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Elliot's Trackside Diner- MARCH 2012!! Locked

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  • Member since
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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 8:57 AM

TMarsh

Jeff- I do like your old layout. Especially that your trees are more actual height. The advantage of not store bought. You had a lot of natural light then. What’s the difference. No roof?

 

The lights I had back then were shop lights with harsh bright white bulbs. I gave those fixtures to my father when I went to incandescent lights. Since then I tossed out the incandescents and replaced them with bright daylight CFL's. The big shop lights now grace the ceiling of his shop. The camera I used back then also contributed. It's a pinhole AIPTEK VGA camera with no flash and a nasty habit of making lighted areas extremely bright. The layout photos I posted had to be toned down when I uploaded them to Photobucket.

 

 

Good morning. It's 68° and cloudy with fog. The high should be 82° and there's a 20% chance of rain.

No plans for today other than thinking of what kind of project I can clutter up the layout with. Currently I have no projects to work on.


Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
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Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 8:54 AM

Jeff - yes, I am sure I will figure out a way how to get the sails where I want them. What annoys me about the kit is the poor quality of the lumber. A lot of the "parts" are just cheap strips of fir, prone to break and split. I have replaced some of them with oak and mahogany a friend gave me. That leaves me with that tremor in my left hand, which makes things really difficult to deal with. Add to that my aging eyes ...

It´s a challenge. I just gave the hull another coat of varnish, so it should be ready for another set of pictures by tomorrow.

Flo, coffee in my JNR mug and a slice of that Apfelstrudel, topped with vanilla ice cream, please.

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Posted by Curt Webb on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 8:49 AM

Morning All,

At home today with some chores to do. MOH called off today since she was unable to sleep last night. Have to do laundry later and go do a security check of Mom & Dad's house since they are on vacation. Later I will do some photos and probably try a video of the layout (panning across it), I'll see how that turns out. Next month I think I'm going to get the Dice camera people have been talking about on another thread.

Ulrich- I sure feel your pain on the instructions. I feel the same way about several cornerstone kits.

Barry- That was a great photo last night. Is it out of a movie?

Ken- Was that your car with the CUDA on it?

Well I need to get going. Talk to you all later.

Curt Webb

The Late Great Pennsylvania Railroad

http://s1082.photobucket.com/albums/j372/curtwbb/

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Posted by TMarsh on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 8:25 AM

Good Morning!! Just coffee please. I already ate. Thanks. What? Yes dark roast. That’s two days in a row you’ve asked.

Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Breezy.

Jeff- Excellent lighting on the picture you posted yesterday morning. Makes that building look very real. In fact for a second I thought it was. Then my eye caught the crane and the wheel thickness. Two things you can’t control of course, but the picture and the modeling itself are very convincing. Oh, I’m talking about the first picture. I do like your old layout. Especially that your trees are more actual height. The advantage of not store bought. You had a lot of natural light then. What’s the difference. No roof?

Welp, the counter dude shows up in about oh, 35 minutes at the time I write this. Then I have laundry and a bunch of other things to do around here. Should keep me busy and f course, out of Toddland (of which I’m king)

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. Laugh

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 8:02 AM

Sir Madog

Did some finishing w*rk on the deck of my boat, which is up in the attic, after I gave it another coat of varnish. The hull is completed, and now the fun part starts. As I want to use the boat in a dock scene, I cannot rig up the sales as described in the "instructions", which are hardly worth that name. Will need some time to figure out how to do it.

Along the assembly, I have learned a few lessons and a number of new four letter words. Why is a craftsman kit called a craftsman kit? Because it is not a kit with parts ready to assemble - you have to fabricate them somehow out of the supplied material. While doing that, you´ll revert to some "crafty" expressions, which forum policies won´t allow me to state here.

Ulrich, I know you'll find a way to deal with the sails. And yes, I know well how craftsman kits got the name craftsman. I put together enough of them over the years. If you want to get technical about it some of my Frankenlocos could be seen as craftsman projects as I had to adapt some parts to work in ways they weren't meant to. Many people think shaving a drive shaft down so it'll be short enough to fit in  a given space is easy. If it's so easy then please tell me how I came up with bunches of new words for the dictionary. Believe me my friend, I know just how you feel about those kits. I have a very hard time with the more complex kits because of nerve problems in may hands but I still enjoy making the creations I come up with. Keep up the good work.

