General Discussion (Model Railroader)

Robby P.:

Sawyer.......Vikings, and now the Buc's.   Looks like the Pack needs some help.

THEY LOST?????? just checked nfl.com, yeah. I am, uh, rather speechless. And I yelled NOOOOOO when I saw that final. Lord help us, yes, they need MAJOR help.

Good Afternoon, Flo - I'll have a piece of Petra's Apfelstrudel please (glad you hid the second batch from Garry...), and a CAW mug of coffee. Hope Ulrich gets everything needed taken care of while he's in the hospital. As much of a trooper as Ulrich is, I'm guessing he must NOT at all be feeling good.

Ray - and BridgeTom - not a problem on the lecture/rant (as a former teacher to some others...). I have a few teachers who really inspired me when I was in school (whether we're talking high school or college, either one) - they (IMHO) are the ones well worth their pay (and then some!). And it hasn't become any easier for teachers over the past dozen years or so (I quit teaching probably 20 years ago).

And Tom - I'm kinda with Bama - what about 'converting' the 'Ernie Ball pickups' to coil springs (and less maintenance)? If you glued the springs in, you probably wouldn't have to worry about an errant 'E' string shooting across the room and impaling you, UffDah or Spooky.

Looks like Mikayla (and possibly Bama?) has been taking lessons from Duke... She's a cutie, Eddie! And I see that Heather has a smile like her Mom, too.

Garry - hope your sister and you can get things figured out for your mother on the current deal that's going on. Doesn't sound like a good time for your niece's family - had the rest of her family got the H1N1 shots yet? And yeah, send some of that Kentucky ham to the Diner - I am sure Jerry will enjoy that, and I may just have a hot ham & cheese sandwich with some, too.

And Jerry - I hope you don't need a new battery yet.

Mark (Hoople) - back! Except for the broken arm, sounds like you've been busy with a few things you probably enjoyed.

Jeff - that Valspar (sp?) sample can was a great deal. Don'tcha love it when you find those kind of bargains (fits what you want, AND save your money for other stuff, besides)? How's your foot coming along - the salve seem to be helping? Five locos? Man, the Sundown Shops have been BUSY today!

Robby, I'm sure your wife's mood has improved since she found out she got the teaching job. Way to go for her! What'll her job be like?

All right, Todd - HOW are you getting 70 percent (instead of the 30 percent our signs said was off)?? Oh, I see, I missed the seque into your fantasy again...  Need to check those meds, fella.   Now, you know, Todd, just because posting a photo's sorta-kinda-a-little-like a 'holiday' card, you can still do it and not ruin your reputation with us...

PC - if you really want to scare folks, re-take that photo in late afternoon, and wear a black leather outfit... Good shot of the bike, by the way.

Weather here today was good, a little less breeze but still warm (70's F). Still warm, but maybe some possibility of rain tomorrow (not much, though).

Found out (when I got to the restaurant where most of the time I use the WiFi) that the local state university's power plant is down. The restaurant was FILLED with college students with their laptops. . Apparently Saturday afternoon, there was a problem with their transformer, and they lost power to ALL the campus. They had to get another one in from thousands of miles away, so no classes until noon tomorrow. Picture 4 'high-rise' dorms (about 14 floors, I think), plus some other dorms, dining halls, etc. with NO power for lights, elevators, laundry - and no water (since the pumps can't pump water to all the places on campus). College security has put on more campus patrols and students/anyone has to sign in to get onto the campus. An emergency management agency in the area and a couple other agencies came in and got some flood lamps in some of the dorm buildings for a little light. Definitely(!) a royal MESS (TM) on the campus. As one wag posted a comment on the local newspaper's page with the story about the outage, "Man, there's gonna be some HUNGRY students with paid-up meal passes tonight!" (Funny, but not for those who are students there now, I'm sure). I'm betting there will be a huge increase in pizza sales locally this weekend, and possibly some shortages of motel rooms, due to those whose Mommy or Daddy can wire the money to Jr. or Princess....

On the layout front, I got some of the feeders soldered in places on the layout (see the red dots at 1a, 1b, 2, and 3 in diagram):

I'm thinking I want to add feeders at the green dots at locations A, B, C and D to ensure reliable power everywhere in the section. What do you Diners think - would I need them? I also had some fun with two spots where one of the feeder wires' connection to the rail joiner broke. Since the wire is stranded, it was a bit more 'fun...' trying to solder the wire to the rail there. But at least I didn't drop the soldering iron (Hey, Fergie, how've you been doing?...). I'll go back in a day or so and look at the soldering jobs before deciding if they are 'done'.

