Good morning. It's 44 here and -200 in Satan's penthouse. The high will be in the mid 50's and there's talk of a 70% chance of rain.Internet problems prevented me from going online earlier this morning. Nice to see that the Saint's won but I never dreamed that they would stomp the Colts by the runaway score of 31-17. That was a surprise. I wonder how many people lost big bets on that game. Nothing in particular scheduled for today. I picked enough hairs off the layout yesterday to knit a handkerchief! The sooner I can give it a proper cleaning the better.
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
Greetings,
The wife and I finished up our mini winter vacation this morning. Checked out of the hotel and then had a nice breakfast at our favorite local restaurant. Then stopped at the bank, followed by doing our weekly grocery shopping. The house is nice and warm now that the electricity is back on. The bad news is they are calling for another 4 to 6 inches in Pittsburgh beginning Tuesday night. Maybe more if the this storm deviates from what they think it will do. Bottom line, it's beginning to be a little silly and I'm ready for Spring.
Pennsylvania did a great job on Interstate 79, It's was clear and dry in all lanes from yesterday morning. Other roads, not so good. Passable, but very narrow driving lanes. Everyone responsible seems to have cleared the roads better than I thought they would be able to do. Our street is like most others, just one lane. Funny thing though, I haven't really seen many kids out. When I was a kid, we lived for weather like this. Oh well, times change.
Take care,
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
Hey ya'll. Haven't been in in a while so I'm catching up
Anyways anyone rember what I said about 5 potential dates? That number swelled to 11, but then I got stood up by all but the very last one. It gets better since she was lieing about herself the whole time. She claimed to be working though college, had a car, no smoking, drinking, drugs, kept in shape, etc. In fact, she had no job, car (not even a bike), smoked, drank, did drugs, and probably spends her days eating, sleeping, and watching TV... Maybe I should stay out of it, more train money.
There is a 12th that I was supposed to meet tonight, but my battery went dead on me. So luck hasn't been with me recently... The moment I get it running fixed, something else goes bad. I'm really mifed by that; so much so that I am already looking at another car.
Vincent
Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....
2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.
Hi, Zoe - yeah, it's been a while. I'll take a BLT, some potato soup and a RBF, but I'll be in one of the back booths, I have had this (Hack.. hack... cough... wuah!..) cold/bronchitis/plaque thing most of the weekend, but cannot hock up anything to clear it out (sorry for that visual..). I'll try not to infect anyone else with it.
AztecEagleAnyway,back to your posting.about the van/truck model.I'm just making an uneducated guess here but I'm guessing your'e looking for REA/US Mail Delivery Vans.
Ulrich - OUCH! - that's way too much of that white stuff! I hope they have enough snowblowers and plows in town there. Stay warm, and avoid getting out if at all possible. Like your mods to the Salt Lake Route. As for Germans and MRR'ing, maybe it's our preference for things "engineerial"...? (FWIW, I started out majoring in engineering in college - before changing majors later...)
Robby yep sounds like a basement day week, all right. I was thinking today that the casual belt I'd ordered from LL Bean (in Maine) might just be a wee bit delayed in getting to me, with all the sn*w delays that I'm sure all the shipping companies may be having in the Eastern half of the USA... Ah, it'll get here when it gets here (or I'm sure they'll ship another one to me come the spring thaw )
Flip, I hear you on the posts; I think I found about 7 pages to wade through when I got back in the Diner today. And I was never fond (even with my being of German ancestry) of that bitter cabbage stuff. My Dad would make himself Reuben sandwiches when I was younger, but I'd only want the corned beef part of it (not wild about rye bread, either).
Garry - yep, I was thinking about repainting the CMW REA van, except when I went searching on Walthers, they show it out of stock (and I think not known when it'll reappear). As I was saying to AztecEagle, I'll likely go with the Divco truck (and maybe do some creative whittling, cutting and/or pasting). You may want to watch it down your way, as I suspect this front will be like one of those others and track more to the south of us. Hopefully, you won't get another ice storm!
Rob, the rocks look good - might be a doozy to add talus and such to, but the shape look about right to my eyes (now, where'd I put my glasses?). Oh, and though I've never bought a CSX (too modern for my layout), I do have a C&O covered hopper - does that count? I can definitely understand the impulsive buying of things MRR-related, I'll admit.
