Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Elliot´s Trackside Diner August 2010 Locked

84290 views
890 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Shalimar. Florida
  • 2,622 posts
Posted by Packer on Monday, August 16, 2010 9:04 PM

Hey guys

Just sitting at home watching the football game

Ken, It's not really a need as much as a want. They'd be good since I could use them on coal cars which are usually in groups. I only have 3 (don't know how I got an odd number). Speaking of the fallen flags set, was it the BN or UP set?

Robby, Have you tried a 40's-50's car as it would appear in the 70's or 80's? IMO, some of them would be close to what you do already, just no graffiti

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.

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Monday, August 16, 2010 7:56 PM

cudaken
 Jeffery I love that picture, can I brow the bulldozer? Big Smile Is that my old engine house in the background, if it is you fixed it up great. Have you ever tried foam? Your layout is more plastered than me! Big Smile

That's a Pola engine house. The one you gave me is at the back of the layout at this time. It was serving as the machine shop for the north engine house which will soon be relocated to the south end of the layout. The layout is 2x4 butt-joint construction bolted to three walls. It has two legs under the main section and another two legs under the extension. The top is plywood covered with white foam. The plaster is built up on top of the white foam.

cudaken
 On the van steering box, guessing it is leaking, am I right? If it is leaking, have you checked to see if there is a rebuild kit for it? Last time I looked, I could get rebuild kits for my 68 to 72 cars. Any idea if a trucks would work? I have a Mopar Truck Fan as a friend, he might be able to help. What is wrong with the steering column?

There's really nothing wrong with the steering box itself. It's just that every column I look at has a different type coupling than mine does and the couplings aren't interchangeable. The problem with the column is that it's worn out and is beyond rebuilding. My nephew says he knows where one is but every time I ask him to show me where it is he comes up with something else to do. One of my neighbors has one that's in a 79 van but it seems that my Social Security will expire before he gets to it. If I was just 10 years younger I'd go get it myself. It's gotten to the point now that I'm looking at places out of state. A guy I talked to today in Arizona says he has one. He wants $250 for it, shipped. I'll be checking a place in Texas tomorrow.

Blazzin
  I gotta know.. did you place that Dull Dozer there on purpose?.. well I noticed it.  Keep us posted on your progress.

Yes, I put the dozer there just for a laugh.

 

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    June 2008
  • 734 posts
Posted by Blazzin on Monday, August 16, 2010 7:26 PM

  Yo! Jeff,  last night I was going over your plans posted in WPS, and then I looked at this!

  I gotta know.. did you place that Dull Dozer there on purpose?.. well I noticed it.  Keep us posted on your progress.

  Todd, I hope you enjoyed the country songs.. I know you like the rural vid.  I swear between you anc Chris.. you two make me wish we all lived next door to each other, in fact all of us... lol. 

  I wish I had the energy to put in some time today, but after looking at Bobs layout,  I was a bit timid to even think about it laying more cork.  Perhaps tonight.

  Take care all

Keith

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Monday, August 16, 2010 7:16 PM

jeffrey-wimberly


 

 Jeffery I love that picture, can I brow the bulldozer? Big Smile Is that my old engine house in the background, if it is you fixed it up great. Have you ever tried foam? Your layout is more plastered than me! Big Smile

 On the van steering box, guessing it is leaking, am I right? If it is leaking, have you checked to see if there is a rebuild kit for it? Last time I looked, I could get rebuild kits for my 68 to 72 cars. Any idea if a trucks would work? I have a Mopar Truck Fan as a friend, he might be able to help. What is wrong with the steering column?

  Todd I have no idea how old the kits where, they are from the Fallen Flag series and the box is marked $29.99. I picked them up from Jeremy from the Jeremy project last year. 

  Packer Yep, just like you said. If you by chances have need of them, let me know before I throw the box away.

