BEER BARN II

Excellent!  I really like the new place, Joe.  Yeah, I'll agree that it hadn't been maintained very well after Squeeky left.

I've got one of these, but I don't have a picture handy.  It's on my list of weathering projects, so one of these days, I'll bring in a shot of it in front of the Strumpet Brewery once it's a bit dirtier.  That white is just a bit too much.  (It's a Greenway Products version of the standard Athearn BB ice bunker reefer, by the way.)

A round of Strumpet IPA, since the truck just arrived out front:

Sue, the Moxie sign was home-printed (a decal applied to the fence) but the oil barrels came that way.  JL Innovative does some stuff unfinished, and some ready-to-plop.  As for the CMX car, it's just brass because it doesn't live on the layout, and only comes out for cleaning days.  Maybe I should decal it for one of those services, like Merry Maids Track Cleaning - Commercial or Residential!

Bergie, let me buy you a Strumpet IPA before you go.  You're doing a great job.  Sorry, we never realized that our long-winded discussions here would hurt forum performance!

Hello everybody ...

The new place looks great!

I never tried a Strumpet before.

Cheers!

I guess that it will be Strumpets for all this evening while we celebrate the grand opening.

I worked on painting figures today.  I am amazed how little progress you can make in an afternoon.  I am painting 16 at a time, rotating through.  The hard part was getting started.  My goal is to have them finished before Larry gets home tomorrow afternoon.  Then we will set up the stockyard.

MrB, Thanks  for the info on the CMX.  If you painted it, do you think that  the solvent would dissolve the paint?  Decals might hold up though.

I will wander back through later.

Sue

Judging by all the locks on familiar doors, I thought that the waters had swept the town away.  Glad it was only Bergie doing some spring cleaning...

Thanks for the Strumpet.  I needed that.

Sue, I'm with you on how much time it takes to do less than was planned.  In my case it's putting the wiring into the Nonomura zone panel.  The terminal studs are slowly filling up - but there sure are a lot of them!  Well, the diode matrices are all in, and the basic turnout wiring is complete to the panel block.  A lot of the wiring, connections to the (currently non-existent) Master Panel, can be completed later, when necessary.  For now, I have about 45% of the currently essential wiring in.

Two caveats on the above.  I do need the indicator light circuits (all of the trackage in the Nonomura zone is destined to disappear under scenery and behind fascia panels) and the only reverse section on the entire railroad is block NN01 - which complicates things for that semi-automatic fire and forget system.  (The reversing section isn't the loop connection between the up and down mains.  It's actually one of the through tracks!)

Mister Beasley, you asked about, "An under-the-table view of Mission Control."  Since Mission Control (aka the Master Panel) is still in the future, will you settle for a picture of the steel stud it will eventually be bolted to?  Under the rest of the table isn't much more informative - because all of the wiring is installed along the fascia lines.  The panels are hinged to open downward for maintenance, which means everything is done either top down or edge in.  Since standing on my head isn't my best trick, I have arranged to avoid it.

Well, back to the salt mine.  Where's my wire stripper?

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

Sorry I missed the party last evening....I did see the post from Bergie (BTW, thank you for all you do) but them my ISP wouldn't let me go anywhere!!

The place does look good Sue, thanks for the rescue.....And are the breakfasts still on? Oh, a grand opening special today...Sure, bring it on.

Sue and Chuck: Every project I tackle seems to take a lot more time than I think it should...So, it's not just you guys!

As for breakfast, JB, I think that we should party all weekend to celebrate the grand opening.  It is too early here for more than coffee, but I will make up for that later.

Celebrate, celebrate, dance to the music...........

We are planning  some serious layout work this weekend.  When I get the cowboys and horses finished, I won't be holding up progress on Larry's trestle.  It looks like Saturday will be the only nice day.  We will  probably do a little work outside and go for motorcycle ride.

Back to the celebration.

Sue

Good idea Sue!

As long as I'm still fighting this flu thing....I'm keeping pretty low. Might as well hang out here, with little else to do. Actually I do hope to play with the barn-bash a bit today!

Anyway, I'm thinging it's L O N G - D I S T A N C E so you won't be able to catch anything I've got. What the heck...I'll have a hot toddy Joe.

I will have a coffee this morning, Joe.  Looks like you survived yesterday's party.  The regulars will be in to keep it going today.

JB,  When  you are under the weather, you have a good excuse to work on the layout or a project related to the layout.

