Modeling with the Masters®
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The MWTM® Program features hands-on clinics presented by modelers who have earned the title Master Model Railroader® (MMR®) These clinics are offered at NMRA National Conventions and at select Regional Conventions throughout the year.
Introduction to Signs and Lettering
Two Sessions (Monday, July 27 and Wednesday, July 29)
Cost: $ 30
Scale: HO (But the techniques apply to any scale)
Date: Monday, July 27
Time: 7:30 pm – 10 pm
Date: Wednesday, July 29
Time: 7:30 pm – 10 pm
Lead Instructor: Clark Kooning, MMR® assisted by Peter Youngblood, MMR®
Students are required to bring their own tools as listed on the tools list; failure to do so will hinder your ability to participate in these hands-on clinics. No refunds if you don’t have tools.
Description: Looking to add life to your layout? Well, Clark will show you how to add signs and lettering to structures. We will provide a couple of DPM building fronts for practice. We will show you how to make your own signs, apply paper signs, make metal-looking signs, make a hanging sign, and use stencils for signs… If you’re in another scale, don’t pass on it because it’s HO only; this clinic presents the techniques to apply to any scale.
Tool List:
Self-healing cutting mat
11 X-acto knife
#11 X-acto blades (5 pack)
12″ or 6″ HO scale metal Ruler
Needle Nose Plier
Small Pin Vice
#78 Drill Bits (2 in case one breaks)
2 Paint Brushes (#00 & #3)
Emery Boards (the kind women use for their nails)
Black Marker Pen (Fine tip)
Liquid Styrene Cement.
Silicone paintbrush set (Amazon or Art supply stores)
White Glue
5 Small sandwich bags
Introduction to Painting Figures (HO & O scale)
Cost: $ 30
Scale: HO and O (But the techniques apply to any scale)
Date: Tuesday, July 28
Time: 8:30 am –11:30 am
Lead Instructor: Peter Youngblood, MMR®, assisted by Clark Kooning, MMR®
Students are required to bring their own tools as listed on the tools list; failure to do so will hinder your ability to participate in these hands-on clinics. No refunds if you don’t have tools.
Description: Figures on our layouts are scene enhancers. They’re a subtle storyteller; when properly painted, they can represent the clothing colors of a specific era, even a geographic area. Commercially pre-painted figures offer limited options. Peter, assisted by Clark, will teach you the steps you can take to improve and customize figures according to your needs. Craft paint and figures in HO & O scales are supplied.
Tool List:
Self-healing cutting mat (small is adequate)
Optivisor or magnifier glasses
#11 X-acto knife
#11 X-acto blades (5 pack)
Small plastic palette
Small fine-tooth Swiss-type needle file
Angled tweezer w/rubber tips (Woodland Scenics)
Round tip pointed brushes: #1, #0, #00 and 0/3, 0/5
Blade tip brushes #1, #2, #3
Note: Sable brushes are expensive, but worth it if you intend to hand-paint a large number of figures for your layout. However, for this clinic, you can buy one or two, far less expensive nylon or silicone sets to cover all the tool list numbers, i.e., eBay, Micro Mark (NMRA members get a discount), Amazon, Harbor Freight, etc.
Introduction to Laser Kits
Cost: $60 N& HO $70 – O scale
Scale: N, HO, and O
Date: Tuesday, July 28
Time: 1 pm – 5 pm
Lead Instructor: Clark Kooning, MMR®, Assisted by Peter Youngblood, MMR®
Students are required to bring their own tools as listed on the tools list; failure to do so will hinder your ability to participate in these hands-on clinics. No refunds if you don’t have tools.
Description: Clark will walk you through the steps to build a Laser Kit for the first time. This is a new product on the market, and you will thoroughly enjoy building. Laser-cut wood is now used to create an array of precision-cut kits with parts ranging from walls with door and window openings cut ever-so-accurately to extremely fine window mullions. All parts fit perfectly (even in multiple layers), making the resulting structure resemble a scratch-build model. This is a new Bar Mills Product to which you will really enjoy building with almost no painting required…. (almost)
**Be advised that with the time limited for this clinic, you may or may not complete the project, but will leave with all the necessary information and materials to complete this project on your own**
Tool List
Cutting mat (should be of reasonable size) (Suggested 18 X12). This is a must-have item!
X-acto knife or scalpel with #11 blades
X-acto saw with fine teeth.
