General Discussion (Model Railroader)

Evening all. Chloe, I'll take some cheese fries, thanks.

Audrey!

Ulrich, glad that it'll only take a week for you to get back, instead of two months!

Today was a kinda meh day. Not necessarilary bad, but nowhere near great.
I found out that one of my best friends is transferring out, and Friday is her last day. But tomorrow is my last class with her and that's double Theology. She was really my first friend in HS, other than the people I already knew. So this really sucks. Normally, I wouldn't care if someone left, but she's one of my best friends, and she's basically only here for one more day.
Anyway, I wish her the best of luck.

On a better note, yesterday was the first hockey practice, on land at school, and had it again today. Tomorrow evening, we have ice practice, and we have our first scrimmage on Friday. Although we did really well last year (finished second in our division, not bad for a second year team), we're gonna suck this year because a) our amazingly good goalie (he had a .967 save percentage, and he was only a freshman), and b) we're Varsity now, so it'll be awful when we get massacerred...

I gotta go, so I'll catch ya later. And I promise Chloe, I'll w**k off yesterday's tab tomorrow, when I have more time...
EDIT: Holy Crap, I got TOP AGAIN! Why do I keep getting so lucky? Now tomorrow's w**kload in the kitchen washing dishes will be doubled... Grrrr...

Evening all.  Just stopping in for a brief RBF and then off to bed.  Gotta be at w**k tomorrow morning at 7.  Things have been pretty busy around my neck of the woods.  Glad to hear that everyone is more or less doing well.  Ulrich, we'll be looking and praying for you sir whilst waiting for your newly hooked up phone and internet. 

Well, that's about it for me, I'm off to bed. 

Goodnight all (by the way, ladies, please put the tab on me)...

BamaCSX83:

by the way, ladies, please put the tab on me

Nah, don't worry about it.
I've washed so many dishes in the past 3 years, this is nothing. I was just more surprised that I got TOP again. 'Twould seem I'm on a streak...

When you work in a kitchen, washing the dishes is nothing. Now, those HUGE (probably about 15 gallon) pots, and all those baking sheets get to be a PITA. And the worst part is that they don't fit in the dishwasher...

A large glass of lemon water, please. 

***Jim, the new cpap arrived. Although quiet, it audibly changes with your breathing (up down up down) which is a little annoying. The new nasal mask works better for me than the full mask which my wife wears. Niether of us sleep the entire night with them, but they do help some. I was off by a week, I don't see the pulmonologist until next week. Hopefully she can order me the bipap.

Turns out that sand for quickcrete does have a smattering of magnetized pieces in it. No shorts though. Some serious clean up and scraping inside the rails to do though. The (HO) locos front wheels (Bach 2-8-0) derails about every 5th time through one particular switch and slow speeds are now iffy in a couple spots. Seems almost like a gauge problem, but why would E-Z track change after ballasting? More likely something I did to it. Still some work to do.

Inlaws are here. Their decline is taking a toll on my wife. At least her dog returned home after missing all night. I had searched the hills for him to no avail. Glad he found his way back.

Good night all.

Rob

Good Evening...almost "morning." Just a night-cap RBF I think.

JIM: Those "center turn lanes," we call 'em "suicide lanes" around here. The stupid "round-a-bouts" are creeping ever closer. Iowa City and Coralville have a bunch of them...even little North Liberty has one now right outside the newest elementary school. Of all the stupidist places to put one...I'm sure the bus drivers have "fun" negotiating it twice/day.

Getting caught up a little here...

LEE: Unintentional eyebrow removal of a cute female colleague? DOH!!! You only had to avoid her for the rest of the day? Wow. I used to know quite a few 91-B (medic) females in an Iowa Army Nat. Guard ground ambulance company. I think it would take them more than a day to a) grow them back, and b) forgive/maybe forget!!! I made it a rule to not cross ladies that are qualified on M-16 rifles. I've seen that green Army tape you spoke of. I think a guy could tape an Abrams tank back together with it.

JEFF: Those buildings you tacked up pics of look great!

KEITH: I'm with the King of Toddland...I kinda got "lost" trying to finger-out your bridge/yard tracks/station situmacation. I also agree with his concerns...but, THAT said, my opinion is still rated as being worth about a half-a-cent. Your results may vary.

Whoever tacked up the pics of the Berkshires... WOW!!!! The sunset shot with the light caught in the smoke/steam: YOWZA! VERY nice piece of w**k! Great light, great composition, great timing. Yeah...I'm more than a few shades of jealous over THAT shot.

Speaking of THAT, I'm gonna have to call her later today to see if she wants me to cover a Cub Scout Cake Auction later this evening. Mr. Boss told me last Friday it was "tentative," and that THAT would get back to me on that. Welll, THAT hasn't called or e-mailed me about that, so I'll have to talk to THAT about that.

