Elliott's Trackside Diner XIII

[twhite]

Afternoon all from Get-Ready-It's-About-To-Happen-Again-Cal:

Yup, we've got another series of big T-storms moving up the Valley from that low pressure system spinning off of the Coast.  Supposed to hit us about seven or eight this evening.  Oh well, got the yard kinda/sorta cleaned up from last night's, so it will be interesting to see what blows in with this NEXT one! 

Jeff:  So glad to hear that your mom came thorugh the operation well.  Don't know what to tell you about the shaved head, though.  Walk softly for a while?     Liked your photos, especially the SOUTHERN PACIFIC bleeding through the L&A logo.  Looks neat.  Unfortunately, out here in SunnyCal, you hardly ever see SP anymore, UP seems to have repainted everything with a vengeance. 

Ray:  So glad your Robins 'fledged'.  And it was great of you to take care of them to allow it.  You da man, guy!  .   And I love the photo of Blackie.  What a sweet looking kitty.  I had a B&W cat some years ago, named him "Tux" and he was the designated 'daddy' to my first Maine Coon kitten Lowell, and later to Spooky.  Raised them well, he did--and he had his hands full with those two, believe me!  One INCREDIBLY patient and very sweet cat.  I lost him WAY too early to cancer, but he's still got a special place in my heart.  Blackie looks like a real sweetheart.   

Well, found out one thing:  I had a Major DUHHH!  moment with my Genesis F-3's stalling in reverse.  It wasn't the locomotives, it was the gol-darned BLOCK I was running them on.  Brought them into the kitchen table, a piece of test track, they ran beautifully in either direction.  Took another loco out, put it on the same block and--OOPS!  So at least now I get to trace wiring and not disassmble locos.   And don't any of you tell me that if I were DCC this wouldn't have happened, by golly.  On DCC, I'd probably have set fire to the GARAGE! .  Just kidding.

So now, I get to go out and play Sherlock Holmes with the wiring.  Okay, I know it will end up being a simple fix, but it will probably turn out to be extremely complicated FINDING that simple fix. 

But hey, my hobby is Model Railroading.  It brings out my Masochistic Tendencies. 

Speaking of, time I get out there and do some detective work before the storm rolls in. 

Best to all, prayers to those in need.

Tom

Well, by golly, I see dinner's on me.  Whatever everyone else is having, Flo.  I'm in the mood for Sauerbraten and Kartoffel.  Oh yah, don't forget the cabbage and carrot salad.  Um, got any of that Black Forest Cake left for dessert?   And maybe a good Pilsner?  Or SIX?! 

Tom

 

[Hoople]

 Afternoon everyone.

It's hotter than hell (Name the band, anyone?) over here in Seattle, been in the 90's the past couple'a days.

Jim: I know that. MR plans... Well, I've got a few. I've got to fix the destruction left by the kitty-zillas, re-do the hill up to the gravel quarry, and hopefully finish the mountain.... That's basically what I've got to do.

Vincent (Packer): Yeah, it's good. Try looking around the net for an RIS upgrade. I'm sure you can find one somewhere... Otherwise, look into Echo 1. Very good for the money... M16's and M4's with ABS bodies and a fair amount of metal go for around $130-$180. I was going to get an M4 with RIS, and I had two options. One with the battery in a fake PEQ box, and one with a full stock that housed the battery... I didn't want the PEQ, it couldn't fit a large battery. I didn't want the full stock on an M4, and then I found the M16 DMR. Perfect compromise... Extra length for better accuracy, full stock for a large battery, and RIS.
______________________________________

Okay, so yesterday was 8th grade graduation. I got a lot of stuff from relatives... I didn't expect that, but it was nice, what can I say? I got $280 which will cover that M16 nicely, a Fender Starcaster, which I assume is just a cheap strat. I also got a digital keyboard with recording features so I can start to compose my own music... Mwuhaahahahahaha...

That's it for now.

Mark

[AmanaMedic]

Hoople

It's hotter than hell (Name the band, anyone?)

 

You wanted the best and you got the best, the hottest band in the world...KISS!

What can I tell ya Mark, I grew up on that stuff...

