Our Kato Mini-Diorama Workshop Was a Big Success!
By Greg Cassidy and Wendy Woodland
How do you get young folks interested in model railroading? Let them build a small module of their own and start a layout!
A friend of the MPI Open House programs and longtime volunteer, Jeff Peck (of N gauge T Traker’s) researched and obtained a family-friendly and affordable introduction into model railroading for our visitors. Because of this, MPI was able to host a workshop that introduced our younger train hobby enthusiasts to a wonderful STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts Math) product from Kato USA – a mini-diorama kit designed to let children build their own module. 
What is a mini-diorama? They’re small modules consisting of a base, a piece of Kato Unitrack, and scenery applied by the kids. These modules are then connected to build a layout on which trains are run. At the end of the day, the children get to take their modules home and start their own personal layout. It is a fun, engaging way to introduce young people to model railroading while giving families a shared experience.
For our event, Mr. Peck pre-assembled the wooden parts of the kit in advance so that young children did not have to sit there waiting for glue to dry. MPI had procured a tray of materials that the children (ages 5-14) and their parents needed to landscape and decorate their mini-dioramas. The materials included a grass mat, foliage material, plastic trees, glue, paint, brushes, people, animals, and dinosaurs! A plastic “tool box” containing an N-scale railcar plus a comic book that explained railroading and decorating techniques was gifted to each of the participants at the end of the workshop.
The workshop culminated with all the participants huddled around their connected modules, now hooked to a power pack, and a train was placed unto the newly formed track. There was the errant tree branch or dinosaur tail that had to be moved out of the way but that did not dull any of the excitement as you heard shouts like “It’s going over mine now!” After quite a few laps around the layout, the modular layout was disassembled and the kids packed up their dioramas in the cases to take home. One can hope that a few seeds were planted that may someday grow into a future model railroader.
MPI wants to acknowledge and thank all who made this day possible: Mr. Peck for his generous donation of time, diorama kits, tool boxes, and rail cars. The Independent Dudes in Operation Top Secret (IDIOTS T-Trak) members Matt Chibbaro and Christian Peck plus the Rockville Model Railroad Society (RMRRS) for their assistance with the workshop. (RMRRS also designed and keeps up the HO-scale model housed at the station.) And last but not least, the MPI Open House Committee for their coordination.
Check back regarding a possible workshop in the fall!