Evening diners, I'll be in the corner booth in the loft if anyone needs me...
I'll take a bowl of vanilla ice cream thank you!
On the subject of STAR WARS I having only recently watched the original for the first time, I find that the first three movies or Episodes IV, V, VI were far better than the "prequels"...
In other news just finished watching the new episode of </scorpion> it was better than some of this season's episodes... noticed a plot twist for the second half pf the season, I'm 75% sure I'm right because I'm really good at figuring out that sort of stuff...
Modeling front, Project Big Bad John has not begun and there is no set date for startup, will update you an details as they arise...
Prayers are with those injured and sympathies go out to loved ones of the passed in the Amtrak accident...
I figure the cause will be aging infrastructure... as a nation we get a D+ in infrastructure I think it's time for some changes...
On a lighter note, glad to hear someone reached out to Ulrich and I'd he reads this I wish him Schöne Ferien or Happy Holidays!
Well off the check out other threads, Auf Wiedersehen...
I have top of page, drinks are on me...
Steve
If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!
G'd Evenimg Crew,
Before I hit the sack, I wanted to express my sorrow and give prayers to all the people and their families affected by the AmTrak accident. It is very sad, but on the other hand it could have been so much worse. What an introduction for a new service.
Going back a day or two, when our Mutt lovers were discussing their K-9s, I wanted to chip in with the fact that the heeler that we adopted in Billings in the summer of 2016 has never taken a dump anywhere except our back yard and my Son's back yard Stateside. He gets lots of walks and pees on most everything, but we never have to remember a bag as we know we won't need it. But as soon as we get to our house he wants into the back yard and does his duty there.
Well, off to ZZZzzzland for me. Hope you all sleep well and for those on sick bay, may you feel better in the morning. That goes for me too, I've been holding a cold off for a couple of days now. Feeling a little better tonight.
Nice to see Bill Tidler in here again, and if you are peeking Ulrich, I will wish you and Petra a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May all your problems be small easy ones, is my wish for you. May the Spirit of Christmas remain with you always.
Johnboy out.......................till then
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
I got a response from Ulrich. Sounds like he plans on staying out of the forums. He was very brief and the tone was pleasant. He ended by wishing Dianne and me a Merry Christmas so I reciprocated. He used his layout as a backdrop for his Christmas card and, if you didn't know it was a layout, your mind would tell you that it is a real picture.
I'll keep in touch with him periodically and let you know what's up.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
BATMAN have you seen the new Star Wars movie and if so is it good?
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Heartland Division CB&Q but the lead locommotive was still on the track and photos show no front end damage. The rest of the train derailed but not the lead locomotive. I wonder if slack action as the train slowed for the curve was a factor. There were two engines. One pulling from the front and one pushing from the back. The twelve lightweight cars may have had an accordion effeet between the two heavy locomotives. The train may have been defying physics.
I originally thought the same, going by the first pictures that were released, but after checking out Googl maps, indeed, the train was going south, and the P42 that was left unharmed, was on the north end of a south bound train. The trailing loco.
The lead loco is down on the south bound lanes of I-5. If you use Google earth, you can "drop" yourself down on I-5 and check it out.
Prayers to all affected.
Mike.
My You Tube
Morning all,
Prayers to all affected by the derailment yest. Not much going on here in the wild's of west ky. Not sure what illlness I had over the weekend, Friday my cheeks puffed out a bit like I had the mumps, but I have had no other mumpish symptoms. I did sleep most of the day Saturday. I felt better Sunday and yesterday felt really good. Today not so much. I think allergies are running rampant.
It is my 19th wedding aniversary today . We plan on going on what we call the "3 hour tour" later. It is basically a tour of a bunch of antique shops and thrift stores. Then we will go out to eat at the end of the "tour". Hopefully I will feel better later .
Speaking of Star Wars, Episode 1, 2 and 3 were the worst. 1 especially.
In order to show it I had to book it for 7 weeks and keep it in the auditoriums with digital sound. So that meant it tied up my two biggest auditoriums for 7 weeks that summer. I previewed it and thought it was awful, especially Jar Jar. it was basically a movie to sell toys and video games. I fixed 20th CF wagon though, I moved the digital sound unit to a small auditorium after about 2 weeks because we never had the big crowds they were expecting. So true to contact I kept it in a auditorium with digital sound, ( it only had 120 seats vs 500) and I could play other movies in my bog house and make more money.