JEFF: GLAD your mother is doing well. Sounds like maybe you oughta stay outta her way for ahwile though 'eh? Or....hats, lots and lots of hats to rotate through, pick from.

BAMA CSX: I was wondering how the 70% would work-out for you. I haven't even had 90% do much of anything, so I just go right for the brake fluid. Haven't destroyed anything yet...then again, I'm stripping good old black Athearn plastic more often than anything. I have heard some of the newer plastics don't hold up well to it. Your Athearn GP-40 oughta be just fine (crosses fingers, rubs lucky rabbit's foot).

Wrote the article on The Bugman today...THAT editor "should" like it just fine... the pics didn't turn out as well as I'd hoped, BUT for what essentially is a free half-page ad for the guy; shouldn't be any squawking. I also got a big chunk of the backyard mowed...shoulda done more/started earlier. The weather speculators have moved up the timing of this weekend's rain...and the amounts. Sounds like wer'e gonna be rather wet.

Time to grab a RBF and slip into a corner booth and see what all else is a-going on in here tonight...

Chris

 

 

[blownout cylinder]

Hoople

Okay, so yesterday was 8th grade graduation. I got a lot of stuff from relatives... I didn't expect that, but it was nice, what can I say? I got $280 which will cover that M16 nicely, a Fender Starcaster, which I assume is just a cheap strat. I also got a digital keyboard with recording features so I can start to compose my own music... Mwuhaahahahahaha...

That's it for now.

I love the last bit. Then after you put the music together---you go straight into arranging---heeheehee Now, the question is---do you have a stand for the keyboard that can take getting pounded on? If not---find one ---you will need it---believe this puppy----

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Chloe - I'll have one of those big oatmeal raisin cookies and some coffee in a D&RGW mug, please. Thanks!

First off - Jeff, good to hear your Mom's pulled through in good shape (and that you have a place to hide for a while...). I'll keep your Dad in my prayers, though. Good job on your 'patched' cars (hey, if you lucked out on the patch job, that's a bonus, right?

Robby P.

Jim.......... Its a rusting agent called "Sophisticated Finishes".  

http://www.modernoptions.com/

 

Thanks, Robby, their finishes look pretty interesting. I'll have to find who carries them and is closest to me (or from whom I can order). That boxcar you posted this morning (Thurs.) looks like a good ol' candidate for the RIP track, real soon now...  Hey, did you mean your LHS had that diesel in W&LE paint? (Or in the D&RGW, so you could paint over and re-letter for the W&LE?)

Barry - one of our supervisors at work every so often will print out one of those posters from that website.

Vincent, good to see you back - will look forward to seeing how you did your boxcars. Always enjoy a good, weathered-up boxcar...

Jerry, after seeing the final score on the Cards' game last night (as our #1 Cards fan at work put it): "Let's not talk about it." It'd be very nice to see them get things going this year, but I'm not holding my breath this time around. Good to hear the news on your Visiting Nurse.

Paul, I hear you on the hay and rain. Earlier this week (when I was driving out to one of the further jails to assess someone), I saw several round bales stacked alongside a fence, and it was supposed to rain that evening. I was thinking that the farmer there probably was hoping the rain would hold off until he could at least get tarps over the bales to reduce the damage. Good to hear Mary Ann's going good with her dialysis (well, okay - except for some of the staff...).

Ray, I guess I'm (sorta) starting to recognize some of the (older) diesels. I was thinking that looked about like some kind of F-M HH series! So, does that guy with the chainsaw in your bedroom wake up the birds in the morning? Only seems fair enough to me, with the mornings that the #&^*% chirpees start up outside my bedroom window at 5 a.m. (when my alarm isn't set to go off until 6...). Now, your robins probably wouldn't do like my birdies here do. Nice photo (both the robins and Blackie).

Bama - on the Kadees, I think (if you have one) the Walthers HO catalog has that chart in it, also. Good luck on getting all your train stuff updated from the horn-hooks!

Man, PC - that's some serious storm damage (for it not also being a tornado or having straight-line winds)! (Oh, it probably DID have one with it, I see)

JR, great to hear you're getting that much closer to having your own place again. Keep us posted (and keep 'er on the track!).

