Elliott's Trackside Diner XII

[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!).

[inch53]

galaxy

Unless I did some modifications to the waterfall to turn it into a tunnel, I would have to have a fairly large circle of track to run a G scale train around the raised garden bed. That large circle may be too large for the space in reality. That has always been a dream since I put in the raised bed about 6 years ago. *alas*. I do have a cheapy plastic battery operated G sized train set I bought at xmas a few years ago. It has a 4' circle, which is too small, and is not UV protected so I would have to set up/tear down every time I used it in the yard near teh raised bed/pond. It will run on G UV protected track, If I bought some, though, but G track has jumped hugely in price since 3 years ago when I started to seriously look at it.  I think I will give it to friends who have a huge Federal style home to go under their xmas tree. Or sell it at the yard sale maybe. It IS in the way in the ho layout/junk/stuff room.

 I use to have a G-scale battery train set around one of the flowerbeds till moles got to be big problems. The track was set up year round for 3 years with no problems [other than those @#$% moles]. New Bright sold [or did] extra track, don't think it was too high priced either. At one time I had 11-train set I'd picked up at yard sales n such for round $5 ur so. You might give it a try.

[galaxy]

jeffrey-wimberly

 Galaxy: Check your PM's.

I did and replied Jeffrey.

Have a great weekend!

[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

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Galaxy: Check your PM's.

[galaxy]

Good morning guys...soon to be noon here.

Got another migraine today.

Jeffrey W., Robby P.- the prayer candle will be lit for prayers for your father and wife {respectively}, AND for anyone else who needs thoughts and prayers.

Beautiful day yesterday so I got the pond cleaned and tested the waterfall pump. It has indeed failed. May have to buck up and get a new pump as standing water can, even with 'skeeter eater' repellant tablets, attract things and stuff we don't need or want. Have to get some more algae-away too.

Planted some of the plants yesterday in the cool of the evening till it got kinda dark. Have to replace the tomato plant as it did get frost bitten. Hope all the plants survive, some were looking sickly and very root bound in their little itty bitty teeny weeny pots. That is due in part to delaying planting them due to the frosts/freezes we've had.

Unless I did some modifications to the waterfall to turn it into a tunnel, I would have to have a fairly large circle of track to run a G scale train around the raised garden bed. That large circle may be too large for the space in reality. That has always been a dream since I put in the raised bed about 6 years ago. *alas*. I do have a cheapy plastic battery operated G sized train set I bought at xmas a few years ago. It has a 4' circle, which is too small, and is not UV protected so I would have to set up/tear down every time I used it in the yard near teh raised bed/pond. It will run on G UV protected track, If I bought some, though, but G track has jumped hugely in price since 3 years ago when I started to seriously look at it.  I think I will give it to friends who have a huge Federal style home to go under their xmas tree. Or sell it at the yard sale maybe. It IS in the way in the ho layout/junk/stuff room.

While I think the "RTR Already Builts" look kinda cute and nice, I'd rather do a RTR kit! I think RTR plastic kits are great to do. I enjoy doing them. I still have yet to do a wood kit. I seem not to plan well at scratch building, or can't find what I'm looking for, even with a set of model blue prints. And RTR takes MY  {faulty} guesswork/planning out of the equation! I have done minor bashing to one or two kits, that I don't mind.

Well I need to get back to bed and rest my aching head.

Try to have a great day everybody!

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

galad

 Hey all.  Picked up some buildings on clearance  pretty cheap at ye olde local hobby shoppe.  They are RTR but still need a lot of work.  Normally I don't like RTR but they were cheap!  This got me to post in a thread about RTR, probably should keep my mouth shut, but I hate when all the ills of the world are blamed on young people.

I'm not all that old and far from young but I enjoy the RTR stuff as much as the next person. As I get older it's becoming more and more difficult to build kits to say nothing of scratchbuilding.

[JimRCGMO]

Good Morning, Zoe - I see the early risers are in. Oh, me? I'll have the #2 special, scrambled, with wheat toast and blackberry jam and butter, glass of Ed's OJ and some of the Tim Horton in a Santa Fe mug, please. Thankyouma'am!

