Hello and a good evening to all of you! I'll have a VERY HOT CHILE please and thank you. Oh, MUNCH OUT TIME IT'S ON ME!!!!
Robby; I love those hills. I am waiting until after xmas to do anything about backdrops...I'm almost thinking collage style but who knows.
I'm going to be in the back rummaging through all the old MRR's....
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
I spent a good portion of today weathering a few cars of mine. I think they turned out pretty good, soI'll get pictures later.
Vincent
Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....
2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.
I have a few written down. I am trying to finish up the upper part as much as I can, so I dont have to worry about spillage things on the lower part.
Plus I am going with new track, and I am telling the wife to just get me that for christmas.
I pretty much have the whole thing painted (backdrop), well till the new mountain. Took most of the day. I will do some touchs up tomorrow, and start on the new mountains tomorrw as well.
"Rust, whats not to love?"
***Garry, that "Bralick Building" looks like a potential hospital to me and more important, the wife thinks so, too. And you're also right about lowering it. What would you suggest making the side entrance/canopy out of?
Rob
It is late afternoon, but I am thinking that some you will be dropping by for dinner. That hot chile sounds like the ticket. I have a little cough that it should cure.
Rob, We only have to pack hot water when it gets down below 20. With the snow, they are eating more hay and sticking close.
BC, This is Larry's first winter on this run, so we don't really know yet. I know that they get more snow up by the border, but down here, we usually get snow only a couple of times per winter. This one is just hanging on. The run he previously did was usually California, and it was easier to time things.
Robby, Glad to hear that you also are a fan of Bob Ross. Here is Larry's effort, and what I did with trees to blend the ridge lines.
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
Those are real good looking. My backdrop was just light blue and a few clouds. To plain for my taste. Maybe I will do some more touchs up tomorrow. After awhile your eyes start to go crazy dotting trees all day.
Good Evening, Chloe, I'll try some of that hot chili - but bring me a pitcher of Dr. Pepper, some crackers, and cheese so I can tame it down a bit for my tastes (or at least put out the fire if I need to).
Robby P. Jim I just paint over the areas where shadows will be. I use lighter grays and work my way to darker blacks for the darker areas. The flat spots will be grass or such, and the straight down areas will be the rock colors.
So Robby, are you just painting rocks on the backdrop, or were there some on the front edge(s) of the mountain photos? I thought it looked like your mountain had some areas where some rock croppings might eventually be. Or was I off on that? I take it that your layout will be a double-decker (kind of like one of Jeff's Dagwood sandwiches that he likes)?
See, Jeff - there's a good side to having rain all day - 'dampens' down any chance of fires... Have you been running trains, or getting more things done/built/upgraded on your layout as a result of the rain cooping you up inside?
Hey, Vincent - we love to see pics of weathered cars, just ask Robby.
Sue, tell Larry that I like his backdrop, too - I'm getting all kinds of inspiration for backdrops from everybody today. I couldn't quite make them out; are those cougars up in the tree line in your second photo?
For those who like or use the Walthers modulars, I got an email from Walthers today, and a lot of their modular wall, roof, foundation, columns, etc. are on sale $3.98 a set(!). I'm going to figure what I might want/need, and call my LHS owner/MRR club member with my order.
Oh, a few pages back, somebody (I forgot who) asked about model cars (for a station parking lot?) - they can be as little as $2 or $3 if you catch them at Wally World, or up to $12+ each at list for some of the European-made ones. Depending on how many you get at one time, you might be lucky enough to get several from the same seller on the 'bay/auction site, around $7 (for 2) if someone has several of the old Magnuson resin kits up for sale. They usually have two vehicles in the package. I try to catch vehicles on sale when I get them. Oh, also, at train shows you can sometimes find cars at about $2 each (all of these are assuming you want HO scale, that is...).
About the only thing more expensive (in the small stuff) than vehicles would be either the Preiser figure sets, or the Woodland Scenics mini-scenes (like Willie's Warning, Felix Fix-a-Flat, etc.). The WS stuff I get at H-L with their 40 percent off coupon, or when they're on sale in the flyers. The Preiser figures I almost never get unless they're on sale in the (Walthers) flyers. Got to strrrrretccchhhh that MRR money.
I got a little further along on my Walthers old-time style coal conveyor kit (one of the 3 in the package). Glued the wheels on the sides (already had the belt and sides glued together). Next I need to find the directions and see where the one other part I had set out for this kit is supposed to go. Then it's time to paint it! Just racing along here, , sure...
W**k today was excellent - nobody came to walk-in, and I only had one phone call. So I did a bit on my MRR list pages for my planner I take with me to stores (to avoid getting duplicates yet again...).
