John (jefelectric) is Jack of all trades

[FJ and G]

How is it that John is talented? I’ve heard complaints about how difficult it is to operate DCS; you know, too many buttons to press, no time to watch the trains, etc etc blah, blah, blah.

But John, who is up there in years, not only operates DCS with one hand, but also operates his trains with TMCC in the other hand, as well as keeping his eyes on a conventional powered Williams F-3 lashup.

With 4 trains whizzing around the room, ensuring all the switches are set, chewing gum and chattering away, John is the master of his basement empire.

Here’s John with 2 handhelds and yours truly.



Did the Reading ever run thru the Rockies?

No, silly, out of the question. But a Reading excursion special did manage to cross the North Pole and ended up in this German Bavarian mountain scene! (Notice the POWERFUL, custom headlight)







Here are some micro scenes I thought were interesting. BTW, John’s trains run thru a hole he knocked in the wall and fill both sides of his basement! His loving wife left him the entire basement, and she just has about 5 square feet for a seeing machine! Can you try that at your home?







This fine refinery cannot be purchased in any catalog. No siree, you have to drive all the way to York to get it from a gent who makes these fine refineries. And how far is York from Elizabethtown, where John lives? All of 5 minutes, give or take a half hour.





Like Bob, Roy and others on this great forum, John is a master of electronics, having working in the industry most of his life. Here are some relays he built to send power to different tracks.



Since John has a PW ZW, and some other off-the-wall bricks, he designed his own panel of amps and voltmeters.



Not all of John’s scenes are compressed. Here’s one that gives you a sense of wide-open spaces



I didn’t know John also models in 1:12 scale!!! Here’s a haywagon he scratchbuilt and a dollhouse he kitbashed. He builds dollhouses for children and, of course, puts in wiring and extras.





If you visit John, be sure to bring your fishing pole. There are some prizewinning fish in the lake he built



John built this greenhouse, heated by propane. If the power ever goes out in Elizabethtown, he and wife can cuddle in the greenhouse (as long as the propane lasts)



John and wife built really nice Christmas decorations all thru the house, including this working trolley. Oh, and did I mention John is a master chef, as is his wife?



John also built this shed and gazebo. They live in a really really really nice, bucolic part of Pennsylvania. Rabbits recently have infested his garden and John wants me to loan him BB the beagle.



Once agin, John, thanks for showing hospitality to myself and my 2 sisters during our visit yesterday.

[Jumijo]

John's a good guy and obviously, a man of many talents. I hope the both of you enjoyed the visit!


Jim

[1688torpedo]

Hello Dave-  Looks like John is a very talented individual indeed with many skills & talents at his disposal. Hope you enjoyed your visit with him & have another chance to do so. Take Care.

[dbaker48]

Dave,
The pictures and expose are really cool.  I am fortunate enought that I plan on visiting John during the York show this spring.  He has already extended many courtesies to me inclucing information about the local area, as well as tips via the forum.

Really looking forward to the trip, York may not end up being the centerpiece of memory, but meeting more of the forum guys should really be exciting.

Can't wait

[cnw1995]

John is a class guy - very helpful too. Have you ever seen such nice wiring?

[wrmcclellan]

Thanks Dave for sharing your visit with John!

[laz 57]

Looks like a nice visit with JOHN, thanks.

laz57

[ChiefEagles]

He's a good Yank.  That is because he lived in NC when he was a kid and got his intellect started well then.

[dwiemer]

Dave, thanks for sharing.  John, If the temps are too cold for you up north, I am about to wire my layout and we could work a little "Deal" out.  You have a very nice place there.  Sounds like you have a very understanding wife, as I think most of us do who are allowed to pursue our hobby.

God Bless,

Dennis

[FJ and G]

Chief,

He recently killed 2 rabbits with one round so I knew he must have roots further south. :-)

[ChiefEagles]

Chief,

He recently killed 2 rabbits with one round so I knew he must have roots further south. :-)

Yeap, us REBS learn to shoot before walking.

[Frank53]

John, If the temps are too cold for you up north, I am about to wire my layout and we could work a little "Deal" out.

Hmmmmm, I'm going to need some wiring help myself.

John - FYI - it is M-U-C-H warmer in F-L-O-R-I-D-A (when you need it bad - we've got it good) than in rainy old Georgia.

White sand beaches, wiring, chicks in thongs, wiring, never ending wiring, sunshine - temps in the 80's, wiring, a mile from the white sand beach, and did I mention chicks in thongs?

 

[dbaker48]

John, If the temps are too cold for you up north, I am about to wire my layout and we could work a little "Deal" out.

Hmmmmm, I'm going to need some wiring help myself.

John - FYI - it is M-U-C-H warmer in F-L-O-R-I-D-A (when you need it bad - we've got it good) than in rainy old Georgia.

White sand beaches, wiring, chicks in thongs, wiring, never ending wiring, sunshine - temps in the 80's, wiring, a mile from the white sand beach, and did I mention chicks in thongs?

 

NO.....  NO..... NO.....

CALIFORNIA IS THE PLACE !!!!!!

Disneyland, Hollywood, Beaches,  MUCH BETTER WEATHER THAN FLORIDA...

GREAT WESTERN SKIES

REAL SURF

CALIFORNIA GIRLS

CULTURE MECCA

AND ON. AND ON.... AND ON........

[Frank53]

don't make me play the "Land of Fruits & Nuts" card, Don.

oh wait!, I think I just did!

[Buckeye Riveter]

John, please write an article for CTT on how to wire a layout.  Great job!

[perry1060]

Nice reporting and great pictures. I love the gazebo!

We have cottontails here in AZ and hunting season for them is all year long.

 

 

 

[csxt30]

Dave :  that was a very nice visit & write up about John !! I think he's a great person & a real Craftsman !! I'm sure proud to know him a little here from the forum !! He also has a few items on e-bay from time to time & is well respected there too, I see from his 100% feedback from everyone !! I see he hasn't had anything on there for a while, but I check his everyday !!

Thanks, John

 

[Dr. John]

Dave,
A very nice write-up and pics of your visit with John. Always great to get to know more about our fellow forumites. John is truly a man with many talents.

[Brutus]

Thanks for sharing!  Looks like you guys had a wonderful visit - man, John, you do some great work!

[jefelectric]

David tends to exagerate quite a bit.  But thanks anyway.