, backdrop usage, yard trackage, and intra-mill train movements on Panhandle 2.0, got a lot of positive feedback.

The ideas I'm talking about are related to the details and interiors of mills. I took over 300 photographs, primarily of the layouts on tour.

That sounds like good fodder for an article!