The Coffee Shop (a place to chat) Est. 2004

[Anonymous]

Hi all. Hope everyone's doing good. Things are busy around here and not in a good way. My family is starting to get on my nerves.

I wish my computer wasn't such a POS or I'd download some track planning software. Guess it's paper and pencil for me. I've been meaning to order some track all week but still haven't.

I've got a Q- my layout uses 1/2" plywood for the base. I used a sheet of the "BC" grade, which is nice on one side and not-so-nice on the other side. I was wondering if I could use the lower "CDX" grade, since eventually scenery will cover up any knots in the wood. I think I already have 2 sheets of CDX but they're currently being used on a garage sale table. (but that's coming down later today)

C y'all

[SilverSpike]

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Good afternoon! Well, it’s the first day of hurricane season, now we have six more months of wondering when and where the next storm will hit. My parents are still living in New Orleans!

How about this for lunch today: Tomato Basil Alfredo Sauce with Crawfi***ails served over Angel Hair Pasta

That’s what I made for dinner last night! Yum, and step right up because there are leftovers.

Spent a little over an hour on the initial benchwork last night, I put up the wall stanchions and brackets on the north wall of the train room. Click the link below to view my new layout website, as it has all the updated images and my progress report too.

http://elvistie.googlepages.com/home

Gumby4 Sorry to hear of all the grief in your life right now. I know that it is a tough time for you and we are here to listen anytime. Our prayers and thoughts are with you, your family, your friends, and the family and friends of the departed loved ones. Times like these test the courage of a man, and it is your faith that will get you through the rough times. And no apologies are necessary; we have all gone through this and will go through this again. Just know that we are always here to listen and support in a time of need.

Hey RT, Get your boss to buy a spray gun, it makes the painting go quicker! I was a painter many years ago and while it is tedious work I found it peaceful and gave me a lot of time to think. And speaking of bands and music, my Sony Walkman and a dozen tapes helped pass the time too! Love the penguin! Can I ask the band to play a request? Exterior painting jobs allowed me work on my tan too, but that was years ago…..

QUOTE: oh by the way you all can only order if you can beet my buddy here in a race from one end of the coffee shop to the other end.

Is that your version of “Who moved my cheese”?

QUOTE: Posted by John Wood
That’s it for me for today as I’m stuck into the library book (The Final Theory, and deconstruction of just about all of presently understood physics…pointing out that it’s not really understood at all! ), and it’s proving to be quite the read.

John W I read the book “The Dancing Wu Li Masters” by Gary Zukav years ago, and it sounds similar to the same book you are reading. Quantum theory, physics, and the universe are very deep subjects.
And I know what you mean about cell phone reception. I too was not totally thrilled with the idea to follow that text message procedure, but it did work within a few seconds. I guess Google is testing some new features.

QUOTE: I'll have a small california cobb salad, and could you put just a little extra blue cheese on that please, and for the main course I'll have the honey glazed grilled salmon, six ounce New York strip steak, cooked medium well please, baby carrots, sweet corn on the cob, and a blondie for desert! Oh, and some of that homemade peach belini iced tea too please!

Hey PC, You gonna blow a gasket with that meal huh! Take your time and we will get the wheel barrow out for ya! But who’s going to drive you home?


Good luck to all the students and the end of grade testing! Summer is just about here!

Cheers,

Ryan

[Anonymous]

Hi Gang,

Just a quickie takeout today. With the rain we had this week, the grass is looking like I put it into the governments soil bank. It'll take a couple hours to cut it. Thank God for riding mowers.

Next I have a little work to do to get the bike trailer ready to go to Howell MI. I'd ride but I'll have the wife with me. My bike is a little Sparton for her, and I'm waiting for her Bone Density Test. She's been on "Forteo"; It rebuilds bones. Her Meds. for MS. have turned her them into like soda crackers. She given herself a shot of it every day for almost a year.

I'm proud of our 12 year old granddaughter. Saturday we'll be going to her piano recital
at the Detroit Instatute of Arts. The little stinker is really good. Oh, to me she's still my "Little Stinker" (She hates when PaPa calls her that.) So guess what I call her. Heh, Heh,Heh

RT

QUOTE: oh by the way you all can only order if you can beet my buddy here in a race from one end of the coffee shop to the other end.

