2008 National N Scale Convention

[AlkemScaleModels]

I'll be arriving on Tuesday afternoon and flying out on Fri eve. That weekend is our fiscal EOM/EOQ and I have to closeout the ERP for the bean counters.

Don't forget the TPS reports.

[TrainCat2]

 ;D

I use the TP for the reports!!   

[mmyers]

I'll be arriving on Tuesday. Staying through tear down on Sunday.

See you there,
Martin Myers

[randgust]

I'm sending out Everett Railroad Whitcomb 65-tonner #56, and the new SP 70-tonner resin kit 'demo unit' with John Sing, who will be exhibiting and running them at the convention.  If you want to see these operate and see them for yourself, I'll have those two there.  I can't make it myself, but John's offered to do this and it took me all of about 30 seconds to accept that deal!

[3rdrail]

My wife and I will be arriving sometime Wednesday afternoon, the 25th, driving up from Birmingham. It has been decades since I've driving some of these roads, so I can't tell exactly how long it will take to go the 366 miles. I'd like to meet most any of y'all that are also planning on attending.

Have 17 cars I've decided to sell, mostly PRR shadow Keystone MTL's, but a few others as well. Will also bring a couple of models for the contests.

Send me a PM if you're interested in getting together.

[mmyers]

Only 10 days to go.

 

Hi Folks:

 

This email is intended for those readers who will be attending the 2008
National N Scale Convention "Derby City Express" in Louisville KY from June
25-29, 2008, and who will be running trains on the Red Line Route.

 

I am the Digital Master for the large NTRAK layout at Derby City Express
(DCE).  Based on the current configuration of the layout and the number of
modules that will be in the layout the Red Line Route (RLR) will be
approximately 115 scale miles in length.  (I hope they have some
Port-a-Potties stationed around the layout.)  The Red Line Route will be
Digitrax DCC.

 

If you plan to bring locomotives and trains to run on the RLR please read
the following:

 

Programming Address & Consisting Locomotives

Because of the large number of operators who may be running on the layout at
the same time and the limitation of 120 addresses in the DCC Command
Station, consisting is limited to either Basic Consisting or Advanced
(Decoder Assisted) Consisting.  If you are running a single locomotive or a
consist of locomotives (4 maximum allowed per train) then your address will
be the 4-digit address that is your registration number for the convention.

 

You can either program your locomotives to this address before you come to
the Convention or you can get them programmed at one of the Programming
Stations in the layout center core before you operate on the RLR.

 

If you have locomotives that are consisted together using Advanced (Decoder
Assisted) Consisting you may leave them consisted to their current 2-digit
address.  You will need to bring them to a Programming Station before
running on the RLR to make sure this 2-digit address is not already in use
by another operator.  If there is a conflict we can re-program the advanced
consist to a free 2-digit address.

 

There will be no analog locomotives allowed on the RLR.  For a complete set
of operating rules for the Red Line Route please click on the following link
to go to the DCE web site at
http://web.mac.com/pauljdowns/2008_N_Scale_Convention/NTRAK.html

 

Sound Decoders

If you are bringing locomotive(s) with programmable sound decoders please be
sure to download all the sound files to the decoder before you come to the
Convention.  The Programming Stations will NOT have the capability to
download sound files to sound decoders.

 

DCC Design

A lot of effort has gone into the design of the DCC system for the Red Line
Route, including a detailed Design Specification.  If you are interested in
the background of what we are doing to make the RLR a success you may access
the specification at www.trainweb.org/nrmrc/DCE_DCC_Spec_Final.pdf

 

Throttles

Acceptable throttles for use at DCE are the DT100, DT300, DT400 either wired
or radio (radio preferred), and the UT4 or UT4R.  The DT200, UT1, UT2 and
Buddy throttles are prohibited.  If you own one of these Digitrax throttles
please bring your throttle to DCE with you.  Only a very few loaner
throttles will be available.