Ole Timer - while I like the looks of those articulateds, if it's bigger than a 2-4-4-2, I don't have the room for them on my layout (not even once I get that spare room to put the expanded layout in). But I can enjoy seeing those of Calif.Tom and the other Diners.

And speaking of you, Tom - hey, you've known for quite a while that those two cats are NOT your ordinary kind of furrballs, haven't you? Why should you be surprised that they're into massive thunderboomers? Oh, when will you be posting some more pics of your articulateds? At least the hills should be moist for a while (and help the reservoirs that didn't flood over the dams last night..). As for your fair state, I think (from local news reports) that Illinois is in just about as bad of (financial) shape - their governor and legislators are trying to figure out all the services that they'll have to cut (let's see, senior services, mental health, probably electricity on alternate days...) to balance the Illinois state budget. I think Missouri's either doing okay, or at least isn't hemmoraging cash so far. Thank Heaven for that! Oh, on your layout's wiring, is it possible that your raccoon was an amateur electrician and decided to 'help' you rewire a block or two?

Hey, Mark, sounds like a good haul on your graduation presents - "Rock On!"

Chris, I was wondering how much rain your area had been getting, with all the storms our weather guys are showing to the north of us (along the Iowa-Missouri line). Stay safe up there!

I'll slide into the booth and finish off this cookie before I head for home. Prayer will continue for those in need of comfort, healing or hair...

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[blownout cylinder]

twhite

Ray:  So glad your Robins 'fledged'.  And it was great of you to take care of them to allow it.  You da man, guy!  .   And I love the photo of Blackie.  What a sweet looking kitty.  I had a B&W cat some years ago, named him "Tux" and he was the designated 'daddy' to my first Maine Coon kitten Lowell, and later to Spooky.  Raised them well, he did--and he had his hands full with those two, believe me!  One INCREDIBLY patient and very sweet cat.  I lost him WAY too early to cancer, but he's still got a special place in my heart.  Blackie looks like a real sweetheart. 

Tom, Ray: I agree with the comments!!

Right now, "Spring" is between my arms, hence me doing the two finger hunt and peck. Quietly purrrrring away to us. thsi is his time for cuddling so here I be doing this over a quietly purrring purrmotor

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Good evening diners......

I see some great work on some freight cars..... Jerry's coal hoppers, Jeff's covered hoppers, and Robby's box cars. Bravo!

Here's an interesting idea from one of the prototypes. My friend, Gus, tells me about IC's SD40's. IC painted them black, but over time, some of the black wore off, and you could see BN green showing through. I've not seen them or any photos of them. I can imagine, however, it would make an interesting weathered model. This would be something other than "patching".

I have been operating the layout today. I was switching the oil dealer and the grain elevator with my old NP 2-8-0. Other steam today were Burlington 2-8-2 and 4-6-2.  These are normal sized steam locos instead of those huge monsters operated by others in the diner. ...... Also, I was running the Texas Special with an Alco PA (surprised?) Other diesels today were CB&Q GP7's (I use those more than any others) and my E5's.

I'm still looking into DCC, but I have a lot of old locos to changeover if I do that.

Happy Model Railroading

 

[AmanaMedic]

JimRCGMO

Chris, I was wondering how much rain your area had been getting, with all the storms our weather guys are showing to the north of us (along the Iowa-Missouri line). Stay safe up there!

 

Hiya JIM, we haven't had much here, rained late Monday night and pretty much all day Tuesday. Just enough to turn the cut yard into something looking more like a pasture by today. They're calling for rain, rain, and more rain tomorrow through Sunday. Looking at the Storm Prediction Center, it looks like we "could" be in a slight risk for severe on Sunday. Of course, they'll refine THAT more as the hours and days tick off. Thanks for askin', and stay safe down there!

BAMA CSX: Hey, I forgot to mention, I looked up the right coupler for the Ath. GP-40-2 and came up with #38 as well. Whenever the Walthers order shows up, I'll let you know if they work or not...I've got a pack coming for mine.

Weekly FACETIME with THAT editor tomorrow... plus my 7-month review, postponed from the 6-month mark. They'll probably keep me...heck, maybe I'll get a raise. Then again...I'm not gonna hold my breath on THAT.

Have a good night, all...