Robby, thanks for the offer - I think I have a boxcar that's a candidate for my initial attempts at weathering, and I'll use that. Will drop you an email later with some questions (after I dig out what books I have with stuff on weathering, so I don't sound like an absolute )...

Rob, hope you (and your wife) got some sleep after everything last night. And glad to hear you have the post-pulling done (for a while, anyway). Now, get some rest and lower your BP, okay? We don't want to hear you've had to go to the hospital. 

Jeff, I seem to recall that kind of family arrangement from when I was married... Hope your father minds what the doctor (and your mother) tell him to do, and gets better quickly.

Lee, will add your mother (and Jeff's father) to the prayer list. 

Garry - thanks for the info on your backdrop techniques. I'd agree on the skies for the Walthers backgrounds. I have a few of those for when I get to putting backdrops up (mountain and desert ones, mostly). One of our club members has those masking stencils for spraying clouds on backdrops, which I may borrow when I get to that phase...

From everybody's posts, it looks like there are a few things on your lists (even including a bit of MRR'ing stuff). Going to be a busy weekend for some of you more than others. Whew - just about wears me out reading about all those chores. I may get some reading in about weathering (and emailing questions, and..). Need to tone down that WP boxcar so it doesn't hurt anyone's eyes next time I photograph it.

Turned out when I got in to w**k today that I'm the only person with clients coming in today (none of our doctors are in today), and our clinical director was asking about closing early (rather than have the overhead for all day). Hey, we could go for that (so long as we don't have to use up some ETO for that). My 10:00 person didn't show, and my later appointment has been rescheduled to 11, so maybe I might get an early start... I dropped the laundry off to have them do it, so other than picking that up sometime after lunch, if we get off early I could start my MRR reading.

I'll drop in later for a late lunch, perhaps (or at least a RBF).

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

 

[galad]

 Hey all.  Picked up some buildings on clearance  pretty cheap at ye olde local hobby shoppe.  They are RTR but still need a lot of work.  Normally I don't like RTR but they were cheap!  This got me to post in a thread about RTR, probably should keep my mouth shut, but I hate when all the ills of the world are blamed on young people.

Cedarstrand - Pulling all the posts can be rough work, don't overdue it!

I found a neat way to cut out scratch made building walls at work.  I work at a store that does custom framing and we have a machine to cut mats, I can just program in the size I want and where I want window and door cuts, pop in some foam board and bham! its done with machine like precision.  Now if I could just get one for personal use, they're only 50K so that ain't happening and I doubt management will let me play with my hobby at work.  Anyway...

Best wishes to those who have a relative in the hospital or are sick.

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good morning........

Oatmeal and OJ, please.

Jeff.......prayers and best wishes for your Dad's speedy recovery.

Lee..... also prayers and best wishes for your Mom's speedy recovery.

Keep us informed, guys.

Todd, I keep a folder for pictures from magazines and from calandars. Also, I use the Walthers paper background scenes. For the Walthers scenes, I cut off the sky because I don't think the  Walthers sky is realistic. I like the sky on Faller backdrops better. Unfortunately, we had the humidty from a leaking water heater while we were out of town,and I am still making repairs to messed up paper backdrops.

The directions for Faller backdrops call for wall paper pasted. That will ruin the backdrop so don't use wallpaper paste. Instead, use 3M #77 spray adhesive while wearing a resperator. I use that on the paper cutouts, too. SOme pictures are glossy, and I spray clear flat stuff on it.

This week on the layout, I have gone back to some "completed" sections to do more "completing" if you know waht I mean. I have been working on the steel some. All of the plastic steel mill cars have been upgraded, and they no longer derail while being shoved by Baldwin switchers through tight curves and no. 4 turnouts.

Here's a photo of a few of the upgraded cars. The slag cars have simulated red hot slag. I have two more photos ready for WPF.

 

 

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

TMarsh

Lee- Ooo, ooo, pick me! PFD-Personal Floatation Device.