Well, only five more pages to go (so far...). I'll take a break and resume after dinner. Zoe, Chloe, which one of you fine ladies will take my dinner order? Great! I'll have...(starts looking over the menu of dinner specials on the board...)Blessings,
Jim in Cape Girardeau
Jim....I'm sure a lot of company's will be behind on shipping. Now the weather people are calling for 4- 8 inches starting at lunch tomorrow. Normally the Pittsburgh area gets 25 inches of snow (thats all year), and right now its at 49.9 inches!!!! Still got a few weeks left for snow!!! Also.................Hope you get to feeling better.
I added some signs to the layout today. Hopefully tomorrow I can work on the layout some more. I'm wanting to build a "pallet" company. Nothing big, but something to take up some "open" space.
"Rust, whats not to love?"
JimRCGMO I have had this (Hack.. hack... cough... wuah!..) cold/bronchitis/plaque thing most of the weekend, but cannot hock up anything to clear it out (sorry for that visual..). I'll try not to infect anyone else with it.
JIM: I'll join you in isolation...Loving Wife brought home the same perfidious pestiliance this past week. She stayed home Friday and today...I got it big-time on Saturday.
JimRCGMOAs for Germans and MRR'ing, maybe it's our preference for things "engineerial"...? (FWIW, I started out majoring in engineering in college - before changing majors later...)
Good grief...my first year of college was to "learn" mechanical design and drafting. Yeah, THAT worked out... Instead, I "learned" the following: introduction to alcohol consumption, introduction to "independent" living, and CNW Illinois Division - Morrison, Illinoisssssss to Clinton, Iowa. Uh, I quickly moved into advanced studies on THAT topic...
Speaking of Illinoisssssssssssssss, TODD: How goes the room re-do?? Rerun was quite smitten with Missy's latest pic, by the way.
VINCENT: About the lying gal...sounds like "a real wild chick," to borrow a line from EMERGENCY! Good luck to ya with the women, THATs all I got to say about THAT!
Closer to home, we be moving back into blizzard mode tonight and all day tomorrow. Sounds like a direct repeat of the end of January. Oh goodie. Loving Wife is expecting a snow day tomorrow, I'm anticipating my Tuesday night high school basketball coverage to be postponed. Next "out and about" gig for me won't be until Thursday evening when I go interview the ladies of North Liberty American Legion Auxilliary, Bicentennial Post 1976.
ZOE? I'll take a couple of Barry Burgers please 'n thank-you...nope, not at the RC this time...I'll hang in the back. Geeeeeez, I hope JIM and I don't get DUKE all sickened!!! Maybe one of the girls could give Sir DUKE a Vitamin B and Vitamin C injection while he's sacked-out...
Chris
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
Evenin' folks!
Zoe I'll have some fried chicken and french fries and a tall glass of Dr. Pepper if you please. I'll go sit well away from Jim and Chris... They don't sound good at all.
Looks like another major storm heading into the Northeast tomorrow. The good news for around here is THAT it is expected to fizzle out here in the Finger Lakes. A couple hours ago they were saying 6 to 12" of partly cloudy now they are saying we might get an inch....... The situation has undoubtedly occured because reading the earlier prediction, I gassed up the Snow Blower, and drove to the gas station and filled the gas can back up so i would have plently to play out in the snow when it came.......
My son called from work a while ago asking if I could bring the triler out to his house tomorrow. He wants to be able to get to his snow blower which is buried in the trailer. Heh, heh, heh....... THAT will also almost guarantee the storm staying away from here.
I'm going to spend most of the rst of the evening logging data on the rest of the fleet of equipment.
Later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Here's some cell-phone pics of the work on the layout tonight. A rather long-overdue work day if I might say. Sorry the pics are a bit blurry; kinda tired and took them in a hurry, but I'll post the best of the best.
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
Evening all from It's Raining And I'll NEVER Get This Locomotive Painted! Cal:
Yup. One nice day, yesterday and we're back into the Gloomies around here. Rain and snow scheduled until around Friday, according to our Omnipitent Weatherpersons.
Could have taken the boiler and tender of my Little Lady out into the garage yesterday--sun was out--and at least put a base coat on, but a buddy of mine called and asked me if I wanted to take a ride with him. "Where?" I asked. "Oh, down to Stockton or Tracy. I have to pick my mother up. My brother's bringing her up from Santa Cruz and meeting us halfway." "Sounds cool." I say. Besides, there's a lot of railroad action down around Stockton and Tracy, I'll probably see some very cool trains, that area is where UP and BNSF kinda/sorta take off toward Oakland.
