Coffee Pot #3 MARCH 2013 NINE years [April 1 is Anniv.] and going strong and its for all to chat. Plenty of coffee and sweet ice tea for all. Come and join us and chat. Grits for the Yanks.

[Prairietype]

I dredged up most of these images from  two months back when I was working on a custom painted'renovation of a M&St.L 229 ALCO bought as junk on ebay.  The front apron was missing, and I wanted to do something different.  In the pictures below, which were taken in March, you see the progress up to a point where the paint match is getting there but isn't quite ritght.  A further effort with a drop of this and that color finally produced a mix that is very close. Only in bright sunlight, and from certain angles does there might be a little difference in hue but that is only visible in bright sunlight and from certain angles.  It might be my imagination.

 

But the final paint result is in the last picture on this page.  It has been a while since I've had a chance to post, and there have been some other paint mixing efforts, such as an in progress 3464 NYC operating box car that was a real rust bucket basket case.  I may post pictures of it when it is done. 

 

[Almost there, maybe....

The ALCO project continues to rumble along.

Two things:

1. Forget what I said the other day about my paint mix with Testors Red and Orange.  It is close (very close) but I think comes no closer than a good paint mix for the starter.

2. This is really my first foray into paint mixing.

So starting with the basic paint mix,  I began adding aanother pinch here and there of yellow, orange, and green, combining these and testing, and then adding more red, and orange, and yellow drops in varying proportions and test spraying.

The paint match is reaaly close now, but not quite.  In extremely bright low angle sunlight I can see the difference and you will too.  So I think the mixture needs a few drops of a burnt orange to achieve an exact match.

I need to say (also) that that the intent here is not to produce a perfect show-case lcomotive; this shell when acquired was already beat up with nicks and scratches, a missing pilot apron, and other issues.  I have customized this cab unit with a closed pilot and an extensive touch-up just for fun to see how far this project can go.  I just want to make a sad piece better.

The chassis frame was rough and I have re-blued it, the motor is a rebuild, and I plan to put a 3-position reverse unit in it because the 2-position refuses to function. I have a giant weight from a UP non-magnetraction junk ALCO cab that can be installed on this cab.  I want to get a windshield and headlight for the engine as well,  and make it a reliable runner.

So here are some pictures of its progress. Photo 4 is one in which the paint variation is most apparent.  In most light it can't be discerned.  But I can be an obsessive type and I'll probably keep playing with the mixture until I get it right.]

[

[

 

So, above is before, and below is after.

   

[Lehigh Valley 2089]

Good evening. 

Wasn't a bad Easter. Went up to grandmother's today. Red Tails just happened to be on, so I was happy. Got far on my me Bf 109G-10 model. The only things that soured me today was the fact that the weather wasn't great and North Korea obviously just doesn't know when to shut up (don't mean to start a political war)................................

Hope things don't get too sour on that spit of land. 

Anyway, night everyone. 

[Hudson#685]

Good Evening!

After Church Service this morning, we sent the day at my wife's sister's house. We had a great time as my wife and daughter took turns at the Ice Cream Shop. Home now and just relaxing.

Ryan: Like you, the wood stove is going as the temp drop. Feels good. If the weather forecaster is right it will be going at night for at least the next week.

Jack: I feel your pain about the entertainment center. Doray wants to replace the living room set, which I agree with her, it has seen better days and it is over 30 years old. Then she also wants to replace the dining room set, including the china cabinet and hutch. There is nothing wrong with the set.

BOC, Barry: That sounds like a great BBQ. Sure you don't want to move to down here.

Kev: Congrats on the 218 replacement win.

Jeffrey: Good luck with the computer.

Chief: The accountant is doing my taxes on Wednesday. This I am not looking forward to.

I am glad that everyone had a Great Easter.

Have a Great Evening.

John

 

[wrmcclellan]

Happy Easter all!

Had a great day. Both kids joined us for church and then for a nice late lunch.

Spent the afternoon relaxing.

Have a great evening all!

[cheapclassics]

Good evening all,

IIABSDISEI with temps in the 50s.  Mass was not crowded at 11:30 this AM.  Sat next to cousin and her family.  Oldest daughter was down with her family today.  Ran trains, played Jurassic Park, and had an Easter egg hunt for the grandkids.  It was a good day.  TBIL and I can drive.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[ChiefEagles]

Happy Easter.  Wonderful day.  Wifey and I went to Early Church and Sunday School in the rain.  Sun came out at 11:30 when we arrived at the Golden C [Fred met us as his Wifey is in Boston doing a REB raid on Jack's area.  Her nephew lives there now as a REB spy on Jack].  Shirt sleeve weather.  Going to get Yankee cold by middle of the week.  Well, not that cold.  Came back and reclinerized for 4 hours.  Then Wifey and I ran an errand and rode Wiley, Finn and Lucy through  two neighborhoods.  