  On the home front  Finally made my self do some paperwork I have not been wanting to do. As some of you may know I went into foreclosure in DEC 2008. Bank of America picked up the note and I went into Forbearance, they lowered the payment from $925.00 to $481.00 a month. Well about 4 weeks ago when I was let go from the VW dealership for not lying to customers I get a letter telling me I was out of Foreclosure and Forbearance and I was all caught up! Big Smile But, they now want $925.00 again, they gave me a whole 3 day notices I will add? Confused

 So today, I finally got all the paper work together and start the needed hardship letter, plan budget, bank statements to see if they will lower the payment again. Still hard for me to believe I am in this position, in 1983 I made $43,000.00? I bought the house in 1993 with fixed rate so I did nothing stupid. Was approved for $200,000 spent $89,000. Only good news only payments I have are the utilities, food, dog food and medication.

 Train Front Section I ballast yesterday works fine. Athearn RTR Dash 9 is doing great as well. Hard to believe it was side line because it ran so badly. Have a few more NCE decoders coming for the next project.

 Time for supper, see you folks Tuesday.

                  Cuda Ken   

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Shelby, NC
  • 2,545 posts
Posted by Robby P. on Monday, August 16, 2010 6:47 PM

 Thanks for the comments.

 Ray.......I've never done any older cars.  Why?????  I don't have any pictures to go by.   I know they won't be rust buckets, and more dirt/dusty look.  I have people ask me, but I honestly haven't even tried a car.  

 "Rust, whats not to love?"      

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Monday, August 16, 2010 6:43 PM

Evenin' folks!

Flo I'll have a foot long hotdog dragged through the garden and a side order of potato salad w/ a trip to the salad bar tonight.  A Dr. pepper to wash it all down would hit the spot.

Thank you folks for the prayers and wishes for Bernie my BIL.  Got an email today from his sister (aka: my SIL) saying he will be moved by ambulance tomorrow to a Hospice Care center near where he lives and very close to where his daughter and her family live.  It should make it easier on his daughter to have him nearby. 

Got to take the kitties in for their annual check ups and vacinations today.   MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW, MEOW!!!!! MEOW!  Meeeeeeeeeoooooooooooooooooooooo  huh huh ow!!!

Both are in good health and both tip the scales at 19.5 lbs these days.  I asked about a discoloration Manét has in one of his irises (right eye) and she said it is common and amounts to the same thing as a liver spot on our skin.  She said we need to watch it though as it is usually something that occurs in both eyes and in rare cases it could be something more serious.  She didn't really seem concerned about it.  Blackie has lost one of his teeth.  He was having a problem with it a year ago.  She thinks he should heal with no problem.  he now has a problem with another tooth on the other side.  I may see about having it removed and all his teeth cleaned.  Probably involves $$$$. 

Robby, you ever do weathering on old 1920's cars???

Gotta go finish the lawn.  Catch you all later!

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: upstate NY
  • 9,236 posts
Posted by galaxy on Monday, August 16, 2010 5:38 PM

evening guys,

just thought I'd pop in to say Hi.

Jeffrey-looks like Katrina hit your place after all! Which do you enjoy more, the building up or the tearing out? LOL.

Ray hope all is going as well as possible with your BIL.

Robby P..nice job as usually impressive.

Have a great evening guys!

TTY'ALLL8R

EDIT: OOPS! for this I got top billing {groan} I got out the CC again guys so eat what you will!

-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.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Marion, Iowa
  • 1,263 posts
Posted by AmanaMedic on Monday, August 16, 2010 5:28 PM

 Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooood Evening, stopping in for a quick RBF before heading off to Fire Dept. Training. Apparently and allegedly...we be doing hose testing tonight. Was 'sposed to be either practice with the new hydraulic rescue tools set or a class on meth labs. I'ma guessin' the training officers crapped out on both guest instructors...so we'll drag some hose around instead.

 

JEFF: Good grief! Has POTUS seen those pics yet? He might have some FEMA dollars or stimulus money for you... presidential disaster declaration for Sundown, LA for sure! Smile,Wink, & Grin How's Ezra coping???

