Elliott's Trackside Diner XII

[TMarsh]

Jeff- That's a nice car!

Is it a kit or RTR...SCHHHHPLLLAAAATTTTTT! SHPLAT!! SCHPLAT!!!!  (tackle, wrestle, gag, bind, tossed in corner) Mmmph! Mmmph! Mnn, Har-ry!

[howmus]

TMarsh

It's like argueing over what brand of car is best, whether you need a pickup or not, are Brussel Sprouts good or nasty. (yum for me) To each his own. The only reason I got in on that was because unlike you guys here, some just need to voice loudly and, as galad said, rudely almost insult people for their differing views. Many can voice there opinion without getting personal out there. But some ... oooh my tongue is sore from biting.

 

Absolutely agree.  One of the things I like about the diner crowd is that we can disagree and not get personal or degrading in our replies.  Sometimes I get reminded of an old psychological game where one person says "Yes" and another says "No".  No other words are allowed and there is no real subject to the argument.  It can really get nasty very quickly!  Much to the amusement of the others in the class..... 

[Packers#1]

Hey guys. As you may know, I'm in between layouts right now. I will hopefully be starting my next 4x8 layout around end of June/beginning of July, but the only thing I will be able to do on it for a while is just watch the trains roll, as I will be working on the side of it that will have a mainline by a river. Also, I'm getting tired of not running trains (the last engine terminal layout I had is no more, I've opted to take it down). However, from the ashes rises the idea to create several small dioramas that with a bit of extra track, can be connected to simulate a small brtanchline. I'm writing a column entry for the TAMR (Teen Assoiciation of Model Railroaders) column in Model Railroad News (and hey, might even see if Model Railroader would be interested), and I decided to get off my duff and build the layout. I just switched the yard aout 10 minutes ago, and I think it will operate fine after a track cleaning. You can check out the pics here:

 http://s253.photobucket.com/albums/hh55/Packers_1/diorama%20layout/

Here's a pic to wet your appetite:

I've posted pics of my weathered boxcar in WPF, as well as some of the layout pics.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

JimRCGMO

Thanks for posting that photo of the old rusty building - did you post that one time a while back? Or one close to that?

I've posted that one several times over the past year. It's one of my better long distance shots taken without a tripod at a distance of between 400-600 yards with a 3 megapixel camera on full zoom (10X).

 

My niece went to Houston yesterday to pick up her new car. It's a 2009 Honda Accord with darn near everything on it. I think the only thing it doesn't have is the rear wing and she's having that added after-market. this is a $30,000 car. She got it for $28,200. I couldn't even hope to be able to buy something like that.

[TMarsh]

howmus

Maybe when someone posts that kind of thread, we should have a lottery here in the dinner to see who comes the closest to the time it gets locked..

Not a bad idea!

Yes I agree, I also enjoy putting a kit together. It's just that air bubbly, stringy tube of glue I get tired of after what 35-40 yrs of dealing with. (built model cars mainly from a child to, well, I guess I still do. Nothing great, just relaxing) The Liquid I have doesn't work very well on some thicker plastics (?) It does give you a sense of pride, even with my work. (chuckle). I wouldn't say RTR necessarily "looks" better, but they do seem to emphasize detail more on RTR's anymore it seems. At least some. The kits I generally buy are cheaper, but that's my locale and the brand of kits I get. I did get some Branchline blueprints that were nice, but as you said, I paid more for them, or would have, had I not got them off the bay. Texas and Pacific isn't exactly the hottest seller so if you're patient you can often score a decent deal on some things here and there. Like everything. Even though it is a hobby and all, I still apply some sort of worth to it. Right or wrong, if a kit is X amount of dollars and a RTR is not much more, I think "is it worth it to be able to go home and plunk it on the layout?". Usually I'll get the kit if that's the case, but most times it's the RTR that is lettered or set up to suit. Then I figure I have to de-letter etc and I walk out with the RTR. But, you are right, it's a non-issue. It's like argueing over what brand of car is best, whether you need a pickup or not, are Brussel Sprouts good or nasty. (yum for me) To each his own. The only reason I got in on that was because unlike you guys here, some just need to voice loudly and, as galad said, rudely almost insult people for their differing views. Many can voice there opinion without getting personal out there. But some ... oooh my tongue is sore from biting. It just doesn't seem fair to me, and it's MHO, that if someone does not have the dextarity or the time, that they should be excluded and told they don't belong in a group of Model Railroaders.

