Good Morning,
JR, I’ve been thinking about installing six 4 foot four bulb florescent fixtures in my train room. Currently I have 3 CFLs that run down the middle of the room and when you work on the layout you cast a shadow right where you’re looking. I see the fixtures at home Depot for $44 each.
Flex track: I went with Model Power flex track this time and I bought it in bulk. Atlas is good and VERY flexible. Model power is a little stiffer and holds its shape better. Model power in bulk (100 pcs) worked out to be $1.25/3 foot section.
Train show in Lodi, OH this weekend. I might drive down to see what all the fuss is about. Last fall I went to the Toledo Train show and the Fire lands train show and half the vendors were missing. Came to find out they all were in Lodi. I do need some scenery stuff, but don’t want to pay the LHS price. Larry if you’re going maybe I can buy you a cup of coffee or something and say howdy…
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Quick experiment..will this work...mmmm...
...mmmmm...it did...heeheehee
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/
Insomniac's Special with a Decaf coffee in a Southern mug, please.
Rob
Gooooood morning. Got about 2 inches of snow, and of course the cars are covered in ice. Plus I already got yelled at this morning by Jessica. I kinda left a "ice scraper" on the hood of the car .
I have some things to do around the house, and maybe get in the basement later.
Ulrich..........Next time you see someone doing some construction see if they will let you have the old cut wood. I've read where people built the whole layout on free wood, and sometimes you can get some "foam board" also. Just a idea.
"Rust, whats not to love?"
Hi again,
I am down with a bad case of migraine - took a nap to get rid of it, but it did not work. Each move hurts and I feel ill to my stomach.
Chloe, a tall glass of Ed´s OJ, please - no, nothing else.
Robby - most of our houses are built in the traditional way - brick by brick. There is hardly any lumber used. Even the roofs are made of a sandwich of foam board and concrete nowadays, for insulation purposes. Chances to get some lumber are close to nil. Foam board is fairly inexpensive, as it is a buyer´s market. A 2 m by 1 m sheet of 5 cm board costs about 5 $ - that´s enough for the coming years!
As I wrote in my last post, progress will be slow, but there will be a progress ...
Back to the sofa - nausea is catching up on me!
Good Morning All,
Mid 30's and raining just now. Lots to get to today so I'll just have a regular coffee to go please Zoe. Got some cleaning in the basement done last night but not much else.
Ken - glad you had a better day at w..k. Hopefully the boss dawgs will see that when people actually walk through the door you can sell them. Just remember - "Some days you're the bug and somedays you're the windscreen."
Lee - I use the cheapest shop lights I can find and plant them in the ceiling on the rafter closest to the wall. As you surmised, that puts the light over the area where the track will go and minimizes the shadows on the backdrop. That's also the reason I have them plugged into boxes on the ceiling - I can disconnect the far wall if needed for photos. If need be I'll put difuser panels in as well. I do find as I get older that I need more and more light to see the details of what I am doing. No cracks needed about getting dimmer with age - I'm already there.
Time to scoot - lots to do again CUL, J.R.
Good Morning!! Coffee please. Looks nice out there. I hear it’s cooold. Suppose to get into the thirties by the weekend and a day of forties. Good. I’m sure my sump pump will run like who knows what when the thaw comes. Best start puttin things up off the floor now. If we get a storm that causes a loss of power and the pumps running like it does sometimes, I don’t have time hardly to get to the shed and start the generator before the water’s at the top of the pit. Luckily, I doubt if the water will get high enough to get into the layout. Jerry- Good to hear from you and glad you’re doing better. Jeff- Never give up. I’m surprised. You almost sound like you are feeling defeated. Of all people, I never thought I’d hear THAT from you. Maybe I misunderstood the tone. OK, today I must unload,(there I go again)put aWAY the groceries from the trucks, at the restaurant this morning, then….. Maybe, juuuust maybe things will work out that I can get some layout time in. Every time I think I’ll have a chance, or plan on doing something with it, something last minute comes up. Last night it was being called in to wo*k after I decided to stop in for a quick one before heading home after blowing Mom’s drive out and laying some track. (I have the muti-meter laying on the benchwork) I do have to w**k tonight, but I’d like to play a bit between “shifts”. (Fingers crossed) Ya’ll have a Great Day!!!
Good Morning!! Coffee please.
