Model Rail Radio #225: Proto Throttle and Podcaster [February 3, 2024]

John Syzemanski is now retired and reports on tasks for his own projects, participating in ops sessions, and visiting a few layouts in the area. Tom and John discuss the steam proto-throttle development. Martin Coombs has several updates from a game-changing laser cutter upgrade, to new fox-proof ballasting techniques, to the latest on upcoming layout exhibits. Martin describes a successful Christmas season at Bredgar. Tom asks about 16mm modeling, when Martin describes a smoke generator technique with "ultrasonic chuff generation". Martin is happy to be back on a role with several projects and colleagues in the hobby. Martin goes on to describe Light Burn software and use with Illustrator files. Dave Barraza is building a staging yard where no one should build a staging yard. He continues to challenge operators, and signal installation looks a bit too much like his day job. John Gardiner IV is back from the Springfield show and is feeling like a real podcaster. John is working on a layout set in the 2040s with a fine back story. Tom hopes to record more frequently. Thanks to Robert J. Thomas for editing the recording and providing the show notes.