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

[Dr. John]

Mickey - another nice structure.

John - Your boulevard looks great!

[mickey4479]

dwiemer
Dennis: Thanks. I go to Walmart in the craft section. They sell wood sticks, I believe they are called "skinny sticks" that are about 6 inches long, 1/16 of an inch thick and 1/4 inch wide. Cost is about $2 for 75 sticks. The wood has good texture when painted with acrylic paint. I use a very fine spray of earth brown over "barn wood" for the structures that are real old. Here are some of my favorites.

The barn:



The old farm building:


Abandoned building:



track side transfer building:

[mickey4479]

Steve Frame: Thanks. But I already have a coaling station and coal tipple. The old broken down barn is a favorite with my parents, 4 brothers and 2 sisters and my son who is bigger than me. I am afraid even if I wanted to, I am out numbered!

[wrmcclellan]

Mickey - nice work!

Steve - LOL - good ones!

Really nice day here. I am holding the trophy party for my B-Ball team this evening. Burgers and shakes! [dinner]

[GregM]

Was pleasantly surprised to see a train on the TV program Ghost Whisperer tonight. I am pretty sure it was a NYC Flyer set from Lionel. The buildings looked like Lionelville also.

Just for the record I don't watch this show for the possibility of seeing Trains!

[laz 57]

JOHN island looks great!
I like the lights.

Marty another classy job on that structure.
You da man!

Ran trains for about 2 hrs.
All ran good no disciplinary action taken.
laz57

[dwiemer]

Well it has been a good day,
The Brown Angel delivered my Animations book by Everett, and also a book called "Faces of Railroading" by Swanson, and the Lionel Hudson video. Oh to get a hudson..... lets see, GG1 should be here in a week, I wonder how long I should wait to purchase a hudson so that Wife 1.0 does not try to format my hard drive?

Thanks Mickey for the information. I will check out WalMart and try to take the plunge into scratch building. What are you using for painting? Air brush? if so, what kind?

Steve, my wife is a floor nurse, and I work with plenty of RNs in the OR. It is just a matter of who you get. Some individual nurses, as well as any profession are very good, some not so. Just remember what they call the guy / girl who finished last in their medical school.............Doctor.
Dennis

[tmcc man]

Well, heading off to sleep. Goodnight everyone.

[laz 57]

All sleep tight?
laz57

[tmcc man]

Good Morning everyone,
Nothing planned yet for today, so I will see what happens along the road.

[Roger Bielen]

Morning all!

Big change in weather overnight, temp. is down to 28 deg. and there's a heavy frost this morning. The one good thing is its a bright sunny day and should climb back up into the upper 60's. Perfect weather to catch a cold.

I'm a bachlor this week, the Mrs. had '05 vacation she has to use and with this coming week being a light schedule she decided to head up to MD to spend the week with our daughter and family. So its me, the dog, and occasionally the grandddaughters. At least I don't have to keep them overnight, I leave the house too early to get them to school.

My speakers and tethers finally came in yesterday so I'll be rewiring my K-Line A-B-A set with the 2 speakers this week. At least I can set up on the kitchen table and leave them till I'm done instead of on the workbench.

[Roger Bielen]

Almost forgot -

Mickey, thanks for posting the pictures of the barn, it has given me an idea for filling a barren plot of land on the layout that I had not found anything for. I think it'll become the remains of an abandoned ranch. I've used those craft sticks, and coffee stirrers, for other projects but never had the inspiration to make a delapidated structure.

[spankybird]

Good Morning All from NE Ohio

where the temp is 25 and going up to 35 with partly cloudy skies.

Steve – The next time I am at the museum I will take some more pics of the coaling station.

Mickey – Is this the dark brown building [?]


This was scratch build (but not by me). This layout is being built at The Western Reserve Model Railroad Museum here in NE Ohio. It is one of two ‘O’ gauge layouts being built. This is the small tin plate one. The second one will be 60 foot by 24 foot with 3 main lines.
BTW – very nice pics. I like your old barn one.


John – very nice job on the traffic island. Looks great.


Pick of the Day


All be safe
tom

[Blueberryhill RR]

[code]Good Morning from Blueberryhill[/code]It's 21 degrees and sunny. Going up to 42 degrees and
sunny. Now that's a SUNNY day.
Not much going on today.
Wonder how Chief is doing?
Buckeye...Looking forward to your Saturday post.
Well, y'all have a great day and keep warm.
Chuck

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,
30 this morn going to 42?

