The pot of coffee is always on [even after 2 years have passed]. Come on in. Sweet ice tea too.

[cnw1995]

Nineties here too today. Couldn't bear to take away the K-Line battery-powered set after floor-running it for testing. My three-year old discovered it and just loves it. And what's not to like, except for it being a bit tough to rerail by himself, he can't really break it...it makes noise and has lights and races along the track. Oh well.

The basement is deliciously cool during these hot days. Yesterday afternoon, I managed to get myself entangled in a real rat's nest of wires, while trying to add a whistle button to the K-Line power pack that came with the Santa Fe passenger set I bought myself for my birthday a few months ago. I think I have to start all over. I'm doing everything wrong for expediency's sake... The K-line set came with some funny wires - a black and a red wire that plugs in to the track with what looks to be a head-phone jack - I can't figure out how to screw it into the power pack outlets with these jacks. Maybe I'll end up cutting one end off and attaching them then normally.

Lotsa people must've taken today off. Empty parking lot and commuter train. I don't envy the guy outside my window right now scraping and painting, even though I'm only on the 2nd floor of this 17 story building, it's 94 already.

[ChiefEagles]

Morning gang. Got spraying to do too. Hate those webb worms in the pecan trees. Need to spray the path to the pond. The Roundup Extened does not work as great as they say. Think I will decal the GP7/9. No mowing for me as the grass is withered and will start turning brown. Going to have to get Dr. John to write a prayer for rain. Like Paton did when he got the chaplin to write one for good weather when he was trying to help the 101st. [;)] Worked. Heat wave in the mid west. Wow. Have a good one and God bless all.

[laz 57]

HI GIz,
TOO get nice and hot today 92 they say then humidity comes. Got to go up to MOMs today to do work around her house. Hopeful it will be cooler there.
Lost at golf last nite shot a ugly 54 on the front nine I found too many sand traps 3 of em.
Stay cool????????????
Anybody out to the TCA meet in Seattle?
laz57

[jonadel]

Happy Friday from the Tropic's of Iowa. Holy Cow, this will be our 4th day in the 90's with high humidity--still better than wind chills! It's been a good week in the train room and thought I'd just share a bit. We were asked by a Des Moines Hobby Shop this week if we would be part of their fall layout tour, like a fool I agreed instantly. Last December we had planned on having an open house but then I got so darn sick we backed out so now it's going to happen only in Oct. and maybe December. That means we need to get BUSY and get that skirting done. We've only had the material and sewing machine pleater attachment for 3 months........

City Of Las Vegas Aero Train ready for departure


Extra cars added for more passengers this weekend


The guy on the tractor better hurry up or he'll miss boarding


Following the beer train to Las Vegas


What a great hobby! Everyone have a wonderful weekend and stay cool[8D]

Jon[:)]

[Anonymous]

Good afternoon, everyone!

Finished writing my French final exam this morning. Not too bad and easier than expected. It actually took me less time to write than last year's. I'm done with French for life now. I only have my Chemistry final to write on Monday now. I'll be heading out to Yorkton soon to pick up a wall unit that's going in my apartment in Regina. I'll probably stop at some garage sales while I'm there, too.

I'm getting all geared up for my trip on The Canadian. In only a week, I'll be leaving town and heading for Edmonton. I catch the train in Edmonton on Saturday, July 2nd. I can hardly wait.

Doug, I don't have a K-Line battery operated set, but I do have one of the original sets made be the Chinese toy company Density before K-Line bought the tooling from them. The only difference between it and the K-Line ones are the trucks and couplers. K-Line's has knuckle couplers compatible with other O gauge trains, but my set has hook and loop style couplers that engage automatically when bumped together. These sets were sold under the extremely weird name of "King-Sky Express". I also have another set by the same company with a steam engine. It's a very nice model of a Royal Bavarian State Railways Class S/6 semi-streamlined wincutter 4-6-2. I wonder if K-Line bought the tooling for that engine, too.

[daan]

Great layout Jon, I like the aerotrain, really a cult vehicle, like a beetle..

[cnw1995]

Wow, Sask, that streamlined engine would be neat. Have a great time on your excursion - can't wait to hear how it went. Jon and Daan, I love the Aerotrain also - too bad it doesn't fit on 027 curves.

[cnw1995]

Jon, can you share how you and your wife did the mountains in the back of the last picture you posted - it looks like a series of boards put together for a 3-D effect - I like it.

