Elliot´s Trackside Diner, Mark XX

[JPowell]

Morning Gang!

  Seems everytime I come in here, the Diner has moved to another siding somewhere down the line!!!!! LOL!!!!

Anyways, I am off to the Syracuse Train Show as well. Not sure if I'll see Ray as I have never met the guy but hey... ya never know! The g/f is going along w/ me to help me in my search for some things...

As for what I am going to buy today... well I have my list of magazines and boley vehicles that I want.... So.... Depending on the magazine, I have found them for as little as .25!!!! So, we shall see what I find this year.

Well all, I am off!

Take care!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TMarsh]

Good morning, Ranch Eggs please, biscuits and gravy and coffee thank you. Today: Sunny, with a high near 72. Southwest wind between 6 and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 52. South southwest wind between 3 and 8 mph. Beautiful day dawning folks, beautiful day. Farmers will be at it hard.

Wow. I never learned my lesson from last time. Stay away and the catch up is loooong. Oh well, since there's not much Railroading to report on on this end I'll dive right in.

Philip- I'm sorry I wasn't in to send you off to the hospital, but I'm sure you knew I was there in spirit. Great sigh of relief here. Prayers have now shifted to healing and successful outcomes.

Bama - Congratulations on the new addition!! I guess driving over the bumpy RR Crossings finally did it.

Keith- Nice haul I see you got from the LHS. Though what the man said about plastics is true, I've found a tube of Testor's orange and a bottle of "Super Glue" is really sufficient. However, I am becoming very fond of the liquid. ( inhales verrrrry deep. Anyone who knows me now decides if they want to stick around or find something else to do.)  I see you have Plastruct Plastic Weld. I have not tried that but I do have "Plastruct Weldene" which is the non-toxic version with a pleasant citrus smell. Unless of course you don't like citrus then I suppose it is probably horrid. Anyway, it works ok but not really a great, IMO, all around glue. It takes a bit for the pieces to bond and become "stuck", if you will, and seems to work better on softer plastics, such as Plastruct plastics (imagine that.) and thinner pieces. In my experience with non-toxic formulas I would assume that the original formula would be better. I will probably buy the regular next time and if it works better I will not be using the stringy, bloppy, Testor's very much at all. The liquids are evaporative formulas and are really nice. They don't leave any glue build up on joint seams especially small pieces, and of course don't string out. I really like it except for the whole setting time thing. Hopefully your version will not take as long as mine. This of course is not as bad with softer plastics such as Plastruct and I've been happy with the Evergreen stuff also. The kit things, well that's a bit different. Sometimes it'll hold without spending an eternity holding, sometimes not. Really exasperating to sit there for all that time to find it didn't bond well the next day. Sand the joints slightly on both side and try it yourself. I have found that a finished edge it has a real hard time bonding. Rough the gloss off it first. Oh and one more thing. Since it's the type of glue it is, don't worry about what gets out of the joints. It'll evaporate away and disappear. DO NOT, however, attempt to speed up the clean up process by wiping the glue off. It is still a solvent and you will not be happy when you scare and smudge the softened plastic. BTDT. Hard thing for me to do as it's almost a non thinking reaction to wipe something away . I also really like the Polyscale paints. There is a great debate on enamels over Acrylics, and not to say which one is better, I prefer the Acryls. Using brushes, they seem to cover thinner and give a better appearance from my hand than enamels. I also Looooooooove the cleanup. Oh and I see JR brought up wood. May I throw my vote in on plain old fashioned Elmers yellow wood glue.

Jeff- Glad to hear the incision is healing well. You should be back to your usual activities soon? Ah, I see lunch at the steakhouse. Yup, things are getting back to normal.

Vincent- VIN Plates. Don't go down that road. Careful what you do when it comes to that stuff. CYA, not his.