I thought that was one of those Adobe type thingies that anybody can open on their computer????  Oh, that's a PDF.........

Zoe I'll have a nice little bowl of cereal (some of that high fiber stuff that can't be swallowed) with a banana to help it go down, and don't forget the Dark Roast coffee in a R&GV Museum Mug.

Todd, back about 6 months ago there was a thread where people were arguing about what constitutes scratch building..........  It finally got locked, but after reading several pages of opinions that ranged from scratch building as "no more that opening the box and plopping the building down on the layout" to "If you don't actually mine the ore and chop down the tree you use, you are NOT scratch building".  Silly me I decided to state what the NMRA defines scratch building to be, hoping to insert a bit of "common sense" into the thread.  I got told that the "NMRA is a stupid organization run by a bunch of complete idiots", etc, etc, etc.  Lots of times certain people come to the forum just to pick an argument.  They often find it and then get very upset when the thread gets locked.  I no longer post to those threads, but do read them for the "entertainment" value.

I will probably spend a bit of time today answering emails that have backed up on the computer, cleaning house, and working on the layout.  

Hope you all have a great one! 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

LSWrr

Jeff, best wishes to your Father, my Mother landed in the hospital Saturday with dimeaticulitus (SP) she is on morphine and hopefully will be out soon.

Would that be diverticulitis? I've had that a couple of times and it's no fun at all. Mine didn't get to the hospitalization stage but it was close.

[TMarsh]

 

Mornin all. Another beeeeeeautiful day today. Sunny and high of 85F. Farmers are a flyin through the fields puttin little yellow things in the ground like crazy. Startin to look like West Texas with all the dust flying. Except for the trees.

Jeff- Sounds like the rules of your childhood home were the same as mine! I refuse to comment on how things are in my home now as it may lead to the opinion I'm not the king of the house .

Lee- Ooo, ooo, pick me! PFD-Personal Floatation Device. Ok, you can call on someone else for the others. I, uh, don't want to show off. Will add your Mother to the list of get well soon And I'd never heard of the table salt thing.

Barry- Yeah, I can see some drawing that line, the "MRR is a Toy" thing. Remember a while back a thread about "closet MRR" or something like that? That "toy" stigma is the biggest reason, I bet, that some people don't tell others their hobby is playing with "Choo Choos". A term I use by the way. It bothers me that much. I guess they could respond "Hey, it's either that or watch somebody else play a game all the while screaming at a TV telling the players what they should have done. At least I have a say so in the outcome." By the way, I find myself yelling at them too. Just don't tell the Choo Choo Train slammers.

What's this? A stick? Ooooh Ok, one more smack at the poor dead Horsey, ( whole place groans ). I didn't mean to make it sound like all criticizing or suggestions are bad or unwelcome. If, for instance, I were to post my little Jupiter and one of the Steamers here popped up and made some comments on how to make it more realistic and maybe gave a link to a site with a picture of a real one or the loco parts manufacturer. I would not take offense that they were belittling my choices. They simply are trying to help and it would be my choice if I choose to use all or some of their help. It's the snide quips I refer to. Like "Well that's what you get when you buy from a maker of "Toys" and not "Models". To me that's rude. (They may think it, but the don't say it). Sometimes I wonder if they really mean it the way it comes out though, and I'm giving some a bad rap. Usually I don't make a judgement on one or two comments unless it's obvious knowing I myself have trouble being understood by folks who don't know me. Or I tend to over explain things because, after getting out in the real world, I find not everyone knows I don't lump anyone into any group for any reason unless you give me a reason. I go by the "unless they show me otherwise" rule for most things. So if I misunderstand what they mean then I unfairly lump them in a group, then someone else may do the same to me. Hence my over explaining. If I belong in that group well then so be it. Where'd the horse go? Ok, Ok, I'll stop.

I think I'll mow today. Have a Great Day!

(I wonder, just how many did it take to drag that horse outta here?)

