Mornin' everyone!
I'll have a hot bowl of oatmeal with brown sugar to go along with the cup of dark roast coffee in a R&GV Mug. I'll be in the front booth chatting with a couple guys in the moose outfits..... What there not? Real moose you say?
BTW, telling the gender of a raccoon is done exactly the same as telling the gender of a skunk. Actually very easy. What's difficult is trying to explain why you want to know!
Inch, I think your cat can be summed up in the words of Shakespeare, "'Tis a pity that desire should outlive performance!" (King Henry the IV, part 2) The snowman will become part of my "collection".....
Jeffrey you should install some kind of hand grips in the opening of the access hole to help you lift yourself up. Might make getting in there safer for you anyway....
Ulrich what do you mean "turning into"??? This place has been a zoo for a long, long time!
Gotta get moving. Have a list of items needing to get done today. Only a few involve the layout.
Later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Heartland Division CB&QThere's a thread about the mrr box car. I wonder how much spray paint is stolen in order to vandalize railroad equipment.
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
Coffee in a SANTA FE mug, please & thanks.
Questions: How well do those HO track cleaning cars (with the rotating drum in the middle of a flat car) work? If they do work, could they do any harm to the old style automatic (weight triggered) crossings?
Going to pick up a live-type trap to relocate a flying squirrel who has taken up residence in the attic space above our bedroom this week. Millie kitty has been most amused stairing strait up at the ceiling.
Have a good day y'all.
Rob
jeffrey-wimberly Heartland Division CB&QThere's a thread about the mrr box car. I wonder how much spray paint is stolen in order to vandalize railroad equipment. Looks to me as if that thread has been pulled.
mrr boxcar thread is now an EX-thread
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/
"The usual.. Coffee"~
Well today is a cloudy morning. Sunny yesterday, but the clouds rolled in last night.. keeping us nice a comfy. If there weren't any clouds.. it would have been a cold one.
Jim, Yes. Jeanne remembers it. When I had asked her again.. this morning.. her reply was.. "Yeah I remember that baby raccoon.. but we were in the middle of nowhere.. and that was pretty scary." Nothing like the sound of desparate screech of a lost baby raccoon... just looking for mama in the middle of a dark forest.
Ok.. Jim.. Jeff.. anyone~ who cares to put their two cents in. Last time.. I asked.. I got great replies on soldering. Ray I believe was the best.. but Sawyer was up there too. I believe the true secret to soldering was using a clean wet tip.. and rosin.. the two best answers.
Ok.. here's a pic of my layout.. I'm doing roads. Aside from me.. just laying out cars and putting together a diorama.. and also trying to do fiber optics.. I NEED TO MARK OUT ROADS.
Yes today, I will be doing.. roads.. reading up on roads.. and demensions. Then placing lines.. and marking out the roads.. parking spaces.. and maybe cut a 'relief' .. so as to give the road more detail of 3d instead of being just 'Flat'.. I hate that look of flatness.
Here's one pic of the proposed roads.. and even parking spaces (for the train station) that Jeanne insisted on.
So I will be reading up on roads. If anyone has any ideas.. or.. for that much.. dangers and pitfalls I would encounter.. please let me know now. .. LOL> Jeff.. I'm calling in my favors.. lol. Ah heck I know if you got the time.. or the others.. Just give me something here. Just a side note here: I haven't place in the road bed for the mains.. that will come later.. and seems to match up nicely.
So heres a pic of the proposed parking area.. as well as the roads in the background.
Heres the best photo I got to help see the vision of what I'd like. Roads and parking space.
I know.. I know.. what exactly are you asking.?
1. Ah the width of the roads? I think I have read somewhere here .. that one inch represents one road. Just guessing.. for N scale.. 1/8th equals 1 foot? And most roads are legally 8 feet.. so 1 inch.
