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Until further notice, regular FVD meetings are held from 1:30 PM until 4:30 PM, via the Zoom Video Conference application. All activities and dates are subject to change, so please check meeting listings regularly for any change in activity, or time. Meetings are free and guests are always welcome. Non-member guests should contact the webmaster for meeting logon information. Click on a meeting date below for additional details of that event. Please download the first two reference PDFs in advance of the meeting:
• FVD Zoom Meeting Procedures to understand our virtual meeting process.
• FVD Zoom Meeting Quick guide for quick assistance with the Zoom screen and other FAQs.
If you need additional help, click on: Zoom Help Topics for general application assistance.
Note: Zoom now requires that its applications have the latest updates installed before it will connect you to a meeting. Just open the application and it will automatically update itself or open the app and click on the small account icon in the upper right corner. Scroll down the menu and click on "Check for Updates". This takes a few minutes so please do not wait until the last minutes to open the app.
Regular division members on our email list will receive video conference login credentials via our meeting notices emailed to you about ONE WEEK PRIOR to the meet. If you are not a FVD member and/or not on our email list, and would like to attend as a guest, please contact the FVD webmaster for details on how to participate.
Photographs of contest entries will be displayed on the CONTEST WEBPAGE as they are received. Please upload your photos of your entry using the NO LATER THAN Noon on the Friday before the meet. Please include, your name, category, entry title and scale. You may send up to 3 photos of each entry - but only one entry per member per monthly category. Photos will display the best if they are 1200 pixels wide at 72 px/inch minimum but any size will work.
Contest voting will be via on-line ballot available either here, on the contest photo web-page or the Zoom meeting notice. The voting window opens 2 days before the meet and closes at NOON the day of the meet.
Click here to VOTE
Clinic Presentation: Building Billboards by Dave Ackmann
Dave Ackmann of the Gateway Division of the NMRA in St Louis is a frequent contributor to virtual clinics sponsored by the NMRA. In "Building Billboards for the Baden Vogt and DeSmet" he presents how to make custom billboards, as implemented on his HO scale model railroad. The clinic describes where to get billboard images and how to build the support structures in Styrene. He recommends standardizing billboard heights, and describes how to make assembly fixtures out of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene and a router table. Dave will also discuss how to create billboard legs and boardwalks using 3D printing.
Click here to watch a preview of his clinic!Contest: 1 Diesel Locomotive.
To enter the contest, please follow the instructions above this notice.
Show and Tell: Display any category or train related item
Clinic Presentation: Sectional and Portable Layout Planning
Layout Sectional Construction saves You Work, and Speeds Up Moving from 5 Basements and 2 Garages
by Eric Peterson, CID
Contest: 1 Gondola with a load.
To enter the contest, please follow the instructions above this notice.
Show and Tell: Display any category or train related item
Clinic Presentation: New England by Mike Wood
Contest: 1 Illuminated structure.
To enter the contest, please follow the instructions above this notice.
Show and Tell: Display any category or train related item
Clinic Presentations:
New Hard Shell Scenery Method by Bob McGeever
A Teen/Tween Explores Chicago's Railroads - The Sequel 1975-78 by Steve Brown
Contest: Odd consist - 2 units maximum.
To enter the contest, please follow the instructions above this notice.
Show and Tell: Display any category or train related item
Clinic Presentation: Four Approaches for Arduino Controlled Signals - by Gary Saxton
Click here for reference material and a copy of Gary's clinic!
Contest: Open Load for 1 freight car.
To enter the contest, please follow the instructions above this notice.
Show and Tell: Display any category or train related item
Clinic Presentation: DCC Speed Matching by George Keprda
Contest: 1 Large Structure - 5000 square scale feet or more.
To enter the contest, please follow the instructions above this notice.
Show and Tell: Display any category or train related item
Clinic Presentations:
A Teen Explores Chicago's Railroads in 1977 (Prequel to the December clinic) by Steve Brown
November 2021 trip to Panama Canal RR by Steve Brown
Contest: 1 Steam Locomotive.
To enter the contest, please follow the instructions above this notice.
Show and Tell: Display any category or train related item
Clinic Presentation: Railroads of International Harvester in Chicago by Richard Sieben
Contest: 1 Refrigerated billboard car.
To enter the contest, please follow the instructions above this notice.
Show and Tell: Display any category or train related item
Clinic Presentation: DCC Switching by Mike Wood
Mike will present the "how to" basics of using the NCE DCC MK2 and MK8 decoders to control accessories such as turnouts.
Contest: 1 Small Structure - 500 square scale feet or less.
To enter the contest, please follow the instructions above this notice.
Show and Tell: Display any category or train related item
The 2022 Midwest, North Central & Mid Central Tri-Region convention - Indy Junction will be jointly hosted by the three regions.
The convention facility will be Marriott East, 7202 E 21st St Indianapolis, IN 46219
Please see the Information PDF
for more about this event.