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

[JimRCGMO]

Good Morning, Coffee Shoppers (what's left of the morning by now)! Zoe, one of OzJim's rumballs and a cup of coffee, black. Thanks! Oh, Dick, the rumballs aren't gone - Zoe just had to hide 'em after DerJohn had a fhew tooo manyish earlier. Ask her, and she'll retrieve one from the vault...

Hope everyone had a blessed Christmas, and that Jerry will be out of the hospital soon.

Most of my Christmas gifts arrived today - the gift card for my daughter came in FedEx to my work, so I had to stop (very briefly) there. That was after a short visit to Hobby Lobby - they put their MRR stuff on sale (30 percent off) between Christmas and New Year's. So, I got another rock mold ('Classic Rock', it was called - hey, I like that!).

Then went by the post office, and couple of eBay shipments had arrived (about six DPM modular parts kits, and four of the old Revell buildings). I plan on putting together some of the industry Revell kits (Weekly Herald and Superior Bakery, plus maybe some parts from the Engine House, since the walls are mostly alike between the kits). Probably lengthen a building and add on a side addition with a flat roof (or minimal slope). The DPM parts I'll be using for a background warehouse/industry building with a long loading dock (at least 2-3 50' boxcars). Still waiting on two Kadee boxcars (sent the seller emails today to nudge him).

Last night I started some work on a transfer facility (it's from a Railway Design Assoc. kit, and looks like what Walthers' Trucking dock facility did). I cut the pieces off the sprues and put 'em in a ziplock plastic bag, since it was fairly late by then and I did not want to lose anything. Want to take some time today figuring the colors to paint and weather it. Ah, vacation!... (no wise cracks from the ROF's among us...)

The rain has quit here, and it's just cloudy and seasonably colder today (mid 30's to 40 F). It'd be nice to see the sun. The weather guesser this a.m. said they got some snow briefly last night, but their eyes must be better than mine - not a spot of it when I got up around 8 a.m.

My tree will be up until the 'Twelfth Day of Christmas" (Jan. 6th, for those who don't already know that). I'll need to get back to the layout later today. If I have to do it all the slower way (using pin vise and drill bit for more track nail holes where I need then), I'm determined to make more headway on tracklaying. Sheesh - if I were paying myself for my progress, I'd have to fire me!

Got a note in my brother's Christmas card, asking me if I knew anyone who would like to have his older PowerMac (tower, with a drive that'll burn DVD's). Since my desktop Mac I have is much older, I think I'll volunteer to take that off of his hands... He lives in LA, is retired and upgrades their Macs every few years (when I got his (original) iMac - couple of years ago - they were getting a new iMac). Good to have an overblessed brother who's benevolent with his 'old' computers...

Well, time to head out for a few more errands. Those of you with the holidays off, enjoy it (except you ROF's, who are on holiday all the time!

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[der5997]

Good Boxing Day afternoon folks:  A funny thing happened on my way in this morning.  Luc must have dropped off another pile of logs, because I found my usual back way in blocked with a message that said the page was unavailable due to an error! The downstairs laughter last night turned out to be Kris and her mom playing crib.  They had each skunked the other, and were going for the kill! BTW, the trucks and couplers didn’t come in the mail last Friday, and so the earlies t is tomorrow. Guess who’s going to town tomorrow, and right past (possibly into if Kris gets the hint I’ve left on the shopping list) the LHS from whence they came.

 

SlappyMike:  Sounds like your dad and our daughter’s ex are cut from the same cloth!  If it were really for savings, that’s not a bad habit to get into young, but you still should have a say in the process.  If it’s as you say, for porn, that’s straight theft. (In the ex’s case it was drugs, but same difference, our daughter and the kids were all robbed.)  Have you told your uncle?

 

OZJim: Rum balls, thanks mate, just the ticket (if my old gran’s brandy snaps, a Christmas fav, aren’t to be had.)

 

JR: 

I see from the preview window that the response here is still messed up

…I find it comes in that way, then clears to a normal view after a while. Patience, mon brave!