We get in the car. His cell phone rings, as we're peeling south from Sacramento. "You're (explitive deleted) KIDDING ME," he yells into the phone. "We've got to go to Santa Cruz," he mutters to me. "His car won't start."
Now, Santa Cruz is 2-1/2 hours from here, on the Coast, below San Francisco. I think about it. Actually, there's not much to think about, we're already between Sacramento and Stockton.
I get home about 7 hours later. Dusk. BTW, no BNSF action. Or UP (like I'd care about UP anyway). Walk into the house. Uff-Dah makes a bee-line for me the minute I walk in the door. "OH, THANK GOD, THE GUY WITH THE THUMBS IS BACK!" Spooky just gives me a "Look."
Needless to say, the little 2-8-8-2 lady is still raw brass, sitting on the kitchen table. Okay, maybe Friday.
Got to school today, we had a BIG explosion in the Music Department on Friday when I wasn't there (I don't do Fridays--short day schedule). Seems the Concert Band Director got mad at the Jazz Band Director because the Jazz Band Director allocated the purchase of $100 dollars worth of Sax and Clarinet reeds for the Jazz Band for rest of the year. Um, that's about 2-1/2 months. I used to chew up a reed a day when I played clarinet in high school, LOL! Anyway, there was this Big Meeting about it, and the Assistant Vice Principal (she's in charge of the Fine Arts Curriculum) got involved, and while she was asking what was going on, the Band Director told her to SHUT UP, he was SPEAKING!
I heard all of this this morning, when I reported for work. Shall we say, it's a little BOUNCY around here right now, LOL? Luckily, neither myself of my Partner In Crime Leah are involved--we're Choral, and Officially Not Involved, thank God! But it should be an interesting week as everything gets sorted out.
Ah, the Joys of Teaching!
SAWYER: You should enjoy this. One of my Tenors came in First Period holding his side. This guy is built like a Sherman Tank. Came up to me and asked me if he could sit out the Breathing Exercises we usually do before singing. I just grinned at him. "Rugby." He nodded. "Uh-huh." We had a game, Sunday. Our version of the Super Bowl. We won, by the way. I told him to just sit the class out. He sighed. "I hope I didn't crack a rib." "Believe me, if you'd cracked a rib, you wouldn't even be standing," I said. He joined us a little later up on the Risers. He must really have gotten WHACKED out there on the field, yesterday. He's recuperating, though. By the time class was over, he was breathing a lot better.
Well, that's about it from SoggyCal for now. Time to go out and test-track my new Little Lady again. Got the boiler all weighted, put it on the chassis, and she runs kinda/sorta nice. I replaced the brass Key articulation drive between the driver sets with an A-Line ball and socket mechanism, and she runs much smoother. Almost as good in forward as reverse, so I'll work on that a little tonight.
I am going to paint her boiler dark green, once I get a chance to paint her at all. Evidently, Rio Grande liked those little 'baby' 3400 2-8-8-2's with a green boiler. It'll make her look a lot like a Great Northern Mallet, but what the Hey, right? I mean, Great Northern locos ain't to shabby themselves, LOL!
Best to all, prayers to those in need.
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
Tom, yep, he's a rugby player. And I wouldn't be surprised if he had cracked a rib. Sounds like he's a forward (guy in the scrum) and you gotta be TOUGH to be a forward, lol.
Packers#1 Here's some cell-phone pics of the work on the layout tonight. A rather long-overdue work day if I might say. Sorry the pics are a bit blurry; kinda tired and took them in a hurry, but I'll post the best of the best.
What a great looking building sawyer. I am impressed.
If you have time, please post the measurements of it for us.
Good Job.
Johnboy out..........................for now.
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Saywer:
Yup, he's a Forward. He walks into a room and he just COMMANDS it! Big, sweet guy, very quiet and attentive in class, even when the rest of the choir is going bonkers on Monday mornings. REALLY nice Tenor voice. An absolute A+ choral singer. And he has a very strong GPA in his other classes. All his teachers just love him--me too. Couldn't ask for a better student.
But I've watched him in action out on the playing field--OHMYGAW! It must be like getting hit by a BNSF freight train at full bore, when he gets going, LOL!
He's a Sophomore, we'll have him for two more years. Frankly, I'm really looking forward to it. So's the Rugby coach.
I really like the way your layout's coming along, BTW. Keep the photos coming, OK?
