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

[Anonymous]

Good morning



Happy MRRing 

[james saunders]

Man! I need to drop by more often!! 5 or 6 pages to catch up on!!!

I have been extremely busy lately with sporting comittments, and work and haven't had much time to get any mrr done.

I have had time for a couple of days last week to railfan, which is good, as i am quickly getting better and better at using the advanced features on my DSLR, it's all coming flooding back! as in the last few years i had drifted out of the rail photography hobby, but with the DSLR is allowing me to get back into it with ease.


Fergie, Hope your dad gets better soon.

good to see some new faces and well worn ones in the coffee shop

well thats all from me for now,

OzJim.

[egmurphy]

Good Evening Coffee Clubbers

Another quiet weekend here at the ranch.  Did very little around here.  Slept in late both days (at Fran's request, she likes to sleep late on weekends). 

I did a little work on the trains.  A couple of days ago I finally finished up that tank car kit that I had been working on last weekend.  When all was said and done, it was fun (if a bit frustrating).    So I figured it was time to try my hand at weathering.

I'd never "dirtied" up a car before, so I was a bit nervous about sacrificing my recent efforts.  I have a resin cast tank that I have been using as an elevated fuel oil storage tank for my locomotives.  About the same size and shape as the new tank car.  So I tried the technique out on that first.

I recently bought one of the assortment packages of the Bragdon Weathering Powders.  These are very fine ground powders with a pressure sensitive glue ground in.  Supposedly they don't need a top coat of dullcoat to fix the powders in place.  So it was time to break open the package and try them out.

I was very pleased with the product.  I was able to achieve the look I was going for very easily.  Hey, this isn't fine scale weathering, just basic 'making it look old and used'.  Most fotos of cars I've seen down here have a preponderance of dust.  That seems to be the most noticeable thing about old cars down here.

Anyway, here are my first two cars.  The new Intermountain 8,000 gal kit is on the left.  The car on the right is a very old cheap Atlas tank car that I picked up somewhere for a couple of bucks. 

I was so caught up in the weathering that I did a couple of boxcars while i was at it.  This should be fun.

Best regards

Ed

[PA Belt]

hey yall, finished my neighbors up rebuild, he snapped it in half

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Paul: Not a whole lot. The only part I really had to put it on thick was the new section and some deep holes in the old section. Now I'm just filling in holes where the mountains from the old layout were pulled up.

[Paul W. Beverung]

Hi Gang:

Ferggie: Hope your dad gets to feeling better soon. I’m sure that he will miss his garden but he’ll have yours to admire. Teffy says Hi and he’s going to call tonight if he hasn’t all ready. I saw the heavy 2-10-2 in Walthers catalogue. It really looks good. There is a train show in two weeks maybe there will be some there.

Trent: Sounds like you have been busy. I’ll bet you can’t wait until that Emily gets here. I wonder if you’re going to be able to keep it quite.

Ngart: I’ll second and Third the looking good. Actually having the refinery on the bridge could save money on real restate and make loading tank cars easy.

Flip good to see you.

Jeff: The mud looks good. How much more do you have to do?

Ed: Thanks for the picks of your trip. Those F units really look good. I like that color scheme.

Well I’m off to bed. I stayed up too late last night and was really bushed all day.

Good Night To All

[TRENT B]

Howdy Folks,

Put in 14hrs. yesterday on an install (15' x 13' G-gauge) and 4hrs on Mon. to finish. One down one to go! Man I'm tired! Boss gonna be gone for a week for vacation before the install. Gonna be a long haul, 2 1/2 days for the install.

Fergie- Glad to hear your dad is up but am still praying for full recovery! Hope you get some down time to rest and work on the RR.

Paul- I REALLY miss having a garden and a basement to store stuff in.(train room to work in year round too)

ED- Loved the Green engines, and glad you had a good time with your trip.

My 7yr old can't wait for cooler weather so the two of us can go work on the layout. Her mane is Emily and I've backordered a Bachmann Emily so she can run it on the layout. She doesn't know yet so I am havng trouble waiting.

Hi to the newbies, prayers for all, and appologies for not writing more. Wish I had more time cause I miss your friendship.

Keep 'em on the rails!

Trent

[JimRCGMO]

 Jeff's comments - so far, great! If it weren't so 'bloody' far, I'd be inclined to hire you to come do a background for me!

And thanks, Jeff, for the info on PC's ETA back here. Now, wonder where the rest of the crew is hiding out?

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Looking good.

[ngartshore350]

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick photo dump, before setting off to work.

I have finished the rear backdrop after joining the two halves, pictures below.

Please excuse the mess and the new prototypical look of the refinery constructed as part of a bridge.

I will get to the clouds later, just trying to get all the backdrops completed first! Photos are from the cell phone so not amazing quality, I am picking up a new EOS400D body this week I hope, so the quality should improve!