I forgot to ask, did you see Lotus’ new all electric offering? Some sharp looking beast (if you go for modern, which I guess you may not?)

 

Dick:  Tsk, Tsk, such language, and at a season of goodwill too.  Here old chap, have some I found in Zoe’s magic vault. http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e303/OZJIM/rumballs.jpg

And for JERRY, our very best wishes for a speedy return to the CS buddy, our prayers for your good health.

…

 

CapeJim:

My tree will be up until the 'Twelfth Day of Christmas’

…Same here.  We see people ditching their trees today, but we like to keep up the lights etc. for as long as possible. (Also, I used to keep the “wise men” in reserve until Epiphany when I was pasturing churches. But that’s another story )

 

Looks like it’s tea time again.  I’ll have a Earl Grey, hot (as a certain star ship captain will say one day!)

TTFN

[grayfox1119]

CAPE JIM: I seeeeee....so DER JOHN had too many rum balls???? From what I see, it looks like you had a few too many also.!!!!!

I forgot to mention something that some of you guys might need to know if you are planning to upgrade your Operating System to VISTA in January. If you don't know it already, Microsoft no longer supports Windows 98 or Windows ME Operating Systems. You are now on your own. For those who are using Xp, you are safe for probably 4 or 5 more years.

Now for those who will be upgrading to VISTA operating system, here is what your present PC must have to handle VISTA:

1. Random Access Memory (RAM) of 512mb minimum, and 1 GB recommended.

2. Video Graphics Card must have 128Mb of graphics memory with 256Mb recommended.

3 VDDM driver, Pixel Shader 2.0, and 32 bits per pixel ( this comes with most of the new Video Graphics cards.)

You must check your PC manual to see if your Video card is in an AGP slot or in the the newer PCI Express slot. They are NOT INTERCHANGABLE, so you need to know this before you buy your new Video card.

4. Your video graphics processor must be DirectX 9.0 capable ( released in 2002 ). This is required in order to show 3D graphics on the screen. DirectX 10.0 will be released by Microsoft soon.

5. Your Microprocessor speed must be 1Ghz min.

6. You will also need at least 50% of your Hard Drive free.

The cost of a new Graphics card can range from $100 to over $500 for the serious gamer. Hard Drives are around $50 for internal drives and $110 for external drives. RAM is about $145 for a pair of 256MB DMM2 memory. You MUST install memory in pairs, of the same amount of memory. A new Microprocessor will cost you another $100 to $300 depending upon what speed you buy, and whether or not you buy a dual core processor or even the brand new quad core.

If you need too much to upgrade, DON'T. The prices after Christmas for VISTA ready computers are as low as $499...it doesn't make financial sense to place all that money in an older PC that has a bus speed of 133Mhz when the newer PC's run at 433Mhz, have dual core microprocessors and can have the latest, real fast RAM of DDR3.

Hope this helps you guys,

[pcarrell]

Man, I leave you guys on your own for just a little while, and what do I find? This place is smack in the middle of page two! FOR SHAME!!!! And now I'll probably have to treat all you mugs to dinner too! EDIT: Whew, dodged a bullet there! Top of the page belongs to someone else!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

I got a pleasant surprise today. As I was checking the latest posts in the Coffee Shop on my forum, I came across one from the young Mr. Parks. Some of you would remember him as David or Trainmaster. He says that they are doing well in Colorado although it is a bit colder there than he would like and he says that the school sucks. What else is new. They did have a problem when they arrived there though, his father had rented an apartment and paid the first 6 months in advance. He then came here to get them and take them to Colorado. Upon arriving, they found that the land lord had rented the apartment out from under them and won't return the money that was paid in advance. Now, if I know David's father, that land lord is gonna be minus some teeth if he doesn't make good on that rental contract or cough up the dough. They already have the law looking into the matter. In the meantime, they're having to stay at a small house in the countryside. Hopefully they get the problem straightened out soon.

