Richard: Congratulations on your son's masters. That is quite an accomplishment. I went back to school when I was 45 to get mine. It was hard, to say the least.
My son graduates Sunday from Purdue with Civil Engineering degree. It took him five years; but football interfered.
Train front: I am working on the modular layout again. Last week I finished new legs and got it up and running. However, when I took it down, I inadvertantly damaged the rails on one module. That discovery came as I was soldering in feeders; it was easily fixed, but I am going to be more careful in handling the modules. Feeders are finished on two of the three sections; working on the buses on these two. One is finished.
When complete, I'll use Anderson power poles to connect the modules together, and to the control station. I think I am going to build a tray for the Zephyr control box and mount it to a stool. That is the easiest way I can think of to control the layout; I can't mount a control box to the side of the layout because of the design of the new legs.
I should define "running" this layout so far. Until the wiring is complete, I am hooking a power pack to the rails with alligator clips...
We've had a lot of Greek food here in the Diner lately because of Yannis, which brings up another discussion question. Though we have a few members from outside the United States, most Diners live in the U.S., where few can claim significant native heritage. So... how about we share a daily special from wherever your ancestors come from?
I've explored one side of my ancestry back to 1600s France, in the Poitou-Charentes region, which is famous for its goat cheese and its Torteau Fromage, a kind of cheesecake made from goat cheese. So, dig in, then tell us about your culinary heritage!
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
tcwright973 Yannis - Going back to that 66 / 67 time period, did you ever model the US Army's Mohawk & Caribou aircraft. Both were impressive looking & very versital aircraft.
Yannis - Going back to that 66 / 67 time period, did you ever model the US Army's Mohawk & Caribou aircraft. Both were impressive looking & very versital aircraft.
Tom i got an 1/48 Mohawk in the stock of unbuilt kits which is on my to-do-list. Railroads though have taken over most of my time
Next to WW2, the Vietnam era is my favorite modeling era, be it USAF, USN or USMC and have read a lot of books on the topic some included strategic analyses of the airwar. My last started up project was a Thud in 1/48 with superdetailed resin cockpits and all... but iron horses have dominated my benchwork ever since.
By the way, my layout and RR modeling period is 66/67 (actually from 1964 to 1967, but if i want to be very precise is 66/67).
I take it you have an interest in the Nam era as well?
On the modelling front, i made good progress on a building for my layout during the weekend. I must take some photos and post them over in WPF.
A nice warm cup of coffee on me, for those of you that are waking up (a bit after lunchtime here so i might grab one myself).
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
Ken, another round of beers on me! With respect to B-25 mods and phases there were many permutations on the subject.
The B-25 had two major phases, the B/C/D/G (early) and the H/J (late). Top turret was on the waist area of the fuselage on the early ones, whereas on the late ones top turret was right after the cockpit. Various mods were done especially on the early ones, which did borrow elements which were later standardized on the late versions, such as a tail gunner position, bulged waist gunner positions etc.
The early ones had a plexi-nose which was painted over and had holes cut in it for field-mods including the 4-gun nose one as seen on the Dirty Dora. the G version was all metal nose but it was a shorter nose. This variant had the added 75mm gun and 4 50cals. H version was similar to the G one.
The J version had a sub variant with a factory made metal 8 gun nose (Betty's dream is such an example), which in combination to the 4 side blister package guns and the 2 from the top turret, brought the forward firing 50cals up to 14. The J version also had plexi noses with (less than 8) guns in similar field mods as the ones seen in the C/D variants. My Duchess (bat nose, 5 guns mod) is such an example.
If i am not mistaken the B-26 Marauder never had a metal nose with the exception of experimental aircraft as far as i have seen/read. It did have extra side blister guns though for straffing. The A/B-26 Invader did have a metal gunship nose variant.
The AC-47 is another one of my favorite gunships! (I actually have two AC-47s in my collection and no C-47s...go figure).
Tom i bet it was an impressive sight to have seen a Spooky with all guns blazing. I read that it was like a guardian angel for the troops back then.