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jim: Pc told me that he'd be off probably until Wednesday, when he'll get his internet back. He may check in sooner from work.

As for me, I'm getting ready to play in the mud some more, soon as my helper gets back.

[JimRCGMO]

Hi Chloe - I think I'll have a root beer float, since Chris is buying. Thanks, Chris!

Shawn - sounds like you should have a good start on some space with a 2 X 6 (in N scale). Do you have any layout designing software? If you have a Windows ‘puter, Atlas has their (FREE!) RTS that you can download, and the folks here could suggest other possibilities. If you’re using a Macintosh, email me and I’ll send you links to couple or so that are worthwhile for helping you make plans. Sounds like you’re gonna have a more modern layout than mine. I’m modeling freelance, in the mid-to-late 1950’s, in the Four Corners area (AZ/NM/UT/CO), so my motive power is some steam and first generation diesels like GP-7’s or 9’s, SW-7/1200 (the MP15’s would be too late, as would the SW1500), and F-3’s/F-7’s. I may have some SD-7’s if I get more space, or some E-9’s. But then again, my RR line is strapped for cash usually, so it’s more likely that they’d buy their stuff secondhand anyway.

Mike, thanks for the wishes on my coaling station. My main dilemma right now is - I don’t know that I have a space big enough to put a coaling station on my current setup - tracks are too close together, for the most part, to put in a coaling tower. So this engine facility may just have to be a later one for diesels only...

Chris H., I’m sure that designation for HO scale came from the (allegedly) ‘Normal’ scale people in here...

Jerry, when the day starts with the stove blowing up the pie plate, it’s gotta get better from there. Hope the Cards continue the (brief) winning streak this afternoon!

Jeff, your work looks pretty good. Remember to check your clearances before the mud hardens up much. You don’t want to have to take the (scale) dynamite to it to get space for your cars and engines to get through there.

PC, PC, wherefore art thou, PC?

Steve and Fergie, I added you (and your families) and Dads to our church’s prayer list, so there’ll be more people putting in for ya. Keep us posted on the progress.

Flip, are you saying that you're concerned you might wake up without that ponytail if Debbie got peeved at you? That is a nice rug in your pic - thanks for the info on it. Someday I might try to find one sort of like that for myself. Have to put that in the 'future purchases budget' (not the MRR'ing one - the other one).

Beautiful day outside this afternoon, weather-wise. We’re at 81 (F) degrees already, and supposed to reach mid-80’s today. Gonna get out a little and enjoy some sun. Then I’ll come back home and continue track-laying. Might try to figure if there’s some way of fitting a coaling station into the current layout space...

Hope everyone gets some nice weather this afternoon, also.

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[fec153]

Good afternoon all. Puter acted up and just got on. Still playing catch-up. Only behind 5 pages.

Jeff- like that curved bridge.  Best of luck on your job.       Heard from RT but my reply wouldn't get thru.    Fergie-- very sorry to read about your dad. Still on our prayer list.  I'd like to trade a crate of local oranges for your beets.

Cape Jim- Last week you mentioned the rug I was on. It is a Native American design. Deb is an Irish lass with Cherokee and Southern Cheyenne blood from grandparents on both sides. I sure as heck try to stay on her good side.  

Well , back to page 1207.         ttfn

Flip

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Jerry: I hope you have better luck as the day goes on. I've had explosions in the kitchen before myself, usually eggs when the water boiled off. That makes a wonderful mess.

I'm still playing in the mud. This is what I've done so far this morning. Looking at doing more this afternoon.

More to come.

Time for lunch!

[Cox 47]

Good morning all......Its sunny and pleasant here this morning....I'll have one of Bill's Breakfast plates please and coffee.....Today started with a "boom" Sallie had a pie plate of corn bread on the back of the stove she thought she turned on a front burner but got the one in the back that the glass pie pan was setting on... loud explosion lots of broken glass ..What a mess....Things have got to get better...My brother gave me a call and he isn't come down today so i think I'll check out the Cards ball game on TV ..the Bears play tonite but we are hooked on the Great Race....I am messing around with burnishing foil over N scale cars to make "junkers" for my junk pile so far not to much luck...Well you all have a good Sunday...Jerry

[91rioja]

Well, I guess today is on me.  Ya'll enjoy.  I'll be back later to pick up the tab.

C

[91rioja]

Late Mornin Ya'll.

Stayed up a little too late last night, so paid for it this AM.  Nother nice day here in NC.  We had some rain last night, but today is cool and clear.  Time go go back into the yard to finish what I started yesterday.

Inch and Jim at the Cape, I don't know what the burning laws are here, but the wife won't let me play with fire.  I tried to convince her that some gas and a match would take care of our underbrush problem.  I have tons of honeysuckle and grapevine the size of a half-dollar that is wrapped around everything.  Got some nice trees back there, but you just have to find them.

