Elliot's Trackside Diner V, at the diamonds

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jeff ... I saw the F7 DCC write-up you posted. Nice work!!!

Thanks Garry. I hope others will find it useful.

 

Also, on your WS ballast....... How much does one shaker bottle weigh?  The rubber ballast I get is $18 for 5 pounds.

Two pounds.

 

 

[TrainsRMe1]

Well Hey All, A belated Happy Columbus Day!!! Here in Oregon today is the 46th anniversary of the Columbus day strom, for all of you that don't know, In 1962 that strom was known as the worst wind strom to EVER hit the western US, winds were clocked in Portland (downtown at 93 mph) on the Morrison Bridge (which crosses into Downtown Portland)  a gust hit at 113 mph on the Oregon Coast 170mph at Cape Blanco, that was a strom of all stroms as far as this area is concern, anyway, have a good one and I will be back at the diner tomorrow!!!

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good evening ........

Inch ... We will certainly have Jamie's surgery in our prayers on the 17th. That is areleif about Roni's tests being negative for sure.

Jerry.......... So you enjoy Blue Grass music, eh......

Der .... I like the crane's control cabin. Well, I like the whole crane.

Paul ... I have not seen any of the Hiaeatha cars in person, but I bet they are beautiful.

Lee ....... your completed wood kits are terrific!

Jeff ... I saw the F7 DCC write-up you posted. Nice work!!!

Rob ..... I'm sorry to hear about your wife's back problems.

Chuck and Kathy ..... good to see you in the diner.

C&O Terry ..... The nibbler is a handy tool for sure. Also, I hope your treatments are doing as they should.

Jim CG .... You should be proud of yourself. You have been leaving enough extra RBF's for Sue to have some too. Now, we can count on Sue's regular visits to the diner; right, Sue.

Rumor has it that Duke peaks into the Diner and sneaks off prfering to communicate elsewhere. Shhhhhh...... I did not say it.

Where's Ryan?  

I'll be off to Nashville Wednesday for medical appointments on Thursday at the Vanderbilt heart clinic.

 

Happy Model Railroading

 

[gear-jammer]

Good evening, All.  I stopped in for a RBF before retiring.  I just chased the steers up for their evening snack.

***Sue, that's a great story. 96....never too old to learn a new skill, eh!

Rob,  She milked a cow every day until her late 80's.  I hope that I have that much moxey at that age.

Sue

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: We hauled all the equipment back from the train show today. Of course I had to forget something and it was the compressor. I'll have to go back out there and get it. Gas here is down to $2.95 at one truck stop. Now if diesel would just get below $3 I'd be happy. I need to go and get diesel but I think that I'll wait a few days to fill all the Jerry cans.

Der what's going on with ED? If he doesent check in soon I'll have to send the Texas Rangers after him.

Other then the train show there isn't much new. I need to check about the last Hiawatha cars. They should be holding them at Walthers for an order to total $150. I may just have to get a couple more Hi cars. A couple of baggage cars would look good sitting in the station waiting.

I guess I'll head for bed.

Good Night All

[LSWrr]

Jeff, I paid $5 or $10 for it at the last train show, the plow I paid $29 for at the LHS.  The pictures don't do it justice who ever built it used Kadee sprung all metal trucks and all the rivets/ bolts are metal and to scale.  The plow has a straight drop pin on the Kadee knuckle coupler in the rear.  LHS guessed them to be 50-60 years old and the only thing I had to do was paint the caboose roof and add decals. I think they will remain a conversation piece more than everyday rolling stock.

Also, on your WS ballast....... How much does one shaker bottle weigh?  The rubber ballast I get is $18 for 5 pounds.

Lee

[Packers#1]

Sawyer:  I was wondering, do you add any alcohol to the dilute glue mix.  I've heard some people do that, but haven't tried it myself. I'd have thought it would muck up the glue, and was, as I say, wondering. (I'll have to watch those videos of yours when I have more leisure time lol)

Nope, just glue and water. I'm *** off because I used a durn dixie cup to apply it, instead of a pipette (couldn't find any of my three, of course).

And thanks for the compliments about football everyone.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I have something similar to that caboose in my junk rolling stock somewhere here. Mines all plastic though.

[LSWrr]

Baggage/cargo caboose.  All wood craftsman kit

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2952732970029441264nEucij?vhost=good-times

All wood craftsman kit, Snowplow

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2439041950029441264LWVIsb?vhost=good-times

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2191497850029441264VKCith?vhost=good-times

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2242742450029441264RvAhaY?vhost=good-times

[der5997]

Breaking news. This just in from Ed.

The Diner is running very low on OJ.  

Tell the guys that a shipment is on the way.  We're just about to start harvesting this year.  The mandarin oranges are turning color.  Should be a good crop.

Thought you might like to know.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Very nice Jeff you make it look so simple.

Once youy've done it a time or two it's a snap.

[Flashwave]

C&O Fan:

  

snip

One (other) thing I've been wanting to get done is to get the window openings cut for the church I'm scratchbuilding. I don't have one of those corner punches, so what are some other ways to get the openings cut neatly?