Running Bear, Sundown, Louisiana
          Joined June, 2004

Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running Bear
Space Mouse for president!
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Running Bear Enterprises
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Good Morning...again
Posted by wetidlerjr on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 7:48 AM

Ulrich...You need a bigger hammer for the boat. That always helps me. Geeked

Bill Tidler Jr.

Near a cornfield in Indiana...

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Posted by gear-jammer on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 7:41 AM

Good morning, Chloe.  I slept until my alarm this morning, so I need lots of black coffee to wake up, please.

Ray, Thanks for the spring cleaning suggestion.  Our painting last week was a good start.  We will need a dump run one of these days as well.

Sue

Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 6:06 AM

Good Morning Folks!

It is actually closing in on lunchtime over here. Petra is in the kitchen, cutting onions... Crying. We will be having pizza for lunch, with tuna fish, onions, cheese and lots of other goodies. We have stacked up on pizzas, as they were on sale some time ago. One $ for a frozen pizza is certainly reasonable, but you still have to add something to make it taste nice.

Did some finishing w*rk on the deck of my boat, which is up in the attic, after I gave it another coat of varnish. The hull is completed, and now the fun part starts. As I want to use the boat in a dock scene, I cannot rig up the sales as described in the "instructions", which are hardly worth that name. Will need some time to figure out how to do it.

Along the assembly, I have learned a few lessons and a number of new four letter words. Why is a craftsman kit called a craftsman kit? Because it is not a kit with parts ready to assemble - you have to fabricate them somehow out of the supplied material. While doing that, you´ll revert to some "crafty" expressions, which forum policies won´t allow me to state here. I found out, that the value of such a kit lies in the quality of the supplied lumber and the instructions. Both are pretty bad in my case. Most of the supplied lumber was of inferior quality, with a tendency to split when cut. The instructions supplied are incorrect drawings, the text hardly gives a clue how to do it. Best of all, this kit is rated as a beginner´s kit, suitable for children from 8 years and onwards. That´s a joke! Without a lot of experience and a comprehensive set of tools, there is now way to turn this kit into a good looking model. Should there be a next time for me, I´ll just get a set of drawings and start from scratch!

End of rant!

Have a good day!

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The Morning Diner March 14th, 2012
Posted by galaxy on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 5:44 AM

james saunders

Hey folks,

I asked a week or so ago, but didn't see any replies...

Anyone got suggestions for where to buy decoders from in the US? I have bought from Tony's and Model Train Stuff. Is there any others worth looking into?

 OzJim

Hi Jim, another place to buy just about any decoder for any loco would be here:

Litchfield Station has a good tech guy who knows what Decoder goes where, and when:

http://www.litchfieldstation.com/xcart/home.php

I highly recommend Litchfield station.

here is another place, but I am not sure about them as I have not ordered from them worth a look at:

http://www.dccinstalled.com/DCC-Decoders-s/61.htm

Good luck

Geeked

-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.

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Good Morning...
Posted by wetidlerjr on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 5:27 AM

 

Good Morning! from Tipton IN.

 

 

Cool

 

 

TIPTON IN

 

Bill Tidler Jr.

Near a cornfield in Indiana...

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The Diner Morning 03/14/2012
Posted by galaxy on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 5:16 AM

Good Morning!!!

Today is Wednesday, March 14th, 2012!!!

I'm late, I'm Late, I'm Late, For a very important date!!!

No time to say hello, goodbye, I'm Late, I'm late, I'm late!!!

Geeked

-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.

Moderator
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Posted by blownout cylinder on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 5:10 AM

Good Morning

Going to be sunny today with a high of 64F...lovely weather here for mid March...I know I know...beware the Ides of March....eeeeggh...

Got a bunch of runnin' 'roun' doin' stuff to do this morning so I am all up and getting stuff ready to go and get it done....

Chris:  Nice to see you pop in on occasion!! It has been a bit crazy up this way as well...

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/

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Posted by james saunders on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 1:23 AM

Hey folks,

I asked a week or so ago, but didn't see any replies...

Anyone got suggestions for where to buy decoders from in the US? I have bought from Tony's and Model Train Stuff. Is there any others worth looking into?

 

I did some more work on the layout last night. I painted the plaster. As I said a few nights ago I ran short of Hydrocal, so I need to get some more. I'm going to try sculptamold instead, as I can get 1kg bags of it for $25.

 

I think it was CapeJim who suggested the trestle and other ideas. I'm going to look for some suitable dimensional timber tomorrow night, possibly balsa wood to see if I can get something a bit smaller. I may decide to use plastruct shapes and build a concrete style piled pier.

