Insomniac Breakfast Special, please.
***Ulrich, how was that chocolate egg liqueur cake? My brother has fond memories from when he lived in Hamburg at age 16. He visited a couple years back and said it was still a nice city.
Thanks for the scenery insight guys! Much appreciated. I may still take much of it up and start from scratch. Need to find out what my wife thinks of the mess it.
How do you improve the looks of ready-made trees? Seems there is a process using glue and dirt or paint and dirt to treat the trunk & underside of branches, but I don't recall where I saw it done or any of the details? Maybe an old issue of MRRing mag?
Rob
Good evenin',
ROB: Well, I'm several hours behind everybody else THAT's weighed-in on your "darker" scenery. I agree 100% with TODD...just let it sit for a few days, then re-evaluate. As it dries, it "should" lighten back up again. One thing I picked up over the years, the 50/50 mix tends to puddle, and "splurt" out. Add a drop, or two, or three...of dish soap. It'll break down the surface tension of the water...makes "wet water." Makes it soak in better, which I guess is the theory behind soaking stuff in alcohol first.And yeah, it's awful darned easy to really soak it. In the past, when I did THAT...I just tossed on another layer, or two, or three, or.... well, you get the point; to soak it up. Not bad if you want some dense turf. Not so cool if its supposed to be a well-maintained lawn.
TODD: Your twister and the weather guessers sounds a lot like a story my favorite uncle told me about the clowns on a Topeka TV station. Their fancy-schmancy color weather radar (as they called 'em back in the 70s/80s) wasn't quite calibrated right. The south side of Topeka was getting blitzed, but the clowns were on the air saying "no, no...the storm is well to the north of here!"
THAT's why, when it comes to severe weather, I trust my eyes and ears more than some geek on TV. Heck, one local station has a guy who looks like Beaker from "The Muppet Show!" He's about as excitable too. They really do put on a show, and once in awhile, they're actually close to right. But, I've found it's a good 10-15 minutes between hearing a spotter report on the scanner, and the geeks getting it on the air. Some of THAT is a dispatcher or the local Emergency Mis-management Agency having to call the NWS, and NWS trying to get in touch with other spotters (like SKYWARN, the hams, the CB-ers, etc.) to confirm what some silly firefighter thinks he sees. But, in THAT 10-15 minutes, the storm THAT was just west of Mechanicsville can be right on my doorstep, or (usually) east of me and bothering Lowden before the clowns say anything about it!!!
Heck, they dropped a tornado warning on us last year, and the storm was already in Clinton county (east of us) when it came across the radio/Cedar County paged us out for storm watch. We had blue skies and sunshine. Wheatland (east of Lowden) had some minor damage from it though, so Lowden lucked out.
Which reminds me, we've got storm spotter training coming up Monday evening. Had a TV geek do it back in '95 for the Linn County Firefighters' Association monthly meeting. The genius holds up a golf ball and says "this is how big golf ball sized hail would be." Really? Are you sure about THAT? Whoda thunk it??? This time, we're getting someone from NWS Quad Cities.
I'm betting the Doc kidnapped, hog-tied, and has otherwise incarcerated JEFF in the hos-i-pital.
Welp, it's 0001, I've had a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng evening/night of school board crap...I'm "Audi 5000" as the hip kids say...
G'nite!
Chris
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
Tall glass of cool lemon water, please.
***Todd, appreciate the "wait". I did decide to do just that. Noticed just a hint of lightening in the "dirt". Have doubts about the ground foam changing much though. Time will tell. Another thing I figured out after viewing a video clip of WS cement being spraying, it should "mist". Mine kinda streams or squirts out drops of wet glue. Perhaps my ground foam is becoming toooo saturated with glue? Going to look for a new spray bottle.
( Yaaaawn)
Jim- No more things to dump at Mom's Yeah!!!! Still have a couple of things to burn, and no, not the house. (chuckle) some stuff to take to the Goodwill and some more stuff to haul to her apartment.When the house is empty you will here me scream in delight at your place. Heck, Oz and Ulrich will here me!!
Chris- Weather guessers. The same guys that were saying everything was fine except for a small cloud they were watching south of Springfield as the Tornado was ripping through Williamsville. I see why you turn the volume down.
Keith- OH MY GOODNESS!!!! I am so sorry bud. I had no idea you didn't know about Weekend Photo Fun. I should have said something sooner. You have to check that thread out on Fridays through Sunday. Awesome, just awesome. Some of the guys in here post too. Fantastic. The only thread I look for other than this one. Sometimes you have to do somethings you'd like to do later, now. So often the cart before the horse is a necessity. Also, I like rocks and couldn't care less if it's prototypical to the area you're modeling or not. Like I said, you will never hear me say "it shouldn't be" in your world. Have at it!