 

[Cox 47]

Good Morning All...Its sunny and 68 here we turned A/C on this morning..just can't take hot weather..My Son and His Girl Friend and Daughter came in last nite..He is going to do some landscaping for Sallie's Sister today..Finnished doing alittle work on a building I got from Der John I'll try to get a photo of it..You All have a ggod one...Jerry

[blownout cylinder]

Good morning everyone...

 Getting a bit cloudier with the possibility of showers ahead for us--typical. Got weekend off--might rain. HHMMM. We're going up to a high of 22C with our lows going to 11C. Comfortable for sleeping-----

People. Someone had to ask a horsebeater type of question. The question involves RTR. And I already posted my response. One thing that I just thought of is the RTR seems to dovetail quite nicely with the idea of MRR as ONLY a "Toy". Hence---. Have fun--don't get TOO excited.

Anyhoooo---got some stuff to do around the house over the weekend. And have friend and myself doing some visits to things like quarries and such to get some pix for ideas for HIS layout.

Have a good one everybody-------

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

Jim, Well I’ve got it now.  I guess my complaint is an expert wrote the Digitrax getting started manuals but they were not proof read by a novice.  It’s on the order of me giving a safe boating class and using terms like PFD, SPD,  VDS without explaining their meaning to the class.

Ray, “Hysterical Society” I use that term often in the office.  Normally when referring to a lighthouse hysterical society, LOL!

Jeff, best wishes to your Father, my Mother landed in the hospital Saturday with dimeaticulitus (SP) she is on morphine and hopefully will be out soon.  I learned a cheap way of removing tree stumps; drill holes deep into the stump then fill the holes with table salt.  The stump will dry rot and a few swings with an axe and its gone.  The size of the stump determines how long the process will take.

We had near 90F weather yesterday so I cleaned out the garage and started working on scrap loads for my fleet of gondolas.  Chance of thunderstorms Saturday.

Lee

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Good morning.

It's 67 and partly cloudy. The high is expected to be around the mid 80's and there's a fair chance of thunderstorms. No wonder that I was in a rush to get the grass cut yesterday.

One good thing from yesterday. My sister isn't upset about one of the blades on her mower being bent. She'll just get another set to put on it. My BIL went through several sets a year before he went over to Iraq. On the parental front my father was doing OK last time I saw him yesterday. That was a bit scary with him landing in the ER the way he did. At least I won't have to watch him to make sure he does what the doc told him. My mother will see to that. She can be very persuasive, especially when she's got one of her cast iron skillets within easy reach. My father has gotten several dings over the years so he knows she's not to be taken lightly. In other words, what he says gos, what she says is law and supersedes what he said. I'm sure some of you married folks can attest to similar arrangements.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      5/22/2009

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

So Far Today
High:  70°F
Low:  66°F
Rain:  0.00"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  3mph

Today  High: 85    Partly cloudy in the morning then becoming mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight  Low: 68    Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

[TMarsh]

Got the Jupiter today. Not exactly the highest quality, but it runs. I'm going to have to do a little work on the pickups. It stalls on the frogs. Oh well, can't complain too much for what it cost. I think it'll work out fine with a bit of paint and some decals.

Garry- That is a very good idea. I thought that might be the case. It got me thinking that in a few spots on my layout that I might do that very thing. The track is so close to the back that a model is not really workable. The layered photo looks like it would work well because the backdrops I've seen don't really have what I want. I figured that if I could do what you have done it would look like something is there more than a picture would and I wouldn‘t have to show my artistic INability. And judging from your picture it will. It looks really good. Made me look several times to see what it really was knowing you've been working with forced perspective. I will try that and if I can't get it to turn out as well as yours, or at least close, I'm out nothing but time.

Ray- Exactly! I really hate to knock anyone because it comes across different typed than spoken. But you are absolutely correct. It seems "the best " in any field is understanding and helpful to those....um...less than perfect. They truly enjoy what they are doing and it pleases them to see others at least attempt to do so also. They understand the enjoyment part.

