Good evening Diners: No mrr today as the CAO (Chief Activities Officer) declared it "Present Wrapping Day." So between that and getting wood in, kindling replenished, walking the dog and so on, there wasn't free time for anything else. All that wrapping is because things have to be ready to deliver this Thursday and Saturday, so there was necessary urgency.
Thanks for the Norton / Alternatives tips. Our ISP has a package that has a 30 day free trial, so I ordered that. I can download and install, then uninstall Norton.
K4Ed, I still would like to talk to you about all this, choices for mail for instance.
JR: On the curtains thing, I'll just keep it in mind for when I've a bunch of houses to furnish...then I'll maybe look around for a similar resource. I agree, the printed product looks better than one's own hand drawn (but what else do you do with curtains ) efforts.
DER WINS the prize for the most colorful colourful post of the week. Cheers Der. Great work on the layout, too. Pilings in particular.
NZRMac: Congratulations! Many years of happiness to you both.
NZ was where we were headed in 1967, but we ended up in Canada!
Paul:
Good thing that there weren't leaks when you pored the water.
Ryan:
I like the seaweeds too!
Corey: Sorry to hear about your difficulties. I've not built a modular layout, but have done a couple of modules for a HO modular one shown in malls and such. The standards are pretty much set for you as to track spacing and so on. You'd get a bunch of info through a search,or ask Paul.
Johnathan: Bummer about the car, bright side is you weren't hurt. There isn't any off topic, but we do observe the civilities, and the clientele is mixed as to both gender and age range, so we keep the house and atmosphere clean. Hope things get sorted out for you soon. Where is Taxachusetts? It's a new one on this Canuk.
That's it for me for tonight. Goodnight all, and God Bless. Prayers for all in need of healing, comfort and peace.
"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.
NZRmac; Congrats! I was married for 15 years and then she said my trains go or she goes, been divorced and working on my train layout as a bachelor since December 4, 2003. (ok I'm kidding about the trains).
Philnrunt; I found to post pictures you have to have them on photo bucket, or webshots or something like that for them to post here.
Jeffery; that's a really big model tunnel you have your trains in, LOL.
Norton anti-virus; I've tried several and I'm still with Norton, it's saved me more times than I can shake a stick at. I keep my dues paid and the Norton updated so maybe that's the trick. Norton also offers their software FREE of CHARGE to all active duty and Reserve members of the Armed Forces! I don't see that kind of support from any of Norton's competitors.
Microsoft; Well they offer every Coast Guard member a free copy of their Office Enterprise 2007 (yea a full version of a $600.00 software package).
Ok sorry I've been on Active Duty now for over 20 years and I'll still patronize those companies that try to support the troops. *putting soap box away*
Jonathan; Welcome to the diner!
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Welcome Johnathan, and yes, this is a good place to share your adventures both in the hobby and outside of it. Very sorry to learn of the auto accident. Best wishes geting it all taken care of.
Paul. I'll try the email address soon.
That's it for now.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
JimRCGMO wrote: Sue, is the loco in your signature pic a Roundhouse Shay? I might ask you about tips for mine, if so.
Sue, is the loco in your signature pic a Roundhouse Shay? I might ask you about tips for mine, if so.
Jim,
Yes, it is. Larry used NWSL partial regear and bull gear kit. He can't remember if the decoder is Lenz, NCE, or digitrax. Our local hobby shop is not consistant with their inventory, so we buy what they have.
HINT: All three of our Roundhouse locos were wired incorrectly at the socket where the jumper plug connects. Larry fried 2 sound decoders before he caught that. A simple multimeter check should help you figure that out. If you have any questions let me know.
The little guy in the signature pic is our slowest, steadiest, and strongest loco on our 6% logging section. I believe that both of our shays are the older RH ones, too. It was worth the investment of the improvements.
We are hoping to connect the logging section with the mainline during Christmas vacation.
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
Never posted in this thread here. I'm assuming its about how you day went, new MRRing news, etc. so if I'm way , feel free to correct me. I just need to vent.