Jerry- Very nice trees. Only way I knew was you said toothpick trees. Still not sure which ones. Can't tell.
Ray- I didn't know we were not supposed to put photos here. I thought it was the "non-RR" photos we were supposed to limit. Oh well. Hm. I'll take my chances and let the mods tell me when enough is enough, (I don't think I'll post too many anyway) I don't feel intimidated with you guys. Wait, I don't think that sounded right. What I mean is, you guys help without the insults. Something like that. You know what I mean. Hope the gout eases up soon.
Mark- Hey good to see you again and especially with that meal. MAN does that look and sound Goooooood.
Rob- WAIT! Don't rip it up yet. I had the same problem with some clay dirt I had. Not georgia clay, Illinois clay. After a few days ( or maybe a week, can't remember) it "dried" back to the original color. Or so I think. Give it a few days to dry first. Oh, I thought you meant the dirt. As for the ground foam, if it did for me I never noticed.
Last time Jeff posted was Monday night. He checked in sometime yesterday, but didn't post. Why. Seems a bit unusual. Maybe Barry's right about the computer, but he has been having some issues with his sugar levels and the blackout..... I think I'll throw down an extra prayer just in case.
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.
Pat - The showroom got hit twice that I know of. First time while we had the apartment, a drunk lost his Nova and went into the show room. After that they put up large planters to stop vehicles. The second time was another drunk but he had an F350 4wd and went right through into the support beam the month after we moved out. He did a lot of damage to the custom bikes that were on display then. You're right though a derailment would have wiped out the building.
I'm between layouts right now but yes I model the Danbury/Norwalk section of the New Haven in the late 60's. I will try to include the Danbury railyard this time so I can include the present railway museum which will allow me to include some steam and other interesting New Haven power that were gone by then but can survive on my layout.
From your handle, I assume you model the Southern Pacific ?
J.R. -It really is a small world. I'm familiar with your old shops location. Your right, it was close to the tracks. If Metro-North had a derailment there, they would of plowed right in to your showroom. Do you model the New Haven?
Pat - well all right! small world eh? As it happens the shop site was formerly Bob Sharp Racing where I w.rked when I first moved here. My apartment was there as well over the center of the building so I probably got my enthusiasm for the Danbury/Norwalk division of the New Haven Railroad by osmosis as the tracks ran right behind the apartment. The building was available when I had been on my own for a while so it was a natural to move the shop there. We just outgrew it. J.R.
J.R. - I'm next door in Redding, so hello there neighbor.
Pat
Good evening all. Stopping in for the night, fairly full from dinner tonight. Amy made tacos so it was very good. Thinking of having a hot fudge sundae and a RBF over in the window booth. Life's been pretty busy around here, both Heather and I have had a stomach bug back on monday night/tuesday, and of course Sundays are naturally busy for me, so its been catching up for the past two days.
I'm finally caught up with everything, so still no Jeff? I'm worried about him.
Barry, hope that your doc's appointments work out whilst checking on your ticker.
Welp, that's about it for me, going to possibly do some general goofing off online and then see what else is happening around here.
Rob - I agree the base coat doesn't make a difference. Even if you have the underlying paint showing, it's the ground foam that changes shades when glued. You might get away with applying a lighter foam over the cemented stuff but I'd check a test patch first. Like Robbie I also had good luck applying the foam over wet paint or glue as it doesn't really change shade then. Anyone else want to hop in?
Espee - we were on rt 53 for a while. The shop is in Newtown now. J.R.
Chris......Well I had the CN part of the CNW .
Rob......I don't think the base color will matter. I've used brown, green, bright green, and the WS covers it all up. I use the paint as a glue. While the paints wet, I will sprinkle WS (fine) on the paint. Not to sure on how to make it darker thou. Sorry for the late response on this.............I use hair spray to hold it down as well. It works pretty good, but don't get it near the tracks. BIG mess.
"Rust, whats not to love?"
Good Evening All,
Wow! You guys sure do cover a lot a ground quickly around here. The pages just keep adding up.
Mark- That corned beef looks good! Let us know how it turns out.If its any good you'll have to share!! Well at least the recipe anyhow.
GMT - By any chance are you the same GMT on RT 53?
Haven't got much done on the Laundry room this week. Been working late everynight this week. Good news though. Finally got DSL at the house! Wife needed it for her job and now I get to go here and cruise through the pages faster.
Good evening friends!
How has everyone been on this fabulous Wednesday?
Well, here's the stuff I unearthed from my parents house, stored in a closet that hadn't been opened in years!