Well, I'll kick back at the RC for now and (gently) break the news to Sawyer, that not only are his teams not doing well, but he just got the TOP honors... "Oh, Sawyer, hate to tell you this, but..."

Blessings and prayers for healing, a good night's sleep, and comfort,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

 More renumbering work for me today. This brings the days total to 7.

Who can forget the GEU30M645.



And the EMD SD27J.

CapeJim: As Zoe, Chloe, and even Vinnie will tell you, "You can't have too many feeders". LOL. Seriously though, I go for as many as I can reasonably manage. One reason is that I put insulated joiners on the divergin routes of nearly all my turnouts, and so have to power beyound the frog as a rule.   The comment you made about the chemistry involved with that ash ballast is validated by the (and this pic is a worst case) rails now I've got them cleaned off. That green is verdi-gris like in weathered bronze statues - and shouldn't be on a well ordered mrr track!

Incidentally, I tried cleaning the turnouts and shorter lengths of ballasted rail in the dishwasher last night. Didn't do a thing, except raise my appreciation for acryl (in this case a mix of paint store interior latex and $Store craft paint) paints. The "rust" on the rails wsan't touched worth noticing.....but then, as I say, niether was the ballast! I ended up soaking the rails to get the ballast well softened; and punching out the stuff from between each pair of ties with a custom made tool. This is a legth of plastic cut to fit exactly in the intra-tie gap. Works like a charm. I recomend sitting down to do this if you value your back. Ask not how I know! Then all that's needed is a brisk brush with the nail brush that's in my "scenery tools" box.

So now I'm about ready to lay down a sound barrier on the old yard. I found a dense blue "click flooring" underlay at a flooring store last week, and $3 later had more than enough for the whole yard. It's only 1/16th inch thick, but should improve the sound deadening. The old track was white glued directly to blue foam (or double sided taped...which explains why the spaces where the tracks were show up so cleanly.) I'd forgotten the tape until I lifted the track and wondered why there were no track nails! Duh!

Well, it's tea time in real life, so I'd better get downstairs and see to that. TTFN.

Tea was delivered! No cookie though, as I've been running high on my blood sugar most of the day. So I'll have a virtually full bowl of Mocca ice-cream please Chloe.

Keith: Was it you wondering about who models in N scale? There's Jerry and Sawyer, and I changed from Horribly Oversized to Normal for t he present layout ( 11 years ago). Ther emay well be others but as I sit here sipping, I can't re-call who. Maybe they will let you know.

Mark: On the drums, Ray beat me to the punch!  Welcome back! and we hope you get some mrr time now.

2 Truck Shay: and we hope you like it here...enquiring minds need to know about your mrr or railfan exploits / dreams.

Bama: that is a great photo!

It would make a terrific Christmas card don't ya think? Hope all are doing well.

I'd better close this off. Folks thanks for posting all those pics and updates - as some-one said recently, they really encourage us!  (Yes, even the "mug shots"!)

Goodnight all,a nd God Bless. Prayers continuing for all in need of healing, comfort, proserity and peace.

Hi it's me. Just stopped in to have a glass of milk and some fudge brownies with chocolate chips and black walnuts with chocolate icing and chocolate chips. Make the milk 2%, I'm trying to eat healthier.

Got to spend a little time w**king on the RR. Then had to go move some more stuff at Moms. Earlier, I got the push mower washed down and cleaned up for winter. Tractor's next. Maybe tomorrow or Tues.

Alright everybody, all at once for Bama- 1-2-3- Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwww!

der5997:

Keith: Was it you wondering about who models in N scale? There's Jerry and Sawyer, and I changed from Horribly Oversized to Normal for t he present layout ( 11 years ago). Ther emay well be others but as I sit here sipping, I can't re-call who. Maybe they will let you know.

I think Barry does as well. I started in Horribly Oversized, quickly switched to Normal.

How about Kurt Busch winning at texas? I tihnk he's the only car that didn't have to pit for gas at the end, lol

JimRCGMO:

PC - if you really want to scare folks, re-take that photo in late afternoon, and wear a black leather outfit... Good shot of the bike, by the way.

This was the Halloween shot actually.........

(Click to Enlarge)

Evenin' folks!