2. How about the sidewalks? Whats the width of a side walk?
3. How about the actual size of a street.. one lane both ways.. and also room for parking next to buildings.?
4. What material should I use to make roads.. what is the best.... if price is not a concern?
5. What problems will I encounter doing roads and parking spaces. I'd really like to know ahead of time.
Any suggestions.. ? I'd really like to know~ I'm tired of going about things the hard way. I thank you ahead of time.
Blazzin1. Ah the width of the roads? I think I have read somewhere here .. that one inch represents one road. Just guessing.. for N scale.. 1/8th equals 1 foot? And most roads are legally 8 feet.. so 1 inch.
Ah....... 8 feet??? Nope! Try 12 feet......... per lane. Got parking? One side.... or both? Add another 7/8 feet per parking lane or if on old city streets..... traffic has to wait.. while other traffic clears. If no curb.. add 2 feet for the shoulder.... each side. At least THAT is the most widely used modern data. http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/480617
THAT said, a bit of selective compression might be in order.
Ray, thank you so much. I feel better already.
I hate to ask this.. but .. lol.. but in terms of horse before the carriage but in terms of making a diorama.. I think I should
1. Build roads first.. then paint them and / or then glue the buildings in? Then sidewalks?'
2. What should go in last? Trees.. People? Glued then the cars and trucks .. NOT glued?
This is all new to me... right now I'm reading up on roads.. and I am reading Jeff's idea. Lots of stuff here.. seems I'm always reading.. and making a note.. to 'mark' it as a favorite. I just hate to see someone else go through all this.. so I am making a collection some site for ideas. For some one else .. who won't have to go through all the re:, re's on.. for ever and ever. Thanks again.
Morning Zoe. I'll have a beer, some bacon, and a cigarette. I have no will to live.
Although most of the country is covered in snow, Oregon is rain country this time of year. I'm fighting the shack-nasties and the railroad is helping, at least a little.
Look forward to connecting up the last section of the main line in the next day or so. I'll be able to run a train around the loop for the first time. Yea.
Good to hear mention of the the majestic møøse.
A Møøse once bit my sister ...
No realli! She was Karving her initials on the møøse with the sharpened end of an interspace tøøthbrush given her by Svenge - her brother-in-law - an Oslo dentist and star of many Norwegian møvies: "The Høt Hands of an Oslo Dentist", "Fillings of Passion", "The Huge Mølars of Horst Nordfink".
Good times.
RAy ~ Thanks again.
The rest of you.. neVErMind~! I got it now. Whew .. been reading all this time.
This is what I have gathered.. and who knows how much I'll retain.
Sideways first.
And~ For roads use the styrene method.. along with Phillips idea.. buying it from Michael's. Cutting it
painting it.. cracking it .. and detailing it. Pretty cool really~ Seems like fun.
Keith.......For roads I use "Smooth it". Its made by Woodland Scenic. Its about $5.00. You just mix with water, and get it about like cake mix, and pour. Its also sand able, but it will make a mess!! I was thinking that maybe "plaster paris" might work just as good.
1....... I would put the buildings down first. Let the road come to them. Don't wanna have the road down, and then change your mind. After where the buildings would go, maybe outline the base of them. So you know where to pour your road/sidewalks/etc....
2.... I wouldn't glue the cars. I like to move mine around the layout. One minute a car is at the warehouse, then the next I will put it at the switch tower. Kinda changes things up. I did see somewhere that some people were using a sticky wax for the people on the layout. So if you wanted to move them, you could.
Hope that helps.
"Rust, whats not to love?"
Afteroon ya'll. The date went well, and we've already planned a second one for next week
Chris, I like the tiger striped Gp50s and SD60s better.
Jim, good point. Make sure it's a human handing me the food.
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.
Ok so last night the rail in the turntable pit worked ok so it’s spared the road treatment. The part for the truck finally came in and is being installed as we speak, so I should get it back tonight. My son sent me a TXT message last night, out of the blue he wants’ to get a tattoo. Other than that all is well here.Jeff watch your mailbox tomorrow!
