Evenin' folks!
Just a cup of decaf for me tonight Flo.
Took my sister the Arteest out to dinner for her Birthday (last week), so THAT meant Mexican again.... They are having an "Art Walk" in Canandaigua and they wanted her to stop in at the restaurant anyway as she has paintings for sale there. We also took a walk over to a glass blower's shop nearby. Wonderful (pricey.....) items he makes! My sister has a few of his creations in her house. Most are seconds as many of his pieces fall into the $400 to 900 range with some being well over a G note... Then I showed her how to use the "Bounce" button on the Mac Email program..... I have used it for getting rid of a couple people who keep sending me garbage. Works very well... Sends you a message saying this is not a working address!
Someone in my neighborhood has a wood fire lit. Smells good! Hope all of you have a great and safe weekend! Oh, the band is playing. Sousa March I think. Yep Stars and Stripes Forever!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Ray said "Oh, the band is playing. Sousa March I think. Yep Stars and Stripes Forever!" ... I recall that one. ..My memories include being in the high school band playing the tuba. That also included marching in the fourth of July parade with an all brass (heavy) sousaphone. The uniforms were fine for cold football games in the fall, but way too hot for July weather. I was a hot, sweaty tuba player in the marching band. ... Ray, the photo looks outstanding, and I can hear the music by just looking! .. Wish I could travel to upstate NY to see your layout.
Chris ... Thanks for remarking about my 4th of July post in WPF. ...
I'm continuing my layout construction. Today I was working on the upper level bench work that will be for my Union Station tracks. I've also been deciding where my street car line will fit in.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Nothing for me, thanks!
***Jeffrey, do you spray the cars with matte finish after chalking or or they that permanent?
***Ray, neat scene.
Dinked around in the train room the other day on the wife's (HO) layout. Paved 5 parking spots in the trailer park, along with the front of "Son's Of Anarchy" building and entry to "Kathryn's Feed & Seed". Have to redo the work crew patching pavement, as the mix I used ended up drying lighter than the road when it needed to be darker (like fresh tar).
Health issues making life less than fun. Hope to change that over time.
Have a good night y'all.
Rob
Good morning.
I'm off today and I hope to get some MRR done. My package was mailed out yesterday but I won't get it till Tuesday (I hope). Plus I need to cut grass, and work on some other things.
We decided to take the car to another body shop. We are not dealing with that one anymore. We told that body shop to check the driver side seat. Did they???? NO!! Its broke. Just found that out yesterday. It won't move back or forward. Also it feels "crooked" when you sit in it. I should have pointed that out, but that's one thing I didn't check on. Plus you would think they would have listened to us. One other thing we noticed. When we bought the car I tried to take the dealerships name plate off from around the tag, and it broke off at the top of the tag. I couldn't get it off due to a screw (right side) wouldn't come out. They said they gave us a used trunk lid, well guess what that right side screw still won't come out. Humm . Whats the chances of getting a trunk lid that has the same problem.
The insurance person said it wouldn't be totaled until it was over 200% value. Its a PA law. OK . So it needs to be totaled twice??? Like JR said about the 30%/lawyer, we will wait and see about that. The "father in law" wife works at a law firm, but he doesn't think we will get far, since the car is close to being done. I doubt we even go that way.
I also asked my wife on a scale 1-10 how mad is she over this, and she's a 8!!! This is all she talks about. I think its two things.......One......How they had to car for 9 1/2 weeks and its still not done....Two.....How the owner of a dealership screamed at her, and said this is her fault.
On another note..............
Ray....NICE shot.
Todd.......We we picked that body shop cause we liked what we read about them, and Allstate said they were good. What gets me is that we owe $11,000 on the car, and if it does need more work (lets say $1,000 +) we will be over what we owe on the car. Its very confusing!! Plus the guy that hit her insurance is paying for all of this, but I doubt they even know whats going on. This is one of those situations...."If you knew what you know now!!"
"Rust, whats not to love?"