Good Evening all,55degrees, no rain, BEAUTIFULL SUNSHINE,first time in 10 days the rest of time cloudy and rain. Trees are starting to turn green and little flowers are poping out all over the garden area. Almost have all the track pined down, majior switch areas are glued in place first. Used plastic straws to go thru insulation in places 4 and 6 inches thick for all the elec. wires for track. Will do same for all elec. connections under the layout, easiest way to do this allways know what is where. Been trying to locate all the info that I can on The Clatsop Railroad Co. 6/1934 to 1938; the predecessor is what I'm really intested in: Lewis and Clark Railroad Co. ( 3/1918 to 6/1923 ) 36 inch logging RR. All it had was 24 miles following the Lewis and Clark River south following the river of same name south in Clatsop County, Oregon. Three engines (1) 2 truck 40" drivers #1432 Heisler : (2) 2-6-0 [ all I know](3) 2T Shay 36" drivers; Lima #3164:::: This is or was one of the Logging RR to ship logs south to Frisco in rafts to mills in S.F. If anybody can help I will pay for all reasonable expences ;;;;;; chuck
Fair Winds and Following Seas. CHARLESDOMBROWSKI@MSN.COM
Evening all. Work was dead tonight. Snowing now, but behind the amount we were suppose to have by now. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for tonight and tomorrow it doesn't pick up.
Picked up a 34 ft coach off the bay for my tourist train this morning. One big dollar and 4 cents. Well plus like $6 shipping. It's a TYCO but, with a razor saw and a couple of #148's, some new wheels and I'm sure some weight plus possibly a few details, new paint job and like Jerry says, from 3 feet it'll be fine.
Chris- Got the first part of the bench work almost put up. I'm gonna use ¼" OSB because I Haven't had any problems with it. Then 2" foam board on that. Kinda at a slow spot right now as the part I had to start with is also the part where the grade rises 5". So, the board will only go as far as the grade start. The grade is actually hidden in a tunnel and emerges around the corner and 5" higher so I need the foam board to know where to start the track bed in height. The plan says its about a 3% grade so I'm trying to see if I can't extend the rise longer. I already have a bit and I think with a little cyphering I can get it a bit longer. Haven't figured out where I'm at so far but I figure the longer the rise the better. I'll be laying some track and the first grade before moving on. I think this will help me get that part correct with the rest of the layout. I've already thined out some of the track out that I won't need or want. For instance. I don't think I want 4 switches hidden "under ground" so I can have two passing sidings I can't see. For me, that only asks for trouble. All in all, things are going well. I can see why Rerun is taken, Missy looks dreamy in that photo.
I see some pretty good pictures of some decent looking progress, sorry Tom, should have looked to see if you were around before I said that. I wasn't rubbing it in, really. So, sounds like you had a nice drive!
Well, time to rest before going to bed.
Prayers for those in need.
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.
Evening all. Chloe, I'll take a chocolate shake, pleasenthanks.
I'm glad the Saints won. It was a really good game.
Sam: I know what ya mean about those grade crossings. There's at least a half dozen between Bay Head and Point Pleasant!Also the 2300s are fun to ride. It's the only chance where a diesel-hauled train can run at 100mph (with the exception of ACES)
Todd, my parents painted our dining room red, but IDK, I kinda like it... maybe it's just me...
Nice U-Boat, Rob. Just curious, does your wife have any specific prototype, or is she just doing the "whatever, any kind of train I want" thing?
Hey, Vincent, girls like that come around. Luckily, there's plenty of others out there
Tom, our school's just as crazy, especially in the music department!
Prayers for all who are sick (which seems to be nearly everyone).
Night!
My Model Railroad: Tri State RailMy Photos on Flickr: FlickrMy Videos on Youtube: YoutubeMy Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives
SS Beachy... I sent you an email.. bout a month ago.. on How to Post Pics.. you get it?
Keith
Joe- Nothing against red. It's trying to cover the red that makes you pull your hair out. 3 coats of KILZ and it still bleeds through.
Half of a honeydew melon, please.
***Tom, bet it's good to be back home. Hope those storms behave for a while.
***Jim, are they impulse buys if one has been considering them for a week? Happy accident is both the N & HO models turn out to be the same deisel (U23B), just different numbers. Will be interesting to compare them side by side when they arrive. Wife doesn't know about the splurge yet.