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
PackerChris, I like the tiger striped Gp50s and SD60s better.
Wellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll, alllllllllllllllllllllrighteeeeeee then. Ask, and ye shall receive!
A coupla GP-50 tiger stipes fer ya...happy to oblige! I bagged both at Savanah, IL on a chilly fall 1987 day. Thankfully, they arrived at the ex-Milw (SooLine) diamond within minutes of each other.
Welp, after Miss Squirrel brings me a to-go bucket of coffee, it's back to W**K on yesterday's meetings for THAT....hmmmmm. OK, the squirrel is having a little trouble with THAT bucket. WHEN are the ladies coming back???
Chris
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
Afternoon folks!
Ah, little squirrel, I'll have a Dr. Pepper if you please. Maybe you can get the raccoon to help carry it over to the front booth now that the Moose have left and the deer cleaned up the mess they made.... What? Oh, (sings) "I used to be a Fox, a good old Fox too. But now I'm finished Foxing, I don't know what to do..." (any Woodbadgers out there???)
Kieth, They didn't have many "modern" streets and roads way back in 1925, so I have no experience putting in blacktop on the layout. Now gravel and brick....... However, I would get all the buildings ready to go the layout in the rea yu will be constructing. Do some measuring to be sure everything is going to fit and look right. Then remove the buildings and put in the roads/streets/highways/etc. Then install the building permanently, add scenery, and last of all the stuff THAT can be moved around. Aka: cars, trucks, people, racoons, squirels, foxes, moose, and other critters found here in the diner. The road will do little to interfere with putting in buildings and scenery, but buildings and scenery may make it a PITA to w*rk on the highway.......???
AmanaMedic PackerChris, I like the tiger striped Gp50s and SD60s better. Wellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll, alllllllllllllllllllllrighteeeeeee then. Ask, and ye shall receive! A coupla GP-50 tiger stipes fer ya...happy to oblige! I bagged both at Savanah, IL on a chilly fall 1987 day. Thankfully, they arrived at the ex-Milw (SooLine) diamond within minutes of each other. Welp, after Miss Squirrel brings me a to-go bucket of coffee, it's back to W**K on yesterday's meetings for THAT....hmmmmm. OK, the squirrel is having a little trouble with THAT bucket. WHEN are the ladies coming back??? Chris
Yo! Chris! Nice photos.. really nice.. but I still like this one of yours.
This one really makes my zippity do dah.~
Robby~ Thank you for your input. It gives me a different perspective on how someone approaches something.
After reading your reply, something clicked.. but I think also aside from everything else mentioned.. I think the 'retaining walls' need to go in... as a first. Just to see how the buildings line up next to the walls. Wow .. who would have ever guessed?
AmanaMedicSAWYER: Good grief Kid! All summer we gotta worry about you dehydrating yourself...come winter, now we have to make sure you don't go and hypothermiate yourself!!!!! I forgot to say, nice shot of the Geep-50. I've always been a fan of them, but I like 'em best with the chop (normal) nose, nose bell, yellow and green paint job... CNW had the first production 50s, and made them THE power for "the Bird" (Falcon TOFC service), and other "hot" trains. But, the love affair wore-off as they were less than reliable. By the mid 90s, they were some pretty sad looking units. I think UP dumped 'em pretty quick after the Borg assimilation. [picture snipped] Now THAT's what a GP-50 oughta look like...
SAWYER: Good grief Kid! All summer we gotta worry about you dehydrating yourself...come winter, now we have to make sure you don't go and hypothermiate yourself!!!!! I forgot to say, nice shot of the Geep-50. I've always been a fan of them, but I like 'em best with the chop (normal) nose, nose bell, yellow and green paint job... CNW had the first production 50s, and made them THE power for "the Bird" (Falcon TOFC service), and other "hot" trains. But, the love affair wore-off as they were less than reliable. By the mid 90s, they were some pretty sad looking units. I think UP dumped 'em pretty quick after the Borg assimilation.