Is that horse back? Gosh darn it guys, I thought we got rid of it? Wait, I might have switched horses.

 Anyway, good luck on the Trout dinner. And good luck to your son!

[blownout cylinder]

Hello again---

Off we go into the wild blue discus----

Ray; It was just a classic in terms of what was said and who said it. I'm pretty sure a person can, in fact, lay bets on the page length before it gets locked, although I wonder if some of the monitors don't have some fun doing this wager thing, themselves.

I have fun with these things anyhooo. I was a debating club member at university myself, so-----

So, off I go------

[MadSinger]

Morning all,

I know I haven't been in here in a while, but I've been sick.  Now that I'm feeling well, I can do some modeling.

Happy Meterological Summer, everybody

MadSinger

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe I'll have one of those Butter Rum Muffins you got over there on the counter and a large cup of dark roast coffee in a FGLK Mug thank you!

Currently 64°F under cloudy skies here in the Finger Lakes.  High today will be 74°F with a few thunderstorms poping up this afternoon.

I have a funeral to run the sound board for at church this afternoon.  It is for the wife of a former Supt. of Schools here in Geneva.  He was the gentleman that hired me to teach in Geneva back in 1981.  One reason I took the job was that I was very impressed with the man.  My first year here, I one day walked into my classroom after lunch as a class was coming in, and there sat the Super.  Shook me up a bit as the Superintendent doesn't normally do observations.  He got up came over and shook my hand and said.  All "you know what" is breaking loose over in the main office and I need a break.  It helps for me to sit and watch what the job is supposed to be about, and I love music classes (his son was a music teacher).  Do you mind?  I told him I was honored.  He visited several more times in the 2 years before he retired to just sit and watch (and often just to chat).  So I am most happy to be there for him at this time.

Todd I see that the RTR thread had just been locked about the time I got to the site (still at the top of the page).  I thought it would be locked long before this.  Maybe when someone posts that kind of thread, we should have a lottery here in the dinner to see who comes the closest to the time it gets locked.........  The only problem I have with the RTR stuff is that they have effectively taken all the "Fun" out of it.  Many of the kits I buy are not at all cheaper than the RTR.  And even if RTR looks better, I like to have the knowledge that I at least "put it together".  That said there is absolutely no right or wrong on the subject.  As Harold Russell always says, "Are you having fun?"  I guess arguing about non issues is what constitutes fun for some.

(edit) Oh, I was going to tell you that with a little luck I may get a fresh trout or two this weekend.  My son borrowed my truck to transport his small boat and his fishing equip.  He has entered the Seneca Lake National Lake Trout Derby again this year.  If he gets that "Big One", I may see his name here before the end of the weekend: http://www.laketroutderby.org/

Hope you all have a great day! 

[TMarsh]

Oh! I know what I was gonna say. Got word my Pearl car was shipped yesterday and should be here Tuesday. I'm not counting on iy til wed or possibly thurs.

Aaaaaaaand, My niece graduated Magna Coom-by-yah last weekend from college and is having a BBQ celebration this afternoon we'll be attending. She majored in Music something. She is very talented and I do believe Tom would have enjoyed very much having her in his entourage. Did I mention she is my Niece.

Mowers are a movin' and since I didn't yesterday... maybe I should this morn.

Did I mention my Niece.

