John Syzemanski is now retired and reports on tasks for his own projects, participating in ops sessions, and visiting a few layouts in the area. Tom and John discuss the steam proto-throttle development. Martin Coombs has several updates from a game-changing laser cutter upgrade, to new fox-proof ballasting techniques, to the latest on upcoming layout exhibits. Martin describes a successful Christmas season at Bredgar. Tom asks about 16mm modeling, when Martin describes a smoke generator technique with "ultrasonic chuff generation". Martin is happy to be back on a role with several projects and colleagues in the hobby. Martin goes on to describe Light Burn software and use with Illustrator files. Dave Barraza is building a staging yard where no one should build a staging yard.  He continues to challenge operators, and signal installation looks a bit too much like his day job.  John Gardiner IV is back from the Springfield show and is feeling like a real podcaster. John is working on a layout set in the 2040s with a fine back story. Tom hopes to record more frequently. Thanks to Robert J. Thomas for editing the recording and providing the show notes.

Model Rail Radio #225: Proto Throttle and Podcaster [February 3, 2024]

Tom and John discuss John's new Proto Future podcast.

Bonus: Tom Barbalet talks with John Gardiner IV [November 13, 2023]

Ron and Tom finish some overdue business and kick off a new set of podcasts.

Layout Design Contest Winners / Tom Barbalet Starts A Podcast (the Pilot) [Nov 11, 2023]

Gordy Robinson has a number of updates including his plans for the Nationals. Jeff Shockley gives an update on the DelMarVa club and an upcoming open house. Tom and Ralph Renzetti discuss Tamiya paint, mixing colors and application including weathering with an airbrush. Tom discusses the Mine Mount Models Layout Design contest. The constraints for the contest are a 10-ft X 12-ft room.  Entries can be HO, S, or O scale -- the current scales offered by Mine Mount Models. Two $50 gift certificates will be awarded as prizes. The room should include a door but is otherwise unrestricted in configuration (around the room, central island, etc. Plans should include Mine Mount Models structures, and you can scale up any kit to S or O where not yet offered. Entries should include the track plan and a narrative describing the plan (history, design, operation, etc).  Submissions go to Tom's last name @gmail.com and should be submitted by October 31st. Enter multiple times if you like. Tom mentions that he is in the market for a new layout and is in correspondence regarding a candidate. Thanks to Robert Thomas for doing this show edit.

Model Rail Radio #224: Broom Handles [August 12, 2023]

John Szymanski has been operating his layout having moved to smaller weekend op sessions. Mike Slater gives an update on the hottub layout. Neil Erickson talks about a layout that can fly. Ted Roy gives a layout update. Ron Klais and Christina Zambri call in to give an NMRA update and talk about the 2023 Layout Design Contest.

Model Rail Radio #223: Buying a Layout [July 15, 2023]

Clark Kooning is returning to Canada and has plenty of plans when he gets back to the north. Ralph Renzetti has been on and recommends a new podcast. Peter Stempel might be moving and provides a brief garden update. Mike Slater has summertime plans.

Model Rail Radio #222: Hot Afternoon [April 29, 2023]

John Szymanski discusses operating on Bob Hayden's layout and how having phones can reduce the noise level (or maybe not). John has a friend David on the call, and they discuss current (including Breaking Bad diorama) projects with Tom. They discuss operating on layouts in the area. John discusses simplifying aspects of his layout to make it user-friendly for operators. Linton Towell calls in while fishing in Australia. He has been working on a 7mm truck for the layout. He laments missing Tom when in Las Vegas. Dave Barazza describes the latest Bay Rails experience an operating on David Park's layout.  Dave discusses "Signals and Ops is what's been happening," the current update on his own layout, now known as "The Simulator" by prototype operators. Martin Coombs discusses plug-in modules, 30 wagons to paint, an update on several garden layout projects, an update on Bredgar later, and seems a bit of an understatement.  Martin laments downsizing 7mm collection. Tom and Martin discuss overseas travel with little ones.  Malcolm Johnson has a home but alas, no model railroad. Malcolm discusses a potential move to modeling in On30, and the possibility of selling off the remnants of his old layout. Thanks to Robert J. Thomas for producing this recording.

Model Rail Radio #221: Gone Fishing [March 25, 2023]

Tom starts the Lawerence Eggering memorial show with Massimo Piras who is interested in hearing from folks in his area. Toni Ryan has fond memories of Uncle Larry. Jim Gifford braces an early morning to talk about his memories of Larry. Tom Gassior talks about his podcast and Uncle Larry. Tim Harrison also has fond memories to share. Andy Zimmerman was with Lawrence at Springfield this year. A band of misfits round out the show with their Larry memories.

Model Rail Radio #220: The Meat That Cooks Itself [February 4, 2023]

Clark Kooning is laying out a new empire. Thomas Brown has some catching up to do. Martin Coombs and the Professor provide interesting show discussion on come contentious issues with Giles Favell providing input. Ralph Renzetti has been helping Chris Adams with his locomotive weathering. John Szymanski rounds out the show. This show is dedicated to Lawrence Eggering - a generous gentleman in the hobby.

