Be sure to check out a clinic while you're at the Train Show. These feature introductions to model railroading topics and how-to instruction for various skills. The clinics area is on the East end of the Palmer Events Center Expo Hall (look for the black curtains). Possibly the only Train Show in the region with clinics by three different Master Model Railroaders!

Schedule:

Time	Presenter	Topic
Saturday August 23
11:00 am	Jack Merkel, MMR	Operating Session Basics - A Beginner's Guide to Having Fun
12:00 noon	Don Winn, MMR	Kitbashing - Thinking Outside the Walthers Box
1:00 pm	Steve Jackobs, MMR	Smoke & Mirrors: Model Railroading in Small Spaces
2:00 pm	John Larson	Introduction to Model Railroading
3:00 pm	Mark Sykes	Building a Brick Railroad
4:00 pm	David Nicastro	Realistic Rocks: Making Resin Mountains
Sunday August 24
11:00 am	Bob Fricke	My Denver & Rio Grande Railroad
12:00 noon	John Buckley	Automating Model Railroad Structures
1:00 pm	Mark Sykes	Building a Brick Railroad
2:00 pm	John Larson	Introduction to Model Railroading

Descriptions:

• Operating Session Basics - A Beginner's Guide to Having Fun - Jack Merkel, MMR
  This clinic will introduce you to operations in model railroading, which adds fun to the hobby by simulating prototypical train movements and jobs. We'll discuss railroad freight car switching and train operation with a dispatcher. Come learn about operations. You'll be better prepared to participate in operating sessions on other modelers layouts, and on your own layout you'll be ready to give your trains a reason to run.
• Kitbashing - Thinking Outside the Walthers Box - Don Winn, MMR
  You need dozens, perhaps hundreds, of structures for your home or club layout. There's not enough time to scratchbuild them all, but building a kit to the instructions leaves you with a layout that looks more like a Walthers sales display and less like the unique railroad you are trying to present. Also, many of the spaces you have on your railroad are oddly shaped where a rectangular building won't fit. We'll discuss tips and tricks to help you build structures that fit your layout and will hopefully inspire you to customize your buildings to tell your railroad's story.
• Smoke & Mirrors: Model Railroading in Small Spaces - Steve Jackobs
  Big fun in model railroading doesn't necessarily need a big layout. The HO scale Austin & Taylor & Pacific benchwork occupies 5' x 11' in a spare bedroom and expands for operations with two sector plates. A real mirror, fake smoke, and a host of scenic tricks give the operator a rich visual experience. More tricks give a rich operating experience. Come see how these tricks come together and pick up some ideas that you can use to make any layout seem bigger and more interesting.
• Introduction to Model Railroading - John Larson
  You've seen some interesting layouts and model trains at the train show. Come find out how to get started participating yourself. We'll explore the many aspects of the hobby and help you find the best place for you.
• Building a Brick Railroad - Mark Sykes
  A workshop exploring making a model train layout using LEGO bricks, track, motors, sensors, and the LEGO Powered Up App to automate train operations. Participants will build a series of simple point-to-point layouts building upon the skills learned in the workshop, and block programming in the LEGO Powered Up App to run trains on the layout successfully.
• Realistic Rocks: Making Resin Mountains - David Nicastro
  This clinic will show how David built the mountains on his 1,300-square foot layout to realistically replicate the Rockies. Some of these techniques may be considered advanced, but we hope they will inspire you to strive for realistic scenery for your model railroad.
• My Denver & Rio Grande Railroad - Bob Fricke
  I've build the narrow gauge (On30) Denver & Rio Grande Railroad in my spare bedroom. In this presentation I'll give you a tour and talk about how I built and run the railroad. You can even visit the railroad during the open house tour the weekend of the train show!
• Automating Model Railroad Structures - John Buckley
  Light, sound and motion are the three ways to drive interest in your model railroad layout. Come see three case studies of automating a parade, a ferris wheel, and an inclined railway using microcontrollers (Arduino) and printed circuit boards (PCB).