ROB: I read the appropriate parts of the Constitution of the United States of America to the dolt the Census Bureau sent out after I'd sent my form in, showing the Constitutionally required information. They haven't been back since. Seems odd they'd send somebody out now...I thought they were doneConfused 

I'll leave both comments at THAT...lest I cross the line again...Whistling

Welp, time to take Rerun out for a bit. The cooler air has finally arrived from Canada! Thanks to BARRY, CN CHARLIE, et. al for being kind enough to send it down... Of course, this means Rerun will want to hang out on the deck for awhile before I head out. The Wife will be delayed getting home tonight...the 4th trip to Worst Buy "should" finally result in the correct part for upgrading my 'pooter. We be crossing the fingers...

ChrisEight Ball

The Cedar cRapids Industrial Branch: Proudly Shipping Yesterday's CrunchBerries Tomorrow!

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • From: Western transplant to the Deep South
  • 4,256 posts
Posted by Cederstrand on Monday, August 16, 2010 4:16 PM

Coffee in a SULTRY SOUTHERN mug, please.

***Jeffrey, I think you are frightening the wee folk on your layout!Shock

A Census worker left one of those notes on our gate. Didn't think they would come past a NO TRES & BEWARE OF DOGS signs, not to mention a padlock. Already sent in the form long ago with the required info, "2 people".Mischief Thinking of writing across the note, "census form was mailed in" and then stapling this to the note and leaving it out on the gate for when they return: http://censusfacts.info/files/censusfacts.pdf 

Bad insomnia these days nights. Nothing much to report on. Hope y'all are doing well.

Cowboy Rob

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Monday, August 16, 2010 3:11 PM

 I put some track down temporarily to give you an idea of what it will look like.











Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Shalimar. Florida
  • 2,622 posts
Posted by Packer on Monday, August 16, 2010 2:13 PM

Hey guys,  not doing much at the moment other than hiding from the T-boomers.

Well my dark wash on the GP9 didn't work out very well. Looks like I'm gonna try to airbrush over it with a dark grey color. If that fails, I could strip and re-paint it. I hope it doesn't come to that, but if it does, It would get me a chance to detail it right for the Q unit it once was.

What bugs me is this wash only fades out p2k geeps. It worked fine on a atlas U30C and P2K SD45. I was going to try it on my GP30s, but after the results with the gp9 I think I'll go with the airbrush or pastels.

I have made a new rule for myself regarding busted handrails. If they break, get new metal ones. I'm already in for 3 or 4 GP9s (same for HH 20), an, sd40-2, and a U30C. Does anyone know where I might be able to pick up some .015 brass (or phosphor-bronze) wire locally?

Ken, would those happen to be the dummy couplers that come with accurail kits? Do they have a square shank and a non-opening head?

Robby, good you don't have to pay that one back. Nice job on the car though

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.

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Monday, August 16, 2010 1:38 PM

LSWrr
Jeff, well who put a door there in the first place!

The designers at NashuaLaugh. Who knew back in 1950 what I'd be doing with the front room.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    September 2002
  • From: Nova Scotia, Northumberland Shore
  • 2,479 posts
Posted by der5997 on Monday, August 16, 2010 1:20 PM

Hello diners, this is a test post - I can't get a "copy and paste" post to work in either Firefox or Explorer, so I'm just typing this directly to see if it will work. TTFN.

So, OK, that works - but pasting my original post into here under "EDIT" gives a big BLUE Ooops Error message. So, if there are mods watching over this, can you email me any suggestions?

"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.

  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Euclid, Ohio
  • 2,822 posts
Posted by LSWrr on Monday, August 16, 2010 1:01 PM

very nice Robby!

 

Jeff, well who put a door there in the first place!

BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret)
 L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Kentucky
  • 10,660 posts
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Monday, August 16, 2010 12:54 PM

Jeff ..... Oh, I may have figured it out. Godzilla was a stowaway on a freighter that arrive in Port of New ORelans. Godzill escaped and foung the way to Sundown, LA.