Cederstrand***Jeffrey, do you spray the cars with matte finish after chalking or or they that permanent?
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
Robby P. Todd.......We we picked that body shop cause we liked what we read about them, and Allstate said they were good. What gets me is that we owe $11,000 on the car, and if it does need more work (lets say $1,000 +) we will be over what we owe on the car. Its very confusing!! Plus the guy that hit her insurance is paying for all of this, but I doubt they even know whats going on. This is one of those situations...."If you knew what you know now!!"
It's interesting that they would flub this deal really quickly too. 9 1/2 weeks to go this far on a car? Did not even check the front seat(s)? I'd be wondering about whether they even did the back seat--- As for the PA law about doubled car valuations for totalling a car--must be protecting the insurance company----
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Good morning--
Welp, I got a full day of work to be done around the house----need to do dis---Let's see, got some gardening that needs done, then go to Michaels to pick up some stuff for Audrey who has to go to Woodstock to help my sister there--then I need to go to Home Desperate to pick up more extruded foam and some 2X4's then to get my prescriptions refilled-----oi----hopefully I'll get some MRR time in but I doubt it-------
Chloe, I'll have a coffee and some toast with jam please---I'll be at the window booth checking out the morning switching
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Good morning All,
A regular for the rivet counter plus two over easy with rye toast and some crisp bacon please.
Robby - doesn't sound good, but I'd advise Allstate about what you're finding and see where that goes. Sounds like you stumbled onto some real crooks who padded the bill and didn't do what was needed to make the car safe. When they all get back, try contacting the motor vehicle department and see what you can have done. Pa used to have very strict fraud laws for this stuff and no lawyer needed if the state got involved. I hate it that operations like that are still around since they give the whole industry a bad name. (Of course we fit a used trunk lid - it was off your car! But we only charged you half retail.)
CUL, J.R.
Morning all!
WE would have gone to Steamtown but my other half has to work this afternoon, bumer.
Maybe this mid-week as they should be running steam all the tme tues-sun now. ANd my other half has off.
the 12th-14th we are going to STRASBURG! Hooray! WE will select the Rail BArons pass that will give us many rides, teh Noon hour backs hop tour, and admission to the RR museum of PA, and will have lunch aboard the train. WE are taking a friend who is into steam trains too. WE all can't wait.
Robby P. Must really SUCK with the car situation. None of us can say much to make it better. Like anything else, insurance and car repair is a racket. Hopefully your insurance CO. won't jack up your rates simply because you "had a claim".
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
Nice job on the Gazebo Ray. I also spent a short time in a marching band when I was at Naval training school at Pensacola. We put a little band together which I volunteered for as it got me out of class early a couple of times a week. We had about a dozen members - all students save for the supervisor/conductor who was mostly a noshow. Every month the 4th Friday we'd play for the graduation ceremony so we knew a couple of tunes plus the Star Spangled Banner and Oh Canada. We were invited to march in the 4th of July parade in Pensacola even though we were only the 12 (three drummers plus the rest). We figured it was another great chance to get out of class so off we went. Figured only playing two songs would be ok (one was El Capitan the other didn't have a title on it as it was a mimeograph and probably illegal (no fees paid). We had a grand time though I got chastised for playing drum rolls on the bass drum and even stopped and played a song when we got to the reviewers stand - the second song as we'd just finished El Capitan. We got some applause and a bit of laughter with our rag tag group and were all suprised on next practice day when we were all threatened with Captains Mast (non-judicial punishment) for our performance. Seems the second song was "Here Come the Clowns" and the base commander didn't see the humor in it standing up on the reviewing stand with the other dignataries and notables. Fortunately it all blew over and I didn't get sent to the fleet to chip paint for the next 3 1/2 years. So there is my 4th of July remembrence for y'all. J.R.
Morning.
Why is it that there is always a "Death of (insert part of hobby here)" subject on these forums? Or evolves into one. Doomsdayists?