1- Lehigh Valley GP-9 (I think) in Red Paint with Tan Lettering (AHM)
1- Lehigh Valley Looks like SD40-2 extended Short hood (TYCO)
1- Union Pacific Flat car with Structural Steel Load (PEMCO)
1- Santa Fe “E” or “F” Diesel (Dummy)
1- CN “E” or “F” Unit (Powered) Missing front Coupler
1- Soo Line Small Hopper
1- Lehigh Valley 4-6-2 (Heavy Pacific) with Large Tender (It was originally decorated for SF but my Pop-pop re-did the decals for the Lehigh Valley)
Well, THAT is THAT! I wish I could've used these, as they were my Poppop's trains, but none of them fit what I am modelling, or plan to model. So I am trying to find them new homes... Send me a PM if you are interested in "adopting" one of these beauties!
I had a better day today than yesterday, w**k wise! Much smoother day trainhandling! I am getting the station stops down better now, I should be a "Pro" by the end of next week! The Instructor Engineer is excellent in helping me "fine tune" my braking points and braking coming into the stations!
I hope Jeff is doing well, hope it is just the storm having knocked out his Internet...
Love the updates on everyone's layouts.
Ulrich, I am enjoying this "update" of your trackplan! I like that you have it planned for expansion in the future, which I am certain is inevitable!
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)
Meatloaf Dinner, followed with a mug of Brother's Decaf Columbian coffee, please.
***Robby, J.R.: The problem is with the darkening of general terrain, like meadow grass, etc. (Ballast is another problem all together, which is being fixed, however slowly.) Getting back to the meadow & general sceniking, I am wondering if I need a much lighter colored base coat of paint to start with underneath? Is this darkening something the alcohol does to the color of WS stuff? Think it does the same to the natural Georgia Clay I sprinkle into the mix? There has got to be a way to make this work, as I do like the initial combinations of "stuff", before soaking with glue.
Wife is watching a movie I could care less about, so I'll be heading down to the train room to start removing the mess.
Rob,
That's what it tends to do, turn darker. You can add some lighter ballast over and try again, or try using some of Robbys' fade to lighten it all up. I haven't ever mentioned it but like the darker abllast as it's more prototypical around here. Hope you can straighten things out without starting over again. J.R.
markpierceI couldn't further resist the temptation being that St. Patrick's Day is here in a couple of weeks, so in the oven for tonight's dinner is a new (for me) recipe for beer-braised corned beef with red potatoes and carrots. Besides being braised for 5 hours at low temperatures with the spices and beer, there's also a half-cup of Irish Whiskey. It's in the recipe, honest. I have high expectations.
I've done that last year and it came out beautifully. Hope you enjoy it!!
Good Afternoon
I think Jeff may have one of 2 things going on. Apparently the area he lives in had a storm with a bunch of rain going through yesterday and considering that his internet goes PTOOF!! everytime it does one of those the Internet went and did the predictable----or his doctor stuffed him back into the hospital to check on those blackouts of his'n.
I hope we find out soon----
SWMBO had started making up some trees for her little diorama---this gave me some time to bury me nose into my domain to see about getting some work done on my own layout. Got some photos that seem to not be too furry-----going to get them up on my Pb account---
Chloe---I'll have a corned beef dinner like Mark is having------with that Guiness if at all possible--I'll be at the RC for now
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/
I couldn't further resist the temptation being that St. Patrick's Day is here in a couple of weeks, so in the oven for tonight's dinner is a new (for me) recipe for beer-braised corned beef with red potatoes and carrots. Besides being braised for 5 hours at low temperatures with the spices and beer, there's also a half-cup of Irish Whiskey. It's in the recipe, honest. I have high expectations.
Last year's dinner-for-two St. Patrick's corned beef and cabbage:
Mark
Rob........What are you trying to do? I guess I missed your question a few days or so ago.
HELP!!! Ok, the alcohol followed by 1/2&1/2 elmers/water I did last night turned everything DARK. Argh! Unacceptable! What did I do wrong here? I'm ready to scrape everything around the church & little orchard and start over. It went from acceptable to yuck. Thanks for any detailed help with this process from start to finish.
Off to do a feed round for the critters. Rob
Keith those are uncoupling magnets ..they are on the tracks that lead to my mine...
Thanks Rob they are tooth picks with WS poly fiber hit with hair spray and dusted with WS turf..Jerry
Coffee in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please.
***Jerry, nice trees!
OK, the rain can stop now. Mother Nature is turning our farm into a mud fest again.
