NASG Dispatch Articles by Jim Martin

2015 #1 January

7

Model Railroads and People

Photos and a description of William Flatt's modular layout. It features the Niagara, St. Catharines & Toronto electric railway. A track plan of this 9'x18' U-shaped layout is also included.

2021 #5 September

10

Model Railroad Clubs

The author reports that the 2022 NASG Convention car will be available earlier. He also reports on the modeling activity of some of the Canadian S modelers.

2017 #2 March

7

Layouts - S

The author describes Brian Nicholson's (Montreal) layout, shares photos, and a track plan.

2022 #2 March

16

Layouts - S

The author introduces Ron, who then writes about the how and the why behind his currently layout.

2013 #3 June

14

Structures - Industrial

The author describes how he turned this barn model into a harbor scene's fisherman's net shack, complete with suggested interior details.

2021 #4 July

10

Model Railroad Shows

The NASG Convention is postponed until 2022. The details behind TractorFab and CanaDakota, two companies owned by Kent Loewen.

2021 #3 May

8

Model Railroad Shows

The 2021 NASG Convention has been canceled, and is re-scheduled for the same location for 2022.

2025 #3 May

20

The author describes losing interest in his layout, and, having prepared it ahead of time for ease of dismantling, was able to donate portions of it to fellow S modelers.

2021 #6 November

27

Track

After covering the 2022 NASG Convention car, the author describes his ballasting experiment failing, and how he fixed it.

2016 #6 November

17

Layouts - S

Gregg describes how their Christmas layout grew over the years. Includes photos of the layout, as well as a track plan of this L-shaped 11'x17' layout.

2018 #3 May

24

Layouts - S

The author shares the formal track plan drawing of his home layout, and how he builds his scenery.

2017 #6 November

24

Scenery - Trackside

Using grocery store meat or produce trays to model track-side retaining walls.

2021 #1 January

29

Model Railroad Shows

Information about the planned upcoming 2021 NASG Convention (which was eventually postponed to 2022).

2016 #5 September

24

Scenery - Vehicles

The author describes how he took a Matchbox tank truck, stripped it, and reworked it to become an old tow truck.

2020 #2 March

16

Layouts - S

The author visits and photographs Neil's layout that models a single scene (using sections/modules). Includes photos and a track plan.

2014 #2 April

23

Layouts - S

After a few notes, the author describes John Johnston's Shelter Valley and Trent River Railway S-scale layout. The article includes many photos of the layout, as well as a track plan.

2014 #3 June

19

Model Railroad Manufacturers

The author shares an interview he did with Mt. Albert Scale Lumber owner Gerry Cornwell about his company, his manufacturing practices, and what it takes to produce tiny strips of wood. Includes lots of photos of the factory set up.

2014 #5 October

12

Structures - Trackside

The describes how he converted a Bachmann Plasticville tower into a more accurate S-scale model.

2014 #6 November

23

Model Railroads and People

A bit more about Nicholas Deely in Alaska, the closing of RMC's parent company, and thoughts on publishing digital magazines. He then continues to describe how looking at British companies' products, especially their OO-scale, may help us in S-scale.

2015 #1 January

23

Modules

In this collaborative article, the author covers the S Scale Workshop's preparation for the trip to the "Salon du Train Rive Nord" train show in Montreal, Quebec. Includes photos taken at the show, and a track plan of the final Free-mo set-up.

2015 #2 March

12

Scenery - Vehicles

The author describes some unique S-scale vehicles he created from kits in other scales. Includes several photos of the final models.

2015 #3 May

23

Modules

Using Tichy's HO-scale windows for S-scale structures. The rest of the article covers Chris Abbott's set of modules for the S Scale Workshop club, and how Paul Raham took over the modules to make a small station scene out of the original modules.

2015 #5 September

23

Model Railroad Manufacturers

The author reports on the River Raisin Berkshires announcement, Scalecoat paint's being bought out, and a visit with Fast Track's owner Tim Warris (includes several photos of his S-scale jig and his HO-scale layout).

2015 #6 November

14

Model Railroad Manufacturers

A couple of notes of Fast Track's kit for improving the tracking problems of American Model's 6-wheel passenger car trucks. The author interviews Steve Hunter, the designer behind the 3D-printed "Eastern Road Models" Shapeways web site.

2016 #1 January

19

Model Railroad Manufacturers

Notes about the dormant Ridgehill Scale Models company, the Niagara Central Hobbies store closing, and the S Scale Workshop's experiences at the Expo Rail Museum show of 2015. Includes photos of models by members of the club.

2016 #3 May

14

Model Railroads and People

The author notes that Rapido Trains now offers their own paint line, and that SceniKing backdrops has closed down. The S Scale Workshop celebrates its 20th year in 2016. Several photos of recent activities are included with the article.

