HO MOD SIG MONTHLY MTG. MINUTES, Jan 10, 2009, Black Bear Diner in Redmond
by Norm C, Chairman

COMMENTS:
1. Meeting Date: The next meeting is Feb 21, ‘09, 8:30 am, breakfast at Black Bear Diner in Redmond. Note: This is the 3^rd Sat selected because the usual 2^nd Sat is on Feb 14 Valentines Day and 3 day holiday.

PAST SHOWS:
2. MTF: (Model Train Festival, Tacoma), Mike, coordinator: Dec 26 to Jan 3^rd Although this show got off to a rough start thanks to the weather, it turned out to be an excellent project. I think that we presented out finest and should have satisfied out hosts. Mike reported earlier how successful the host felt. I sure was glad that Mike kept dogging the museum and finally got us in. I am looking forward to the next time.
3. Trailer disposition this fall: Norm,
Norm has the trailer. The next show is UNW in Monroe so I will make arrangements to get it to Bob B. since I am out of town. After that is the UNW, arrangements need to be made for the home trip.
NEXT SHOWS:
5. UNW, Monroe, Jan 31-Feb 1, ‘09, Bob B. The participants have been identified. Remember that traffic is bad on Fri afternoon to Monroe and returning from Monroe Fri evening. The Past two years, most people went to dinner mid evening before latecomers arrive and to wait until traffic decreases. The UNW is sponsoring a new charity this year, the 4H clubs. Equifriends had a falling out.
NEW BUSINESS:
6. Rollin’ Rails information, Norm: The Swamp Creek Club will not sponsor this show so it’s unlikely to occur this year. With TTMT out in Apr and RR out in May, the UNW is our last scheduled show until Lynden in Oct. It’s a good thing that we got in lots of train time this winter. Keep your eyes and ears open for new opportunities.
7. Lost and found at MTF, Norm: Found a pair of red handled needle nosed pliers (still not claimed). Lost box of scenery (Found), 4D clamps (still lost).
8. Donation, Norm: While at the NETC, someone brought in a box of old train cars and locos to sell to the store. The store wasn’t interested so he gave them to us. Convenient. The stuff is old and very dirty and most worthless. There were a couple of OK stuff in there. We discussed what to do with it and came up with the following: Some Athearn cars can go to the kiddy layout. A set of Rivorasi UP Passenger streamliner cars will be rewheeled and setup for club loaners by Ross. A Mantua steam loco and an Athearn GN blue U-boat may be suitable for the kiddy layout. The rest junked or donated, maybe at the clinic marts.
*9. Number of trains running, Norm: This is a bit topic! Please read carefully.
At the GTE, by Sun afternoon, there was one train running engineered by Joel S although there were several members present. One factor was the conditions. The radio was pretty much useless and a couple of us were trying to get that improved. This was a big layout. We needed many, longer trains to entertain the visitors. One of our members received a visitor complaint about "nothing was running." So the big question is, "WHY WEREN’T THERE MORE TRAINS RUNNING?"

What would be the perfect situation? What would our exhibit look like if everything were perfect? How can we maximize our fun, satisfy our show hosts, and entertain and educate the paying visitors at the same time? Finally each of us in the hobby has a special niche that they enjoy. Obviously there will be compromises between visitor needs and our needs. First here are some thoughts on where the source of fun and enjoyment:
1. The sceniced modules themselves produced enjoyment in the builder by creating, constructing, and displaying them. The modules excite interest in visitors as a work of "art" and a source of ideas for their own real or mental model railroads.
2. For many of us but not all, displaying and running or operating our personal trains completes the "artwork" and provides much of the enjoyment of our art form.
3. Visitors seem to be particularly interested in seeing the motion and activity going on. Some visitors relate to various roads being exhibited and often refer to their parents being a conductor, fireman, etc. or the historical aspects of items on exhibit.

With this background, what might be an ideal exhibit? Again each person would have a slightly different picture, but a composite picture may have the following components:
1. A nice physical layout consisting of modules that are of show quality construction, completely sceniced, and detailed.
2. Extra items on individual modules like lights, people, cars, signals, and the camera train.
3. A *variety of rolling stock running the mainline, operating on individual modules, turntable use, or on static display (roundhouse or sidings).
4. Communication with the visitors.
5. Obviously we operators need to take care of our physical needs for breaks, food, physiology, etc.
6. No where do I see a need for "kit building" or module construction. Unless these are accessible to the public, they subtract from the components of the ideal exhibit.
*The quantity of trains running depends on the size of the layout, number of operators present, length of trains out, etc.

We might discuss this some more if needed. After thought. At the PSC, just the opposite occurred with over 7 trains running at one time on Monday plus the kiddy layout and maybe some individual yards working.

*10. Show Manpower Scheduling Issues, Norm: Another bit topic! Please read carefully.
Over the last year, a new issue has developed: Instead of signing up for shows in a timely fashion, operators are not signing up on the schedules and instead dropping in more or less unannounced. This might seem harmless and a few occurrences would be bad, but as the numbers have increased, it is extremely disruptive to the orderly setup and event. Let me try to explain.

