General Discussion (Model Railroader)

 Well I picked up a few things today. I got some more paint for the DPM building project. I wanted flat latex flagstone gray in a sample can but they only put satin in the sample cans. That was OK for the baked brick red but I need flat for the flagstone, so I had to settle for a quart. I'll not be running out of that color anytime soon. I also needed a small flashlight for working on the layout when I'm working on structure lights and can't have the main room lights on. They come on and the layout lights turn off. A penlight would be too big so I got a Maglite Solitaire. It's only about 3 inches long and can be taped to one of my fingers. It fits neatly into the Dremel attachment box which is 7" x 4". It requires only 1 AAA battery and I have tons of those around. That's what almost all my remotes use, so I have several 16 packs of them in the junk drawer. I got the flash trimmed off the DPM kit parts this morning and will probably start painting them tomorrow. I do however have to go to town in the morning to make a bank deposit. That shouldn't require any more than 45 minutes at the max between when I leave here and get back. The way I drive I'll be surprised if it takes more than 20.

Afternoon, er. Evening, Janie - is Joe still buying RBFs? Nope? Well, I'll still have a RBF, please. Hopefully, I won't hit TOP again, after looking at all those bowls of chicken noodle soup that Barry was putting away last night.

ns3010:

Report cards came today. Lowest was a 93 in Algebra 2H, which is a junior honors class, and is really hard. So not bad. And the overallGPA for the quarter was a 4.0.

Jeff, hope they get your operation to take out the IV soon enough (and that there's a short but good recovery afterwards.

Calif.Tom - that's a first for me on your 'Deck' there; hadn't seen a tender like that. When you said camelback, I was thinking of that old loco called a Camelback (Bowser? MDC? whoever...) - ah, whaleback, I mis-recalled... From first glance at the tender before opening the bigger version, I was thinking it was a Vandy tender. That is one pretty loco, all right. The guy's widow probably will be getting a better return on his money invested than if he'd only invested in scenery or freight cars or something other than brass. And as you said, the locos will likely be receiving TLC and will be appreciated by the new owners, plus there will be some grateful MRR'ers who will get to experience owning a brass loco who otherwise never would have.

Ulrich, you take extra care not ot overload yourself with doing the flooring, okay? Don't need you having to go back in the hospital and delay you & Petra getting into the new place and making it your own. Better hold your ground (and use Audrey's argument to persuade Petra...)! Ah, I see you are taking it better on yourself with the flooring (good!). Be sure to get some help for moving your boxes once you have them all packed up, you hear? That is the hardest part of moving that I've found - hauling boxes up the stairs to the new place. Catch some and rest up, friend.

Todd, congrats on taking - what, fifth? sixth? in the cook-off (sounds better when you don't know how many entries there were, doesn't it?). Good to hear that everybody (besides the judges) had some chili that they could enjoy. As for the Kirby stuff, I think there may be one of their repair places in town. I'll look it up tomorrow and do a little calling around to see. (That was funny about your buddy and the owner beating out the cook...)

Phillip, good to hear of the progress for your son and your wife. Nice to treat her to a trip out - heck, I'm sure for her, getting anywhere outside the same four walls of the bedroom is a treat! And how'd you hide the tire tracks on the wood flooring from her, by the way?

WELL!!! Randy (TwoTruckShay), I'd say that somebody needs to inform Wikipedia that their listings for RBF are woefully incomplete, Amen, indeed!! Harrrrumph! (Janie, would you leave a message for Vinnie, please? Tell him we may need his, uh, persuasive powers...)

Well, Inch, it turns out we don't have one close by (Carbondale's the closest), and since tomorrow night's MRR club, I probably can't make it and get the free grub. So I guess you and Deb will have to eat one for me, okay?

Ray, good to hear the toe's coming along. How long does gout take to get gone, usually?