Now to watch Blue-Ray Lincoln and have popcorn.

Notice that Buckeye has not posted today.  He is sobbing as the Easter Bunny did not leave him an Easter basket.  He has been a bad boy.

Thanks SJ for the reminder.  I had just thought of that.  Will start a new one now so everyone can jump on after midnight or now if they want.

Have a great month of April [got to make an appointment with CPA to do taxes ].

Later   

[sir james I]

I forgot.   Chief wake up tomorrow starts a new month.

[sir james I]

Temp is 56, sun and 65 today.

We spent the afternoon at the house of # 2 son. A fine Easter meal and good company. Banilla will be ready if anyone still has room for more food..S.J.

[blownout cylinder]

Good Evening..

We are actually getting some sun right now...good day here all told...

Spent the day outside BBQ'ing up some ribs and other such delectibles for the neighbourhood adults while the kiddies were enjoying their easter delights...

[rtraincollector]

AF53

Ray - I just sent you a PM.

[KRM]

WOW, hit 63 degrees today.

Sandra & I  hope you all had a great day. We did. We staid home and I core airated all of the grass land on the prop. About 3.5 ac.  I won a replacement for the ALCO 218, bad body but it was sold as a 218 but looks to be a 204. Fine with me. I have a perfect 218 shell for it.

Later.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good afternoon. It's 56° here and very wet. There's a severe thunderstorm watch in effect until 8pm.


It's going to be a while probably before I'm back online full time. My computer died last night. The processor popped and on it's out it was kind enough to short out the main board. Fixing it will likely cost more than buying another computer. Thing is many of the systems I see in the stores have a bunch of cheap stuff in them and come with stuff on them that I don't need. I've seen some that are nice looking and have a good price but come with cheap memory sticks and slow processors. A good example is this computer I'm using right now. It has a halfway descent main board but it's hog-tied by a slow dual-core Celeron D processor. It runs at only a quarter of the speed that mine did and photo pages take a while to load.

See y'all the next time I'm online.

[AF53]

Zero Export

if your looking for anything in particular, let me know, and I'll see if he has it.   this has / had almost one of everything. and he's blowing this stuff out

Ryan - I just sent you a PM.

[Zero Export]

Good Easter Afternoon!!

I survived Dysfunction Junction today. 

Typical Wet, Damp cool Easter Sunday.   Just gonna Veg out the rest of the day.  Got the wood stove going just enough to keep the dampness out of the air and the chill off.

I saw above Rock Island mentioned an entertainment center.   Who was that a Christmas that got bamboozald by the furniture company on the entertainment center and had Christmas all screwed up? Did they ever get it resolved.   I recall as frustrating for that person it was, the posts about it read like a page out of my book. 

Ryan

[SPMan]

Happy Easter to all.  Have a wonderful day.

Ray

[RockIsland52]

Happy Easter to y'all.  I am presently looking for the loosest-fitting pants I own to accommodate my planned gluttony at the daughter and son-in-law's this afternoon.

Spent some time looking for my 4 missing automobiles from my postwar auto carrier.  The youngest granddaughter is the usual suspect.  All 4 are missing!

Maximus is great to have around.  This morning I let him out to chase off 9 Canadian geese that decided to have breakfast in my back yard.  Maximus 1, geese 0.  Those suckers can strip the lawn to a nub and leave behind an incredible amount of droppings.  

I am sad to report that the wifey has found a new entertainment center that she really likes (console and lighted hutch). Please send $$$ to the Rock Island 52 Relief Fund.

I need to get the interior of the SRX detailed.  Those cashmere-colored rugs, even with the floor mats, look like doo-doo.  Very impractical color when you have dogs and grandchildren.  A black interior would have been my first choice but I couldn't locate a low mileage certified pre-owned vehicle with the exact color choices and options I wanted when I was looking.

Later, gang.  I wish all of you a blessed day.  

Jack    

[Hudson#685]

Happy Easter Everyone!

John

[MichRR714]

Happy Easter !

Resurrexit sicut dixit, alleluia!

[sir james I]

Temp is 43, cloudy now, clearing later.

He has risen

S.J.

[KRM]

Good Morning

Happy Easter!!

May you all have a wonderfull day with family and friends.

That was a great e-mail to wake up RT, Thank you.

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning

Happy Easter!!

We had sun and a high of 58F here yesterday...gorgeous day was had by us'uns...

Get to do neighbourhood BBQ this afternoon..provided we do not get rained on....

