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| One of Jock Oliphant's structures, on display at the Winnipeg Railway Museum. |
Not many people know the name Jock Oliphant—maybe a
few model railroad oldtimers. But in Winnipeg, where I live, that name is
well-known in the model railroad community.
Jock, who died in 2000, was Canada's first Master
Model Railroader (MMR #15), and the only person to win best-in-show at three successive
NMRA national conventions.
The former Winnipeg Model Railroad Club member was renowned for his intricate and detailed structures. A number of his
award-winning structures were incorporated into his layout.
At club meetings, he did an annual scenery clinic
where he would demonstrate the steps to go from raw bench work to full scenery
in 4 inch increments on a 4 foot long module.
According to WMRC member Dave Downie, Jock invited
new club members to sit up front to get a really good view. This was a signal
to older members to move back—Jock always sprayed those in the first row with
water.
His children decided to donate some
of his structures to the Winnipeg Railway Museum, where they are now on display
today in a temporary exhibit space.
I only met Jock once or twice, and never saw his
layout. It’s great to see his structures on display at the Museum.
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| Jock Oliphant |
I recall seeing pictures of Jock's work in RMC in the 70s and yearned for a how-to, along the lines of fellow Canadian Stafford Swain. Thanks for this.
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