Herrinchoker: Impressive footage (the 75th event). Thanks for mentioning this! Much appreciated.
herrinchoker I remember the first Puff was a worn out WWII DC-3, with two .30 cal. mini-guns. Now Puff is two Vulcans, 40MM BOFOURS, and a 105MM Howitzer, in a C-130 with an unreal computerized fire controll center.
I witnessed Puff (although we referred to them as "Spooky" back in 1966/1967) in action on a number of occassions. The guns output was like a ray or solid stream of light with a constant roar. Also impressive was the number of flares that could be dropped & would light up the area like a football field at a night game. Never laid eyes on the actual aircraft though. Back then, they were all AC-47s. I can only imagine what the C-130s can do today.
give Ken some of the aged stuff, made yesterday.
Ken,
The B-25 Mitchell had many variants. Some, like you remember had the plexi nose with a single .30 Browning. Others like the PBJ-1J had a solid nose with 12 .50s, a single .50 on each side, turret with twin .50s over the wing, and twin .50s in the tail. The PBJ-1H had 8 .50s in the nose, along with a 75MM cannon, single .50 on each side, turret with twin 50s. over the wing, and twin .50s in the tail. The J model had 6 .50s in the nose, turret with twin .50s over the wing, single .50 on each side, and twin .50s in the tail.
The Martin B-26, flying cigar, or flying coffin-so called was solid nose, but there were plexi-nose variants as well.
The Douglas B-26 started out as the AAF A-20, medium bomber, and was phased in as the B-26, when the Martin was phased out. My BIL flew as bombadier/navigator on the 26s in Korea. I remember the first Puff was a worn out WWII DC-3, with two .30 cal. mini-guns. Now Puff is two Vulcans, 40MM BOFOURS, and a 105MM Howitzer, in a C-130 with an unreal computerized fire controll center.
Jan
Evening Diners
Flo, Ed, Jan, Yannis and I will have a please.
Had a rare day where I felt good! Before work I got the frontyard cut, after work I got the rearyard cut. To bad I had to go to work, I may have gotten a lot more done!
Yannis One of us is confussed but more than likely it is me. B-25 was the Mitchell used on the Doolittle Raid. It had a plexglass nose with a single 30 or 50 cal. Later in life the B-26 Marauder had a soild nose where it had 6 and then 8 wapons. B-26 had no bottom turret and and to turret was toward the rear by the tail.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_B-26_Marauder
Then there was the Douglas A-26 Invador. Guess that was more on the line of what I was think of in the ground support roll.
"That is a B-26 Marauder right? While the Army called it a bomber, it was used more for close ground support"
I just did a copy and paste from my answer.
YannisKen: It is a B-25 not a B-26.
So did they remove the plexglass nose and add the weapons later in it life?
Galaxy You still here? Hope you are enjoying the new job!
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
YGW's Photo Tour OF:
Bob Macionis' HO Layout!
Part V: The Final Chapter
Part IV
This is a very impressive gorge/mountain on the South Fork & Flemington. This literally extends from the floor to the ceiling. It is approximately 7' tall !
Yannis,
Go to the Texas Flying Legends website and you will see the B-25 "Bettys Dream" that your model is made of. It took part in the 75th. celebration of the raid on Tokyo. It was the largest gathering of B-25s since WWII.
herrinchoker
Afternoon Diners,
It's been mostly quiet for me for the past week.
I looked at some HO Amtrak Superliners, and locomotives. I also researched and farther detailing the some what small layout in the works.
I think my HO layout was a phase. But I know I was almost done with my N scale layout. I believe I'm just into buying, and drawing instead of building.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Henry: Impressive collections! Both of them. The builder must be proud and the museum lucky.
JaBear: Many thanks for posting up this video!!!! It is the first time i see the Dora before the depot gunship modifications. I really enjoyed this since the Pacific Theater of Operations is my favorite in WW2.
Ed: Many thanks for posting up these photos of the very very nice layout!
YGW: Many thanks for taking the photos of the said layout!
