Elliot's Trackside Diner V, at the diamonds

[Cox 47]

Howdy all .....Its sunny and warm 78 here...I'll have a root beer float and slip into the back booth to see who drops in....You all have a good Sunday....Jerry

 

Opps!! Page 100 and it looks like I'm buying..Oh well order up and enjoy!!!

[Flashwave]

BBoy do we ever talk alot have a lot to say.

And I washed a dog today.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Speaking of dogs, I'll have some with chili. Chili dogs that is.

Just had to change out my keyboard. My new one gave up the ghost, and just two days after the warranty ended. Fancy that. That's the last time I get a CMI keyboard. I'm back on the old one I bought years ago. It's a generic type from A-Open.

[JimRCGMO]

Afternoon, Janie - I'll have another root beer float, and no (Garry...), not just because Jerry's buying  Harruummph!

Hey, Jeff - that crossover looks now, like it was always that way. Those chili dogs you have look tasty, too, though.... Hmmmm, tempting choice there.

Lee, got your PM/email - I'll call you either later tonight or else Wednesday evening on that.

Rob, on the camera, you could just mess up a pic or two for your wife, and blame it on the camera being old and about to die on you. Sort of prep her for a new one for Christmas.  

MRR club on Monday night should get us finished up with the mainline tracklaying, and we might have the passing tracks and sidings done by the end of the evening's w**k. Getting closer to seeing about running some trains.

Kinda cloudy in Cape G. this afternoon, with more of the same due for tomorrow. Might get around to rain by Tuesday night.

Went through my DPM building stuff yesterday, and I have about 20 packs of their modulars (counting some dock and some cornice package ones). Should be able to build some backdrop industries, I think. I got a bunch of them fairly cheap at one time on the 'bay place, and the seller tossed in free shipping because of how many I got then. I don't have the powerhouse window ones (the tall ones), but I have a variety of others.

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?

Okay, Morgan, what kind of dog and how big was it that you washed today? Great Dane? Chihuahua? Something in between?

Has anybody seen the detail castings at this place?:

http://www.rustystumps.com 

Looks like they have HO, O, and S scale castings of workbenches, cupboards (either ones empty or filled), air tanks, junk piles, mail bags, and such (all are either resin or white metal castings). They look pretty good on their website. I may be ordering some of them (particularly the junk stuff for my junkyard dealer business). And related to that - back in the 1950's, how would a junk dealer have compressed their scrap metal into those bales that the Chooch freight car loads have in them? I figure the smaller dealers might not have one of those huge compactors like you see outside of most larger discount stores todays, so what'd they use back then?

 

Blessings and a great afternoon,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

 

[pcarrell]

Jim, I've seen quite a few of the Rusty Stumps products and they're real nice.  Haven't worked with em though.

[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

http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=81477

 

[JimRCGMO]

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 

[Flashwave]

Okay, Morgan, what kind of dog and how big was it that you washed today? Great Dane? Chihuahua? Something in between?

Blessings and a great afternoon,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

A dustmop called Tally

She's a welsh corgi, but she's low to the groud and fluffy. Hence, Dustmop

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Hey, Jeff - that crossover looks now, like it was always that way.

I was trying to blend everything in so it would look like nothing had been changed. I guess I succeeded. I've seen many layouts where some new track was added and the whole area stood out like a scar! I was trying to avoid that.

[JPowell]

Good evening gang!

  Sorry I have not been on the last few days (maybe a week or more actually), but I've been busy either packing for the move, or moving to the house itself. As of this moment, the old apartment is 95% empty. All that is left for tomorrow is a few boxes of work-related items, and the vacuum and broom. After I get the boxes out in the morning, I'll do a quick sweep and vac and then be gone from teh apartment completely. As for teh house, well most of the stuff is still packed and will take some time to unpack and sort back to the original storage containerrs they were in. One thing that I know I have to get, will be a few book cases for the small computer / library room. Need to have some place to put all of the associated Train and MRR books I have amast over the last few years, not to mention all the MRR and Trains mags!

So, I hope everyone is doing good and prayers for those in need.

Take care!

[gear-jammer]

I thought that I would stop by for one of Jim's RBF's.  I didn't make it back yesterday, but I didn't forget.

Philip,  I can appreciate your hard work.  My brother pasters his church and works full time + at a power plant as a Civil Engineer.  It is nice to see daylight at the end of the tunnel.  Your mister red X guy was always fun.

Rob, It is good to hear that your construction after the fire is going well.  I will look forward to those photos.

Sue

[Cederstrand]

Hot fudge brownie delight, please & thanks.

Any doggy bisquits in the back for Tally? What a good girl!

Been working hard since getting a late start this morning. Helped wife "rat proof" the bird room with wire & boards. We lost 10 of the 60 baby Guineas overnight. Tossed Inky cat in the room next to the baby birds and she went strait to where that rat had a nest. Rat was gone, but her family...well, you know what cats do best. I like rats, but when they cross the line, it becomes Hammer Inky Time. Nuff said.

Got the master bedroom wired for surround sound. Took half the day.