[picture snipped]
Now THAT's what a GP-50 oughta look like...
haha, the joys of the weather of the South! thanks too! I prefer the high hooders myself though.
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
Hello
We actually have a bit of a sunny break here---YAY
My branchline only deals with RS's and a few H14-44's. And, in a pinch may pull out a coupla these GP9u's
That there ding GP50 looks a little newish to me
My day was spent crawling around the underside of the layout finding bits and pieces of little parts from a jar that I thought I had screwed the lid on. I did not do such hence all kinds of small pieces/parts fell out and promptly scattered themselves under the layout. 'Spring' found a few and spent time playing with those pieces that went under the door towards him---he also spent some time with paws under the door beckoning---come come--taking occassional swats at whatever he could near him----
aaahh! ---we still have human servers--that's good---Chloe, I'll just have a spaghetti dinner and a coffee please. I'll be at the corner booth
Bowl of raw mixed nuts and a glass of water, please.
Saw my old doc today. He was blown away with the excellent lab results. Unfortunately, he could not write the prescription I need to remain on the MP. That will be my last visit with him, no hard feelings. So, the search resumes for a Doc who is not "owned" by a hospital and is free to pursue off-label curative treatments. I know there is one in NC, but that is a 4 hour+ drive from here. I'll do whatever it takes of course.
Hope everyone is doing well this evening.
Went to town today to get some more paint. I got three sample pots of rust colored paint, each a slightly different shade from the other and from the two I already have. Rusty rail (Olympic), rusted earth (Valspar) and rustica (Valspar). They're all Satin latex which makes them safe for me to use. Me and enamels don't get along at all and they must be used strictly outdoors. I could get acrylics but that costs more than a bit more. If anybody wants the mix numbers just let me know by PM or email and I'll send them to you.
LSWrrJeff watch your mailbox tomorrow!
Keith, I would place the buildings where you think they look the best and (in pencil) trace their footprint on the bench work. The cut out your sidewalks and set them with the buildings and when you get the look you want trace the corners of the sidewalks, adjust the traces of the buildings if you need to. Then install your roads, and then permanently install your sidewalks and buildings.
Jeff, don't get your hopes up, these will be project cars for you, too modern for my layout but I knew the spray can rembrant could do some magic on them and bring them back to life.
Evenin' folks!
Zoe! You're back! GOOD! I'll have a Strawberry Sundae and a cup of decafe. You'll find me at the Rivet Counter for a while.
LSWrrI would place the buildings where you think they look the best and (in pencil) trace their footprint on the bench work. The cut out your sidewalks and set them with the buildings and when you get the look you want trace the corners of the sidewalks, adjust the traces of the buildings if you need to. Then install your roads, and then permanently install your sidewalks and buildings.
Lee, THAT is even better than what I said...... Kinda thinking it in my mind, but didn't get it out on paper.
Here is what I have been doing layout wise for the last week. Give you guys a little preview here. This is in the very early stages, and I can't wait to see what I do next. This is the floor for the Backwoods Engine House at Bare Mountain:
Have a great evening out there!
LSWrrJeff, don't get your hopes up, these will be project cars for you, too modern for my layout but I knew the spray can rembrant could do some magic on them and bring them back to life.
Ray: The floorwork looks really good. What are you using there?
I just hope it's not greenwood-----
Hi Modelers. When I see what you folks do I darn sure feel that I can't be called a modeler. Big deal, I put together B.B. kits. and a few other brands. Some were a bit of a headache.but no biggie. Yeah, I have a pike, but no roadbed or ballast or scenery. Am I still a "modler"? I don't know. I enjoy running my trains. I can run two at a time, put one on a siding and run another one on. Two sidings, two levels, nine turnouts and their motors with push button switches. DC only and two power packs. Then I see Jeff's work, Rays and I have big green eyes when I look at Cat Toms playthings. Glad I'm a simple man and happy with what I have. I know I've left out a long list of layouts others have showed us. Where am I going with this? I just want to thankyou for showing what you've done and sharing helpful ideas with others.