 

Summary operating instructions and other information about these throttles
are available as follows:

 

DT100/300/400:  <http://www.trainweb.org/nrmrc/DTThrottleSummary.pdf>
www.trainweb.org/nrmrc/DTThrottleSummary.pdf

UT4: www.trainweb.org/nrmrc/UTThrottleSummary.pdf

 

Volunteers

Setting up the NTRAK layout at DCE will be a huge undertaking.  If you would
like to help the Digital Team at DCE with setting up the DCC system and/or
taking a shift manning one of the Program Stations during operations please
contact me at jwallis@nc.rr.com   The set up teams will work at different
times from the start of setup on Wednesday, June 25 through the start of
layout operations on Friday at noon.

 

If you have any questions please contact me at jwallis@nc.rr.com

 

 

See you in Louisville.

 

 

 

John Wallis

Digital Master

Derby City Express

[pauldowns]

Posted - 06/23/2008 :  01:18:38           

Share your photos of the Derby City Express!

I have set up an account where anyone attending the convention with a digital camera and computer/internet access can share photographs with the rest of us.

You can view, download, and upload photographs at this address:
http://gallery.mac.com/pauljdowns/100126

Please include a title and your name. Limit all photographs to those taken at the Derby City Express and related events.

If you experience any difficulty please let me know. This is the first time I've used .Mac for this and I'm not sure how it will behave on other computers, but if you just click on the Upload or Download buttons, the directions are pretty simple to follow.

Paul J. Downs
Louisville KY
Production Co-Chair of the 2008 National N Scale Convention, The Derby City Express,
June 26-29, 2008
Convention Information
http://www.2008-National-N-Scale-Convention.com/

Visit my L&N in N Scale site at http://tinyurl.com/38ykrv

[atsf_arizona]

I'm here at the Galt House now, just checked in. I'm typing this from the 3rd floor lobby bar area via Wi-Fi.

By the way, I have two samples of Randy Gustafson's critters (his resin kits, built
up by the Randgust himself) with me for sharing and display:

- the Whitcomb 65-tonner, you'll be able to see it at the Model Contest room

- the GE 70-tonner (painted up in Southern Pacific), which will be running on the N Trak layout, and available for viewing most anytime you see me

I'll also have a few of my stuff around too.

I'll be on the Layout Tour on Wed AM. Photos to follow sometime late Wed evening.

Hope to see many of you soon.

[atsf_arizona]

Added some National N Scale Convention photos from today, Wed, June 25, 2008 to this web site:

http://www.pbase.com/atsf_arizona/n_scale_convention_2008_wed_&page=all

[atsf_arizona]

I've posted my Thursday photos from the 2008 NSC and National N Scale Convention.

For me, the day was action-packed full from morning to night.  Meeting great people.  Having my mind expanded every minute.   Bob Knight's (TrainCat) clinic on building brass kits blew up my mind (that's good) on what is possible.  Great contest entries.   NTrak layout is being built, 700 modules worth.  Room Sales superb for visiting and socializing.  Visited with Charles Hopkins and saw his latest custom loco painting.   The pictures above represent sample of all of these and more:

http://www.pbase.com/atsf_arizona/national_n_scale_convention_2008_thur_june_26&page=all

And I have also uploaded these to Paul Down's collective web site of photos
of this convention, again, that URL where you can see photos from *many* attendees.
This is great because my photos only represent one small cross section of all
that is happening.  See that web site at:

http://gallery.mac.com/pauljdowns#100126

Enjoy!

[Pray59]

Cool stuff John! Thanks for sharing!

-Robert Ray

[atsf_arizona]

Posted Friday pictures to:

http://www.pbase.com/atsf_arizona/n_scale_convention_2008_friday&page=all

and to Paul Down's collective web site of photos
of this convention, again, that URL where you can see photos from *many* attendees.
See that web site at:

http://gallery.mac.com/pauljdowns#100126

[atsf_arizona]

Some more photos from today, Saturday, at:

http://www.pbase.com/atsf_arizona/n_scale_convention_2008_saturday&page=all

and to Paul Down's collective web site of photos
of this convention, again, that URL where you can see photos from *many* attendees.
See that web site at:

http://gallery.mac.com/pauljdowns#100126

[3rdrail]

I'll be posting some photos when I finally get home tomorrow night. I am in Birmingham, AL, right now on the hotel's business center computer.  It was interesting, and surprising, who showed up as far as manufacturers, and who did not...more later.