***Sawyer, very cool looking big building you have there.
***Chuck, would like to see progress pics of that layout as you progress. Very interesting choice!
Think I might be experiencing some early immunopathology or herx in earnest tonight. Knew it was coming sooner or later. Heading back to bed to veg in front of the flat screen boob tube.
Had no energy for the train room today. Perhaps tomorrow, Have a good night y'all. Rob
Good *cough cough* evening... Zoe? Bucket of coffee, a large glass of Ed's OJ, and anything in the medicine cabinet for a congested head on the verge of exploding...
Welp, I thought I'd have a little nap... in-between coughing fits. I'm finally settling in, nice and comfy, and the ratzin'-fratzin' Fire Dept. pager starts to making noise and vibrationing as the tones for 1-3-1, AKA: The Clarence Fire Department, resonate throughout the room... Ambulance tones follow ours, so I know we've got a wreck somewhere. Yup. One mile west on Highway 30, 2-car 10-50PI (accident with injuries). Crap. I lay there for a minute or two trying to decide if I'm healthy enough to go. I finally decide, since I went to w**k today, I really "should" make the run.
Out the door I go. Only have to brush off one window (passenger side) on the pickup. Fire it up, out the driveway we go. Darn-near get stuck at the end...brackin'-frackin' city... get underway excrutiatingly slowly, wheels spinning the whole time. Try to make the turn at the corner, truck keeps going straight...towards the fire hydrant! Get stopped, back up a bit, make the turn. OK...slippin' and slidin' downhill towards main drag/30. Thank God nobody's coming as I slide right out onto 30, make the left turn towards downtown and the fire station. Wheels still spinning, doing a little fish-tailing...and I'm only going 10 mph!!! I'm a block away when I see the pumper (134) pull out, followed by the "crash truck (132)." Crap. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh shazbot, there goes the brush truck (138).
I'm missing my ride.
All three of 'em.
But wait! 136 just pulled out on the ramp! 136 is our old Ford pickup, it carries the antique set of Jaws, airbags, and cribbing. I turn onto the street in front of the station...no parking!!!! Brackin'-Frackin' city council meeting!!!! 136 is still sitting there with the disco lights going, so I gun it a bit and do a really cool semi-controlled power slide around the corner to our side parking lot. Shut everything off quick, jump out, run, slip, slide my way to 136; jump in...and off we go.
Finally get on scene just in time to do.......*ta da* traffic control.
Oh well, they serve too who stand and wave at the traffic in their OSHA/NHTSA/DOT mandated highly reflective vests.
Town cop finally shows up and waddles up to the scene. 'Ats OK Mr. Cop...FIRE has the traffic under control...have another doughnut.
Later, some idiot county mountie comes racing up in his fancy SUV. He seems to be going quite fast, and heading for the cop car, which I'm standing behind. Toby is a-hollarin' "watch out! watch out!" at me as I'm penguin-walkin' on the 100% ice trying to get as far AWAY as possible from what looks to be an epic FAIL about to happen. Super Trooper Deputy swerves at the last possible second and slides to a stop, on the shoulder next to the cop car. Don't know why. Toby (fellow Firefighter) hollars at him: "Hey, the dougnuts are in the next one!" Super Trooper Deputy guns it and rockets up the snow and ice-covered shoulder and nearly plows into the ambulance director's pickup and one or two other vehicles before swerving back onto the road and finally finding "rock star parking" at the scene.
Twit.
Oh what fun we do have.
Now...my head is even MORE congested, I feel even crappier than I did...which I didn't think was possible.
But, I feel good. Due to this persidious, perfidious...pernacious? Heck, thanks to this freakin' frackin' disease the Wife brought home...I couldn't give blood at the blood drive I covered this afternoon. Felt kinda bad about THAT. Maybe helping to insure a safe workin' scene tonight was some sort of cosmic make-up for it???
And yeah...I'm just a little bit proud of what I do.
TODD: 3 coats of Kilz and still bleeding through? Yup...thank you for re-affirming my lack of being impressed with THAT product. If it's the "best," I'd hate to see the worst. So...are you going with THAT trackplan you tacked up a week or two, or three, or...whenever ago??? Rerun just stopped by, he wanted to know if Missy was around this evening. I think he wants to get a little something a-goin' with THAT fuzzy lady!
(California)TOM(I think): Was THAT you sayin' the Jazz Band director bought $100 worth of reeds?? Geepers. Back in my band geek days...I always had to provide my own for the poor tenor sax I so badly tortured by attempting to play.