[TMarsh]

Aaah shucks. They locked the door on the RTR thread. Just as I had an "agree to disagree" post with a "maybe we'll all be watching people pop pills like on the Jetzon's and saying how that's not really eatin'" kicker all typed up. Clicked the post button and LOCKED! Oh well it wondered and I don't even remember what the OP asked to begin with. Had something to do with RTR.

Yeah Jim, I don't really give a hoot what anybody does in their little world either. Well except for maybe Barry. (I'm not sure he doesn't have a Pie-A Pault factory on that thing) I generally look in the kits section because of the cost like you, but if it's in RTR, I'll buy it without blinking and eye. (unless, of course, my eye is tearing up because of the price!) I haven't bought any pre-built structures yet. I'm not planning to either, but hey, ya never know. I've looked at them. I prefer kits because I enjoy putting them together, like model cars. Not because I think that's the only way to have a model railroad. I just don't understand where this magic line is drawn between what's OK to buy and what makes you not a modeler. (not a question. Just a statement)

[blownout cylinder]

AAAGHH!!!-----ohno ohno---a dang honey do 'x' showed up!!!!

It's off to the drug store to buy some prescriptions----oh---and it's near one of my FLHS's---heeheehee

'Spring' has his purrrrmotor in full loud mode----he's one happy cat

Oh, I see our favorite topic thread got locked up---and the horse is gone----YAY!!!

Have a good one

[JimRCGMO]

Good Morning, Janie - I'll have a glass of Ed's OJ, one of those breakfast biscuits with the bacon strips, egg and cheese, please, with a Rio Grande mug of coffee too. Thank you.

Oh, I heard back from Ed, and they're back from their vacation now. I asked him about another run of OJ tankers from the grove, so the juice supply should be good for a while.

NSJoe, good to hear from you again. Have fun with the new acquisitions for your layout. Is that the actual SW1500, or Athearn's version that really is a SW7 (that they labelled as a SW1500 for a while)? If it has the four lights on the front, it's the newer (SW1500), but if it's a single headlight, it's the SW7, FYI.

Yeah, I recall the fun feeling of "no school for ALL SUMMER". Can I go back to being a kid again? Ah, well...

Robby, I found the weathering section in the Painting and Weathering (Kalmbach) book I have. Will see about trying some of it out on Sunday, once I get off this on-call duty. I have a set of artist pastels (the square, non-oil kind) in my art toolbox (from my undergrad major) that I'll be using for that. Good to hear your wife's recuperating okay, and take good care of her (between trips to the layout?).

Jeff, sorry to hear about your father's setback - hope the doctors get whatever it was, fixed ASAP. will continue for your Dad and Robby's wife's quick recovery. Thanks for posting that photo of the old rusty building - did you post that one time a while back? Or one close to that?

Todd, as for the RTR vs. kits thing (as the glue factory people drag the carcass out the door here), I'm along the lines of Galad. I have some of both (more kits though, as they cost less $$). Part of it for me was, I grew up (taking my geezer tone of voice here...) long before they came out with them newfangled, put-tegether freight cars. Yessiree! Sometimes, I can get more variety in numbers by getting both kit versions and RTR. Whatever works, is my motto.

Chris, that sounds like a good plan there (staying out of the wife's way...).

The fish fry/dinner party was fun last night at my buddy Mark's. I wound up being the fish dropper. Mark's Dad had a neat gizmo that helped a bunch with breading the fish. It has three parts, two compartments and a separator in the middle with holes. Put the breading in one side, put the fish in the other, put the separator on it, flip that over and put it on the breading compartment, then just hold the whole thing and turn it over, back and forth, until things are breaded. Then lift the lid off the fish side and lift the breaded fish with the separator, and they're ready to drop into the fryer. He said he got it at a farm supply store (Buckheit's, if you have any of those near you).

Turned out to be my buddy Mark's birthday last night too, which was a surprise to all of us. While he was outside with another friend, we quickly made one and signed it before he came back in.