Chris

[Cox 47]

Evening All...Just stopped infor a RBF...

Jim....Cards came back tonite..Carpenter pitched a great game and Albert had great nite too...

Gary..That sounds like an interesting IC unit..I'd like to see a photo...

You all have a good nite...Jerry

[Cederstrand]

An icecream sandwich, please.

Have only been down to the train room once in the past couple weeks. Picked up a little (HO) farm house in need of repairs for the wife. Got myself one of these (N) Japanese buildings for my own layout. I'll call it the "Lyoto Machida Studio", to represent an MMA fighter whose skills impress me.

Not much else to report on. Been busy with farm stuff mostly. Feeling a bit better than last week and BP has come down some.

Healing thoughts to those in need.

Rob

[Hoople]

Evening.

So, today I learned the main riff from Rock and Roll Train, and I got the solo to Highway to Hell down. Next? I don't know. We'll get there later.

Jim: Yeah, it was.

Barry: I suppose there's a story to that, eh? Well, anyways, not yet. It's on a table by my drumset in the computer room, or as I call it, the music room (It has the kit, the strat, and the keyboard in it). Yeah, I'm going to enjoy composing... Listening carefully to AC/DC helps, because they use the same notes over and over in different patterns... Mostly D, A, G, and E chords, or modified versions of them. 

Chris: Well of course you got it right. Kiss is a good band... Don't know any songs on guitar yet, but I'll change that this summer.

Night all,

Marl

 

[pcarrell]

[LSWrr]

Good morning, I’m way behind on the daily comments.  I went to the Euclid MRR club Wednesday night and donated a MRC dual control power pack to operate the turntable and locomotives.  The youth group club on the other side of the basement took interest of my scrap loads.


Lee

[Robby P.]

Another cool morning.  What happened to the warm weather???

I will probably work on another hopper.  Gotta give it that used look.  Maybe do some stuff around the house.  Get it cleaned up a bit.

Jim.........The engine is already in the W&LE paint scheme.  I looked on a few websites for this engine.  They either were sold out, or didn't carry it.  I guess its a hard one to find.

Well I guess I better go.   Have a good one.

 

[blownout cylinder]

Hello---

And a good morning to you as a helicopter tries to land on our head--the dang things have been flying pretty low around here of late. We've got lotsa sun with a high of 22C today with clear skies and a low of 11C for tonight. Tomorrow will also be sunny with the high of 18C. Sunday will be cloudy with showers and a high of 22C.     

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mark--Well--lets put it this way---the cheaper a keyboard stand is--the more likely the thing will fall down/collapse. As to stories, there are a few from those days---we ended up using 4' tables with the heavy folding legs because we had several keyboards and synthesizers being used---whole banks of 'em...As to your composing, have fun. --Also check out some Beatles and the like as there are some interesting compositions in there as well. Or, Led Zep---

Rob--Nice little studio there!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Got the dang meeting to do today---we's about as ready as we'll ever get---Have a good one people--

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning.

It's 62 and clear. The high will be around 87 and it will be sunny.

My mother's surgery went well yesterday and she's out of the woods. She'll be in ICU for a few more days then will be moved to an intensive care ward where she may spend up to three weeks. We're hoping she's back home in time for her grand daughters wedding. That event will be taking place in my parents back yard in the middle of July. Should be interesting to see how a bunch of over dressed people handle the scorching Louisiana heat. I foresee the pool getting a lot of use. I spent part of yesterday doing some patching work on 3 of my 4 new covered hoppers and did a little decal work on the CAT powered EMD rebuilt GE. It doesn't have cab numbers yet but it's one step closer. Same goes for the SD27J. I have an appointment with the foot doc later this morning. He's going to have a set of X-rays done on my right foot. From there he'll determine whether or not surgery can alleviate some of my problem.

Today's Weather for:
Sundown, LA  71446-6114      6/5/2009

Wind Chill:  62°F
Humidity:  91%
Dew Point:  60°F

So Far Today
High:  67°F
Low:  62°F
Rain:  0.01"
Rain Rate:  0.00"/h
Gust:  7mph N

Today  High: 88    Sunny. Highs in the upper 80s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight  Low: 60    Mostly clear. Lows around 60. East winds around 5 mph.