Robby ... The PW boxcar looks real! 

Keith ... Nice photos. I recgnize some of the buildings as ones I made from craftsman kits when I had a layout of the 1900 era.

Lee .... We're on Lake barkley (Cumberland River).

I just was at Gus's.... His boat was damaged in addition to teh diock.  It's a pontoon with dents and a slightly twisted frame. The local boat dealer here had a pole barn lifted up and carried by winds for about 200'. It was rough on boats inside.

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Shelby, NC
  • 2,545 posts
Posted by Robby P. on Monday, August 16, 2010 11:50 AM

 Just a quick stop.

 A few pictures of the new (was new looking) boxcar.

 

 *EDIT*   I put this car for sale on "the bay" at 1:00pm and it sold at 1:30pm.  Talk about a quick sale!!!  I think I have to go to the LHS tomorrow Whistling.

 "Rust, whats not to love?"      

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Monday, August 16, 2010 11:39 AM

 Good morning. It's 83 and mostly cloudy. The high will be 99 with a heat index of 112. There's a 40% chance of rain.

The tear down on the layout has gone on. The entire passing siding has been ripped up as has the front half of the inside loop. Great care was taken to get turnouts up without damaging them as they are quite expensive. Later I'll pull up the rest of the inside loop and the inside spur. This includes 3 more turnouts for a total of 9 that will be pulled up (5 #5's and 4 #4's. Funny how that worked out like that). After that it's just a matter of time for the new track to come in. After the new stuff is put down I can throw the old track into a bucket of water to get the glue and ballast off it then put it away in case it's needed again. Some of the track didn't come up easily and had to be sacrificed. That's one of the dangers of embedding the track in plaster. Sometimes the plaster gets a death grip on it. But it does make the EZ-Track look much more realistic once it's in place. I have a 30 degree crossing I was thinking about using (it's been in the spare track box for many years) but it takes up too much space in the plan, so back in the track box it goes.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    June 2008
  • 734 posts
Posted by Blazzin on Monday, August 16, 2010 10:51 AM

"Coffee .. just Hot Coffee please"

  Hey.. I'm glad you all enjoyed the field trip to Bob Grech's layout.  Ray, I only wished some of you guys were there.. hours.. of pure fun.  I consider it a few magic wishes.. and I would rather visit Bob again later on in my layout building.  I feel it would make more sense to me.

  Now I forget who said it.. I think it was Lee.. but what?  "Pimp Muscle Cars" .. lol.  And Ken.. well 1970 to me was the last year of pure muscle.. well at least in CA, I beleive it was the compression ratio from a 7 to 1 verses an 11 to 1 compression ratio.  I think I was all of 15 years old, watching Bonanza with my parents.. waiting for the end of the show.  Why?  cuz Chevorlet was going to give a special commercial concerning the new look of the Chevy Sting Ray.  The Sting Rays first debut of its new body style.

  And now for Jeff.  Jeff only because its me.. I"m just that sort of person.. but here's where I am.

http://www.autop.com/  yep.. I'm checking for ya..  Yeah I know.. I beleive you've already located one.. or maybe time or money is a problem.  But I just had to check on the info you gave out. 

Take care all of you. 

Keith

I wish I had a VIN # but just wanted you to know.. I'm with ya on this one.  Nothing like being without wheels, I hate it.

  • Member since
    June 2004
  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
  • 25,640 posts
Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Monday, August 16, 2010 10:28 AM

LSWrr
Jeff, can you extend the right side of your layout and make it a big letter “U”?  Maybe add a fiddle yard on the “J” design?

I'd love to but there's a large inconvenient obstruction called a door standing in the way.Laugh Being that it's my escape to the outside world I can't build across it. Besides, the width of it would take away my operating area as there would be only a 1 foot gap between the two loops of the 'U'.Blindfold The opening in the middle of the layout area that's now occupied by the park is 24" wide as will be the opening between the left and right sides of the layout, so the available space is pretty tight.

