Good Evening Gang,
Hope all of you south of the 49th had a great Presidents day. There are about four of our ten Provinces that use this same day as a Family Day or some other name. The other six it is just another Monday. We are one of the lucky ones.
Well I was working on my Branch line today, after spending a couple of days looking for the two thru truss bridges that cross the Helix going down. I had removed them when we had all that trouble with the house settling and the mud jacking that I have told you about. They were put away well.
Over my big canyon. I can't decide what I want there for a bridge and that has been plaguing me for awhile now. So I thought , I can't wait any longer so I just put in plywood sub roadbed so that I can get that Branch line running and I'll go back and redo that section when the light comes on and I know what I want there. It is curved so I (THINK) it will be deck girders with more modern concrete abutments. There will be some modeler's license taken if I go that route as I sure wouldn't be putting in an abutment for each section of girder. That, I believe is what the hold up is. Can't get it right in my mind. (OPYK) stands for "Old Phart You Know"........................
You folks posted some great work this week-end, I always stand in awe. I did buy a new camera, so I'll have to get that working so I can post as well.
Well, I'm going to watch the news to see if Germany is still there. Still nothing fron our Buddy Ulrich I see. Then off to ZZZZzzzzland for me.
Oh brother, I just remembered that I washed the bedding today and I have to make the bed before getting horizontal. Here I go, that won't take me long.
Night all, Chloe, I'll pick up the tab for these late nighters that are still hanging on here.
Johnboy out......................................for now
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Evenin' folks!
Janie, hope the service is faster than the website tonight...... Their service is crawling! I'll have a cup of decaf please, and a seat by the stove in the back.
Did more cleaning up down cellar today. Decided the best solution for shelving is to buy another steel shelving unit for in the layout room. I already have 3 of them doing service in the workshop, and after pricing some other solutions, I can get the unit at about the same cost as some shelving... So tomorrow I will see if the truck starts and go shopping.
I finished installing the floor with the boilers and the turbines in the powerhouse. Ended up using JB Weld. I don't think I'll be getting it out soon....... I now need to do some outside detail on the building like drains for the flat roofs, and a sign on the building....... I haven't hooked up the wires yet but I think the inside should be great when lighted. Any suggestions for the downspouts from the flat roofs.
See you all tomorrow!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
Well, I'm calling it a night. I'll have an easy day tomorrow. I thought I was going to have to take my mother to a doctors appointment in Alexandria. I got the call this evening from my father that he has tomorrow off so he'll be taking her there and back. That's a great relief for me. Driving that little Pontiac G6 of hers makes what's left of my ankle hurt, and it hurts enough already. I can see what looks like another piece of shattered bone starting to emerge from the wound on the side. I'll have to watch it closely and be ready to pick it out with the tweezers when it's pushed out. This has happened before. The last chunk was about the size of a dime. See y'all tomorrow.
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
Cederstrand jeffrey-wimberly: Cederstrand: ***Jeffrey, nice shots. In person, do the colors look more like the first or second pic? Rob That's two different units. One is a dark green and the other is a rusty black and white. ***Jeffrey, I was refering to the landscape colors. In one pic the gravel looks brownish, in the other light gray!?! -Rob
jeffrey-wimberly: Cederstrand: ***Jeffrey, nice shots. In person, do the colors look more like the first or second pic? Rob That's two different units. One is a dark green and the other is a rusty black and white.
Cederstrand: ***Jeffrey, nice shots. In person, do the colors look more like the first or second pic? Rob
