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Badgerland S Gaugers News

"…. A social club for the promotion of model railroading—
especially S gauge including American Flyer, hi-rail, scale
and other facets...

Badgerland S Gaugers Charter

Attendance:
D. Goeke, D. Goeke, D. Goeke, J. Goeke, M. Goeke, G. Koerner,
S. Lunde, J. Madden, R. Meissner, B. Nelson, K. Pilon, R. Puls,
R. Schlicht, F. Vergenz, J. Young. (15)

Steve Lunde, our new president, opened the January general meeting of BSG. (I almost typed in Dave Smukowski’s name by mistake. It’s hard to break old habits. My computer actually came up with an error message on the spell checker. It read: fragmented sentence consider revising, followed by, you have got to be kidding, Dave isn’t president anymore?) As a footnote, Dave Smukowski is still recovering from recent knee surgery. He is progressing very well at this point. This means that he is feeling less pain everyday.

Steve gave a brief report on the upcoming BSG Fall S Fest 2008. Steve has prepared a budget for the event. All items will be closely monitored and we will have to be very diligent in the decisions we make. Going to the new facility leaves us with little tolerance for poor choices. It also means that we will be on a tight budget for the next few months. This means, don’t even think about coming up with any radical spending ideas.

One of the issues for all clubs hosting a Fall S Fest is the hotel room nights required for special rates and amenities. This is more than just a small element in making a meet successful. With St. Louis hosting this years upcoming S Fest 2007, it is important that BSG members use the hotel that AFSGSLA will be holding the event at. If any club expects to ask that attendees patronize their facility, then they pretty damn well better use the other sponsoring clubs hotel. There is always a place a little cheaper down the street, but for Fall S Fest to survive, all four clubs have to work together on this issue. None of our clubs are financially strong enough to sustain a considerable loss. The room nights can be the deciding factor in a successful meet or a financial disaster.

Ron Schlicht gave very brief reports on the swap meet, 2004 Fall S Fest cars left and the model railroad equipment donated to our club. There are not that many 2004 cars left. Of those remaining some will be held back for use as door prizes or other club functions. Of the donated things that we received, only a handful of items remain. The total income from this contribution netted BSG slightly over $700.00.

Doug Stoll came up with some constructive suggestions for improving and upgrading the BSG modular layout. Ron Schlicht relayed the substance of his ideas to the members that attended the meeting. All members present at the meeting agreed with Doug’s assessment and observations.

Jeff Young noted that only a few years ago the modular layout was going in a positive direction. Many improvements had been made and your editor felt that it was as good as it had ever looked and could get even better. Once again the Ron Schlicht kiss of death weaved it’s magic. The last couple shows the layout has regressed a bit and now requires Medicare to get involved. We don’t want to add a "Do not resuscitate" sign to the layout.

What we have always needed was a place to set up the modular layout, in order that we could work on it, other then at the primary shows. The facility has always been there. Where is "there", it is in Port Washington. Don Westby has volunteered an area in his business facility to set up and maintain the layout. All we have to do is get the modules there. A group of members could get together, set up a time and date, and carpool up to work on the modules. This could be done on a very informal basis, weekdays, and nights or whenever members want to get together. We could use the many skills of our members to make the layout more attractive. Those who are experts on trackwork could refine and repair it when necessary. The electrical work is very difficult to check out and improve when the modules are scattered all over southeastern Wisconsin. Another plus is that we can achieve a better level of continuity between adjoining modules from the cosmetic standpoint. The club will furnish the necessary scenery supplies. We still have some on hand from past modifications. The stars are aligned; we only have to bring the BSG stars together in Port.

This undertaking is not only for those who have modules, but could be an opportunity for those who would like to help and don’t wish to own a module themselves. It could be a learning session for many of our members. Practice on our layout and then apply what you have learned to you own layout. It might even be a great place for one of those "play with trains sessions", with our trains or yours. I can almost see it now "Port Washington the new epicenter of The Badgerland S Gaugers".

Don Goeke brought up the subject of a shortage of C clamps. A few years ago Jim Starosta and Ron Schlicht donated a considerable amount of these to the club. If the layout is executed properly, C clamps may only be required in a few instances.

The size of the layout at last years Trainfest was as big as the modular layout committee desires it to be. Bigger is not better. What we need is better, period.