[FJ and G]

Jon,

Nice pictures.

Been in meetings all day in Pentagon so didn't have much time to get online and share my unusual commute by VRE this morning.

Started out with a nice sunrise.

Saw a funny looking car in Manassas

and sat behind the engineer (all in below photos).

We had to make an unscheduled stop which entailed the engineer getting out and meeting with some RR supervisors on the NS. She forgot to lock the door (seen in photo) and it blew open at full speed, pushing me back in my seat (airstream can go around a partitian and hit me). She struggled for a while and finally got the door shut, fortunately, not falling out. It's a longer story than that but I've got to pack up and go get my train home.

Cheers

[jonadel]

Doug,

There are two 1/4" foam insulation boards (damaged at Menards, much cheaper) and joined together at the water falls. Sharyl used the rubber rock molds with Hydrocal and mudded them onto the board. She worked on the floor with it and tried to do more relief type work to give that 3D effect. She used different odds and ends from scenic express and just tried different ideas. Of all the work that she has done on the layout, this was the hardest portion and of course, it was the last thing we did and it should have been done before benchwork was even put up. It took her several tries to get where it is today and she still isn't super happy about it but that's OK, we'll try again in a few more years.

I can't begin to tell you how much we've learned from this first effort at a permanent layout, mistakes and do-overs are great teachers[:)]

Jon

Would you like me to take a close up of the boards and post them?

[spankybird]

Jon, even if Doug doesn't want to see a close up (which I am sure he does), I would like to see them. Shot away.

tom

[ChiefEagles]

Tired. Watered garden and flowers, sprayed all the path to pond and around it, install motion detector with lights and alarm under boat/tractor/equipment shed. Now time for bed. Got to go to Cathy's [oldest] house tomorrow AM and install drip molding over her door and sliding deck doors, service her riding lawnmower and presure wash her house. No trains tomorrow. Later.

[Dr. John]

Wife and son back from New York this evening. They had a great trip but are tired.
I got the yard work done (still need rain!) and have been relaxing for a while. Now it's about time for bed and a good night's sleep.

Good night, all!

[Anonymous]

Finally got a breather in a hectic work schedule. Ordered more buildings, and another CN Maxi Stack on ebay. Hopefully work will be back to a normal schedule in a couple weeks. Spent last half hour getting caught up. Hope to post on Sunday Photo...Tim

[cnw1995]

Yes please, Jon. I would love to see a closer-up picture. No rain here too - I succumbed to turning down the air conditioner thermostat - usually I keep it at 80-85...Supposed to the in the 90s all week - I like it hot.

[ChiefEagles]

Morning gang. Off to Cathy's for her work. Doug, wife keeps our AC on 75. I slip and bump it up to 76. I guess with it so cold during the winter, you Yankees like to keep it hot. [;)] Tim, got 4 sets [double flats] of those things from a guy on OGR Buy and Sell. Have a good one and God bless.

[IronHoarse]

Good morning,
Jon, great layout and pictures. I too like those mountains.

It has been warm and muggy and like Chief, we are not getting much rain. Yesterday the oil got changed in the small lawn mower. After I get some oil filters the lawn tractor is next. Not my favorite job because it is impossible to do it with out making a mess. The oil drain plug is in a real bad place.

I sure wish Lionel would get those 0 36 Fastrack switches off of back order. They were supposed to be back ordered until some time in June. Maybe next week. One thing is for sure, you need to have patience when dealing with trains.

[spankybird]

Good Morning All from NE Ohio

Where the temp is 78 and going to 95 with Blue Clear Sky’s

I believe most of the mid west and east is in the this Heat Wave

We need to have the Rotor Rooter man come out and clean one of our drains. There goes the cost of a new engine. [B)][8][:(][xx(][:(!]


Pick of the Day



all be safe and cool
tom

[ChiefEagles]

Ironhorse, try this number and see if she has any. 919-365-5006 between 9:30 and 5 EDT. Ask for Miss Edna. Tell her I told you to call. She might have some in stock.

[Roger Bielen]

Another dog day in the south, at 9:30 this morning it was 76F and 72% humidity. Should reach 90 later on. At least the AC in the train room keeps it an even 78 and the dehumidifier keeps it at 50% +/-, guess where I'll be later today.