[shark_jj]

Just got home tonight from what was my first N Scale Convention.  I had an interesting time and thought I might share my observations.  We registered late so we weren't able to purchase any of the extra fare items which seriously restriced our ability to socialize with other modellers.  It is hard to walk up to someone in a train show, swap-a-rama, or room sale and say "Hi, I'm John, who are you".  Nonetheless we had a good time.

Highlights:

Met Bob Knight and the people from Tex-N-Rails that I ordered my pennsy signal bridges from.  Bob was informative, helpful, and pleasant to talk to.  When I asked the person from Tex-N-Rails why I hadn't received the signal bridges I ordered, he informed Bob and I that they didn't have enough for the orders so my order for 10 was the one they didn't fill.  Bob was quick to assure me he would get on top of that, and went to his room to get 2 that he had brought with him.  I fully intend to continue dealing with Bob, I just hope he spreads his wings to other retailers.   I also sat in on Bob's clinic, he got way more people than I believe he anticipated.  There were 80 to 100 in the room.  The clinic was intended to be interactive and after his lecture style presentation he invited everyone up and only about 20 people could get around him.  Unfortunately, I wasn't one of them, but I still learned some informative stuff in the lecture portion. 

There was quite a walk from the hotel to the convention centre and the clinics rooms.  I would say in the range of 5 city blocks, and signage was non-existent.  The Convention Committee could have done a better job in that regard.  Downtown Louisville is quite pleasant and the walk was nice the first time, and even the second time, but by the third, it was getting old. 

I had never attended room sales before and that was fascinating.  A lot of neat stuff at reasonable prices and I purchased a few things.  Some excellent custom painters and detailers who had great stuff, mostly modern, and my buddy who models modern purchased a few items. 

The Swap-a-Rama was also great, most of the stuff unsold from the room sales but some items that hadn't made it out or I hadn't seen.  Got a nice PCM E7A Dummy for $35 that will go nice with my Kato E8's. 

The N-Trak Layout was large and there were a number of excellent modules.  I'm not an N-Trak guy but I know nice work and some of it was quite well done.  Bernie Kempinski's modules stand out, the Mount Rainier group was excellent and a fellow whose name I didn't get who had a samll town spread over 3 modules with detailed interiors and lighting on the buildings which just had to be seen to be believed.

Took in Scott Teagues clinic and also spoke to him at the Train Show.  Really great guy, and excellent presentation.  Reminded me of Allen McClellands, "good enough" approach.  When you looked at the some of the details on his layout they weren't that good, but when you looked at the overall effect it was impressive.  If the purpose of a clinic is to get you thinking, his did. 

Saw some excellent models in the contest room, including John Sing's GP9B.  since I will be building some for my Pennsy layout I was interested and thought they looked great, John did a good job.  Looked at  a Whitcomb, the local steel mill here had a couple.  Don't know if it was Ian's but it was well done.  Overall, some very nice models.

The Train Show overall, Walther's new 10-6 sleepers look good, as does the Athearn FP45's and F45's.  I love those things and I think a GN "Big Sky Blue' will be running as a GM demonstrator in my Pennsy world.  I was hoping to buy scenic material from Scenic Express but they weren't there. my big disappointment. 

Stayed overnight at Marion on the way home.  Got in at 7, went down to the diamonds and got 11 trains in just a little over an hour.  Outstanding.

All in all, good trip.

PS:  Spoke to the Kato guy, he said September for the GG1's and suggested there was an announcement of a new loco coming at the NMRA Convention in Anaheim.  Don't know whether to believe him or not, and why announce it at NMRA with very few N Scaler's present as opposed to the N Scale Convention?