I'll settle down in the corner booth and see how this chili tastes. Chloe, I think I'll need another pitcher pretty soon...
Blessings and Prayers,
Jim in Cape Girardeau
Jim I was tallking about the new mountain/hill I put up. The backdrop will be mostly trees, and green colors. I will paint it (the mountain) and add some foliage tomorrow. I hope to get most of it done by this weekend for the WPF. I did the shadows, and mixture of grays on other parts of the layout and it turned out real good for the rock area.
That is a good idea thou for rocks. I guess if my way doesn't look to good I might add rock croppings.
I guess we will see this weekend.
JimRCGMOSee, Jeff - there's a good side to having rain all day - 'dampens' down any chance of fires... Have you been running trains, or getting more things done/built/upgraded on your layout as a result of the rain cooping you up inside?
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
Evening all from VeryColdSunnyCal (well, cold for US!). The day started out in the 20's and got up to the '40's, and is now headed back into the 20's. Clear day today, another Alaskan storm is due in tomorrow night (Sue's probably getting it in Washington right now). Didn't go out into the garage today to work on the train, 'twas a little too cold for these 'older' bones to do anything.
Took Remington to the Vet today, he's been coughing a little, needed to see if he had any allergies or even worse a heart condition (which I understand can happen with some Wegies). Of course, the people at the Vet's had never seen a Wegie before, so everyone oohed and aahed over him while he just looked at me and said, "Daddy, why am I HERE?" Got him officially weighed (19 pounds) and officially checked (the thermometer was of course, to say the least INSULTING to His Nibs!), and it turns out he has a hairball that he's attempting to cough up. Got some hairball medicine--tuna flavored--so all should be well within a day or two. Not used to a cat 'coughing' a hairball, Spooky just drops them--the size of Nebraska--on the rug and walks away. Oh well-- Anyway, Remington is laying by the computer occasionally whacking at me, so he's just fine, thank you. Spooky is out in the music room sizing up the Christmas tree, so all is well on the feline front.
Johnboy: My sympathies to you and your son on the loss of Marley--it's funny how those little furry beasts wangle their way into your heart. I remember that losing Lowell was a major jolt for me, so I can understand completely. You got some good advice from members of the club--tell your son to get a replacement kitty as soon as he's had a little time to mourn. There are some WONDERFUL little felines out there that desperately need a good home and loving people to own. I sure found that out with Remi.
Robby: I like that backdrop!! One of these days I'm going to have to the get the courage to start filling in the one I have. You've done a really NICE job with yours .
Lee: Was your birthday the same day as mine? If so, forgive me for not wishing you one. But at any rate, late or not: . And of course, MANY more!
Sue: I like the way you blended the backdrop and foreground trees. And only someone used to evergreens would notice that ALL evergreens do not grow straight. I love that one 45-degree fir tree in the background. It gives the backdrop both character and authenticity. Great job!
Jim: Ah, the ubiquitous Walthers Coal Conveyer. I've got two in my ash-pit, the short one for loading gondolas, the long one for loading hoppers, and another long one over at the Champion Mine for loading mine waste into dump trucks. That's one of the handiest little kits I've ever gotten. I'm sure if I scout the layout some more, I'll find some things for the OTHER three I haven't built yet to do, LOL! IMO, one of the best accessories that Walthers has put out, yet! Right next to their track bumpers.
Well, Spooky just came in and sat down on the floor and yelled, so I guess it's dinner time. Besides, Remington just whacked the Mouse (I swear that he and Blownout's cat Spring are channeling each other) so it's time to feed the furries. Either that or Spooky wants me to find a LAW AND ORDER episode on Direct TV.
Best to all, prayers to those in need.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Cederstrand ***Garry, that "Bralick Building" looks like a potential hospital to me and more important, the wife thinks so, too. And you're also right about lowering it. What would you suggest making the side entrance/canopy out of? Rob
Rob.....I'm glad you like the idea. I think a simple canopy would be just a flat roof supported by columns. Round columns could just be wood dowels. You may wish to have beams on the columns before putting a flat roof on top. Perhaps, you could atke a photo of real emergency entrance and post it. Other diners could have better ideas.
John Boy ... I am sorry to ehar about "Marley".
Tom.... are those Yellowstones active lately? How soon for the Z6 now?
Cheers, everybody!
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Well there you be Tom.I wouldn't be surprised either,
I have been spending a while datamining for DCC stuff. This way at least I might be able to figure some of this stuff out without having to go"eeeehhngh?" everytime I look at a seminar on it. The info that I downloaded came from a whole bunch of places so I'm going to be picking away at this while I drool all over myself...