 

Thats all for know,

 

OzJim

James, Brisbane Australia

Modelling AT&SF in the 90s

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Posted by AmanaMedic on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 11:05 PM

Evening, 

Well (thawed, sleepy toads are sitting around it wondering where winter has gone and if it's really "spring" yet or not), I figured since I threw in my half-a-cent's worth of input on a wind turbine discussion, I ought to stop in and say "hello," lest anybody think I'd snub the Diner crew!

W**k has kept me busy these last few weeks with District, Regional, Sub-State and State Tournament high school basketball (boys and girls both) with two Des Moines trips. I've also had a bunch of other "news" projects demanding my attention.

I've been loosely following the going-on's via the take-out window.

Best wishes continue for those in need, regardless of the need. Seems we still have some folks needing a healthy dose of blessings to come upon them.

Chris

 

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

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Posted by cudaken on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 10:29 PM

 Evening Fellow Dinners!

 Flo, Oh really, Thanks Ray for the Beer

 Well, nothing worth typing right now, plus I have to get up early.

     Ken

I hate Rust

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 9:56 PM

Jeff:  The old layout looked really good!!

Ray:  Your layout is starting to look really good as well!!

Well, I had some friends show up for an operating session and it went off without a hitch...surprise surprise....Confused....mmmmm...next session will be on Friday..Hmm

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/

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 9:21 PM

Curt Webb

Jeff- Your old layout looked pretty good to me, and the current layout looks very neat.

Thanks.

 

Time for me to call it a night. Got the laundry done this morning, got my project tools sorted out and put away and cleaned up the layout. That's a pretty good day. See y'all tomorrow.


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


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Posted by Curt Webb on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 7:50 PM

Evening All,

Well it's not as busy at w**k today but I'm still pretty busy. I will be glad to sleep in a little tomorrow. I will take some photos of the new work on the layout I did Sunday tomorrow.

Jeff- Your old layout looked pretty good to me, and the current layout looks very neat.

Ray- You are going to have a nice area for your layout.

I realized today that all the major things are done on my layout now. Other than putting in a pond and adding people and vehicles, the layout is done until Walther's comes out with their TT. I actually kind of feel at a loss for something to do. Next I will probably work on my coal loads and weathering.

Hope everyone has a good night.

Curt Webb

The Late Great Pennsylvania Railroad

http://s1082.photobucket.com/albums/j372/curtwbb/

  • Member since
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  • From: Orig: Tyler Texas. Lived in seven countries, now live in Sundown, Louisiana
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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 7:31 PM

Looking good Ray!

 

 

Well today I finally did it! I got my work table (translates to work areas on layout) cleaned up. Wonder how short a time it'll take to mess it up again.






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


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Posted by howmus on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 7:28 PM

Evenin' folks!

Janie, just a refill for the decaf please.

Brought the camera upstairs and took a couple more photos...  These are of the renovation in the "new" layout room.

Took a couple of the new toy in the old office space......

Tonight is the first time I really did anything with Photoshop since the upgrade.  Didn't take long to learn the changes from CS2 to CS5.1.  I can tell you this machine flies doing processor intensive stuff...  On the old G5 it would keep up with most things, but might take about 2 seconds to save a 6 x 4" photo at 712 dpi...  This one you just click and it has already been done.

Have a great evening!

73

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

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 6:36 PM

I was looking at a supposedly safe site today when my anti-virus program started going nuts. I ran a scan right then and there and found three Trojans on my hard drive. All three were safely eliminated. The site I was looking at at the time was about making paper models of historic structures in Illinois.

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


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Good Evening ...
Posted by Heartland Division CB&Q on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 6:35 PM

Howdy  

Sunny and 80F here today. That spells "Honey Do!" 

Ray ... It would be nice if you and PA Tom could get together sometime. 

Jerry .... Glad to see you. 

Simon ... I saw you thread about Detroit. You should look up Duke if you have time. Actually, I'll be there myself in a few days. 

Cheers, everybody! 

 

 

 

 

GARRY

HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR

EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU

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Posted by howmus on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 6:17 PM

Evenin' folks!

Chloe, I'll have the delmonico steak, med. rare, a baked potato with sour cream, and a trip to the salad bar as well.  Oh, a nice cup of decaf would go good with it.  I'll order desert later.

Tom....  You were right in my neighborhood......!  Well, about 10 miles from my house.  One of these times when you make the trip up this way, we have to get together.  I would be very happy to give you a tour of the SLOW and take you both out to dinner.  What?  Dutch treat...  OK!