Looks nice out there. I hear it’s cooold. Suppose to get into the thirties by the weekend and a day of forties. Good. I’m sure my sump pump will run like who knows what when the thaw comes. Best start puttin things up off the floor now. If we get a storm that causes a loss of power and the pumps running like it does sometimes, I don’t have time hardly to get to the shed and start the generator before the water’s at the top of the pit. Luckily, I doubt if the water will get high enough to get into the layout.
Jerry- Good to hear from you and glad you’re doing better.
Jeff- Never give up. I’m surprised. You almost sound like you are feeling defeated. Of all people, I never thought I’d hear THAT from you. Maybe I misunderstood the tone.
OK, today I must unload,(there I go again)put aWAY the groceries from the trucks, at the restaurant this morning, then….. Maybe, juuuust maybe things will work out that I can get some layout time in. Every time I think I’ll have a chance, or plan on doing something with it, something last minute comes up. Last night it was being called in to wo*k after I decided to stop in for a quick one before heading home after blowing Mom’s drive out and laying some track. (I have the muti-meter laying on the benchwork) I do have to w**k tonight, but I’d like to play a bit between “shifts”. (Fingers crossed)
Ya’ll 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.
Morning All, Flo coffee please, and a biscuit with gravy.
Woke up this morning to a light dusting of the white stuff, and I hear that it is really cold out side. Started feeling a cold coming on yesterday and despite all my precautions I am sick, but I still hope to get up the hill to the studio today. I have one small project to finish for "My better half" and then I can get back to work on my bench work. I keep finding myself over thinking my layout and every time I try to draw out a track plan I feel that I am trying to shove to much track into to little of space, and I am worried about not having the length and that the grades will be to steep. So I have decided to just finish up the bench work and then just start drawing out what I have in my mind onto the layout and throw out the graph paper.
Ken; Do not give up on the hobby, I did 40 years ago and have always regretted it, I know have full support from the wife. 30 feet of flex track and 100.00 for bench work. No turnouts and once the hundred dollars is gone it will be back to a few dollars here and there, I am on disability now and it is going to be hard but I will get this done.
Shot this off my back porch a few years ago, the house had a mile long dirt drive way that was nothing more than a logging trail, there was the Tuckasegee river out the front door with a swinging foot bridge for access when the weather was bad and the road unusable. The only reason I let the wife talk me into renting it was the fact that the Smoky Mountain Railway passed right through the yard four times a day.
I refuse to grow up!!!
Good Morning All...Its sunny and very cold here but weather guesser on TV says temps in mid 40's by week-end...I'll have coffee and toast please...Thank You...Got a caboose on the work bench that needs to be weathered and will be finnished..
You all have a good one..Jerry
Good Morning All!Not much to report from the land of Buckeyes on sunny but cold Tuesday morning other then the weather guessers is calling for 40 degree tempture Sunday.I hope so.Nothing new to report except yesterday evening I fixed a follow N Scale club member's Arnold GP9..Sheesh! What a antique..N Scale has indeed came a very long way since that geep was produce by Arnold 20 or 30 years ago..The man needs to update his fleet of GP9s-even the new Bachmann N Scale geep 9 beats that antique..I had to wear my glasses while working on that engine I thought wearing glasses wouldn't be a bad trade off for Slate Creek...I shall have a cup and look over the forum.Have a good'un
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Mornin' everyone!
Zoe I'll have a breakfast bagel and a large pot of dark roast coffee.....
Finally turned off the computer around 1AM last night. Did get the durned list checked though. One thing about the NMRA is we have people who go and die and don't tell national office about it. Darned inconsiderate if you ask me............ Found one lifer on the list who passed away several years ago. I have mailed stuff out to him and they have not come back with a notice "Unable to Forward". Just waiting on replies to a couple of emails I sent out to collect a bit more info before I send it out to the party(s) that need the list yesterday!
Maybe today I may get down to the layout I used to be building.... Nah, probably not. Actually I will as I have to do the laundry today and THAT is a good reason to sit and stare at a project wishing I had some idea on how to complete it.
Got a lot to get done today, so I best not linger in here. Later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Good afternoon Diners: I think a hot chocolate would suit the day; please and thank you.
Ulrich: Hope the migraine is going or gone by the time I post this.
Btw, interesting pic - I guess folks will have to sort their desks when this train rumbles by ...
Todd:
Jeff- Never give up.
