Elliot´s Trackside Diner April 2010

[Blazzin]

  Todd.. I'm going to just try to reflect on what you said.  I know this.. Jeanne.. Thank God, said one of the most important things to remember.. this approach is a 'Wash Approach'

  Plaster in nature is dry.  Bone dry. Wet it down .. goood and wet.  I did post my thread in the Layout and planning section.  LOL.. I meant to just edit.. only adding and never really posting it.. but this time.. I hit 'reply'

  And believe it or not.. I forget to mention it on my post .. it has to be dripping wet.

  The Jeanne said.. remember its a 'wash' not to be painted on plaster but more of a tint.

  But in my thread.. it was a matter of picking out the protrusions.. and hitting them.. and re-hitting them.

Almost painting a bullsyeye.. darker and darker in the center.

Now the colors were basically burnt umber... in which I said to Jeanne was a brown.. but she corrected me and said it has red in it.. and as a wash.. you kind of get two colors. 

Next was the Yellow Ochre.. kind of a dirty yellow. 

Next and really only next was the smoke gray.  They recommended black.. and a thinner wash.. but I chose to use a thicker wash.. so as not to run down the face of the rocks.. but a lighter color smoke gray with the wash being a tad more stable.

 Now although I did mention I used the Earth undercoat wash.. for the tops, but all in all the part .. YOU and I were talking about.. that something was missing..

came out to be.. just going back and blending it all once again.. looking for areas.. that seemed lacking in any particular color and adding smaller dots here and there..  I achieved this by accident.. using sunglasses.. lol. 

  Chris.. you're next..lol.  You know Chris .. that flew right over my head.. concerning "How much does that Rock weigh"  meaning that it looks like a real rock.  Well.. that went right over my head.. and thank you for the compliment. 

  But lol,, LOL.. I did go out and weigh the thing.  It weights 9 lbs.. sopping wet.  I had to weigh myself first and then hold it in my arms.. and weigh us both. 

  Not only that~.. I went out and took a pic of the back side.. to show you how thin this thing is.  Yeah.. sure 9lbs weighs alot.. but water weight 8lbs alone per gallon. lol.  Ah sucks it was my first diorama.  If I had to do it all over again.. I'm sure I could cut the weight down. Although there is wood in there.  But any how.. heres the back side.. lol.

  But thank you for the nice compliments.

[TMarsh]

Jeff- OUCH!!! Take it easy today.(don't know why I say that, you just said you were) I take it no broken stuff? Probably popped another in the foot. Let's hope not.

[TMarsh]

Good morning all. Coffee and the gooiest caramel roll you have please. Why's there pie on the wall?

Decided to stay home from Church and straighten up / clean the house for the B-bay party this afternoon. I'm going to run out of excuses to stay home one of theses days. The weather will be nice, sunny high of 66. A bit chilly for me, but at least sunny. It sure looks beautiful out there now. I will stop in and out of the layout room off and on today. Maybe get a few things cleaned up, done, started, worked on, looked at. You know, piddled with. Maybe this eve I'll get to spend some more time.

Slept pretty well last night knowing that youth will still put humanity and caring for others first. Actions like that make me realize there is hope for our future.

Lee- Though it functioned well still, the battery in my old Razor was not holding a charge very long at all. A couple short 2 or 3 minute phone calls would take half the battery. Hence my selection of another phone myself here maybe a month ago. Nothing fancy like yours. Just a flip phone with more stuff than I want. Of course so did the old Razor. Which was a really good phone for what everybody said was junk if you ask me.

Keith- Whoa. Matching colors. Leaves me out. Sorry can't answer the link question either, took me literally 15 minutes to figure out how to save a link to an internet page to my desktop. I've done it before, on an older version of IE but........

Speaking of colors. I decided to color Gold Creek's valley last eve. First, I don't know what colors to use to get to my color preference and that's something I'm gonna have to figure out cause I can't tell you the color I'm shooting for cause I don't know what that's called either or any color close to it to give you and idea so.... Like I said, I'm just going to have to figure it out. Anywho, I did find a close color in a WS book of how to's and they gave the order and the colors in order to make said rock coloring. Now I'd tried this before on the other layout and it didn't work. Of course I tried to change a color or two to make it my color and that didn't work, so I'm trying their way with their colors they chose and do it their way. Put a black srip down the center of the creek bed,it's not intented to be deep, but I figure when I add some Talus and a few chunks of stone or old cars, (Ooo, an old tire! Brilliant!), it would help the illusiion over all. The I proceeded to color the rock walls. Not the newmolding. I'm saving that for when I get this process to where I'm happy. Big flop. Simple process that didn' work for me. So what do I do? If at first you don't succeed, try try again. It ain't rocket science, I'm doing something wrong. I just don't know what. And since I can't tell you anything other than I followed the instruction, its impossible to help. Works fine for me is all I can get.