The Guy was here first thing this afternoon to put up the drywall for the backdrop on the layout where I am rebuilding it.  We got it in place and he put the first coat of mud over the screws and seams.  He will return first thing tomorrow to do the next layer of mud....  Photos later.

73

Alright, Barry!  Now look what you did!  OK, evening deserts are on me.....  OK a Beer for Ken too.

 

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

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 6:14 PM

Good Evening

We spent the day outdoors here..and, believe it or not, I ended up with a sunburn..that's right...a sunburn...I look like cooked lobster right now....Black EyeWhistling

Anyways..it was an excellent day to get some yard work done...managed to get the back yard actually usable..ie: got rid of a bunch of branches and twigs and some of the old stumps out of there...

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/

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Posted by tcwright973 on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 3:04 PM

Good afternoon...

As we drank our last bottle of wine with dinner on Sunday, we made a spur of the moment decision yesterday afternoon and decided to drive up to Seneca Lake today to restore our stock. Made our stops at Prejean's Winery, Torrey Ridge Winery and Glenora Winery when we got up here, and then checked into the Inn about 30 minutes ago, It's a beautiful day and the lake is really looking blue and sparkling. It will be super to sit out on the deck here tonight with a nice bottle of wine and just relax.

I think this was one on the nicest drives up here we have ever had. Basically had I86 all to ourselves, and I know this defies belief, but no construction zones all the way from Pittsburgh. I didn't think that was possible.

Time now to wash up some, then head down to Watkins Glen for dinner soon. Hope the drive home tomorrow is as nice as it was coming up. I think I will make a slight detour though and stop at the Railroad Museum in Northeast, PA and do a hour or so of railfanning on CSX's main line.

Have a good one. Tom

Tom

Pittsburgh, PA

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Posted by gabeusmc on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 2:57 PM

galaxy

GOOD MORNING!!!

Today is Tuesday, March 13th, 2012!!!

Beware! Prepare ye, prepare ye, The Ides of March cometh sooneth!!!

Geeked

I Thought i'd hate the play, but it was pretty good. Once i got past the Thees and Thous and what not.

"Mess with the best, die like the rest" -U.S. Marine Corp

MINRail (Minessota Rail Transportaion Corp.) - "If they got rid of the weeds what would hold the rails down?"

And yes I am 17.

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Posted by Cederstrand on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 2:39 PM

Coffee refill, please.

***Jeffrey, those old photos are interesting. Still much prefer your layout today. Yes

On top of more painful issues, have also been dizzy today, so not doing much. Laying in bed mostly. Need to get past all this nonsense. Argh!

Black Eye Rob

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Posted by Train Master on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 1:07 PM

Jeff: Thank you for posting those pics. I never saw that particular layout. You had already started on redoing it when we first met in 99. I remember the redone version without the weeds and small tree limbs and all the flex track and other non-Bachman track replaced with eztrack. It still had the upper level and the tunnel the cat liked to hide in. She took a dim view of the trains running her out as I remember.

David Parks
I am the terror that flaps in the night!

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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 12:53 PM

Good Evening Gang!

It´s been a somewhat awkward day for me, as I am still not feeling well. The old ticker is acting up, I will have to go into our local hospital for a thorough check-up on it in the next days.

I did find some time to w*rk on the boat, though. The hull now sports a fancy red and blue coat, with a white trim. I also gave it a coat of clear glossy lacquer. I is now up in the attic, as the lacquer is quite smelly.

Jeff - I like your old layout Thumbs Up

jeffrey-wimberly

 

 

Cheapest gas here is $3.66 a gallon for regular at the Circle K at 1102 South 5th street in Leesville. Highest is $3.78 a gallon for regular (unbranded) at 1695 Chaffee Rd.

Well, over here, it has reached $ 8.90 a gallon Super Angry. No refill for us this month.

Jerry - good to see you again!

CU tomorrow!

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Posted by jeffrey-wimberly on Tuesday, March 13, 2012 12:28 PM

V8Vega

Jeffery I like your old layout.

Thanks. The table top and benchwork is the same that I'm using now with a few changes. Next time I'm down there I'll see if can find some photos that were taken after some changes on the two deck layout.

Cheapest gas here is $3.66 a gallon for regular at the Circle K at 1102 South 5th street in Leesville. Highest is $3.78 a gallon for regular (unbranded) at 1695 Chaffee Rd.

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


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