If you're paying, I'll beat him. You may have forgotten. I'll Scottish, and money and food are involved.[dinner][(-D]

[Anonymous]

OH WOW

It looks like I'm back in full swing. Twice in three days.

SET UM UP FOR ANOTHER ROUND LADIES.

I gotta get to working,
Bill North

[SilverSpike]

....well in that case!

I'll have a tall iced coffee girls!

Thanks Bill!

[sunsetbeachry]

Hi All:
.........JOHN WOOD............
OK........You asked me a question. Remember you started this. So lit 'em if you got them and have a cuppa too.
To start with I have a fairly good shop juus about anything needed both large size 10'' and 4'' for mrr. I cut all my own wood from blocks when I can find them and I usually can just about any type of wood. Blocks are cut down to size and then cut again with small tools then put down on workbench to be cut down again to be used in scratchbuilding. I've been doing this for many years and don't like the looks of "glue BLOBS" . So I ran across an article in an old issue ofthe gazette and thought about it for a long time [ 6 months or so ] and decieded to try it ..........On the studs I drill a # 85 hole and insert a piece of 0.020 wire over size length ; on the rafters I mesuare for the holes and drill again. After setting all this up I take it all apart and put a small amount of ACC heavy in a baby food jar, take a short piece of wire and hold it in a set of straight hemostats , diping into the Acc a very small amount of glue is used putting the glue on the wire and inserting wire into stud hole leaving a generious length , doing this for the length of the wall and then let it dry. Then I start on the rafters by doing the same still leaving an amount of wire....OH I forgot the sills they go in before the rafters then the rafters.......Let it dry about a day or whatever , sometimes it takes me awhile to get back to the bench. Pin the whole thing to the mud sills on the floor.............Cut the wire with a very good set of wire cutters that are used only for this small wire, certain tools are used only for small and expensive [ i dare say ] uses.............Normally there is no reason to fill the space because there is no hole left to see evev with the 3 power glassess.
..........Does that answer your question????????

Later............Chuck and Kathy...........God bless All

[pcarrell]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SilverSpike

Hey PC, You gonna blow a gasket with that meal huh! Take your time and we will get the wheel barrow out for ya! But who’s going to drive you home?

That's why they make doggie bags! [;)]

[pcarrell]

QUOTE: Originally posted by William North

OH WOW

It looks like I'm back in full swing. Twice in three days.

SET UM UP FOR ANOTHER ROUND LADIES.

I gotta get to working,
Bill North

Don't worry, we'll just trade off!

[Cox 47]

Afternoon all....Mostly cloudy and a little cooler here today....I'll have a root beer float and onion rings please thanks Bill.....Started painting Merchant row building today..Gonna be a bunch of windows to trim out...Sent time the last 2 days trying to clean out my sent Email file had over 1700 in it!! finaly got it figured out....Makes me feel dumber than a box of rocks...Time to turn the news on and while I watch that maybe start on windows...You all have a good evening...Jerry

[rtraincollector]

original by ryan

QUOTE: Is that your version of “Who moved my cheese”?

No who cut the cheese (sorry couldn't resis )

[inch53]

Afternoon all, just some coffee please Cleo,
Been cloudy all day here, no complaints though, temps down, but humidly is still high. Weather guessers say it’s going to be a nice weekend, so it makes today bearable.

Gumby , glad you got your Hudson going.

Ding . I’ve used CDX before and it’s OK for a base. Then I use Styrofoam and 3/16 paneling on top. My new one is the same only OSB, cause it’s what I had for leftovers.

Ryan , checked out your web site, lot of info in there, and some progress. Keep us updated on the progress.

Bill N , hope your wife’s test come back with good results and the grand daughter’s recital is wonderful. Know what ya mean with embarrassing the kids with nicknames, I luv doing it.

