[EDIT] Looks like I got top honors! Eat UP! It's on me! (NO!!!!! Don't throw the food at me, geez! You want to get THAT reputation again!?! I sure don't! LOL)
Hey guys! I had a great day! Went to church, then to "On The Border" for lunch, GREAT mexican place!
After lunch, wife and I went to Barney & No Bell, picked up: Jan issue of RMC, several books on writing (for the wife), and Great Model Railroads 2010... (LHS doesn't carry this issue, ever??? beats me as to why he wouldn't).
Left the book store and went to my parents to pick up the Christmas gifts from my brother, his wife and my niece and nephews!
Got home and placed an order for BLI's SW1500, in NS colors so that it will be easy to repaint with NH&I Colors (Yes, I know NH&I didn't own one, but I am taking some freedom in artistic license, besides they did own an SW1 and they look "similar". Yes, I realize I will probably take some heat for that comment, but hey, it's MY imaginary world, so there!!!
http://factorydirecttrains.com/12-842emdsw1500ns2324withparagon2sounddcdccho.aspx
No MRing this evening, have to work on our wedding photo album, the company that we hired is also putting it together, but we have to select roughly 200 photos from the 1,293 that were taken!
Ray - I would love to see some pics of your flat cars!?! There's a RBF in your future if you do!!!!! [hint hint, nudge nudge]
Lee/Jeff - Doesn't it amaze you that some of those types of people get to be as old as they do??? I mean, shouldn't "Natural Selection" have weeded them out by now??? LOL
I'll be in the corner searching through all those photos...
Sam
May He bless you, guide you, and keep you safe on your journey through life!
I Model the New Hope & Ivyland RR (Bucks County, PA)
howmusThere are 2 of the critters in this photo... Can you find them?
Rob, it wasn't so hard to paint, since I was only putting one color on each critter (and they're still on the sprues). As I told Ray, I WILL use the Optivisor when I was to go back in and put details on them. Hate to think of doing them if I was in iNvisible scale - heck, I think even DerJohn might have some difficulty doing it!
Flip - good to know your place has heat! Between this winter and the gators when it warms up, whyever would everyone not want to move to Florida?
Well, I'm pretty full after my chili, and the RBF filled the corners in between what was left, so I'll be waddling heading home for the night. Everybody stay warm as possible, and hopefully your area will get some of the southwestern breezes we're supposed to get tomorrow to get us above freezing.
Blessings,
Jim in Cape Girardeau
Evenin' folks!
Trainman SamRay - I would love to see some pics of your flat cars!?! There's a RBF in your future if you do!!!!! [hint hint, nudge nudge]
Well....... OK. By popular demand, here are the last two Tichy Train Group (kit) Flat Cars basically finished and sitting in the Yard at Hopewell Junction. They are yet to be fitted with a load and weathered.
The other one:
And the two coupled together waiting to be in a train.....
I'll put them up over in the WPF thread as well.
Ah, Jim, I lied..... There are 3 critters in there. Look closely and you will see a black snake as well.....
Later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Good Evening All,
Just a coffee and a grilled blueberry muffin please. Long day doing stuff in the house. Got more stuff put away, chores done, and the basement walls started.
Rob - sorry to hear about your health news. I don't have any schedule for the shelf layout, but I won't start until I get the basement done enough to have a hobby bench again and the CFO set up with her treadmill and wood shop i.e. with luck this spring.
Ulrich - check the link Jim sent earlier to Andrews Trains. There is plan after plan for shelf layouts and most can be expanded to suit. One of the twelve footers with loops either end would do for a start and allow continuous running plus a lot of switching. You can start small and build a bit at a time as money and material allow. I have had good luck with shelving brackets, 1/4" (6mm to you) luan paneling and 2"extruded foam. Most of my last layout was done that way with the brackets on 16" centers and I had no problems with flex or for that matter noise.
Keith - If you want cork underlayment another good idea is cork sheet from one of the home centers. Another source is office remodeling where they just toss all the old stuff including post boards. When my mother w..rked at Cheeseborough Ponds corporate, they redecorated every three years or so and we had a lifetine supply of old carpet for the garage floor plus goodies like dry erase boards and even a complete drafting table and K&E drafting machine. But I digress (like you're surprised).
Jeff - good luck with the car repairs. Usually the low pressure return is just hose and clamped in place. If the line has a cooler in it you can probably have it eliminated without too much trouble. If you feel you must have a cooler, any cheap generic auto trans cooler should do the trick again using regular hose clamps. The special hose is carried in bulk by most NAPA or similar parts stores as regular rubber fuel hose won't work (the fluid attacks the rubber).