Well, I didn't get to the painting after my sinus and cold attack yesterday, but this afternoon I got the apartment vaccuumed, and got half the layout de-dusted (the shopvac has a short power cord, and I didn't want to hunt down an extension at the time). Also got a bunch of older photos scanned in for sending to my lady friend in the Belleville area, including me walking across the Mighty Mississippi:

Okay, so it's the headwaters, but it IS the Mississippi River! Geesh, a guy makes a little joke...

Should have a steel rails load and another PS 2893 covered hopper (ATSF) coming in this week (sale-priced from Walthers). Yeah, another 2893, which really is at the long end of my RR's time period. But it's the grey ATSF one, which will be useful when I re-letter and re-decal my Santa Fe (oxide red) 2893's to backdate them to a more appropriate appearance than the 'Billboard' lettering style that's on them.

Well, I'd best get myself heading for home. Had some stiffness in my right side of my neck this morning, but at least the fever and some of the sniffling is gone. Want to be rested up and ready for the 'w' thing tomorrow. Prayers for all those ailing, recuperating/healing up, resting, repairing or in need of comfort for other reasons (which covers pretty much everyone in here). Gonna pick up a half-gallon of ice cream on the way home, just because...

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

Hey ya'll. An RBF for me.

I missed the first half of the Green Bay / Dallas game because of work. I saw the second half, and Green Bay's defense whooped on on Dallas!!

Tom, nice stroke of luck there!! Never heard of a whale-back tender before, and I like the design; however, I still remian partial to Vandys.

Barry, never though of checking out goodwill for train stuff. So one more place to check.

Ulrich, who brings home the money?!?! It's your attic!! (of course, this is coming fom a 20 year-old who hasn't had a girlfriend for nearly 2 years.)

Garry, does the Loctite gel superglue stay in place? I've had issuses with CA not staying where I put it, and wanting to go where I don't want it to go.

Packer:

I missed the first half of the Green Bay / Dallas game because of work. I saw the second half, and Green Bay's defense whooped on on Dallas!!

I watched the game until 7:30 left in the 4th when I had basketball. Wish Dallas hadda been shut out though, but oh well, lol.

Hello ..

I'll have a coffee and a S of SPP. (Slice of Southern Pecan Pie).

Just back from Nashville. My brother in law (Nick) there is having surgery to correct a blocked artery in his neck to reduce risk of another stroke. He just had heart surgery last mont hfor a valve and some arteries there. This surgery will be in the morning.

With LocTite gel glue, I use it for small parts. I put a dab on a scrap piece of paper and then use a tooth pick to put it on the parts to be glued. Only a small amount is needed.

Thanks Jim! In our school, a 93 is an a, and a 92 would be a B+

JimRCGMO:

Uh, what was that blur that went by?

I was trying a few pan shots, but they all failed. But then this one looked more like a long exposure shot, so I tried that. Since I can't control the exposure settings on my camera (it's full auto, all the time), I just ran the train really fast. I had it at full throttle, so that created the blur.
It was shot at f/2.6, 1/2 sec., ISO 100. Lighting was natural sunlight, coming from the glass door behind me.

I want a new camera, with more features, so if that ever happens, I'll experiment with this some more on my new layout (when that actually gets built).

Speaking of the new layout, I have a problem. I had originally planned to buy a few tank cars. But now I'm thinking that maybe I can start with benchwork with that money, instead. Maybe I'd get to the beginning of track, depending on how far the money I have goes. Since Thanksgiving is now a 5 day weekend, and I'd probably have 2.5 days to myself (Wednesday, which was just added, Thanksgiving morning, and Sunday, since I'll probably be down the shore on Friday and Saturday). If I can buy some lumber before then, I could start with the benchwork, and maybe the surface. I doubt I'll have money for track, but I can take some of the E-Z Track that I'm using now and put it on top of the new table...

 Good Morning Everyone.

Still dark outside, not even six o´clock. The Diner is already open? So it´s Zoe for the morning shift? Hi, Zoe,  coffee for me and a toasted bagel, please n´ thanks.