Almost forgot these pics from when I took those of the towers. These are all that remains of the NYC station in Terre Haute





I’m hoping to find a photo of it in all it’s glory one if these days.
Got a legion meeting tonight, it’s election day, so need to go vote, besides I think we’re having catfish or chicken or both for supper there, so Bill, jou’ll get by cheap with me tonight. I may even slip into the kitchen n help with the cookin.
Ya’ll have a good evening, thoughts n prayers for all in need
inch

[bjdukert]

Evening all and Chloe how about a nice big STEAK with some home fries and a Pepsi and make sure it goes on Bill’s tab.

Ding I will be using ½” plywood CDX and paint it and then homasote on top of that and the homasote will be painted as well.

Jerry

QUOTE: Watched the rest of the new MR build plan DVD didn't think it was as good as the others but not bad.

I would agree with you that the others so far have been better but I will keep it as well. The layouts that are featured in it make it worth the price as you can get some good ideas from them. If you can do it,it would be worth looking at the Joe Fugate dvd’s and *** will vouch for them too.

Bill N

QUOTE: I'd ride but I'll have the wife with me. My bike is a little Sparton for her, and I'm waiting for her Bone Density Test.

I’d be happy to help you out there. I have given a couple friends wives a ride on my 1500’s and both ended up buying an 1800 and you know that is what I have now. [^][:D][:)][:-^] Besides,what are friends for if they can’t help out?? [:D][:)][;)][:-^] he he he

Best to all on Sick Call and hope recovery is soon and also those with losses [angel][angel][angel]

That’s about it
Talk to you later

Duke

[pcarrell]

Not much left of that thing, huh inch?

[Paul W. Beverung]

Good Evening Gang: Again not much on the model railroading front. We did load the trailer up again with scrap to take out to John's tomorrow morning. He's going to haul his tractor out so we can load both trailers with hay bales and bring them back. It helps to have a back haul when the gas bill comes.

Ding: There is nothing wrong with using the CDX plywood for the subbase. It will save you a bit of mony. 1/2 inch will be good. anything heaver is overkill.

I thought that I saw Ed in here a day or so ago. He hasn't been posting. I can't believe that he hasn't anything to say.

Walthers has there data only ore cars on sale again. I guess that means mine will be on the way soon. Now if I can only supress the urge to get some more. This time they want $23.98 for the 4 pack. That is still a good price, about $6 per. OK Paul, step away from the check book.

Well I'm going to head for bed. Have a good night all.

[Anonymous]

Evening folks,
Wanted to come by and show you some photos I took today. Hope they come out O.K..
well got to run. Mom needs my help on one of her projects. NO I'm not going to sew a quilt.
Happy Railroading
Neal

http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/507/DSC00037.JPG
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/507/DSC00039.JPG
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/data/507/DSC00040.JPG

[der5997]

Mike:

QUOTE: 2 years ago a squirrel got into one just down the road n blowed him and the transformer up.

…they say a squirrel is a rat with good PR…now it seems, with less sense![:D]

OZJim:

QUOTE: I hope that makes sense

…Absolutely. Glad you aren’t trying that inn Canada, as the postage rates would kill you[V] It’s one reason I’ve given up on getting anything from eBay.

AlaskaPeter: Bad luck about the car. Hope it’s not too expensive.

QUOTE: I got all my track laid now I am thinking about weathering it. I am using Atlas code 80 nickle. Any suggestions?

I’ve airbrushed mine with a mix of dark brown/chocolate/black acrylics from the local $Store diluted enough to spray OK. I vary the mix on each fill so as to get a subtle difference in the rail colour. (In theory, in practice it’s hard to tell) If your turnouts rely on point rail contact for power transmission, protect the inside of the rails at the point from getting painted over. For touch up, and places where I can’t get the airbrush in at the right angle, I use these little brushes. I got them in Edmonton in a LHS.

Chuck and Kathy: I didn’t realize you were stick building![bow]…and yes, that does answer the question.[:D]

Since I don’t get a chance to do much railfanning, here’s a rare shot. It’s the Grain Coop building in Truro. I’ve been wanting to take this photo for some time as the building is the basis for my large industry to help hide the three levels of layout in my “stacked loop” corner.


Got to get to bed.[zzz] Goodnight all, and God Bless. Prayers for all in need of healing, comfort, and peace.[angel]

[modelalaska]

QUOTE:
AlaskaPeter: Bad luck about the car. Hope it’s not too expensive.