 

Allegheny2-6-6-6
Jeff what steering parts are you looking for? Making a pilgrimage to the old salvage yard some time this week. If a steering box and linkage for a 56 Chevy Nomad will fit your welcome to the stuff I removed out of my Nomad.

I need a steering column (automatic shift and power steering) and steering box for an 81 Dodge 3/4 ton Ram van (B250).

 

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
15 year veteran fire fighter
Collector of Apple //e's
Running Bear Enterprises
History Channel Club life member.
beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam


  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Euclid, Ohio
  • 2,822 posts
Posted by LSWrr on Monday, August 16, 2010 10:09 AM

This weekend: I installed the finished backdrop on the north wall of the layout.  The backdrop is alternating wheat and corn fields broken up with dirt or gravel access roads and a tree line on the horizon.  I used the computer (Corel Draw and Corel Paint) to airbrush the clouds, and the edges of the pictures to make it a continuous 11” x 288” picture.  Sunday I started building the backdrop for the east wall that will be a transition between small RR town and farm fields with a gravel road on the layout matching with a picture of a gravel road drifting off into the horizon. 

BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret)
 L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • 2,751 posts
Posted by Allegheny2-6-6-6 on Monday, August 16, 2010 10:05 AM

 Morning all an extra large coffee and a corn muffin please. Well it's another beautiful in the peoples republic of New Jersey. The humidity is so thick you can cut it with a knife Good thing got most of my outside work done just after sun up. Was a busy weekend , took advantage of teh nice weather we had and worked out in the shop on my Nomad, did a lot of welding and grinding and then did some more welding and some more grinding. Ah the neighbors love me when I work with the doors wide open......lol

Also did a little modeling in the evening, my first attempt at making latex molds of a Chooch retaining wall didn't make the cut so I'm on attempt #2. I figure 3 or 4 bottle of latex and I should be like an old pro.........lol

I actually had this mold making clay in my hand when I stopped in at AC Moore the other night which seemed to take a lot of pains out of making molds so why didn't I buy that one I have no idea but as soon as another 50% coupon comes along I'll give that stuff a try.

Been working on some DPM and  Smalltown USA  aka Ricks Products  buildings I purchased an entire layout from a local guys a few years a go and included were some 60 unbuilt kits and about 90 completed structures After sorting through the junk and selling some of the well lets say not so well built kits I kept what I wanted. I found a Smalltown USA furniture store that I wanted to use for an LHS seems this guy was into putting kits together with a hot glue gun! yup a hot glue gun so like a bonehead I said I'm gonna disassemble this thing and rebuild it the right way.  I need to make an appointment real soon to go have my head examines......lol It's just one of those things that is a challenge and nothing else.I wish I had the presence of mind to take some before pictures but hey I get a little fuzzy at around 2:00am

Well everyone have a god day and stay out of the heat

Jeff what steering parts are you looking for? Making a pilgrimage to the old salvage yard some time this week. If a steering box and linkage for a 56 Chevy Nomad will fit your welcome to the stuff I removed out of my Nomad.

 

 

 

Just my 2 cents worth, I spent the rest on trains. If you choked a Smurf what color would he turn?
  • Member since
    October 2006
  • From: Euclid, Ohio
  • 2,822 posts
Posted by LSWrr on Monday, August 16, 2010 9:54 AM

Good morning all,


Hot car pics!  Very cool, my layout is stuck in the 1950’s so pimp muscle cars are limited, LOL.


Ray that’s tough news to follow indeed I hope things go as well as possible for your BIL.  Can you believe they sold Benzene as aftershave in the 1800’s?  I wonder if all the new EPA laws will extend life or not in the future.  My Grandfather died of asbestos, and those in the family that worked for the railroad died of one form of cancer or another.  Then you have my grandmother that smoked, ate bacon, pancakes cooked in bacon grease, and used real butter on her toast for almost all her life lived to be about 96.