Well, now that there's more room in the Diner, I'll grab a seat in the window booth and watch the morning switcher doing its stuff. Prayers continue for healing and quick return to health, and for comfort as needed.

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[TMarsh]

Mornin all, Biscuits and strawberry jam please. Coffee in my NEW T&P mug thank you.

Good News! Good News! Good News! I've nothing to rant on about today!

Oh,  I have nothing to say.

Have a Great Day!

[blownout cylinder]

Good Morning.

Going to a high of 24C with the ever popular chance of showers. Had a few of those overnight with one of them giving us a torrential downpour and ONE boom. So today, I go out with the umbrella and nothing will happen. Anyways we are supposed to be a bit cooler with sun and a high tomorrow of 18C.

Gonna get some pix put into 'puter and see what there is for good stuff to post. I may also get to do some mowing today as the back yard lawn is beginning to look a bit jungle like again. MRR'ing is also in the cards for today as well---no honey do list

Chlo, I'll have a breakfast special and a large PRR Mug of coffee please. I'm going to the corner booth where---hey, how'd this horse get in here? Move over-----sheeesh

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Good morning.

It's 69 and cloudy, not to mention damp. The high will be around the mid 80's and there's a chance of thunderstorms.

Nothing new to report on the parental front. My father is still in the local hospital and is wanting out so bad he can taste it. Now he knows a little about how I feel when I get stuck in there. He's already been told he's not going anywhere until this problem is cleared up. He can be a stubborn old goat at times. His main complaint is the bed is too hard on his back. He has to sleep in a chair. I know the feeling. My nephew came by yesterday to thank me for making his life a little more difficult. He's the one who has to change out the bent blades on the mower. That's right, the stump zapped both of them. No biggie though as they needed to be changed out anyway. No progress on the MR front as I've been too busy with family matters. Maybe I'll get some time today to tidy up the layout a bit. Can't run the trains very well when there's tools and bits and pieces of locomotives on the track.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      5/23/2009

Wind Chill:  70°F
Humidity:  88%
Dew Point:  66°F

So Far Today
High:  70°F
Low:  69°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  10mph NNE

Today  High: 82    Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.
    
Tonight  Low: 68    Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

Looks like the thunderstorms will miss us.  Heading out this morning to do some vessel examinations, no penalty stuff, I like to think of it as a boating safety class room that comes to you, LOL.

Ray in my humble opinion scratch building is when you buy a hand full of materials and build something with it; kit bashing is when you take parts from more than one kit and assemble it into something.

Garry, the steel mill looks good.  I like the slag cars.

Picked up a few items from LHS yesterday; Busch pumpkin field, LL and Bachmann couplers, Floquil zinc chromate primer, three throttle pockets, and the bush mini-veggie market.  The zinc chromate primer is for some B&O wagon top boxcar kits I have.  The B&O museum in Baltimore, MD said this paint is a true representation of the red paint seen on the post war wagon tops.   

Jeff, prayers to you and your family, I wish your father a seepedy recovery.

 

Lee

[TMarsh]

(yawn) just got home from a visit with some friends.

What's this horse doing in here? Oh no you don't, I'm not falling for it this time!

Prayers for those in need.

[nik .n]

ns3010

What's up guys? Haven't been in here in a while. I think last time was two diners ago.

Ummm, where do I start.... Not sure if I even should. I have too much to talk about, and I'm to lazy to type that much, and I would probably bore everyone here. If you want to see what MRR-ing stuff I've been working on in the last two months, just go to my flickr page (link is in my sig).

IT'S SUMMAH!!! Which means I'm down the shore. No school today, so I came down with my aunt. Only thing about being down here means no layout....

Lacrosse season is FINALLY over. We lost all but two games. Not much more to say on that topic, because there's not much to talk about.