I got the first coat of color on the cowboys and their horses.  Now I need to mute the colors.  The hard part was the 12 hours that it took to do 16 figures.

I will check in  later.

Sue

Good morning: I'll have a coffee Joe.

Sue: Painting figures can take a lot of time! At one point my daughter was into doing that but has lost interest. I now have a number of folk "partly" painted.

As far as taking time in the Trainroom...I am doing that some, but this flu has really taken the steam out of me. With the headache, coughing, soreness and a fever that comes and goes, I have only been playing out there for a little bit each day.

I am close, however, with finishing the bash of the barn. I only have half of the roof and the copula to put on and it'll be done...Except for details of course.

The "bash" really was only; not to model the unseen side of the structure, which is a rule of thumb for me here.  I'll use card stock, styrene, foam-core board...something for the back walls and save the other parts for another building. But, this has turned out to be a bigger project than I had thought either because of my illness or because it's an old Con-Cor release, or both. If I do get it done today, I'll snap a pic and post it.

Hi all. Got some better pics of the fences.

Here's how I made them. It's 16ga. wire. Florist wire would be better ; straighter and stiffer but I didn't have any.

This is the toule stuff and a finished and weathered section:

 and a better pic of the already installed fence, still needs weathering:

And some wood fences:

JB, hope you feel better!

  Good day all. Joe, I'll have the special of the day, whatever it may be. (Maybe).

   I have finished laying the track on the N scale, I do however have a place just inside the tunnel that is giving me problems, where elece? I looked and do have a place where two flex tracks are connected together that are out of gauge, I tried fixing it but it still derails at times. I will probley have to  re-lay that part of the track. I want my trackwork as perfect as I can get it before I go any futher. I did start making a mountain from the suspended ceiling tiles and so far it is looking like it may have possibilities. It will be a little on the heavy side but I am not going to be carring it around so I don't see that it really matters. On the good side, It should be removable as a unit if I ever decide to do something elece with it. I will try to get a pic and let you see and you can make your own decision.  

   Having a bad back day and starting to feel the pain pill doing it's thing so I am going to hit the couch for a while.        Thak care, And I love the new look, Thanks  for re-opening Sue.                           Mike 

I'll have a hot toddy Joe...Then I've got to head for bed. Seems I'm feeling worse tonight.

Thanks Terry for all the great pics. A bit of a tutorial, I say.

I did finish the barn today, but it's held together with rubber bands at the moment. I hope to "plant" it tomorrow...We'll see how I feel in the morning! No matter it's a stay home day, so I'll get out to the Trainroom at least a little!

Good afternoon.  It is 5:00 somewhere.  I think that Irish Coffee will do just fine, Joe.

Thanks for the tutorial on fence building, Terry.  I enjoyed your photos.

I managed to get a few photos of our riverbottom.

Happy Easter.

Sue

Hope you all had a great Easter with friends and family! We had just our family, Toni Rae and I. Along with a nice meal and a rousing game of Monopoly!

I'm thinking a brandy, straight, will do before bed tonight...So, I'll have one of those and I'll buy a round for the house Joe!

I am feeling better again today but still keeping pretty low. WOW this flu has been a tough one!

Thanks for your pics too Sue! Always love to see some progress. I really like the diversity of your trees!! I'm trying to do the same, but you certainly have a better handle on it than I...The valley / river bottom looks REAL good too! 

It isn't much, but it's what I got done. The barn got planted (not permanent yet) on the hill above Isabella Station. It will live at Toivo Kallio's homestead as the horse barn.

The pink area in front of the buildings will be pasture and gardens, and the dirt road continues on down to the "mill". I still have a garage and a chicken coop...along with a brain-load of stuff for up on the hill, but the corner is now at least somewhat sceniced with the backdrop in place, so it won't be TOO hard to finish up from the front! BTW, the old farmhouse is a kit I put together in about 1960!! It isn't all that great either, but it has history....It'll do!

If I'm feeling at least this good tomorrow...I'll tackle something! Maybe moving to the other side of the peninsula and working on that SL Backshop scene a bit.

Good morning!  Joe, I'll have some coffee and a bagel with cream cheese.  I hope it's still the same old pot, despite the new surroundings.  That pot was "seasoned" just right.

Wow, the Easter Bunny has been busy on everyone's layouts but mine, it looks like.  We went up to Sunday River in Maine for some spring skiing and WHOOPS!  It was like the middle of January.  Howling winds, and temperatures that struggled to break out of the teens.  But, good Red Sox fans that we are, we just buttoned up, added another layer or two and stoically enjoyed the great snow.  Looks like we'll be skiing for the next 4 weeks, anyway.  We've got a Florida trip planned at the end of April, and by the time we get back Sunday River plans to shut down for the year.  Well, it's been a good one.