Tom- there was a bridge in Springfield that also collapsed. The bridge was under repair and as you said it was the new temp part that collapsed. No one injured and the bridge was rather small and was closed to traffic on the side repairs were being made. Must not have used the right kind of glue. Either way I think I'll avoid that bridge for a bit. Yes it would concern me a bit also about suddenly a prepay in advance. However I suppose it would be no different than say if you mail ordered. But I do know what you mean.

For you younger guys, mail order was something where you filled out an order form, enclosed a check or money order, or your credit card number and mailed it through the USPS. Then waited 10 days to two weeks after they received it for the check to clear, then they sent it to you. Sometimes it could take a month to get something. That's why sometimes I chuckle at what people consider slow turn around times when it come to internet vendors.

Jim- 40^th Anniversary of Sesame Street! Oh great, someone's gonna feel slighted I didn't get them a card and probably be upset with me for not caring.

TwotruckShay. Say....., you look familiar. Haven't we met?

What the heck was that!!!! Like ta jumped outta my skin! Oh I see Dukes usual ride has shown up. ( and no that wasn't a whoopie cushion. Excuse me) 

Well that was a long one. The post not the....., nevermind,. Oh well. As for me, I believe I may, may I say, make a special trip to the FLHS as they are open on weekends. I need some metal roofing for the Whataburger and still need some black Polyscale and there was something else what was it? Hm I'll have to set ( he he, sorry. Midwesterner you know. "sit") in the train room and stare to remember. Then should do stuff outside. Or should I do the trainstuff tomorrow and the outside stuff today? Oh bother, guess I'll just wing it again.

Have a Great Day!!!

[howmus]

 

 Mornin' everyone!

Zoe a coule eggs over easy and a double order of sour dough toast.....  Nope no bacon 'til I'm over over this thibng with my big toe.....!

This morning it has migrated over a joint.  I'm still goping to Syracuse to hobble around for a couple hours.  Maybe they can find a wheelchair for me?

Packer

Joe, That could very well explain almost every teacher I've met.

 

Hey!!! Ever wonder what us teachers talk about in the faculty room???  Some certain "students" maybe?  Huh?   Actually many of us are quite nice once you get to know us....  We just have a tough job to do at times.

Sawyer, you mean like something from Yamaha?  I have a Roland A-30, does that count?

"A Capital Ship for an ocean trip is the 'Walloping Window Blind.
No wind that blew dismayed her crew, nor troubled the Captain's mind.
The man at the wheel was made to feel contenpt for the wildest blow, o, oh,
Though it oft appeared when the Gale had cleared that he'd been in his bunk below......."

I don't know, THAT has been running through my head for a couple of days and I just had to do it...

Gotta get ready to go.

Later!

73

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Good morning. It's 46 and clear. The high will be in the upper 80's and it will be partly cloudy.

The GP42X project is nearly complete. For the moment it has a GP60 dynamic brake hatch on it. I got got word this morning that a GP50 hatch is on the way. This will allow me to change them as I wish. I also got the screwdriver slots on the sides of my two 70's era Atlas GP40's filled in and painted. Now, onto the next project, whatever that may be. Nothing going on today so I should be able to get some rest for a change.

[bjdukert]

 

Best to all on sick call and those recovering  

Talk to you later 

Duke 

[Packer]

Joe, That could very well explain almost every teacher I've met.

Jeff, you could have run it without a DB hatch or non-db hatch, for a while. Here's a prototype picture:
                        http://www.trainpix.com/BN/EMDORIG/SD9/6188.HTM

[BamaCSX83]

Evening all, we're home.  Everyone is continuing to do fine...  Amy's sleeping in the recliner with Mikayla on her chest and Heather is crashed on the couch next to me.  I'll be off to a shower and bed here before too long simply because I have to w**k tomorrow.  Welp, just checking in here for the night before heading off.  I'll be back in tomorrow after w**k.

Thanks to everyone for the congratulations, it was/is very welcomed.

PC, glad to hear that everyone is doing okay in your neck of the woods.

[ns3010]

For some reason, our teacher wants most of our paper to be quoted (not necessarilary [sp] direct quotes). So I'd say mine's probably about 75% quoted, and I'm shocked that TII didn't pick up on any of that...