QUOTE: I got all my track laid now I am thinking about weathering it. I am using Atlas code 80 nickle. Any suggestions?

I’ve airbrushed mine with a mix of dark brown/chocolate/black acrylics from the local $Store diluted enough to spray OK. I vary the mix on each fill so as to get a subtle difference in the rail colour. (In theory, in practice it’s hard to tell) If your turnouts rely on point rail contact for power transmission, protect the inside of the rails at the point from getting painted over. For touch up, and places where I can’t get the airbrush in at the right angle, I use these little brushes. I got them in Edmonton in a LHS.

Thanks John for the info. I do have a single action airbrush I have yet to use. Not sure what brand of paint, etc to use. One day at a time I guess.

[Anonymous]

Good Morning All!

Just popping in before heading off on a two day trip. SO .... just a coffee please.[8D]

Neal - Pictures look good. How do you keep an outside layout from shorting out in the rain or high humidity?

Have fun, be safe!

[wetidlerjr]

Good morning ! from Indiana. [:D]



06-02-06

[Anonymous]

GUMBY,
Every thing in insulated just like it's grown up counterpart.

Well got to run. Ruined a tire on the mower yesterday do now I have to find another. Sure hate having to buy a tire to finish cutting.
Happy Railroading,
Neal

[pcarrell]

OH what the heck, I'll buy again. I haven't done that for 48 hours or so, so it's about time!

Coffee Zoe, thanks!

Well, as of 3:00pm today I'll be homeless! That's right! I'm signing the paperwork to sell my house to the township trustee's office later this afternoon. My new house won't be ready to move into until September or October, so in the meantime I'm technically homeless. Not to worry though, God ALWAYS provides! The township has decided to let me continue living here in my current house, RENT FREE, until my new house is ready. How cool is that!?! And the kicker,.....I'm selling the place for $40,000.00 more then I owe on it! If I was to sell it on the open market I could NEVER get that kind of money for it! God is good, God is great!

So get ready girls, I'm buyin' big time today! COME AND GET IT!!!!

[pcarrell]

No, I said I"M BUYING!!!!!!! Hook em up girls! Everyone gets some today, and give me the bill!!!!!!

[pcarrell]

I SAID,....I'M BUYING!!!!!

You hear the inch? I'm callin' you! [;)][:D]

[james saunders]

PC Stop hogging the tab!!!, but then again, it's saving me money!!! [:D]

All: L&S Hobbies is Considering Producing A H.O Version of the 5000 Class Locomotive of QRNational heritage, we don't have a firm price but it will be roughly $400, More Details soon.

James
[ L&S Hobbies Australia]

[inch53]

Mornin all, just some coffee fur now Zoe, I’ll let PC off lite this morning, since I’ve had breakfast already. But then there’s lunch after bits!!!!
Had some storms come through last night and knocked the power off again. I’ve called the electric company so much; I know their number by heart.
Legion meeting went well, plenty to eat, although did run out of fish. Good to see some friends I hadn’t seen for awhile, bout all the snowbirds are back for the summer. Found out we have 3 more women members now.

No PC , there’s not much left of the station, don’t know what their going to do with the remains. Looked like ya got some rain up your this morning on radar.. There wouldn’t be a train or two slip into storage, while waiting on the new house would there?

Neal , thanks for the photos. That’s a nice looking operation you have.

Der , squirrels are dumber than rats , what can you expect when they live on nuts. Squirrels are better eaten though.
Well maintained grain elevator they have there, it’ll look good the your corner

Not much on for today, am going to the train room for a spell, don’t know what else I’ll do fur sure. Thoughts n prayers for all in need.
inch

[SilverSpike]

Friday, June 02, 2006

Good Morning fellow diners!

The Carolina Hurricanes are going to the Stanley Cup finals, and they beat out the Buffalo Sabers 4 – 2 in game seven of the Eastern Conference finals. They are going to meet the Edmonton Oilers on Monday. Got to hand it to Brind'Amour for leading the team to victory! Wow!