Snip

I use a nibbler and then a file to get smooth cuts

the nibbler sure speeds up the process

*snip*

Now, everyone (not just Terry, but not excluding you, either) - what would likely be my simplest (and least tedious) way to do the window openings? I really could stand to learn this technique, since I may use it later for other scratchbuilds, and for putting windows in buildings where there aren't some in walls.

Thanks in advance (and thanks for the nibbler idea, Terry, which I may get come next month's paycheck).

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

I haven't had much luck using a dremel for windows

I guess you could use it to drill holes but i only do that on wood to prevent splitting

I'm afraid without a nibbler or a punch it's gonna be a slow process Jim !

Side cutters in the standard toolbox? Start a hole with the dremel, using a smaller wheel, cut with the side cutters, and smooth with the dremel. Or, do like Garry did for his car, cut the whole thing and put clear plasitc behind it. Paint what isn;t to be windows. You could do that carefully with the dremel.

[LSWrr]

Very nice Jeff you make it look so simple.

 

Lee

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jeff, what's the link to that forum?

This link will take you right to the post.

Converting Athearn BB F7 to DCC

[LSWrr]

Well the camera batteries died and I pulled out the back up batteries and they were dead also.   Here are 2 pictures of this weekend's fun, more to come after the camera is charged up.

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2008063480029441264JBmBOp?vhost=good-times

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2191345380029441264BUAepl?vhost=good-times

Jeff, what's the link to that forum?

Lee

[Cederstrand]

refill, please & thanks.

Construction has been going on here all day. Will take a look at the progress after I do the evening critter rounds.

Wife is down with a back problem today. Sometimes she pushes herself when she shouldn't.

I went to have a test done today, only to find the tech had left for a family emergency. Had to reschedule.

Healing thoughts to all those in need around here.

Rob

[C&O Fan]

C&O Fan:

  

snip

One (other) thing I've been wanting to get done is to get the window openings cut for the church I'm scratchbuilding. I don't have one of those corner punches, so what are some other ways to get the openings cut neatly?

Snip

I use a nibbler and then a file to get smooth cuts

the nibbler sure speeds up the process

Thanks, Terry, but I was trying to figure out what I could do with my existing tools. Shoulda listed them, huh? I have a variable Dremel (no drill press), Xacto knives (the #11 and the orange-handled one with the reversible blades), pin vise and some drill bits (have a set of the smaller ones). I'd thought of using pin vise or the Dremel to drill holes somewhat back from the corners, and then widening the holes out with the Xacto, and fine file things down with sandpaper/emery cloth and/or small files to get into the corners.

Now, everyone (not just Terry, but not excluding you, either) - what would likely be my simplest (and least tedious) way to do the window openings? I really could stand to learn this technique, since I may use it later for other scratchbuilds, and for putting windows in buildings where there aren't some in walls.

Thanks in advance (and thanks for the nibbler idea, Terry, which I may get come next month's paycheck).

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

I haven't had much luck using a dremel for windows

I guess you could use it to drill holes but i only do that on wood to prevent splitting

I'm afraid without a nibbler or a punch it's gonna be a slow process Jim !

[sunsetbeachry]

HI ALL;

I'm going to rite a little bigger so that I can read what I rite. Been gone for awhile lots of parts have been replaced. Getting closer to being the 6 million dollar man.

RR Room is closed for time being working in shop read garage. Am going to try to get back in the swing of things. Started a sawmill; still learning how to use cameras, every time we turn around somebody gives us another camera.

Kathy is doing about the same,*****, still on o2 and so many pills she needs her own drugstore in fact walgreens is movin' in upstairs.HA HA.

 

Am getting tired. Will try later.              Chuck and Kathy

PS regular gas is now 3.36 gallon  here 

[pcarrell]

DUDE!

I just bought gas for $2.77 a gallon!  That's down to the mearly rediculous!  That's the first time it's been below ludacris for a LONG time!  This keps up and we might even get down to mildly insane!

[Cox 47]

Good Morning All....Its cloudy and 70 here..Got some Blue Grass music going and am kicked backI may have a chance for alittle more room for My Rail Road...I would hate to scrap what I have now but If I could get enough room for a layout built on a hollow core door...You all keep your fingers crossed for me..You all have a good one...Jerry

[rtraincollector]

Well Terry sounds like you have one heck of a great doctor . Maybe some day you and her dad can get together and enjoy model railroading together.

Morning all HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY . 

Hope all are doing well. I 'm fine had some chest pain yesterday that just wouldn't go away, it was minor but nagging so took a glycern pill and it seemed to help and that was the end of it for yesterday .

Do very little today as I'm off go back tomorrow.  