TOM, work looks good at the museum.

Have a good one.
laz57

[mickey4479]

Good day to all. Its raining today and hopefully Sunday as well. Weekends are not the favorite for rain but we need it so badly that I am grateful. We have had a very mild winter so far with only one good snow. Having friends over for dinner so got to complete final cleaning.

Tom, after reading a note from another viewer I believe the structure or structures were coal towers? Thanks.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Live from Roger’s Corners,
It’s Saturday Morning

Texas Chili Contest
If you read this whole story without laughing, then there is truly no hope
for you. I was crying by the end. Note: Please take time to read this
slowly. If you pay attention to the first two judges, the reaction of the
Third judge is even better. For those of you who have lived in Texas, you
know how true this is. They actually have a Chili Cook-Off about the time
Halloween comes around. It takes up a major portion of a parking lot at the
San Antonio City Park. Judge #3 was an inexperienced Chili taster named
Frank Eagles, who was visiting from North Carolina.

Frank Eagles, "Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a
chili cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last moment. I
happened to be standing there at the judge's table asking directions to the Bass Pro Shop when the call came in. I was assured by the other two judges (Native Texans) that since there would be a public tasting after the contest, the chili wouldn't be all that spicy. Besides, they told me, I could have free beer during the tasting, so I readily accepted."

Here are the scorecard notes from the event:

CHILI #1 - MIKE'S MANIAC MONSTER CHILI

Judge #1 -- A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick.

Judge #2 -- Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild.

Judge #3 (Frank Eagles) -- Holy [censored] what the hell is this stuff? You could
remove dried paint from your driveway with this. Took me two beers to put
the flame out. I hope that's the worst one. These Texans are crazy.

CHILI #2 - AUSTIN'S AFTERBURNER CHILI

Judge #1 -- Smokey, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.

Judge #2 -- Exciting
BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously.

Judge #3 -- Keep this out of reach of children. I'm not sure what I'm
supposed to taste besides pain. I had to wave off two people who wanted to
give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in more beer when they saw
the look on my face.

CHILI #3 - FRED'S FAMOUS BURN DOWN THE BARN CHILI

Judge #1 -- Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick.

Judge #2 -- A bit salty, good use of peppers.

Judge #3 -- Call the EPA. I've located an uranium spill. My nose feels like
I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now. Get me more
beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my
backbone is in the front of my chest. I'm getting [censored]-faced from all of
the beer.

CHILI #4 – DUDADAY’s BLACK MAGIC

Judge #1 -- Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing.

Judge
#2 -- Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or other
mild foods but not much of a chili.

Judge #3 -- I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable to
taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the beer maid, was
standing behind me with fresh refills. That 300-lb woman is starting to
look HOT...just like this nuclear waste I'm eating! Is chili an
aphrodisiac?

CHILI #5 - LISA'S LEGAL LIP REMOVER

Judge #1 -- Meaty, strong chili. Cayenne peppers freshly ground, adding
considerable kick. Very impressive.

Judge #2 -- chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit
the cayenne peppers make a strong statement.

Judge #3 -- My ears are ringing, sweat pouring off my forehead and I can no
longer focus my eyes. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I'm burning my lips off. It really [censored] me off that the other judges asked me to stop screaming. [censored] those rednecks.

CHILI #6 - VERA'S VERY VEGETARIAN VARIETY

Judge #1 -- Thin yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices
and peppers.

Judge #2 -- The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions and garlic.
Superb.

Judge #3 -- My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous
sulfuric flames. I [censored] on myself when I [censored] and I'm worried it will eat
through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand behind me except Sally. I
can't feel my lips anymore. I need to wipe my butt with a snow cone.

CHILI #7 - SUSAN'S SCREAMING SENSATIONAL CHILI

Judge #1 -- A mediocre chili with too much
reliance on canned peppers.

Judge #2 -- Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chili
peppers at the last moment. **I should take note that I am worried about
Judge #3. he appears to be in a bit of distress as he is cursing
uncontrollably.

