elliots diner: the January 2011 edition...

[blownout cylinder]

Hello Mr Parks!!! Welcome back!!!

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Coffee and a donut please.

David ... Good to see you again.

Those with layout "duckunders" watch out! They are not what they are quacked up to be.

Galaxy ... Hope surgery went fine and your recovery goes well.

 

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Oh my! It does look as though there's a duck watching us.

Good to see you again Mr Parks.

[Train Master]

Sir Madog

Did I see this shady character creeping up on me from behind?

Well, it is just a duck, is it not?

I am the terror that flaps in the night! Don't try anything funny because I'll be keeping an eye on you!

[Anonymous]

Good Afternoon,

I just woke up from a midday snooze. Not much to do today, as all the documents are with the bank now - just wait and see (which can be a little nerve wrecking).

Did I see this shady character creeping up on me from behind?

Well, it is just a duck, is it not?

I hope we will be hearing soon from Galaxy on the outcome of his surgery! Still no news about Keith - he has not been in here for months now.

Have a good day!

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Good morning. It's 48° and cloudy. The high will be around 60° with the clouds giving way to some sun.

No real plans for today. I may do some work on my work caboose later. Got my general physical out of the way yesterday along with the associated lab work. Samples of this, samples of that, samples, samples, samples. If I live long enough I may run out of samples.

[Robby P.]

 Good "icy" morning.

 Got a light coating of ice over night.  They are also calling for a inch or so of snow tonight.    Talk about perfect weather. 

 I'm off to school in a few minutes.   Graphic class, reading, and math today.  Can't wait .

 I will try to pop back in later.

[blownout cylinder]

Lee:   

Hopefully we'll hear from him how the operation went soon...

Right now, we are being fogged and frizzled on..right at 30F going for a high of 34F this afternoon...

I'm going to check on a couple of things at the doctor's office today, then off to the Home Despot to pick up some more tool thingees...

Flo, I'll have a coffee and a breakfast bagel please...I'll be at the window booth waiting for the day to wake up...

[LSWrr]

Good Morning,

Galaxy, how did everything go?

 

Now I will be looking over my shoulder all day, just to see if there is a duck watching me…

[Wisconsin Railfan]

Good Morning Folks!

Cup of coffee please.

Have a great day all!

[wetidlerjr]

 

Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.

 

 

[blownout cylinder]

[GMTRacing]

Good Evening All,

   Still waiting on the next storm to show up. Left w..k early to discuss an engine project with my former landlord (Danbury Competition Engine) where we started out with 1200 sublet feet of shop. in 95. Took advantage of the early start to the layout room and got the rest of the wiring runs in for the overhead lighting and a feed in for the track power which i will place in the middle of the run (opposite the proposed swing gate). Still have to figure out why one wall of the CFO's exercize room is powerless. Just wasn't ambitious enough to pull the paneling that's already up.

    Football will be interesting next week. Jets and Pittsburgh conflicting loyalties there (for the record I've been a Giants fan since I met Frank Gifford in the 50's). Love Pittsburghs' w..k ethic and their intensity but the Jets are local so..... Didn't like the Pats for the same reason I don't like the Red Sox - obnoxious Boston fans. Bears and Packers - longest rivalry ever but I reckon da Bears are underdogs this year. If the Jets and Packers both make the superbowl It'll be interesting, just need to keep the tone high here right Packer ?

    Time to crawl off to bed. Catch y'all tomorrow.     J.R.

   

[der5997]

Good late evening Folks: Dick sent me an email about a new VW 3 wheel auto. In the subsequent email exchange I came across this bit of "There's a prototype for everything" trivia. Ever have one of those industries where there is no room for a road to it? Here's your answer!

In 1957, Isetta of Great Britain began producing Isetta 300 models at their factory in the former Brighton railway works

under licence from BMW. The factory had no access by road, with components being delivered by rail, and finished cars being shipped out the same way.

 

Rob:

Der, neat old loco pic.

...my pics file says it's GTW  (aka Grand Trunk Railway)and zeroing in on the number board it looks like 6532. I couldn't find a site for their loco roster, so be my guest!

Question: Anyone have a simple and cheap idea how to make some kind of traffic barricades to separate parking areas from roadways? Does not need to be in any way fancy. A simple raised curb would work. Ideas???