Yellow Glue or Carpenters Glue – Small Bottle only.
Flat needle file, Triangular needle file
Tweezers
Small modelers square (optional) or cheap math set with 30/60 degree & 45-degree triangle (buy at the dollar store or drug store)
1 Set of general-purpose brushes, the best example is (Royal & Langnickel Value Pack Beginner 4 pc set BK607 – which is available in Michaels with SKU number of 90672011312) or similar
¼ inch stiff nylon bristle brush (2 only)
Sandpaper 240 grit (1-2 pcs), 280 grit (1-2 pcs), #120 grit, and #100 grit, or small sanding tools of the same grit or a grit close to those listed.
Use a scale ruler in your scale (a multi-scale ruler is best). Must Item
Dental pick or a similar type of tool (optional)
Optional tools: Two pairs of clamps (bar clamp at least 8 to 12 inches wide -depending on the scale you model in.) (These clamps are available through Micro Mart tools (see ad in MR or Craftsman magazines), or you can also use the small “Quick-grip mini bar clamp from the makers of Vise –Grip from most hardware stores. Model size 6-inch
Clinic tools required (if tools, glues, or paints are not listed, they will be supplied by MWTM at the clinic)
Better Railroad Telephone Pole Realism (HO scale)
Cost: $ 30
Scale: HO only
Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Time: 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Lead Instructor: Peter Youngblood, MMR®, assisted by Clark Kooning, MMR®
Students are required to bring their own tools as listed on the tools list; failure to do so will hinder your ability to participate in these hands-on clinics. No refunds if you don’t have tools.
Description: Railroad telephone pole realism on our model railroads is most often overlooked because telephone poles are so commonplace that we don’t easily notice why railroad telephone poles differ from those in residential communities. Applicable to any scale, Peter, assisted by Clark, will teach you how you can modify Rix plastic telephone poles (supplied with the clinic) to make them more realistic.
Tool List:
Self-healing cutting mat (small is o.k.)
#1 X-acto knife
11 X-acto blades (5 pack)
6″ or 12″ HO scale ruler
Razor Saw Blade (Fine tooth)
Small Needle Nose Plier
Pointed Tweezer
Small Pin Vise
74 Drill Bits (2 in case one breaks)
2 Paint Brushes (#0 & #00)
Emery Boards (the kind women use for their nails)
Black Marker Pen (Fine tip)
Liquid Super Glue
Liquid Styrene Cement (Glue)
Introduction to Scratchbuilding a Styrene Structure
Cost: $ 60 N& HO, & O scale
Scale: N, HO, and O
Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Time: 1 pm – 5 pm
Lead Instructor: Clark Kooning, MMR®, Assisted by Peter Youngblood, MMR®
Students are required to bring their own tools as listed on the tools list; failure to do so will hinder your ability to participate in these hands-on clinics. No refunds if you don’t have tools.
Description: Clark and Peter will take you through the process to build a small styrene structure from Evergreen Styrene. You will lay out your styrene sheets, cut out four walls, and place windows. Learn how to assemble the bare wall and a foundation for your structure. You will add some basic details to bring your structure to life. This is an excellent introduction to building your own structures and using basic styrene structural materials.
Tool List:
Cutting mat (should be of reasonable size) (Suggested 18 X12). This is a must-have item!
Use a scale ruler in your scale (a multi-scale ruler is best). Must Item
X-acto knife or scalpel with #11 blades
X-acto saw with fine teeth
X acto Miter Box
Liquid Styrene Glue
Flat needle file, Triangular needle file
Tweezers
Small modelers square (optional) or cheap math set with 30/60 degree & 45-degree triangle (buy at the dollar store or drug store)
Sandpaper 240 grit (1-2 pcs), 280 grit (1-2 pcs), #120 grit, and #100 grit or small sanding tools of the same grit or a grit close to those listed.
Dental pick or a similar type of tool (optional)
Optional tools: But highly suggested
1 pair of Nibbling Cutters from Micro Mart, Part number or SKU 81477
Two pairs of clamps (bar clamp at least 6 to 8 inches wide -depending on the scale you model in.) (These clamps are available through Micro Mart tools (see ad in MR or Craftsman magazines), or you can also use the small “Quick-grip mini bar clamp from the makers of Vise–Grip from most hardware stores. Model size 6-inch, also Micro Mart.
Clinic tools required (if tools, glues, or paints are not listed, they will be supplied by MWTM at the clinic)
