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What Can We Help You Build?

Greetings!,

There is a local bank here in Massachusetts that asks the question, "What can we help you build?". Well, in-person conventions are the perfect place to get hands-on support and training to help you improve your skills! We have plenty of options available to you.

Hands-on Clinics

We are featuring several opportunities to improve both your technical and modeling skills during this next convention. Art Dutra will be presenting a clinic on 3D Modeling. This will be a hands-on clinic with two sessions, the first to help you get the software up and running on your laptop and the second two-hour session will be geared toward building your first 3D model.

Next, a team lead by Jay Eastman, Steve Boylan, and Steve Erickson will take you through the steps of building a T-Trak module. This is a great opportunity to learn new skills in a new scale, if you are not already in N-scale. You can do it for less than it costs to buy all of the materials you will need. Read more below about what you get for your money.

Stan Ames, Erich Whitney, Lia Davis, and Jeff Gerow will be presenting clinics on LCC. If you have never tried LCC, now is your chance! Not only will there be great sessions to help explain all there is to know about LCC, but you can purchase an LCC starter set to get you going at a discounted price for convention attendees. See the details below for what you can get to get you started.

Keep reading to learn more about these offerings.

Layouts

It is not all about clinics and we will have over 30 layouts available for tours and operating sessions. One layout, Bob Van Gelder's "South River and Millville" railroad will be open, but there will be a special sign-up at the convention due to aisle contraints. See below for the details of how you can see this amazing layout recently featured in Railroad Model Craftsmen.

Visit the convention website to learn more!

Did you see the article on Bob Van Gelder's South River & Millville railroad in the March issue of RMC? Well, this is your chance to see it in person at this year's convention.

There is just one hitch. Due to aisle space limitations, Bob has requested that we have no more than 4 visitors at a time.

Therefore, we ask that you sign-up for a 20 minute slot at the registration desk during the convention. This should accomodate 48 folks that want to see the layout. Please be respectful of Bob's time as well as other convention goers by making sure to be on-time.

For those that do not know, Bob ran a business building craftsmen structure kits called South River Model Works. His layout features all of the original builds for his many kits as well as several other scratch built structures. You can see all of his kits as well as pictures of his layout on his website: https://southrivermodelworks.com/

Keep reading for a sampling of other layouts that will be open for this year's convention layout tour.

To see the full list, check out the layout tour page.

The Southern Pacific Railroad is a large N scale railroad that is designed for operations. This 31x21 foot multi-level railroad is located in Holyoke, Massachusetts. It represens operations on the SP in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California (Ken Harstine's childhood home) in the 1980's.

There are more than 7 scale miles of mainline track with plenty of passing sidings. Timetable and Train Order govern the operations. Ken generates waybills for each session using a FileMaker database. There are slots available in his operating session and this layout will also be open for tours. Register today to claim your operating slot!

Ron Poidomani's Manufacturers Railroad will be open for a layout tour on Sunday to help break up your drive home.

The layout room houses two layouts, the Manufactures Railroad connects to the main layout like the prototype did. The main layout, previously known as the Huntington and Hartford Railroad, was featured in Model Railroader and Great Model Railroads in 2021. This layout was purchased, disassembled and relocated to Ron's home where it is undergoing extensive modifications to fit into his operations scheme.

The Hopkinsville Junction Railroad is a large O-scale 3-rail railroad located in Sterling, Massaschusetts.

Set in the 1940's, this layout features a large collection of post-war Lionel locomotives, rolling stock, and structures.

If you have never experienced what is possible in 3-rail O-scale, be sure to stop by and see what Rich Hopkins has been up to.

Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work? There are plenty of opportunities to get involved at this convention, from building a Bar Mills structure, to assembling a Funaro and Camerlengo resin car kit, there is sure to be something to get you involved.

But aren't the only opportunities that await you at this year's Eyes on the NER regional convention.

The LCC standard was adopted by the NMRA in 2016. Layout Command Control is not intended to replace DCC for train control, but it is intended to help improve train control with a faster, bi-directional link that's independent from train power.

We will feature several clinics by experts from right here in the NER! First, Stan Ames will present a clinic that introduces the next generation of model railroad control, LCC Wi-fi decoders.

Erich Whitney and Lia Davis will tell you what the HUB Division is doing with their new LCC Working Group.