Jeff, can you extend the right side of your layout and make it a big letter “U”?  Maybe add a fiddle yard on the “J” design?  If you saturate the ballast on the turnouts with Goo Gone (the orange citrus cleaner) the ballast will fall off with the aid of a soft toothbrush.  I would set them up in a cookie sheet overnight so you can re-use the goo gone.  Don’t “soak” them, just spray it on thick, it’s a gel type cleaner and will stay where you spray it.


Garry, what waterway is that?  Yes CN has changed a bunch; they picked up all but one of the former USS owned railways and a few docks.  They grew a lot in a short amount of time and inherited several outdated infrastructures.


Jeff, Earthquake that looks like downtown Detroit on a good day, LOL!


Keith; GREAT PICTURES, THANKS FOR SHARING!

BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret)
 L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Finger Lakes
  • 10,198 posts
Posted by howmus on Monday, August 16, 2010 9:39 AM

Mornin' everyone!

Zoe, I'll have a blueberry muffin (With lots of real butter) and a cup of dark roast coffee in a R&GV RR Mug.

Had a big thunderstorm pass through here about 6AM today.  Woke me up and got the kitties all nervous.  Got an inch of rain yesterday and during the night,  Drought's over!  I need to finish the lawn THAT didn't get completed last week..........  Should be fun. Whistling

Blackie and Monét go to the vets this afternoon for their annual check up and shots.  THAT is always fun......ShockWhistling

Kieth, sounds like you had a great time over the week end!!!  How neat to have someone like Bob G. right in your area!

Robby, good luck with the financing!

Well, I see breakfast has arrived, so I will sit and catch up on some goings on outside the diner...

Later!

73

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Williamsville, ILL
  • 3,698 posts
Posted by TMarsh on Monday, August 16, 2010 9:11 AM

Good morning.

Another nice day today. I must do the Church stuff this morn, then I do believe I will mow today. The yard needs it more to even up than anything. Also I still have not got back to around the berry bushes. I think I should do that part first. Then w**k at 5.

Robby- sorry top hear about the loan. All that work..... but hey! The house does look great! Good luck trying around.

Ken- Were the Accurail kits old? Or could they be? I had several, (I like them because they are pretty good kits, and fairly cheap too) and the couplers were functioning. They got ditched in favor of Kadee's, but they were functionable. I think. I did have a real old kit from the '70's that had H&H and cast solid non functioning knuckle couplers. But ya on the plastic axles.

Well, gonna take today as it comes.... no, I guess I won't. Just remembered I already have a plan.

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. Laugh

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Monday, August 16, 2010 7:16 AM

  Felt pretty good yesterday and got one of the Honey Dos done. Transplanted some vines my wife has and made a trellis for it.

  I did get some ballasting done, pictures are in WFP. Did OK, still need to work on my Ballasting skills. 

  All so built a few Accurail covered hoppers kits. As a whole, not a bad kit and parts fit better than the old Athearn BB kits. But, sure was not impressed with the pegs that hold on the coupler box lid and the trucks. Plus no working couplers and plastic axles?

  Will drop by later folks, have a great day.

                 Ken

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    January 2007
  • From: Shelby, NC
  • 2,545 posts
Posted by Robby P. on Monday, August 16, 2010 6:57 AM

 Good morning.

 Where to start......Um.....The house loan didn't work.  The wife's student loans came into play, even thou they are in deferment.   The company needed a paper saying she's in school for at least a year, but the college she's going to will only do it semester to semester.   We will call another company and see what they say.   What else.........I gotta mail out a customers car out today.  He was pleased with it.   I also have another boxcar to do, and I will start on it this morning.

 Vincent......The loan I'm applying for is a "pell grant".   You don't pay it back.  Now if I don't get approved for it, they have one I would have to pay back.