Got a lot of things to do today and I'm sitting here. My list starts to sound exactly like Chris's, low hanging branches etc. But, the realtor......, real-tor. Sorry, Mom always corrects me. I guess I pronounce it real-a-ter. The Real-TOR wants to have an open house next Sunday. So, in addition to everything else, I know have to hurry up and get the place ready for THAT.
Robby- Like J.R., I don't get the wait to buff out, come back so we can finish it thing (old enamel, no oven?). Make the list of things you want corrected. And keep the agent informed. They may help with the action against the body shop. Like I said, they carry a much bigger stick. Oh, I see you've arrived at a solution. Oh yeah, I'm with you on the "if we only knew now" thing. Over and over I've said that for a truck load of things. Hopefully what, if anything, the new body shop finds won't drive your wife's or your, blood pressure through the top of your heads and send her to 11! (it goes to 11. Most only go to 10, but mine, goes to 11) Think calm things. Think calm things.
Ya know, based on what Robby said about why they chose the body shop, could be a one off or seldom seen problem with a job. You know, bad luck, things just went wrong on this job? Just sayin'. It does happen. BTDT.
I can also see the PA law. I have a perfectly good 1994 Dodge Ram. Paints old and has a few small chips.( Flo stops and glares) OK, it's coming off. (crappy primer or something on whites). Anyway, runs drives like a new one. Just over 100,000 miles on the clock and it bluebooks for maybe $1500 tops. Boys, nowadays that's a scratch in the fender. So, someone opens their door into me at the Wal-mart, or backs into my tailgate and now I'm looking to replace a truck with another reliable truck with $1500 in my pocket. Can't do it. Yeah my numbers are a bit low, but say you have a car that is about a $10,000 dollar car with low miles and in great shape and it gets totaled. Chances are you'll be lucky to get a replacement for less than $15K. And think what happens if it would happen in the first half of the loan period and you are "upside down" in the loan.You kknow that wonderful time frame when you owe the bank more than the car is worth? You shouldn't have to pay out to get your car replaced because someone else damaged it beyond repair. Personally, I think it's a good idea.
Jeffrey- That tender looks Goooooood! I figured you'd probably like the powders.
Ray- Looks like your celebration in town is very nice.
I'm thinking I might check out WPF early this week after listening to Chris. Usually cap off my weekend with. But now...... Nah, better not. Too many things to do it's already getting on 10. Running about two hours late as it is. Best get moving.
Someday I'll get back in the train room. Maybe tonight, but not holding my breath.
You do realize the automobile will never make it. Much more expensive, less reliable and can't go near as far as a horse. Besides, they'll drive horses to extinction and in a couple years we won't be able to find a saddle anywhere. Don't buy cars, you'll kill the horses. Besides, you won't be a real driver.
Have a Great Day!!!
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
Mornin' everyone!
Remember today is the day.... In order to properly celebrate the 4th. you are supposed to buy a 5th. on the 3rd. THAT's today! Zoe, I'll have the "Fireworks Special". Sounds good. What? You use how much XXXX Hot Sauce in the eggs!?! Better have 2 cups of dark roast coffee on hand to wash THAT down!
Garry, Rob, Robby, J.R., and Todd thanks for your kind words on the bandstand scene. It is my favorite on the layout.
J.R. loved the Marching Band story!
Garry, one of the kids I hung around with back in college at Eastman was a tuba player who during high school learned to play the piccolo descant for the trio on the Stars and Stripes Forever on his tuba. He used to stand in the hallway by the practice rooms in what was called the annex and let loose with it. Always got a lot of thumbs up! It is hard enough to play on the piccolo, but 4 octaves lower on the tuba.... Anyway, his high school band played at the 1964 World's Fair in NYC. Of course their encore was.... Stars and Stripes Forever with him playing the descant the third time through the trio. He got a major standing ovation.....!
Other than making a Potato Salad for the 4th. of July Gathering at my son's house tomorrow, and a bit of house cleaning (I am expecting a call sometime in the next few days about a visit from a MMR), I can safely spend some time downstairs in the trainroom.......