Model Rail Radio #219: Show Contention [January 21, 2023]

Toni Ryan has been playing with some new tech. Mike Slater has been 3d printing in O-scale traction and has been to a magazine with his crew. John Szymanski has building oil pumps for visual interest. Nigel Gartshore has a quick update.

Model Rail Radio #218: Have Traction Will Travel [January 7, 2023]

John Szymanski has been operating and talks about his friendship with a famous star of the hobby. Mike Slater has been getting his model railroading mojo back and attended a show that he holds some history with. Neil Erickson hasn't called in for a while but has some updates. Nigel Gartshore has plans for a no-lix now his layout is no longer battling the elements.

Model Rail Radio #217: Chickens [December 10, 2022]

Martin Coombs is planning on making videos in the near future. They discuss many interesting aspects of railroading in Kent. Lawrence Eggering has been doing stuff with 3d printers and provides some interesting discussion associated with DCC and the NMRA. David Rees provides an update to his bluetooth developments including a very interesting product in a shade of blue.

Model Rail Radio #216: A Cattleyard of Foxes [November 26, 2022]

This is the Craig Bisgeier Memorial Show. Tom decides to make this a regular MRR in the European friendly time. Tom starts the call with Giles Favell talking about some die cast cars from Terry Terrance's layout. Mike Slater calls in from a local show. Tim Harrison talks about doing the ModelRailCast Show with Craig Bisgeier. We have on one final special guest and Tim talks about Craig's impact on his life.

Model Rail Radio #215: One for the Books [September 10, 2022]

Short show - thanks to Robert Thomas for the edit.

Model Rail Radio #214: Short Show [July 30, 2022]

Jim Lincoln calls in and Tom asks how COVID has changed the model railroading hobby. Simon Hill provides updates on some of the locomotives he's been building and a guillotine building project for the heat.  Martin Coombs has a few updates in the hobby and introduces his friend, Giles Favell. Giles makes radio controlled vehicles for model railroad layouts in his own particular way. Tom and Giles talk about that and some of the other aspects of small vehicles on layouts that have been discussed in prior shows. Jamie Fenton has a few updates including LCC signals a-how-to. Tom wants to know about the garden layout. Mike O'Dorney might be catching up with Tom in September. Mike has been experimenting with making modules with large curves. How can conventions be run with training people through the process? Tom concludes the podcast with some sad news and special memorial show coming up. http://www.modelrailradio.com/archive.html#213

Model Rail Radio #213: Eco Coal and Vehicles That Move [July 9, 2022]

Nigel Gartshore calls in and has a few updates about his space and what he plans to run in the area. No-lix is the central theme. Ron Klaiss discusses his latest kit and what happens after COVID. Clark Kooning is going to be a snow goose. Clark wants to talk about local politics. Dave Falkenburg calls in and gives a Silicon Valley Lines update after some time away from the club. Martin Jenkins has a quick chance to talk about automated cars, both end sounds and how his work has taken over his hobby time. http://www.modelrailradio.com/archive.html#212

Model Rail Radio #212: Tight Three and Half [June 25, 2022]

Dave Barazza has finished his layout sufficient to get on remote operators with live operators. John Szymanski has been experimenting with something similar on his own layout. Tom asks about tower cameras and combining those images with moving train cameras. John Garaty gives a few updates including on the Professor who is still building micro-layouts. Tyler Reabe has found what he wanted in the wild in terms of new model rail roaders. Mike Slater provides a much anticipated layout update and talks about his Summer show plans. http://www.modelrailradio.com/archive.html#211

Model Rail Radio #211: The Right Height For Both Worlds [May 28, 2022]

Tyler Reabe kicks off the show introducing his model railroading interests. Ted Roy has been working through the model railroading hobby - and has a number of locos that are now reprogrammed. Robert Thomas re-introduces his model railroading interests and offers some insight into the hobby in Texas as well as how difficult it turned out to model more than a hundred years ago. Linton Towell calls back in to talk O scale in Australia and Tom asks about the Model Rail Radio Australian O Scale Fraternity. Mike Slater has been bugged by snow on his powerhouse hot tub layout. Dazzy J. provides some updates on his perspective with 3d printing as a business. Ron Klaiss entered the blizzard of Springfield. Seth Gartner has been working towards an operating session in the near-term. Bruce Wilson has done a lot since he last called in. He covers the interesting topic of World War One rail. http://www.modelrailradio.com/archive.html#210

Model Rail Radio #210: No Regrets [February 12, 2022]

John Szymanski (aka John Z) has been exploring remote operations. What has been happening in Kent with Simon Hill and  Martin Coombs? Martin has a kit to build that came through unusual circumstances. Chris Adams isn't at Springfield but he thinks it will continue. Peter Stempel has a whole lot of updates now he's a new place with so much potential. Brian Dougherty calls in quickly to say hi and provide a brief update. http://www.modelrailradio.com/archive.html#209

Model Rail Radio #209: Variable Temperature Soldering Iron [January 29, 2022]

Tom talks with Terry about his subway origins, how he ended up in two rail O-scale and what advice he has to model rail roaders planning a basement empire. Tom also wonders if there are folks around Terry's new location who coul offer some model train fun.

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