Today I have to  attend a seminar on job integration for the elderly -  am I an elderly person already? I am only 53 and still behave like a 6 year old when I see a steam loco ...

Vincent - I am married to Petra for more than 25 years now. With that mileage on the record a wife turns into SWMBO - that´s She Who Must Be Obeyed. Never bite the hand that feeds you... I have already found a settlement - I don´t talk about a train room in the attic - it is a train corner now. Actually, the room is not big and has a sloped ceiling. Part of it will have to be used as storage for all the gear we probably will never use again, but cannot part from . The remaining part is big enough to revive my Alaska RR plans posted earlier - but without money this will take decades to realize.

Jim - we won´t be moving the boxes ourselves. My brother jumped in and is paying for the moving company. There is no way I could possibly do that myself. Unlike in the US, we have very rarely built-in closets and cabinets, so it is all heavy furniture, which requires two strong gorillas men to carry it upstairs. Leaving our home is still putting a heavy tax on our soul. The new flat will also be a good place to live in, with a lot of German "Gemuetlichkeit", so that will help us to get over the loss. After all, there is also a benefit to it - a lot less w*rk for Petra and me to keep the place tidy...

Ray - as soon as we have survived the move and have settled a little, Petra will resume to provide strudels, cakes, pies and other goodies for the chow hounds in here...  She used to teach nutritional science and home economics and knows what can be done about that bad toe. Maybe I can talk her into writing a recipe book (which I will have to translate). Her father suffered quite a lot from the gout and showed a lot of improvement with the "gourmet diet" she had developed for him.

Tom - that loco is a jewel - aren´t you a lucky guy to have bought for so little? Those old brass locos are of unreached quality. I doubt, that a MTH or BLI loco will run like that after 40 years. I remember having a NWSL D&RGW HOn3 T-12 4-6-0 which ran like a jewel. It had cost $ 160 when I bought it in 1976. I painted and lettered it - and sold it.

Garry  - my prayers for your BIL´s surgery!

You all have a good start into the new week!

Evening Zoe, I guess I'll try one of those RBFs you guys are making famous...

Yup, now I see why everyone is ordering them!

On my project, the masonite spline assembly is slow work, but I'm very happy with the end product. I heard about this idea from Jim Reising's website (Thanks again, Jim!). I completed the staging level loop tonight. Left to do on this level is the subroadbed for the staging yard on the North wall.

Homasote roadbed is on order, as is some sample track pieces. I am considering Code 55 track by Micro-Engineering, Peco, and Atlas. I have a little time before I will spike anything down, however. I still need to do some sanding and build the grade that will connect the staging level to the mainline (inches) above, but at least I was able to hammer in the masonite spike tonight!

I'm off to bed!

  "Hot Chocolate please"

  Two Truck!  Nice fine work you've done there.. keep us posted.

  Well its getting late here on the west coast, most of you are all in bed.. so will I shortly.  About the only person getting up right now.. is Ulrich,  Petra and maybe Jeff inf a few hours.  So I'll leave you with a nice morning pic of Japanese koi for Ulrich, Petra and Jeff.  Good moring to you~

Good Morning--

Nice and cool out here this morning. Going to be sunny with our high at 8C

I'm going to be doing housew**k then doing a bit of reading up on my seminar work for the afternoon sessions---then it'll be off to do some w**k paperw**k---

Ulrich: I generally do not like moving BTDT---having said that I found the best way was having someone else do all of it My father had a coupla brass y-3's that he gave to me when I was thinking about getting into MR. I got them done up in SP lettering and had them lightly weathered---they still get used on a certain club layout----doubleheaded---coaldrag---

Chloe, I'll have a coffee and a toasted bagel please----thank you----I'll be at the RC for now--

 Good morning.  Seems like we will have nice weather all week.

 I was pretty busy yesterday.  Getting some stuff out of the attic for the wifes new job.  I haven't touched the layout in a few days.  Maybe today I can get something moving.

