Clinics

Learn and Explore new aspects of the hobby through these clinics. There are many different topics to learn from including the basics of track, scenery and rolling stock to DCC, Prototype Railroading, photography, 3D printing and more. Some presenters are experts on their subject matter and others just creative modelers with ideas you have not seen before. These clinicians will educate, entertain and enlighten you. Please find the time to attend as many clinics as you can.
Call for clinics:
We are looking for clinicians to present. If you are interested,
contact Mike Peterson at: regclinic@midsouthnmra.org to schedule your clinic,
or click here for the clinic application form.
Clinic Schedule
Please note, this page is subject to change

Clinic #	Title and Presenter	Description
1	Inside Information Presented by Ken Mattern	This clinic will discuss methods for creating interiors for buildings on the layout. He will share tricks and techniques that are easy to accomplish resulting in a realistic interior.
2	Video Editing for fun and Profit Presented by Ken Mattern	Ken will demonstrate methods for editing your model railroad videos professionally using a product named Filmora. Ken is a video editor and producer who uses this package weekly. He will also demonstrate how to create layered sound files for your railroad.
3	Scenery – Basics and versatility of using structural foam Presented by Mike Petersen	Mike Petersen will discuss the use of structural foam in pink, blue or green and various thicknesses from ½” to 2” is a versatile product for the modern model railroader. It can be used as bench work, sub-roadbed, scenery or a core to a building. Explore the many uses of foam and techniques used to create modular layout sections and creative scenery.
4	Modeling a Standard, Dual Gauge and Narrow Gauge Railroad Presented by Bill Eberle	This railroad integrates heavy mainline railroading, branch line railroading, and narrow gauge into a comprehensive transportation network. Narrow gauge in particularly interesting because of the uniqueness of its equipment--including locomotives and cars and scenery in areas where narrow gauge is normally built. A dual gauge town which is at the end of the branch line and at the beginning of narrow gauge adds the interesting combination of the two scale railroads.
5	Basic Steps for re-motoring an older Athearn blue Box SD40T Presented by Jacob Oliver	Most of us own older locomotives that just don’t run as nice as we want them to. Learn how to re-motor a diesel loco and modify the drive trucks for silky smooth operations. See the techniques to tune gearboxes and drive alignments to improve performance.
6	Techniques to Put Down Track Like a Professional Presented by Rich Garber	Learn proper track laying and the simple tips and tricks for dependable and great looking track work. Having manufactures helps with geometric variety and can make varying and difficult geometry much easier to tackle. Whether you are only comfortable with snap track or truly freeform flowing custom track plans, leave the intimidation behind and build better with the techniques of this track geometry master.
7	Module Design for a Modular layout Presented by Mike Petersen	Modular model railroading is catching on every year. NTrak is the N scale version and has thousands of followers that setup at meets across the country and the World to interconnect their creations to make enormous sized layouts at meets and shows. Many HO clubs exist that have modular setups. Learn about a standardized approach for HO modular railroading that allows anyone to interconnect with others to create layouts for shows or weekend train meets. Construction techniques, bus wiring, turnout control and signal control will be covered.
8	Frogs – to Juice or not to Juice Presented by Mike Petersen	The frog of a turnout is so cutely named because the crossing of the rails on a turnout essentially looks like a Frog during a hop. For many of us, we do not think about putting power to the frogs of our turnouts. In some cases its impossible when they are made of plastic or otherwise known as an insulated frog. For the modeler who has used metal frog turnouts and has done so to prevent engine stalling in the turnout, the challenge is getting power to the frog. Multiple techniques for getting power to the frog will be covered.
9	Prototype paperwork and how to use it on your model railroad Presented by Steven Flowers	As modelers, we all collect some sort of prototype paperwork to use on our model railroads. Steven will show you some of his examples and how he use them to help operations on his prototype HO Scale layout.
10	Turnout Route Control Using Arduinos Presented by Sandy Warrington	Using a working system of 10 Turnouts on a demonstration panel, this clinic explains the planning, construction, coding, and troubleshooting of a method to control turnout routing using Arduinos. It includes an explanation of the hardware and the code used to make the system work reliably and inexpensively. It's also fun to operate.
11	Using the Circut to Make Model Railroad Projects Presented by Jim Davis	Using the Circut Air 2 to design and cut in styrene or wood for different items to use for model building and detailing.
12	Car Marker Systems, A Fresh Look Presented by Scott Dunlap	Car Marker Systems have been used as a way to route cars during op sessions for at least 60 years. Newer and more prototypical methods have been adopted by many but car marker systems still have their advantages and may be a better option for many.
13	The locomotives of the White Pass & Yukon Route Presented by Robert Bell	Narrow Gauge & Short Line Gazette author, Rob Bell, will cover all of the interesting and unique locomotives that have plied the rails of the infamous 36-inch gauge White Pass & Yukon Route.
14	The Art of Soldering Presented by David Carlton	This clinic will teach you the fundamentals of hand soldering. Learn tips and techniques to improve your skills and help make soldering an enjoyable part of the hobby.
15	Unique Track Laying Customization Presented by Mike Petersen	Most of us have laid our own track. In many cases we are limited to the geometry of the turnouts, crossings and other premade track parts that the vendors supply us. Flex track is our friend for making custom sweeping curves or curves that are outside the normal snap track pre-made radius. How about modifying turnouts and snap track to meet your needs to fit that tight spot or that custom geometry? Learn all the tricks in this clinic.
16	Modeling the Land of the Sky Presented by Paul Spilman	Modeling Asheville, NC in the 1970s
17	Trees Presented by Mike Mittlebeeler	I will show you how I get the plants that I get my tree sprues from, show materials that I use to make the green parts of the trees, and then demonstrate how to make your own coniferous and deciduous trees. Finally, a review some of the commercially available trees and their prices.
18	RFID Integration with JMRI Operations Presented by Carlton Brown from TrainTraxx	We have developed a RFID application for Model Railroad operations. This clinic will dive into technology about Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), and how it could be used with the JMRI Operations platform. This is a hands-on clinic.
19	Modeling a Carnival Train Presented by Larry Smith	Larry will explain the techniques used for modeling a Carnival Train.
20	Scratch Building in Model Railroading Presented by Lewis Von Herman	See ways of scratch building structures with hands on techniques. Examples of various structures built from simple materials.
21	Adding realism to your realistic operations Presented by Jim Davis	Every railroad has a well thought out plan and there are never any problems at all completing those plans. Ah, yeah right. Life happens even with our op sessions. I have a way of taking those uh ho moments and making your op sessions more creative and interesting. I have some real railroad delay stories to share that people have enjoyed in the past.
22	Eastern logging modeling Presented by Larry Smith	This clinic is not confirmed
23	Operating session with dual gauge Presented by Joe Nichols, Jr. MMR	This clinic will be on building a layout for operation with the ability to expand a shrink the operations based on the number of operators showing up. We will discuss ways to use open areas to provide more operations and some hurdles to keeping operators happy. We will review virtual operations with remote operators. This will recap my 30 month experience from a 500 sq ft diorama to an 800 sq ft operation for 10 engineers.
24	Weathering Diesel Locomotives Presented by Walt Liles	This clinic will take a detailed look at weathering details of locomotives and the different products to use.