Jim, Horribly Oversized here (and just where did that come from?????), working on my second layout (some of you here helped me with it a few months back) and planning my third.  I am a N&W and VGN freelancer during the diesel era.  I was raised in Roanoke Va, so the N&W VGN connection is close to my heart.  I have a 9' x 10' train room with an around the walls layout under construction.  I am planning my dream layout which will be N&W and VGN between Roanoke and Bluefield.

Gotta run, or I'll never get out to the yard. . .   I hear my couch calling. . .

Chris

[Anonymous]

JimRCGMO, thanks for the B&N tip! I am going to give them a try this afternoon. This is an issue I really want to have.

I model in Normal scale. ;-) Phase 1 of my shelf layout is 2' x 6' and although track is laid, it is not mounted on the all anymore. A move has me trying to figure out where to put it comfortably. CSX coal country is my cup of tea. Bethgons, hoppers and AC4400s remain on the top of my buying list. My goal is create a yard that services two loaders in Phase 1 and 2. When the next move occurs (long story), we've agreed to a room for the trains!

Thanks for the welcome!
Shawn

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Must be exciting, watching paint dry. I'm going to have to try it myself sometime.

[ModelTrainLover]

well it's 12:30am I'm listening to country music.

well my current scenery plans are 100% done!! ya!!! now all I need to do is watch the paint dry!! lol

I'm gon'a quote myself on this one!! LOL

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning and top 'o' the day to all of ye. I'll have this shis morning.

On tap for today is more layout work. I'm going to try to get more drywall mud down for the scenery base.

[inch53]

Mornin all, think I'll have what Bills havin, oj, an coffee, Janie.

Fergie,  we're still thinkin of ya'll n your dad, hope things keep improving.

Jim CG,,, good luck with with the coaling tower, sounds like a fun project.

Steve,,, good to hear from you, hope things get on to the healther oveer there soon. We'll be thinking of ya'll

Football and nascar planned for this afternoon and kids comin for supper. #3 son and his boy's burthen day was last Thur., same day, so mother's fixing supper for them. Hoping fo some MRR time during the games. Need ta get to chores, ya'll have a gooden

inch

[JimRCGMO]

Good morning ! from Indiana.



Good morning ! from Indiana.


10-01-06

Zoe, I'll have one of those, please. Now THAT’S what I call a breakfast, Bill!

Steve, good to see you back in the CS again. I will definitely be praying for you and your Dad.

Fergie, continuing prayers for your Dad. Sounds like he was one master gardener (even if he was a pack rat). Before the house sells, you might take several photos of the garden so he can remember how good it looked (I know, you probably already may have done that). I can see where you probably picked up some of the skills you used in doing your yard.

Need to get myself washed up and ready for church, so I'll get going.

Blessings on your Sunday,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[wetidlerjr]

Good morning ! from Indiana.

Good morning ! from Indiana.

10-01-06

[steveblackledge]

Top of the morning to you,

It's been a while for me since the last visit, so much has happened, what with building work, work work and more work, hopefully things are starting to settle down to a steady pace. I am back on with the great re-build of the Yarrow valley sub, things are progressing at a slow but steady pace, things are not to good on the health front, i had a brain scan last week and am having another more detailed one in 2 hrs so hopefully i'll get the results soon, that will go a LONG way to setteling the nerves. Then it's off to visit my uncle in the next ward who's just had major surgery for the big c, after that it's off to another hospital to visit my dad who's also had surgery, Phewww, then it's time for a cuppa,

Fergie say hi to your dad from me, hope Lisa'a bones are healing up, are they still in plaster

Ed that's a great trip you had by the looks of the pictures

 

catch you later

[ModelTrainLover]

well it's 12:30am I'm listening to country music.

well my current scenery plans are 100% done!! ya!!! now all I need to do is watch the paint dry!! lol

[PA Belt]

hey yall

[Fergmiester]

Good Evening All

Where to start?

Been a very hectic day or two as I spent most of the day at Dad's, with Lisa and her Mom cleaning, cleaning and dare I say it...

Dad isn't into house work per say  (though it still doesn't look too bad, but man-O-man what a pack rat!)  but rather he bought the place to make a nice garden, which is finally, after eight years, coming to fruition. It is unfortunate he will not enjoy it much longer, providing it sells. If a gardener comes to look at it consider it sold!

Dad is coming around but slowly, very slowly as the infection he has is known as C Difficile. the good thing is it isn't the same strain that killed 600 in Quebec a few years back. Saying that he still isn't out of the woods quite yet and won't be for several weeks.

Again thank you for all your thoughts, prayers and well wishes. They are appreciated.

