I'd like to see some close-up photos of these models in MRH.  It's definitely nice to see more young people doing the hobby and getting results this nice.

I really need to get up off my ________ and go to one of these RPM's!  I salute dale on his fabulous looking models, and, more importantly, for his service to our country.  Thanks for sharing, Joe. 

...except one of my Army Reserve supervisors called me and told me that either they moved the date of the drill weekend up a week - or he'd screwed it up in the first place.

Sigh. Second year in a row that's happened.

Jeff:

I figured your weekend warrior duties are why you weren't at the meet. There was a nice Free-Mo setup at the meet ... here's one of the end modules. They were running trains back and forth on the modules - it was fun!

I really like the Free-Mo module concept - unlike the three-track racetrack arrangement of the traditional module standard, Free-Mo is the more typical - and more realistic - single track mainline. This makes for a very realistic scene!

Bill Metzger had a nice display of different RailBox prototypes and how to model them.

If you're interested in working with us to help get information like this into MRH, we need some modelers to step up and help build some models following the guidelines Bill (and friends) have gathered here. Bill's off to a great start but we need some help turning this information into full-fledged modeling examples that can be published. Bill's models are representative stand-ins, but not examples he feels comfortable publishing.

Please contact us if you're a Railbox-era modeler and would like to help work toward a definitive modeling RailBox article series. Also, we're looking for prototype photos of Railbox cars to publish for this project.

There was this fabulous model of the Columbia and Nehalem River RR shop at Neverstill. It may be coming soon as a craftsman kit - if so, it will be a doozie with all those fabulous shop details!

Like I've said, Railroad Prototype Modelers' (RPM) meets are a delight because of all the fabulous modeling on display and of the talented modelers you meet.

MRH Sponsor RS Laser Kits was at the Salem meet also ... the owner/kit design mastermind Rich Shepard continues to amaze me with what he's able to get a laser to do! Look at his T scale (1:400) wood truss bridge ...

And look at the variety of tiny structures on display here (can you find the 25 cent coin?) - those "large" trains on the diorama are N scale!

Rich has produced some HO scale and N scale scaffolding kits that are just fabulous - we hope to have a First Look in the Nov/Dec issue of MRH of RS Laser's wonderful scaffolding kit - talk about a useful detail item!

I sure would like to get one of those laser cutting computer machines

Unfortunately, I missed this event this year.  Has anybody heard if another Salem area event is planned for 2011?  Is there a website to check on? 

Joe, I concur on those SD9's...  they look very nice. 

Josh

Rails by the River does have a website: Rails by the River

So far no info on 2011 there, but I have e-mailed Greg Martin to see if he has anything planned yet.

Thanks Jeff.  I've since found out that Rails by the River 2011 will be held the last week of August.