***Jeffrey, nice shots. In person, do the colors look more like the first or second pic?
Rob
***Jeffrey, I was refering to the landscape colors. In one pic the gravel looks brownish, in the other light gray!?! -Rob
First, Rob, work a small area (3-4 tiles). I like to mix the thinset to about a stiff cake batter consistency. I like it to "stand up" when troweled with a 1/4" notched trowel. Lay a blob on the cement board, spread it out and then pull it to you with about a 45 degree slant on the trowel. You want a nice even depth, no double ridges. Lay the tile , close to your final spot, then push down and give it a little back and forth twist to set it. Move it into the final position then leave it alone! Set your next tile with the edges nearly touching the previous tile, move it into the spot, little down pressure and twist ,set and leave it be. Make sure you've got mortar evenly distributed under each tile, you'll get a dead spot if not. That'll cause cracks . Don't mix more thinset than you'll use in 1/2 hour or so. Toss the unused stuff before you mix any new, use clean tools,buckets,etc. When I mix, I start with a little bit of water in the bucket, dump some thinset in, mix it and check the mixture.If it looks like a DQ soft serve when you pull out the mixer, it's about right. Add water or thinset till you get the mixture you want. Make sure you let it "slack" for 10-15- minutes. then remix and use. I use a paddle mixer in a 1/2 drill. Watch the splashing! You don't have to hurry, just work steadily. If you've got your tile cut already , you should be able to lay that area in the picture in 30-45 minutes, so no worries on the expired thinset.
It really is easier than it sounds!
Terry in NW Wisconsin
Queenbogey715 is my Youtube channel
jeffrey-wimberly Cederstrand: ***Jeffrey, nice shots. In person, do the colors look more like the first or second pic? Rob That's two different units. One is a dark green and the other is a rusty black and white.
teen steam fan David- I know I'm late, but congrats on the job. Hope you do well. Does your parents business deal with old farm equipment?
David- I know I'm late, but congrats on the job. Hope you do well. Does your parents business deal with old farm equipment?
I have the paperwork glut down to a small pile now and can manage it in 3 - 4 hours a day. That will give me some time for other things.
Jeff: Good to hear the choke is working finally. Sorry to see you letting the gp30's go.
Rob: It looks like you quite a project there.
Ken: Good to see you are having some good luck finally.
Curt: Good looking work on your layout.
Sue: I enjoy your layout pics when you put them up.
Lee: My best wishes and prayers for your mom.
Todd: Will the work on the house ever be done?
David Parks I am the terror that flaps in the night!
Cederstrand ***Jeffrey, nice shots. In person, do the colors look more like the first or second pic? Rob
Chicken dinner, please.
***Terry, any tips on mixing and the application of Flexbond mortar? I'm more concerned with getting this aspect right than anything else.
I made a trip into town today to the local library to get some reading material. 'HO Railroad from start to finish' by Jim Kelly and 'How To Build Realistic Model Railroad Scenery' by Dave Frary. It also gave me a chance to evaluate the operation of the vans automatic choke. It seems to be working perfectly. Later I got the two Bachmann GP30's off the display rack so they could have some time on the layout. The one in the photo below is #30 and has a somewhat strange decoder setup. The stock bachmann decoder has a bad motor control circuit but I left it in because it had the headlight LED's on it. So the original decoder controls the lights. The motor control is handled by an old Lenz decoder that's piggy-backed on the Bachmann decoder. The setup works quite well. The other loco has the original unmodified decoder. They'll likely be going to a new home soon.
Evening all.
Sorry about the ongoing multi-week absences. Ever since the second semester started, the teachers have been raising the work load. That, and I find myself taking longer and longer to accomplish my work...
Not much else going around here. Keeping busy as always.
Nothing new in the MRR world. No time to accomplish anything. The only new development is that I'm selling an Athearn GP40-2, and trying to buy an Athearn SD60. Nothing overly exciting, but something is something, I suppose.
I've gotta go for now. Catch ya later.
-Joe
EDIT: Looks like I'm buying!
SEPTA Silverliner IV 384 leads train Airport-bound (via Center City) train 3445 out of West Trenton Yard and into the station at CP-TRENT.
My Model Railroad: Tri State RailMy Photos on Flickr: FlickrMy Videos on Youtube: YoutubeMy Photos on RRPA: RR Picture Archives
Coffee refill, please.
***Terry, thanks for all the tips. Much appreciated.
***Garry, excellent layout work there.
IF I can cut the tiles without any breaks, then I'll do the pad (below) instead of what I posted earlier. Won't mark the floor until tiles have been cut, so I know if it will be plan A or B. I think this latest idea looks the best from entry way into the main room. Only a single 45 degree cut to make, too.
Time for evening critter rounds. Rob
40f and cloudy today. Winds are at 20/30 mph. I think something's comin"!?!
That sounds more like it, Curt!
Thank you again,Sue! How about some pics of Larry's backdrop stuff?
Garry, thanks! Love the passenger train shot!