Folks. I think I'm meant to paint a single color and a single color only. There are Artsy people, and there are Fartsy people. I believe I'm of the later. Oh well, I'll get it. In the mean time.....Have a Great Day!!!!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Good morning. Well, good for you maybe. Not so good for me. I slipped on the front steps last night and twisted my neck and back and aggravated an old neck injury. As a result the sciatic nerve has my nerve endings lit up from my neck all the way to my lower legs or at least as far down as I have feeling. I am hoping that it passes quickly. It usually does. Moving around is not something that I find easy to do at the moment so rest assured that I will be taking it easy today. I'll be looking in from time to time. All my best to those in need.

[Blazzin]

  Lee and others.. thank you so much.  This is my first time.. at rock formations.. and as Jeanne put it.. about this one particular staging area.. she had called it.. "Focal Point'  no no not a name.. Avalanche City is the name~  but a focal point .. the center of the layout.  So.. yeah.. I'm a bit excited .. in either way.. pushing the panic button.. or excited .. like wow.. this is 'fool proof' as the guy on the vid put it.  Well he said.. almost 'Fool proof'

  Now let me ask this now.. before I forget.  If it is possible anways.~  

Do NOT click on the link below.

http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/160753.aspx

  Yes.. that is my link to my layout.  Nothing new there.. today I'll be adding pics.. so hold off.

  My question is.. how do I get this link.. so when I 'sign off' this thread.. at the bottom this link comes up.. so others can easily find my thread on my N scale layout.  You would think that would be pretty simple.. but if you look at the bottom.. it never comes up.

  Maybe its something about trains.com.. you can't have a link to go inside trains/MR forums?

    But just one small photo.. for Todd especially.  Todd.. and maybe one other suggested adding some grass here and there. 

  Well Todd.. you were right.. adding some grass did help.  LOL.. it was Chapter II of the Video.  I wasn't kidding when I said I lost the CD.(Jeanne found the CD, filed in the DVD library we have.. oops)   I don't know if trees are bushes are in order.. and this is probably fine for where I am.. so today.. no more landscaping.. and I plan on cutting sidewalks and inching forward.    But all of you Diners.. many thanks.

  Now if you look into the upper right... you will see puddles of Scenic Glue.  Those happened to be the target areas for grass.. where ever moisture and water would build up.    That was my only guide.  I have gone back and added more colors.  I shall show you my pallet of colors... lol.

  YOu just take your dry brush.. and carefully add it to the scenic cement colors. The first pic.. was just of the green.. afterwards.. I added different colors .. as you can see on the pallet.  Well I had fun.

  Ok.. I'm going to sign off now... plenty of things to do today.  But right down below this sign off' .. why isn't my LINK showing up.. as a click..instead of a paste and copy.  ?  Thanks.. bye.

[LSWrr]

Good morning,

Keith, nice rock work!

I bought a new phone…….My old Razor cell phone was giving up the ghost and I needed to replace my old lap top for road trips so I bought an IPhone, 16GB 3GS. Nice phone and it has these things called “APPS”.  Well for you DCC guys out there I just downloaded the JMRI Throttle APP for my phone.  Yes now my phone is a DCC throttle.

Cox, nice load.

 

Robby, I’ve been using the pot toppers for a while now and love them.  I do recommend opening the package and letting them expand for 2-3 days before you use them.  They seem to be crushed into the packaging.

 

[Robby P.]

 Good morning.  Its going to be a cool week.  The high is normally 60+ degrees, and its just going to be in the 40-50 degree range.

 I guess I will do the normal today.  Clothes, clean the house a bit, and what ever else I can find.   

 I've also wondered were Barry has been.   I hope he is ok.