Doug Stoll also had some ideas on making our meetings more fun and less business.

Art Doty gave no report at this meeting, as he had multiple other meetings and events to attend that day.

A discussion followed on some of the shows that we attend over the course of a year.

The Mitchell Park Domes have requested our participation in a train show that is being held in conjunction with the annual garden railway exhibit. Annually, this railway exhibit is the largest money making event that the domes profit from. Thousands pass through over the weeks that it is present. On March 10^th and 11^th there will be other train clubs, the famous Bits & Pieces layout among them, participating in this show. They are looking for a layout representing every gauge of train. This show corresponds with the Cedarburg show held on Sunday March 11^th. However this is one place that our club could get a lot of attention, exposure and publicity. We do not want to forgo the Cedarburg area, so we will have a display of one sort or the other at both shows. It may mean that we have to split some of our club resources and personnel. The Cedarburg show would have the small layout, which we have at our swap meets. The Mitchell Park show will have the BSG booth and the AF Hi-Rail layout.

I know what you are thinking. We are going to do another train show? Yes we are, not only that but Dave Smukowski is doing an additional show in April. I exchange newsletters with other S gauge clubs. I read about clubs that do as much, and some that do a lot more shows than we do. One other bit of information, WE as in Badgerland S Gaugers is a very small group. That is not by choice. Most of these shows are really a lot of fun even though there is a bit of work involved. Try one some day, you may find that you like it.

February 17th & 18th -Mad-City Model Railroad Show & Sale
February Meeting - Brad Nelsons
Sunday February 25th
March 3^rd & 4^th MSOE Traintime 07 Model Railroad Show

March 11^th Cedarburg Train Show
The Cedarburg Train Show and Swap meet is held at Circle B Recreation
6261 Highway 60
The hours are from 10:00am to 4:00pm
Adults $2.00 Children Under 12 free

April Meeting - No Host Found
April 28^th & 29^th Titletown Train Show Green Bay

Call Ron Schlicht, if you wish to host a General Meeting. There is no specific criterion for hosting a meeting. Weekday evenings, Saturdays or Sundays are acceptable. If you want to schedule for next year it’s not too early.

You can also contact 2007 S Spree Chairman Art Lofton for questions or additional information.

32^nd Annual Fall S Fest
St. Louis MO, Nov. 2 thru 4, 2007
Information will be available online at:

Steve Lunde hosted the January general meeting of the Badgerland S Gaugers. At Jim Starosta’s home we move layouts. At Steve’s house we shovel snow. With the wind blowing, the snow falling, the streets slippery and NFL Championship Sunday, the turnout for the January meeting was a bit sparse. But 10 hardy souls, plus Don Goeke and his terrified family of four, who braved the blustery conditions and made it to the meeting. Since we do have some members from the state of Illinois (we are obviously not picky) there was little chance of them missing "Da Bears" running around in the snow and beating up on those poor New Orleans Saints. But their victory saved us from two weeks of hype, reliving hurricane Katrina, and enduring the talk of how football players will save the world. Hopefully all of the players will get past their court appearances, so that they are able to play in the Superbowl. I’m sure there will be some other heart-warming football related stories.

Outside of some minor tweaks to his layout, the major changes at Steve’s were a new ceiling and new lighting for his layout. Putting in a ceiling over an existing layout requires the skill of a tight ropewalker and trapeze artist. I know, I did it myself.

Steve’s Lionel 2-8-2 Mikado with DCC sound, S-Helper Service 2-8-0 Consolidation and his converted American Flyer Atlantic all running with a North Coast DCC system were really impressive. Since I only have Flyer Choo-Choo sound and one American Models Chippewa engine, I was blown away with how neat his system works. (I forgot to mention my chirping Lionel UP Northern.) When you have a layout with various grades like Steve’s the sound is even more impressive. The upgrade and downgrade changes are just plain cool. If I only had a brain I would get some of that stuff. With the meeting being a short one, we had even more time to appreciate his layout and his trains. It was playtime. Then it was time to drive home and observe all of those vehicles that somehow managed to miss the lanes that I drove in and went off the pavement into the ditches.