Have a good night all. Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Sounds kinda like a good old fashoined rat killing.

[der5997]

Good evening Diners!  Hope you are enjoying this long weekend, and a Happy Columbus Day to those South of our border, and a to all in Canada. We have our daughter and two boys with us this weekend, so mrr time is somewhat curtailed.

You making good progress on your crane? Sounds like it. Were you able to get all your materials at the LHS today to continue your work?

  Yes CapeJim,(cool family pics, BTW) I've been having fun with the detail components of the container crane, and have finished the control cabin. Here is ready for installation.     I lucked out on the seat, as I painted it with a charcoal grey mix of black and just a touch of white.  The mix wasn't totally mixed, and the result turned out to be that the seat back actually looks as if it's made in sections, from the slightly striped mix. Here's the undercoated basic crane. There's lots more to add, as you see, the trucks aren't made yet;

and I've started experiments with etching the handrails. No success with that yet, but at least I know my Ferric Chloride hasn't lost it's potency after the 10+ years it's been unused

What I've found really interesting is figuring out from the photos and video clips just how the spreader works, and what t heh function of the various components is. Also, there are no photos or video that I have showing the trolley that runs out above and forward of the control cabin and from which the spreader is suspended.  I've decided that it must have a powerful electric motor that runs a gearbox on each end of its drive shaft. The each gearbox transmits power to twin cable drums simultaneously raising and lowering each end of the spreader by means of the cables.  So, that's what I'm designing now, the spreader, spread to 40', with its control cable coiling into a receptacle through a cage thingy that forces it to coil obediently always in the same direction, and an hydraulic pump and reservoir system to spread the arms. At 1: 160, I don't have to build too much, but al least I figure I can make a reasonably sensible stab at reality.PC:  I think the Red X dude spent some of his vacation in my .gifs folder That's a very cool train for the link at the bottom of your posts. Can you send me the image please, because a mouse over just generates the fickle finger of internet access.

Sue: Great to see you back in the Diner!

der,  Are you drying weeds again?  It is that time of year.

...it is indeed, and I've been keeping my on, but haven't yet harvested the roadside crop.  Less available this year as the Dept. of Highways grader creamed several of our nearby patches in the Spring.

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)

Rob:  Your Mrs. Is one lucky lady with you shopping for her circus stuff!!

Terry: thanks for the nibbler link, that's an item I've been thinking of for when I get to build my city.

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

I see it's past 10:00 p.m. Fergie hasn't been in, and there was a fire of a suspicious nature today on a Coast Guard ship moored (or is that docked?) at the base. I was wondering if he had been trying out his new soldering iron  Have to get  his posted so the younger grandson can get the floor space back for his bed!

Goodnight all, and God Bless. Prayers for all in need of healing, comfort and peace.

[pcarrell]

PC:......That's a very cool train for the link at the bottom of your posts. Can you send me the image please, because a mouse over just generates the fickle finger of internet access.

Ask and ye shall receive!  http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Avitars/Trainsig-2.jpg  Some of my sig images are on my main page, but most are here.  http://s83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/Avitars/  You all are welcome to snoop around and borrow any you like.

[gear-jammer]

Good evening, diners.  I think that a  hot cider sounds great.  Fall is here you know.

Sue: Great to see you back in the Diner!

der,  Are you drying weeds again?  It is that time of year.

...it is indeed, and I've been keeping my on, but haven't yet harvested the roadside crop.  Less available this year as the Dept. of Highways grader creamed several of our nearby patches in the Spring.

der,  Wouldn't  you know those DOH workers out doing their jobs.  I have a good stash from last year.  I am just starting to prune the butterfly bushes now.  Last year I dried them in the wood shed and pitched them when I started bringing in fire wood.  We have already had several fires on cold windy days.  Happy Thanksgiving.  Now that Larry makes 2 or 3 trips to Canada per week, I have a heads up on your holidays.  Larry and I will be working tomorrow. Oh yeah, nice crane.

Rob,  Years ago when my dad was still working, there was a 96 year old lady in our neighborhood who always would ask Dad for help.  First it was, "Doc, I bought a new rototiller will you show me how to use it?"  But the funny one was when we arrived, she said, "Doc, will you show me how to use this pistol?"  Apparently, the neighbor cat was killing her ginneas.  We did target shooting on the side of the barn, and she was pretty good.  They sure are noisey birds though.  Glad to hear that you remedied the rat problem.

Sue

[Paul W. Beverung]

Evening Gang: The train show is over and I think that they had a pretty good turn out. I'll go out tomorrow afternoon and pick up the locomotives. I'm going to bring the tender back to the shop and modify the truck king pins so the trucks don't come off when you pick up the body. Next Saturday is our regular run day. This could be too much railroading. Nawwwwww Never.

Right now I'm wore out, so I'll head for bed.

Der that's a really good job on the control cabin, the crain looks real good also.

Good Night All

[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.  

[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

[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

[wetidlerjr]

Good Morning from Tipton IN ! 

[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.

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

Happy Columbus Day!

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

Lee

[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.

[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

[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

[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.  

[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

[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!

[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