[GMTRacing]

Good Evening All,

      Tsk Tsk back to page two again twice in one night. Guess we're all tuckered out from the partying yesterday.

     Got the last of the main line aligned and secured - just waiting for the glue to dry. i finally gave up and use white glue by the cuts for my swing gate. Holds evertthing aligned better than any of the other methods I used (and i tried a few).

DerJohn - no I haven't seen the latest Lotus electric though with their legendary sloppy electrics I'm not sure I wouldn't give it a miss. Both modern the modern Elise and Esprit we've messed with would kill the battery in two weeks no problem.

    Well since I'm done playing with trains for now, I'd like a nice glass of res wine and then it's time to turn in. See you all tomorrow, J.R.

[PA Belt]

wow, hey all, where is every body?  i got the bachmann DCC sysetm instead of the mrc, an im pretty happy with it so far, im going back to the lhs tommarow and picking up 3 more decoders,, an engine, and a resistor for the progrmaing track.  and i got 30 out of the 50 back from the old man(i punched him in the mouth).  ill get the other 20 out of one of his hiding places. 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA 12/27/2006

Sundown Fire Dept., Station 23

Wind Chill: 32°F
Humidity: 88%
Dew Point: 29°F

So Far Today
High: 33°F
Low: 32°F
Rain: 0.00"
Rain Rate: 0.00"/h
Gust: 0mph NNE

Today High: 62 Increasing clouds. Highs in the lower 60s. Southeast winds up to 10 mph.

Tonight Low: 48 Partly cloudy. Not as cool. Lows in the upper 40s. Southeast winds around 10 mph.

[PA Belt]

morning all, i just spent the last 3 hours doing the wireing on my layout, i needa coupel parts from radio shack, ill head out thatway today, as i need to pop back in to the 2 LHS that im now frequent at

[wetidlerjr]

Good morning ! from Indiana.

12-27-06

[PA Belt]

holy poop, its 5:40am, im goin to bed, night all!

[grayfox1119]

Good morning everyone...I guess JEFF and I are the only ones up this morning, everyone else must be sleeping-in this morning, SLAPPY must be in bed now, as he stayed up all night.

JEFF: The coffee was real good this morning....nice job Jeff...a bit chilly this morning so it was real good to have hot coffee ready. We ordered our new pumper fire truck this week, it will be built in South Dakota and will be ready in about 7 months, some of the guys will go out there, check it out, and then drive it back east to Leicester to save on the transportation fees.

Today : I am headed out to the LHS in Warren, Ma, I received two duplicate numbered box cars, so I will exchange them, and of course check out any new after Christmas deals/sales. I do have to make one stop prior to LHS, at the Stove store in Barre, I need to get an air supply retro kit for the woodburner downstairs, the house is too tight and I don't feel that the draft is sufficient , probably caused by burning too much in-house O2 causing a vacuum of sorts.

WEATHER: Here in central MA it is 36F (3C) this morning, RH=75%, DP=34F (2C) with winds out of the West at 3 MPH. Sky is partly cloudy but showing signs of clouding over with possible snow flurries......haven't seen these so far this winter season.

Time to go, see you guys later,

[JimRCGMO]

Good Morning, CS-dwellers. Zoe, a cup of coffee and one of Bill T.'s donuts please. Yep, the chocolate one there. [yum]

Well, Dick, it's 9:10 in the morning here, and we're only up to a crisp 32 F - guess when that gets over your way, those clouds might be cold enough to give you some snow. Good luck on your LHS run.

Jeff, how's your weather been holding up today? Did you get any cooler weather out of this front, or not?

Inch, any more word on Jerry yet? Hope he gets feeling better and that they can send him home soon.

Slappy, sounds like you got some new (DCC) toys to play with (all night? ). Good to hear you got most of your money back, though I hope you didn't really have to literally fight for it. Get some rest, after your all-nighter. Even a young person's body needs some sleep.