Rob, when you cut the tile, flip it over if you have chipping or flaking problems. It'll help. Also cut it SLOW! Let the blade work, and keep it plenty wet.It looks to me like it's a slate type tile. When you grout, don't wait too long before the first wipe-down. Try to keep the field of the tile a little damp, it'll clean up a lot easier!. I recently finished a 20'x24' 2-story addition with a master bath that was all tile, very simular to what you've got there, including a custom 6'x8' shower stall.( with a bench!) When you're done with the grout, run your fingertops across ALL the tile, you'll be able to feel the left-over grout. Use a stiff, PLASTIC putty knife if a scrubbing with a scotchbrite sink pad doesn't take it off. Go slow and easy so you don't flake the tile. Use water.Finally, I always give my floor jobs a good buffing with an old, slightly damp terry cloth bath towel. It'll pull the dust out.
Hope that puts your mind at ease a little!
Gary- Meant to pop in earlier but other stuff came up.
Oh by the way, I joined the Will County Model Railroaders. I model british so its good some of my US rolling stock I got before I made the switch will get used.
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!
Here is a photo with a "pike-sized" NP passenger train. Two Atlas FP7's and 5 upgraded Rivarossi cars. The train is passing Reggie's Junk Yard . The street car is on its way from Union Station o downtown. .. Not the best photography, but you can see the general idea.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Good Afternoon...
Speaking of animal house...
Hey, what can I say....
Ray: I love south facing windows....
Another one of those failed car designs...the 1937 Airomobile...
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/
Howdy.
Where is Ulrich?
Terry ... That's another nice layout photo you posted.
Darren .... I have 171 ready for teh counting thread if someone has 170.
Ray ..... I like the interior power house details !
Ken ..... Wooof, bark ......
Rob ....... Meow
Ray .......... Meow
Barry ....... Meow
Lion ........ Roar
TSF ... Good to see you back in the Diner Animal House.
Yoi tsuitachi no o tomodachi!
Zoe. I'll have the #2 special, over easy on the eggs, bacon, home fries, and a double order of sourdough toast. Oh, don't forget the dark roast coffee!
Do wish Ulrich would check in! Hope he is OK.......
Rob, THAT is going to look nice when finished. I see your little black and white kitty approves. Manét has his bags all packed to come down and help your cat get in the way while you do the project....
Currently 30°F and mostly sunny outside today. I'm getting a bit of solar warming in the dinning room/office area so I will wait to light the wood stove hear until after lunch. I need to continue to clean and rearrange the basement today as well as get some newsletters ready to mail.
Catch you all later!
Extra strong coffee in a UNION PACIFIC mug, please.
Thanks for the suggestions. I have all the stuff, much of it leftover from previous tile projects. Most of those were done by professional tile guys, not me. My only experience has been with the little 4 1/4" variety. These natural stone tiles I'll be using are full 12" tiles. Pardon the quick scribbles, but you can get the idea of what I have planned. Next step will be cutting out that section of the wood floor, to expose the subfloor.
Have a good day all. Rob
Morning Fellow Dinners.
Flo, coffee please.
Work Front Well this weekend was not what I was hoping for! I have been making right around $100.00 in commission on every weekend day I work. I normally only work one per week. So I was hoping for $200.00 between Saturday and Sunday, that sure did not happen. Sunday we did not have the first customer till 11:00 AM, we opened at 9:00 AM.
I did manage to make $118.00 in the 2 days, at one point I did not think I was going to make $75.00! So it was better than a stick in the eye. Only thing that save the weekend was 2 late customers. Store closed at 6:00 PM, got the last truck done at 6:30 and I was out at 7:00. Well what can I say, in is money.
I am #1 in Alignments in St Louis! Well, that makes me feel a little better about things. Who knows, I may still get a store.
Later
Ken
I hate Rust
cudaken Woof Fellow Doggies.
Woof Fellow Doggies.
Nice Doggie. Here Doggie, Here Doggie.
A LION runs across the tracks at the Cortelyou Road Station looking for that doggie.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Morning.
Curt- Sounds like your getting nice weather
Question for anyone knowledgeable about DCC,- What is the name of an app that will run a NCE DCC system off of my iphone? I just joined a club layout and I don't have the money to spend right now on a throttle.