BlazzinBesides.. I like here in the dinner amongst my friends.. lol.. I don't know anyone there.. Strangers~
THAT my friend, is where you will see some excellent w*rk shown by some exceptional modelers. many of which do not frequent the coffee shop. Besides we really aren't supposed to put a lot of photos here (although we do put more than enough from time to time). Make a point of dropping in every week for ideas and inspiration!
Hey, hey hey!!! The thermo meter says we have just broken the 50°F barrier for the first time this year and we haven't even reached today's high yet! I may not even light the wood stove tonight as the low is only going to be 38°F. Then again I may light a small fire in it and just let it burn out.
I think I am going to hobble down cellar to the layout and stare at some stuff I should be doing for a while....
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Jerry... Nice shot. Its about time we've all seen some of your work.
Say in the middle of the pic, in the middle of the tracks.. Are those re-railers.. or un-couplers?
Thanks
Ray.. and right you are.. I don't think I've ever been there before~ WPS.. now why would I look at a thread labled that?
Besides.. I like here in the dinner amongst my friends.. lol.. I don't know anyone there.. Strangers~
I wish my layout was far enough along to post any real pics. I still have to drill holes in the wood .. for the fiber optics.. oh yeah.
Chris.. yeah.. nice work there.. Ever notice when you go to the hobby store... half the day is gone!
Afternoon all...Its sunny and 62 here feels like spring..I'll have a cheese burger,fries and a diet Coke please..thank you...Spent some time out on my power chair sure is good to get out..
Yesterday I made some "tooth pick" trees today I mounted them on some balsa wood with WS turf and placed it next to a calender photo on my back drop..
T nice to stay in..You all have a good one...Jerry
Robby P.Did you say you were doing some CN hoppers??
No Sir, but nice shots anyways! Nope, I posted some shots for the gentleman from OZ who was a-lookin' to see if we had anything on our continent like the cylyndrical hoppers they run in the Land Down Under. Seems ours are pretty close to theirs.
The CNLX 10142 sure has rusted-up! I got shots of very similar cars in '93...much, much cleaner then. I'll bet the rust really caught your eye, and got the creative juices just flowin'... *hint* I think Intermountain makes THAT hopper...
I will eventually "need" to get at least a few CNW hoppers in THAT style, one in '93 repaint CNW green, the others in light gray. But, THAT's an expenditure for another day, week, month, year, decade...
KEITH: Thank you sir... I'll tack up some more roundhouse debacle pics for you guys' amusement...in a few days. I'm out of "needed" material for w**k on the front, so am concentrating on the back. Just puttying, sanding, and painting the foundation pieces has turned into a fairly moderate undertaking. I also "need" some material for the end wall, so THAT part of the project is also on-hold pending more "disposable" income.
RAY: Sorry to hear the gout is acting up again... Here's hoping you find relief FAST!
Still no JEFF????
Gotta keep moving, I looked online for tonight's CCA school board agenda and found the superintendent search committee is meeting with the public, staff, et al today from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. I'd best be there for THAT... public input almost always makes for a good piece of content. Then, it's the w**k session from...5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with the board meeting to follow... I'd better take a bucket of strong caffiene with me. Gonna be a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng evening in Tiffin.
Have a good one, everybody...
Hiya, All,
just a short stopover to have a mug load of coffee with you folks, as the little ones are having a walk outside to digest the sumptuous dinner Petra had prepared...
The cake will be ready and I am going to take a picture of it - Petra is an artist! For today, I will only disclose its name:
Schokoladen-Eierlikörtorte !
I was a bit early at the train station to do some train watching. It was 14 trains in 20 minutes, 3 local passenger trains, 1 ICE high speed trains (speed limit going through the station is 125 mph!) an 10 freight trains, with locos from Austria, Switzerland, Italy. The deregulation has made those Swiss locos you formerly could see only on the San Gottardo line come up all the way to Hamburg now! Next time I´ll take the camera with me - promised!
CUL!
Hey Keith...
Blazzin As far as the WPS thread... I dunno what that is.
Try here: http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/88.aspx?PageIndex=3&forumoptions=0:1:8:F:0 Bottom of the first page. WPF = Weekend Photo Fun.
You can also click on the URL (ending in SLOW_RR_II) in my signature. It will take you right to them.
Enjoy!
Got bored at the house and went train hunting. I found a few cars, and maybe some future weathering projects. So now a trip to the LHS!!!!
Chris.......Did you say you were doing some CN hoppers?? Well if so I came across these two in town today. Sorry about the fence. That's as close as I can get.
Ray....!.. Absolutely. Its been awhile since a 'follow-up' on the buidling. But it did catch my eye.
I really like that way its turning out. But I think this pic was more than a week old~! .. lol.
Now Chris's building.. wow.. another person I hope posts follow ups.
As far as the WPS thread... I dunno what that is.