SAWYER, JOE: Good to see you guys in here this evening.
I'm heading back to the back again... maybe take another little nap.
"I keep on rollin' with the flow..."
Good Morning, Folks,
brrrr- what a cold night! No sn*w, so driving to the GULAG was OK. Today we have to write up an evaluation of the whole thing, including an assesment on the job our "trainers" did. Well, you can imagine my statements.
Zoe, I am hungry! I´ll have a big American breakfast, with all bells and whistles, plus a large mug of hot & strong coffee, thank you. I´ll be in the back booth, watching the yard goat getting ready for today´s chores.
Charles - what a strange world. You have the weather which is more common to this end of the world. I am pretty much fed up with this white and icy stuff. It is about time that spring comes!
Tom - I am sure you will do a wonderful job painting that loco and that is going to be a jewel on your roster. Keep those pictures coming!
Sawyer - that is fine building you have built there - I´d like to see some more close-up shots. Scratch building has not yet been my cup of tea, so I´d like to capitalize on your experience building it.
Vincent - girls know, that they have to kiss many a frog until they find their prince to take home. Same is true for the boys. Don´t rush in, there will be many more opportunities! Believe me, when the right one is there, you will know!
Rob - I like those U-boats . Somehow, they don´t look as utilitarian as the EMD SD´s and GP´s. More a character of their own.
Todd - That red color is certainly "persistent". How about putting on a light gray "primer" before you paint your basement in the color you actually want to have. I always thought that helped a little to get rid of the reddish hue that always seems to remain. Or how about incorporating it - like a sunset backdrop?
I have a bit of a puzzle to solve for myself. You know, I have been investing a lot of time into planning my "dream" layout. It seems as if I am stuck in that analysis paralysis thing again, making it impossible for me to decide which way to go.
I have been into HO scale most of the time in my MRR "career". The scale is "big" enough to enjoy detail, but small enough to also build an interesting layout. OTOH, MR´s current project layout is so dang good looking with its spectacular scenery, that I really fell in love with Dick Christianson´s work. I made some smaller changes, which make it, IMHO, a little more interesting to operate. OK, it still lacks staging, but I really enjoy watching trains snaking to through the countryside. As I do not have much HO equipment left, a change of scale would not really be a big issue.
Here are my options:
Option 2 has the advantage, that locos and rolling stock seem to be cheaper, but the disadvantage of the small size.
Decisions, decisions!
I´d like to put up the issue here for discussion - or even a poll, would be interesting to see the results and also a big help for me to make up my mind.
Have a good day, guys!
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Good Morning All,
Fla went well as did the flight home. Waiting on the truck to make it back now, hopefully before the snows start up again. I have lots to catch up with including all these pages I've missed so I'll just grab a coffee and try to stop in later. J.R.
Good cold morning. Give me ......OJ, and the sausage biscuit. More snow is coming. 1 - 3 today, and 2 - 4 tonight. The problem is that the cities are running out of room for the snow. They are already pushing into the yards. Plus Pittsburgh has called in the National Guard.
Well I printed off some "signs" from Tomcat has been posting on the "layout" section on the website. Can't use some of them but I did use some of the Cocoa Cola ones. Maybe later I can get some more done on the layout.
Sawyer......Nice building. I'm starting to get my feet wet in making my own buildings. My buildings might not be the best looking, but it does save money.
Chris........Thats a wild story. Leave it up to the troopers. I went to a law enforcement school in NC, and the city/county cops were nice. Days we had a trooper teaching, well it felt like you were in boot camp. One even told us a story that he pulled over a sheriff for speeding. He told us "if they break the law city/county PULL THEM OVER!!!!" I was like
Todd......Can't the primer be tinted? Maybe put a layer on or two with the color you are going for. I could be wrong but I thought you could tint it.
Vincent.......Those were the days. Well for me.......... Now the "ring" says different
Ulrich........At least you are not like me and going with the first plan. Sometimes I wish I could start over. Plus..........How much snow have you gotten this year??? I told my wife that we have 50 inches so far this year, and that you probably get that in a day or two??
I guess I better go. Seems like it wants to start to snow any minute.
Just a cup of coffee Flo.
My newest Grandnephew,Preston Blake Coulter,arrived this AM!!
He weighed in at 6lbs.12oz. and is 20 1/2 inches long!!!