My teacher is such a ________[insert explative here]...

[Packers#1]

 Gotcha. Quotes are probably about 7-8% of my paper's content.

Ray, keyboards of the plastic kind, per se

[ns3010]

Packers#1

Sweet. never heard of Turn It In. Except for the quotes (which are properly MLA form cited), everything is my own words.

Basically it's a site that checks for plagarism. It checks everything from internet sites, to printed publications, to papers submitted by other students.

The major flaw is that it does not detect the MLA intext citations, so it will still count things as being plagarized, even if they are properly cited. And it will sometimes pick up on common phrases, such as "on the other hand," or "he was born." Just stupid things like that.

[Packers#1]

ns3010

Packers#1

This weekend I've got final revisions of my english paper

Go Team!!!! Finished my rough draft today, and sent it in to Turn It In, and got it back with only 3% plagarism (yes, that's a good thing!)!!! I'll do the revisions, and send it in before it's due on Wednesday.

I'll be hangin for a while.

 

Sweet. never heard of Turn It In. Except for the quotes (which are properly MLA form cited), everything is my own words.

[howmus]

Packers#1

 Jim, guess the sound of keyboards is all that echoes through the diner, lol.

 

Hm....?  What kind?  Organ, fortepiano, pianoforte, virginal?  Spinet maybe?  Clavicytherium?  Calliope? Synthasithyser?  (Never could pronounce THAT one!)

I just stopped in to have my nightly cup of decafe, Flo.  I'll go sit near the stove in the back booth and enjoy the music.....

Tomorrow is the Syracuse Train Show, so I will be turning in early and be getting an early start tomorrow.  Hopefully I will get a good nights sleep.  The Toe is gradually getting better......

73

[ns3010]

Evening all. Janie, I'll have a RBF, thanks.

Packers#1

This weekend I've got final revisions of my english paper

Go Team!!!! Finished my rough draft today, and sent it in to Turn It In, and got it back with only 3% plagarism (yes, that's a good thing!)!!! I'll do the revisions, and send it in before it's due on Wednesday.

I'll be hangin for a while.

EDIT: Got TOP again! Ok, who keeps doing this to me?!?!?

[Packers#1]

 Jim, guess the sound of keyboards is all that echoes through the diner, lol.

[der5997]

 

Good evening all: A hot chocolate if you please Chloe, and a chocolate covered digestive biscuit. Thanks. 

Chuck:...haven't seen you in what seems like years!  Glad you found us. I'm not as frequent a Diner patron as i used to be, so may have missed a time or two if you've dropped by recently. Dare I ask how Kathy is doing?

Sue: Life has gotten in the way of mrr in a major way over the summer / fall. (Yesterday for instance was completely high-jacked by the need to put the snow tires on botht he van and the car. A nor-easter with snow was forecast overnight.)  The outdoors Honey Do list (a lot of it self inflicted ) grows as fast as things are crossed off it - and don't even start me on the indoor list!  However, to answer your question about the weeds-for-trees program (an economic necessity like Jeff's paint - of which I heartily approve BTW, I do much the same) yes and no. Yes I've harvested some more, especially the astilbe and sedum from Kris' flower beds; and no to any more of the wild spirea as I've a lot put by and haven't begun to process those.  As to the layout- I've bitten the bullet and started to re-do my main freight yard. I have signifficantly more trouble with crud building up on the tracks there than anywhere else on the layout. I've concluded that the fire-place ash with which I tried for ballast there years ago is the root cause. Although painted over, I think there is some alkali reaction ongoing which results in the crud building up again and again. Coupled with the Peco small radius turnouts with which the yard ladder is built being too sharp for reversing cuts of 50 and larger cars (or even mixed cuts with small stock like that beer can tank Jerry showed us just now) I'm re-doing the whole thing.