JR:
dimmer with age...
DTrappr: Now THAT's a Garden Layout!
Snowing hard and wet. We are expecting a break - during which we will have to clear as much off the steps, ramp and van as we can before it returns to the rain with which it started the day. That's because right after the rain the temperature is set to plummet. I'm just hoping the transition isn't freezing rain. Things to do....but at least yesterday's chores included getting in more wood. May even get to play with trains. Let's hope. TTFN
"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.
Good afternoon
Seems MIL may be coming home tomorrow. SHe is anxious and the Drs. said the infection is cleared up, but doesn;t mean it won;t come back. Meaning in another week she could be right back in the hospital again. MIL doesn't like the hospital. When I was in the hospital, i never minded it, but there does come a point when one wants to go home!
FIL has not been a pain lately with MIL in the hospital, but as soon as she's home,... he'll be a pain again. ALready sent MOH over to do the drive and snow and ice off drive and sidewalk for MIL's homecoming, but he asked nicely, MOH has today off so could do it, but FIL is going to have to find someone to do it for them on a regular reliable basis, that is all there is to it! Same with mowing the lawn. Their house is not easy to do. its' on a steep hill and is all downhill from the road. The drive is a straight short sharp drop down from the road to the garage, adn the back yard is all downhill. FIL has a self-propelled lawn mower and so far has been able to mow it himself but at 82 hes getting to where the snow removal and lawn he will have to hire out. He cannot rely on MOH to do it al the time as MOH has to work and take care of our place as I can't do it, and can't help out at either place. At 52, MOH isn't getting any younger eitehr. BOth MOH and I have agreed when OH inherits the house {only child}, WE do NOT want that house and it will be sold. FiL bought it over anther house they looked at simply because this house was CHEAPER to buy. Never thought how he'd deal with a multi-split-level {stairs every where} home with a hilly yard when he got older when instead they could have had a one level ranch on a relatively level lot!
Now that MIL is coming home, FIL will start his baby crap again about his ankle and will fight with MOH over every little niggling thing that will upset MIL when they fight.{they are identical in temperament and stubbornment is the problem and FIL is lazy and figures everybody should do everything for him anyway- at least MOH isn't like THAT! FIL figures the world and everybody owes him something just cuz he is here and alive- at least OH doesn't share taht trait!.
Enough rambling. on that.
Train nut friends wife well shes hanging in there they may take stomach tube out and see how she handles tea and toast.
I am just bumbling along.
TTYALL8R
-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.
OOPS, Sorry Ken, I meant Jeff "Do not give up the hobby"!!!! And Ken "Hope You had a good day at work with lots of sales!!!!
Jeffery, it is boxed up and I will get it sent out Wednesday.
I hate Rust
Went to see the docs at the Abana Orthotics and Prosthetics center this morning. They examined my foot and what's left of my ankle and decided a California style brace is the way to go. This would lock the ankle in place while taking the weight of the joint. At this point it's only talk as Medicaid has to OK it first. It's going to take four to six weeks for the paperwork to go through before an answer comes back. The drive there and back didn't do wonders for my back either. It's a 120 mile round trip. I stopped in at the LHS and had a look at some items and scenery materials I'd like to have and at this point look is all I can afford to do. This afternoon I kept smelling ozone in my trailer. I tracked it down to the heater. It's one of those electric things that looks like a small wood heater with the ember bed and flickering fire light in the front. That flicker effect is made possible by a strip of metal fins in the back that are turned by a rotisserie type electric motor. That motor was the source of the ozone odor. It was still running but brother was it hot! Since the backup heater I have is somewhat smaller than this one and a lot older I don't want to break it out of mothballs just yet. I cut one of the wires going to the motor and since all it did was turn the strip of metal fins it would be no big loss. The heater still puts out heat like it did before and the ember bed still glows but the flames look like they're frozen in time. No more ozone smell! I can live with that. Now, as far as the layout goes, I still haven't come to a decision. I know I'm usually the one who says 'Never give up' but everyone has their breaking point. I haven't reached mine yet but sometimes it feels like it's close. Most of this depends on what happens in the next few months.
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
JEFFREY- I join the group with a resounding "don't give up on the layout"!!!
I know it's frustrating, but don't tear it out just cuz youre in a slump and broke!