I'm going to try to figure out a spending plan/budget for 2007. Think I've been overdoing it a bit, judging from the stack of various building kits and assorted cars and engines I've accumulated this past year. Just want to keep it manageable. Also want to have in mind what I want to get this year, so if I have funds alotted and I see something on my list up on sale, I can stretch those funds a bit further! "Yeah, I can stop anytime I want to..."

Flip, how'd your and Debbie's trip go? Get some enjoyable visiting in, hopefully?

Well, today I need to meet with a friend about getting a different medical coverage. Ask a few questions to fine-tune what's covered and what isn't so I know if it's the deal for me. Then I'll probably stop by the LHS (in town) and see if they have any specials. Hope everyone's day goes great for you!

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[pcarrell]

Morning all!

Another nippy moning here.  26 degrees is chilly in the morning.

Slappy, I do hope you treat your Father with more respect then that.

Jeff, the coffee is good my friend, thanks!

Inch, whats the word on Jerry?  Been tough on him I bet.  I've been praying for him.

[LSWrr]

Good morning all,

38 for the high today and it appears we will get a break from the rain! I have the second module 75% complete, all I have to do is lay ballast, I plan on updating my picture albums this week.  I have two 90 degree turn modules laid out.  Those will be 48" x 48" sections.  I'm running the East Bound main curve at 41" diameter and the West Bound main curve at 38.5" diameter.  This gives me 2.5" between rail centers, which should be enough room for my 2-8-8-0 and my 4-6-6-4 to pass each other (not to mention those heavy weight Pullmans).  I sold my big blue Walther's power plant and looking for a more pre-1950's power plant. I went to the big Cleveland power plant near downtown yesterday and have a good idea what I want to build, will take some kit bashing but I think I can do it. On the first curve I want to set up the coal mine and have hidden tracks to the second curve for the power plant.  The plan is to spot empty hoppers at the coal mine and spot full hoppers at the power plant.  With the hoppers pushed into the hidden tracks the empty hoppers will push out to the power plant and the fulls will push out to the coal mine.  My inspiration came from an old Model Railroader Magazine, but I don't remember what issue.

Jeff, tell David we miss him around these parts and hope he had a good Christmas.

Mike, I look forward to hear more about your DCC adventures, Maybe in 2008 I'll be ready to upgrade from DC.

It sounds like everyone in the coffee shop had a good Christmas.

Lee

[TrainFreak409]

Good Morning-Almost-Afternoon here, y'all.

Kinda chilly out right now...But it's sunny. Yesterday was drizzly raining, but then the sun came out and it heated up to some high 50 degree temperature. Good thing while I was digging through a junk yard. Gotta get me some more trim pieces for my car; I'm painting them black. So far it looks good. I'm not sure if I want to do any painting today due to the cold, but I can fit my skirts and new map lights.

J-Der: The horns are only a bit louder, but both trumpets are firing at the least. I swapped out my grille for a painted one, and while it was off, I blew out the horns and unclogged the one trumpet; so now they work flawlessly. I need to get bigger ones. But these'll do for now. Yeah, school and work is taking away time...And I may be trying another second job after the post-holiday hectic crowds have settled...Need money...

Well y'all, I'm out. God Bless. Stay safe. Prayers to all!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

JEFF: The coffee was real good this morning....nice job Jeff...a bit chilly this morning so it was real good to have hot coffee ready. We ordered our new pumper fire truck this week, it will be built in South Dakota and will be ready in about 7 months, some of the guys will go out there, check it out, and then drive it back east to Leicester to save on the transportation fees.

Grayfox: I remember when we got our first fire truck. A couple of the guys went to Massachusetts to pick it up and drive it all the way back here. They were a couple of tired dudes when they got back. That truck rode like a tank!

Jeff, how's your weather been holding up today? Did you get any cooler weather out of this front, or not?

Jim: We did get some cooler weather, but it's warming up again. Today, it'll be in the 60's.

Lee:I sent an email to David yesterday telling him that he's sorely missed here and on some other forums. I was on top of the world yesterday when I saw his post in my Coffee Shop.