Looks like I'm not buying any new MRRing stuff for a while. Or Christmas presents. I lost control of my car when I hit a patch of ice on a freeway exit overpass and smacked a guardrail. I'm OK, the car... eh, not so much. Because of Taxachusett's communist insurance system, they're calling it a "driver at fault" accident instead of an act of God as they should, and since I can only afford basic coverage, I'm going to have to eat the costs of a new radiator (which, hopefully, is the only mechanical part that needs replacing) and a new headlight. A new grill, bumper, and frame straightening are too expensive for me right now. The timing couldn't have been worse, since I start a second job during the graveyard shift this coming Monday morning, and I still work at my current job on weekends. Once the radiator's fixed, I'm going to have to drive with the left front of my car missing until I can earn some extra scratch and find time to go car shopping.
I guess on the bright side, my car is still driveable other than the radiator, no one was injured, and the last bit of MRRing equipment I can expect to see for a while just arrived (an Athearn GP40-2 bashed into a NS GP40 HH).
Apologies again if this is the wrong place or I put a downer on anyone's day. Hope all is well with the rest of you.
Evening Gang: I didn't do the stress test today. I did get an EKG and the Dr. said that it was not normal. He wasn't worried so I guess I shouldn't be. I'll go in for a couple of more tests Jan 4. Again a good sign that it isn't bad. The stress test will be the chemical kind, so I guess I'll use the shoes and workout togs for lounging and PJs.
Hi Corey. It's good to see you in this side of the street. My layout is modular 12ft x 26ft. I used HO modular standards and it has been all right. I did it this way to get going fast and it worked. I've never taken it apart. Since it's in a basement it is more or less permanent. The modules are 2x4, 2x6, 2x8 and one 2x10. Of course there are 4 corners. I will be adding a center section for the locomotive facilities. I'm also looking at two extensions off to another area that is available. You can do a lot in 2x4 if you try so take a look at it and have fun. You can also use it with a modular club if one is near.
Philnrunt: I'll agree that these are great relaxers. The red dot sight works very well even at long range. I've got a cataract in my in my right eye so I shoot with both eyes open. I do want to get an Aimpoint sight since the one I have is a real cheepy and runs through batteries fast. An Aimpoint will get 80,000 hours on one battery.
Well I guess I'll head for bed.
Good Night All
evening all just a stop in to say hi not much going on today.
Worked on my shelf layout today need one more board about 5' long and will have boards all the way around. need to mount track to boards next cut what pieces I need to as I put it together so probally put together completely then screw down. Want to put one more shelf up in front of my desk (have three levels so far counting one for layout) Want to put my standard gauge set on that shelf.
Kinda on the warm side tonight here it was in the low 70's today I would guess sup[ose to get to 74 tomorrow.
talk to you all later not much happening.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Afternoon.
It's still chilly here, glad I got a new coat recently.
Jim: Seeing as I have two reefers, I think we'll be able to do a little switching and get 'em here. Better watch out, my sister the preditor might devour it all before it gets here!
Ryan: I like the 64 pane best, but if the 16 pane could be a bit smaller, it'd probably get my vote. I wish I had space for a roundhouse and turntable. (4x8s aren't great in that regard, not to mention I'd need a 130' one!)
SecondHandModeler: First, I'm sorry if I spelled the name wrong. Yeap, I did. Secondhand, not Sooline. Second, I'm sorry to hear that you are losing your house. Lastly, I haven't built a modular layout, but I am planning modules. 2-2.5' is a good width, 4' is a good length. For the wire bus, use a plug/socket technique for connecting them together. One last thing, try and see if you could have "Fitters" in between modules, such as a 9" straight track across. Heres a rushed diagram of what I'm trying to say:
---------||---------------| ==== <--9" fitter | Module B ---------||---------------|
Module A
It's easier to connect tracks that way. You can do what you prefer.
Later all.
Mark
Afternoon - about time for a root beer float to tide me over until suppertime, Zoe. Thanks!
Garry, I forgot to mention that this is an older Roundhouse (before they went in with Athearn & Horizon)... I think it's likely out of warranty by now. And Zoe, make me up a ham 'n' cheese sandwich with some of Garry's ham, please. I'll just have a late dinner tonight.
PC, at least with a Monday like that, the rest of the week ought to be better than this - Whew!
So Mark - will your packing plant be able to supply a car of sides of ribs for this Saturday's rib plate special? (I peeked at the menu insert that Chloe and Zoe had posted just inside the kitchen door...)
Jeff, nice rockwork on that 'tunnel liner'. Got some locos there, y'do!
Sue, is the loco in your signature pic a Roundhouse Shay? I might ask you about tips for mine, if so. Good that your trip went smoothly (especially the trip back home).
Colby, congrats on being another step closer to running the trains - Enjoy!
