STEEL MILL MODELERS MEET REPORT

My report originally postedon the Steel Discussion Board:
I've just returned from the 2009 Steel Mill Modeler's Meet in Raleigh, NC. It was the second year for my son and myself. We had a great time - the hotel was very nice, food was good, but more importantly, excellent presentations, models, and layout tours. Thanks to the efforts of John Glaab the entire four days are well organized have just the right amount of everything. As with last year this event helps "recharge" my modeling batteries. As a result of discussions and presentations I've refined some of the organization of my mill and developed a better operations plan.  All the presentations held my interest so I really can't say I liked one more than another. My son was in the process of building some narrow gauge critters for our mill prior to the event, so the presentation on modeling narrow gauge in steel mills was especially topical for him.  There were five layout tours - I only made it to four. They were all larger sized layouts - one was actually three different layouts on two stories of a large addition, the first floor featured a steel mill layout, a second level with an interurban layout, and then the second floor had a large bi-level Pennsy layout. All were built and the track fully laid, with sections of complete scenery. The next layout was another Pennsy HO. It was on the second floor of a separate outbuilding. The layout was complete and had excellent scenery. It had a custom operating system with a CTC panel comprised of four side by side touch screens. The next layout was also in a large outbuilding, really what looked like a small ranch house but all one room. It was built and tracked but scenery was just getting started. Again, it had a sophisticated custom control system. Finally we looked at a large multi level N scale basement layout that replicated Penn Central in the Lehigh Valley during the 1970s. The layout was almost complete except for a small section. Again, excellent scenery, an elaborate computerized control system, and well worked out operating system. The owner of this layout replicated the river front portion of Beth Steel very well. Models - There were a number of models on display, all very good. The one that stood out and received the Dean Freytag award was an HO Edgar Thompson Blast Furnace scratchbuilt by a first year attendee named Glenn Sonnier from Midolthian, VA. My son and me displayed a free-mo module of a modern pipe foundry. Unfortunately we weren't able to completed it for the show so we had to display it as partially built and just basically painted.  Purchases - Always lots to buy there and usually not a big enough budget.  What I bought: Walthers Rolling Mill Interior Ken Ray Scrap bins (for open hearth,...et c) these are new and come in 7,6,and 5' lengths - four for $4 Walthers American Crane Mike Rabbit's 1940 Bessemer Plan set State Tool and Die Ingot Molds State Tool and Die new DFG Mill Gons - set of 3 - DFG stands for Dean Freytag Gondola's - these are shorty sized gons with a choice of three different sides My Son: Bachmann GE 44 Tonner - Yellow  Bachmann GE 70 Tonner - Green - both had DCC onboard Bachmann Depressed Center Flat Ken-Ray - Three 6' scrap bins and he won a Spectrum N-Scale 44 Tonner as a door prize.

The pictures are from the steel mill meet.  I will also do another update on the Pipe Foundry Topic with pictures of the models.