So far Deb's op. has proven to be a help. Has gotten rid of some pain in hands and shoulders and fingers are being able to be used. Thanks for all your prayers and good thoughts.
My, our, prayers are said daily for all of you.
Flip and Deb.
Good Evening, Chloe (and zoo...) - no, ma'am! I am not talking about you, just the furry (and spiny, in the case of our maitre d'...) contingent. From Barry's comments earlier, I was reminded that my (late) grandmother up in Platte County, Nebraska would've taken her kitchen broom to any four-legged critters in the house (or Diner). Oh, I'll have a hot fudge sundae and a Santa Fe mug (ONLY touched by human hands), please. Thanks, I'll be at the RC for now.
Flip, good to hear you don't get the blame on any of Deb's difficulties. Does she have to sleep sitting up, or any other foolishness in the short-term? Hopefully not! Great to hear about her getting back use of her hands and all. Hey, on that about modelers, there are different people in here with different strengths - that's how the rest of us mere mortals learn stuff, right?
Jeff, I figured you'd have to watch your step a while - I was wondering how the access hatches and such would be, or if you'd have to have somebody (your Dad, maybe?) modify them for you to use 'em. Take care, and as you sorta said, better easy right now than sorry afterwards. Sounds like your layout had some 'wildlife' action earlier, too.
Aztec, sorry to hear that you have to wait two whole weeks to see the new grand-nephew. Bummer, but it could be worse (longer), I guess.
Todd - OTTERS? Gee, this place is turning into the 'DEEP Woods' place, isn't it? Well, as you said, at least they wash their hands often. Hope we have a large soap dispenser in the back kitchen... Hey, did you ever watch that squirrel in "Over the Fence" when he got on the caffeine? (oh, no reason...)
Chris, couple of nice shots of THAT Geep-50, and I'm like you, kinda partial to those low noses on Geeps. The CAW will have at least a couple of those by the time their shop gets done.
Ulrich, thanks for identifying the vicar for me. Good to hear you might have a prospect for the house, and will put that on the list. So if you sell the house, do you lose your lovely flat? (just kidding there) ('Hoover hog' - chuckle...)
I think I'm ready for the rest of the ladies to return from their California vacation, any day now...
Inch, I don't think anybody hereabouts is quite that way about the snow, though there are a number who are getting mighty testy about the delay in spring arriving.
howmus...what do you mean "turning into"??? This place has been a zoo for a long, long time!
Keith, I also wondered about the width of roads, and found out the easy way - I looked on the Woodland Scenics box for their roadmaking kit Smooth-It (thanks Robby!) and , where it had the measurements (I think for city streets, highways, and even country roads). I can't find that right now, of course. Do you have a LHS within driving distance of you, perhaps? Parking lots can be pretty subjective (particularly based on the variety in parking lots by some stores I've seen in 1:1). As for materials, I can tell you that for the city streets, our club's road specialist used styrene, but then used 'mud' for some 'blacktop' or concrete roads into the intermodal yard, and for our car loading area. So you have a lot of latitude as far as materials to use (not to be confused with longitude...[rim shot!])
Oh, yeah - W-S makes that sticky stuff to 'plant' the people, yet be able to move them later...
Lee - ONLY the son wanting a tattoo? (and what kind of tattoo is he thinking he wants?) Will add that to the list...
Last night's on-call was great (NO calls at all)! I'm hoping for a repeat tonight, and not very many tomorrow night. (Yeah, God's been spoiling me lately on them).