Ryan, sorry to hear of your experience with the HDTV, but hopefully you'll find something else that's much better quality.
Corey, sorry to hear about your financial problems. My layout is sort of a sectional (started sort of as a modular, but shifted it a bit. Mine currently is two sections that are 2' at one end and curve to 2.5' at the middle (where they are joined). If you can, save the plywood (especially if it's one piece/level), as you could cut it to shelf-size sections later when you get a place to start setting it up. (I had a 4 X 8 sheet in storage, and after deciding on more of a sectional/modular, cut it into smaller pieces). Some layout ideas I started from were in Iain Rice's book: Small, Smart & Practical Track Plans (and he also has several articles on small, switching-type layouts that you might have seen in MR, too). Email me and I can send you more info on mine.
Paul, best wishes on a great job on your stress test today. Mary Ann wouldn't let you do the loincloth and mocassins outfit? Dag-nabbity! Good that the propane tank wasn't dry (less $$ that way, too; well, maybe only a little less...)
'Bout quitting time here for me ( - a couple of minutes past!), so I'll be on my way.
Blessings,
Jim in Cape Girardeau
Just looking in and bumping the diner back to the top of the page.
BUMP!
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
Ryan,
I think that the 64 look best, also. You are really coming along with your RH project.
Afternoon folks!
Pepperoni and black olive pizza for me today! Thanks Chloe!
So far the 64-pane window is still the leader in the selection process, thanks again to all of you who have put in a selection and I appreciate your comments too!
I want to attempt making the window frame lines narrower before I make the prints on transparency sheets. Will give you updates when I make the attempt, but with Christmas around the corner my available train room hours will be limited. Hopefully I can get a few more hours in before the New Year....
Garry - I like the express and mail train idea! Postal Service, FedEX, UPS, etc... are all on the upswing now.
Ed - 400 lbs. of fruit per trip....now that is a lot of fruit! Oh....and have a great time in Mexico City!
J.R. - Nice DPM buildings you have there, and I especially like the mortar between the bricks. Quick question if you don't mind: What method do you employ to get the white mortar into those brick walls? Do you paint the walls white first and then use a steel wool pad to rub off the paint from the bricks?
Lee - Foxhat, is that a new operating system? LOL Actually Fox Creek sounds great for a name!
Chuck - Nice to see you again, sounds like you braved quite a storm there, glad you and Kathy made it out okay!
Rob - Yea, it was t-shirt weather for us too this weekend and this week seems to be the same for the remainder through Saturday.
Der John - Years ago I was a painter for interior and exterior structures, and yes, painting the real thing of a roundhouse would be a big project and thousands of dollars too! I'll stick with the HO scale version thank you! Your dock really looks great, I like the seaweeds too!
Philip - Nice train and snow pictures....my request finally came in! Thanks! Now that has holiday spirit written all over it! And hope the misses is getting better too!
Ken (aka NZRMac) - Congratulations on the wedding! You got yourself a fine bride there too!
So, I'll end this post with a story about some Christmas shopping this weekend. I was really getting into the Christmas shopping spirit and thought it would be nice to finally get the family something we've been talking about for a year now. We went to BJ's warehouse membership store to get a microwave as our old one died the week before last, and we also had a few other small items on the list too.
Monique went to the customer service counter to check on the expiration date on our 60 day trial membership. While she was at the counter I was looking at all the HDTV's and flat panel TV's. Some of you may remember around the first of the year in January I started searching for a new HDTV and I got some great advice and info from Philip, Dick, James from Australia, and Lupo from the Netherlands. Well I really liked the price of this 50" plasma HDTV from Vizio on display, nice picture quality and at only $1,199 it was hard to pass up.
Bought the new Visio P50 50" Plasma HDTV on Saturday evening and set it up on Sunday morning. Nice picture quality and sound is better than usual. We first viewed from the TV input from the cable DVR box with some live cable broadcasts and the picture quality was good, then we watched some recorded shows from the DVR, still getting a good picture.
Then later in the evening I hooked up the DVD player to the component 1 input, and watched about 1 hour of a DVD movie when all of a sudden the picture turns snowy and then into a 3 color sort of x-ray look. Hummmmm....
Then I checked the DVD player and no problems, and then I changed the input on the VP50 to see if that was it. Any input showed a box that there was "no signal found". Then turned off the power to the VP50, and then turned on the power again. Now the screen only shows a lot of varied blue dots and in no particular order, just random.