I want to expand mine {meaning to really build a new table that is larger or adjust this table by adding extentions and moving the legs to support it.} but MAY have funding for that this summer, may not. I have kinda mothballed my layout this past year as I need to 1} find it again, 2} clean it thoroughly 3} clear out the rest of the crap in the train room so I can build a "bigger,better one". If i had some of the scenery stuff you needed, I send it to you, but I don;t have enough to bother with, and probably not what you'd want/need anyway, though you do have a way of making anything work.
ANything else in the closet or under the table you'd sell to get some extra dough for the layout? Stuff you still don;t need or haven't used in a coon's age?
Hope medicaid approves your brace. I know it can be nerve racking waiting for approval and then getting teh fittings and work done to get an "appliance".
Good Evening
I managed to get all the dang stuff done for work...plus we actually found 6 good clients that we need to do second interviews on...
Tomorrow we will have off to do essentially whatever I want to do ...and that is fine with me...heeheehee
Decaf in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please.
Saw the opthamologist today. The bad news is the sarcoidsis did show up in my eyes, which I already figured was the case. The good news is, it's not currently active. It is what it is.
Seems like a lot of medical issues going around the Diner again these days. Healing thoughts to those in need.
Good evening diners!!....I will take a dozen wings...mild please...with extra blue cheese and a big glass of Pepsi in a frosty mug....THE HECK WITH THE DIET!!!
JEFF..Check your pms please...
Just spent the latter part of an hour snowblowing the driveway...again... The snow just keeps a coming...another 6 to 8 inches have fallen since last night and now the wind is blowing like crazy putting the wind chill below zero. You know it's cold when you step outside and your boogers freeze solid in seconds...(I know gross...but funny). The streets are hard snow packed and I have already ran a half dozen fire calls for various car wrecks. Some people just refuse to accept the road conditions and drive like total morons when the visability is non existent. I was able to work some more on one of the yards I have been working on. I think I have figured out the layout of the structures and drilled the holes and ran the wires for the parts that will have lights on them. The ballast is done and the ground cover..oil spills...sand...weeds etc. I love the grass tufts from Scenic Express. Very easy to lay down as they come on a plastic sheet with some tacky glue. Just peel and stick. Tomorrow hopefully I can start on a small mountain I had started that will also act as a view block between scenes. The basic contour is done. Now it just needs some plaster...rock outcroppings and some texture. I have a pile of Supertrees ready to go. On other news..my wife finally went back to wo&k today!!...She developed a nasty infection in her left knee which put her in the hospital for a week..two surgeries...a picc line for home antibiotics...home therapy and just plain hell for her. She has been out since last October. The infection really tore up her knee and she still does not have full range of motion. Lots more physical therapy to go. Those three months out of wo%k through the holidays really put a financial burden on things. But things are finally looking up!! Well...I am off to put my daughter to bed and get me some couch time. Take care all and stay safe!!...Tim
A true friend will not bail you out of jail...he will be sitting next to you saying "that was friggin awesome dude!" Tim...Modeling the NYC...is there any other?
fireman216 JEFF..Check your pms please...
Hello
Got to Alabama OK. Funeral tomorrow. Heartbreaking experiences with 91 year old Mom. Not easy. My AL sister has carried much of the load. My MI sister has to stay in MI for eye surgery needed real soon to save one of her retinas from making one eye blind.
Good news, however... Grandchild will arrive in MI in a coupl of days.
Jeff... Prayers for you.
Galaxy... Prayers for your family
Ulrich prayers for your Mom
Everybody ... Hope rest of week goes well for you.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Evening Dinners!
Boy it is cold out there, Flo a Pitcher please and a Frosted Monon Mug.
While it was not a $5200.00 dollar day again, I found a few more nuts so to speak! Had $3643.00 in sale today. Again I am breathing a little easier. In the last 5 days I have had $10,600.00 in business X 7% should equal $742.00. But my base is $500.00 and it is a draw so I have to make up where I fell short weeks before.
Guess I need to ask for some details on how I am paid now. I was so happy to get a job and grateful to have a $500.00 base I never asked about the details of the draw.
Jeffery What do you need to go forward on the layout as far as supplies? Would a carton of plaster help? I bought a small carton I guess 5 years ago that I never opened. Just after that I found out about foam and started using it instead of the plaster. I could all so spare some ground foam. Till I know what is going to happen as far as the house goes am not going to do anything on the layout.