Mark - thanks for the snowplow photos. Good to see some other folks popped in over the weekend. Love the layout photos Ray a snake and squirrel either side of the human, right?
Well gotta get some sleep before another busy week in the shop. Catch Ya Later, J.R.
jeffrey-wimberly It's warmed up here to 42. Finally something above freezing. I've lived in parts of the country where it gets really cold in the winter, that's why I live way down here in Louisiana now. Looks like the cold front is lifting a bit. The low tonight is projected at 23 and the lows will be getting warmer throughout the week. High tomorrow is supposed to be 54.
It's warmed up here to 42. Finally something above freezing. I've lived in parts of the country where it gets really cold in the winter, that's why I live way down here in Louisiana now. Looks like the cold front is lifting a bit. The low tonight is projected at 23 and the lows will be getting warmer throughout the week. High tomorrow is supposed to be 54.
JEFF: Rob, Jim, Sawyer and others in the deep cold south
The good thing about it is that it sure kills off lots of the flies and mosquitoes etc.
So keep smiling ya all...............
Special prayers and blessings to Rob, Jeff , Ulrich and all others who stand in need.
2010 you will find is going to be a much better year for all I think.
Off to get some ZZZZzzzsss as Work for the next two days comes soon.
Johnboy out...........................for now.
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Good evening gents, just dropped in for a ginger brandy, I have finally caught at doggone head cold, running nose, tired limbs, stuffy head, you guys know the drill. Heading of to talk a real hot shower to kick my immune system into high gear. A doctor told me this years ago, and it usually works.
RAY: What a beautiful grand daughter!! I have a grandson about the same age, they sure are a joy. There is a special bond between grandchildren and grandparents, God sure knows what he is doing , ( If only people would LISTEN )
JIM: I hope you have good eyesight and steady hands !!!
FOSSIL PHIL: I hope you are taking care of the oranges so they dont freeze, ED cant do this alone you know.
DUKE: Time to hit the sack Duke !!
Prayers for Rob, Jeff, Ulrich, Deb, and any others in need, each night we dont forget you.
WA1VEI "73"
JimRCGMO of the snowplows, and back to the Diner! I recall you'd been by a few times before, right?
of the snowplows, and back to the Diner! I recall you'd been by a few times before, right?
Yes, I come to visit now and then when the mood strikes, and when there is something interesting to share with you all.
Mark
I'm jealous. Fires in the fireplace? Out my way, federal regulations controlling highway funds result in the local air quality district mandating "no fire" days, making wood and wood-product fires illegal. This usually occurs on the coldest days when winds are still and the cold air settles. For example, fires were illegal all this weekend as well as Christmas and Thanksgiving 2009. Standards will be tightened even further so it is only going to be worse. Thank you, EPA. Next thing you know, I'll be paying fines for breathing out carbon dioxide, a pollutant according to the government.
Good Morning,
Janie, please, just coffee to go - must be heading to the GULAG pretty soon. Today is fun and games day!
Mark - over here, they make you install a filter system in your fireplace - adds plenty of $$$ to your bill, as the system needs to be checked twice yearly. Sometimes I wonder who is really the biggest threat to mankind - O(s)ama or the eco terrorists.
Jim - we are about 120 mile south of the Danish border, so we were not hit as hard as the people up north. My parents live very close to the border and have received a heavy dose of that white stuff. There is more to come!
That long and narrow layout was mentioned in the layout section - I googled it and found a description of it here
Well, I must be off - CUL
Sir Maddog, I am one that watches the weather and I am predicting an early spring. I have Daffodills already coming up. Count on one last big storm and then thats it.
Keith
Good Mornin',
Welp, I see I just missed ULRICH... good luck in the Gulag today. Hopefully THAT blonde doesn't wear something to give your heart palpitations...
Speaking of heart conditions, ROB: Sorry to hear the diagnosis on the bradycardia... are they even thinking of trying meds or are they going straight to the pacemaker?? As always, best wishes to you and everybody else on the list for healing/recovery.
RAY: Awesome w**k on the flatcars. Refresh my memory, are the decks individual boards or were you just meticuoulus (sp.) enough to make 'em look THAT way??
JIM: Are you doubting Der John's abilities? Why...he'd probaby take THAT rabbit, in N-sane scale, and give it a proper northern climate multi-color coat with a fluffy white cotton-tail! Oh yeah, and he'd probably do it whilst humming, in three-part harmony, some fuge, fyuoooge, fuyuge...aw heck, something by Bach!
