2026 NASG Convention

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Bob Bubeck

Lionel Production Prototyping of Modern Era American Flyer
As of 1979, Lionel had been producing American Flyer S gauge trains for about 46 years but, except for a few items, has now ceased offering a full product line. This clinic reviews the first 25 years of pre-production prototyping related to original Gilbert tooling, the condition and modification of that tooling, and the need in many cases for new tooling. The modes of decoration will also be discussed. Selected examples of pre-production model locomotives, rolling stock, and accessories will be shown.
Duration: 45min

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Irv Chmielewski

Temporary Scenery and Structures
Do you have unwanted bare places on your layout, places where you plan to install something like a new building or a passing track? In this clinic you'll learn about a process to make and install an inexpensive scenic element which can easily be moved to another location when it is no longer needed in its temporary spot.
Duration: 45min

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Irv Chmielewski

1940s Railroads of Michigan's Upper Peninsula
As Irv built his freelanced Iron River Valley RR (IRVRR), he looked to the railroads of Michigan's Upper Peninsula for ideas related to scenery colors, track layout, operations, and other elements. This presentation looks at a relatively small geographic area in which both national railroads and local short line railroads operated in the late 1940s-era.
Duration: 45min

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Bruce DeYoung

Using Artificial Intelligence as a Modeling Tool
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is in the news virtually every day. This clinic looks at what prompted a 78-year-old to start using AI in our hobby and some of its many uses in model railroading. In particular, you'll learn how AI can be used to assist in designing scenes for your layout. If you are interested in seeing what AI can do for us other than just research, this clinic is for you.
Duration: 45min

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Bruce DeYoung

Railroads and the Natural Ice Industry
The harvesting of natural ice to preserve food and cool drinks began in the early 1800s. By the middle 1800s, it became a large industry. For the next 50 to 60 years, the natural ice industry became huge customers of the railroads. At the same time, shipping refrigerated products by rail increased dramatically. In this clinic, Bruce will look at the commercial process of harvesting, storing, and shipping natural ice and the role that railroads played in the process.
Duration: 45min

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Tim Fisher

Adding Automotive Industry Traffic to your Model Railroad
There are about one hundred auto-related factories, including 25 assembly plants, in North America. Roughly 10% of all US rail shipments support the auto industry. Some of this traffic could be on your railroad. In this clinic you'll learn how you can represent the shipping of engines, transmissions, frames, body panels, seats, and other functional components, as well as completed automobiles. Ports and barges are also involved.
Duration: 45min

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Norm Logan

Creating a Museum-quality Backdrop - Part 1
If you are tired of flat blue walls and want an effective backdrop for your layout this is the clinic for you. Painting a backdrop can be the quickest way to add a lot of scenery to your model railroad in the shortest amount of time. It is also a great way to unify all your scenic ideas and give focus to your modeling theme. The clinic will cover design and planning choices, as well as backdrop painting materials and techniques.
Duration: 45min

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Norm Logan

Creating a Museum-quality Backdrop - Part 2
A continuation of Part 1, in this clinic, you will learn about using and installing clipped photos from magazines and internet photos to enhance your background. There will be a discussion of matching photos to the models on your layout. We will also discuss how to paint around and over photos to create a backdrop that will blend in with the adjacent layout.
Duration: 45min

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George Van Duyne

Maintaining a Steam Locomotive
Have you ever wondered what it took to maintain and operate a locomotive in the days of steam? In this clinic you will learn just how much work was involved. The Steam Railroading Institute of Owosso, Michigan owns and operates the Pere Marquette 1225, a 2-8-4 Berkshire built by Lima in 1941. This clinic will describe the work needed to maintain the locomotive, including the recent project to rebuild the drivers and running gear, and the specific steps needed to fire up the locomotive, raise steam pressure to bring the locomotive to life, and operate it on excursions.
Duration: 45min