Those the most critical either try to make up for what is lacking by diverting attention , or have an ego that needs satisfied. That attitude is precisely why I chose to frequent this forum and more specifically, this thread. Ooops sorry, Diner. There are quality modelers here in this diner. Rivaling some of the best I have seen anywhere. What is lacking is the I'm better than you attitude and even though I couldn't tell the difference between a Berkshire and a Baldwin and had to look up what an articulated was and couldn't identify an F-3 from an E-7, I'm treated like anyone else who just wants to build a MRR. These diners are modelers who truly love the hobby and though everyone of course likes to have their work complimented, are not out for an ego boost. Prototypical or not, each has their own things they enjoy and respect each others as well. My hat is off to each and every one of you. (even the guy who built the "Pie-a-Pault" tm) Sorry, I've just about beat that horse to death haven't I .

Jeff- Well at least, like our dog tie out,.... You won't have to worry about that stump again. Glad your Dads doing OK

Inch- Whoops. Sorry, what I meant was the Prototype was a metal. The model is plastic. If the model was metal I would be, well that kind of luckout just wouldn't happen to me! But thanks for the website, might come in handy. It's at least interesting.

Barry- Yeah I agree. (OK, one more whack to the horse then I'm done). What I hear is someone asking about a particular problem with say Atlas turnouts or flextrac or some brand of loco or rolling stock lets say, then someone inevitably responds and I paraphrase, (possible solution or reason why to question ) and then "But then again I use such and such not the toy stuff" Uncalled for  and serves no purpose other than to belittle the person IMHO.

Robby- Your wife's in prayers. Wishing her well tomorrow.

　

[Cederstrand]

Tall glass of cool lemon water, please.

***Garry, cool car pic there.

***Jeffrey, hope your dad heals up soon.

***Jim, you got it, 12 hour shifts. In the past, she would string 5-7 of them in a row, but she's not young anymore and with a good hours drive each way, that would do her in.

Didn't get to sleep last night until after 6:00am. FIL was having seizures so wife had to leave in the wee hours to see him thru it. Seems MIL forgot to give him that particular pill he needs. No surprise there.

I pulled close to 30 posts by hand today, leaving about 10 that that I'll cut at the base later. This is just a small start of the overall number of posts yet to go. My BP has been sky high this evening and I keep feeling light headed. When I lay down the BP shoots down pretty low. Hope I can catch up on some sleep tonight and feel more normal tomorrow. I plan on taking the day off tomorrow (other than the required farm chores).

On the bright side, my oldest brother is fixing to start work on his Z scale layout this weekend.

Have a good night all. Rob

 

[Robby P.]

Well its been a looooooong day.

Tomorrow is my wifes surgery.  We have to be at the hospital by 9:00am.  I'm sure everything will be ok.

Jim............I would practice on some cheap boxcars.  If you need some help/tips just ask.  I will more than willing to help.

Well everybody I gotta get up early.  Everybody have a goodnight, and a good day tomorrow.

[howmus]

Evenin folks! 

twhite

We were a little nervous, because we'd kinda/sorta played with the tempo on one of the songs,

 

Wouldn't have been, "Ching a Ring Chaw" would it?  I did that one and I think one other from the Old American Songs in college myself.  Loved the whole cycle, although my favorite (and still is) "Songs Of Travel" by Ralph Vaughan-Williams.

Went up to Hysterical Society meeting in Rochester tonight.  We had a short business meeting and then several slide shows of railfan stuff from various members.

Hope you all have a blessed evening! 

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Chloe - I'll have a cup of hot cocoa with those little marshmallows on it, and one of those brownies (with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top), please. Thanks!

AmanaMedic

Doesn't seem like a big deal to me... looks OK on paper. But, I'm just a scribbler...not an opinion writer.

Hey, Chris - that's to your credit (that you aren't one of those - opinion-writers who masquerade as a SuperJournalist-Fighting-For-Truth-Justice-And-The-American-Way--As-I-Know-It-Should-Be...). (Sorry, did I just slip into politics without noticing it? My bad!)