[BamaCSX83]

Morning guys!  Its a rainy (weather guesser said no rain after lunch, so I'm hoping), warm day here in Bama.  Gonna work on the house some this weekend, so not much train stuff going to be happening.  I will have to say that after 3 days of soaking, the 70% alcohol is starting to work, I can barely apply pressure with my fingernail and the paint starts coming more or less right off.  I might give it another day or so before breaking down and buying 90% (at least until I get the next model to do).  Well, I've completed my list of parts for the GP40-2, now I've just got to get prices for all of it and see if I can cut the list down from 4 differrent places to something a little more manageable.  Biggest slow down appears to be getting my repair/replacement parts from Athearn themselves (since there is no LHS within 100 miles of me).  Oh well, I guess I could always have a really really awesome looking locomotive that doesn't run worth two cents. 

I do have a question for everyone that can help, and even for y'all that can't.  I want to install DCC in this locomotive, I figure that I can always do the install and then purchase all my other locos with DCC and then not worry about upgrading.  I also want to have fully operating lights on my 40-2, but I'm unsure of what to go with.  And by fully operating I mean I want the front headlight, rear headlight (on the long hood), and ditch lights to all work, but I'm not 100% sure of how I need to go about that route.  Any suggestions?  I think that I'm going to get a full DCC w/sound card (since sound would be nice, but not a HUGE neccessity), any additional suggestions on that one?

[TMarsh]

Good morning, Biscuits and Gravy with 2 scrambled eggs on top of the biscuits and coffee please...in a mug. Not much happening again today. I didn't get to any hobby shop yesterday so nothing to say about what I got. I forgot to put the 90% on the grocery list so I didn't even get that.

Jeff- Great news about your Mom. Keeping her in my prayers for her speedy recovery and adding you and your family to survive the hair growth period with as little collateral damage as possible.(and for the toe of course). At least three weeks in the hospital will give her some time to start a bit of regrowth. Maybe the staff will give her enough targets that will soften the blows to kinfolk and friends.

Jerry- good news for you too on being released!

This is good that there are some good news's in the health department, let's keep it up if we can. Cause Chris might be "calling (da da daaaaa) callin' Doctor Love!" and he can't help.

Tom- how'd you fair the last round with Mother Nature?

PC's happy.

Bama- Patience, a good set of eyes, a good soldering gun, some small solder and advice from someone who knows what they're doing. NEXT ! Seriously, I've got a Bachmann GP40 that came with a set that I was thinking of doing just what you are doing (though I don't think I'll get into the sound thing) so I'm really watching your progress. Like the future being told, same ideas, same procedures even almost the same Loco! Eerie.

Supposed to be a nice day today, haven't seen the temps forecast but it looks beautiful out there now, so I may mow today I don't know. The friend of mine I help out at the restaurant for tips on Wednesday nights and for...um...considerations on my libations when I tend bar, gave me a $100 gift card to Lowe's for helping since I wouldn't take money from him. I enjoy doing it and he does "make it worth my while". So I don't know what to get. The shed needs a couple of pieces of ¾ plywood for the floor the front tractor wheel fell through. And it could use some gutters. They also have a gas powered pressure washer that I've had my eye on that would come in REAL handy. $100 dollars would sure take the sting out of that. I would still have to come up with about $179 US plus Illinois cut, which it sounds like will be getting larger. We're in the same broken boat as you Tom. Somebody throw us a paddle. This creek stinks.

Have a Great Day!

[BamaCSX83]

Hey Todd, I've got all the things you mentioned, I just need a good line on a DCC w/sound board and how to get all the lights wired in.  I figure that if I'm going to have DCC on my layout, then I might as well upgrade the engines that I have to that standard so I don't have to gut and dummy them.  Anyone know of MB Klien can get parts from Athearn, or maybe from Cal-Scale and Details West?  I've looked on their site and haven't been able to find any of that stuff from them.  I've found my Microscale decals and my KD couplers, and the Floquil paint (so I can paint her up in YN3 when its all said and done), but it still looks like 3 different sources for parts (unless someone wants to donate the Athearn Worm assembly and front driveshaft).  Oh well, I'll be hanging out in here by the corner watching the trains run through.