 Jim........A topic was on the "pop top" a week or so ago.  I guess you can find them at Jo-Ann fabrics, and Michaels, and I'm guessing maybe other fabric stores.   Well after the last pop top hunt, I didn't find any.   Tried a different Michaels, and they had several.  The 6inch is $2.99, and the 4inch is $1.99.   It looks like it can be used for grass, and the backside for mulch or a wood chip load.  The backside does have a "purple" look thou.  I'm going to see what I can do with it today.  If I like it, I might buy more.......If not, forget it.  I know grampy trains has shown some pictures of it being used on his layout, and it looks OUTSTANDING!!!

 

[Anonymous]

 Good Morning  Everyone,

I missed a couple of days - been through some bad times (and there are more to come).

Chloe, I´ll have a good Sunday morning breakfast, with scrambled eggs, bacon, toast and butter, jam and a large mug of dark roast coffee, please. I´ll go hide away in the corner booth...

Keith - your rocks are a work of art! If any one has not told you yet, your are doing an admirable job there 

Jeff - congrats on your new camera. Did you take the picture of your new GP30 with it? Looks crisper to me. 

Ray - that engine house is great! How is your pic of the steamer leaving the tunnel coming along?

Barry - where art thou, my friend? I am really getting worried, considering the heart issues he reported before the maintenance shut down. Continuing  for him.

Public life has come to a halt in Germany - no flights in or out of this place. It is so peaceful and quiet here for some days now. What a little ash can do! Would you believe, that nobody undertook any checks and measures on this issue yet? The closure of all air traffic is just based on a computer simulation. Nothing to be seen in the sky - it is just clear and blue - as nice as you would want it to have. A giant hoax? Could very well be.

Yesterday, I somehow managed to go to our DIY store to check on some material I wanted to use for my benchwork.  Unfortunately, I had to find out, that screws won´t  hold in MDF and that I need to look for other materials. Using plywood will make the benchwork really heavy. On the way back I stopped by a carpenter´s place and found an old door, which I was given for free - even cut to the size I need. So I now have the door, but need to buy a few more things before I can start. My car needs a big repair job, so that might delay those purchases for a longer time span

Have a good day!

 

[rtraincollector]

SPLAT!!!

[rtraincollector]

evening/morning all. Hows it been. Figure I'd stop in and say hello and read a couple of pages. couldn't believe it saw inch back about 3 pages. Not much happening here, won a few auctions on ebay need to put some items up on ebay like a ho set that needs some help but engine run fine one of those old sets same in n scale need to dig them out first. know where there at but just can't get to them there under a bunch of big and heavy boxes in a wooden box so there not getting squished at least there safe and sound.

Talk to you all later

Hey where did this lemon pie come from is PC around its just sitting here on this center table has to be a booby trap for sure I'm outta here befor it goes flying or something

 

 

[JimRCGMO]

Cederstrand

***Joe, that's a great story. Hope everyone involved never forgets that feeling.

 

Joe - [ditto] what Rob said!

 

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[JimRCGMO]

Evening, Flo - I’ll have the salmon steak, Greek salad, baked potato with sour cream and butter, and a nice glass of Finger Lakes wine, please. Thanks!

Rob, sorry to hear about Luigi’s passing; I remember your earlier posts about him. May you have healing and peace.

DerJohn -  Good to hear TrolleyRob is still in touch. Speaking of some long-time Diner/Coffee Shop history, when I was de-cluttering the apartment today, I found printouts from the Coffee Shop (around 2005!), with several familiar (to some of we ‘olden days’) Diners, including Elliott (BigBoy) (who started this all, way back then). I like your recent (modern? ) signature photos, by the way.

Keith, I’m thinking those terminal blocks you showed look like what our club has for the staging yard tracks. We use one of those blocks for one (negative?) side of all the rails, and another for all the other track rails. (Bet you all can tell I’m not a wizard electrician, eh?)

Galaxy, careful or the mods might close down your “Flying milk bottles : Newbie questions” topic... ROFLMAO!

Ray - hope your DIL’s mother gets better news on whatever’s going on for her. I like the looks of that enginehouse (and the shop).

Nittany, Hmm, wonder what I could do with a little deli or shop like that one - but set it in the 1950’s? I like your twilight shot (no, not that vampire thingee!).

Robby, hope you get back to feeling better really soon. No fun feeling that way. Oh, what are the pop-tops you mentioned? (I'm guessing it's not some beverage...)

