NMRA National Train Show,
Grand Rapids, MI - August 3rd - 5th, 2012
   Brooks sent me the front cover image of the November NMRA Magazine pictured here. Gaylord wrote supporting documentation detailing our plan to upgrade the display layout. The following is an excerpt from that effort.
   "Built as a club project, the SMSG layout has been displayed at shows and conventions for several years.   Physically it’s a 14’ x 36’ oval consisting of eight straight sections (each 5’ 6” long) and eight corner sections (with each 90° corner made up of two sections).  Although all the sections had scenery, it was fairly basic. "
   " Our first task was setting a vision for what we wanted to accomplish.  Essentially we wanted to portray a generic Midwest locale that had elements of four themes:  farm, town, industry and country.  We further set a goal that the finished layout would have the homogenous appearance of a fine home layout, as if it had all been designed and built by one person.   Finally, we stressed the idea that structures and scenery would be organized into a series of scenes that flowed from section to section, rather than the more typical modular approach where each section might be designed independently. A total of 22 club members participated in the layout construction, and we had nearly that many involved in running the layout over the course of the three-day event. "