a ModelersLife
It’s always fun to revisit old friends from the AML Nation and we’ve travelled all the way to Missoula, Montana for a catch-up with Cam Nealy. There’s been big changes since our last visit, a new job is just underway, and the railroad has a new emphasis on Marias Pass in the western portion of Montana. Staging yards have been removed. Track arrangements changed, and the whole layout has a new meaning with helper districts being the emphasis of operations. Cam has built a beautiful layout and in this first installment he explains why the changes were made and what the future holds. It’s...
info_outline Springfield Report Part Foura ModelersLife
It’s Springfield Report number four where the action is exciting, and the interviews leave you hanging on every word. Once again, we sent out our intrepid reporter, the “Queso Cowboy” to find all the latest gossip in model railroading. In this episode, we talk with the Four County Society of Model Engineers, there’s another visit with Matt Stern from Bachman, Jim Wiggin with all the latest news from Athearn, and a visit with one of our favorite freight car manufacturers, David Leilbach of Tangent Scale Models. And if that’s not enough, some of the regular gang stop by to give their...
info_outline Springfield Report Part Threea ModelersLife
It’s part three of the “Springfield Interviews” and this time our very own Queso Cowboy takes to floor to get the latest scoop on what’s happening around the hobby. In this report Queso stops by Mine Mount Models to find out about their first limited edition kit, there’s a visit with Rudy from Garbely Publishing and a great chat with the folks at Valley HO Trak. Plus he checks in on all the latest news from Walthers before stopping by the White Rose Hobbies booth to discuss they’re recent acquisition of Bethlehem Car Works and finally Matt Herman from 3D Central tells us all about...
info_outline Springfield Report Part Twoa ModelersLife
It’s Part Two of the Springfield Reports with more exciting interviews, more headline grabbing quotes, and an opportunity to hear about some of the exciting action in and around the ModelersLife booth in the Better Living Center. In this episode, we hear from all sorts of different folks in the hobby, including Gordy Robinson the president of the NMRA, Bill Ford an avid AML listener, Matt Stern from Bachman, Kent Carrier from the R.I.T. club in Rochester, Brandon Bolwerk the travelling companion of “Mr. Jingles,” Michelle Kempema from the Colorado Model Railroad Museum, Matt Dawson one...
info_outline Episode 234: Great Layoutsa ModelersLife
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to operate on some of the most famous and greatest model railroads ever built or to be a regular crew member on Tony Koester‘s Allegheny Midland/Nickel Plate railroads or to visit Harold Werthwein’s fantastic Erie Railroad layout. On this podcast we talk with some folks who’ve done just that. Tom, Doug and Ralph have known each for decades operating layouts regularly, operating on layouts throughout the northeast. In part one we lay the foundation for further discussions about what’s expected when visiting such layouts and what’s it’s...
info_outline Springfield Report Part Onea ModelersLife
Another year has come and gone at the great Amherst Railway Society’s Railroad Hobby Show. With over twenty-six thousand people in attendance it was a roaring success with lots of folks to talk to, bargains to be had, layouts to seen, friends to reconnect with and new friends to be made. In our first series of interviews we talk with folks who stopped by the booth to answer some hard-hitting questions. Ray Persing talks about his son Steve, Cale Leiphart about what’s new in the world of Lego modeling, John Frantz on taking his model railroad in a different direction, Ken McCorry on selling...
info_outline Episode 233: Iron City N-Scalea ModelersLife
What happens when two guys from Pennsylvania who claim to be lone wolfs in the hobby, take over a Facebook page from a third modeler and then realize what they’ve done?? This is the heartwarming tale of Patrick Moore (the other guy) and Bradd Williamson from Crater, Pennsylvania, formerly known as Oval, Pennsylvania nestled in the sleepy valley of Nippenose. From the first time they met until present day, the relationship between Patrick and Bradd reads like the finest “Harlequin” romance novel ever written. Together they created the “Iron City N-Scale” group that’s gone from just...
info_outline Zimmerman: Standards and Conformancesa ModelersLife
There are hundreds and hundreds, probably over a thousand volunteers in the National Model Railroad Association. (NMRA) Each one working tirelessly to make this great hobby even better and one of our favorite department heads of the NMRA is Andy Zimmerman. Andy oversees the Standards and Conformance committee guiding an enthusiastic volunteer force of almost a hundred dedicated folks each of whom spend several hours a week making sure manufacturers produce products that will perform well right out of the box. There’s also a lively chat about marketing and selling the NMRA. So grab yourself a...
info_outline Episode 232; Peter Borcherdsa ModelersLife
Building a model railroad layout is a rewarding hobby and documenting the process on YouTube can be both educational and entertaining for fellow hobbyists. From researching prototype railroads to designing and constructing the layout, there's a lot to cover and share with your audience. Peter Borcherds has an entertaining YouTube channel detailing his build of the BNSF Chicago Sub. As well as being a lifelong model railroader, devoted AML listener, Peter is also the newest president of the NMRA’s British Region a vibrant model railroad community in the United Kingdom that provides valuable...
info_outline John Sacerdote Springfield Show Directora ModelersLife
It’s that time of year again, the Amherst Railway Society’s Railroad Hobby Show is about to open and once again we got John Sacerdote the show director for over two decades stops by the studio to tell us all about. We’re also joined by our very own “Uncle” Dave and Northeast RPM coordinator Dave Owens to get all the scoop. From the Lego layout, 1:87 Scale Vehicle club, hundreds of vendors, Rapido Trains, who’s buried in the levy, chalking out the tables and getting the coveted parking pass, it’s all right here. Every year several charities benefit from some of the monies...
info_outlineStill wondering if you can buy an entire chess set at a pawn shop. Do vegetarians eat animal crackers, when does it stop being partly cloudy and start being partly sunny? Can’t stop wondering if it’s illegal to park beside a fire hydrant even when your car is on fire??
We can’t help you solve these problems but pull up a chair ringside as we introduce you to another exciting round of the Kelly Questions. So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded cowboy boots, a tall glass of crude oil and enjoy!!