Noah: good to see you as I was thinking aboout you recently as you hadn't been around in quite some time. Young but mature members are always appreciated and between you, trainwreck and trainfreak you keep the average age down and respectable! (Triple digits are not a good thing!) As for the school shootings they are a concern to all of us, especially those of us that have kids in school. Yeh, say it isn't so but I have a 15 year old in high school. ( Oh Gawd I'm get'n old!)

Paul: Did ya see the heavy 2-10-2 by Walthers in last months MR? Oh so sweet!

Well Gents' time to shut her down and call her a night!

Later All

Fergie

[JimRCGMO]

Hi Janie - a cup of mocha and a hot fudge sundae, please. So - do I thank Ed, or you ladies? Well, thank you to whichever is due.

Chris H (91rioja) and Shawnvann! Have a cup on me. What’re your layouts (planned or started) like? Scale? (Horribly Oversized - as some call it - or Nearly invisible, Supersized, or Oversized) Do you model a specific line or just freelance, like me and some others? Inquiring (nosy?) minds want to know, and all that. I think you’ll find the Coffee Shop a noisy (at times) bunch, but friendly. Enjoy, and give your orders to our virtual servers, Zoe and Chloe (the twins), Janie (and Flo’s in some evenings, too). Watch out for the top of page - if you hit it, you get the (virtual) bill for the crew that part of the day. Luckily, our lovely servers take the plastic and can work out a payment plan. But watch out that you don’t get on Chloe’s cousin Vinny’s bad side by running too late...

Shawnvann, I saw the November MR issue this afternoon at our local Barnes & Noble (local LHS doesn’t carry it), so it should be in at your LHS. So if your LHS gets in copies, I’d be looking pretty quick before the others beat you to it. As others have said yesterday or so in here, this issue has several good articles in it - on scenery, a Poelle Soeberg (wrong spelling, but if you’ve see his stuff you know who I mean) article on mountain scenery, the article on streets & sidewalks is pretty good, and an article on how to make a low-relief (background) building look somewhat believeable. Plus an article on the ins and outs of adding interior lights to buildings. Worth a look!

Chris H., how much stuff did you and your wife clear out? Is any of it wood that’s big enough to cut up for fireplace use? Or what’re your local burn ordinances like? Might be able to get rid of some of it one of those ways, maybe.

RT - I’d forgot that not only is O scale bigger, but the prices are similarly bigger too. I’d agree with the others, that you should have a pretty nice layout with the locos and cars you’ve mentioned before (plus the ones you may have coming).

Jeff, you sure like your food hot - you want an enchilada with that Tobasco sauce? I ‘ll let you have my share of the Tobasco sauce, too (please)!

Ed, that FP-9 looks nice on the outside. Maybe they’ll be able to get its innards fixed up and working soon enough. Thanks for posting the photos.

Noah, the sad part is that those events continue to happen. Our local news on the evening after that shooting had a segment on local schools’ security, and one principal said that we’re never going to be totally able to secure buildings (short maybe of turning them into almost prison-like places). Like you said, a lot of this we have to turn over to Him. Good luck with your railfanning tomorrow - I’m sure you’ll get some good pics, based on your past exploits.

PC been heard from today? Wonder how his move went...
Wondering how Lisa’s been doing, too.

Jerry, your junk yard sounds like fun - post some photos once you get them. When I’ve been looking through Walthers’ catalog, the ones I like are a tad overpriced, and in MR ads the one I like the look of, isn’t offered in HO anymore. So maybe scratchbuilding one like you’re doing might be the way to go for me. Great to hear the Cards are hangin’ in there. This season’s been a game here and there, but those Redbirds have had difficulty getting together more than one win in a row.

Hey, Colby - what’ve you been up to?

Picked up my coaling station this morning (bought the Model Power one, and going to modify it some), and got a PVC pipe fitting cut to the size I need (going to use it to scratchbuild another coaling station from a MR article). On the MP kit, I’ll probably do ladders instead of the stairs-looking things that came with it, plus find some additional ways to add more details to it. The scratchbuilt coaling station is a T.W. Snow (25 ton) model, and the plans/directions are in the October 1980 MR issue (p. 78 on). Should look nice when I get it done (I hope).

Hope everyone’s having a good evening. Prayers for those in need, and for those we haven’t heard from lately.

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[inch53]

Evening all, I'll have a barleypop dear.

Didn't get any MRR time today, no rain like forecast, so it was outside chores and grand daughters.

Jeff,,, The scrap yards knew me and I always drove to what I wanted, also carried enough tools most the time do the the job.

91rioja,, no problem with brush here, just goes to the burn pile out back.

ED,, glad your trip went well there to the show, looks like you plenty of fun, and the pics are great, thanks.

Noah,,, good to hear from you, know your busy with school n all, no problem.  Heard bout the principle up your way, sad very sad. Our thoughts be with the family.

Best get going KC wants to help me and she's not much help yet

inch