Since Sat. has been cut back off my schedule I went and walked around the flea marget this morning. Felt like I was in Mexico. Nothing of interest.

[Anonymous]

Woowee, it's gonna be a hot one today. 95 or more and no rain in sight. I ain't gonna mow until the heat gooes away. I don't care how high them weeds get.

Red

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,
Yes TOM we are in the heat wave too. 95 or 96 today and tomorrow.
Might have to play with trains today.
Keep COOL?
laz57

[wrmcclellan]

Hello all!

Back from Scout Summer Camp. Hot but great weather overall. I will post some pics later this weekend (hopefully). The kids had a great time as did I. Tired and have the lawn to mow.

Headed towards 97 today with high humidity and no rain in forecast.

Have a great day all!
Roy

[IronHoarse]

Thanks Chief, I just may call Miss Edna after awhile, but for right now I am going to wait. The switches that I have ordered are going to be shipped for free. I went to run my train a little while ago but had to stop because my CAB-1 batteries needed charging. I knew they needed charging because the throttle started acting funny. They should be done in a few hours. Before that I changed the anti freeze in my lawn tractor, now I won't have to do that for a few years. One of these days I'll get to changing the oil , just need to pick up a filter first.

Wow! Look at that I got a star.

[jonadel]

Good afternoon from soggy Iowa. We were slammed last night with anywhere from 2-6.5" of rain (which we needed, just not all at once) and of course today the humidity is at 90% with temps in the 90's. We were outside all morning at a huge Art Show and now it's inside time before a wedding tonight. Thank goodness for a/c!

I just took several shots of our mountain work as requested, some better than others but you will get the idea. Remember we are rookies.

this is were we began with 1/4" foam board at the portal of the mountain and framed bldgs.


framed buildings and on the left end is the seam with the water falls


water fall seam and the beginning of the next 1/2" foam board


bigger view of the two foam boards


this is the one Sharyl stuggled with, she tried to do a lake at the bottom


this was our first mountain and still my favorite, 1/4" foam board and molds with Hydrocal


and lastly, my first double tunnel leading into the other room, see the dishwasher drain pipe? Wish I would have owned the house at the time of construction. I just ripped 2/4's in half and used screen door material and built on top of it


Sorry about so many pics but hope it helps. Very time consuming but that's OK, sure adds a nice backdrop instead of the panneling.

Jon

[cnw1995]

Beautifully done, Jon. My compliments to your wife. I am inspired.

Before I can afford a KW, I've been experimenting with my transformers. Today, I set up the R and a Lionel trainset transformer that came with the Ballyhoo circus train. In phase like I've learned about on the forum. It gave me enough juice to run the Santa Fe passenger train. I connected each to different parts of the layout and by moving the dials on each one up and down, the train moves nicely. Formerly, I think the draw from the lights in the passenger cars slowed and stopped the train on some of my more uneven track. I used the trainset transformer because it has a sound button, and I'm trying to get the Railsounds tender to blow its whistle. When I press it, the bell sounds sometimes. Do you think if I took a button I have from a Lionel accessory and wired it between the lockon and one of the transformers, it might blow the whistle?

[csxt30]

Hi Doug, I don't think that will work, but if you have a Lionel sound activation button # 6-5906, it may work it. I hope the other more knowledgeable guys will be along soon, as I think it has something to do with AC & DC frequency in those buttons. thanks, John

[dougdagrump]

Jon, Hats off to you guys that is fabulous. [bow]
Wow, did we have a crazy morning at the club layout yesterday. The museum is doing a summer camp program for the little ones so we went in early, [:)], to shoot a promo with the kids. We had 24 1st & 2nd graders inside the layout showing them how to operate TMCC trains. It turned out to be a live feed to one of the local TV stations and I must say I now know what my daughter went thru when she taught the primary grades. I just don't have enough hands or eyes to monitor my half of the group during the shoot

[ChiefEagles]

Jon, take a look at the photo of the mountain. Is that a German Shepherd in the mountain? Tired from all the work today. Hope we get soome rain. Pam is in Wilmington [beach] and she said they got 2". Later.

[Roger Bielen]

Drizzling here this morning. Hope it clears since we have the girls for the weekend and being in the house all day with them will drive me crazy, besides, I won't get back onto the computer once they get started with games.

Doug, glad to see ya'll encouraging the kids with the hobby, also glad you didn't have a typo with one word or you'd probably be under investigation..