Todd (and Keith) - I had an experience of that “Buy twice, it’s so nice” thing lately; bought a 5 mm. nut driver at Sears, got it home and was thinking “Gee, I could’ve sworn I had one that looks like this...” and soon afterward, found the earlier one. (Took the newer one back that day). And Todd, I agree with you - where IS Ulrich? Unless that volcano ash is messing with their internet connection, too.

Oh, Keith, add my (YAY!) vote to the others for your “Avalanche City “ rock formation, as Ariz.Jim named it. And from what you said, I guess I need to go take another look at that topic of yours. (Of course, I bet I have a bunch of pages to catch up with) As for your rocks, I’d say if you add some weeds/grass/bushes to them, and maybe a lizard or a snake near the top, sunning itself...

Ariz.Jim - I think I saw earlier that you’d been here, but didn’t have time to post at the time.

Jeff, you got a great deal on your camera! Now, how can I do like that when I send in my PowerBook for repairs (maybe get a MacBook Pro back? Cool ‘swap’ there!

Anyone heard or got email from Barry? I’m also guessing we haven’t heard anything back from BridgeTom (other than him posting in other topics).

Chris - I see Ray beat me to it about your song-to-drive-us-buggy-for-the-rest-of-the-weekend...(Doot do dee doot do... )  I was chuckling at your tale of TV Guy at the burn - but you realize that those TV types have to look good for the news broadcasts, right?

Sam, may you continue to dodge the cuts and to get enough hours as well. Hope the authorities there realize the stupidity of their budget foobies quickly enough to make changes (so no irate would-be-riders don’t go off and lynch them...)

Between w**k being too busy to log in from there, and my laptop being out (and the itsy-bitsy little screen on my iPod (and it seems its battery isn’t lasting as long - may have to use the AppleCare I bought and replace it if that continues), I haven’t been able to post, though I’ve tried to stop and peek in the window from time to time.

Not much on MRR’ing, except picked up three Accurail 50’ boxcar kits (two of which I found I’ll have to ‘modify’/weather the build date/years). Our MRR club is weighing whether to move (yeah, again...) - have an offer of a place rent and utilities free (upstairs of one of our members’ w**kplace), vs. our current place, which due to some leakage (caused by THAT city’s ‘renovation and doing a new ‘historic’ brick walkway, caused water leaks when it rains) is probably developing a case of black mold (or at least garden variety mold). Hard part for one of our members is, he just finished that paper factory I’d showed several pages ago in here. We’ll be able to use the existing sections (and extend some, too), but it’s another move.

Oh, here’s what I was doing last weekend in between my on-call time out of the apartment:

but wasn’t able to revive the patient.

I’ll sit at the window booth a while and sip on my Finger Lakes wine while I see what everybody else is up to. Prayers are continuing for those in need, as well as for those with new requests.

Blessings,

Jim in Cape Girardeau

[Cederstrand]

Decaf coffee in a  SOUTHERN  mug, please. 

***Joe, that's a great story. Hope everyone involved never forgets that feeling.

Rob

[ns3010]

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

Geez been busy lately. Haven't really been in in days, except for the occasional "hey"

Lacrosse has been going pretty good, although we're still losing every game. Today we played a bunch of the kids I used to play with, so that was pretty good. It was fun being able to play against them, instead of with them!
Everyone grab your tissues. I've got a story from yesterday's game that will start bringing tears to our diners...

So yesterday, we were down a lot, absolutely no chance of winning. We had posession with just over a minute left in the game, and our coach called a time out. He told us that the other team had a player who is dying of lukemia. So we intentionally gave up the ball (although our coach told us to not make it too obvious). They bring it down the field, and probably figured something was going down, and passed it to the player I mentioned before. Long story short, he scored, and I can't describe how ecstatic the other team was. They all ran on the field in celebration, since the game was just about over (they just let the clock run down after that). After the game, nearly almost every player on their team thanked us as they walked off. They had figured out what had happened, but I don't know if that player did or not, but that doesn't matter. The feeling we had after that can't even put into words.
This just goes to show that there are still some people that care.
And, the guy who proposed the entire thing is that one guy on the team who is always getting penalties, and seems like he would be cocky and a ________ (insert word[s] of choice here), but is really a great guy.

Please keep this player in your prayers.