Just a hot cup of decafe this evening zoe.  Still full from the party.  I'll go sit in the back booth by the stove and get warm.

Went to a late Birthday Party for my son and daughter in law this evening.  Had a nice lasagna supper and a chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream for desert, then got to play with my granddaughters and watch the NY game on the box.  After supper I picked up my youngest granddaughter Emily and she grined and giggled for a while then fell sound asleep for close to an hour in my arms......

Bama, what a great photo.  I thought of you while Emily was sleeping.  Aren't sleeping babies just wonderful?

Came home and finished installing a tortoise into the stub end switch I've been w**king on for the last few days.  Had to finish up the wiring to check it out.  Did so and fired everything up and it w**ks!  YES!

I think I will turn in for the night and get my leg elevated so maybe my big toe will stop throbbing.   Two more days before i see the doc......

Have a great evening all and prayers for those in need!

73

Evening all, just checking in.  Thanks for the comments about the pictures, Mikayla is starting to sleep a little less and stay a little more awake now.  And yes, sleeping babies are wonderful until your arm either cramps or falls asleep. 

Just a RBF for me, had pizza tonight for dinner, and still have enough left over for lunch tomorrow.  Well, I'm going to check on a few other things on here and then probably drop back in.

 Evening (for lack of a better word) all. Nothing for me, I'm not here long.

howmus:

I would hope not!!!  Considering the number of my former students who I count amongst my friends today, I must not have been too mean.  I do understand what you guys have been talking about with some of your teachers.  But be sure you give them a fair chance.  Often you find out years later the person wasn't really as much of a monster as you thought.  Sometimes it doesn't take that long. 

Last year, in the beginning, no one really liked our spanish teacher. Now, she is one of my favorite teachers. She is just pure awesomeness. And I love her accent. Like when she says "really," it's more like "rILLay!" And shes so funny.

My english teacher last year definately wasn't my favorite, but as the year went on, he lightened up, and then wasn't as bad. Us students have some, um, "theories" on why he was in a better mood and a lot nicer (if you know what I mean)... LMAO!!

What, who said something about Nsane(ly small) scale?? Obviously, Highly Outstanding scale is much cooler!!!

I'll chat some more after school tomorrow.

 HOW BOUT THEM COWBOYS!

 Well anyways, the boys beat the Eagles. Good stuff.

 Ray and Der: Its not me playing the drums, its my friend. We can't get a good groove going because of the 10 watt amp.

Mark

BAMA- May Health and Happnes be with you and the family always.

Der- You forgot Ed, The Answerman, Murphy, No slouch as a N,er.

Prayers for all.

Flip

Bama, congrats on the newborn 

Sawyer, I did the same thing when I heard the score on the radio.

Ray and Tom, Not trying to offend you guys, but I said almost all teachers for a reason. I've had a few who were awesome; my 11th grade AP US history teacher comes to mind as does my biology teacher from college. For the most part the ones I've had were evil. Especially the college english teacher who gave me an F because I disagreed with his views on a paper I wrote (strange really, he wanted a paper debating a current event/issue and I gave him what he asked for. I've never scored lower than a 95 in any English class before that deal), or the one HS english teacher who would never allow me to talk to any of the girls in the class; Why, IDK. I was the only asian in the class, so that could be it. And now that I think about, lots of the stuff I had to put up with at that HS could be attributed to that. Maybe I should sue and use the money to get a house and build an MR in it.

Well, Ida's headed this way. Looks like Vetrans day is going to be rainy and windy.

 Good morning.  Its going to be a nice sunny day today.  So far no "old man winter" in sight.

 Not much planned today.  I normally try to clean up some around the house on Monday.   Might do alittle bit of switching on the layout thou.

 Jim.......Jessica is going from teaching 2,3,4 year olds to 4,5,6 years olds.  More like pre-school to teching headstart kids.  She's happy about that.  Plus her class room is about 100ft from a Norfolk Southern line.   I'll just get her to set up a web cam for us "Diners" .

 Well I better get some work clothes going.  Another work week .

For you Veterans out there; Applebee’s is offering a free lunch/dinner with proof of Military service (past or present).  It’s a limited menu (6 different meals) and doesn’t include drink or gratuity.  This is on Wednesday, 11NOV09.  I would call first to see if your local Applebee’s is participating.  Also Home Depot and Lowe’s will be giving Veterans a 10% discount on Wednesday. So if you want to expand that bench work now’s the time.