[C&O Fan]

Morning all

just a cup of tea please

Back to the hospital today again

On my visit thursday

Amy {the surgeon} was excited to see me and thought I looked wonderful she gets frustrated with me when I roll my eyes because she is so eager to help me

  She doesn't understand my lack of motivation for wanting to talk but does understand my being tired of the pain of treatments and tests  

 And admits that Most of the testing is law suite prevention based and says MDA does more of it than anywhere she has been   she said the CT scan was not to see if I still had cancer because they assume I am cancer free at this point but it serves as a base line for future scans the blood test was to see if my thyroid is functioning

  she fitted me with a plastic tube and a removable button air filter to prevent my stoma from closing and wants to replace it today with a larger one after this one stretches the skin to give me a larger opening and make breathing easier for me

  she had her nurse go to the business office and find out why my app for financial assistance had not been completed   the supervisor of the business office was all apologetic and promised she would get back to me and said she would take care of what was turned over for collections right away

     Its really impressive the power Amy has to get things done people in that place really jump to it when the big dog barks  

 Found out her dad is an avid Model Railroader and also loves restoring old cars

[Cederstrand]

in a Santa Fe mug, please & thanks.

***Der, that crane looks like a substantial structure. Will there be other items reaching into the skyline?

***Inch, healing thoughts for Jamie. Nice backyard visitors you have there.

Contractor is here early today. Y'all have a good day. Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

It's 67 and clear. The high will be around the mid 80's and it will be partly cloudy. Weather's getting like a broken record lately.

Yesterday I did another installation of a Digitrax DZ125 decoder on an Athearn BB F7 and took many photos as I went along. I then used these in a teaching post. It's a poor man's approach and doesn't make use of pc board or resistors or LED's. It's just a simple no frills installation. If somebody can learn from it and make their venture into DCC that much easier it will have served it's purpose. Right now it's only posted on one forum (not mine).

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      10/13/2008

Wind Chill:  67°F
Humidity:  93%
Dew Point:  65°F

So Far Today
High:  72°F
Low:  66°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  10mph ESE

Today  High: 85    Partly cloudy until late afternoon then becoming mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight  Low: 68    Mostly cloudy early in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s. East winds 5 to 10 mph.

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

Happy Columbus Day!

Inch, How old is Jamie?  I wish her the best.

Lee

[inch53]

Mornin, how bout an irish coffee and the farmers special please Zoe. Thought I'd stop in an give ya the update this morning, that I started 3 days ago.

 Jamie goes in for surgery the 17^th, then she'll have to go through chemo.

We heard from Roni and her test came back negative for cancer [big relief]. She still has to go back for test every 4 months, just in case something changes.

In other news, one of the grandsons, Herman, made the little league football, 4^th n 5^th grade, all-star team. He plays mostly in the backfield both offense and defense. Sometimes he plays on the 6^th n 7'th grade team. Dakota Scott made it for the 6'th n 7'th.

Gas is down to $2.93 here in town now. To bad the prices for most everything else is still going the other way still.

RT,  glad all the test came out ok.

JIMCG,   that's a mighty fine looking grandson you got there.

ROB, good to hear you finally got some rain. Sounds like the construction is coming along.

GARRY,, glad your friend is coming ok after surgery. We've still keeping them in our thoughts.  Good to hear the guys came over an help with the bench work.

SAWYER,,  congrads to your team on the win. You looked pretty good in the video.

DER,, the crane is coming along well, looks good.

While I have got much of anything done in the train room, the wildlife in the back yard has been interesting out the window.

groundhog

Sorry bout the quality, but those were taken thru the window screen. The other deer and wild turkey pics didn't come out.

A lesson for the day,

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.
Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.
Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping,
never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
Live simply and appreciate what you have.
Give more.
Expect less
NOW ............
Enough of that . .. . The donkey later came back, and bit the farmer who had tried to bury him.
The gash from the bite got infected and the farmer eventually died in agony from septic shock.
MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:
When you do something wrong, and try to cover your ***, it always comes back to bite you.

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN ! 

[Cederstrand]

Tall glass of cool lemon water, please & thanks.

***Sue, that's a great story. 96....never too old to learn a new skill, eh!

***Lee, most are packed away, waiting on that train room. How about I just post tonights catch:

Figure we I can paint them up with some circus colors. They have little tigers in them, too: 

Hmmm, wonder if they sell a model "Roy" in HO scale to play with them, or visa versa.

Have a good night all. Rob

[LSWrr]

Evening all,

Been doing some spray painting today, hopefully I'll have some pictures to post tomorrow.  I made repairs and painted 10 tank cars (gloss black) and weathered and replaced couplers on 6 flat cars (I think I'm set on 40 foot flat cars now).

I'm thinking about buying a holiday G scale train for my dad and Step-Mom this year. 527-384 it's on sale this month and every year I could buy them a new animated car.

Der, that crane looks really good.  Believe it or not CN is thinking about bringing those monsters to Ohio.

Rob, fine looking circus wagon you got there. You should post a picture of the whole collection for us.

JP, congratulations on finally moving into the new place.

Morgan, those Welsh corgi's are great dogs (but they have a funny accent   )

Ok I'm going to get back to working on this grain elevator........

Lee

[Flashwave]

 

Morgan: Enjoy Dustmop, but beware the habit many WCs have of sneaking up and biting the back of your leg!

Yep, she's done that too us ion occasion. I think I read uit;s from their herding genes. Usually it's just that she gets excited and things end up in an open puppy mouth though.

Nice looking crane by the way.