There, I think I got that out of my system...

ULRICH: I hope they get you re-connected with the world much, much sooner than later. I see somebody suggested your local library for internet connectivity during the lull. Be sure to remind us before you "go dark" to borrow a term from the TV show "24." 

Time for me to inspect the inside of my eyelids, the Wife's cat is silent now...in about an hour it'll be yowlin', howlin', and raising a ruckus like it is on the verge of dying. I have found yelling at it doesn't w**k, threatening it with death doesn't deter it either. Even suggesting that Rerun might visit and really give her something to cry about doesn't stop it. Neither does talking to it nicely. Anybody want an evil, possibly demented cat from hell???

G'Night...

Chris

JimRCGMO:

Jeff, I'd agree on your O.L. King building - maybe add a window bricked over, too. Is that the Walthers coal company kit? Wouldn't mind finding a LHS that had one left. (I don't do the 'Bay any more since they went to forcing buyers to use PayPal 99 percent of the time, so that's not an option)

Cederstrand:

The (HO) locos front wheels (Bach 2-8-0) derails about every 5th time through one particular switch and slow speeds are now iffy in a couple spots. Seems almost like a gauge problem, but why would E-Z track change after ballasting? More likely something I did to it. Still some work to do.

Today: Occasional showers, mainly before noon. High near 57. South wind between 15 and 18 mph becoming light. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Tonight: Showers likely, mainly before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 42. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph increasing to between 14 and 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

 Good morning. It's 38 and clear. The high will be around 70 and it will be partly cloudy.

Didn't get much done yesterday. After I got back from a general checkup at the docs office I worked on the layout a little. I don't know why but I was so tired I could hardly stand, so I got a couple hours of sleep and felt fine after that. I don't know how long I'll be online today. I was having so many connection problems yesterday that I got completely disgusted and shut the computer down around 5:30 - 6 pm. I'm having some problems this morning but not as bad.

Good Morning. Stiiiiiiiiiiiill raining. Today: Showers likely before noon. Cloudy, with a high near 46. Southwest wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Tonight: Areas of fog after midnight. Otherwise, cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 35. West wind between 3 and 6 mph.

psst Joe- The magic number is 15. 15 is the number of posts to be reached. That number of posts, 15, having been reached, a new page of posts will be started and the counting of posts will begin again until the 15^th post is reached..... Again. Of course not taking into consideration the posts that post while you're posting a post, you should be able to post your posts without posting the TOP post most posting times. Post. HA! Got 15 "posts" in this post! Ooops 16...... 17.

Rob- If they ran fine before the ballasting, I'm betting it's a bit of glue or more likely a small bit of sand built up too high in a spot where the ballast got too far up the rail, (had that myself in a couple of spots) Watch real careful where the wheels leave the track in the switch. Could be the ballast is not letting the points make contact ( and that could be anywhere in the movable parts of the switch), or the ballast is up too high somewhere also. Shouldn't be a big problem. Oh hey, Jeff's got a good point. After soaking the area you may have some swelling you're dealing with.

Talk about "round-abouts" the only one I've ever experienced was in Alexandria, LA. Never been there before of course, (or since), and trying to get to the Lonestar restaurant. Not expecting this little European gift from somewhere a lot hotter than anyplace on Earth, and never having had to deal with one before, I made three circles I believe before figuring out, at what was apparently rush hour, how to get out where I needed to. If I recall correctly I just bailed out on the third time, might have only been two, and made my way to the "closed" Lonestar. I believe that night I ate at a neat BBQ joint that was designed somewhat rustic inside. Wood and kinda westerny. Cafeteria style I thhiiink. Yes it was. Pretty good if I remember correct. Maybe it wasn't a round about. Possibly a bulge around something like trees or a park or something and I turned around and made another stab at it. Can't really remember I just know I made a couple runs through this thing. Jeff'l know where I'm talking about. Used to be a fast food fish place by there. Not Long John Silvers, the blue building places. EDIT: Captain D's.

Best get a start on the day. Today's Mom day so I'll be occupied pretty much til w**k tonight.

Have a Great Day!!!

AmanaMedic:

JIM: Those "center turn lanes," we call 'em "suicide lanes" around here. The stupid "round-a-bouts" are creeping ever closer. Iowa City and Coralville have a bunch of them...even little North Liberty has one now right outside the newest elementary school. Of all the stupidist places to put one...I'm sure the bus drivers have "fun" negotiating it twice/day.