No train work last night, but I did work on my new layout website a little. If anyone is interesting in making a website check it out, Google Pages Web Creator is FREE! Here is the link to my thread on the website: http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=66742

Supposed to rain later today and all day Saturday, so I guess the yard will be done on Sunday.

QUOTE: Originally posted by pcarrell

QUOTE: Originally posted by SilverSpike

Hey PC, You gonna blow a gasket with that meal huh! Take your time and we will get the wheel barrow out for ya! But who’s going to drive you home?

That's why they make doggie bags! [;)]

Hey PC Oh yea, a doggie bag like that might last a few days!

QUOTE: Originally posted by rtraincollector

original by ryan

QUOTE: Is that your version of “Who moved my cheese”?

No who cut the cheese (sorry couldn't resis )

RT, LOL You got me!

QUOTE: Originally posted by inch53



Ryan , checked out your web site, lot of info in there, and some progress. Keep us updated on the progress.

Almost forgot these pics from when I took those of the towers. These are all that remains of the NYC station in Terre Haute

inch

Wow! Great photos of the remains, what are they planning to do with all those artifacts?
There is a guy I know (Stuart Grannen) in Chicago that sells that kind of stuff, it is called Architectural Artifacts. Check out their web site: http://www.architecturalartifacts.com/

QUOTE: Originally posted by pcarrell

I SAID,....I'M BUYING!!!!!

You hear the inch? I'm callin' you! [;)][:D]

OK already! LOL, in that case I’ll have a juicy 16 oz rib eye steak medium rare, steamed broccoli with lemon tarragon butter sauce, and some of that famous apple pie a la mode for dessert.

Have a great weekend!

Cheers,

Ryan

[grayfox1119]

Good morning to all, and seeing Phil is feeling good about buying ( I had to put on sunglasses due to the RED glare in the CS, I'll have one of everything. I have lost 5 pounds in three days working over at son #2's house building the wall. So far, 425... 80 pound blocks have been set, for a total of 34,000 pounds carried an average distance of 20 feet from the skids. I am down to 180 lbs, but would like to hit 170. It was 105 in the sun yesterday, so I have been drinking lots of gator aide, water, and eating oranges and bananas. I'll have some pics soon as I remember to take the camera over there. A day of rest today, and tomorrow too more than likely, as we have a stalled front over this area, with TS's and heavy rains in some areas, especially the areas just flooded two weeks ago. Showers and heavy fog and high humidity here at present, so this 67 year old bod doesn't mind a day or two to recoup, besides, TRAIN and MRR mag just arrived yesterday....great timing !!!
The doggone Rototiller started making grinding noises in the tiller section, like gears not meshing, so I will be pulling that apart this morning to see what happened to this old 18 year old horse model.

On the Train front, a finally received the track order from Internet trains, boy are they slow. It was over a month just to get track, and when I ordered it, they said it was "in" stock!!! It must have come 18th class mail. I bought some MicroEngineering Code 83 weathered flex track, and it sure looks real good, very realistic. It is stiffer than Atlas, but that is what I like about it, as it will hold the curves better with less spring-back.

DING Seeing your computer is a POS, take a look at DELL, they have some real good buys right now on desktops, best prices I have seen in years. They will handle your software with no problems at all. But, I strongly advise you to get as much RAM as you can afford, and I would get a min of 1 GBT, not 510 mbt. That is because the new operating system due out early 2007 from Microsoft, called VISTA, is a terrific new replacement for Xp, but they said you will need a min of 510 mbt of RAM.
As for plywood sub-base, I used CDX on mine also, no issues at all.

RYAN Excellent progress Ryan !!! You are making me anxious to get back to the layout.

JOHN I like those minature brushes, I'll have to get me some at the LHS the next time I go there in a week or two.

Kathy & CHUCK That is too bad about the glocose readings and the Dr. playing change the plan again. I don't know why the Dr. doesn't give Kathy the new system that monitors her glucose levels continuously and releases insulin into the body as needed 24/7. This new system is great and eliminates the ups and downs of glucose levels which will eventually cause greater problems.

BILL N I thought that all you guys in the upper midwest drank lots of milk and ate lots of cheese? LOL You should have bones made of "steel" heheehehehehe.