 Keith......VERY nice.  Thumbs Up  Thumbs Up

 Jeff........Looks like you are making some progress.

 Barry.....Pick me up a few things Whistling  Big Smile

 I will pop back in later.  Have a good morning.

 

 "Rust, whats not to love?"      

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Reynoldsburg. Ohio
  • 316 posts
Posted by Wisconsin Railfan on Monday, August 16, 2010 6:38 AM

 Good Morning Folks!

Just a cup of coffee please! 

Nothing new going on, just passing through

The train came by and I got on, that’s when it all began
  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Shalimar. Florida
  • 2,622 posts
Posted by Packer on Monday, August 16, 2010 6:21 AM

Morning guys; just a quick stop in before I head off to work this morning.

I went to the bay last night (Or fishing as Kieth calls it). Picked up a athearn RTR SW1000 with a decoder installed for $69.99.

Chris, never heard that one about hurst before.

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.

Moderator
  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: London ON
  • 10,392 posts
Posted by blownout cylinder on Monday, August 16, 2010 5:19 AM

Good Morning

Keith: Like those pix!! That is some layout there

Welp. I get to go into w**k this morning to call my weekend oncall as off until next Friday. The rest of today will be spent hunting for a decent soundcard for my new computer Digital Audio workstation.

Then it'll be off to the LHS to see what new stufff showed up there--they got a whole pile of stuff there--heeheehee

Flo, I'll have a coffee and a bagel with cream cheese please---I'll be at the RC for a bit

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/

  • Member since
    June 2008
  • 734 posts
Posted by Blazzin on Sunday, August 15, 2010 11:24 PM

  *Door slowly opens, walks over to Jukebox and picks a soft country sound*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rcXD-Em4Kk

  "Howdy folks again!  I've got pics .. so I'm sitting at the counter.. Water please.. Ice water"

  Whew.. I did yardwork.. LOL.. on a hot day.  Imagine that I got what I asked for~

  Yo ! Chris , Todd take a look at these pics.

100_1759.jpg picture by Blazzin55

  Now somewhere maybe in this photo.. lol.. well maybe you can see it.. the double bolted plates  (Lower Right).  I was blown away by it.  I figure I'll be on my way oh.. next January to find some extra small nuts and bolts... (if there is such a thing) at the local hardware store.. cut em up.. and make a silicone mold.  Then make some and then glue them on .. here and there.  LOL.. on N Scale?  Well I dunno.. maybe not.. but it sure looks nice.

100_1731.jpg

  Oopsie.. same photo.. but I had to get a shot of Bob's weathering.. of course the flash photo washed away the true detail.. but I'm sure you can see something.  Also.. in the background there is a small foot bridge.. or something.. well thats made from two culverts.  Imagine that.

100_1732.jpg

'  Bob even took the time to show me how he made the waterfall.. with cotton?  Whoa~  And those trees.. handmade.. using balsa wood for the trunk.. and the static flock. I call those Lodgepole trees.. they seem like it to me.

100_1733.jpg

  I wish you could have been there,  to my understanding,  people have come as far as Australia to see Bob's layout.   On a side note here.. Bob did show me .. so much.. even down to the railroad ties.. which did have a gray tinge to them. This pic of the water tower .. well my flash really doesn't do it.. but on the bright side (no pun intended)  you can see the colors Bob used to weather the water tower.  Just take one look at the crossing tower.. and you see action.  The details.. carefully laid out. 

100_1734.jpg

  I think every building has lights and some of the buidlings have sound.  I believe there was even a general sound of the whole layout that has a 24 hr recording.  Bob showed me his roofing techniques that were.. well .. even down to placing alcohol on the finished roofs.. to give the roofing a furrowed edge..like real roofing.!  When you place the alcohol on the roofing.. the edges start the curl up.. as the alcohol dries.

