Page 38 - The Pan-American2017 Mid-Central NMRA Region Convention

Rail Clinic Descriptions (thirteen)

22. Steve Zapytowski

Scratch Building in Brass
While perhaps not the wisest of decisions, I
choose to scratch build a two-truck Shay using
primarily brass in early 2015. This was meant to
replace my old Shay #6, an ancient United Shay
purchased on EBay. While I added a number of
super detail parts to this unfortunate model it
never ran at all. Not wanting to give up on #6 it
seemed that building a new Shay would be a way
to get that road number back on my roster.
Though I have a background in metal working,
only a few of the processes I’d formerly em-
ployed with steel and aluminum transferred to
building a brass model. I needed to develop a
number of methods for building with brass dur-
ing this project. While the bulk of this clinic fo-
cuses on soldering, forming and rolling brass
parts, and adding super detail parts I will also
discuss the use of other materials and processes.
These include polystyrene, laser cut components,
and 3D printed super detail parts. While polysty-
rene strips count as a basic material, I did all the
CAD work and file preparation for the laser cut
and 3D printed parts, thus qualifying them as
scratch built items.

36. Steve Zapytowski

Judging the Mid-Central Region Model Contest
This clinic explores the process and philosophy
behind the judging of models for the Contest. It
examines each of the five required areas of eval-
uation; Construction, Detail, Conformity, Finish
and Lettering, and Scratch Building. The judging
matrix is described and the manner of awarding
points is discussed. Also offered is a strategy for
efficient judging. This clinic is different than the
one offered in previous years and is strongly rec-
ommended for past judges as well as those who
wish to judge for the first time.