DUKE And FERGIE thinks that "I" am a ladies man...you little devil Duke....offering all those ladies a ride on your bike!!! Tsk, tsk. BTW, the rhubarb is great this year with all the rain it is as high as an elephants tusks!! But the strawberries are gone!!?? The deer ate the them I think, as the plants are gone??!! I never saw this happen before. But, I have never not had a dog up there either. Sheba died last June, and we have not got another dog to keep the deer away. I guess I will have to "mark my territory" if you guys know what that means ( drink lots of tea).
And, you are correct about the DVD's, I like Joe's better at this point.

PETER I hope the wife's car is not too serious, that could cut into your MRR plans heavily. The new cars today are not like we had in the 50"s, we could fix most of the cars ourselves, but not today, too much specialty test equipment needed. As for your track weathering, there seems to be two distinct camps: one group likes to weather after the tracks are laid, while the other group like to weather the track in bulk outside in the open air. I have read several MRR articles in several books, as well as advice from members of the CS, and they all make very good points. My train room has no windows, is in the basement, the adjacent room houses the furnace, so I have two bad situations, not much fresh air source for fume ventillation, plus, fumes would be evacuated past the furnace via fan/s if I decided to do that. NOT GOOD....fire hazard for sure. So I will weather all my trach outside in fresh air, then I will touch up any areas that might crack on the flex tract when bending into place. This will result in far less fumes in the room. Also, after drawing the tracks line on the table, I can form the track and then take it outside to weather. This will result in very litle cracking if any. That is my[2c]

Time for lunch, lets see what Cloe has on the Friday menu...I think I will have seafood stuffed catfish and NE Clam Chowda.

[Anonymous]

Hi Gang,

Inch:

QUOTE: squirrels are dumber than rats , what can you expect when they live on nuts. Squirrels are better eaten though.

I was just going to do a quick read this morning, but I just had to ask. What do rats taste like, and why do you know. Heh,Heh,Heh!!!!!

***:

QUOTE: BILL N: I thought that all you guys in the upper midwest drank lots of milk and ate lots of cheese? LOL You should have bones made of "steel" heheehehehehe.

Naw, that's the guys on the other side of Lake Michigan. Over here we eat pine cones and rats[oops] I mean squirrels.

Inch Sorry buddy but you're going to have to live this one down. I can't stop laughing

Duke:
Now you're scaring me. Altooouugh--Hummm--- I do have room for a bike like yours, right next to mine in the shop.

Gotta Run,
Bill North

[pcarrell]

QUOTE: Originally posted by inch53


There wouldn’t be a train or two slip into storage, while waiting on the new house would there?

Unfortunately, my trains have been in storage since about September. The govt. said they wanted to do this quickly,.....I should have known. [B)]

[sunsetbeachry]

Hi All:
....I can't find the thread about 1/2 0r ?????thick ply, so here goes I use 1/2 CDX and fill all the holes if any with mud and sand smooth and level then use it plenty strong enough as long as spacers are within 16 inches.
........***......
I don't know either. Kathy has been taking 15 morn and nite "N" for a long time also eating a good sensible diabetic diet [me] 4 times a day for years and no troubles except when she eats some "goodies" occasionally ...So her regular dr. moved out of state and the service recommended this new dr. an endrocronoligest and she screwed everything up......Now we went back to her original uses and she changed to our family dr that has been seeing both of us for about 3 yrs. and the sugars are coming back in line with what they were last week, and she is feeling much better and quit b******ng at everything including me. So thank you all for listening and thats enough of that for a while I hope....
.......PETER....
I usually thake my rail outside a whole bunch at a time and spray it with a mixture of india ink and boxcar red toned way down, if needed I still have the mixtures written down so that I can duplicate them in case they are needed.
......BILL NORTH.....
They taste like chicken that has been burned. Rats that is although not as sweet as monkey brains LOL LOL LOL
.......DUKE.......
I envy you, my drs have told me not to ride ever again or else.....So Kathy and I have been debateing on selling all my bikes. Want a '56Vincent in premo condition?????..............To all in need prayers and God Bless.......Chuck and Kathy...