Ricky: Hi Ricky! Thanks for the plane compliment.
Ken: It is a B-25 not a B-26. In the Pacific indeed it was mostly used as a close air support airplane as you say, in the European theater it got heavy use as a medium bomber. B-17s and P-38s are also great! I got one of each started up as models (but are currently stored in a semi-built state). The story behind the B-25's name is interesting, being the only airplane named after a person. The person was General Billy Mitchell, a firm advocate of bombers (vs ships) which did result in an early end of his career.
Ulrich: Very very nice layout!!! I especially like the scene you mentioned with the bridge and church. Thank you very much for posting this! How are you feeling today?
Angelob: Hi there! thanks for the kind words about the plane!
Yannis you might not have seen another thread I started where I mentioned Logan Holtgrewe. He was one of the founders of Severna Park MR club. He decided to build airplane models and built all the allied and enemy aircraft of WW2.
http://www.museumofflight.org/Exhibits/holtgrewe
His wife asked him what he was going to do now? He built all the WW1 aircraft.
http://www.museumofflight.org/files/interactives/holtgrewe_wwi/index.html
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Part III
Good evening all.
Zoe - Just a nice RBF please. Thanks.
Ulrich - I am sure there are better, less stressful, and much easier ways to get a helicopter ride. Please take care!
Yannis - Nice airplane!
Brakie - My vote is UFO. {Cue the music....} "They're baaaaaaacccccckkkkkk....."
Ken (And Jan) - I'm not sure which is more crazy... Jumping out of a perfectly good airplane for pay, or for fun.... I think it's a toss up between the two. (Or, would that be a throw down? Now I'm really confused. )
Weather - I'm not even gonna look outside right now... I think them did something not very nice with our weather.
W**k - Well, guess who has to w**k tomorrow...
Hope all are well, and all have a good night!
"And good night, Mrs. Ockmonic, where ever you are." - Alf
(Sorry, I couldn't resist the Alf quote... This whole alien theme made me do it!)
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Yannis That is a B-26 Marauder right? While the Army called it a bomber, it was used more for close ground support. Now the P-38 and B-17, they get the from me!
Jan You jumped out a perfectly good air plane for fun? You are a idiot! I got paid $75.00 a month to do it! Hum, maybe I am the idot?
Glad you are having good results with the ATF / Maval Mystery Oil. Have no idea to why it works, but dang it sure does! Guess the old timers using clipper oil are way smarter than us kids!
Ulrich I hope for the best for you and Petra.
Galaxy Are you still with us? Hope it the new job that is keeping you away from the dinner.
Part II
Diesel fueling station and coaling tower. Turn table.
The following photos are of Bob Macionis layout. HO scale set in the 50s. 900 sq. ft. , 1600 feet of track, 1000 sq. ft. Scenery, 350 freight cars, 60 steam & diesel locomotives and needs 15 people to fully operate it ! The control system is by NCE.
Ulrich:
Thanks for posting the recording of "Zorba's Dance"! It is one of my favourite pieces of music and I'm not even close to being Greek. I'm going to go looking for a CD.
Hey, top of the page again. Strawberrys and whipped cream for everybody please.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
angelob6660LION- I'm surprised you paid $30 on steak.
No big deal. I paid $50.00 once for prime ribs, but that was back in th '70s.
A typical lunch costs about $12.00 out here, a supper $20.
Yes you can go to Burger King or KFC if you are feeling cheap, but a basket of shrimp to go is $12.00. The seak was actually under $20, but you add a drink (diet pepsi) a salad tax and a tip (LIONS tip good... was told that monks were supposed to tip people well) and whale... there you are.
Wouldn't do it all that often, but what else am I going to do with money, eh?
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Evening Diners,
Ulrich- Watching the Swiss glacier documentary was very interesting. I loved how you modeled the chapel bridge and your layout.
Yannis- I liked the B-25C bomer paint.
LION- I'm surprised you paid $30 on steak.
Sir Madog. . .If the others do not object. . .
