A Clinic Teaser
Greetings!
You can't have a convention without some exciting clinics! During the NERx virtual convention, there will be a variety of clinics presented by NMRA Northeastern Region members. The convention will take place on December 1-4 from 6:30 to 10:30 PM Eastern, each evening. While the schedule is still being worked on, let us highlight a few of the clinics being offered in this e-mail. There will also be layout tours, but that is a subject for a future e-mail!

Also...

In less than a week, submissions for the Model and Photo contests will begin. Submissions for the contests are accepted from November 1-15. Click on model contest or photo contest to learn more about the contests and how to enter in addition to information below.

To learn more about the convention, visit MillCity2020.org.
A Few of the Clinics
Introduction to NeoPixels by James Kline
NeoPixels are unique LED’s that can be programmed individually to emit different color light at adjustable intensity using a microcontroller such as an Arduino or Raspberry PI.

When placed inside model structures the resultant light will be closer to prototypical. This clinic will cover how to install and wire them in multiple structures and will also demonstrate how they can be used for animations.

No clinic prerequisites!
Bringing the Railroad to Life Using Layers by Lou McIntyre
This clinic is not about layers in the physical sense . Rather it's layers as in:
  • The Facts, 
  • What Might Have Been, and 
  • The Fiction
Using Paper to Build that Model for your Railroad by Jim Fairbanks
Have you ever considered using paper to build a model for your railroad? How about building that Merit Award model?

This clinic will re-introduce you to the advantages of paper, and how it is making a comeback in the modeling world. Jim will take you through a very brief history of using paper, how it is being used, what you’ll need, and where to find some plans to use.

Lastly, he will run through using foam core to put together a background model of a house.

Join Jim and find out how paper is making a comeback!
Building Stone City Heights by John Feraca
The clinic will outline the building of a 1ft x 12ft city scene on John's Stone Canyon Railroad.

Some of the topics John will cover are:
  • Building and street lighting,
  • Road and sidewalks, and
  • Using animated signs and scenery.
Model and Photo Contests
To enter your model or photo into the contest, each entry must be submitted separately between November 1-15.

Model entries can include 1-4 digital photos of the model and 1-2 prototype photos. There are two forms to complete for models and one form for photos. The first form is common between both types of contest entries, identifying you and the model or photo. The second form is for model entries only and explains how the model was built, its details, appearance, and prototype influence. The second form and the photos are the only documentation to be reviewed by the evaluators for model entries.

There are four categories for the model contest: Motive Power, Rolling Stock, Structures, and Display. There are also four categories in the photo contest: Prototype-Color, Prototype-B&W, Model-Color, and Model-B&W.

An optional selfie can be included with your model and photo entries. Winners in each of the categories will be announced throughout the convention. To learn more, visit the model contest page or photo contest page.

There is still time to finish those models, take those photos, and get your entries in for the NERx Contests!
Malcolm Houck's scratch-built NYO&W #129 from the 2019 NER Convention's model contest.
Peter Watson's "Time for a Drink at Blaenau Ffestiniog – Wales, UK" from the 2019 NER Convention's photo contest.
Virtual Convention Car
If you are looking to have a little extra fun with the virtual convention, we have created artwork to be used for printing decals. Use the decals with a car kit in your collection. The sheet contains a variety of options for eras and railroads.

More information and the decal artwork can be found when clicking here.
Donations Now Accepted
There is no cost to attend the virtual convention. Instead, we are asking for donations to the Northeastern Region. To make a donation of $10, $20, $50 or any other amount, please click on the "Donate" button. As a non-profit, any financial assistance is greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Spread the Word!
Do you have model railroad friends that may be interested in the NERx virtual convention?

We have made it easy for them to receive future news about the convention. Just forward this email to your friends and tell them to subscribe to future convention emails by clicking on the "Subscribe Now" button.

That's all there is to it!
Join us online in December!