100_1735.jpg

  I know .. lol.. lousy photo.. but.. it shows me everything I need to see.  Just looking at the placement of the buildings.. give me a better understanding of what to shoot for.  "Aim high, son`"  gheesh.. the placement of the billboards, the barrels.. the junk piles.. cracks in streets.. grass growing in the streets.. whew.. like I said.. I could have sat and studied one area.. for an hour.. taking notes.

100_1736.jpg

  I know.. I know.. not the best photo.. but I tried to zoom in.. and catch the finer things.. instead of a clear pic.. far away.  I don't have the best camera.  Jeanne bought it on sale~  200 bucks.. with a warrenty of 20 years.. or two feet.. which ever comes first.  But anyways.. you can get an idea of the magnitude of detail I was trying to capture.

100_1737.jpg

  I'm not going to say too much.. other than I love that 'Speedy Relief' billboard and the careful attention to detail everywhere I looked.  Even down to the grass in the tunnel.

100_1759.jpg picture by Blazzin55

  This second shot caught more of the detail in the foreground.

100_1738.jpg

  Oopsie.. did it again.. but not going back.. you see what you get.

100_1739.jpg

100_1740.jpg

  When I say most of these buildings had lights and sound.. well this Saloon.. had sound.. down even to a gunfight with shooting.. and the flashing of gun shots that could be seen through the windows.

100_1741.jpg

  One more shot of this area.. I caught his 'Big Boy' going by.. of course its DCC.. would Bob have anything else but DCC.  I didn't have the heart to tell him.. I'm a simple guy going with DC.. he might have asked me to leave...lol.

100_1742.jpg

   Take a look of the weathering detail of the roofs.. on everything.  Bob told me he comes home every night and puts in 2 - 21/2 hours.. every day on his layout.  Whoa~  it shows.

100_1743.jpg

  The flag at the school.. well that is real prototypical to me.... aside from being at a school its the old style of American flag.. with the Stars all lined up.  Now you can not see it on this pic, but the attention to detail was down to even the school teacher waving at the kid and his parent arriving at the front of the school.

100_1745.jpg

100_1747.jpg

  The Newstand caught my eye... aside from all the people around and about.

100_1749.jpg

  All I can say, if the flash wasn't working.. I might have not gotten some of the finer things.. that might have been in the dark.. so to speak.

100_1750.jpg

100_1752.jpg

100_1753.jpg

  The waterfall to me looks like its 'Flowing'  I told Bob,  this whole layout is alive .. I can't explain it Bob!  Little did I noticed until I was almost leaving.. I saw an article that said the same thing.. in the title.  I knew it wasn't my imagination.  Just look at the water flowing.. wow.  Yes.. he made that cool bridge.  98 percent is all hand made.  Less than one percent of the whole layout.. well I'd guess.. is plastic .. and for special reasons.. Like his special turntable that came from Germany.  No I don't have a pic of that... I ran out of juice in the camera.

100_1754.jpg

  Just one of many projects I would gather that Bob works on .. all at the same time.

100_1755.jpg

  I didn't even mention that his buildings.. well the roofs come off.. and the detail in the buildings .. well .. its all there~  I saw it with my own eyes.  Yep.. he lifted off the roofs of the buildings.. detailed inside and out.

100_1756.jpg

  The information I was receiving was .. well more than you could imagine.. I felt like a kid in a candy shop.  Every question I asked.. the stuff he told me.  I must admit.. I was so greatful for Bob's tour.. I told him.. "Bob... if you ever find yourself out and about with car trouble and need a ride.. call me.. I don't what time it is.. I'll come get ya~!"  Thats how greatful I am.

100_1757.jpg

100_1758.jpg

  Like I said earlier.. there was so much going on.. to take a shot.. without zooming.. I was going to lose it.. but as you can see.. I lost something~

   Well thats it.. now can you see why I said.. 'In the presence of a Genius'? .. "With my mouth and eyes wide open"

small note.. I'm not going back to re-read this.. I'm tired.. and my spelling .. well.. what you see is what you get.

  Keith  aka Blazzin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!