Since last time, I aquired an Athearn BB (dummy) SW1500, painted in NJT colors. It is now 1300 on my freelanced regional, Tri-State Railway (formerly the Watchinson Secondary). I just need a powered chassis for it (I'll buy a powered model, and paint the shell as 1302. Then, I'll just swap the shells back and forth on the powered frame). I'm also gonna get a GP9m this weekend, and it will become TSRy 2201.

Uh, I think that's it, at least for now. See ya all later (hopefully soon!).

 

ns3010, Is it the Walthers Trainline one? I have it, and it runs really smooth for the price. It's also great for putting a dummy behind and dragging a long train. the thing weighs about a pound and a half.

[galad]

TMarsh

Ray-

I know what you mean Some even get upset because someone asked a question and they could have research it themselves.

Which reminds me

Garry-

Thanks for the info. I'm definitely going to give it a whirl.

Galad-

Oh the RTR thread posted there too. I made a comment that may have got mis-understood. I won't go into it here but you might want to check back in there. Yes I too enjoy kits (generally cheaper also) but if it's only in RTR I don't have a problem with them either

Dr Pepper please

So does this place serve anything stronger than cofee, if you know what I mean?  Not much of a drinking man anymore but rough day, whew!

@ TMarsh - I got what you were saying. Overall I enjoy kits and scratchbuild over RTR myself, for buildings.  I enjoy the modelling aspect of the hobby the most.  But rolling stock RTR is fine by me.

 @ewl01 - I know how hard it is to get a point across on the net without trying to sound like your beating a dead horse.  Sometimes its hard to understand what people mean by just reading text.

Oh well off to bed, have a good evening guys.

[AmanaMedic]

Good Evenin'

Glad to see some good news on the health and general welfare front in here today/tonight. Continued best wishes to those in need.

Since the remains of the horse have been carted off...I'll not add to the RTR vs. kits vs. scratch discussion here, suffice it to say I enjoy all three.

'Nuff said.

Tomorrow...it's mowing...again. The wife is going to continue her pursuit of advanced shovel operation and wheelbarrow operation. She's laying the groundwork, as it were, for future landscaping. More power to her. I think she's nuts...but it's her project...I'm just gonna stay out of her way.

Sunday, I get to cover THAT school district's graduation. The gym has been finished in the new high school...so will be the location. A major accomplishment, so my camera needs to be there.

Monday, I'm covering Memorial Day ceremonies in North Liberty. That's one job I don't mind having to do on a holliday. I'll jump at any opportunity to honor those who do and have served...and those that made the ultimate sacrifice.

Chloe? How about a RBF this evening? I'll take it in the back and hang-out with the horse hide tenderizers...

Chris

 

[blownout cylinder]

Todd: Know anyone with a glue factory that might be in need of supplies?

I've been finding and beatin' on some really well done horses lately-----

Then again---nuthin' new here----

No Chloe---I don't want to have SRP delivered that way---

Yes, I'll behave----I'm going to the corner booth where Todd is. We can at least turn this table over if we need a little protection, I guess----

[TMarsh]

Robby- Super glad too hear the good news!

Jeff- I hope they take care of your Father and he's better soon.

Rob- You be careful and take it easy until at least you get that BP back down.

Barry- One horse to another I go huh.  I do understand the people being upset at the loss of readily available kits. But to take it out on people who buy RTR is a bit much. And to blame them and some go as far as telling them they aren't modelers (shaking head). I bit my lip a few times and erased a bit before clicking post. I liked the guy who, in a nutshell, said the whole railroad is a model and the components are all just supplies. It just depends on how far down you choose to go to consider it supply material.

I think people just get defensive if their territory appears to be in danger. Only human I suppose. I myself have the utmost respect for those with the talent and patience to model prototypicaly and/or from scratch. Just don't feel it's right though to bash a guy for not being able or not wanting, for whatever reason, to go to those extremes. Can't we all just get along? Maybe that's why this bunch hangs in the diner. Everyone just gets along. He likes steam, he likes diesel. He buys RTR, he scratch builds. Big whoop. Robby weathers like Mother Nature, my stuff looks like a dog knocked the paint over, Ray's working on Master Modeller and I have trouble keeping the glue off the surface. Neither puts me, or anyone else down or  makes me feel inferior.