...There are those concrete "inverted Y" cross sectioned barriers - they come in several heights, and BLMA does some (but charge too much for what they are IMHO)..or again, you could make the kind you see in Mall Parking That one is N Scale, and the concrete planters are cores from dental floss reels - but any 4' HO scale tube would do for your wife's layout, so long as it's fairly thin-walled. A series of these, depending on the length of each, could model a fair sized lot. Also, access roads are just a matter of gapping a section.

 

Ray:

Jeffrey,  I was intrigued by the information you just posted........  But???  Why not just leave the Athearn F7 body on the Athearn F7 frame and the Proto 1000 F3 body on the Proto F3 frame, etc.???  I guess it must be a Diseasally thing or sumpin'?  i generally leave my steamers on the same chassis they came with......

...I won't speak for Jeff, but I'd say "Because we can!" Wrote that before I read Jeff's version just following your post....and yes, those are some mighty fine models you posted!  I've a pair of those tin snips on the Thompson Tools building in my shed I thought I recognized the steam shovel when I first saw it to be right!

 

Ken:

John On the Y6 b problem I am 95% sure it going to be rail joiners. One area the Y6 b stall at is the worst spot on the bench. As a whole I don not like soldering rail joiners because it makes it a real pain to move the track if there is a problem. But on the other hand there might not have ever been a problem if it was done. Still seems odd that only the Y6 stalls there still.

....yes odd, but maybe, although it's not the heaviest or lightest of your locos, it could be the shakiest. What I'm thinking there is that the vibrations the Y6 sets up down the track might be different enough to joggle the joiners (Well, Joggle my joiners!") and contact is lost. Your other locos get away with it. I solder all my joiners except at turnouts, and sometimes even then.

 I need to reread the part about the plating. (like I said I am beat) Is it something you did your self or had done?

Store bought plating powder, applied as per directions. Hey, I may even have some left somewhere - but it's been ages (somewhat over 17 years) and the stuff is light sensitive, so most likely no good anymore despite being in a light -proof pack and stored away. I see you have posted on http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/p/174284/1913175.aspx so are familiar with that thread.  I went there to see if anyone knew of the powder I used. Nope -Tell you what, I'll look for it amongst my supplies.( As of noon today I was half way through my shelves, boxes and so on - no luck yet) Even if it's no good, at least the maker's name may still be on the package.

$225.00. Not bad for 6 hours of work. Now if only I could do that every day. 

Ah! The joy of sales!

Dave Hope you like it here - care to tell us of your mrr / railfan plans, layout, era, scale and so on? BTW, being Top Of Page gets you (under normal circumstances) the bill for everybody's order for the page. However, that's waived for a first time patron - so I'll take it!

 

That's it for me for today - Goodnight all, and God Bless. Prayers for all in need of Healing, Comfort, Prosperity and Peace.

 

 

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Hello ...

In retrospect, I think we should have set up some communication with Mrs. Galaxy or someone in his family. I would guess we won't here from Galaxy until he returns home and can sit at his computer.

Prayers continue.

Barry ... Don't w**k too hard.

Dave in IL ... Welcome to the diner. I once lived in IL. It's a good place to be from.

Good to see so many here this afternoon and evening. Howdy to Ray, TSF, NERM, Ken, Rob, Todd, Jeff, Bama, and Robby. ( I think I listed all who came in after noon.)

 

[blownout cylinder]

Ray: I was at w**k...so there...

Hello...I just finished w**k a half hour ago and got a lift back home...I STILL have to wait for my license to be given back to me!!    Don't I look happy? 

I wonder how Galaxy did with his operation....

Welb, Choe, I'll just have a chamomile tea and an apple please...I'll sit by the corner booth for now...

[howmus]

Evenin' Mr. Fan!  Mind if I join you for a cup of decaf?

Tell ya what I think happened......  People stopped in and read my post.  Then they decided to go take a couple hour nap.  I know I did!

Wonder how Galaxy did in surgery?

This has been an interesting weekend at the forums.....  Lets see, we have had 2 very thinly disguised "Which is better DC or DCC" posts, complete with all the usual players.......  Then there has been an equal number of threads on THE HOBBY IS DYING WHAT CAN WE DO???  Most of the answers are unanimous that we need to get kids involved in the hobby because when they grow up there will be more people in the hobby and prices will fall for the rest of us so we can still be buying DCC Sound equipped Locos (to run on our DC layouts) while we are vegetables in the Nursing homes!  Those have their share of the folks who say if another d@mn touches my layout I'm going to start WW3.....!!!  Then there is the uses of Silly Puty in the hobby one.