 

Well, now that I've made everyone cry, I guess I'll be hanging at the RC for a while.

EDIT: Looks like I got TOP. Eat up, but don't make me even more broke than I already am!

[TMarsh]

(burp) Excuse me. Pizza.

J.R.-Highjack all you want! Belly aching is the only thing they haven't taxed. Yet.

Hey. Now where's Ulrich?

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 Got the B&O GP30 body stripped and repainted flat black. The cab will be white.

[GMTRacing]

Good Evening All,

    Spent time in the shop today but cut it short as the cold that's appeared was just making me miserable. Cant take anything beyond tea with honey because of the blood pressure thing so I'll just ride it out. Been a while since I actually caught a cold. Speaking of colds, they have now found blood clots in Renees' (DIL)  lungs and are keeping her in hospital while they treat that. It'll be a week tomorrow. Son #1 goes in everyday but it's tough as all he can do is offer support.

   Good to see Inch in. Only four hours to make a post - LOL - sounds like one of my days.

  Keith - now that you are exposed as the pro from Dover (white cliffs - limestone - plaster etc) will you explain how to get the link to work. I'm always looking for better ideas and you seem to have a ton of them! I have found fifty pound pails of hydrocal mailorder for cheap but have been sidetracked first by the stoppage of the layout, then by a fascination with resin casting in silicone molds. I agree the POP is too fragile for railroad use though the weakness did come in handy when they crashed an O scale GP40 through the tunnel portal at the museum . Just add some white glue and all fixed and no damage to the locomotive. The stuff I use at home would probably have ripped the locomotive apart like i did when I misjudged the inner clearence needed on a tunnel entrance on a curve.

  Todd - the revaluation thing is often a scam on one sort or another. Chris is so right to mention the only source of money left is the home owner for local gov't. Unless costs are reduced the only solution is more taxes and a clever way to do it is to raise evaluations across the board and not reduce the mill rate. As more and more jobs have gone overseas, it's left fewer of us to help push the boulder up the hill. A fact seemingly lost on those who make the rules. Sorry - i didn't mean to step on your toes and start to hijack your speciality

   Well gotta run for now CFO's back from groceries and my task is sorting and storage.  CUL, J.R. 

[Robby P.]

 Went by Michaels and got a couple of "pop tops".   They were $2.99 for the 6inch.  I will see what I can do with them, well grass wise.

 Ray........The engine house is really coming along.

 Keith........Keep it up   

 Jeff......If you need the pictures of the GP30 (csx) let me know (for some weathering ideas).  I also has some pictures of the trucks, snow plow, and few misc. of the same engine.  

[TMarsh]

Barry Burger please, and a Dr Pepper thank you. Oh, and an order of Jalapeno Poppers too please. Cream cheese.

Yard is mowed. I'm hungry. Brenda is looking at a cook book so that means one of two things. 1. we are eating out. 2. we are ordering a pizza

Ray- that building looks great. I'm really liking the interior studs.

 

[Cederstrand]

 Extra strong coffee in a  UNION PACIFIC  mug, please.

Acquired a large old computer desk from the Inlaw locker. The last of their stuff is being sold off to help pay for Assisted Living. Set it just outside the train room and will use it for building/storing models and such.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Cheers! Rob

[howmus]

Afternoon folks!

Chloe I'll have the Turkey Fajita  and a Dr. pepper for supper.  I'll go over and sit at the Rivet Counter.

jeffrey-wimberly

Well take a good look, cause the B&O paint is dissolving in alcohol at this moment. It will be replaced with the black and white of the L&A.

 

Jeffrey, somehow I knew THAT was going to happen...

I got a bit more done on the engine house for the quarry area.  Glued the Machine Shop onto the main building.

Also cut up the new sheet of warped plywood I bought.  Wasn't supposed to be, but it was.  It will flatten out with some permanent bracing underneath.  The pieces will become the area for the quarry scene.  They have to be cut to fit the mountain I removed up there.

Have any of you heard anything from/about Barry?  I am getting worried about him.  Been several days now since he has been on here.

Catch you later!

73

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Blazzin

  Jeff~... I can't wait to see what you do with this baby.

Well take a good look, cause the B&O paint is dissolving in alcohol at this moment. It will be replaced with the black and white of the L&A.

[Blazzin]

  Jeff~... I can't wait to see what you do with this baby.