Well, today I'm gonna shovel the sidewalk I shoulda shoveled after the last "winter event." Then...I'll either make some calls for a story Mr. Boss wants me to write, or I'll make some inquiries to the other area rags about stringing/freelancing. As long as I stress I in no way will take an assignment THAT conflicts with my "regular" gig...there should be no "issues." And, if one of the other editor/publishers tells THAT "hey, you're photographer asked me for some w**k." So what? She's cutting my hours, I AM entitled to pursue other options...again, as long as no conflict of interest; shouldn't be a problem.
Maybe I oughta work for TRAINMAN SAM's wedding photog... 1,000+ pics? HOW? Geesh, I burned a full memory card (484) pics ONCE. Trying to narrow THAT down to 200 might not be as tough as you think...they must've machine-gunned every shot, so you'll have 20 of the exact same thing. Just look for everybody's eyes being open...for a good start.
On THAT happy note... I probably oughta start thinking about trying to sleep. For some reason, I haven't slept so good the past couple of days...
Hope everybody has a good, SAFE day, best wishes to all in need.
Chris
EDIT: KEITH: Pal, I hope yer right about an "early spring!!!" Keep in mind, the "experts" were saying this would be a "mild" winter. Now...it's supposedly supposed to be the coldest in decades. Now, granted, they haven't said anything about the duration of it... but I've got a hunch spring is gonna be late again this year.
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
Good Morning again
I safely arrived at the GULAG. Driving conditions are pretty bad - the roads are icy and covered with sn*w. Took me about an hour to drive the 10 miles to this place. Unbelievable - there are still people without snow tires on the road! The area north of us is in a pretty bad shape - snow drifts up to 10´ high and power outages are no fun. People are just not used to winter anymore...
Zoe, now I´ll have coffee in my LKAB mug, and a french toast to go with it.
Chris - I am so sorry to hear about your job trouble. It just ain´t fair. I sure hope that THAT will get tired of her new toy and values your contribution in the right way pretty soon. I know how bad you must feel, being set aside. I keep my fingers crossed for you to find a new and more rewarding opportunity.
Keith - early spring? Jeepers, man, we are heading for a new ice age! In 10 years time, Hamburg will be covered by ice, our forest will be roamed by mammoths and we all live in caves - our environmentalists will be quite happy, then.
Rob - my special for you, that things will turn out well for you. I´ve put up a candle in the Chapel car.
Packer - there is a lot of secondhand stuff available in the bay, but mostly of European prototype. US modelers are a minority here. The US stuff that´s available is of Marklin/Trix origin, which is way too expensive, even when used. $ 400 for a used Trix light mike is out of reach. I just have to be a little more patient and wait for the better times to come. I do hope I don´t have to wait for too long.
Ray - you must be one proud of a grandfather - your granddaughter is just adorable! I hope that I will be just as good a grandfather when the time comes!
Jim - in no way I´d be able to paint these little critters myself - I´d have to take off my glasses to see them, holding them less than in inch away from my eyes - no way, Sir. for that super job! Btw - does the rabbit wear its winter coat?
You all have a safe and good day!
Good morning. The weather guesser missed again. The low was supposed to be 23 and here it is at 19. The high today should be 54.I'm not sure what I'm going to be doing today but any reason to get out of the house will be good. I was too tired yesterday to do much so I have that much more to do today.Still have to get the trash situation taken care of as pickup is tomorrow morning. The car will probably be taken to the shop today. The layout still needs clearing off. What happens will happen.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Good cold morning. Might get a inch or so of snow later today.
Not much planned today. I might finish painting the legs on the layout today.
Hope everybody has a good day.
Sawyer/Vincent.......Tough luck on the Pack. Bad way to go out.
"Rust, whats not to love?"
Good Morning
Off to do some running around on a cold, drab, a little dusting of snow, day. Going all the way to -4C today with a few periods of light snow---amounting to only a sifting maybe. Tonights low will bottom out at -6C. The rest of the week gonna be just plain ol' dull dull dull....
Ulrich: Around here the planning stage was a whole LOT of staring at empty graph paper and going --"mmmmm"---I did a lot of that----it wasn't until I got out a book on the grain elevators out west that my brain started functioning----(then again I have been accused of having a malfunctioning brain to begin with). As for any winter forecast up here we have to always look at the wind---if it is strong enough and the moisture high enough we'll get a batch of snowsqualls -----
Lee: I've seen that--some guy I remember who used to live around here took a 21' cruiser and piledrove his boat into some dock around Cleveland a few years back---just turned on the GPS and fell asleep....BTW who makes that interface for programming the locomotives?
