Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Resumption of my layout construction

26782 views
304 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 6:14 PM

We have made lots of progress in the garage over the last couple of days. All the new cabinets and shelf units as well as my new tool chest/workbench are in place. I got all of the model boxes off of my workbench in the basement and moved them into a 36" x 18" x 72" cabinet in the garage. The cabinet is nearly full!

We still have a bunch of boxes and totes on the garage floor which have to be sorted through and the stuff moved into cabinets or onto the shelves.

One thing that surprised me is that there is a lot more space around the train table than I thought there would be. I'll have to go back and measure the garage again.

I'll post some photos once we get the boxes sorted out.

One thing that has made me happy is that the air conditioning in the garage works great!

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Wyoming, where men are men, and sheep are nervous!
  • 3,392 posts
Posted by Pruitt on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 9:15 PM

Good for you, Dave!

I'll be watching for those pictures.

I don't post often, but I do visit every week or so to follow a few threads, like this one.

Mark P.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Sunday, July 14, 2024 12:00 AM

Our nephew Joe is coming back next weekend to help me better organize all of my rolling stock that is in boxes. He has already helped me get the huge stack of boxes off of my workbench, but we didn't sort them properly. Right now I have similar cars in both the garage cabinet and in a cupboard in the basement. The goal will be to gather all of the similar cars into one location either in the garage or in the basement. We also have to move the locomotives into a different cabinet with metal shelves because the combined weight of having them all on one particle board shelf is causing the shelf to sag.

We also have some more work to do in the garage. There is an area of pegboard that will be replaced with slat wall. I will have the contractor install the slat wall but I want to have Joe remove the pegboard. We are also going to do more drywall repairs, both of which hopefully will reduce the contractor's price. There is also a heavy cable that feeds the hot tub that the electrician who installed it decided it would be perfectly fine to run right down the middle of a wall. Hopefully we can make that look less obvious.

A little about Joe - he has been accepted into the Canadian Navy as a communications officer. His basic training starts Sept. 2nd. He has a university degree in communications and he speaks French so the navy was pretty happy to get him.

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Sunday, July 14, 2024 6:32 AM

Great to hear of the progress!  Also nice to know you are feeling somewhat better.  Good news!

York1 John       

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Thursday, July 18, 2024 1:44 PM

Layout progress is on hold for a while. My red blood cell count is really low and it is falling rapidly.  I am feeling very weak. Apparently there is internal bleeding. I will likely end up back in the hospital.

Ho hum,

Cheers!!

Dave 

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Thursday, July 18, 2024 1:56 PM

We are and will be thinking of you Dave, just as we always do. All our hopes for a speedy recovery.

 

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Thursday, July 18, 2024 6:17 PM

Thanks Brent,

Cheers!!

Dave 

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Thursday, July 18, 2024 7:36 PM

Dave, I just read your latest post.  Know that I am hoping and praying everything be OK.

York1 John       

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Friday, July 19, 2024 2:30 AM

I am currently lying on a gurney in a hallway in the emergency ward with IVs in both arms and three bags of various solutions plus a bag of blood flowing into me! I am feeling much better than when I came to the hospital 7 hours ago. I will see the internal medicine doctor in the morning. I have no idea how long I will be here.

Cheers!!

Dave 

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Friday, July 19, 2024 2:31 AM

Thanks John.

Dave 

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,667 posts
Posted by rrebell on Friday, July 19, 2024 6:54 AM

All I can say is WOW. Life changes in a moment when you get older, but dose it really or are we just more aware. I know nothing about internal bleeding and I know it must be scarry, wish you the best.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Friday, July 19, 2024 1:06 PM

I had a trachyoscopy this morning and they found a number of spots in my stomach that were likely the source of the bleeding. They cauterized the spots so hopefully that cures the problem.

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Friday, July 19, 2024 1:35 PM

hon30critter
I had a trachyoscopy this morning and they found a number of spots in my stomach that were likely the source of the bleeding.

Hopefully, you will bounce right back, Dave. I told you to stop eating those HO-scale rail spikes!Smile, Wink & Grin N-scale might go through easier.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,667 posts
Posted by rrebell on Saturday, July 20, 2024 8:20 AM

Hopefully they fixed the proublem.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Saturday, July 20, 2024 2:24 PM

I'm in the hospital for at least three more days. They want to make sure the problem is fixed and it will take that long for things to get back to normal.

I'm starting to get a little frustrated. The extended stay in the hospital has caused me to delay getting a quote from the drywall/electrical contractor. It has also delayed the progress on several other projects in the garage and in my workshop.

For example, I was in the midst of sorting my many, many parts. Currently the same part can be found in two or three different tightly packed boxes or drawers. Once I get all the rolling stock moved out to the garage I will be able to separate the parts into more specific smaller lots.

Cheers!!