Judge #3 -- You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I
wouldn't feel a thing. I've lost sight in one eye, and the world around me
sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili
which slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my
shirt. At least during the autopsy they'll know what killed me. I've
decided to stop breathing, it's too painful. [censored] it, I'm not
getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I'll just suck it through the
4-inch hole in my stomach.

CHILI #8 - BIG TOM'S TOENAIL CURLING CHILI

Judge #1 -- The perfect ending. This is a
nice blend chili. Not too bold but spicy enough to declare it's existence.

Judge #2 -- This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild nor
hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 passed out
and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself. Not sure if he's going to
make it. Poor feller, wonder how he'd have reacted to really hot chili?

Judge #3 -- No report. (Note: Since the Chief returned from Texas he has been abnormally quiet.)

And as Paul Harvey says, “Now you know the rest of the story!”

---

What a busy week. Next week is even worse!

This is the weekend that the world comes to Buckeyeland to flex their muscles. See http://www.arnoldclassic.com/2006_figure.asp I am shocked that LAZ isn’t here taking in the competition.

Somewhere I read that Roy was enduring 93 degree heat. Obviously, this is a remnant of the Chief’s visit to Texas.

Tom, glad to see the progress at the museum.

John, I liked your boulevard. Just need to add a few plants. Has anyone ever used real plants on their layout?

Chuck, I can’t believe the sunshine we have had this winter in Ohio. Reminds me of Florida.

Roger, I’m very interested in hearing about your speakers after you are finished. I have an FT Dummy that I would like sound added.

Colin, did you get my video?

Speaking of scratch building, wooden shish-kabob sticks are great for a variety of uses including fence posts and sign supports. You buy them at the grocery. I’m not much of a scratch builder but I think they would work for many things. Mickey, Jim and et. Al.,, I really appreciate your photos of your scratch built items. It forces all of us to look outside the box. [tup][tup][tup][tup]

Well, today I’m going to work on the honey do list and it is just me and the cat here at home while Mrs. Buckeye is going to help her mother. I have my SD-80 apart to work on the smoke output. Thank you Richard Teal for your book.

Tom S., I see that you are gettting snow today. [8D] Keep up the good work.

Have a great weekend! [:D]

[GregM]

Buckeye,

VERY FUNNY!

Had to stop reading a few times to wipe my eyes. The snow cone imagery is histerical.

[tmcc man]

Buckeye, I was crying through the entire thing.


Check this site out www.hornblasters.com . You need to make it funny and put it on a Mini Cooper, or a VW Bug. Any small car would sound funny with one of these.

[csxt30]

Good Morning Everyone ! Another great Sat. Morning Live !! [(-D][(-D][(-D]
Thanks everyone for your input & comments on my Blvd !! Can't wait to get some details & more done on it !
Mickey :Those are great pictures & really nice buildings you have built there !! I plan to make something like that one old structure using my corrugation tool for the roof !
Wondered what brand of track you are using, that looks great, too !
Well, back to work tomorrow, vacation is about over !
Hope everyone is having a nice weekend !
Thanks,

[Jim Duda]

Well...besides Dubbya, so-so football and baseball teams, pretty good live music, a few bats here and there, Austin does serve up some rather tasty chili. In fact, you could say it "warms the soul...". So much so, after eating a bowl (or two), the girls are taught the best way to cool off is to strap on their bikinis, yank the Honda, and mow their lawns...

I'll stick to my cookies and milk.

[mitchelr]

Buckeye - I was RONTFLMAO - [;)][;)][;)][;)][;)] - Another great Saturday morning live. You are right about the Chief... rather quiet since his trip to Dudaville. I can't wait until next week.

LAZ - Hope the dreaded professional day was not too boring.

Got my registration for York yesterday. Have to check my schedule at work and block out those days. Hope I can take both days.

Mitch

[Dr. John]

Happy Saturday, everyone.

A little cool this AM but nice and sunny. Today I tackle cleaning out the workshop. If no one hears from me in a couple of days, send in the rescue dogs!

[Roger Bielen]

Taking a break from rewiring my A-B-A set, I'm starting to see double. So far I've extended the wire leads from the TAS SAW board, the wires from the board are very thin and only about 2" long, alread broke 2 off and had to resolder to the board.

One hint to anyone else that attempts rewiring, as you do it draw a diagram for future referrence, especially if you have to change wire colors as you extend them.