Why would we ever complain? You work is a delight to see again (and again, and again...)
Richard
I don´t have my own home page, but usually post any update on my layout construction in this thread. My layout is rather small, just 3 by 5 ft., with a simple oval of track and a siding. It´s nearly completed, but still needs a lot of tiny details to be finished. Right now , I have started on the construction of the catenary system.
If the others do not object, I post some recent pictures here:
Here are the latest videos I made:
It all started about a year and a half ago, when my friend Claus helped me to build the benchwork.
I am the big guy to the right, but with quite a few kilos less since the picture was taken.
From the rather humble beginning in 10/2015, which looked like this:
the layout has undergone quite a transformation.
Greetings from the land of Buckeyes today there is a great mystery that scientist is looking into.There's a great bright orb in the sky that has everybody puzzled. Some believe its a bright UFO while others thinks it may be the return of the sun.Who's to say?
YGW,I read Westerns from Ralph Compton,Tabor Evans,Terry C Johnston,William W. Johnstone and Ralph Cotton since these are my favorite authors. I've read several of L'Amour's books. I also have quite a collection of Western movies staring John Wayne,Randolph, Scott,Gray Cooper,James Stewart,Errol Flyinn among the older cowboy stars.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Καλησπέρα Ulrich,
I hope that you get better soon, even though getting there might get frustrating at times.
That is really a great train! Very nice scenic route. I take it your layout is European themed? Any links to it?
Enjoy your mousaka! Next time you are in Kos, go visit Platani village, its not very far from town, some really good food there.
Richard, nice to meet you. Congratulations on the academic achievement of your son!
καλησπερα!
The day hasn´t been as good as I had hoped it would. There is another build up of fluids in my legs, which is beginning to worry me. I felt fine when I left the hospital and yesterday was quite OK, too, but today has been not a thrill at all. This could be in connection with my strong dislike of the place and the surroundings we have to live in. Add to that all those nitty-gritties of daily life I was sheltered from in the hospital and, voila, I am back to where I started a few days ago.
This is not good! No, Sir!
I have just started watching a video on my favourite train of all - the Swiss narrow gauge "Glacier Express", run by the Matterhorn Gotthard Railway (MGB) and the Rhaetian Railway (RhB). The video was filmed by the Discovery Channel and is now available on Youtube.
It´s worthwhile watching:
I think the video will explain why I am so crazy about this train! At 13.50min, you can see the prototype of the bridge & chapel scene I have modeled on my layout!
Enjoy!
Janie, it´s supper time, so I´ll go for some Moussaka, a Greek salad and a glass of red wine, please! And, if you don´t mind, switch on a little bit of Greek music, like "Zorba´s Dance" from the unforgettable Μίκης Θεοδωράκης!
I am in a chair in the sky returning from watching my son receive his MBA from Utah State in Logan. Yesterday it was in seasonably warm in Logan where it was 85. At the same time back home in Phoenix it was topping out at 107. It gives one pause.
Mornin' everyone!
Zoe, I'll have a refill for my coffee and a sour cream glazed donut, please....
49° and raining outside today. We have already had over 2 inches of rain this May. The average for the whole month is usually just ove 3" in these parts. Soggy, wet and cold outside. i am working on a major slide show for the MLK Dinner. Have about a thousand photos to go through and seperate into yuck and maybe catagories. From there I will narrow it dow to the hundred that will make the cut and be shown. Should have started it weeks ago....
Also trying to put together the program for an NMRA event the first weekend in June. It is a very late Spring Meet for the Division. So far I have 3 layouts open for the afternoo, and nothing at all for the morning program except we need to hold elections. One member suggested a type of program we did last about a decade ago which is a "round robin" event with about 5 or 6 different short (20 minute) programs that are repeated for each group of attendees. That just might work and I have two possibles already.
Ulrich! Sorry to hear you got a helicopter ride the way you did, anyway. Very glad you are recovering and still with us! Hang in there......
Best get back to w*rk or have lunch or sumpin"
Later!
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!