[JimRCGMO]

Just stopping back in the CS (partly because it looked like we were slipping down the Page (1). Zoe, another cup of Jeff's good coffee, to go, please.

PC, looks like you're having as cold a day as we are in Missouri. Hope you stay warm!

Lee, we'll be looking forward to seeing your progress on the layout. Sounds like you've been making good headway on it lately. On the powerhouse, have you looked at DPM's tall powerhouse or their wall modules?

You could assemble a couple or three of those along each side, and add a covered entry for the coal cars (with the car entry kind of like the SS Ltd. (or Magnuson, before them) powerhouse) :

 

Thanks for the info on your layout's curves - I'm not ready for my corner modules yet, but it's good to be reminded of the need for that extra clearance, since I'll have heavyweights also.

Hey - I noticed that the forum's software now does make thumbnails on vertical pics, too! Great! 

Well, I need to get going. Everyone stay comfy warm today, and I'll be back about dinnertime.

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau 

[LSWrr]

Jim,

Thanks for the DPM picture.  There are 4 coal fired power plants near me, all built in the early 1900's  the Downtown Cleveland plant looks like the Walther's brick power plant with the DPM power plant added onto it.  The Downtown Cleveland power plant looks like it also has storage tanks for #5 fuel oil.  Due to the high cost of Natural Gas the local steel plant's blast furnace has been spraying the coke with #5 for a more efficient burn. I'm guessing the power plant may be doing the same thing.  Time to ask for a tour of their plant, I think it would make for an interesting model running tank cars and hoppers to the one facility.

41" diameter turns fit on a 48" x 48" table giving you 3" of straight track on each end so you can line up the next module and smooth out the banking.  I also set the first track 5" on center from the edge of the table so I can attach the yard and round house on the end at a 90 degree angle.

[PA Belt]

morni.. i mean after noon all

PC: i do, but he stole 50 bucks of mine, so i slugged him, just getting back what is rightfully mine

im heading out to LHS today to pick up 1 dh123d decoder and n equifelent for my littel 0-4-0 steamer

just ordered Need for Speed: Carbon with the gift card my uncal gave me. 

[pcarrell]

PC: i do, but he stole 50 bucks of mine, so i slugged him, just getting back what is rightfully mine

Seems as if this is an escalating game of "one bad turn deserves another". 

I think I would have just let him have the $50.  I mean, after all, he did bring me into the world, feed me, clothe me, and look out for me.  If he needs it so bad that he'd steal it from his own son, he must be hurting pretty bad.  But thats just me.

It's your call man!

[inch53]

Got word awhile ago, that JERRY should be home today. Don't know what time for sure, But I'll most likely hear from him when does

inch

[grayfox1119]

Good late afternoon gents, just got back from a very nice trip to the LHS. Fate has funny twists. When I was in the little stove store, in the small country town of Barre, MA, I spotted a guy at the counter in line for service that looked very familiar to me. Sure enough, it was a guy that I had hired way back in 1981 at Digital Equipment Corp. I had not seen him since about 1993. He has recently moved back to MA from FL ( too much traffic and lack of HiTech work). What were the chances of meeting an old friend like that in such a small out of way store??!!!

As we drove from Barre to Warren (LHS), it started to SNOW!!! There was actually enough to cover the ground in some areas, hit and miss from location to location.

The LHS had many new items in the store, and, the UPS guy arrived while I was there, and the owner opened the three large boxes to show me the latest things arriving. Athearn has retooled, and they have some really nice cars. Todays shipment had truck carriers for flatbed cars, and the frames are metal for excellent tracking. The trailors have gears that actually work and trucks to use at the terminals with dolly wheels that operate....I can't believe the detail!!!!. He also showed me a new line of old time cars and trucks that are coming out from Ricko......if you want to see some detail, check these babies out!!! Now I must warn you, they are not cheap, they are in the price range of $12-$15. They are metal, and worth every penny......                                        

The new tanker cars that arrived from Athearn, were so complete in detail that they actually had the reflector stripes on the sides AND top of the cars, and, had the anti rollover mechanism on the rear sides of the cars.....what detail!!!!

