| Volume 40 Issue 1 | September 2000 |
| Volume 40 Issue 1 | September 2000 |
It's the start of a new program year! We've had a month off from actively running division functions (although the convention committee did meet). This month, since the library needs our regular meeting room, we're on the road to the Marion model railroad club
I'm also on the road again for work, and once again, it's cutting into my modeling time. As I write this, I'm about 20,000 feet in the air, on my way to Huntsville, Alabama. I've reviewed the documents I need for my meeting there, and now must decide what to do with the next hour or so of my life.
The immediately obvious options are to take a nap (I was up late last night packing), read the airline magazine (I've scanned it and there is only one article which caught my eye), or do some model railroading.
When I talk of modeling in the air, I'm not referring to doing actual construction. I'm not sure haw the airline would deal with me pulling a #2 Xacto knife out or my carry-on, but I'm real sure I don't want to find out. There are things you can do while traveling, though.
For one thing, I've designed several structures while sitting in seats like this one. A pencil and a piece of paper, and you're in business. The same goes for layout planning - I've taken layout design elements sketched on airplanes and incorporated them into layouts.
Once I get to the hotel, there's a wide variety of possibilities. I'm currently working on a model for the Narrow Gauge convention in St. Louis. I hope to get some portion of that one tonight.
On the road, I usually concentrate on flat subassemblies - walls, roof panels, trestle bents, and so on. Flat parts pack easier, with less chance of breakage. Sometimes, I'll just take along some detail parts to paint. They take up practically no room to pack, but can be time-consuming to finish - it helps me forget a little about missing my family while I'm on the road.
The toolkit is minimal - just what will fit into an Athearn box. You'd be surprised what will fit in there, though! I have two sizes of knife handles, a couple of packs of blades, tweezers, toothpicks, clothespin clamps, paintbrushes, and a six-inch rule, with lots of room left over.
I've discovered that you need to worry about some paints. Flammable substances are not allowed in carry-on baggage, and must be checked. Sometimes they'll flag it at the security check, sometimes not. I try to carry only Polly Scale, most of which are not flammable.
If you are like me and forget something you need, it's a good excuse to hunt up one of the local hobby shops. I've found some great places this way, including "An Affair With Trains" in Phoenix, and Henze's Hobby Shop in Florissant, Missouri,
If you're working against a time crunch to get a project done (as I was before the Columbus regional convention a few years ago), you can do something even more complex. I transported a thirty-inch trestle from Dayton to Colorado Springs and back the week before the convention. I built a custom box out of foam core, and kept it as one of my carry-on pieces. I got the model finished, and had no damage during transit.
With a little pre-planning, you'll be amazed what you can accomplish in less-than-ideal situations. Although I've managed to spend this flight writing this article rather than fiddling with layout designs, it did free up some time at home or on the ground to do some t=other modeling project.
Happy Modeling!
Ray
© 2000 Division 3, MCR, NMRA