SCHHHHHPLAAAAAAATTTT!  You're right. Thanks Chloe, I'm done. Look out below I'm steppin of this high horse.

EDIT- Um...I could've gone on with the talent. I know I left most of you guys out. ONLY because I got tired of listening to myself. Figured I'd do us all a favor.

[blownout cylinder]

Hello dere---

Got back from doing a bunch of pix around Beachville ON and the quarries there. Got A LOT of pix to dig through so there'll be some showing up here in the very near future. We had a good day to do this in as the clouds came through just enough to keep the sunlight from beaconing us in the eyeball. Next time we go there we will be taking the steel toe boots as we forgot the dang things

Jeff, Robby: We got both your families on our prayer lists--take care of yourselves.

I see there was a lot of replies on the RTR thread. Todd, I like what you are saying there. I am not shy of using RTR if I need to but hey----I like messing around too

Chloe, I'll have a SRP with a RBF please----it's Friday night and I'm relaxin'

[Robby P.]

Thanks everybody.  I will have to try to catch up tomorrow. 

[ewl01]

Jeff - my prayers are with you and your dad.

Robby P - nice to hear some good news....

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 You too Robby. Glad to hear the wife came through OK.

[ewl01]

qalad -  Read through some of the RTR posts.... interesting to say the least.  However, you did get some kudos from some influential (dare I say opinionated?) people.  I'll have to go back and read yours more thoroughly, but you fit in the Diner perfectly. 

I may have touched some nerves with my RC comments.  Believe me, I respect a person that has the ability to do work of that quality.  I know it has been talked about enough, but I want to make myself understood.  My comment, which I believe TMarsh expanded on (RCN), was meant to refer to the 1% who look down on the rest of us who enjoy what we are able to produce.  I know for a fact that there are Diner members who have impressive work at their layouts.  I belong to the NMRA too, and I enjoy seeing the incredible work the masters (and those striving to be) put out.  Perhaps I was a bit hasty in my comments about the S-7 quote, but it just showed that no one is ever perfect and should never judge as being so.

Well, I sure dragged that horse through the mud enough.  I'm sure everyone is tired of hearing me drone on again.

So, what's for desert?  Carrot cake perhaps?  Maybe PC has some pecan pie stashed in the back?  I'll just keep quiet now. 

Prayers for the ill and injured.  This weekend I'm putting up flag bunting for my dad.  I never knew he spent 10 years in Air Force Reserve until 2 days before he died.....

Eric

[Robby P.]

Finally home from the hospital.  She came out just fine.  Took the doctor about 45 minutes to do what he needed to. 

So its probably be a slow weekend.  Maybe I can get some layout stuff done.

Everybody have a good night.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 It's been a little busy here today. My father came home from the ER yesterday then was taken in this morning by my mother and admitted. Seems he got worse overnight.

[Cederstrand]

1/2 cup coffee in a  SOUTHERN  mug, please & thanks. 

***Garry, sure like that type of operation you have going on there. Have always thought the cars involved were pretty cool looking, too.

Wife & I had to run a couple errands today so while out hit the Walmart and found those little HO scale cars for $1. Wish they offered some 50's era vehicles. When wife saw the construction equipment she just had to have the grader & trackhoe. She will add this to her minimal construction fleet (think she now has 4 total) which she wants working up on the little mountain.

My BP remained crazy high all night and I kept waking up in a sweat. Still not right, but seems a little better presently. Hope it's something other than my ticker at the root cause of this...preferably something that will soon pass. I hate getting older.

Well, need to go repair a heavy barn stall door that came apart at one end last night. No way am I working on the fence today, but that stall door can't wait. Catch y'all later.

Rob