Jeff, I like Chris' idea - do you have one of those CAT logos? Hmm... I never thought of using a mower for stump removal... Hope it doesn't take too much w**k to get the mower back and functional. Sorry to hear about your father, and will add him to the list.

Rob - that sounds like a good deal if Barbara gets benefits on 'just' two days a week. I'm guessing, since she's in nursing, that that means 12-hour shifts. Would that be close? I have some friends (and my son-in-law) in nursing as RN's, but I know the hospitals around here have been cutting back on any overtime. Hope her job isn't too far of a drive from your place.

Ray - that's a long time teaching music, and I'm sure you have positively influenced a lot of youths along the way (and some adults too, since you said you taught in college also).

Oh, lest someone think I do not like rivet counters, I did mention that if I want to know something about my layout's era, guess who I go ask? Now, I don't necessarily follow their directions 100 percent (or sometimes even 90 percent, or...), but I go ask them for the info. I appreciate them, I just don't carry it to that level myself.

Lee, on the DCC stuff, my reason for going with Digitrax was 99 percent because about everybody else in our MRR club uses their stuff, so I know I can ask real human beings my questions on how to hookup/wire/program/whatever the things (vs. a manual...). I would suggest to see what the (friendly) other MRR'ers in your area (local MRR club or those who hang out at your LHS, or the LHS owner - if he/she is the helpful kind about information) what they like and use, and see if one kind is dominant in their answers. I'd go with the brand that has the most local help available. My ...

Corey, from what I've seen on the news, if you like Chryslers, the dealers being closed are in some towns offering pretty good deals. Any around you gonna be closed (and the ones not aren't too far away)? Just a thought... Oh, speaking from a former related field to yours (former professional photographer here), yeah, the mothers of bride/groom usually gave me more in the way of problems than the loving couple did. Though I had one mother of the bride who was a gem! (She couldn't afford a lot for the initial photographs, but she kept coming back and re-ordering photos year after year as she had the money available. Now, if all of the Moms could've been that great....

Todd, I'd say that the ARC percentage (Arrogant River Counters) in the Diner is WAY low - probably need a magnifying glass to find one, if any! I'm of the "This is SUPPOSED to be FUN!" camp, too.

Garry - (re: your cars, and the general level of your layout) - DROOL! Speaking of which, what've you been doing lately?

BridgeTom - sounds like a very enjoyable baccalaureate service for *everybody* there! Have some fun on your trip 'East'. As for that Nevada Desert, a fair amount of my CAW is set in the plateaus area of the Four Corners neck o'the woods, with just a few mountains (not as many as the Yuba Sub does, though). Nice thing is, less (obvious) vegetation to have to do, except for some cactus and tumbleweeds. Now, those Jackalopes, on the other hand... (Got to write Preiser to suggest that they make some in 1:87th).

Past couple of days here in Missouri have been almost hot (well, really warm), but at least the humidity's been low. Tomorrow, however, we start an increasing chance of pop-up showers in the afternoons (like a lot of summers are here). In this case, that low pressure cell that's been squatting on Florida and soaking it, that is trying to come up this way. I expect (from the weatherguessers' projections on TV) that Jeff, Rob, Ryan and our other Southeasterners may get a good soaking before the low decides to head up the coast.

Not sure how much MRR'ing I may get done this weekend, since I'm on-call (from 8 a.m. Sat. through to 8 a.m. Sunday morning). Need to take laundry by to have them do it tomorrow before I go to w**k, so I can pick it up on the way home afterwards. Maybe Sunday I can get some weathering started on some covered hoppers. Robby - any tips on how to approach that, or should I start on some boxcars first for practice?

 

Blessings and prayers for healing, comfort and a bit of MRR'ing fun this weekend for you all,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Not long after reporting about bending the mower blade I got a call from my mother. She reported that my father had landed in the ER with bowel problems not long after he went to work.He's at home now resting comfortably and is expected to make a full recovery. It's going to be painful though. I can sympathize with him. Been there and done that! The best thing for him now is bed rest and drink plenty of water. It worked for me.