Your last newsletter contained the BSG 2005/2006 Fiscal Year Annual Report. This practice of publishing the annual report in newsletter will continue in subsequent years. Further breakdowns on individual items like the newsletter, swap meets and a complete item-by-item report will be furnished only on request. There will be a printing, handling, and postal charge for this service.

So what did the headline Dues Increase mean? Well it hasn’t been voted on yet, plus it all depends on you, our members. Every year I wait and wait for our tardy members to get their dues in so that I can get out an up to date membership roster. The wait is excruciating. I have mentioned before that I exchange newsletters with other model railroad clubs. It appears that many of them have solved their late dues issues. They have imposed a late fee for those who do not get their dues in on time. One radical club doubled the rate, boy did their dues come in fast. However I would never suggest that, but somewhere between two and five dollars might be a reasonable incentive. So as of now, there is not, and will not be, a general dues increase. However, by next month, I am prognosticating that there will be a late fee charge added to our By-Laws.

OK you can call me what ever you want for this nasty suggestion, but at least I know that it will be a "belated" expletive. Your BSG club treasurer also thanks you, so that makes two of us really evil, nasty, heartless, blood sucking, money-grubbing, capitalistic individuals.

After trying to add more information to this newsletter by listing the upcoming conventions, I had a rebirth. After suffering the slings and arrows of outrageous fortunes by being one of the scums of the earth, non-scalers, I visited some other S Gauge websites.

Thank you Lord, I am not alone in this world. My "enhanced" Plasticville can be shown on my layout, even though is it minuscule, with a sense of pride. Others have also been seduced and succumbed to this obscure affliction. The little people, although giants by scale terms, are also utilized by many individuals on their S gauge layouts. I can come out of the closet (not that one). I am not ashamed anymore. There are others like me out there. Flyer people, who with me, can now hold their heads up high as we bond together.

We are all playing with toys. As S gaugers we are stuck in an O/S world. We are in the minority as far as trying to economically obtain products for our layouts. CTT makes it clearly obvious, that when it comes to toy trains, it is spelled LIONEL. However this may be an advantage, as this affords us S gaugers the opportunity to be more resourceful and creative.

Did you ever notice the average age of model railroaders? Did you have that friend on your block that had to shave at the age of 12 or 13? (Hopefully she wasn’t your girlfriend.) But that is who we are (not your girlfriend). In actuality, I think that we are just children who happen to look older. If you talk to some of us Badgerland S Gaugers, we even talk a little goofy at times. Hopefully there is not some idiot train nut on "My Space" acting as a teenager. Then again, what kid would respond to a chat line about toy trains. AC/DC maybe, A.C. Gilbert, not a chance.

At the last S Fest I looked at those attending the banquet and this though occurred to me. Seated at the tables was a group who represented perhaps millions of dollars invested, not in American Flyer collectables, ……….but prescription drugs.

Part of the reason for the last departure from reality, and absolutely nonsensical article, was that I had to come up with enough material for an even amount of pages for the printer. Otherwise you would have been staring at a blank page 6 with a blank look on your face. Hopefully my pointless attempt at humor did not offend anyone, although at one time, long, long ago, someone didn’t get a joke.

Steve Lunde hosted a "play with trains" time at his house Saturday February 10, 2007 at 1:00pm.. Steve’s layout can run AC flyer, DCC and scale equipment.

Even if you cannot help out at this show, try to attend anyway, it is a really good one. One of the primary differences at this event is that used items can be sold. There is a lot of Flyer and other S gauge products available. I have found some really nice items there. Some haggling may be necessary. Hopefully I will have a report on this show in the next newsletter.

For more information on the show, go to their website at:
www.scwd-nmra.org/febshow

So what is new on you layout? There is little on mine outside of some new people added to the layout. Speaking of the little people, once again for Christmas, my wife (Santa) bought me some new Arttista figures. Now as most of you know the majority of the figures on my layout are not S scale. But I will mention that Arttista has expanded their line of S gauge figures. So if you are in need of some action on your layout, you can check them out at www.arttista.com I only hope that you will not die from sticker shock. You can get discounts on the figures at times. Of the 3,150 plus figures on my layout, if all of the figures were Arttista or similarly priced products, the cost would have been more than the last new vehicle that I purchased. Life is fun but not cheap. I have purchased most of my figures unpainted. Now if you want to get more information on "little people", contact Jim Starosta or Gil Bruck. They both have a lot more figures than I do and know of a lot more manufactures than I do. Then try to explain the little people reasoning, for a home improvement loan, to your financial institution.