I had some help from CapeJim in checking the design for the new ladder and approaches (BTW Jim the way you were treated at work was totally uncalled for - one has to wonder how that administrator would like that happening to him) I've bought a bunch of Peco medium radius to add to what I had on hand, and am ready to go.  First stage is soaking down the old yard with wet towels to soften the white glue used to stick the track and ballast. So then I could lift off the track and scrape off the ballast to get down to the blue foam. That photo shows the old (and not yet washed up loco escape crossover that I will re-use - the locos have no trouble on it)  Then I used CapeJim's plan to lay out the new yard throat and ladder. I found I had an extra Peco long turnout, and using that has shortened the ladder footprint - an unexpected and welcome result. I've also discovered that this turnout being where it is will let me make a second arrivals track, and put in a loco escape using another pair of the old short radius turnouts with the locos going immediately to the loco service track! I didn't expect all that from one long  radius turnout I'd forgotten I had!  I think when it's all back together the yard willnot only look better, but actually work the way I had hoped the first one would do - better in fact because of t he second arrivals track. I need that because none of the yard tracks arre very long, and I need to break trains of any length for them to fit in the yard. Just for your interest CapeJim, here's how the ladder is now arranged, with the curved turnout on the right at the throat, the new long Left next instead of a medium Left, and then the other two remaining  medium Lefts. The Right is about where you put it, but there isn't t he need for so long a piece of flex between the curved and the Right. Thanks again for all your help.

CalTom: You beat me onto the planet by exactly 20 days!  That pre-pay thing struck me as odd until I considered that any internet purchase I make is pre-paid, and I'm left trusting that the goods will come.

It's nearly bedtime again, and I've jawed long enough. Congratulations to bama and your expanded family. Great news PC and Jeff on the health front. Prayers continuing for all in need of healing, comfort, prosperity and peace. Good night all, and God Bless!

 

[Packer]

Jeff, That looks rather intresting

I've been up to a little bit of painting on my GP20:

I did some paint work today on my GP20:

Painted the fan blades with Testor's Silver chrome:

The step edges and handrails were painted white. The class lights and MU hose ends were painted with the same silver as the fans:

Also painted the crew in the unit, although it's hard to tell:

My GP9 will recieve the same treatment soon.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 I got the dynamic brake hatch trimmed and mounted on my GP42X.

[JimRCGMO]

Good Evening, Chloe, I'll have a hot fudge sundae, please, with a Rio Grande mug of coffee. Thanks!

I see that Chris has joined Duke in the back booth... I'll try not to wake him up. (Tippy-toeing over to the RC and checking the seats very carefully...) Shhhh..

jeffrey-wimberly

No LHS close by. The closest is a 120 mile round trip and they don't have the part. Already checked.

Ah, rats, Jeff! If I see any at my LHS Saturday, I'll let you know, though he usually doesn't have much for parts - but he might have a shell in his trove at home (worth my asking him, anyway). Ah, I see Chris gave you a tip on covering that before he nodded off.

So, Randy (TwoTruck) - tell us about your layout/plans/dreams for same (modeling a specific RR or era, freelancing, or what? How far along at this point, etc.? We love to hear how somebody else is doing their RR stuff.

Between Sawyer and NS Joe, looks like a bunch of writing going on this weekend in the back couple of booths (hope the snoring from the last booth doesn't distract them...).

Crandell - thanks (both for unlocking this Diner and locking up the old one)!

My co-w**ker Jason and I had our meeting this afternoon with clinical director and our supervisor about the schedule changes. We sorta got some minor concessions - each of us will have every other weekend (Sat./Sunday), followed by the Monday and Tuesday off, and weeknights will be covered by others, plus we'll have backups on out Sat./Sun. on-calls. We never got around to how much additional compensation we'll get for this extra pound o'flesh; after Jason asked about that, the meeting ended with the C.D. saying she'd have to ask 'her' (maybe the person who writes payroll 'checks' (direct deposits, actually). So we'll see how that plays out. They want to start this up on the 16th of this month. We figured out coverage for Thanksgiving and the Friday afterward (12 hour shifts, between me, Jason, our supervisor and 'another player to be named later'... I'm (sort of) resigning myself to it for the time being. I did learn today that V.A. is supposed to be opening a mental health clinic in town and may be looking for counselors, so there is hope, perhaps... We'll see where it goes from here, anyway.