Wonder if anyone is actually doing any model railroading?

Later!

73

[teen steam fan]

Getting a little low, I got it. 

 

BUMP

[howmus]

Evenin' folks!

Flo, I'll just have a cup of hot cocoa and a seat in the back by the stove.

I've been home from the service for about 3 hours now and just getting to sit here in the diner.  The day went very well.  Everything happened on time, the MLK Choir was great (Halleluia!), the offering taken near the end of the service will almost pay our cost for the day.  The local newspaper had their top photographer there for most of the service, so I bet there will be great article in it sometime in the next couple of days, A local Radio Station plugged into our sound board and recorded the whole 2 hour thing.  It will be broadcast at a later date.  There was plenty of great food at the MLK Dinner after the service with lots left over to take over to the community lunch program tomorrow.  We took down all the Art and Poetry winners entries.  They are still sitting in the back of my car at the moment.  They will all be brought in before I hit the hay tonight.......  But......  Wow, am I tired!  And I think every muscle in my legs is sore....  Hopefully I got some good photos of the day.

Thanks for the kind comments about the models I posted yesterday.  We are fortunate to have some very, very fine modelers in Central NY (That would include both divisions).  I believe between the 2 Divisions we have 5 MMR's so we also have lots of good help with modeling.  BTW, I believe one photo was of some models done by a 16 Year old Kid(?).  Yep just like on here, some great work being done by our younger members!

OK, I have had the floor long enough.

73

[the North East Rail Modeler]

Well, I finally found the front door (again)  With how infrequent my visits to the diner (or to the forum, for that matter) are, I may as well be a ghost.

Gosh, it's been so long since my last visit, I can't remember half of the menu. I'll just take a simple cheeseburger, and some sweat tea. I'll be looking over the menu for ideas for my next (hopefully soon) visit.

Cederstrand

 Question: Anyone have a simple and cheap idea how to make some kind of traffic barricades to separate parking areas from roadways? Does not need to be in any way fancy. A simple raised curb would work. Ideas???  

I've got a couple of ideas off the top of my head, which come from what I've seen around my town.

First, there's what Teen Steam Fan mentioned, with using toothpicks/ coffee stirers, and mounding up some sculptamold over them, making a little hill (If I was doing it myself, I would add some bushes or a fence between the lot and road for extra detail) 

Another thing that I have seen also doubbled as parking bumpers was the use of old railway ties. It should be very simple to model: Weather the ties to liking ( very aged in most cases) and place between parkign lot/ driveway as needed.

Train front:  Not a whole lot is going on. Mainly detailing and weathering of several locomotives, and that's about it. As soon as I get the materials for it, though, I do plan on following the article on scratch-building wood-chip hopper cars that was in the March 1992 Model Railroader. I don't know how many I'll build, but I would like to have a fairly substantial fleet of these cars.

 

That's about it for me.  Galaxy is still in my prayers, and I hope that he has a quick recovery.

I'll go ahead and enjoy the country music for a while.

[h2so4]

Ken,

      I agree with you on that point. I believe our governor and state reps sit on their brains. Meanwhile I have $1600.00 less to spend on stuff because of their thievery. I guess we should be glad we aren't getting all the government that we pay for. I'll quit ranting now.

Dave

[cudaken]

TMarsh

Stupid NCIS marathon. Again!

 Them There Are Fighting Words Todd!

 Flo, a and the soap box please.

                                  I hear by proclaim the state OF ILL IS RAN BY IDIOTS!

 If you remember when I lost the old job I had to file a new unemployment claim. State sent me a letter dated on 01-04-2011 tell me what day they would call and the time of the phone call. Today was the day and the time was 12:45 PM. 12:45 rolls by, no call, (letter did state they could be around 10 minutes late) 12:55, no call, 1:00 no call, 1:10 still no call!.

 Called the local offices, machine stuck me of a line where the phone rang, but no one answered. That did not surprise me. Then it dawned on me.

 THE IDIOTS SAT ME UP FOR THE PHONE INTERVIEW ON MARTIAN LUTHER KING DAY AND ALL GOVERNMENT OFFICES ARE CLOSED!  

 So Wednesday I get to go down and sit at unemployment again and wait to talk to an Idiot. I sure hope they expedite this mess. I waited 20 days all ready and they owe me around $1400.00, that's the house payment! 

 I sure glad I am about done with unemployment. This will be the last week they will owe me for.

 See you all later!

            Ken

[teen steam fan]

Hey folks. 