New Lionel Catalog. The new Lionel catalog has just been released. It contains about 12 pages of new and reissued American Flyer items. For the first time in more than 40 years there will be an AF train set complete with track and transformer being offered. Heavyweight passenger cars return in a couple of new road names, late prewar – early postwar signals are being reissued for the first time in about 60 years along with Sam the Semaphore man. The Following is a complete list of all items and their suggested price.

New York Central Dockside Switcher Set – (6-49618) $299.99, Blue Comet Train Set - (6-49617) $839.99, Chicago & North Western Extended Vision Caboose – (6-48741) $54.99, American Flyer Caboose (6-48742) - $54.99, Chesapeake & Ohio Caboose – (6-48743) $54.99, Pennsylvania Dockside Switcher – (6-48062) $109.99, Chicago & North Western Baldwin Switcher - (6-48067) $264.99, Chesapeake & Ohio 2-8-2 Mikado - (6-48060) $649.99, Pennsylvania 2-8-2 Mikado - (6-48053) $649.99, American Flyer SD-9 - (6-48065) $274.99, Union Pacific SD-9 - (6-48066) $274.99, Needham Reefer - (6-48815) $54.99, Jersey Central Boxcar - (6-48366) $54.99, UPS S Gauge Centennial Boxcar - (6-48370) $54.99, CP Rail Stock Car - (6-48367) $54.99, Milwaukee Road 3-Bay Hopper - (6-48630) $54.99, Pennsylvania Flatcar with Piggyback Trailers (6-48548) $54.99, Simonin's 3-Dome Tank Car - (6-48422) $54.99, Union Pacific Gondola with Canisters - (6-48549) $54.99, Philadelphia Quartz Single-Dome Tank Car - (6-48421) $54.99, Great Northern Depressed Center Service Car - (6-48550) $59.99, Santa Fe Log Dump Car - (6-49039) $84.99, Maintenance of Way Boom Car - (6-48740) $54.99, Maintenance of Way Crane Car - (6-49037) $84.99, Chesapeake & Ohio Tie Car - (6-49041) $69.99, Chessie System Animated Caboose – (6-49040) $84.99, Denver & Rio Grande Western Walking Brakeman Car – (6-49038) $84.99, Erie Coal Dump Car – (6-49042) $84.99, New York Central Heavyweight 2-Pack - (6-48991) $139.99, New York Central Heavyweight 4-Pack - (6-48990) $264.99, Pennsylvania Heavyweight 2-Pack - (6-48993) $139.99, Pennsylvania Heavyweight 4-Pack - (6-48992) $264.99, Blue Comet Heavyweight 2-Pack - (6-48994) $139.99, #582 Blinking Signal - (6-49832) $59.99, #587 Block Signal – (6-49833) $59.99, #588 Semaphore Block - (6-49835) $59.99, and #758 "Sam" the Semaphore Man - (6-49820) $129.99.

6-49828 S Gauge 10" Straight Track $3.45, 6-49829 S Gauge 30" Straight Track $9.45, 6-49830 S Gauge Fiber Insulator Pins $1.95 and 6-49831 S Gauge Steel Pins $1.95.

The above prices are the suggested retail prices. Many of you may know dealers that will offer some discounts on these items.

This relates to the above new products report. There are all kinds of places to pick up little people. (I’m not talking about short women on street corners.) From Big Lots, to craft stores and some other places, at which I do not want to divulge my sources, (Gil and Jim will beat me to the punch) you can get figures that are actually S gauge for pennies. I’m talking about a nickel apiece or so. With a little carving and paint they will fit right into your layout and look great. (Some imagination, time and talent required) Some of these little figures come in blister packs along with various other small equipment. You can keep the other stuff or blow it off at a swap meet and get the figures for next to nothing. I should not be giving away my secrets, but I just can’t see adding that many more people to my layout. So yes you can populate your layout without taking out another mortgage on the farm.