I'll chill out with my sundae for now. Chloe, could I have a refill on my coffee? Thanks, you're a dear.

 

Blessings and prayers,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[Packers#1]

 Hey folks

This weekend I've got final revisions of my english paper and also research for a project on Egypt for World Geo. Otherwise, pretty much scot-free. Might get some ballast glued down, hopefully.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Since I can't seem to find a GP50 dynamic brake housing anywhere (Even Athearn and Ebay don't have it) I'm cutting the DB housing out of an old Athearn GP60 shell. Whoever had it before me glued it in really good so I'll have to literally cut it free. This will probably keep me busy for several hours. This new loco will be quite unusual.

[Cederstrand]

Strong coffee ina a large UNION PACIFIC mug, please & thanks.

I won't even try to catch up on posts. Inlaws are still here until tomorrow. MIL had a fall and is ok, (at least as ok as is normal for a nutcase) Nothing else to say on that topic.

Did a little work on one of the wife's HO houses. No energy to do much beyond minimal farm chores. My chest thing is almost back to normal size now, but still bothers me some. Time will tell.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Rob

[AmanaMedic]

Good afternoon, a double cheeseburger basket, and hmmmm curly fries sound good today. Yep, a Coke, please 'n thank-you.

Well, THAT was in trouble this morning. Seems she "blew-off" a photo shoot, so Mr. Publisher had to go cover it for her. She was a bit scrambled of mind, it was kind-of amusing, actually. I've got another list of leads for the week, so remain somewhat gainfully employed. Sunday, I'm covering a county-wide Veteran's memorial (prelude to Veterans' Day). Wednesday evening, I've got the Vets' dinner in North Liberty to cover, a "pizza with the politicians" event Thursday night in North Liberty (high school kids eating with old f**t city council types). I might also have a career day event to shoot. THAT was supposed to forward me contact info for a local CAP cadets group, and some guy doing something with hunting dogs. I had to remind her. Love the "deer in the headlights" look I got in response, followed by "OH CRAAAAAAAP!" hee hee hee. Turns out "neutered" was axed because she felt it degraded the classy nature of the paper. Oh well, it was worth a try. I've also been assigned an article on a politician looking to unseat the local congressman next year. I'm looking forward to that one.

Oh yeah, THAT is going to shoot a football game tonight to try and repent/atone for her sins. Its always interesting w**king for a husband and wife team...

JEFF: I would think with a little file w**k, a GP-60 dynamic piece would fit if it didn't just drop in. The dimensions should be fairly close thanks to the wonderful modular nature of EMD designs.

ULRICH: It gets dark too early for my tastes too...and I heartily agree hibernation would be ideal. Wake me up when Spring is here. What's that? No no no, not the cat, Rerun just wouldn't understand...

This afternoon, it's either nap with Rerun, or primer coat for the ex-Goodseed and Grain foobie hopper, soon to be an ex-Illinois Central patched for Chicago Central. Maybe both. I've been pulling a lot of late nights, so my sleep schedule is completely upside down. I still need to get shots of the XTRA hoppers, now that they're done and looking for shelf space.

Have a good afternoon...

Chris

[ns3010]

Afternoon all. Chloe, I'll take a bacon cheeseburger with some curley fries and a RBF, thanks.

Not much from me today, other than w**king on my English paper ...

Catch ya later

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 OK, the lock is off the door and we can continue.

 

Anyhow, I'm still looking for a dynamic brake hatch for an Athearn GP50. A poster on another site got me thinking about one for a GP60. Hmmm, that would have a distinctive look. I wonder if it would fit.