First there is the setup before the show. Coordinators need to know the module counts and participants to notify the show host of our size needs on the application or even if we have enough participants to do a show. If people delay in responding, our application is delayed or incorrect, and the actual module lineup has to be changed, often many times due to late comers or changes. Coordinators don’t mind cancellations as much as late comers. The coordinators also have to make sure that we have sufficient manpower. On longer shows, it’s best to have a chart to make sure that every day is covered all day. If people don’t commit to the schedule, those few that do commit have to be signed to all day shifts. Sometimes coordinators don’t know if we can even have someone there all the time.

Then there is actual show. How do these drop-ins affect the show itself? Lately, we’ve started the extended shows (NETC, MTF, and PSC?) with minimal schedules; barely enough to cover all the time slots and people scheduled for all day sessions. But as it turns out, often midday day, operators drop in, sometimes many drop in. Larger numbers could be too many people for our space and show hosts. (They would rather have paying visitors.) Finally, it might have been better to have two half shifts rather that some people staying all day. Feast or famine, it’s just too difficult to staff shows this way.

I am sure that I speak for all coordinators, that if most people would sign up when asked, that our job would be vastly easier, more comprehensive, and our layout would be more consistently staffed. We recognize that there are a few people that are unable to commit due to being "on call" or otherwise unsure of their future schedules. But I am sure that most people can commit to a schedule for those longer shows. Please, please respond in a timely fashion and follow the schedules.

11.  SHOW TOOLBOX, Mike: All too frequently, some critical tool is needed to do a minor repair and no one present has the tool. Sometimes these are showstoppers. He proposes assembling a 4d toolbox with the essential tools so that there will always be sufficient tools to do minor repairs. Mike has volunteered to formulate a list of tools and send the list around. He would like to have each person add to the list any essential item that was omitted, volunteer to donating a tool they may have duplicates of, and indicating which tools the 4D already has. Get this information back to Mike.
12. TRAILER KEYS, Norm: It finally happened. At the MFT show, we managed to get the t trailer there, but the keys were lost. Eventually we cut off the locks and purchased new locks. To prevent such occurrence again, we decided to give show all coordinators a set of keys permanently so that at least someone there will have keys should they be lost. Those with keys can put them somewhere so that if they are present at shows such as key ring, toolbox, glove locker, etc. I will get them out to you when I get more made.
13. SIGNALS, Bob: Although we have spent considerable time and effort into constructing and maintaining out signals, they are just too unreliable and require too much work to maintain. We would like to look into commercial systems to see if there are any that may be available and affordable. Brian, Paul, and Rob (appointed), agreed (I think) to look into this. The signals ideally would be hooked into our DCC system, but we are open to other options. Being modular and constantly setting up and tearing down may make commercial systems impractical.
14. WYE IMPROVEMENTS, Mike: Mike and others would like to replace the wye and yard with a design change to make it more reliable. The seed of this idea started at Lynden many years ago and the idea has been worked and reworked many times. A big decision is whether the yard should be T-boned into the center (as now) or part of the loop. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Mike has agreed to design and lay the track. Hopefully Milt can find time to construct the modules. We will discuss this again at the next meeting, as this meeting was long and thoughtful. There are big decisions such as what to do with the old modules, how wide to make the new T yard, etc.

OLD BUSINESS:
15. OPS AT CHERRY VALLEY, Norm: Cancelled January due to inability to get there. Next session will be Feb 21^st. Note: this is a week late due to Valentines day.
16. STATUS NCE RADIO UPGRADES, Norm: Four have been competed and used at the MTF and PSC. They are wonderful and finally what one would expect from radios. The remaining four have been sent in. (Note: I received them back 1/23,09)
17. QUALITY POLICY, Norm: Incomplete modules have been showing up at shows for years and probably affecting our judging when present and at least our impression on people. A policy has been written and circulated and revised and approved. I will post it on the WEBSITE soon (See Policies). If you would like a separate copy, send me a note.
18. TURNTABLE CROSSOVER, Allan: This project has been postponed because the revised wye that Mike is building will eliminate the need for this crossover.
19. ANTENNA CONNECTORS, Norm: These have arrived and will be installed after we get the radio upgrades as they break. The antennas will be much stronger with these. (Note: I installed the first one today on one broken at the PSC.)
20. STATUS DCC PACKET ANALYZER: Allan: He brought in a couple spec sheets of two that are available. It’s pretty technical stuff. After much discussion and some information from NCE, we decided to wait until we get the radio upgrades and try changing our Layout ID before purchasing any. We have the upgrades and the radios were vastly better at the MTF and NETC. I am also anxious to see how they work at the UNW where we again have a large layout and other layouts nearby. Di Voss brought in a digital oscilloscope to the PSC for signal checking. (Results discussed at the next breakfast.)