BTW,Tom, my sister has a cat who has issues like that--- the vet might have suggested this already but just in case IAMS etc have food that has hairball control formulation that helps A LOT. Check it out... ...speaking of which, Spring now is in front of me doing the headbutt thing... ...if you see any posting from me going rtnhvhtunyty4thh you will know why...
Sue;Love the backdrops. they'll look very convincing when everything is up...
Evening Gang:
Jim Mary Ann is doing well with the dialysis. The hard part is getting up at 4am so we can get some breakfast on the way to the clinic.She usually sleeps most of the time in the chair.
Since tomorrow is dialysis day I need to get to sleep.
Johnboy I'm sorry to hear about the cat.
Good Night All
Hi All,
Man, Zoe I will take the surf-n-turf, that looks real good!!! Wow how's things tonight gang! We are going though one of the STRANGEST cold spells in years!!! starting last Sunday, we had snow, with a low of 22degrees, then it clear up Monday with strong East winds blowing out of the Columbia River Gorge, (for you guys that stay here in Oregon ya know what I'm talkin' about) temps that day a high of 25 man 25 degrees!!!! Tuesday was the samething, Today we had a mix of snow and Freezing rain the temps rose to 35, but get this,tonight the Artic front is suppose to return, temps are expected to DROP again to below freezing, with more snow, then clearing again with more Gorge winds and a low of (in the Portland area)14 !!!!!! (oh but it get's better) a big snow and or freezing rain event is expected to hit Sunday night, well one good thing we might get a white Xmas Anyway this weekend I will get a lot of work done on the layout, ahhhhhh with the snow we can't go anywhere, ahwell Take care and I will talk to you guys and gals later
Happy Holidays and MRRding
Trainsrme1
I thought that I would stop by before heading to bed.
Robby, Stay with the Bob Ross stuff. Larry went on line and watched some of his clips before starting. Just make happy little trees.
Jim, Tom, & BC, Thanks for the compliments on Larry's backdrop. He is definately the artist in our family. I tell him what I want and he creates. When we get to the opposite wall, he plans to do a big mountain for me.
Jim, Those are cattle, not cougars.
Tom, Yes, we did get hammered today. Olympia got hit harder than up north by the border. That was not on the forecast. We are sitting at 32 degrees now . After the new snow tonight, the temps should go back down into the teens again. Hope that you are dealing with the cold in sunny California.
Manual reading is so much fun... ...Oh well I'm going into it so ...
Larry & Sue, And TrainsRMe1 keep warm and take care on them roads...It don't sound too good for you out there.
The next bout of oddness for us is supposed to be on Friday with Sat. being sunny then Sunday being weird and...
Well, we's be all heading for bed...the eyes were getting bugcrossed from reading most of the evening...we're out
I'll have the Insomniac's Special, whatever that is? Mighty quiet this time of night, other than the Midnight Train To Georgia.
Good Morning from Tipton IN !
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Good Morning All,
Just a regular to go as I race through the morning trying to catch up after last weeks thrash finishing a Brabham BT-30. I'll try to catch up posts later but I must be twenty pages behind. Lots of ice on the roads this morning in spots so it's interesting driving. Best to all and I'll try to check in later. J.R.
If it'll print (the puter keeps erasing my entire message when I try the direct link) here's the car we did, if it won't down load, here's the link.
http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c251/JohnMitchell/
Good morning all,
Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 34. Calm wind becoming northwest around 6 mph. Tonight: A chance of snow between 10pm and 1am, then snow, freezing rain, and sleet. Low around 30. East wind between 8 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Lee
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Good Morning everyone. Weather here right now has current temp. at -6C with high at -2C. We have a Winter Storm Watch for our area as we are going to have a cloudy day with a few incidents of sun(what's that?) followed by an evening of snow and ice pellets/freezing rain turning on Friday into "snow--heavy at times". Up to 15cm expected. Yeehaw! sort of...
Good thing I missed the 'midnight train to georgia' bit last night...otherwise my poor little head would have been on it all night.---wonderful song though...