He he, Rob said "boob". (giggle)
Good Morning. Bucket of coffee please. Half dark roast the other half chickory please. I need it, been up since 3:30 this morn. Missy was whining for the waste can. Must have licked up too much hair and had an upset tummy. Let her outside to see if she had to go potty, but alas, all it did was make me wide awake. Somewhat hungry too. I realized I hadn't eaten yesterday so a couple of toaster waffles with real butter and real maple flavored corn syrup and a plate of nachos while watching Death Wish II on Cinemax. Shoveled about 3" of light powdery snow from the drive and here I am. Tired but it's time to be awake.
So, plans for the day. Some more destruction and construction on the pike to be. Unload the grocery truck at the restaurant. In to Springfield for a few groceries and a level. Can't seem to find mine. I have been using a laser level for the back of the layout because it' against the wall. However the thing don't work so well for the rest. Depending on the weather I may attempt to pick up a 4X8 sheet of blue foam board. Probably need some more KILZ too. That oughta kill the hobby budget for the month. Not counting the $1 car. Was wrong, by the way, $4.95 flat rate shipping, not 6.
Chris- Glad you got out of the way of Starsky there. Yep, still with that plan with a few mods. As soon as I get some $40 freakin dollar ink for the printer, I will print the plan, trace, modify then repost with the one I shall call mine. But.... 40 freakin dollars. Brother, why did I buy a Brother. (just wanted to say that). As far as the KILZ goes, in it's defense it is the best stuff I've used, and I've tried others on all sorts of stuff but man words can't describe the red I'm covering. Truthfully it was covered well enough after two coats that a color other than the KILZ itself would probably cover. I've just decided to leave the room white and make a backdrop thereby leaving the top portion of the room white for, hopefully, better light reflection. ( that and it will hide the absolutely hideous job of drywall taping I did) So I gave it another coat just to be sure the red wouldn't bleed through the white. Even though it probably wouldn't after the second coat using a decent paint, it definitely won't after the third. The wall still has a ever so slight pink color. I'm also using the Latex version which is nowhere near as good as the oil based version but I want to breath and stay in the house without every window open for ventilation. (man that stuff is potent). 'tis winter you know.
Tom- Like Chris said, when I was in band, a Trumpet man I was, the windy folks supplied their own reeds also. Of course if someone split a reed and didn't have a replacement, the band director would always seem to have one to fit in his briefcase. Wonder if he turned those in as an expense.
What's THAT??!! @#*$#! Village just undid the end of my driveway. That's it! I'm not gonna wave at them all morning!!
Now Ulrich- Be nice on the evaluation buddy. Remember not everyone is like you. Quite frankly, I wish our system had something like that. Not that it would work, because most don't want to, but it's a good start. Then, the roads need picked up etc. NOT for the ones who need it and can't get off it for medical and other legitimate reasons mind you, but there are a few out there who simple seem to be using the well intended system to their advantage. I know, I know it's hard to believe there are people like that, but even here in the land of pasturized milk and Honey with preservatives (why, I have no idea.) we have them. Imagine that. Maybe if in order to stay on it for no reason other than "I don't have a job and I need money so it‘s up to the government to see I get it. By the way, can I get a light so I can light up an $8 a pack cigarette and swill down some $20 a case beer." a job won't seem too bad faced with some nasty work that needs done. Probably not fair though. I'm suppose to work my sit upon off to make ends meet and throw money in a system so they can sit back and not have to. Doesn't sit well with me. Again, I have no problem with legitimate claims. THAT's what it was designed for and I still think it a good thing. If we could just come up with a way to weed out the abusers without offending anyone or going against anyones religion without mentioning the word, we'd be better off.
sorry. Someone left the out and I accidently stepped on it. Best watch where I step.
Actually now that Ulrich mentioned it, after the first coat of KILZ, IF, I had used a light gray primer, then a white it probably would have been just fine. Too bad I didn't think of that.
Ulrich (again)- Think about it. HO or N is a personal preference. I like HO because of the size and N because of the size and also dislike it because of the size. Cost wise, I'd say you wouldn't be saving a whole lot by going N. In fact, in the end it will cost more because you will be able to put more in a given space. I know overall that is not an issue for most of us no matter what our budgets, none of us believe we are going to build a layout for under 20 dollars. We just accept it will take longer to do. Personally and this is just me, if I were faced with a small area and had virtually no HO equipment, I would go N. I still sometimes say to myself, maybe I'll go N scale and then I'll have room for what I want. Plus some. But then I think, no I like HO and the size and I'll just work harder to get in there what I want. As long as I keep in my mind that I don't need parking for 50 cars at the Whataburger, it's just a model so just represent it like most others, I will be fine. Good luck and I hope you still have some hair when you make your decision.