Oh, and we smelled a burning plastic smell too, and it was making a crackling sound coming from the back of the unit.
So to recap:
Saturday evening - Purchased the VP50
Sunday morning - Set up the VP50
Sunday afternoon- 3 hours viewing time from cable TV input on the VP 50
Sunday evening - 1 hour viewing time from the component 1 DVD player on the VP 50 and it burned up!
Monday evening - Returning it to BJ's for a full refund! Looking again for an HDTV unit......
Later folks,
Ryan
Ryan BoudreauxThe Piedmont Division Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger eraCajun Chef Ryan
Early Afternoon Gang: It's colder here today but no wind so it doesn't feel as bad.
KenNZ: Congrats to you and your bride. I wish you both the very best.
I've got to do the strees test thing this afternoon. I got a pair of sports shoes and a warm up suit so I'll be presentable to the doc. I'd like to go in breach clot and mocacins but the wife would kill me.
The propane man came the first thing this morning and filled the tank. We had 40 gals in the tank so didn't have to do all the pilot lights.
Der: The dock face really looks good. Good thing that there weren't leaks when you pored the water.
Garry: I sent you an E-mail last week about the plans. I guess that you didn't get it. Yes Terry is interested in the drawings. Drop me a line at thebeverungs@gmail.com or call 817-771-1151. That's my cell phone.
Well I'd better get in the shower. I'll check back n tonight.
hey everybody
I have layout news from Maine, USA.
My train table is almost done!!! I have the frame done and the top is nailed down. I just need 2 do some sanding and put the hinges on. The table will be for my ready-to-run portable layout, requiring only track to be hooked up to the powerpack, buildings placed, and rolling stock and locomotives to be railed.
CONGRATS to Ken & his beautiful bride. (hope she loves trains )
Back to work here. Rob
Good morning. Coffee, please.
Had a great weekend in Seattle. Amtrak was late on the way up, but on time leaving Seattle south. Besides money to shop the Dr. took us to dinner & to see Jersey Boys. It was great.
I thought that I would check in while I wait for the Chimney cleaner to show up.
Larry spent the weekend with his sisters and their husbands cleaning his Mom's place of flood damage. When he came home with pizza, one his brother-in-laws was sitting on my stool inside the layout looking at the scenery. They exercised the locos for a while.
I will check in later.
Morning all!
Still overcast here, cold 32 degrees, another round of freezing rain due in around midnight tonight(Monday).I'll have another hot cup of coffee please!
TheK4Kid
Good morning.
It's gonna be a little damp here today.Today's Weather for: Sundown, LA 71446-6114 12/10/2007Wind Chill: 68°FHumidity: 94%Dew Point: 66°FSo Far TodayHigh: 68°FLow: 66°FRain: 0.00"Rain Rate: 0.00"/hGust: 7mph S Today High: 78 Patchy fog in the morning. Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers. Highs in the upper 70s. Southeast winds around 10 mph. Tonight Low: 65 Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 60s. Southeast winds around 10 mph.
Morning all.
Pretty darn cold out now. First period today is P.E, which is indoors, so school should be fine.
Jim: Yeah, it's sorta Orangey-Yellow. I like it. I read the description and it fits my era, and my railroad. I have a small meat packing plant on my layout. Beef comes in, gets packed up, and shipped to retailers.
PC: I'll go get my shotgun an' some 00 buck and we'll make it a party. Wait what? With a camera? How do ya' shoot sum'in with a camera? Ya' mean pit'ures? Take pit'ures? What's wrong with ya boy?
Is that enough southern accent for ya? (No offense ment to any southerners here)
Bye all.
Philip.... Just think. It;s only Monday!
Also, continued sincere prayers for Mrs. PC
Mornin'!
Well, I have had quite a morning already! I woke up to get sick, then went to go to work anyways and found the car battery dead. Jumped in the van (to heck with the car....I'll fiddle with it later) and found it on E. Got gas and went to work to find our phone system down. It's not good when the phone company's phone system is down! Fixed that and found that I needed to fix the lead salesmans car. Quite a day so far!
Next, I work a few hours and then head home to pick up the wife. She has a big doctors appointment today. She has to get x-rays done and then they're going to evaluate her to see if she can start putting weight on that leg yet. Who knows, another couple of months and she could be walking!
So thats my little world. How's yours?
Oh, big congrats to Ken and his beautiful bride!
