2017 Steel Mill Modelers Meet - brief recap

[G3750]

All:

I attended the 2017 Steel Mill Modelers Meet, held in Bethlehem, PA just recently (August 13-16). This is really the event for those interested in modeling steel mills on a train layout. It is sponsored by the NMRA’s Steel Mill Modelers Special Interest Group (SIG), but you don’t have to be an NMRA member to belong to the SIG. While many of the presentations and products for sale are focused on HO, the ideas, tips, and especially the inspiration are independent of scale. Plus, a large number of the attendees are knowledgeable about the steel industry or terrific modelers or both. Clinics presented were:

Iron & Steel (an introduction to the steel making process)
Writing an Article for the Journal
Steel Mill Photography Best Practices
Plant Specialty Cars
Modeling Bethlehem Steel Mill Cars
Treadwelling the ST&D Bottle Car
Assembling a F and C Slag Car
Modeling Rolling Mills
McWane Ductile
How to Develop a Model for 3D Printing
Electric Arc Furnace
Figures and Other Neat Things for your Layout
Building detailing and electrical systems



The SIG has been holding this meet since 2013. I attended the inaugural meet and the 2014 meet.

I highly recommend this event and membership in the SIG for those modelers who have steel mills on their layouts or are thinking about it. By the way, next year's meet is going to be held in Kent, Ohio.

If you want to learn more about the SIG, check out their website: www.smmsig.org

George

[Roy]

George, which of the clinics did you go to?

[G3750]

George, which of the clinics did you go to?

There was only 1 thread of clinics spread over 1.25 days. So I did go to all of them. Some of them were shorter and part of larger topics, but that's how they were shown.

George

[Rufus T. Firefly]

George, which of the clinics did you go to?

There was only 1 thread of clinics spread over 1.25 days. So I did go to all of them. Some of them were shorter and part of larger topics, but that's how they were shown.

But more importantly. were you able to remain conscious for the duration?

[G3750]

George, which of the clinics did you go to?

There was only 1 thread of clinics spread over 1.25 days. So I did go to all of them. Some of them were shorter and part of larger topics, but that's how they were shown.

But more importantly. were you able to remain conscious for the duration?

There were some rough spots here and there. Some of the presenters were good, others average. Most of the material was of interest to me. Even the HO focus of the available equipment is important now that the Museum layout will be in that scale. A small number of attendees actually worked in steel mills and they contributed enormously to quality of the event. I'm talking about men who were general foreman or plant supervisors. I was just a temporary laborer over 3 summers, but these guys understood how their part of the steel-making process worked and could actually explain it.

So yeah, I stayed awake and I got a lot out of it. And I will tell you that I think the SIG is well led by people who are passionate about the subject.

George

[Rufus T. Firefly]

There was only 1 thread of clinics spread over 1.25 days. So I did go to all of them. Some of them were shorter and part of larger topics, but that's how they were shown.

But more importantly. were you able to remain conscious for the duration?

There were some rough spots here and there.

I have a lot of trouble staying awake through endless Powerpoint presentations; I almost put myself to sleep when I give lectures.....