Rob: I agree with Lee. There really good Doctors who treat this bradycardia. Take care---that empire looks to getting busy too---
Welp I'm agonna be headin' out fer to do a bunch o' stuff that couldn't be done last week
Chloe, I'll just have a coffee for now---I'll be here at the RC for a bit before I run off-------
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Good Morning All,
It's a balmy 4F out with a 23F predicted high. By Weds we hope to see the temps climb into the 40's but I'll wait till that happens before celebrating. Another busy day in the shop with plating and X-ray stuff to go out and bead blast stuff to pick up so I'd best get my coffee in a to-go cup and beat it. CUL, J.R.
Good Morning. Heat wave today. Supposed to get to either 23F or 29F, depending on which channel you watch. They do however agree on the current temp of 25F. I don't speak for our Southern boys and girls, but I don't think this winter has been as bad as I remember them in my youth. I remember lots and lots of snow throughout the season. Nothing of course like feet at a time, but it snowed and inch or two somewhat often and a ¼ to ½ frequently with 2 or 3 even 4 inch snowfalls not uncommon at all. It was generally always cold or snow by Thanksgiving. Blowing and drifting, I recall a tunnel of sorts that got created by being plowed through on the county blacktop into town at least by the first of the year. Snow walls at the "S" curves at least 10 to 15 feet tall (no that's not one of my exaggerations. In fact we were just talking about that the other night at the Restaurant) and cold oh I remember bundling up and still being cold. I'll have to admit we've had some pretty mild winters as of late and I think we just forgot what winter was like here in the Midwest or Central States or whatever they call us.
Lee- I bet you got a good chuckle at the boaters aground scratching their heads.
Today is W-2 day for the Church so I must get there early so's I don't kill all day and I have to work tonight at 4 so best get a move on.
They still have Mammoth in Germany?
Have a Great Day!!!
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
Good Afternoon,
I am back from the fun and games day in the GULAG - turned out to be just very light exercises my 83 year old father could still do. And no blonde ...
I have asked a friend to help me solve my mental block. Paul is one of the operation and design experts, who regularly posts on the Layouts section here in the forum (Paulus Jas). He made some significant changes to my ARR design, like adding the main to Anchorage, getting rid of an unnecessary cross-over and "bending" it out of the L-shape.
Here is what he came up with:
Looks super to me!All I have to do now is to find someone from whom I could borrow a Fast Track Code 55 # 6 jig to make all those switches. Could not possibly afford to buy them at $ 15 a piece. Maybe I need to shorten the layout a little as well, that depends on my bilateral negotiations with my CFO.
Todd - well, of course we have mammoths! And dinosaurs - they all live in Berlin. I´ll bet you will find the same species in Washington DC as well.
Finally, it has stopped sn*wing - , the moment I write this, it has started again. But it appears as if the worst is over now.
Janie - a hot chocolate and some brownies, please.
CUL
Sir MadogTodd - well, of course we have mammoths! And dinosaurs - they all live in Berlin. I´ll bet you will find the same species in Washington DC as well.
Ah! Yes we do now that you mention it.
Good morning all, just biscuits and gravy for me and a glass of milk.
Good news! I've got all my train stuff now at my house. Went up to my parent's last night and retrieved it all, along with homeade pizza, which I brought the leftovers with me for the diner's taste testing. More good news! I found out something that a new DCC-equipped Bachmann SD40-2 and a nearly 15 year old BB Athearn GP40-2 will do wonderfully together. I coulped the two engines together, slapped some cars behind them and both engines pulled marvelously (even though the Athearn is only technically pulling with its rear truck, but picking up power with both). I'm glad that my two engines will play together, even in DC.
Jim, again thank you sir for the couplers, I'm working on converting my fleet of cars over slowly but surely. I don't really have all that many cars, so I might have couplers to spare (not a bad thing).
Oh speaking of rolling stock, I've got a bunch of stuff that isn't going to be fitting my era and timeline, and as soon as I get some pictures taken, I'll be interested in letting it go (most of it is Athearn BB or earlier Walthers kit stuff, so nothing mind-boggling great, but y'all might want it). Again, as soon as I get pictures taken, I'll slowly start posting it. Heck, I'll even go ahead and swap the horn-hooks off for some of the couplers that I was sent, or strip the horn-hooks and leave it coupler-less.
Well, that's about it for me, I guess I'll talk to y'all later. BTW, not sure when I'll be able to get back online as the power cord for the laptop broke last night (got a new one ordered for overnight Fed Ex delivery), and the battery only has about a half-hour of power left in it. So I'll be seeing you all when I see you, prayers for those in need!