2017 #1 January

20

Model Railroads and People

Notes about possible freight cars from Elgin Car Shops, anniversaries for the S Scale Workshop (the club to which the author belongs), comparing color vs. black-n-white photos, a visit to the Halifax & Southwestern Railway Museum in Nova Scotia (features an S-scale layout), and the passing of Dan Kirlin.

2017 #3 May

8

Layout Construction

After making a brief note about how Fast Tracks has bought out Mt. Albert Scale Lumber, the author describes the work benches three local S-scale modelers have built for their layout and model construction efforts.

2017 #4 July

12

Locomotives - Steam

Paul Raham describes how he built his fleet of steam locomotives in a difficult-to-model time period of 1919.

2018 #1 January

28

Model Railroads and People

The author reports on S-scale activities in Canada, including Pierre Oliver's first S-scale box car (a project that had to be canceled due to copyright violations), CanAm Social get-together report, and reports of people helping older S-scale modelers with the construction of their layouts (includes several photos).

2018 #2 March

15

The author had his first locomotive converted to BlueRail's system of Bluetooth-control-via-smart-phone and a custom install of battery power. Yarmouth Models had to pull their 1937 AAR box car kit from the market, but is working on a 1929 outside-braced box car kit to be released by Ridgehill Scale Models. Continued introduction to Calgary modeler Bob Hadlow. The track plan and a photo of Bob are included.

2018 #4 July

28

Layout Construction

The author is in the process of moving to a new home, so he is using this opportunity to make some changes to his sectional layout, such as switching to battery power. Includes a sidebar on how to create fish from used chop sticks.

2019 #1 January

12

Model Railroad Clubs

The author reports on S-scale activities happening in Canada. He covers the annual CanAm Social he organizes. The majority of the article is about the ten things the author thinks one should consider for a traveling modular layout. Includes photos taken at the 2018 NASG Convention where the S Scale Workshop's modular layout was displayed.

2019 #2 March

25

Model Railroads and People

The author reports about what is happening in S-scale in Canada, including the projects he himself has been working on.

2020 #1 January

8

Model Railroad Clubs

Information about the recent CanAm event in Ontario, Canada. Miscellaneous product info.

2020 #3 May

10

Model Railroad Manufacturers

Information about new products planned in Canada, and the latest status updates of layouts under construction in Canada.

2020 #4 July

28

Model Railroad Manufacturers

Information about products under development by Canadian manufacturers, and how the author built a roll-away paint booth.

2020 #5 September

14

Layouts - S

The author introduces Brian Walsh, a Canadian who has built a CB&Q-based S-scale switching layout, which is operated using S-CAB battery-powered engines. Includes photos and a track plan.

2022 #1 January

20

Model Railroads and People

The author reports on recent goings-on with Canadian S-scale modelers, including how to use Cripplebush's rubber rocks, and the announcement of Simon Parent's Miniatures from the North company, which produced the NYC "spec 486" box car kit.

2022 #4 July

14

Model Railroads and People

The author describes how he continued to model in S in Canada during the lockdown.

2023 #2 March

11

Model Railroads and People

The author reports on S modelers in Canada, including William Flat working on a new layout, Trevor Marshall moved and is building his new layout, Simon Parent is working on a number of 0-6-0 switchers, David Clubine custom-painted several American Models diesel locomotives, Andy Malette is working on his layout again, Yelton Models is now producing unique products, and Bob Hadlow in Calgary has passed away.

2024 #1 January

8

Layouts - S

The author attended Canadian Paul Raham's open house and shares many photos of Paul's layout.

2021 #3 May

9

Layouts - S

The Canadian S Scale Workshop's previous layout is described. The article includes photos and the track plan for this Free-mo-style layout.

2003 #3 June

8

Modules

The history and construction of the Southern Ontario S Scale Workshop's modular club layout. Includes a couple of photos of the layout.

2021 #2 March

18

Locomotives - 2-8-0

The author describes how Simon used a Anycubic Photon Mono X 3D-printer to print the superstructure of the engine and the tender, which he placed on top of a modified S-Helper Service 2-8-0 chassis.

2019 #4 July

21

Electronics

The author describes a solution he has come up with to throw a Tortoise-driven turnout by simply using a 9V battery.

2019 #3 May

4

Tools

The author moved to a new home, and he describes how he uses a closet to be his workbench space, which can be closed off, so the clutter is not readily visible. Includes photos.

2016 #2 March

15

Layouts - S

A visit with Clayt Peter's Plum Creek Railroad, which measures 14'x28'. It is still under construction, but the parts that are finished look very nice. Includes photos and a track plan.

2024 #4 July

27

Model Railroad Shows

The article contains an overview and some photos of the club's layout at the April 2024 show.

2020 #6 November

18

Structures

The author covers a number of unique structures he has built for his layout.