  Being one that has chooses not to stick to one particular line.. I've always liked the B&O lines. 

I've always liked em.. I dunno ?

[jeffrey-wimberly]

galaxy

Hi guys blah day

Did not go to Steamtown too chilly and dull without sun 

 

jeffrey-wimberly

Nice looking GP35 {[I think you said you ordered?]} Jeffrey, but {loosely} as a B & O buff {and more specifically all it's incarnates} That looks more gray than it does proper B&O blue I'm used to. If that is supposed to a re-absorbed to B&O it would have been from which railroad? Or have I missed a color phase of B&O-B&O Capitol- C&O-Chessie-CSX chain?

Actually it's a GP30. The color is what I get for allowing the camera to auto edit the image. I've replaced your quoted image with the original from the SD card.

[galaxy]

Hi guys blah day

Did not go to Steamtown too chilly and dull without sun 

 

jeffrey-wimberly

 

Nice looking GP35 {[I think you said you ordered?]} Jeffrey, but {loosely} as a B & O buff {and more specifically all it's incarnates} That looks more gray than it does proper B&O blue I'm used to. If that is supposed to a re-absorbed to B&O it would have been from which railroad? Or have I missed a color phase of B&O-B&O Capitol- C&O-Chessie-CSX chain?

[jeffrey-wimberly]

 

[TMarsh]

Howdy. Daughter had to work this morning so the Grandson was over. He had a blast playing in the yard, "helping" Grandma pull weeds. She'd pull grass, hand it to him and he'd throw it out so Missy could catch it and shake all the dirt off. Then they (Anthony and Missy)took turns playing keep away with the half flat basketball she treasures. Had a little tussle over who's toys were who's, but, you know kids. They all had great fun, then came in and he decided Missy needed more treats, so the dogs pretty much full and tired and is now napping after a wee bit of a cry when they drove away. Sure is good to se him back to his old self again.

While all the outside stuff was going on, I lost track of time in Toddland (of which I'm king) Started the second bent for the little trestle. Attached the abutments, lets see, dropped two more feeders for the team to the elevator so now I at least have that run done. Cept I can't get into it without adding another section of bench work. Um, what else.....cleaned the floor up a little. Not much, didn't want to lose the "homey" feel. Something else too but can't remember right now. I now have to work on coloring and scenicing the ravine before I set the bridge. And I have to get some hillside done before I paint the rock. I have to do some ballasting of track inside the tunnel and do some actual inside tunnel before I make the hillside of course. I'm pretty happy with the way the tunnel opening came out, so aside from some dirt that I'll apply after the hillside is done, so to speak, I'll call it good. I'm pretty much going to concentrate on this scene and piddle with others while things dry and such.

Keith- Hey! I do recall the thread now that you showed the picture with the flashlight. I have been there. I'll bring it up again and refresh myself. Probably when I first read it I wasn't going to do that much rock work and casting so I just read it with no need to retain because that was back with the old layout that was flaaaaaaaaaat. This one will not be so flat and in need of much more plaster. Thanks for the reminder.

Inch- Nope like you I'm home this weekend. Bout ready to go out and mow. I didn't wanna do it when the grandkid was here. Now, I have no excuse. Good shots of the tram/train. Yup, too bad the events didn't allow for a buffet and jawin'. We didn't make it to the garden show. Got almost there then Brenda said lets just go to the store so she could get ready for the showering of the baby. Didn't bother me none. Glad the engine runs.

What was that you said Ray? I missed all but "milepost". Must have something in my ear.

Well as John Wayne once said, I'm "burnin' daylight!" Best get a move on if I wanna get the grass cut. The boy's bringin the other Grandkids out tomorrow afternoon for the youngest boys birthday. So we'll have all four grandkids and a few guest and their kids in. Hope they stay out of Missy's bathroom.

Notice how I said nothing about the state taxing the bejeezus out of my home?

[howmus]

Ahhhhhh!  Kieth you have been talking about "Densite" not Dendrite!  Dendrites are a crystaline formation like frost on a window pane.  Dendrites are "false" fossils in rock formations that were caused by iron and magnesium (I believe) infiltration in cracks in the rock......  Now at least i know what you are talking about.

I will say your technique works very well for you!

73

[AmanaMedic]

inch53

CHRIS,,,,,,, sounds like you enjoy the burn  more than the kids or was it scooping the TV clown.