[selector]

Sorry, everyone...I locked this one thinking it was the older thread, but Jeff pointed out that this is the new one.  Carry on.....[unlocked]

-Crandell

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Blazzin

jeffrey-wimberly

 

  Jeff, your pics.. when studied,  have a certain distinctness about them.  I can't place it.  At first I thought maybe it was the backdrop.. or is it?  Is it something simple about the placing of houses?  Did you, drawn lines of 'perspective'  to give a distant look?  But the light and the shading ... as if its all real.  Jeff, please share with me,  us,  on how you came to this particular setting of the buildings.  BTW.. is that natural light .. drawing across the layout ?  Or.. spot lighting.?  Thanks Keith

No particular placement of the buildings is involved other than to hide some areas and accentuate others. The light you speak of is a small 14" fluorescent light in the kitchen that faces end-on to the layout, so it's very much light. Just an old Olympus 3 megapixel camera that makes excellent use of very low light. This thing is so old it uses SM cards which are like hens teeth in that they're not easy to find.

 

JimRCGMO

Jeff - on your DB part(s), do you have any LHS (or sorta-LHS) you could check out for that/those? Maybe they might have some old kit or parts bin that would have close to what you need. You do a great job of 'merging' different models of diesels, all right. Enjoy your dinner with your Sis tonight.

No LHS close by. The closest is a 120 mile round trip and they don't have the part. Already checked.

 

[twhite]

Morning all from Cloudy/Cal: 

Weather can't make up its mind.  It's my day off, so I'm going to spend it working on one of my Mountains.  It's a Custom Brass import, and it's never really run like I think it should.  But it's a handsome little devil (a model of one of the Rio Grande Alco 1500 4-8-2 series), and I'd like to get it in good condition.  Funny how brass works--I've got another identical Custom Brass 4-8-2 that runs like a top, but this one just likes to frustrate me.   I bought it on consignment, and I think the previous owner did some 'adjustments' to the balance and the running gear that didn't seem to work.

One of the problems is that the drivers are sprung with--get this!--GUITAR wire.  I've never seen this before on a brass loco, and every now and then while it's running, the wire will go 'sproing' out of a socket, and it's into the repair shop.  So my project is to find some kind of inside bracing that will keep the wire where it's supposed to be.   Sometimes, the more I work on this little puppy, the more I think that the model was actually built just to LOOK at, not run (it's beautifully detailed).   But if its twin works so well, I'm gonna do everything I can to get this one working.  Double-headed 4-8-2's--now THAT sounds neat!

Ulrich:  Prayers for you.  Kalkreise--THAT'S the name I was trying to remember.  I just finished a pretty darned good book called THE BATTLE THAT STOPPED ROME about the events leading up to the Teutoborg Forest battle (or as it's referred to: "The Varian Disaster"), written by an archeologist who did a lot of research in that area.  Pretty fascinating stuff.   Evidently nobody can agree on how long the battle itself lasted--I've heard reports of anywhere from three hours to three days.   But you're right--Arminius is evidently the first leader to actually unify the German tribes.  Some of my forebearers came from that general vicinity, way back when.  Hmm, wonder if I'm part Cherusci, LOL?

Sue:  The storm is evidently just dropping the tail end into California, so we're not expecting too much weather down here.  Just enough to dampen the place a little, I guess.  Sure would like to see some snow in the mountains, however.  It's been too darned DRY down here the past few years.  BTW, have you got the track on that handsome trestle of yours, yet? 

Ray:  I think that story about the soprano is attributed to Johannes Brahms.  He was a pretty witty guy.  Great story about him conducting the great 18th Century master Haydn's oratorio "The Creation" back in the 1850's with a chorus in Vienna.  He couldn't get the women to work at the tempo he was using, stopped the chorus and said, "Come now, ladies, I'm sure you sang this faster under Haydn."  He's also the one that referred to his own monumentally difficult 45 minute long Second Piano Concerto as "A tiny little concerto with a tiny, tiny wisp of a Scherzo."    Gotta love him!

