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Regular meetings will be at one of TWO different locations - check the Timetable for location and time details on each meet.
Gary Morava Recreation Center 110 W. Camp McDonald Road, Prospect Heights, IL 60070, will run from 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM,
or the
Glenview Public Library 1930 Glenview Rd, Glenview, IL 60025, in the Multi-Purpose Room on the main floor near the east entrance, will run from 2:00 PM until 4:30 PM,
and also via the Zoom Video Conference application.
Click on a link to display a map locating the Gary Morava Recreation Center or the Glenview Public Library
All activities, locations and dates are subject to change, so please check meeting listings regularly for any change in activity, location or time.
Unless otherwise noted, meetings are free and guests are always welcome. Click on a meeting date below for additional details of that event.
All activities, dates and locations 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 Zoom 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
Model Display entries will be shown in-person at each meet until further notice.
Clinic Presentation: Lighting for Model Application by Jim Osborn, MMR®
Description: Jim will summarize a variety of lighting devices, circuits, applications & useful tools.
Model Achievement Celebration Display Category: Any Freight Car
To enter the celebration, bring your modeling work in this category to the meet to share it with the membership.
Show and Tell: Bring any category or train related item to display.
Clinic Presentation: Tappets, dogs, bridles - Basics of Mechanical Interlocking - Part 1. by Patrick Golden, DuPage Division
Description: Part One defines mechanical interlocking, and looks at much of the component hardware - tower structure, levers, cranks, pipeline, etc. - associated with a mechanical interlocking plant. Signal aspects are covered and the basic operation of the locking bed (where all the actual mechanical interlocking takes place) is introduced as a lead in to Part Two of the clinic.
Model Achievement Celebration Display Category: Any Structure
To enter the celebration, bring your modeling work in this category to the meet to share it with the membership.
Show and Tell: Bring any category or train related item to display.
Clinic Presentation: Painting with Pan Pastels by Randy Allio, MMR®
Description: Randy will show attendees the techniques discovered using Panpastels to paint detail castings, stone walls, and wood. Models will be on display showing the results possible using this medium to replace the lost paint brands that modelers used for years. Time will be available for anyone wanting hands on practice.
Model Achievement Celebration Display Category: Any Locomotive
To enter the celebration, bring your modeling work in this category to the meet to share it with the membership.
Show and Tell: Bring any category or train related item to display.
Clinic Presentation: Tappets, dogs, bridles - Basics of Mechanical Interlocking. by Patrick Golden, DuPage Division
Description: Part Two builds on Part One in that a mechanical interlocking "locking bed" is built step-by-step on the PowerPoint screen and then lineups are made to demonstrate how manipulating various levers lock out others and how levers are manipulated in a precise order to make lineups and clear signals. Trains are then "run" through the interlocking plant. A crossing (diamond) is introduced to demonstrate the need for "crossing" or "route" levers, trap circuits to protect the dead section of track at the diamond are discussed and time release mechanisms are discussed when it is necessary to take down a signal previously cleared in order to change a lineup.
Model Achievement Celebration Display Category: A Load spanning 2 or 3 cars
To enter the celebration, bring your modeling work in this category to the meet to share it with the membership.
Show and Tell: Bring any category or train related item to display.
Clinic Presentation: TBA by TBA
Description: TBA
Model Achievement Celebration Display Category: One Illuminated Structure
To enter the celebration, bring your modeling work in this category to the meet to share it with the membership.
Show and Tell: Bring any category or train related item to display.
Clinic Presentation: Railroads & the Natural Ice Industry: A Symoionic Relationship by Bruce DeYoung, MMR®
Description: The harvesting of natural ice to preserve food and cool drinks began in the early 1800's on farms and homesteads. By the middle 1800's, it became a large industry. Like many other industries involving heavy, bulky commodities, the ice industry turned to the railroads to transport their product. For the next 50-60 years, the natural ice industry became huge customers of the railroads. At the same time, shipping refrigerated products by rail increased dramatically, and the railroads became huge customers of the ice industry. In this clinic, Bruce will look at the commercial process of harvesting, storing and shipping natural ice and the role that railroads used in the process.
Model Achievement Celebration Display Category: An Odd Consist - max 4 units
To enter the celebration, bring your modeling work in this category to the meet to share it with the membership.
Show and Tell: Bring any category or train related item to display.
Clinic Presentation: TBA by TBA
Description: TBA
Model Achievement Celebration Display Category: Refrigerated Billboard Cars - max 2
To enter the celebration, bring your modeling work in this category to the meet to share it with the membership.
Show and Tell: Bring any category or train related item to display.
Clinic Presentation: TBA by TBA
Description: TBA
Model Achievement Celebration Display Category: A Kit-bashed Structure
To enter the celebration, bring your modeling work in this category to the meet to share it with the membership.
Show and Tell: Bring any category or train related item to display.
Clinic Presentation: TBA by TBA
Description: TBA
Model Achievement Celebration Display Category: Your Favorite Locomotive
To enter the celebration, bring your modeling work in this category to the meet to share it with the membership.
Show and Tell: Bring any category or train related item to display.