 Hope everybody is doing good.  

 Have a good morning.

 Good morning. It's 64 and wet. we have heavy clouds and the rain is coming down. The high will be about 66 and there's a chance of thunderstorms.

I have the brick work on the DPM building painted. Later today I'll start on the flagstone colored trim. This evening I have to take my mother to town so she can get certified as a voting commissioner. Since I'm going to be there anyway I'll go ahead and get certified myself. Heck, it's something to do.

Hey! They let me in early! Thanks guys, (well it was early when I started this (7:30am), by the time I post it....who knows) I'll take, oh, how about a pumpkin pie with lots of real whipped cream. It's not just for dessert anymore. Yup, the whole pie. Sit back down guys, I'm gonna eat it.

Without thinking, something I do frequently, Sunday at approximately 1130am CST I cleaned my temp internet folder out. Cookies and all. Something I try to do occasionally but this time I locked myself out of the diner just as I was about to inform Two Truck he could relax because RBF means Root Beer Float here, I couldn't get the door open. So, I peaked in the window as I would pass by until now. Odd you guys couldn't hear the rapping on the windows. Hmm. Oh well, at least I could enjoy the pics. Thank goodness for WPF! That's a great one by the way Sawyer, entering the trees.

Mark- My Mother also refers to them as Black Cows. She also referred to Coke Floats as the same. Kinda confusing knowing what we were going to get, though usually we didn't have Root Beer at home so it was a better than even guess it would be Coke, but since the Coke version was just as tasty, we didn't much care.

Tom- That's great the "Deck" turned out so well! Say, do the weather guessers a favor would ya? When you put that baby on the Yuba, keep the garage door down so they won't think the suns out because of that smile!

Inch- Just my luck to have to w**k tonight and miss the free feed at the Golden Corral. I think it's great they do that. I know they do very well all year long, and it is only four hours a year, but still.... That's a lot of grub to give away. Eat well! Say what do you think of that Jalapeno Fish? Yuuuuuuummmy!

Garry- for your BIL

Well I didn't make it to the train room at all this weekend. Very disheartening. Since it rained all day yesterday and is suppose to rain again today and tomorrow, I doubt if I'll get in the fields by tomorrow so I hope a couple of hours today and most of tomorrow will get to be spent on the layout. Wiiiiiiiiith any luck. So, best get moving to do my morning stuff before wor...... (sorry) w**k this afternoon.

Have a Great Day!!!

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe I'll have a couple of poached eggs this morning and an order of sourdough toast to go along with my cup of dark roast coffee in a FGLK Mug.  I'll go keep Barry company at the Rivet Counter.  He seems to be getting over the "Final Comeangettcha" as my grandmother used to call it.

Cloudy and 52°F outside today in the Finger Lakes.  Would be a good day to trim the hedge before snow sets in.  I also have to finish up the Capitol Spending Priority list for camp today, but that will most probably involve some midnight oil......

Ulrich sounds like progress is finally being made.  I know you both will be much relieved when the move has been made and you have had a chance to get settled in.  Just get yourself healthier so you can enjoy your "corner" of the attic!

Jim, a gout attack can last anywhere froma couple days to several weeks.  This one has taken about 2 1/2 weeks to settle down.  The toe is much better this morning.  Now to see if I can prevent any more attacks.

Time to get moving I guess.  Later!

73

  "Hi Chloe..~  coffee when you get a chance please.. you're a bit busy."

  Well heres what I've been up to~  My 'On-going.. continuing saga'  Building my first buildings.. with 'Over-Kill' on the multi-colors.  So far this is what I have.

  There are still alot of little tiny parts.. a days work.. or at least a 'half a day'.  So far, its been fun, and very rewarding.  If I had to build another one.. just like this.. it would take half the time.

  Here's a pic of my 'Glass Canopy platform/station.  Ulrich.. I hope I got the color right... but this is a prettier blue ..just a tad. 

  Keith

mmmm coffee