I also got to see the new P2K 2-10-2 with QSI sound and DCC in operation. A woman from CT was there with her husband and bought it for him for his birthday. The QSI sound was unbelievable!!! Guys, if you have not heard this locomotive yet, you HAVE to go to your LHS and see/hear this beauty in action. They list for $465, he was selling it for $365 if on charge card, $355 cash/check. The sounds were as real as I could ever imagine, and from what I remember as a kid, hearing these big steam engines.

Of course I exchanged the two duplicates that I received for Christmas, and bought :

1. Roundhouse Wellville Addison & Galeton 36' Box car,
2. Kadee MEC 40' PS-1 boxcar
3. Athearn Maine Central 4 window Caboose
4. Athearn Swift 40' wood reefer
5. Atlas 11,000 gal tank car ( Gulf Oil )
6. Atlas 11,00 gal tank car MTCX
7. Ricko 1931 Lincoln Model  K

JEFF: Was that a new fire truck or a used one? In anycase, that sure is a tough ride in a fire truck of any age/make. The trip from South Dakota will be all on I-90 I believe.

MIKE: That sure is good news about Jerry, he will be happy to be back home for sure!!

JIM: That was fast service, the snow arrived a mere 1 hr after you promised some....how did you do that ?????

   Last night I watched the new DVD I bought of that great train movie, Emporer of the North. Now I am puzzled by one part. When #19 was racing for the passing siding at full speed, while a fast mail train was headed straight towards them in sight, #19 barreled onto the siding with no time to spare as the Mail train sped past nearly clipping the caboose. What kind of turnout allowed #19 to turn onto the passing siding at full speed with no one throwing the switch......the mail train was on the same main line and roared right past so the switch had to be set for main line, how did #19 get onto the passing siding? Is called " Hollywood Special effects"???????

Time for supper, we will see who has the answer when I return...I am betting on Jeff.

[rtraincollector]

PC sent you an email thru the forum let me know if you got it

 

RT

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Grayfox: We bought our first truck round 95 or 96. It was a 71 ford Custom Cab with a 1250 Waterous pump. It was an old gasoline rig with a 534 ci engine and 5 speed. It w3ould barely make 50 mph.

[Attaboy]

Good evening everyone.

Dick, 8:47 AM and you thought no one else was up?  I wish!  By then I had been up for three and a half hours and at work for two hours.  That's why I sleep a little later on my days off.

Jerry, hope you made it home today and are feeling better.

Not much going on around here right now.  I got my first serious cold of the season.  It started yesterday at work and got worse over night.  I went in this morning but came home early.  Kind of hard to concentrate on the work when your nose is running, throat is sore, and eyes are watering so much it's hard to read a computer screen.  Tomorrow is wait and see.  I always have trouble deciding whether to go in when I don't feel good or stay home to avoid spreading my germs around the office.  Guess I'll wait and see how I feel in the morning.

Eyes are starting to water again, see you later.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Sorry I haven't been on much today, but I've been flat on my back most of the day. I guess I got one of those bugs that's been going around.

[PA Belt]

hey all i hate mikey d's, there food gave me food poisoining.  bad news about my layout, i need to tear it down and start over, the 7.5% grade = uncoupeles my new bachman gp35 every time i try to take it, so its being rebuilt from the gound up, ill pick up a set of hourses from lowes and a 4x8 from my dads, im goina built a shelf layout, much easier to maintain.  any one want to send me a 4x8 sheet of plywood and 2 sheets of 4x8x1" foam?it would be much apriciated.

[pcarrell]

PC sent you an email thru the forum let me know if you got it

 

RT

I'll let you know in the morning.  Thats my work Email.

[PA Belt]

sorry bout my last message, it didnt make seance, but yes, im building a shelf layout in my bed room