I did get to power up my new Miller Engineering signs last night while I sipped my second apres-3-hour-drive beer.  I got a pair of "Pizza" signs, and a "Hotel" sign.  One of the Pizza signs worked for about 10 seconds and then shut down for good, so that will have to go back.  These are on sale at Walthers, but no longer listed on the www.microstru.com web site, so I assume they're a discontinued item.  I'll have to see if I can get that returned quickly, before they run out completely.

Joe,  I am going to sit on this bar stool for a while.  Irish coffee has been sitting well for me lately.

JB,  I love the farm house.  I know that I have seen the prototype somewhere.  Did you paint the backdrop on the wall?

MrB,  Neon signs now?  I thought that your were the decal king.  Do you take small projects up to Sunday River on those ski trips?

Has anyone heard from George lately?

Sue

Morning already?  Y'know, when I grow up, I'm going to wait 'til I retire, and then find some really interesting way to demolish my alarm clock.  Something worthy of the Discovery Channel, like dynamite or a steamroller.  Yeah, Joe, another cup, please.

Both of the Pizza signs are working now.  I suspect it's a loose contact somewhere.  Hopefully, once it's installed it will keep working.  I've got to get some pictures up of these things.  Their web site is www.microstru.com if anyone cares to look, but I know you folks will be interested in the way they look just out of the box, too.  The HOTEL sign comes with an impressive chunk of electronics.  Since it's an "animated" sign, it comes with 40-some different "chase" patterns to choose from.  A couple of them even have the "E" flickering, as if the "neon" tube is bad.  Nice modelling touch.

Mike and JB, I hope you're both feeling better as spring gets here.

Hey, Sue, are you painting any more naked cowboys?

Man, I'm beginning to think that beer and modeling go hand in hand with all the great progress you all have been posting in the BB!

Here is my latest progress on my locomotive servicing facility area, placement test on the Allied Rail Rebuilders Kit

Like Sue said, "It's 5:00 PM somewhere...."

Cheers,

Ryan

Joe, did you notice that MrB and Ryan sure got in here early.  And yes it is 5:00 somewhere, but I think that they mean PM.

MisterBeasley wrote:

Hey, Sue, are you painting any more naked cowboys?

No, these guys are kinda working.  I might be a bit uncomfortable to ride horseback in the naked form.

Ryan, It always exciting to add buildings to the layout.  Looks like you engine shop will take up a good size piece of real estate. Thanks for sharing the photos.

Looks like I get the honors again.  Coffee all around on my tab, Joe.

Sue

Thanks for the coffee Sue!

Thanks for the pics Ryan...I saw the thread and read through too. You really seem to have a plan. I like the forethought you put into your projects. It's a good way to approach them!

I, on the other hand, build something, then rip it apart and fix it....Keeps me busy, but it may not be as much fun! I say this as I have some trackwork that is giving fits at the moment!

Sue, I too like the old farmhouse! Yesterday as I was repairing the garage for Toivo's (part of the same kit I put together in 1960...Or so) I discovered "Revell 1958" cast into a piece. So that answers my question; was it an Atlas or Revell kit. As mentioned, the house isn't all that great...But it has history as it was probably the first kit I put together as a MRRer at age 7 or 8. Sitting back, and with a bit of pimping, it'll do fine back in the corner!

And then to answer your question about the backdrops: Yes, I have painted all of my backdrops. They are all very basic and some get additional detail as I do a scene.

I head back to work today at noon...Now we'll really be able to tell how much juice this flu zapped from me! I'm still not feeling 100% and I'm still coughing some, but I'm thinking that I'm working alone today so I'll give it a try! OTOH, tomorrow is back to "normal" with school back in session and at least one class I have to teach. I hoping that today is a good trial run for the old dog!

Good  morning, Joe.  I think that I will start with an Irish Coffee. I had a busy birthday yesterday, and can now relax a little.  I may go on a short hike with that ladies group this morning.  We had a light dusting of snow late yesterday that froze overnight.  They cancelled the last trip when there was snow.

I thought that I had all my cowboys and their horses painted, but found one horse on the layout in the clutter.  Larry won't be home until late today or tomorrow so I have a little time to finish it.  I should probably take some photos to see if the paint covered them well enough.