Catch you all later, and be careful with things THAT go BOOM! "What doesn't kill you, makes you hard of hearing!"
JR ... That's funny: "here Come the Clowns" would be suitable for many occassions. (especially in DC )
Ray .. You're welcome and I like the 4th of July joke. Should we despatch a load of anti-acid meds to you after your eating that "Fireworks Special"?
Jeff ... You should dispatch your "Da Bomb" hot sauce to the Gulf Oil spill. It should be strong enough to create a reaction to plug the hole!
I really enjoyed being in the HS band. I must say I was not born with musical talent at all. I tried really hard, but I was not the best musician for certain. It was fun.
Did you hear about the Native Aemricans forming a marching band to celebrate the 4th if July. It was a band of Indians?
Heartland Division CB&QDid you hear about the Native Aemricans forming a marching band to celebrate the 4th if July. It was a band of Indians?
TMarshJeffrey- That tender looks Goooooood! I figured you'd probably like the powders.
Good Afternoon Folks,
Zoe, whatever the guys are having, put in my tab, please. I´ll go for a steak & salad, and a beer to wash it down.
Temperature was a record high of 102 F today, the highest temperature ever recorded in our area. Not good for me, my Viking blood seems to be boiling. Not a chance to go outside, so we spent the afternoon watching the German team taking Argentina apart in a 4:0 match. That young team is doing a good job!
Jeff - I like your latest work a lot - you have a good hand at capturing the decrepit look of a rairoad running on low maintenance!
Ray - that bandstand scene is just great. You really become a part of it when viewing it. Very nice, indeed!
Tomorrow´s the big day for you folks south of the 49th. In 2007, I was in Philadelphia and had dinner in the place where Thomas and his Friends met to draft up the Declaration of Independence. The steak dinner we had was delicious, and so were the explanations given to us on US history. My US business partners did not know, that only by a wink of fate German did not become the leading language in the US, just because one delegate went to the loo when it came to voting! Imagine the impact on world history!
You all have a good 4th of July - and those of you, who are not celebrating this day - a nice Sunday!
If you can read this... thank a teacher. If you are reading this in english... thank a veteran
When in doubt. grab a hammer.
If it moves and isn't supposed to, get a hammer
If it doesn't move and is supposed to, get a hammer
If it's broken, get a hammer
If it can't be fixed with a hammer... DUCK TAPE!
Strong coffee in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please.
***JR, funny story.
Been doing more little stuff in the train room on the wife's (HO) layout. Going to start scenicing around the trailer park and other areas.
I'm still contemplating joining her in Horribly Oversized modeling, but can't seem to let go of my beloved N scale. Fortunately, such a call doesn't need to be made until her layout is pretty much finished, which is a long way(s) away. Had some questions and now can't remember a single one of them. D'oH!
Hope everyone is having a good day.
Good afternoon/evening...
For your amusement and/or torture... two low-resolution, somewhat crappy, pics of the MoPac boxcar and ex-RI roundhouse THAT have been occupying my time today.
Its a good thing I don't have to shoot small stuff/close-ups very often...just can't quite get the hang of THAT.
Anyhoo, here's what the roundhouse is based off of:
Try not to hurt yourselves laughing too hard...
Chris
The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!
AmanaMedicIts a good thing I don't have to shoot small stuff/close-ups very often...just can't quite get the hang of THAT.
jeffrey-wimberlyI took this with an old 3 megapixel Olympus. It'd be nice if my new 10 megapixel Nikon did as well.
OK...I'm gonna go be sick now... either my Nikon D-90 can't do THAT...or I just haven't fingered it out yet...
I'll be in the back, probably banging my head against something.
AmanaMedicjeffrey-wimberlyI took this with an old 3 megapixel Olympus. It'd be nice if my new 10 megapixel Nikon did as well. OK...I'm gonna go be sick now... either my Nikon D-90 can't do THAT...or I just haven't fingered it out yet...I'll be in the back, probably banging my head against something.Chris
jeffrey-wimberlySorry Chris. I didn't mean to make you sick. I too have an old camera (Aiptek pinhole) that can't take a close up pic for anything. The depth of feild on the distance shots is descent but that's all it has going for it.