Ulrich: That track plan looks pretty good. I take that you'll be adding to it.
Mornin' everyone!
Zoe I'll have a big bowl of hot cream of wheat with brown sugar and raisins, and my cup of dark roast coffee in a FGLK mug. Thank you, I'll be over at the Rivet Counter for a while.
Chris, the boards are actually part of the plastic mold. They get individually painted with several colors. Then a course grade of sandpaper is used to create gouges, woodgrain, etc.
Dick and Ulrich, little Olivia is the love of my heart right now. I see her about once a week on average. Coming over to Grandpa's house is a treat for both of us. She sees her Grandmother (DIL's mother) almost every day so Grandma is no big deal. Her other Grandfather lives in Arizona and only sees her once or twice a year. I have it very good.... Yes, "Life is good!"
Lee, stupid people are automatically attracted to everything that seems to be unusual and exciting..... I seem to remember a "Far Side" cartoon that showed the "Uh-oh" crowd. A man on a bicycle had gotten run over and immediately there is a hundred people crowding around saying, "Uh-oh"! They all do their best to get in the way of those who are actually helping the situation. Years ago when I lived in Waverly, NY, my late wife worked as a clerk in the Emergency Room at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, PA. We were at the yearly dinner party at a restaurant when a man fell off his stool at the bar and was having a Grand-mal Seizure. The ambulance crews attending the party immediately got up and gave him help (they see the guy every couple of weeks as every time he got drunk he had one). Half of the emergency room doctors and most of the nurses were also at the party... They ended up doing "crowd control" The high point of the incident was the guys who staggered over form their bar stools and loudly said that the emergency personnel should, "just leave the poor %@$(@&) alone!"
Well I have more odds and ends to attend to today, so I will finish my cup of coffee and get busy. Catch you all later!
Good Morning...Its cloudy and 23 here...I'll have coffee and a sweet roll please...thank You...Not much going on ..I&S and Pearl street both...you all have a good one...Jerry
Good afternoon. I'm VERY bored.
I've already put up all of the clean clothes. Painted the rest of the layout legs. I also switched some hoppers around on the layout. Now its starting snow, well light right now.
Maybe I can just watch some tv. I plan on going to the LHS later this week, but no idea what to get.
Also.............Thought about getting a new desktop computer. I have several games I could play. The wife wonders how I get so bored. Well one its working a 3rd shift, and having the rest of the day to do whatever. I have six video game systems, but I get tired of them. I have a 12x13ft train layout, but I really don't have a plan yet for the middle part. I could get back into "weathering", but I honestly don't feel like it. I've been doing the weathering for myself thou.
Ulrich.......I agree. Nice looking plan. I thought about doing something like that for my wife.
Ulrich: That is one good plan!! I'd go with that one for sure!
Good afternoon....double cheeseburger basket with a large Coke please 'n thankya...also a to-go bag of burgers for Herr Rerun.
ULRICH: Thanks, I keep "skulling it out" trying to figure out how/where/when/why I "fell from grace." I'm coming up blank. In happier thoughts, I really, really like THAT track plan. Another example to make me for being immersed in HO rather than N-sane scale...
TODD: Yer right, I remember much more brutal, snow-filled winters. Although two years ago, we got burried about every other day. I think it's a matter of perspective. When we had "real winter" in the 70s and 80s...it didn't matter to me. I wasn't out driving in it, I wasn't paying the heating bill. I was just enjoying the RARE "snow day" from school. Seems they didn't "pull the trigger" on snow days quite as quick then as they do now.
Of course, now winter is much, much worse; at least to me: I have to drive in it (risking life, limb, and truck), my wife has to drive in it, too many idiots that can't drive in it jeopardizing MY (and my wife's) life, limb, vehicles..., I've got heating bills to pay, and...I just flat-out hate winter!!!
THAT said...it's 25 degrees out, ABOVE zero!!!!!!! 30s later in the week...again, ABOVE zero!!!!!
Hip, hip, HOORAY!!!!!!!
RAY: THAT's what I thought (the deck)...very nicely done. I've seen people try the same thing, but forget about painting the ends of the boards...kinda loses the effect.
Well, I'd best go do something...even if it's wrong
blownout cylinderUlrich: That is one good plan!! I'd go with that one for sure!
.... even a good thing can be improved further!
Paul and I are just discussing some more changes, i.e. the addition of a small yard and a possible extension either into a cassette or to a fiddle yard at a later stage.
Here is what we came up with:
ULRICH< I believe you have a winner. Looks great from this side of the pond.
Sure hope that you will be able to see some pprogress there in the near future.
Best wishes always,
Johnboy out......................