Good morning. It's 56, foggy and very wet here by the lake. The high should be in the low 70's and it will be mostly cloudy. I didn't much of any one thing done yesterday. I got caught up on some wiring work and did a bit of work on some scenery. When the weather and my health allows I'll cut up a furnace filter to make some hedgerows to hide the gap between the liftout (park) portion of the layout and the area around it. I have some green lichen there now but that's just a stop-gap measure until I can make something more permanent. The problem with lichen is that it tends to get hard and brittle and must be replaced more often than I would like to. The furnace filter cuttings will be painted a base green color (probably Kelly green) and will be treated to a heavy application of green blended turf and some clump foliage. Once this is set in place and secured I shouldn't have to replace it for at least a couple of years. Today's Weather for: Sundown, LA 71446-6114 12/18/2008 Wind Chill: 57°F Humidity: 100% Dew Point: 57°F So Far Today High: 57°F Low: 53°F Rain: 0.01" Rain Rate: 0.00"/h Gust: 5mph SSE Important Message Dense fog advisory in effect until 10 AM cst this morning. Today High: 72 Cloudy. Widespread dense fog with visibility one quarter mile or less at times in the morning...then areas of fog in the afternoon. Warmer. Highs in the lower 70s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Low: 62 Mostly cloudy. Patchy dense fog with visibility one quarter mile or less at times in the late evening and overnight. Lows in the lower 60s. South winds around 5 mph.
I finished installing the people for my passenger station last night, I even took pictures to share those will be posted tonight after work. I also started building a team track from scratch. I have the deck and framing completed and one coat of rail tie brown on it. I need to install the legs and a final coat of paint.
Tom my birthday was the 11th I think yours was the 10th.
Dorothy is busy foster caring for a bull mastiff puppy that was rescued from a house explosion 4 months ago. The dog I have named MOOSE spent 4 months going through surgery and rehab but is doing well and other than a few scars you could never tell he almost bought the farm. Dorothy is a registered AKC judge and dog trainer and I think she named the dog : “No No Bad Dog”. At 75 pounds the puppy really tries to be careful in the house, but manages to knock over almost everything.
Morning all!
Time to grab that first cup and hit it for today!
It's been a long week so far! Lots of problems in the phone world!
Well, New England got hit pretty hard last week with the ice, and now it looks like it's the Midwest's turn. We're supposed to get anywhere from 1/4" to up to 3/4" of ice here in Indiana tonight. I hear that Illinois might be getting it worse. We have a winter storm warning in effect from 7pm till 9am that should bring some nasty stuff, but they say tomorrow should be around 40 degrees, so maybe it won't be too bad? Oh well, should make for a fun evening tonight at the phone company!
I got a call yesterday from the local motorcycle shop saying that a part I ordered was in. See, my bike has air adjustable shocks in the rear, but they take very little air to pump them up. A couple of pumps from a bicycle pump would take them from empty to maxed out, so a compressor is no good. Not only that, but pecause they hold so little air, that little pfft of air that you get when you take that filler hose off can radically change the pressure inside the shocks. Now remember, the two shocks on each side have to be the same pressure or the bike handles funny. Using an air pressure guage also allows air to escape, thereby changing the pressure. So what is one to do? I talked to a company that specializes in bike suspentions and they sell a pump that has a built in guage on it thats made for bike shocks. It's a "no loss" pump, meaning that there is no air pressure lost when you remove the hose, and since there's a guage built in, you're all set! They also make a kit to connect both shocks to one filler pointso that the shocks are automatically balanced from side to side, and I'll probably go snag that kit after Christmas. Thats like, more then you really wanted to know about motorcycles, huh? It's just my winter project, thats all. I'm trying to get it in tip top shape for next summer as it'll likely be my main transport for the season. I'm trying to get tires on it, fluids changed, brakes done, and so on before the spring.
So anyways, it's the calm before the storm, literally, around here. Whats up with you?
I will tell you whats up with me!!!! Check engine light .
The oil hasn't been changed in awhile, since I don't drive the car (05' Neon). I thought that might be it. Nope. Later today I might go back out and undo the battery and see if that resets it. I hope so.
I will try to get back in the basement in a minute and try to finish up my hills, backdrop, etc.
The wife did call the two banks we have the cars and see if we can skip this month since I had my ours cut. One did, they said thats fine (the one with the engine light on). The other bank could care less. They said sorry . So at least the one will help out.
Sucks about the ice storm. Thats all we had back in NC. They are calling for somthing Sat-Sun, but not sure yet. You know they will change it. One minute rain, next minute snow.
Well I guess I will go see what I need to do, layout wise. I will pop in and out today.
Good Morning, Zoe - I'll have couple of scrambled eggs, toast with blackberry jam, two strips of bacon, cup of the TH in a Santa Fe mug, and a glass of Ed's OJ, please 'n' thank you, Ma'am.
Tom - I'm sure Remington will thank you for that trip to the vet, with a suitably large hairball on your feet, eh? Good to hear he had something easy to treat, and good that you're allowing him to get some attention at the vet's office. We all know how neglected your cats are...