No sweat Pal... what gets me, is it isn't an "old" camera... only about 2 years, and top of the Pro-Am line. I'm constantly amazed at just what the camera can do, and have gotten shots for w**k THAT there is no way I would've gotten back in my Nikon FM-2 days. I just hate having to set up across the room to take a shot of a blankity-blank boxcar. Even with the aperture set at F30-something...using a quality Bogen tripod, and lighting the hell of it...I still end up with a much less than tack-sharp image.
The Weegee in me HATES THAT.
"I am a perfectionist. When I take a picture, it has to be perfect:" - Weegee
I'm sure there is a lens out there more...close-up/small work friendly. NOT in the budget at this time however. It'll be another year until the camera and current lens are paid-off (computer purchase program through the community college Loving Wife w**ks at).
Then again, having a camera/lens capable of zooming in on a coupler...hmmmmmm, maybe THAT wouldn't be such a good thing afterall...then you guys would see all the goofs the fuzziness "hides"!!!!!!
Loving Wife cooked up some allegedly Iowa sweet corn, on the cob of course! I say "allegedly" 'cause I'm skeptical of the source. She got it at a Fareway store, a Boone, Iowa based grocery chain. They claimed it to be Iowa grown. Could be from southern Iowa, I suppose...I haven't seen anybody out selling it around here yet, only seen one or two fields with a high "index of suspicion" for sweet corn. Not too bad, wherever it came from...
Good evening. I'm home. I have time to hit the layout room!!!
Ulrich- I'm so glad that guy had to relieve himself, I can't speak German and wouldn't know what everyone was saying!!!!!!
Ray- I also like your merchants row building. I have one and it is put to shame by yours. I enjoy looking at it to see what mine could have looked like.
Chris- The roundhouse looks great. The rail car looks..., well.... I can't make it out ROFLMAO!!! (hoo, wheeze, sniff, wipe tears from eyes) Just messin' with ya hoss. I would never critique anyones photog skills. You've seen some of mine and they ain't pretty. I, or more accurately Brenda, has a Sony SureShot and it doesn't take close pictures worth a hoot either. Or, I haven't figured it out. I would prefer to blame the equipment than myself so I will.
Jeffrey- ..........(blink blink) um, you missed some flashing on the coupler there. Probably couldn't see it until you saw it in the photo.
His closeup shots still amaze me.
Welp I'm making some lemonade and going to the basement.
TMarsh Ulrich- I'm so glad that guy had to relieve himself, I can't speak German and wouldn't know what everyone was saying!!!!!!
... and Kalmbach would need a lot more storage space for this forum, as German is, say, a little more "elaborate" than English.
Chris,
Can you use those extension rings with a digital ? I used to have an assortment with my Nikon F stuff and I could shoot the tip of a pencil (seemed a good idea after a few frosty beverages) or closeups of model cars, etc. I'm not taking too many pics just now as all i have to shoot are boxes and bins where all the stuff is stored so I can't say if the same stuff w..ks in digital. Is there a pro photog you can consult with? J.R.
Flo just a cup of decaf and maybe a hunk of THAT Carrot Cake over there behind the counter. Hope it tastes as good as it looks!
TMarshRay- I also like your merchants row building.
Thank you Todd! I keep thinking I should have added Awnings on all the windows before I put it in place... Very hard to do it now. But in 1925 they most certainly would have had roll down awnings. It was a fun scene to do!
Chris, what lens are you using? The kit 18 - 105mm should give a pretty good range for model photography. I am waiting to have about $800 sitting around doing nothing to get a 10 - 21mm Wide angle lens for my Digital Rebel (similar the one Railphotog uses). I may be able to pick up a good used one for a bit less (I hope). The advantage is you can get to within a couple inches to the subject and still be able to focus. I have the kit lens (18 -55mm), a really nice 17 - 85mm which is my main lense these days, and a 100mm fixed medium telephoto lens. THAT one I have to take photos across the room from the models. Here is one taken from close to 3 foot back, and you can see the individual little specks of foam in the WS flocking on the trees...