Later,

Sue

Morning, Sue, and Happy Birthday!    Coffee's on me.

Yeah, I'm an early bird sometimes.  Remember I'm over on the right-hand side of the map, so my 7 AM shows up as 6 AM Kalmbach Standard Time.  I get to work about 7 most days, primarily to dodge the traffic that builds up later in the morning.

Sue, did you party hearty?  You sound, well, a little horse! 

Got my P2K Mather box cars last week.  At $13.98 RTR, these are a steal at Walthers.  Closeout, I guess.  I also noticed that the Parkview Terrace building is back in stock.  That's another "Background Building," one of the thin ones.  I've ordered one to put on the "back side" of the layout, like I did with the Strumpet Brewery.  These are on sale right now, although they're not in the catalog.  The last time they put them on sale, they sold out, so I guess Walthers is doing us a favor now by putting them back on sale now that they're re-stocked.

Good Day All!

I'll have a shot of Jim Beam and a Beer

Ryan, Where did you buy those clamps?

Happy Birthday Sue! You are officially a year wiser now! Hope you had a great day!

Nothing much happening here. Still on the mend, but it sure is a SLOW process. 

Good evening, Joe.  I thought that I would have one more Irish Coffee before I head to bed.  It is almost 9:00 out here on the left side of the map.

Hope everyone had a good day.  Thanks for the birthday wishes.  It is just another excuse to party, and live life to it's fullest.

My plans for the week are to work on some structures in the main yard. That is if I don't get sidetracked too much.

Sue

I'll have the lunch special and a cold tap today Joe.

Hope everybody is doing fine...Been a bit slow here over the weekend.

I have been mostly consumed with union stuff since Fri. afternoon (we did ratify a contract last evening!) but every chance I got...I would retreat to the Trainroom to collect myself.

I didn't finish a darn thing...But I did start a new project. No wonder I NEVER finish much...I'm bouncing along to something new more often than not!

I have had two Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 Consolidations filed away in storage for quite some time now awaiting a shopping. This "shopping" consists mostly of some pimping (a few detail parts, a paint job and custom lettering), installing couplers and a decoder. Well, something pulled my string and I had to get started....I'm blaming the stress of the union stuff for this "off road"...But it has been fun thus far! So far the painting is done and I got started with the lettering, hoping to finish that today! When I get along a bit more, I'll give the run down and snap a pic too.

Good evening to you all.  I'll have a cold draft, too, Joe.  And if you could get Maria to put together a pepperoni pizza, I'm sure it won't go to waste.  No, thanks, no anchovies.

We didn't ski this weekend, for the first time in quite a while.  I got to take in a train show, but came home with nothing more than a few more citizens and a dozen pigs.  Since we had some warmer weather Sunday, I took the trucks and couplers off my new (and new-looking) Mather box cars and went after the cars, the people and even the pigs with dull coat.  The pink porkers got some gray primer instead.  I stuck them on tape to hold them in place for spraying, and I found I didn't get the undersides coated very well.  But, this gives a nice touch to them, as they've got a more fleshy look to their underbellies.

After that, I took out the powders and started weathering everything.  Just a light brushing highlights the people nicely.  I know it sounds silly to say that I "weather" my pigs, but they are treated just like box cars on my layout.  When I first put in the stockyard, I got a number of suggestions here at the Beer Barn, notably "dirty up those pigs" and "get more pigs."  So, mission accomplished.  Pork chops, baby back ribs and bacon will be coming to your supermarket shelves shortly.

Now, it's on to the Hotel.  I've already put the new address, 13 Lonely Street, on the awning, and the decals for the Heartbreak Hotel are drying out on the workbench right now.  I attacked the front of the building with Dremel, knife and saw to cut a slot for the animated Hotel sign, and now I'm giving some thought to how to wire this thing.  An address like that doesn't raise expectations of good fortune, and of course, Lonely Street runs directly above the subway line.  So, there will have to be some creative wiring done here, as well as some interior structure to support the electronics for the sign.  Hey, if there's no challenge, then where's the fun in figuring away around it?

Good evening, Joe.  Larry and I will each have a cold one.  We had a busy day with errands.  I did manage to get the cowboys and their horses placed around the stockyard.  I have a few more minor touch ups and I will get some photos.

MrB,  I found that the color dust mutes the colors on almost everything.  I will be anxious to see those box cars.

JB,  Glad to see you working on those 2-8-0.  I always get excited with new locos.

Sue