Now why would you like to have figures on your layout? Add life that’s why. I have seen some of the most spectacular layouts that you can imagine in MR, CTT and other magazines that look like they have been bombed with chemical weapons. (That was not a political statement about WMD’s.) I actually think that those layouts look rather eerie by having no population to speak of. Now this is just my opinion, of course, however it is one, which I happen to hold in high regard.

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Remember to send me your updated email addresses to insure that I change it on our group listing, add it to the newsletter and change it on the roster.

We like to give all of our members the opportunity to keep in touch with one another, even if you can’t stand them and have no desire to communicate with them.

If any of our members would like to receive the newsletter via email please contact Ron Schlicht via email. The cost savings can be significant for our club by having lower printing costs and no postage stamp. (Not to mention my valuable time.)

Join this group you will receive periodic club updates, BSG news, tips and information on various S gauge websites that may be of interest to you.

If you are interested in using the For Sale column give me a call. I would like to limit the amount of different items to a maximum four per member.

I will list items under "Wanted" for two or three newsletters. Please contact me if you want a listing continued or it will be dropped. The same applies to the "For Sale" column. If you sell an item contact me so that I can remove it from subsequent newsletters.

American Flyer All Aboard Panels
Looking for right and left switch panels.
Contact:
Jeff Young
W 150 N8329 Saxony Drive
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051
(262) 250-0618

If you have any items like old issues of Classic Toy magazines, S Gaugians or other model train related items that you no longer have need for, you might think about donating them to our club.

Contact Ron Schlicht or drop them off at a swap meet or his home. Nothing with mouse droppings please.

American Flyer Erie Passenger Set
A-B-A Units Baggage - Combine - (2) Coaches (2) Vista Domes - Observation
Condition: Excellent Plus
Brad Nelson
S47 W24775
Waukesha, WI 53186
(262) 547-9425

American Flyer Docksider 21158.
This engine has won a box full of ribbons and has never been beat in the S Fest races.
Price $160.00 plus $7.50 shipping.
Glenn Eisenbrandt
435 W. Starin Rd.
Whitewater, WI 53190
920-723-1125

2004 Fall S Fest Cars
Milwaukee Road "Blue Ice" Reefer. Manufactured by S Helper Service
$45.00 each.
*The BSG Club member discount price is $35.00 each.
Four car sets $160.00.
BSG members four car set $130.00

For details and car availability contact:
Ron Schlicht
5274 S. 49^th St.
Greenfield, WI 53220
Phone: (414) 421-8512
Email: rschlicht2@wi.rr.com

The Badgerland S Gaugers also have some past years Fall S Fest Cars For Sale, Year one through year ten and a couple others. Call me for pricing or information.

All dues are due January 1.
Any member who fails to pay their dues by January 31st shall be dropped from membership and receive no further correspondences from BSG.

Definitions of membership
Participating Member
Dues $20.00 per year.
1. Receives club newsletter.
2. Receives club membership discount card.
3. Has complete voting rights on all issues
4. May be in attendance at "all" general meetings
5. May attend all swap meets at "no charge".
6 Eligible for participation at club sponsored model railroad shows.
7. Receives BSG patch and membership badge.

Associate Member
Dues $10.00 per year
1. Receives club newsletter.
2. Has no voting rights on any issues.
3. May attend "one" general meeting per year.
4. Must pay admission to all club sponsored events.

Junior Membership Dues $5.00 per year. (Under the age of 18)*
1. Receives all of the rights of a full Participating member.

*Must be accompanied or sponsored by a Full Participating Member. Junior members do not have voting rights.

Participating membership $20.00
Spouse membership $10.00
Family membership $35.00 *
*Family rate regardless of number of immediate family members. Immediate family member definition is: spouse and children under the age of 18.
All family members have full membership rights.
All family members will receive a club patch.
All family members will receive a membership badge. (Blue Pin)
All family members will receive a club membership card, which entitles them to full member privileges.

Send it to our Treasurer
Jeff Young
W150 N8329 Saxony Dr.
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051

Contact Jeff Young.
If you "have not" received a club patch or a membership card
Contact Ron Schlicht.

The views and opinions expressed in the Badgerland S Gaugers newsletters are those of the editor, unless otherwise credited, and do not necessarily represent that of the club, it’s officers, directors, or the membership.

The Badgerland S Gaugers do not offer any warranties, guarantees, nor assume any liability from information contained in this publication.