Reg Bilodeau was one of the hosts for the 1976 NASG Centennial Convention in Ottawa, Canada.
Reg, had a machine shop in his basement, one would die for. He was an excellent machinist-craftsman and he also had an excellent S scale model railroad. I remember it well and I have at least a dozen images of his shop and his layout. What I remember most is his completely machined shop scratch built S scale locomotive on a stand and that the locomotive ran perpetually. I'm sure it won several NASG Awards and was publicized in the Herald. If I can find the image real quick in my files I'll post a very young Lee Johnson photographing Reg's layout. Fascinating, that the layout background was fully sceniced, but that the ceiling (upper sky) was wrapped in silver aluminum wrap. He also had an 8-12 stall engine house and each individual door opened pneumatically among many of his other innovations. Never will forget it. I did win the NASG 76' Centennial Award with my AF GP 7 and caboose. John Bortz asked me to come down New Hope and paint their New Hope Caboose in the same regalia. The 1976 Ottawa convention was one of the finest conventions Mary and I ever attended. I miss so many of those wonderful early S gauge pioneers who treated Mary and I so well, they are no longer with us, but fond memories of each one will remain with me forever. "S"ee Ya, Bill (FRaley)