Sue, I guess I should re-think my delaying getting new glasses, huh? Cattle - you sure one of them doesn't slightly resemble a cougar?
Hope you Great Northwest & Northern California Diners (TrainsRMe, Sue, Mark, Tom, and all) don't get hit too badly with that predicted storm. I think we're supposed to warm up in SE Missouri a little today or tomorrow, and then a day or two later, get another cold front coming through. Hey, nothing like the 'variety' of Missouri weather, is there? Had some 'fog frost' on the car's windshield this morning that was mostly a nuisance to scrape off, nothing bad at all today.
BC, when will you be ready for that mini-seminar on DCC that Chloe posted a note about? Yeah, sometimes it feels about like learning a foreign language. When you guys get a Winter Storm watch up there with those kinda temps, I hate to think what Tom's weatherguessers would call that (but I doubt that they'd say it was 'mild'...)
Rob - Chloe was playing 'Midnight Train to Georgia' last night? Gee, I miss all the fun when I'm It'd be nice if your body could get used to sleeping, wouldn't it?
Paul, do you get to nap alongside Mary Ann when she's napping at the dialysis center? That might give you a chance to catch up a little for having to get up at that unpleasant hour of the morning. How far away is the center from you?
JR, that's a nice little car there! What kind of shape was it in when you got it to work on?
Jeff, what do you do to keep the lettering decals straight when you're putting them on? When I have tried to line individual letters up in the past, it seems okay - until the decal dries. Maybe my head's off level?
Lee, will you be having pictures of your team track and progress? I have one spot on my current layout that I'm debating between having a small junkyard, or a team track. It may depend on what will fit - it's a fairly narrow and small area (not sure a truck could turn around in there, even).
PC, hope your area dodges the worst of that weather - but if not, will the pizza people deliver to your office in bad weather?
I'll settle into the corner booth, if I can do that without waking up Duke. Prayers for healing and comfort (and a warm place to be today) on the way.
Blessings,
Good morning everybody!
Robby .... Too bad about the "No" from one bank. You did not say if you tried more than once. We have found that when one person at a company (bank or otherwise) says "no", we simply hag up call again, and a different person says "yes". If that does not work, we aske to speak the manager or supervisor, and then we get a "yes". Often, careful phrasing of our question gets better results.
Shelley's car had its "check engine light" on. (Computers drive me crazy.) I kept checking the engine the old fashioned way with a dipstick until the problem was solved. The mechanic told us that a sensor was bad. The computer said half of the cylinders were misfiring. If that were a case, the cars performance would have been significantlt impacted, but the car was driving as good as new.
Philip.... (or any of you computer whizzards) ........ PC, your post has a picture of a monkey with its head moving. I would like to post a picture I jsut received in an email that also moves. I do not know how to do that. I tried copying into my picture folder, and the picture was saved. It, however, does not move. How do I do it?
JR ... That is a really neat looking car. .......Plus a lot of other neat pictures.
Morning all...
Well, seeing as today's news responds to Jim... I'll just start with that.
Jim: You kiddin' me? It dumped 4" on saturday, and that stuck around until yesterday. The sun was out, but it never got hotter than 30 *F outside... I had school off yesterday, then all of the snow melted and it proceeded to rain, lol... Then I thought I'd have school today, and wake up to half a foot of the fluff outside... Thank god for four wheel drive, eh?
I just looked outside, and I can't see my backyard fence... it's snowing rather hard, lol... I guess I will have winter break 3 days early. Yay for me... Maybe I'll actually get some MRRing done now.
Funny pic time... lets see what I can get... Ok, so most of the funnier ones on the website at this time weren't appropriate for the forum, so I'll settle for this...
Mark
Heartland Division CB&QPC, your post has a picture of a monkey with its head moving. I would like to post a picture I jsut received in an email that also moves. I do not know how to do that. I tried copying into my picture folder, and the picture was saved. It, however, does not move. How do I do it?
Go ahead and copy it to your "My Pictures" folder, but it won't move in there. Now upload it to your host site, like photobucket or whatever, and it should start moving again. It's just that your "My Pictures" folder isn't configured to recognize the programing that animates it. Photobucket does. Just don't change anything in the process. I don't even rename it. And you can't doctor the pic up either, or it stopps moving. As to adding animation to a .gif, someone better at this then me will have to help you there.
JimRCGMOJeff, what do you do to keep the lettering decals straight when you're putting them on? When I have tried to line individual letters up in the past, it seems okay - until the decal dries. Maybe my head's off level?
I don't remember rain being in the forecast this morning but guess what? It be raining here!