I think you use Bachmann easy track. But if you could use some Atlas sectional track (code 100) I could send some 9 inch straights and 18 inch turns I can do with out.
Big hang up on the stuff I am sending Wednesday was lack of boxes and my bad memory. I have made friends with one of the ladies that works at the shoe store next door (she got the scanner today you did not need) and one of the ladies at Hallmark. So getting boxes should not be a chore.
Trees I have some cheap store bought ones you can have as well. I have gotten pretty good making Super Trees, so more than likely I will not have need of them again.
Well, I will see you all later.
Ken
Evening All, zoe I just need a coffee.
Well I was feeling a little under the weather last night and was even worse this morning, but I started feeling a little better this afternoon, so I ran over to LOWES and got enough 2x3's and ply wood to complete 4 modules. The plan was to walk up the hill to the studio after dinner, but that just aint gonna happen now, I am feeling awfull and am now definatly sick. Have a Dr. appointment tomorrow but that is with the wrong type of Dr. I really have to watch it cause lately every time I get sick it turns into phneumonia.
Garry: Sorry to hear about the trip to AL, but cogradulations on the soon to arrive Grand Child.
Ulrich; Hope the migrain is better.
Was talking at dinner about how I want to model scenes from some of my favorite movies on the layout and the sixteen year old daughter, who has no interest in anything I am doing(except Geocaching) pops up that she saw an HO "Hogwarts Express" set at a hobby shop her and her Mom had stopped at, and how "WE" could build the school from Harry Potter. Well that almost knocked me out of my chair, and believe me I know where this would end, three months from now.
OK I am going to go and take some meds and relax.
Good Night All
Ron
Evenin' folks!
Flo, just a decaf for me, I'll be in the back by the woodstove.
Going to be a cold night here in the Finger Lakes. The mercury should drop to around 7°F before the sun comes up.
Actually spent some time in the train room today after running a bunch of errands I needed to do early afternoon. Built a scratch workbench for the workshop and put up some wall boards to hang tools on. Then I painted up some itty bitty wrenches and an oil can to be placed there. Also managed to order some small tools for the bench (and some other benches I will need to build) from Walthers. Now I usually go with a cheaper source, but the other online places i trust didn't have what I was looking for (or only had part of them) so I decided to spend a few $ and bought 3 Rivarossi undecorated 60' heavyweight coaches and a 60' bagage car to get free shipping. So I think the Lake Shores Limited will be soon up and hauling passengers on the SLOW..... (Replacing the 80' cars that don't like the 22" curves.....) I will keep one longer car which does seem to just make the radii without much problem. THAT one is "Car # 54"..... Well (deep subject) service being what it is on the SLOW, the dispacher keeps hollering, "car 54 where are....." Uh, never mind!
Prayers for all in need and there seems to quite a few lately!
Later!
Good Morning ! from Tipton IN.
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Jeff, PM me a wish list for your layout, I need to clean out some stuff sometime soon, sooner might be better.
Ray did you see that Trainland/trainworld has the 1930’s passenger cars on sale? 5 36’ cars for $59.
Thought and prayers for all those in need this February….
Still working on the Grain Elevator area. I want to install the edge trim to blend the foam board into the rest of the layout before I share any pictures.
I’m searching for Corn, bean, beet, and grain prices from the 1950’s. I want to build a sign for the front of the elevator. If anybody already has this data I would appreciate some help….
Good Day Folks!
Cup of coffee please!
Going to be below 0 with wind chill here.
Jeffery - If there is anything I can do, let me know - (I am the guy that sent you the free memory card for your camera a few years ago)
Have a great day all!
Good Morning...
We got up and already had a good walk in the brisk..and do we mean BRISK!! ...semi country air. It is only 1F out with a windchill of -8F right now...but it is a 'DRY' cold...
Today's activities will be doing more stuff in the trainroom..such as scratchbuilding a couple of garages up and getting more ballasting done on the expanded Ansun spur...
I have the whole day to do things other than HD listee things...heeheehee
Flo, i'll have a coffee and a big ol' stack o' pancakes with maple syrup please...I'll be at the RC for a bit...
...oldest known photograph...1826...view from a window...
Good cold morning. Its currently 8 degrees, and the wind chill is -5.
Not to much planned today. Maybe see what I can do in the basement.
Have a good morning guys!!