Jeff Gerow, also from the HUB Division, will show you how the HUB Modular Group has used LCC to enhance the operation of the control panels for the layout's yards. Jeff will go into the basics of how LCC is set up and used in these applications.

Get Started with LCC

Have you wanted to get started in LCC but did not know where to start? Have you started with LCC but got stuck trying to figure out what a producer or consumer is?

We are offering two different packages of LCC Hardware to get you started. Working with RR-CirKits, we were able to get significant discounts on equipment that will help get you started. In addition to the hardware, we will also be pre-configuing the nodes with the basic setup for controlling Switch Machines, Signals, and implementing Block Detection. Experts will host a round table session in the Display Room to explain all of the setups and how to implement them on your railroad.

If you are new to LCC and want to get started, your package will include:

• Starter Kit (LCC Buffer, LCC Power-Point, 2 Terminators) - $114.95
• Signal LCC-32H - $104.95
• BOD-4-CP - $53.50
• CT-Coil-Set-4 - $10.00
• SSSB-S Dual - $11.80
• Two SS-RGY-24 3-color LEDs - $5.90 each
• I/O Test Board - SM - $12.95
• Two Ethernet Patch Cables and 10 pin I/O Cable

Package 1 price will be $200.00. This represents a savings of over $100.00.

If you already have an LCC starter kit and want to expand into signaling, your package will include:

• Signal LCC-32H - $104.95
• BOD-4-CP - $53.50
• CT-Coil-Set-4 - $10.00
• SSSB-S Dual - $11.80
• Two SS-RGY-24 3-color LEDs - $5.90 each
• I/O Test Board - SM - $12.95
• Two Ethernet Patch Cables and 10 pin I/O Cable

Package 2 price will be $130.00. This represents a savings of over $70.00.

You must pick up the kit at one of the LCC clinics or at one of the LCC Learning Tables. This is to assure you have adequate information to get you started.

Reach out to the Convention Registrar if you want one of these offerings to your registration.

Art Dutra will be doing a hands on computer-based training that will introduce you to the Basics of 3D Modeling Using Onshape Web Based Software.

This will be a two-part hands-on clinic using Onshape, a web-based 3D-modeling tool. Art will walk you through the steps it takes to design this small out-building. This will enable you to understand the thought process of working in 3D and how you can apply these concepts to any model you wish to 3D print.

Part 1 will focus on making sure your laptop is set up and ready to use the software, and Part 2 will dive into the process of building your first model.

There is no charge for these sessions, but you must register. Space is limited so please make sure you can make both sessions.

Steve Erickson, Steve Boylan and Jay Eastman will be hosting a two part hands-on clinic on building a T-Trak module. The first two sessions at the Eyes on the NER convention will focus on the assembly of the base kit, laying the track and wiring it. By the end of this convention you will have an operating T-Trak module that you can bring home with you.

There is a $35 fee to participate that covers both sessions and includes the following items:

• Module Kit (provided by Gatorfoam)
• Kato Trak (enough for double mainline)
• 2 Sets of Kato Power Connectors
• 4 Leveling Legs
• 3/16" Gatorfoam Backdrop
• Screws and adhesives

This is a great opportunity to get a T-Trak module for less than the cost of all the components. Special thanks to Dave Meyers of Gatorfoam (from right here in the NER!) for providing the kits.

There is just over a month left to save on the early registrations packages for the next NER Convention in Southbridge, Massachusetts, October 15th through 18th!

Our combo packages allow you to get the full convention experience while saving money. Enjoy the Thursday Welcome Reception / Tailgate Party, the Saturday Evening Banquet, the Sunday Morning Awards Breakfast, and full Convention Registration priced at $195 for NMRA members.

The registration price without meals is $95 for NMRA members and food options can be added based on your needs and interest.

Register online by credit card via the Convention Website by clicking here or you can pay by mailing in a check (see the registration page for more details). Register today!

The convention facility in Southbridge is easy to get to, affordable and comfortable. The Wellsworth Hotel and Conference Center offers complimentary parking, an on-site fitness center, an indoor swimming pool, a hot tub, and a business center. The hotel restaurant, Shades Lounge, is a full service restaurant and bar that is open in the evenings. We have a room waiting for you at the convention hotel so be sure to reserve your room today!