HAH!!! There are a whole slew of the dang "round a bouts" being discussed for here!! 3 new subdivisions have the &%^%$% things being 'planned' --one in front of a school--which will really ball things up for the bus drivers---One place that has heaps of them is the Kitchener-Waterloo ON region---even out in the middle of the country around there! 2 lonely petunia concession roads were joined in like manner

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Good Morning--

It is currently rainin' to beat the band out here--current temperature is 9C going to 11C later today---grumble mumble snark-- Got spoiled with all that wonderful sun

Got a few things to pick up today and do as well---gonna be an otherwise slow day---

Chloe, I'll have a coffee for now---I'll be at the RC for a bit--

Thanks for the congrats and well wishes everyone.  For those that asked, I don't have any definite plans yet.  Besides mrr I enjoy working on the house.  I have several small projects to finish now that I will have the time to do it.  Pat is already working on her Honey Do list.  For Monday my first official day of retirement...let's see...I think she has me scheduled to clean the bathrooms.  Who said retirement wasn't a step up?  I figure by spring I'll be ready to look for a part time job just to get out of the house a little.

 Good morning.  Seems like the rain will be on and off today.

 Not much planned today.  Maybe go to a few stores in town.  Work is starting to pick up.  Gotta go in early tonight.  They are talking about 6 days a week in Dec.  

 Hope everybody has a good morning.

  "Coffee Pleeease~"  Jeff.. I just love your pics/ engines.  Everytime I see that Rambler.. /  AMC car of yours.. I laugh.. I want one.. but in N scale..  I really don't get that kind of choice.  Concerning your engines.. I would guess.. there is one type of engine you like.  I know.. when ever I see a particular pic of some type of frienght loco..I get all jazzed.. and Jeanne says .  "You have at least 3-4 of those already".  I don't know Jeff, but it seems like.. I get to liking one type.. and I gotta have the whole line.  lol. 

whoa,  Chris Rob Todd .. and others .. I thank you for looking at my cramped space.    I appreciate it that you took the time. Only thing I can say.. is.. 'I'll get back to ya"... one of the better things of using this 7/32nd  plywood for the ramps,  is that they are strong enough not to move when weight is placed on them... but easy enough to remove.   I believe there might be enough room.. taking into consideration the the ramps are now available for only 2 mains, instead of 3.   So, I will probably consider cutting some stuff in the next couple of days.  I really don't like working on the layout while buildings are on it.  But here's the 3 things I've come up with.

1.  Cut out areas .. making more room. 

2.  Get all my Peco and Atlas turnouts.. and look at the  angles of the turn.. and their length.  I guess this is where the #6 .. or #4 turnout comes into play.  And I'll probably learn some more here~

3. Consider making 'dioramma's to be drop in .. at a later date.  By doing so, I think it might help me place the buidlings into its own area. Also,   as I look at the buildings.. esp the stations.. or the freight station docks.. their level.. appears not to be correct.. especially when you add cork to the track.  Its almost as if the buildings are off .. by the height of the cork.   Just off hand I haven't actually measured it.. because my eyes dont' see too well at my age now.  Which now leads me to something Jeanne just got me.'

  The handy dandy new improved.. 'Whatever'  I think its fishing gear.. 'Fly Tackle'  holder... lol.  Its great.. " I can see~"  "I can see!"  .. its also great for the person who wishes they had at least two more hands.  hmm coffee~

Attaboy:

I have several small projects to finish now that I will have the time to do it. 

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!! Oh you new ORF's really crack me up!

Attaboy:

Pat is already working on her Honey Do list.

See, it's started already. Wait 'til friends and family step in. (chuckle)

Attaboy:

I figure by spring I'll be ready to look for a part time job just to get out of the house a little.

My plan too......... 5 years ago.

Finally was able to squeeze one in a couple months ago. Two or three nights a week, for about four hours a stretch. But after the first of the year!! I mean it this time. I'm gonna do it! MRR budget is stretced too thin.

Well, that's my plan anyway. (giggle)  

EDIT: As i prepare to walk out the door, I got to thinking. You may not know me that well, so I figured I'd pop back in and say, I'm only kidding. I truly hope your day tomorrow is wonderful. I remember my last day. I kinda got misty eyed on the way out the gates knowing I wouldn't be back under the same conditons ever again. Had a lot of good times there. Retirement is great, still busy beu kind of a relaxed busy. I'm sure you'll agree and have a ball. This is what we've all worked for. For at least a couple of us here it came a bit sooner than expected, but it still ain't half bad. Good luck tomorrow.

Keith- That was just a casual observation. Camera angles, lighting, N scale. All make a difference as to what you are really looking at opposed to what I see in a picture. I'm sure with enough determination and headscratching you will have what you want.

Magnifying glass on a stick. Yes, invaluable tool even for HO. I have one myself on a movable arm contraption thing with a light. Love it. I really like yours with the "helping hands" clamps as part of it. My clampy thing is seperate. You've seen them I'm sure, black stand two clamps. It works well but sometimes too close to the surface. Yours looks like you could move it a good distance up.