I love the 100mm for outdoor photography.
Ulrich, my BIL spent a few years in Germany during the 60's... About all the German he learned was to order a glass of beer, and "Where is the Men's room?" He said THAT was all he needed......
Catch you all later!
GMTRacingCan you use those extension rings with a digital ?
I dunno...good question! Usually I get by with setting up on the far side of the room, etc., etc., etc. This time, instead of dragging everything into the thoroughly discombobulated RR room...I left it on the w**k table here in my office. Result? Couldn't get back as far...I think THAT is what "bit" me.
I'll check with some other shooters, see if they know anything. One wonderful feature of Nikon is I can use my older manual lenses on the digital body in a pinch. Overall, I shoot more "close-up" stuff for this venue than anything/anywhere else, so not too worried about it. Just peeved THAT shot turned out so...sub-par this time.
Might try again in the RR room...
RAY: Just noticed your comment/question...it's an 18-200, probably not the ideal for close-in w**k...but a blessing for a news shooter relying on one lens to do everything...
TODD: Careful there Pally...lest I start sending you CARDS!
Welp, the race seems about to go back to green... so back to weathering/patching a grain hopper go I. I told the Wife yesterday THAT the ONLY thing I'm doing today, is "playing with the train stuff." And THAT is prezactly what I intends to do!
TMarshJeffrey- ..........(blink blink) um, you missed some flashing on the coupler there. Probably couldn't see it until you saw it in the photo. His closeup shots still amaze me.
Another coupler close-up. A Kadee shelf coupler coupled to a McHenry coupler.
The closest I've been able to get to locomotive truck - Athearn SD-40 as I remember.
And the peeling paint on a model RBOX.
Got a card today from AARP offering me a medical card. Now I really do feel old!
Hey ya'll
Busy day today. Head over to Pensacola to find some stuff for my car, but the junkyards had nothing I could use. I pciked up one of those airbrushes Robby mentioned a while back, and some kadee stuff for some of my cars. On the way there I saw a 95' lincoln mark VIII for $1800 (front suspension airbags may be bad), and I got to thinking I could trade my car for that.
Also started on the kitbash with the caboose. Got the coupla and roof cut and have it all together. Only one small problem. The cut in the roof of the bay-winow caboose is to large. I'm gonna have to get some styrene strip to shim it up. That and some paint and it should be good. I'm begging to think going with a walthers bay window and an atlas coupla may have been more accurate and nicer, but I gotta start kitbashing somehwere, right?
Don't know what I'm gonna do tomorrow evening. I have to work 6-3 tomorrow, which is gonna be fun on a national holiday (NOT!!!).
Jeff, wish I could figure out how to get that close. would be nice for my superdetailed stuff.
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.
Evening all.....
Been home most of the day today, working on converting more cars over to Sergeant Engineering couplers, bought some double shelf type E's for my tank cars. Also dug out two old Walthers tank cars I bought about 10 years ago, and am working on finishing them up (re-gluing parts that fell off with super glue this time, modifying coupler boxes to take screws, and finishing up the cars in general). Took a good look at them, though, and found out they will need a complete repaint, data and certifications are wrong for the period I'm modeling (around 2001), but that will let me model some cars I have not yet seen done in HO. I have been looking for North Georgia Kaolin and Dry Branch Kaolin cars for a while, have not been able to find any. Might make a good first paint and decal project.....
Will take a bottle of root beer (Sprecher please!) and a seat at the counter for a while and.....
//sniff, sniff//
On second thought, will go sit out on the deck for a spell, I smell fuses burning.....
Randy Vos
"Ever have one of those days where you couldn't hit the ground with your hat??" - Waylon Jennings
"May the Lord take a liking to you and blow you up, real good" - SCTV