Rob, would a cocktail straw or toothpicks work? Or you could aways build it up with spackle/sculptamold/plaster. Whatever you use. 

Well (deep subject), I got my Pantera dug out and started working on her. Pulled the plugs and checked to see if there was spark, no spark. I close up and start getting ready for a major headache, then started playing with the emergency kill switch. pulled it up and whattta know. There's spark. . Sure glad I checked that first before redoing the electrical system. 

Best wishes for Galaxy. Let me know if he stops in. 

[Cederstrand]

Extra strong coffee in a SUNNY SOUTHERN mug, please.

Great news, the deep black pavement around the Fire Station turned lighter as it dried and now matches the main road. Whew! Question: Anyone have a simple and cheap idea how to make some kind of traffic barricades to separate parking areas from roadways? Does not need to be in any way fancy. A simple raised curb would work. Ideas???

Still some snow on the ground here, but only in the shade.

Will be in the corner booth a spell. Rob

[jeffrey-wimberly]

Today I finally got some more work done on my work caboose project. I got the caboose body glued down on the car. I also spread some shellac over the other stark white areas of the layout. Whooo man, I had to get out of here for a while. The fumes from the shellac are something else. Fortunately it doesn't take long to dry.

[TMarsh]

Stupid NCIS marathon. Again!

Cleaned up a bit in the trainroom during commercials. Sort of at a standstill construction wise until the supplies get here courtesy me. Maybe I'll work a bit...........on a kit. 

 

[BamaCSX83]

Afternoon all.  Just catching up on things as I've not been around for several days. 

Continued prayers for galaxy on his surgery, can't wait to hear from him, hope that all is well. 

Ken, glad to hear that trains are running well and there are no stalls or derails. 

I almost forgot about the WGH show coming to Atlanta next month, but upon mentioning it to my wife (its also our anniversary weekend), she's game to us going up there on Saturday, going out to eat that night and then going to either the World of Coca Cola, or the Georgia Aquarium with the girls, so whooooo hoooooo  Dunno what all I would/will get from there as I know I won't have a ton of expendable cash, but it should still be fun, and besides, I think that Heather would enjoy getting to run Thomas the train around and stuff too while daddy plays on the DCC layouts if possible.  Actually I know one thing that I will be on the lookout for, and that is hopefully a good SD70M, SD70M-2, or even a MAC or ACe, or even an AC4400CW would be nice to have and couple to my SD40-2 and pull cars around (been playing around a little on the kitchen table, nothing major, just a little straight section and curve sitting on the table with old rail joiners.  So who knows, I might just pick up things like paint  and decals there. 

Welp, I guess I'll have a BBQ sammich and order of fries with a RBF to wash it down.  I'm off w*rk today as I literally spent the night there last night (resetting inventory as part of a LARGE stock increase).  Might get to get into the woods later this afternoon (or actually in a few minutes if I wish to have any "real" time out there).  Maybe I'll ge to bag a member of the venison family and put some extra meat in the freezer.

Later taters!

[Robby P.]

 I did I miss lunch?

 Well I've been doing some studying and some math.   So far so good.  The rest of the day will be take it easy.  Maybe go in the basement and box up my engines.  I haven't run anything in a month.  Why have them covered in dust.

 Galaxy.........Hope your doing good.

 Sawyer....Vincent......Good luck on Sunday.   ESPN says you shouldn't have a problem beating "Da Bears".   Ryan Grant did put his foot in his mouth thou.  I hope that doesn't come back to bite them.   Of course the Steelers have a hard game also .

[cudaken]

 Late Morning Folks.

 Flo, I would like a side salad and a diet Dew please.

 Having a good lazy day today, nothing really planed. Trains have been running good, no stalls or derails so I am happy.

 Wonder if Galaxy is in recovery room yet?

      See you all later.

    

[BRAKIE]

Good Morning All!

Not much to report from the land of frozen Buckeyes other then I missed the club meeting yesterday due to old modeling friends dropping by on their way home from railfanning Bellevue and Sandusky..Just the thought being near Lake Erie in winter chills me to the bone.Brrr! Some day I may share a early spring walleye fishing story with you-maybe in July? No modeling yesterday of course and today's plans call for working on C&HV #100..

Slate Creek is temporary on hold till the carpenter feels better..It won't take long to build the bench work-he figures around 30 minutes since there isn't that much measuring and cutting to do..

I shall have a cup and look over the forum.

Have a good'un!