Get connected, and start an S-Gauge Club in your city or town,
I myself belong to TCA organization for the past 6 years. I'm more of a toy train operator then a collector. I do have some trains I keep separate from my train layout. My Classic American Flyer Cabinet-top Train Layout is 5' x 16' which features mountain to desert detailing. I started a blog "web site" about my American Flyer train layout back in August of 2010. This site has gradually grew in scope where it has over 125 plus views per day from 87 countries around the world. I found out over the years a lot of people enjoy operating there trains on there layouts like I do.
September of last year I talked with members of the TCA club, mostly American Flyer collectors and operators. Talking with Marty Wik, who has a very nice layout thats been featured in Classic Toy Train Magazine and Karl Wuepper who is building a very large s-gauge layout, the three of us decided to try and start an informal club with membership open to American Flyer and hi-rail S gauge operators and collectors. There would be free membership, no dues. We decided to meet once a month on the 3rd Saturday of the month at a members’ home. The club would be informal and we would welcome visitors, followers, along with members to this informal meeting.
I mentioned to Marty and Karl that I would lay the initial ground work by starting a blog page (web site) and call our informal club the "Valley of the Sun S-Gaugers" We contacted collectors of American Flyer, American Model, S-Helper, and S-Gauge here in Arizona. We mailed out invitations to TCA, NASG members who we could not get in contact by E-mail. We have completed a data base of over 75 individuals that have some connection to S Gauge. Starting a club is all about getting the word out any way you can (Club Flyers, E-Mail Invitations, Club Mailings, and word of mouth). You may be surprised how many people would like to join a model train club that has a operational layout at every meeting with discussions and educational programs.
We had our first informal club meeting in October of last year at Karl Weupper home. Since then we had a meeting at Marty Wik's in November and Chuck Eral's in December. Our next meeting will be at Nelson Steinmetz's home in Scottsdale. Nelson brought some pictures of his scale layout just to entice us on what we are going to see. According to the pictures we saw we all will be in for a treat! If you don't know of Nelson Steinmetz accomplishments all you have to do is pick up an "S Gaugian" magazine. He has won numerous awards for scale modeling over the years.
With our club membership doubling at every meeting we are looking at everyone to bring their own folding chair. Standing room only!
We know have our official "Valley of the Sun S-Gaugers" web site at: sgaugers.com
We still have our informational "Valley of the Sun S-Gaugers" blog site at: sgaugers.blogspot.com
I have my personnel web site "My Classic American Flyer Cabinet-top Layout" at: az-flyer.blogspot.com
AZ-Flyer
“Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.”
AZ-Flyer@American Flyer Cabinet-top Layout (5'x16'): http://az-flyer.blogspot.com/
I think comparing American Flyer to Lionel is like comparing Nikon and Canon cameras. A good photographer can get good photographs with either one. Similarly, a good model railroader can build a great layout with either Flyer or Lionel. It comes down to a matter of how comfotable you are with the product. I chose my Nikon D60 because of the way the controls were arranged and the way it fit my hand. I continue to build layouts with Lionel or other o gauge trains because that was what I started out with as a kid and I'm comfoortable with it. I have worked in HO, G and to a small extent, S gauge too and had fun with all of it. I came back to three rail O because, at the end of the day, I just like it.
George
Our next "Valley of the Sun" S-Gaugers meeting will be on January 21st at Chuck Eral' host member home in Fountain Hills, Arizona. His layout is featured as "My Classic American Flyer Cabinet-top Train Layout " on his internet web site. American Flyer was the classic toy trains of the 1950's-60's developed by A. C. Gilbert Co. These model trains in S-Gauge ran on two rail track, with smoke, choo-choo, rail sounds, and much more "realistic appearance". Visitors are always welcome! Our meetings are still informal with fellowship and joining in on operating your model trains on the host members' model railroad layout. Discussion is open to anyone attending our meeting. You can view our last meeting discussions in Valley Tracks News Letter. Please e-mail me if you will be attending this meeting. With our membership up to twelve members and visitors from out of state that are coming to this meeting. We want to have enough food, soda, and cookies for everyone attending. Please view our club Event Calendar for directions to location of the meeting and its starting time.
We are doing the "round robin" type club meetings. Our fist meeting was in the far north west valley in Glendale. Our second meeting was last Saturday up in Cave Free/ Cave Creek which is more north central.
Our next meeting will be in Fountain Hills which is the far north east valley. As we get more members we will make a more of a circle. Right now we are having the meeting in the host members home that have model railroad layouts. Member have more to talk about? "Show and tell".........................
We have a lot of people who have the same interest in model trains They will be attending meetings after the first of the year. With the holiday season, everyone is with family and friends.
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Az-Flyer
You might think about being a "round robin" group where you visit a different layout each meeting or being a modular group renting an empty storefront somewhere.
We just had our third club meeting on Saturday. We already doubled our membership to ten people with the same interest. The next meeting will be January 21st. Go to our club event calendar for further information on meetings and model train shows and swap meets.
If you live in Arizona, we our looking for twenty good members for Valley of the Sun “S” Gaugers. No Dues, Good Food, and Great Layouts to run your model trains on.
Happy Holidays to everyone from the "Valley of the Sun"
Check your local cable company sometimes if you have a not for profit club they will advertise for free on one of there community channels they have
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Our club is now in contact with collectors of American Flyer, American Model, S-Helper, and S-Gauge here in Arizona. We just finished mailing out invitation to TCA, NASG members we could not get in contact by E-mail. We have completed a data base of over 75 individuals that have some connection to S Gauge. Now between the holidays we will build and delete from this list. Starting a club is all about getting the word out, any way you can (Club Flyers, E-Mail Invitations, Club Mailings, and word of mouth. You may be surprised how fast the word travels just over a month.
Valley of the Sun “S” Gaugers
AZ,
Thanks for that additional information. Sounds like a lot of fun.
Keep us posted on your meetings and your activities.
Rich
Alton Junction
Rich,
But, tell us more.
How many members?
We have eight members and we have more interested individual coming to our next meeting. I was just at the Turkey Meet this past week and talk to all the A.F. vender tables. There seems to be a lot of interest in S Gauge in Phoenix. It is all about getting the word out thru the club web page, and making new contacts by going to train shows and swap meets.
The best thing to do is go to our news letter ‘Valley Tracks. This was first meeting, and I can’t wait for the next. It will be at Marty Wiks’ host member home. His layout was just featured in Classic Toy Train Magazine in February 2010. The only model train layout with a centerfold in the CTT issue.
What do you plan to do?
Right now where just gathering up interested members before the holidays. After the holidays we will move forward down the tracks!
Any plans to build a club layout?
Half our members have layouts and the rest are interested in building layouts. We don’t want to put to much on the table to begin with. The core of the members just want to educate new members, and help them build there layouts. It all about having fun and meeting new friends with the same interest.
Valley of the Sun "S" Gaugers
Liivng in the Chicago area, I am too far away to join you guys.
We just had our first Valley of the Sun "S" Gaugers Club Meeting, in Phoenix, AZ.
We will be holding our clubs monthly meetings on the 3rd Saturday of the month at the host members’ home. Most of our members have large model train layouts or in the process of building one, which makes it easy for use to use the hosts members home for the meetings.
We want to here from other clubs. What works best for your members and there club?
Whats the Pro's and Con's of starting model train club?
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