Morning All,
At w**k again. High today 69 F and clear so far. Tomorrow is supposed to be 80 F. You have to love Florida in the winter. Nothing much to report. I pick up my turnouts that I need on Saturday so next week I can start putting the track back together.
Terry- I found the material at Scenic Express for $12 and $30.
Oz Jim- I really like your backdrop.
Lee- I'm glad your Mother is doing better. Did they figure out what was causing the issue with her legs?
Everyone take care and prayers for those in need.
Curt Webb
The Late Great Pennsylvania Railroad
http://s1082.photobucket.com/albums/j372/curtwbb/
See I got top again...have at it!!
Good Morning
Nice and sunny out here..and a high of 25F is expected,
Having some things done to the layout today that need doing..namely cleaning up around it so that I can see if Sim's Jtn yard can be expanded a bit..
Flo, I'll just have a coffee for now please...I'll be at the back by the stove as well....
Todd - you mean you didn't send a card either?
Rob - they have those little plus mark thingies (scientific terminology) with the grout and tile supplies to stick between the tiles and preserve the spacing. They come in several sizes so you can space things accordingly.
Sue - I would have accorded mountain climbing and hiking as "going somewhere" , no? Larry probably figures he goes enough plasces for his job.....
Back to loading - just needed to remind our driver from Cal. he needs to remember his gear this time so back at the keyboard for a sec..... J.R.
Good morning, Chloe. No work today, so I will sit in this back booth by the stove and wait to see who shows up.
Terry, I sure like Hunter's swamp. As usual, your modeling is outstanding.
Garry, NP rules! When I finish my scratch car shop, I plan to start the Class C 2-story depot that I purchased from the NPRHA Company Store.
Ray, Sorry we are not heading east. Speaking of that, we don't go anywhere. Thanks for sharing your photos. With all your MR activities, how do you get anything done on your layout. All I got done this weekend, was a couple vents. Now I can start on the siding.
Later, Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
J.R.- Wish the CFO and #1 a late . Sorry I couldn't make it, you know, traffic and all.
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.
Yoko Ono!!! Don’t know what that means, but I figure I better at least try to speak a little Japanese before we leave. It’s only polite. Coffee and the fruit plate please. Thanks. Sunny, with a high near 47. Southeast wind between 7 and 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Occasional showers after midnight. Low around 38. South wind between 13 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80% Rob- Terry’s right. It’s a one shot deal. Well kinda. You can start again but it’s a real PITA. Don’t forget the grout lines when you’re measuring. Make sure the tiles you’re using are smaller and include the grout lines. I’m not all that familiar with all types of tile, but the ones I’ve used are smaller than 12X12. This includes the grout line when measuring so a 11 ¾ in tile equals 12 inches with a quarter inch grout line. There are different size grout lines that are “standard” such as 3/8’ so find out what you’re dealing with. Some may actually be the stated size like 12X12, I don’t know. But if it is you will want to add the grout line in. Floor Wars Williamsville: Phase….I lost track - I get a break from the floors until after the cabinets come in so today is another odds and ends day. W**ked out well yesterday, I got the sump pump for the clothes washer and wash sink changed yesterday. For some reason, and I don’t know why, it still has me concerned, the thing went off without a hitch. Not one problem, delay, design change in the last 17 years, breakage, nothing. Didn’t even have to say once “now why in the heck did they do that!?” Still waiting for the other shoe to fall. Well thanks a lot you guys!! (meant generically to include Sue of course) Seeing all these photos of beautiful projects, layout photos, weathering basically MRR stuff I’m really getting the itch. I’m getting closer to being able to spend some time in the train room. I really am. I just have a few odds and ends I’ve been meaning to do and a few little projects I need to finish. Kinda like clean up. Then….I can get back to normal. Even the floors that need done will only be normal projects at that point. I can hardly wait….but my New Years resolution was, finish a project. Or at least before starting another and don’t just drag it out PLUS finish the open ended ones left around. So far so good and I’m feeling prETTY good about it. Still got a ways to go. Especially outside and in the garage. Or what used to be the garage. Oh one more thing, I know this means nothing to you guys, but friends of mine's daughter just got engaged. Beautiful little creature she is. I'm just tickled pink she is kinda shy so she had trouble finding a nice guy because they thought she was stuck up or not interested. To bad, she is very nice and not stuck up at all, just sorta shy. To bad for many, she is just a beautiful girl. AND has a job. School teacher AND she is w**king on her BA in....something. OH language? or...speech? Something that makes me say to her.."betcha just cringe when you hear me talk dontcha?" She laughs. ANTway, the lucky feller is in the Coast Guard. Can't rmemeber the rank but he has something to do with computers but not on ships. He is apparently land locked I guess. He's quitting the CG when his hitch is up and will join the reserves. What kinda guy is he? NICE!!! real nice. Good kid. (They are around 28) Great kid. Let's put it this way he was on the Honor Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. If you know anything about what it takes to have that honor, you'd know what I mean. I'm very happy for them both. Ya’ll have a Great Day!!!