[Cox 47]

Good morning All...Its sunny and 61 here a real nice morning....I'll have Bacon and eggs over easy,fried taters,toast and coffee please Thank You..

Jeff ....Prayers for your Mother's speedy recovery...

This is a I&S coal drag headed north with southern Illinois coal headed to the Pennsy interchange at Greenup then on to the east coast...

You all have a great day...Jerry

[JimRCGMO]

Good FRIDAY Morning, Diners, Zoe! I'll have a chocolate donut and a cup of coffee, please. Thank you.

Jerry, I missed the sports report last night, but saw in a paper at w**k today that Carpenter managed to hold it together. Now THAT's more like it!

Rob, I guess you could also turn that building/complex into one of those Japanese places where they cook your meal at the table in front of you. Ours in this area are named Robata, and Shogun (and are a tad bit overpriced, IMHO (but that's another topic for another time...). Good to hear you made it to the train room again - good to keep refreshed on how to find it.

Barry, you don't have somebody escaped from a local jail or prison, do you? Maybe those choppers are searching for someone in particular. (You don't have any outstanding traffic tickets, do you? )

Jeff, best wishes on your doctor's visit today (and his/her figuring out which way to go on your foot). I'll second Todd's comment, it may be just as well that your mother'll be in the hospital a few weeks - probably also might increase the life expectancy for your father....

Bama, while I know that the Triains website has some info on installing decoders on Athearn locos (as does Gateway NMRA), I'll defer to those more experienced with DCC for the lights and other features you'd like. As for Klein, maybe just shoot them an email and ask 'em - they might be able to order a lot of your parts, and from what I've heard, they're good on their prices in general, anyway.

I'll join Bama and do some train-watching while I eat my donut. Prayers for those in need of healing, recuperation, or other needs (that'd be most all of us).

 

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[BamaCSX83]

Jerry, that is a great shot!  Well, its getting close to breakfast time for me, so I guess I'll have stack of pancakes, two eggs scrambled with cheese, order of bacon, and a tall glass of milk.  I'll be in and out all day.

[BamaCSX83]

Thanks for the info Jim, I guess I will have to shoot MB Klein an email when I get home, I honestly didn't think about doing that.  Well, I'm going to enjoy my breakfast here in the corner booth and continue to watch the trains.

[howmus]

Mornin' everyone!

Philip, now its Friday!  All day long, as a matter of fact.  I can remember those days where every Monday morning a friend and I would walk into the office at school, pick up our mail, and as we walked by the office staff say in a very loud whisper, "Is it Friday yet!!!"  Hope next week is a lot better for you!

Chloe I'll have the old phart special, small bowl of raisin bran with skim milk, and lots of COFFEE!  Dark roast in a FGLK mug if you please.  I'll be in the front booth watching the yard goat do some switching out there.

Jeffrey glad to hear your mom is recovering. Sounds like a long road ahead for her.  My prayers are offered for all of you. Oh, and good luck at the doctors today!

Tom W yes, Blackie and Manét are both sweet cats.  Very loving, snuggly guys.  They are litter mates and still play and groom each other.  Often I will find them both curled up together sound asleep.  That's over 40 lbs of cat sleeping there.........  Manét is the largest and kind of lumbers around the house. Blackie is a bit more like a discharge of static electricity.  They both spend time every day sitting on my shoulder purring up a storm.  Manét loves to be held in my arms..... upside down!

OK, I'm off to finish watersealing the deck today.  I have a window off opportunity today that won't present itself again for another week and a half (if I believe the weather people).  So I best get a move on.

Later! 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Hello ........

Today is the beginning of the KENTUCKY 400 MILE YARD SALE !!!!!!!!!!

There are yard sales the entire length of Kentucky going east and west along US 68.

The weather is perfect for it.  US 68 is the main highway near our house.

Everybody, come spend that money!  

 

[JimRCGMO]

Heartland Division CB&Q

Today is the beginning of the KENTUCKY 400 MILE YARD SALE !!!!!!!!!!

There are yard sales the entire length of Kentucky going east and west along US 68.

The weather is perfect for it.  US 68 is the main highway near our house.

Everybody, come spend that money!  