Dave 

 

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Saturday, July 20, 2024 2:52 PM

Got any old car kits you haven't built yet? Get your wife to bring them and some sandpaper and glue in so you can be productive on the MRR front. Or some weathering powders and a few cars to get done. Or a box of Kadees and cars that need to have the couplers changed out. You could build a Z-scale layout on your tray table. Whistling

Thinking of you Dave, keep up the good fight.

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Saturday, July 20, 2024 10:06 PM

Hi Brent,

Great idea, except I don't have a tray table. I have to sit in my wheelchair with my dinner tray on the bed. One has to make do with what one has.Smile, Wink & GrinDinner

Cheers!!

Dave 

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,877 posts
Posted by maxman on Saturday, July 20, 2024 10:46 PM

Mind Reader Kids Lap Desk, Activity Tray, Drawing, Stackable, Portable, Plastic, 22.25" L x 10.75" W x 8.5" H, Blue

Foldable Laptop Table, Bed Table Portable Lap Desk Bed Table Tray, Laptop Stand with Cup Holder & Tablet Slot & Lifting Ha...

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Sunday, July 21, 2024 10:15 PM

Some good news for a change!

I was let out of the hospital three days ahead of schedule. They had planned on keeping me for observation to make sure all my vitals were acceptable. However, the numbers on Saturday were all excellent so they decided there was no reason to keep me.

Back to the trains!

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Collinwood, Ohio, USA
  • 16,367 posts
Posted by gmpullman on Sunday, July 21, 2024 11:23 PM

hon30critter
I was let out of the hospital three days ahead of schedule.

The one time an eviction notice is welcome news!

Great to hear, Dave. 

Cheers, Ed

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Monday, July 22, 2024 4:00 AM

The discharge doctor had a wonderful sense of humor. At one point in our conversation she jokingly offered to let me stay for a few more days if I wanted.

Cheers!!

Dave 

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    February 2015
  • From: Ludington, MI
  • 1,860 posts
Posted by Water Level Route on Monday, July 22, 2024 6:16 AM

Glad to hear you are back out Dave.  Now stay that way! Laugh

Mike

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Thursday, July 25, 2024 8:17 PM

I managed to get most of my boxed rolling stock into two cabinets in the garage:

My workbench is still a mess. It's full of parts boxes waiting to be sorted and put into a wall mounted cabinet:

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Thursday, July 25, 2024 9:38 PM

Progress!  Thumbs Up

 

York1 John       

  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Wyoming, where men are men, and sheep are nervous!
  • 3,392 posts
Posted by Pruitt on Friday, July 26, 2024 2:10 PM

Dave,

It's good to hear that you're home and still active. 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Friday, July 26, 2024 9:46 PM

Thanks Mark.

This is what the south garage wall looks like today:

This is what the wall looked like a few months ago:

Almost all of the screw holes and other defects in the walls have been patched and they look much better. Some areas require a second coat of drywall compound. We had to quit applying the compound today because the material was defective. No amount of stirring and adding a little water would make the stuff stick. Strange. The bucket was new.

We may have to order another shelf unit. The two that we just bought are full and there are still a lot of boxes on the floor. Dianne's garden shed also has a bunch of stuff in it that belongs in the garage.

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,667 posts
Posted by rrebell on Saturday, July 27, 2024 7:19 AM

That is strange for premixed drywall compond, was in the trades and that has never happened to me but I remember someone saying they had an issue once because in the winter it had frozen.

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Saturday, July 27, 2024 9:11 AM

I made the mistake of once not reading a label and I bought some joint compound that was "light weight".

Your problem sounds like what I encountered.  It would not stick to anything.

York1 John       

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Saturday, July 27, 2024 4:04 PM

Hi John and rrebell 

That is exactly what we were using - light weight drywall compound. When I first opened the container it was very stiff. I added some water and, after much stirring, it seemed to be the proper consistency but it still wouldn't stick. It was very hard to spread smoothly as well. I have a 2 lb. pail of the real stuff to finish the job with. There will be a lot of leftovers but I can use that for scenery.

Cheers!!

Dave 

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Monday, July 29, 2024 2:03 PM

One of the nice things about re-organizing my train stuff is that I get the occasional pleasant surprise when I discover something that I had forgotten about (is that an indication that I have too much stuff?Smile, Wink & Grin). A couple of days ago I opened a fairly large box labelled 'CP transport trucks'. I knew that I had a few CP trucks but I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there were more than a dozen tractor trailers including three cab over Herpa models that I do not remember buying at all. There were a couple of non-CP trucks as well.

I made another discovery on the top shelf of a cabinet that was too high up to see into it directly. I found eight farm tractors - five John Deeres and three Scene Master generic units. I already had nine tractors sitting on my display shelves so now I can make up a short unit train with nothing but tractor loads.

Then I realized that I didn't have enough proper flat cars to carry the tractors but eBay came to the rescue. I found five CP flat cars at reasonable prices (reasonable if you ignore the shipping costsGrumpy). I also found a D&RGW flat that comes with a fire captain's van and two plows, all of decent quality.

SmileSmileSmile

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!