[twhite]

Evening all from SunnyCal.  Weather's been mild lately, had some thunderstorms up in the Sierra, but they're the 'tropical' kind (clouds came up from the south) so there was plenty of rain.  Very few lightning strikes, so hopefully no fires. 

Heading up to Reno tomorrow to take a friend's mother home.  Hopefully there will be some train-watching involved between here and there--Interstate 80 kinda/sorta parallels the old Donner Pass route, and UP seems to be pushing more trains over there, lately, instead of the longer Feather River Canyon route.  Some good spots for trainwatching in the Truckee River canyon, so it should be okay.  Predicted afternoon thunderstorms around Donner, but we may escape them if we leave here early enough. 

Played Baccalaureate Mass for the Jesuit guys last night--it was pretty spectacular.  Everyone was extremely well behaved, and the choir was INCREDIBLE!   So was our orchestra, together we kind of blew the roof off of the Memorial Auditorium.   We even had Fr. Bonafigilo, the school President, who conducted the Mass, beaming.  He kept looking back at us with this fabulous grin on his face during the Liturgy.  That's it until I go back full-time in August.  I'm still kicking myself in the butt for retiring and missing a whole year of those guys.   But there's next year, by golly!

Ray:  I'm so sorry to hear that you have to cut back, I know how much your profession means to you.  But keeping your hearing is FAR more important, my friend.   I also loved your story about the MR preparation and how generous your 'mentors' seem.   Not on the MR page, but it reminded me of an incident back at college when Aaron Copland was a guest lecturer, and a baritone and I were scheduled to perform his "Old American Songs."  We were a little nervous, because we'd kinda/sorta played with the tempo on one of the songs, so we thought it best to tell him.  He just looked at us and smiled and said, "If it works for you, DO IT.  I can always live with idea's."  We did, he loved it.   Your mentors sound like the same kind of people.  Go for it. 

Well, school is out--or at least the portion I was involved with--and I've promised the Yuba River Sub some TLC this summer.  Still waiting for my GN Challenger from Sunset, but until then, I guess I have enough articulateds to keep me happy, LOL!  But this summer is definitely meant for finishing the Buttes.  Which means Sculptamold, Cripplebush rocks and Bragdon castings all over the place.  Also a big mess.   

Swear to God, next layout I do (yah, sure), is going to be the Nevada Desert.  The FLAT part!

Best to all, prayers to those in need. 

Tom

 

[blownout cylinder]

Good evenin'--

Hello dere---I just got finished all kinds of officework and stuff, get home, and find a locked thread---HMMM, I wonder why.

Todd: The "Toy" comment seems to be a bit overused lately. It doesn't really speak to the distinctions, or, as I sometimes accent it in the French--differance--a word in the French that denotes our understanding of the word and putting off, or deferring until later, the final state of knowing that understanding of the word---For example, mention of a certain BMW as a "Toy", that which sometimes got used as a racer in the streets/highways, killing drivers/passengers of same and other cars.

Then too, my sister, as a potter, would hear about what she does as a "pretty little hobby" and her kilns/wheels as "toys". Strange, she makes her living off this "pretty little hobby". At this rate---think of your home/house as a "toy". See how quickly the phrase loses meaning?

Anyhoooooo---off the weird

'Spring' is spending some time with me butting my head and schmoooozing along my face leaving fluff all over the place---purring up a storm---just one happy cat

Chloe, I'll have a pork sammich with bbq sauce and a RBF please-----I'm going to sit out on the patio and enjoy the fresh/not so fresh air---I've been cooped up in the office all day---maybe that explains my barking lately----

 

[howmus]

Afternoon folks,

I am plumb tuckered out!  Got about 2/3rds of the deck sealed today, went shopping, did the banking for the MLK Dinner, and.......... Went down to the LHS as he called and my long awaited order came in!  Yes, I spent most of my "incentive check".   Well a little over half of the SS one.  Gotta do my part ya know.