[submmbob]

Hello all

The Morgan as she sits on the stocks:

The actual ship looks a bit like this right now, minus of course, the giant toolbox...

Happy Easter!

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill RR....

Happy Easter to All

It is a rainy 44 degrees. Going up to 50 today with rain all day.

Today is an easy day. I plan on relaxing and enjoying the day.  We are having a nice baked ham for dinner and watching a ballgame on TV this evening.

Dining car is here with Cheerios for breakfast.

Y'all have a great Easter Sunday.

Chuck

[Lehigh Valley 2089]

Good Easter morning everyone.  

Heading up to grandmother's later today, and will try to get the Me Bf 109 parts soaking this evening. 

[Zero Export]

Good Easter Morning

its a brisk 36 here, but the birdies are just a chirping away.  good sign the heating season is about over. 

going to dads for mid day supper. I dont know know if he knows whats going on on the home front or not.  He talks to the wife daily. so  I'm sure he does.  apparently she is going too.  My father thinks she is just the greatest thing in the world.   So I'll never here the end of what happening. And how I "let the best thing that ever happened to me go"   what ever, he dont have to live with her. 

Truthfully, If it wern't for this probably being one of the last Easter's for my 90 something Grandmother, I probably would just stay home

Dysfuntion Junction, HERE I COME!!!!!!!

Ryan

[Brutus]

Howdy guys - long day started with nothing much going on.  Ran up to the store to do an exchange on my headphones that was under warranty and was there over an hour while they typed away on their machines.  I knew I had the warranty and it was good, so it was just a matter of time.  Grabbed some dinner and then found out my daughter took the last of my sinus medicine for allergies.  I had to run out and get some more, then got a call from my wife and then some friends wanted to catch up, so never made the thingie tonight.  Tomorrow night I'll be at my folks' house until late as well.  Oh well - hope all have a great Holiday!  Happy Easter!  Loop-D-Loops and banilla will be in order shortly!

[submmbob]

Hello all

Gordon Lightfoot has a song that goes "I'm on my second cup of coffee and I still can't face the day". I think I'm on my third and just waking up here. The weather is anything but ideal, but we are still collecting photons.

Kids hauled in "fire truck" [actually an insult, a Cub Cadet mower with fiberglass body over it, not a John Deere], MIL's meal of bar-be-qued chicken is eaten and back at home.  Full and tired.  Think I will snooze, watch TV and look through new Micro-mart catalog.

Chief drove an International! We'll make a Farmall guy out of him yet! They put in the two 'extra' cylinders for a reason

Seriously, if I ever have a need for a riding lawnmower, I'd like to find a Cub Cadet.

Ryan - your feline friend is looking better! One of the guys at the house who is into those motorized bicycles is trying to get me to put one on my 'new' one. While they're interesting, there are times where I like to not have to deal with an engine and I can use the exercise. 3 Corvair engines are plenty to deal w/ anyway.

Kev - I have a Williams by Bachmann NW2 switcher. I was inpressed by the construction and it runs well. The only MTH product I have is that snowplow. I've heard of enough problems w/ their engines that so far I've shied away. That said, I'd love to find one of their Railking Y6B's some day.

Well the Mt. Graham Boiler Shop is currently set up to be a shipyard. My project I needed the glue for is an old Sterling kit of the Charles W. Morgan. This is something I was given over 30 years ago and started but never finished. It's a rather small solid hull model, but I decided it might be interesting to put it together finally. I have shipbuilding in my blood anyway. Both my grandfather and great grandfather worked at the  Bath Iron Works and another great grandfather (4X) ran a shipyard in Kittery, ME in the early 1800's.

Interestingly enough, they are doing a lot of work on the actual whaling ship in Mystic, CT right now in preparation of relaunching her on the 171st anniversary of the original launch. Next year they plan to sail her to a few local ports. I've been following the reconstruction work on their website occasionally and it is fascinating to see.

Time to find some breakfast.

[RedfireS197]

Jake,

          Ryan hit the nail on the head. Get out there.  I didn't do much of anything outside of school during high school, and am regretting it eight years after graduation. Spent my free time during my senior year drooling over the brochure for the upcoming 2005 Mustang when I should've been...nevermind. Won't go there here.

Kev,

         That's exactly why I quit buying modern Lionel.  Too many quality issues.  That, and I feel like they sold out people like myself when production was moved out of the USA.

[sir james I]

Temp is 51 now. the hi was 55

I guess in a couple months the dog sled will be put away till labor day. We went out for lunch and a few errands but I still got my nap. No banilla for me tonight I gotta get rid of about 3  winter pounds. I will wait up for the thingy...S.J.