Yoko Ono!!! Don’t know what that means, but I figure I better at least try to speak a little Japanese before we leave. It’s only polite.
Coffee and the fruit plate please. Thanks.
Sunny, with a high near 47. Southeast wind between 7 and 14 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Occasional showers after midnight. Low around 38. South wind between 13 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%
Rob- Terry’s right. It’s a one shot deal. Well kinda. You can start again but it’s a real PITA. Don’t forget the grout lines when you’re measuring. Make sure the tiles you’re using are smaller and include the grout lines. I’m not all that familiar with all types of tile, but the ones I’ve used are smaller than 12X12. This includes the grout line when measuring so a 11 ¾ in tile equals 12 inches with a quarter inch grout line. There are different size grout lines that are “standard” such as 3/8’ so find out what you’re dealing with. Some may actually be the stated size like 12X12, I don’t know. But if it is you will want to add the grout line in.
Floor Wars Williamsville: Phase….I lost track - I get a break from the floors until after the cabinets come in so today is another odds and ends day. W**ked out well yesterday, I got the sump pump for the clothes washer and wash sink changed yesterday. For some reason, and I don’t know why, it still has me concerned, the thing went off without a hitch. Not one problem, delay, design change in the last 17 years, breakage, nothing. Didn’t even have to say once “now why in the heck did they do that!?” Still waiting for the other shoe to fall.
Well thanks a lot you guys!! (meant generically to include Sue of course) Seeing all these photos of beautiful projects, layout photos, weathering basically MRR stuff I’m really getting the itch. I’m getting closer to being able to spend some time in the train room. I really am. I just have a few odds and ends I’ve been meaning to do and a few little projects I need to finish. Kinda like clean up. Then….I can get back to normal. Even the floors that need done will only be normal projects at that point. I can hardly wait….but my New Years resolution was, finish a project. Or at least before starting another and don’t just drag it out PLUS finish the open ended ones left around. So far so good and I’m feeling prETTY good about it. Still got a ways to go. Especially outside and in the garage. Or what used to be the garage.
Oh one more thing, I know this means nothing to you guys, but friends of mine's daughter just got engaged. Beautiful little creature she is. I'm just tickled pink she is kinda shy so she had trouble finding a nice guy because they thought she was stuck up or not interested. To bad, she is very nice and not stuck up at all, just sorta shy. To bad for many, she is just a beautiful girl. AND has a job. School teacher AND she is w**king on her BA in....something. OH language? or...speech? Something that makes me say to her.."betcha just cringe when you hear me talk dontcha?" She laughs. ANTway, the lucky feller is in the Coast Guard. Can't rmemeber the rank but he has something to do with computers but not on ships. He is apparently land locked I guess. He's quitting the CG when his hitch is up and will join the reserves. What kinda guy is he? NICE!!! real nice. Good kid. (They are around 28) Great kid. Let's put it this way he was on the Honor Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. If you know anything about what it takes to have that honor, you'd know what I mean. I'm very happy for them both.
Ya’ll have a Great Day!!!
Good Morning All,
Just a regular to go please Zoe. 30F and a chill breeze this morning. Loading day today for the Fla trip. We'll fly out Thursday AM and stay down through the 5th to cover the first two weekends. Wish we'd hear from Ulrich - with the history of blackouts and such I'm worried. Keep up the great pics guys - no progress to report here - I was in the shop all weekend then dinner to celebrate the CFO's and #1 Sons birthdays. CUL, J.R.