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a ModelersLife: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Lionel Strang
All modelers have a life but what do we know of it. This podcast is as much about the people in model railroading has it is about the hobby itself. I've met so many interesting people in the hobby over the years I decided it would be fun to share their back stories with everyone else. So come along with me, Lionel Strang as we discover just how many fascinating folks there are in this great hobby of ours.
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- 5 days ago1h 30m
ViewerMail Flight #137
It's time for another exciting edition of ViewerMail where every episode starts with hope and ends with somebody discovering there's a much more complicated way to accomplish what you're doing. It's your opportunity to listen as the AML Gang turns a simple two sentence email into a 14-page discussion. Let's face it ViewerMail is cheaper than therapy while bringing together model railroaders from around the world to disagree about the same thing. ViewerMail is like switching cars in the yard—you never know what's coming next. If model railroading were easy, these podcasts would be a lot shorter, as we try to determine why cleaning the train room somehow ends with buying three locomotives. So please join us where weathering powder, benchwork, and life advice appear in the same sentence.
- 1 weeks ago1h 12m
Episode 286: George Taylor Returns!!
George Taylor has been hanging around the AML Nation almost as long as the modeler simply known as "Kelly." We've travelled a lot of miles with George through the years and it seemed like as good a time as any to catch up on what he's been doing. It's a great podcast and one we're sure you'll enjoy!!
- 2 weeks ago1h 16m
Episode 285: Bob Ginger
Bob Ginger is a well respected model railroader known for his detailed N-scale layout work and realistic operations-oriented design. He earned the prestigious Master Model Railroader (MMR #695) designation from the National Model Railroad Association. The Pepper Valley Division is an N scale freelanced railroad inspired by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe and Great Northern railroads set in October 1954. Op-sessions on the Pepper Valley are either one or two-man crews with operators working near each other, making it easy to coordinate train movements. Each train moves in an east or west direction for the duration of the job. The layout features a walk-in design, long mainline run for the size of the layout, realistic scenery and good traffic flow all wrapped up in a mid-century western railroad atmosphere. It's a great podcast and one we're sure you'll enjoy!!
- 3 weeks ago1h 11m
Episode 284: Dustin Whitten
Dustin Whitten is a full time 1:1 railroader that's also an HO scale model railroader known for his coal-hauling Appalachian-themed layouts. His current layout was featured in the "Built by Others" series on Trains.com inspired by the Virginian project layout that first appeared in the pages of Model Railroader in January of 2012. Dustin's Norfolk & Western South Branch layout took inspiration from this project and adjusted it to fit his space. His freelance layout, the Norfolk & Western South Branch, models Southwestern Virginia in 1987 during the early Norfolk Southern era. On this podcast he explains how he expanded and customized the original Virginian project plan with broader curves, a redesigned coal marshaling yard, realistic operations based on prototype railroad practices using a mix of Norfolk and Western, Southern Railway, and early Norfolk Southern power. It's a great podcast and one we're sure you'll enjoy!!
- May 11, 20261h 22m
World Record with Andy Zimmerman
Andy Zimmerman is well known in the model railroading community through his work with the National Model Railroad Association, as the Standards & Conformance Director. Andy's just one of those guys that makes the hobby go, being heavily involved with modular groups such as N-TRAK and T-TRAK. Recently he took on the role of "N-Rail" president because he has so much spare time. Before his railroad hobby leadership, he served twenty-three years in the U.S. Navy, he's been president of the NMRA Sunshine Region, is active with the Big Bend Model Railroad Association in Florida. But for this interview he's here to tell us all about the T-Trak world record attempt at this year's national convention in Chattanooga, Tennessee. So grab yourself a big bowl of shredded NMRA standards, a tall cool glass of warm salt water and enjoy!!
- May 4, 20261h 14m
Dave Owens and NERPM
Long time friend of the AML Nation, Dave Owens stops by to bring us up to date about this year's Northeast Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet or NERPM (excuse me) as the regulars call it. For the past three years NERPM has run in partnership with The Amherst Railway Society and provides an opportunity for modelers to participate in a show where modelers of all skill levels are able to exhibit their work, learn about new products, and enjoy the company of other talented modelers. Dave is always quick to point out NERPM (excuse me) is a "MEET" and not a "SHOW." This is where folks come together to show what they are working on and see what others are doing, enjoy some great clinics, chat with others and just generally have a great time. So, the bottom line is to go and see for yourself and if you happen to bump into Dave… Tell him Lionel sent you!!
- Apr 27, 20261h 17m
Episode 283: John Gardiner a.k.a. G4
This week, we hear from G4, aka Doctor G4, Notch 11, aka John Gardiner IV. G4 is a long-time friend of the podcast and a valued member of the AML Nation. In this sprawling conversation, we hear about G4's travel across nearly the entire Amtrak system from coast to coast to explore and photograph Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs). We discuss G4 biking across commuter rail systems, capturing thousands of photographs to support a future article for Railroad Model Craftsman. There's also discussion about European and American DMU prototype equipment, currently available as scale models from Europe, and all the while, G4 does his best to absolutely annoy the Evil Overlord. So sit back, with a big bowl of shredded light rail schedules, slow down your podcast player's speed to 0.75x, and buckle up for a fun conversation. To learn more about G4, DMUs, or their podcast, "Proto-Future", visit their website: https://www.bgtmrring.org/
- Apr 20, 20261h 3m
Episode 282: Tom Holley
When speaking with a third-generation railroader, that usually means he or she comes from a family where railroading has been passed down through the generations, and in the case of our next guest, his grandfather started as a track worker in the very early years of the 1900s and took such pride in his job that his son followed in his footsteps. So it's no wonder that when Tom Holly came along with a wealth of knowledge from his father and grandfather, the next step seemed only natural. Don't think it's unreasonable for us to assume that Tom didn't choose trains, trains chose Tom. In model railroading this kind of lineage is actually a big deal because by the time the third generation gets around the building a layout, they're able to call on a wealth of knowledge that not many modelers have access to. This is a great podcast and one we're sure you'll enjoy.
About a ModelersLife
All modelers have a life but what do we know of it. This podcast is as much about the people in model railroading has it is about the hobby itself. I've met so many interesting people in the hobby over the years I decided it would be fun to share their back stories with everyone else. So come along with me, Lionel Strang as we discover just how many fascinating folks there are in this great hobby of ours.
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