I had a lot of stuff on order.  It is everything I need to finish the part of layout that needs to be judged for the Scenery AP Certificate (NMRA).  By August I hope to get the Certificate.  Still have to take photos after I finish everything and then write down a lot of "how I did this" stuff.  Fill out the proper forms, and then have a team of judges come visit the layout and do a "Merit Judging" of the section of the layout used for the Certificate.  Hope to have some new photos of stuff by the weekend for WPF.

There is a meeting of the Chapter of the RR Hysterical Society tonight.  The program is "Member's Slide night".  usually a very good meeting so I'll be driving to Rochester for it.  Next month and the 2 after that we go out to the museum and play with the 1:1 sized toys.......

Catch you all later. 

[inch53]

Afternoon all,,, just a quick stop, been busy outside in the garden till I've had enough of  being eaten by buffalo gnats, then I start back in mowing. I don't know how anything so small can bit so hard and raise such a big welt. I've found any bug dope to keep them away. 

TMarsh

I got the latest news this morning on the lost Pearl Beer car. They didn't have another one so they bought one from another "supplier"  they hope to receive it before Memorial day weekend, check it out, then send it to me. Yup Jim, they said to keep the Carnation car as a sorry for the mix up consolation prize. It's a metal reefer. Don't know who made it but it appears to be made the same way an old Athearn Pabst Blue Ribbon kit was. The doors open so it has possibilities for some sort of stationary something. Two of the ice hatches are missing the latches, but I won‘t be using it as a working car so whoopty doo.

TODD,,, your metal car may be an Athearn from the 50's. You might be able to find more info on it here. http://hoseeker.org/  You might even be able to find the missing hatches there in the their auction site.

I've got 4 or 5 of them, hoping to find some parts for and restore.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Well, I got my parents yard cut and got most of my sisters yard done. Only reason I didn't finish it was I found a tree stump under a pile of grass clippings. Now her mower has a bent blade. The stumps gone though.

[howmus]

Afternoon everyone!

Didn't get in to post this morning as I decided to take advantage of a hot sunney day here in the Finger Lakes to get to work on Watersealing the deck on my house.  Been a few years and definitely needs it.  I've spent the last couple hours brushing it on the railings.  

Bright sunny hot day here with a high of 84+.  Currently 83°F and definitely warm in the sun! 

TMarsh

Because I don't think that "Rivet Counter" is a bad term, I am going to borrow a term from Chris and modify it to "Rivet Nazi" for the, shall we say, arrogant ones.

 

Todd, very much in agreement with you sir.  Often the ones who are so quick to point out the shortcomings of others work are the same ones who seldom show their own work.......  I have the pleasure of being friends with three Master Model Railroaders.  All of them have seen my work, and all of them have have been very complimentary of the layout and I know they are "overlooking" certain things that are not done to their standards.  In getting ready to have my layout judged for the Merit Judging necessary for the scenery certificate I emailed the MMR that will be overseeing the judging and asked him if it is a problem to use a 3 position lower quadrant semaphore signal at a station where trains will be given orders when needed.  His reply... "He!! no Ray!  It's your RR do the way you want it!"  Yes a certain level of prototype feel is necessary to get that award, but it is still your railroad, do it as you please.  He is also the same guy who whenever I get into "Prototype Mode" around him, winks and says, are you having fun?  He is also a highly published gentleman who is well known for his drawings and work as an author. The other two MMRs are the same.  They have been recognized to be some of the finest Model Railroaders in the world.  They don't have to pick on others....

Time for lunch I think.  I can tell you that since I started taking the Diabetes medication, I am now hungry again at meal time.  Hope that is a good sign.  Zoe, I'll have a Chile Hot Dog and a cup of  decafe if you please.

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Todd.... I have glued pictures cut from old calendars and old magazines to the paper backdrops. Trees near the house are paper. There are some Woodland Scenic trees behind the train in the left hald of the photo. The track gets closer to the back drop as it goes from left to right.

I have been repairing paper backdrops because of humidity caused by a leaking water heater while we were out of town. In this scene, the backdrop was not damaged.