Welcome, Two-Truck, hope you like it here.  As to furball felines on the layout, you'll get plenty of information from us around here, we have some bonafide cat-fanciers in the diner (including myself).  In fact, my Maine Coon female Spooky has taken to writing advice columns for new cats on the 'layout'.  Mainly, how to steal cabooses (cabeese).   Right now she's training a relatively newly acquired (1 year)  Norwegian Forest cat of mine named "Uff-Dah" how to help Daddy do his repair work on the kitchen table ("Don't run off with the motors unless they're still connected to the frame.").

Well, time to get to work on that 4-8-2.  I may have to run down to my local music store and get some more guitar wire (sheesh!). 

Best to all, prayers to those in need.

Tom  

 

Oh well----

[Blazzin]

  Sir Maddog, Nice to hear from you.  Let me show you guys what I've done.  Well its new to me.. and alot of fun.  Here's a pic of my 'spray booth'.

  I sprayed the back side of my plastic parts. Yep, flat black (Oily Black Poly Scale paint).. so on the inside .. if I place lighting on the inside.. it might be more realistic with less glare.  I've never worked an Airbrush before.  Once you figure it out,  its not that hard.  On a side note here,  even with a spray booth,  you still need to spray outdoors... lol.  OMG .. Why did I think I could spray indoors.  Well, maybe in the dead of winter, and I had to spray some small parts,  I guess that would be fine.  But today, I shall spray the front side of my brick building. (Santa Fe Station) using an Oxide Red.. to be later 'antique'd' with the lighter mortar color.  I might even try to get fancy and do multiple colors or shades of Oxide Red .. Bricks are really never the same color.  I plan on using  'Cloth scizzors' that have a 'zig zag' cut .. and try to make a very small stencil.  Using that stencil, I shall try to layer it with multiple colors / shades.  And.. And~ with the help of the mortar antique, it might help blend it all in.  Concerning the mortar antique application, I plan on using a  'Q' Tip and lightly apply it.   If anyone has any better ideas.. let me know~  I've learned alot already and I am open to sugestions.  BTW.. yes I wash all my plastic parts before I spray.  Keith

[Blazzin]

  "Morning Chloe~ I'll have a cup of inspiration"

  Morning All~  Wow .. its going on 8 am and the sun came up.. long time ago.. its no wonder I woke up slowly and early. 

PC Glad to hear everything came out fine... now the road to recovery. 

Jerry, are you doing N scale?  Nice pic, I've always wanted to have a few mobile trailers .. but haven't found exactly what

I"ve been looking for.  Is anyone here at the Diner using N scale?  Maybe we could trade some parts and stuff...lol.

  Heres a Train Portal I bashed.. well sort of.  I just can't stand how thin some of these portal are.  Even the thicker ones

seem too thin.  So I made a thicker one, using a thin Peco.  I think a thicker one would  be easier.  Then I'll take a

wooden frame .. glue this down bashed portal down and pour silicone over it and make a mold like this blue one.

GMT.. I used the Kristal Klear on some of this bashed portal. Its like a very thick Milk Glue.  Gave me time to work

with it. I also used the Plastruct plastic weld glue.  That seemed nice.. for different types of plastic like this portal.

[Anonymous]

 Good Afternoon - or should I say Good Night?

It is getting dark here - way too early for me to feel comfortable. I spend a lot of time at my doc´s, just waiting for some tests. He is not really happy with the results. The emotional stress keeps me from recovering the way I should. I cannot say that I am not worried  Why am I not just a bear, getting ready for hibernation?

Zoe, oh, sorry, it is you, Flo - may I have a hot chocolate in my LKAB mug, please n´ thanks! I see we have a new member in here, so I I sit with him.

Hello, Two Truck Shay  pleased to meet you . Glad you found your way to this place - so a big from the other side of the Big Pond. Petra has made some of this

for us, so let´s give it a try, before the chowhounds hit the place ... 

 Ray - take care of that toe of yours!

Chris - keep my fingers crossed for the encounter with THAT lady editor.

My thoughts are with those in need - especially the victims and their loved ones of the Fort Hood massacre!