And I'll second the ditching of Norton. I also tried Trend Micro and didn't care for it either. I ended up going with the one Jeff suggested. Couldn't be happier!
AS Jerry requested, a carload of country ham has been dispatched to the diner.
Congrats to NZR Ken and his bride. Ken, please visit again soon!
Railroaders love to couple up. (See Ken's smile! )
JimCG... Does the Shay have a warrantee? I would think by now Roundhouse would have one as does P2K and Bachmann.
I'll take 4 Mandarin OJ's to go.
Happy Model Railroading!
Just a quick good morning cup of the TH - to go, please, Zoe. Thanks!
Congratulations and best wishes to you and your new bride, NZR/Ken! Judging by the background for your photo, did you have the ceremony track-side? I take it she knows about your addiction hobby, but can she help with the layout (sign of a real top-notch keeper)? And I hope you have, in your pre-wedding counseling, discussed trackage rights in the home, of course...
Indiana Phil - you might check and see if your usual photo processing place also can make you a CDROM of the images. A lot of places here - Walgreens, Wal-Mart and possibly others - will make you both prints and the CDROM. Then you can pop the CDROM into your 'puter and pick the ones you want to upload to a Photobucket or other online place and then post the link in the Diner to show off for us.
JR, my apologies for not saying it earlier, but thanks for posting those Yosemite photos. Where's the rockbed photo taken in the park?
DerJohn, I'd agree with Garry about your winning the Most Colourful Post this week!
Garry, since this is the first time I ran the Shay since I won it on eBer, and I've never had a Shay before, I'll have to look at it to be sure what the deal is with the gearing. So it might not be all that bad once I get a look at it. (I hope so)
We've just had the cold rainy stuff overnight. I could hear the rain coming down this morning when I woke up, so that was a good sound to hear (rather than the slightly different sound of freezing rain...). Hope it thaws out today for those of you in the Ice Belt last night and this morning. We're at 36 F and heading for a whopping 41 degrees (F) this afternoon. Whoopee!
PC and Rob, good to hear that your CFO (each) is getting better (and Rob, that Barbara's completed her course of her med...). Keeping them all still in my
About time for me to head out for the 'w' thing this morning, so I'll be getting going.
Blessings and Prayers,
Good Morning All,
I'll have one of Bills' donuts and a regular. Sure miss Luc dropping in early. The TH coffee is great stuff. Most of the freezing rain has missed us so far as the temps rose to the mid 30's during the night. Mid 30's and foggy just now with a steady drizzle to make things a misery.
Congrats to Ken and his bride and best wishes for the future. Hope the list of folks in sick bay continues to shrink as they get better. Good to hear PCs' missus is recovering well and once Robs' gets over "the means" (I can relate to that with some of the meds the CFO has been on in the past) she should be on the way back as well.
Got to go - have a full day in front of me as well as a Mechanical Department meeting tonight for the museum as we put together a budget reqest for next year.
CUL, J.R.
Mornin, a large ta-go coffee please Zoe
Cloudy and grey skies again today. Expect areas of light rain and drizzle to hang around all day today. Temperatures will stay steady in the mid 30's with light north winds. Temperatures will actually warm a bit this evening into the upper 30's before warming into the 50's Tuesday afternoon. Occasional light rain will hang around through the day on Tuesday lasting through Wednesday night.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/4309
Good Morning from Tipton IN !
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Ken-Let me be the first to congratulate you and your beautiful bride! Wish you all the best from half a world away!
Paul-Yes, that .223 was (and is) my Colt AR-15. It can solve computer problems faster than you can say "What do you mean I shut Windows down improperly?!?!?!?!" It always surprises me how calming it is to go plinking every once in awhile. Very good for the soul.
I really need to learn how to post pics here, and other places, but I don't have access to a scanner anymore, and all of my good pics are real pics, of the 35mm variety. Everytime I start to delve into computers, they drive me right up a wall. Bill Gates and the rest of the geeks who started all of this seemed to make them complicated just for their pleasure. The more obtuse the operating system, the more they like it. I asked my rocket scientist friend once why couldn't I just type a question in plain english, he said if they set it up that way, you could.
Anyway, enough of that, just wanted to check in, rain keeps threatening to go to ice, but hasn't yet.
Take care all.
Evening all
been a really busy weekend here, finally Married my sweetheart. Had 50 friends and family over for a beautiful garden wedding.
Ken.