 

 

So, Garry - 1) is the sale just today, or does it continue tomorrow? and 2) Whatcha got on sale - any train goodies? Might be worthwhile if there's train stuff there...

 

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[Robby P.]

Well its lunch time, and I hungry.  Give the the cheeseburger basket, and a sweet tea.

I've been in the basement working on the C&O hopper.  Just one side done in a few hours.  I'm taking a break from it, and letting things dry.  Also I added a picture of the roof from the boxcar I had pictured yesterday.  This is what it looks like the the rusting agent at work.  It went from the dark gray to this!!!

Garry...............I'm with Jim, any train goodies?   I would hope so if its as long as the state of Kentucky.   All the flea market here had, was some 70's and 80's train mags. 

C&O hopper:

 

Real rusted roof:

 

[Packer]

Robby, what'd you use for the rust on the boxcar?  

I'm going to go out and do some airsofting in a bit, just though I'd drop by. 

I weathered some cars over the week:

This gon I experimented a little bit. I drybrushed it grimy black then hit it with pastes and dullcote.

I did the same with the trucks and wheelsets on it. Personally I think they came out great.





Here's the trio of boxcars I weathered. Just pastels. I spent a while trying to figure out how to make the dullcote seal really good but I nailed it on all 3 cars. When I moved the UP box inside from the other carport it started raining and some got on the roof and left some shiny spots. I figure I'd leave it since it looks like parts of the roof got patched over.

Here's a tanker car I did, I have another one that I'm working on at the moment.

Here's some flats I got recently. A few of them are missing bridge plates, container shoes, and hitches; so I'll probably get some from Athearn. I'll also need to get trailers to go on them.

I set these engines up as a consit and have them sitting on a display shelf. I'll have to weather them someday, but I haven't done an engine with pastels before.

[Robby P.]

Packer...........This is what I used on the roof.  I found it at Michaels.

http://www.modernoptions.com/

[twhite]

Morning all from Let's-Do-It-Again-Today Soggy Cal: 

Overcast and damp, with more T-storms moving in.  Whoa, this is JUNE out here.  I mean, it's swimming pool weather normally!   On the news today I was informed that we've had over 7,000 lightning strikes from the last two days of weather.  Luckily, most of them have been up the east side of the Valley and into the foothills, and not the high Sierra.  But we've also had TONS of rain with them.  June rainfall around here normally averages about 3/4 of an inch, we've already gotten FOUR INCHES in spots.  The rivers are up, small stream advisories--right now if my front lawn were any greener, I'd think I was living in Ireland!

Well, woke up this morning to what I thought was a MAJOR COPD attack--really bad trouble breathing.  Raised my head, looked down.  No attack, just a 21 pound Norwegian Forest Cat curled up on my chest.  This is a first.  Uff-Dah is normally a cat that likes to be around you as opposed to ON you.  Found out different this morning.  Don't know what's gotten into the cute lil' ol' critter, but he was asleep and seemingly happier than all get out.   Had to ease him off my chest so that I could get some air. 

Jeff:  Glad to hear of your mom's improvement.  Hope she's back to semi-normal for the wedding.  I'm with you--if you're going to have an outdoor summer wedding, have it near a swimming pool!  

Robby:  You do GOOD weathering.  Hey, could I send you about 250 PFE reefers?    I can't weather rolling stock for spit!   It looks kind of embarrasing sometimes, one of my nicely weathered articulateds crawling by with nice, shiny rolling stock behind it.   You'd think if I could weather a steam loco I could do a freight car, but NOOOOOOO----

Well, time to feed the livestock and then go over to Kaiser and refill a couple of prescriptions, and that's dangerous, because the Roseville Kaiser is only three blocks from Railroad Hobbies and I don't need anything (yah, sure! ).  Besides, President Obama said that it's my Patriotic Duty to SPEND that there Stimulus Check, right? 

Oh, PS:  My little 'block' problem was a loose wire.  Don't ask. 

I'm feeling in kind of an SP-ish mood this weekend, so if I post in WPF, it'll probably be a cab-forward or two.  Or maybe one of my MT 4-8-2's.  Haven't decided yet. 

Best to all, prayers to those in need. 

Tom