Buckeye, loved the chilli joke. That's one that is going out to a friend in New Mexico and one in Miss. that is a native Texan.

[Anonymous]

Good Morning everyone from W. Michigan

Pretty cool outside but the sun is up though...should make for a nice day. Not sure what to do for the day, gotta go online and renew my car license tag before my birthday at the end of this month, and then see if I can pay some money for my train layaway purchases.

I may decide to put my engines on the track and a few cars to watch them run for a bit. May even take a pic or two for the Photo Fun thread tomorrow, though I know it wont look like nothing compared to what everyone else has (like scenery, stuff like that).

It won't be a bad thing being a floor runner for awhile while I work on a permanent track solution (once i have a house one day that is).

Im hoping to get a job at some point with stable hours so that perhaps I can try going back to school again, even if part time, and then maybe another part time job on the side so that it will be easier to indulge in hobby stuff.

Saw a nice looking CN husky stack car by MTH yesterday and would've gotten it too, but unfortunately the darn rent ate a good portion of my paycheck yesterday. May have to get it next pay period and hope it's still there. Would make a great addition to the NS husky stack car I got a few weeks back, while waiting for the Gunderson cars to arrive at AM Hobbies.

Have a great day everyone!

Chris

[dwiemer]

Morning all, Plenty of Honey Do's to tackle, so I won't be able to keep up with the post or hit the trains today. With all this beautiful weather, I am having to put out the weed and feed for the grass is starting to grow. The flowers are blooming and plenty of furry creatures need food. I also have to spray the house while the wife and kids are away. Hope y'all have a good one.
Dennis

[Brutus]

I think this one went around before, but it's funny!

ABBOTT AND COSTELLO DO WINDOWS
You have to be old enough to remember Abbott and Costello and too old to
REALLY understand computers in order to fully appreciate the following. But
even if you are computer literate, you'll still appreciate this!

IF Bud Abbott and Lou Costello were alive today, their famous sketch,
"Whos? on First?" might have turned out something like this:

COSTELLO CALLS ABBOTT TO BUY A COMPUTER

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking
about buying a computer.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.

ABBOTT: Your computer?

COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.

ABBOTT: Mac?

COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.

ABBOTT: What about Windows?

COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?

ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?

COSTELLO: I don't know! What will I see when I look at the windows?

ABBOTT: Wallpaper.

COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.

ABBOTT: Software for Windows?

COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals
Track expenses and run my business. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?

ABBOTT: I just did.

COSTELLO: You just did what?

ABBOTT: Recommend something.

COSTELLO: You recommended something?

ABBO TT: Yes.

COSTELLO: For my office?

ABBOTT: Yes.

COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?

ABBOTT: Office.

COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!

ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.

COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, let's just say I'm
Sitting at my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?

ABBOTT: Word.

COSTE LLO: What word?

ABBOTT: Word in Office

COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.

ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.

COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?

ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue "W".

COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue "w" if you don't start with some
Straight answers. What about financial bookkeeping?
You have anything I can track my money with?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?

ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.

COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?

ABBOTT: Money.

COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?

ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.

COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?

ABBOTT: One copy.

COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?

ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy Money.

COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?

ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!

A FEW DAYS LATER:

ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?

COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?

ABBOTT: ! Click on "START." . . .

[csxt30]

Jim: that's a good one !! [:D][:D]
Thanks,

[Buckeye Riveter]

Just finished repairing my Lionel SD-80. The smoke now pours out. (Dear Lionel, please be advised that you can't block the air flow with the wicking material or the smoke doesn't pour out. I would suggest you pass the word on to your plant foreman, Hop-Sing or Billy-Bob-So. I would do it for you, but my Chinese is very limited.)

Thanks, again to *** Teal's book for telling me what I was going to see when I removed the shell. Highly recommend the book and a good set of screw drivers.

[mickey4479]

QUOTE: Originally posted by csxt30

Mickey :Those are great pictures & really nice buildings you have built there !! I plan to make something like that one old structure using my corrugation tool for the roof !
Wondered what brand of track you are using, that looks great, too !

John, thanks. I have Atlas track on my layout. It was easy for me to plan out and use flex track when needed. Have a good one.