Kids Can Get Creative at Model Train Clinic Saturday, Dec. 3 as Part of Walter P. Chrysler Museum's Holiday Exhibition

FYI: Chrysler Buyer's Guide

AUBURN HILLS, MI--Nov. 21, 2011: The Stoney Creek Model Railroad Club will host a model train clinic on Saturday, Dec. 3 at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum in Auburn Hills.  Participants can stop by at any time between 10 a.m. -- 2 p.m.  The event is part of the Museum's seventh annual Cars, Trees & Traditions holiday exhibition, presented by Ally and the Metro Detroit Chrysler Dodge JeepĀ® Ram and FIAT Superstores.

Club members will work with young train lovers to make a variety of lifelike trees in HO scale from everyday materials that they can take home or place in the club's layout at the Museum.  The model train hobbyists will also provide tips and literature to moms and dads about easy, inexpensive ways to start a model train tradition at home.

Clinic admission is $2 per person ages 5 and up with regular Museum admission. Advance registration is available online at WP Chrysler.

Every holiday weekend through Dec. 18 the Stoney Creek club is running a trio of trains on a 14' x 28' track in the Museum's Boss Chrysler's Garage from 10 a.m. -- 2 p.m. Saturdays and 2 -- 4 p.m. Sundays.  Visitors can enjoy an up-close view of an array of miniature locomotives and box cars chugging through a variety of intricate urban and rural landscapes.  Among the 11 different settings is a Chrysler-inspired vintage auto show.  A camera mounted to the front of one engine provides a view from within the tiny towns and countryside, as well as glimpses of the audience, on a monitor adjacent to the track.

Children can also create two to three holiday crafts from 10 a.m. -- 2 p.m. on Saturdays.

The Walter P. Chrysler Museum is hosting Cars, Trees & Traditions through Dec. 30.  The exhibition spotlights eight decades of holiday season celebrations through 23 decorated trees paired with Chrysler vehicles throughout the Museum.

An array of Lionel O and O27 gauge model trains spanning several decades, from the private collection Wayne and Sue Simonson of Ray, Mich., is featured among the displays.  Several of the box cars, produced by Weaver Ultra Line Cars, highlight current and past Chrysler brands including Dodge, Mopar, DeSoto and Plymouth.  Others spotlight such iconic Detroit institutions as Vernor's and Stroh's.  The display also highlights an assortment of Plasticville buildings and structures dating back to the 1950s.

General Museum admission, which includes Cars, Trees & Traditions, is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors (62 and older) and $4 for juniors (6 -- 12). Children 5 years old and younger are free.  Admission is $4 per person for groups of 15 or more with advance registration.

The holiday exhibit will be open for self-guided tours from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday - Saturday and noon - 5 p.m. Sunday.  The Museum is closed every Monday, as well as Thanksgiving Day and Dec. 24 and 25.