Well, this turned out longer than I expected. Waaaaay longer. Sorry guys. Not sorry enough to edit it! (laughing maniacally as runs out the door. POOF! right into a huuuuge snow pile.)
Have a Great Day!!!
Preston Blake and welcome to the world. Congratulations Aztec!
Good Afternoon,
back from the GULAG and only one more day to go . Did my appraisal and tried to be honest and fair. Some of those guys really tried their best, and I can´t blame them for what they did. After all, it wasn´t them who sent me there.
Flo, I´ll take a coffee and a slice of that pie - whatever it is! Thank you!
AztecEagle - congrats on that new grandnephew and a big Preston Blake, to the wonderful world. It still is a wonderful place, despite all the efforts of our politnicks to turn it into a disaster!
Todd - I made a rough calculation on the cost of both layouts (my CAD system allows me to do this) and both are in the same $-range (well, it is Euro over here). N scale rolling stock and locos are about 60% of the price of HO equipment - I don´t know why N scale stuff is so much cheaper in comparison. A DCC equipped Kato SD70ACe runs for less than 100 Euros, whereas I´d have to spend about 140 - 150 Euros on the HO version.
I know, that one of these days I will have to make up my mind...
Robby P. - actually it is not that bad. Total sn*wfall since the beginning of this year amounts to about 42 inches, but due to some "warmer" days, this is not what you find around anymore. The bad thing is, that most of it has turned into a thick layer of ice by now, making a walk outside a serious hazard. My little village alone accounts for more than 600 cases of broken bones...
While I am writing this, it has started to sn*w again. .
Enjoy!
TABunch Todd!!!My Sister sent me a Text Message@5:05am,then called us@6:50am with the news!!!
Called my neice at the Hospital in Hoiuston.
Mother and Child are doing fine!!!
Ahhhhhhh. Good mornin' everyone!
I have no idea why I'm happy this morning.... Oh, now I remember. But first I need to get my breakfast. COFFEE! Lots of dark raost coffee in a FGLK mug and to go along with the coffee I'll have the #2 speacila, over easy on the eggs, bacon, homefries, and a double order of sourdough toast and some of those Strawberry preserves you have.
Looks like the forecast has been downgraded and THAT the Finger Lakes will get a bit of the white fluffy stuff after all. Not a whole lot, 1 to 3 inches tonight and 2 to 4 inches tomorrow. probably just enough to have to start up the old snowblower and have a bit of fun. Certainly nothing like some of the rest of you will be getting from the storm moving in here in the East. The good news is I am dropping my truck and trailer off at my son's house for him to empty. When he is done, I can clean the old trailer up a bit, make a few needed repairs, and get it transfered over to the Boy scout troop I have been doing the RR MB with. Then one of my 2 driveways will become mine again!
AztecEagle my congratulations to you on the Grandnephew! They are almost as much fun as grandkids......
Chris and Ulrich, ain't ice covered with snow fun? Everybody just loves it...... Well according to Irving Berlin:
"I'll soon be there with snow I'll wash my hair with snow And with a spade of snow I'll build a man that's made of snow I'd love to stay up with you but I recommend a little shuteye Go to sleep And dream Of snow, snow, snow, snow, snow"
Best get a move on. Have to finish getting everything hooked up on the trailer.
Hope you all have a great day!
Danke Schoen Ulrich!!!
Yeah,true this old world can be rough and there's been craziness in it ever since Eve told Adam"Is That An Apple In Your Hand Or Are You Just Happy To See Me??!!"
Now depending on my mood,my outlook on life can be(A)"If They Move...KILL EM'!!"(William Holden'The Wild Bunch);(B)"Trouble With You Is The Trouble With Me.Got Two Good Eyes But Still Don't see"(The Grateful Dead"Truckin'")or(C)"I Still Beleive That In Spite Of It All,People Are Basically Good at Heart".(Anne Frank:'The Diary of Anne Frank').
And I think that as long as a child comes into this old world and theyr'e loved and cared for,this crazy old'Mr.Toad's Wild Ride'we call Planet Earth will always make it a better place!![