A little bit of both, actually! ANY fire I can just watch, THAT isn't harming anything, is a fire I can enjoy Getting the chance to talk with/interview these kids was just a fantastic opportunity. They're talking about going to grad school, becoming a crew leader next year..not a bum in the bunch! Some weren't sure what to do after college, or in some cases...IN college. So, they decided to join up, see the country, and do something positive. I tip my hat. Now, as for TV Clown...YES, I took great...(ULRICH, help me with the spelling here...) freudenshide, freuidanshude, something like THAT; which translates to "pleasure in another's misery."

TODD: Our Casey's has Dad's...(at least, the diet variety...) Maybe yours has it hidden...or could order it in??? Don't get me started on tax valuations...our house/yard/garage/shed was re-assessed about 2 years ago, probably due again this year. I'm anticipating a real BOHICA moment when THAT happens since the county has no money, the state has no money, the feds only have money thanks to China and the printing presses... where else are they gonna turn for bucks? PROPERTY OWNERS.

BOHICA? Oh...means Bend Over, Here It Comes Again.

KEITH: Thanks Pal, for the "short answer"  on the weight of THAT rock formation. What I meant, was it looked to me like you had gone out and dug up a big-'ol chunk of rock and plonked it on the table! Fortunately, the only rock I'll need on my future layout...will be CNW pink lady ballast and misc. gravel product!!!

Still tired, only feel like doing a whole lot of nothing...BUT, we gotta scrub the fire apparatus...make it look all nice and shiny so it looks pretty sitting in the lot across the street tomorrow during our annual pancake breakfast. I think Chief wants to start scrubbing at noon...so had best get going.

Best wishes to all, and to all a good, SAFE afternoon.

Chris

What? TOP again??? Geesh! 

OK....Rerun will take care of the tab later...again....

[Blazzin]

  LOL.. Todd.. where's the 'Bangin the Head on the Wall" stickem/ posty... lol.  Now dag nabbit.. Todd.. lol.  Quote:   Problem with mine is, it's on the curve around the peninsula, is only 5 inches high (HO) and is not very wide, I can't recall the measurement from inside to the tracks. I don't want a straight cliff, though a part wouldn't be bad. Most molds for a decent size facing are too long for the radius." 

  Now Todd.. when I read this.. I said.. "Now I know he hasn't been to my blog in a long time.  Cuz this is stuff I covered on my blog.  Yes.. I read this.. and said.. gheez..

I'd first determine if needed a convex or concaved casting. 

I'd find a large enough bowl to obtain the correct curve.

Next I'd cut a piece of plaster cloth to match the desired area/size.

I'd tape the mold to the bowl.. and paint a thin layer of dendrite into the crack of the mold.. to assure no bubbles.

Pop it out of the mold.. the plaster cloth holds well.. if need be.. I'll break the casting to adjust to the needed area/size.

  All in my thread Todd.

  But on a side note.. I've been around plaster most of my life.  When I met Jeanne.. her mom had her own business back in the 70's.  She was wholesale and sold to the retail stores.  So plaster pouring.. mold making.. sculputuring.. and then making a mold.. hollow casting.. the works.. I've been around plaster.

    But in short Todd.. I'd cut a strip of plaster cloth and shoot for a thin mold.  Save some money here too.

  But like I said.. drop by my thread.. you might find some fun stuff.. oh.. like using a bannana..?

Heres another...

 my very first attempt at casting a thinner mold.  Since then, I've gone thinner and thinner.

  Useful information.

Pics of molds.. various sizes..   using bowls.. bannana's.. and even a flash light.

  Even demonstrations on how its done.~

  Mirror images.. of the test casting.

  Here's my bowl method.. to achieve the proper gradient angle going a small incline.

  And then I went over the Deep End.. let me have it all.. I want to try something even different.

I'm ready for it all.. let me at it!

Oh yessss.. step by step.. on How To Have Fun~

  And even a smaller project/smaller size.. like the one you are suggesting to do.

  I wonder.. in the (I haven't check it lately) in the 3 thousand hits.. how many of the Diners.. have looked at my thread.. lol.   I truly lay my head down.. slowlty shaking my head.. and chuckles.  Well~  

  Heck maybe its a son of a gun to load up..   I thought I'd save some of you the time.. and show ya here.

  Keith