I'd been trying to find those cardboard, fold-em-up magazine holder things, but wasn't happy with Staples' price for them, and the only other option locally was plastic or metal ones (even more expen$ive...). So I did some looking today online and found a place that sold a carton of 12 sets for around $15-16 a carton (vs. $6 for a set of 2 locally!). So I needed 17 or so holders, and ordered two 12-sets for about $38 and change with shipping. Much better, and I have some spares for coming years! Will definitely take a copy of the invoice by the local Staples place to show their manager WHY I didn't order from them...
Oh, I broke down and ordered Kalmbach's special Track-laying issue today. Hopefully there is enough new stuff in there that I won't regret buying it (after I go through my back issues of MR). I'll post my take on it once it arrives.
Think I'll head for home now and catch some for the night (hopefully, the entire night). May you all have a good night's rest in comfort.
Blessings,
Jim in Cape Girardeau
JimRCGMOJeff, Sounds like your layout had some 'wildlife' action earlier, too.
Good evenin', Zoe??? Welcome back! Oh...hello Mr./Mrs./Ms/Mzzzzz Raccoon... yes, a to-go order of double cheeseburgers and fries...just fill a bag with each please 'n thank-you...
Finally finished one article for THAT. Kinda interesting. There's a two-lane county road THAT has been going to crap for a long time. County just keeps patching it. The little town of Shueyville wants to rebuild it. Welp, they can't afford it. County says they'll do the job, and the little town can pay the county back...over the next 20 years. Sounds OK 'eh? Well...the town can legally carry a debt of a little over $1.7 mil. This is a $2 mil. project. The county will make up the difference (bonded over 3 years). So, the small town can do this. BUT, if they do...they won't have money to do much of anything else...for 20 years. Each annual payment is bigger, but until 2018, when they pay-off $800,000 of debt on a community center, they won't really make any progress building up their debt limit. Sooooo, they'd better hope THAT for the next 20 years, they don't need a water tower, or anything else "major." Heck, even "minor" projects may have to wait.
KEITH: I zipped your....huh-WHAT??? Er, thanks...Pally, I think! Hey, I'm 100% in agreement with LEE's theory on the order of streets/sidewalks/buildings...THAT's perzackly how I'ma gonna do it...iffenwhen I get THAT far in life. I figure, If I installed the buildings first, then tried to do the roads...I'd be whackin' into them, busting things...bad scene. Best to do the streets first...with LOTS of room for clunky hands and the necessary leveling tools/sanding/painting/etc. THEN put in the sidewalks, THEN install the buildings. I'd save the most delicate ('specially in N-sane scale) for absolute, I'm not gonna touch nothing there ever again, last. My half-a-cent, your results may vary!
SAWYER: THAT NS Geep-50 looks good...from the cab on back! Just kidding, heck, I'm used to seeing high-nose GP-7s & 9s... THAT high nose just looks...odd...on a more modern unit, at least to this guy far-removed from any NS/N&W/Southern tracks. I did see a high-nose SD-45 w**kin' for the CNW once, an ex-Southern unit. The Southern markings were painted-out, and the mighty Ball and Bar was slapped on the cab. The guys at the club thought maybe I'd been hallucinatin' out in the summer sun/heat. But...there in a book several years later, (and more recently in slides for sale on "theBay") it was! Sure looked strange...
Well gents...and uh, critters.... I see the squirrels and coons have my stuff ready, so back to W**K I do go...
Evening Flo, glad to see that you're back! I'll just have a RBF, I'm fairly well stuffed. Amy decided that the whole chicken that we've had in the fridge needed to be livened up a bit, so we gave him a beer in a certain "orifice" and put him on the grill for a little over an hour. Along the drunk chicken we had mac and cheese, baked potatoes and sweet cornbread. Dinner was very good and well, I know how y'all are, so here are the left overs!
Today was a fair day once I got a little more sleep before w**k. Going to be going to bed early tonight, still have to make my special rotel dip for the married small group tomorrow night (we've got 13 couples committed to coming, so I've got to make a BIG batch). Oh well, I best get to it, gotta get some dishes washed and then get that rotel cooking.
Y'all have a good night!