I was in Houston TX when the 25th aniversary edition of Episodes 4 , 5 and 6 got released. I had a special preview of Eposide 4. The film was direct from the lab and they had not put it on reels. I was putting the film together and during the second reel, the core came off the rewinder causing the film to backlash and ruin about 2 feet of film. So here I was with a big Fox premiere and a ruined print. I chopped out the bad part and hoped for the best. Luckily it spliced right at a scene change and no one was the wiser. I worried about when we sent that print back that we would get charged for the damage, I found out that they destroyed all of the prints the day after we sent it back because the color was not quite right on them.
That was my Star Wars "war" story.
The two movies we made the most money on were Titanic because we had it for 7 months and by then we got 90% of the ticket and US Marshals because part of it was shot near here and everyone had to come see themselves in the movie.
I miss the movie theatre business, but not the BS of the regional boss I had.
FIRST DAY OF WINTER!
.
High is supposed to be 82 degrees, gentle breeze from the West, 40% humidity in the air.
I am lucky enough to be on vacation... so I am off to the beach. No Model Railroading today.
Enjoy your winter!
-Kevin
Living the dream.
I can no longer tell if I'm the "Steven" being referred to in this thread... maybe people should just call me "Otte" like they do my father. Even my mother calls him "Otte," and she has the same last name!
Anyway, yes, I saw the new Star Wars on opening weekend. The best word I can use to describe it is "relentless." I was constantly thinking, "How are they going to get out of that situation? Now how are they going to get out of that? Now how in the world are they going to get out of THAT?!" And the answer is usually, by getting into an even WORSE situation. There were a lot of surprises, most of them bad for the heroes, but if you remember The Empire Strikes Back, that's how the middle film of a trilogy usually goes. But there were funny bits, too. Since the Star Wars movies are now owned and controlled by Disney, which also does the Marvel Comics movies, this isn't surprising. It has as many "wow" moments as The Force Awakens but more of the dark mood and relentless action of Rogue One. Definitely worth seeing, in my opinion.
--Steven Otte, Model Railroader senior associate editorsotte@kalmbach.com
Good morning Diners,
Brunhilde, I'll have an extra large coffee with lots of cream, please.
When the first Star Wars movie was released in 1977, I was living about2 blocks from the famous Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. What's interesting is that the lines for the movie would wrap around the block on each side of the theatre. So, they would let one line in, and the other line waited their turn while the vacant space from the first line was rebuilding. They alternated lines like that all day every day for like 3 or 4 months. I knew of some people that saw the movie over 100 times. Kind of crazy when you think about it. The other thing was the computer graphics, which was in its infancy, were so simplistic wire frames. It's my understanding that at the time, the graphics had to be built frame by frame. Compare that to Rogue One, which had a computer generated animated image of Grand Moff Tarkin, aka Peter Cushing, who has been dead for several years. They also did the same with a very young Princess Leia, aka Carrie Fisher. On the surface, you wouldn't know that they were just CG images.
Hello to everyone, and I hope everyone is OK, safe, and warm.
Jim (with a nod to Mies Van Der Rohe)
Good morning ....
Mike (inswwi) ... Now I get it. The engine still on the track was pushing the rear of the train. The lead engine rolled down the embankment onto the highway. ...
I recall when the GTW dropped a freight train onto Interstate 696 (8 lanes) northeast of Detroit. A big mess, but thankfully it did not hit vehicles traveling on the highway.
Steven O ... I hope it is clear if I include your last initial.
Ken .... You asked about Ulrich. Apparently, he dropped his account here. He is not the only one who quit posting in the Diner at about the same time. There were some convesations leading up to it, and those were deleted. Personally, I liked all who were involved, and wish things did not happen. I wish those who left would come back. Jeffrey's rule used to be "Don't p___ anybody off", and that combined with common sense would help prevent such things. Enough said.
Happy Model Railroading.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
The other thing was the computer graphics, which was in its infancy, were so simplistic wire frames. It's my understanding that at the time, the graphics had to be built frame by frame
Most if not all the original effects in Star Wars was done with models and stop motion animation, matte painting etc. There were a few such as the targeting systems shown but not any that were major effects such as ships flying and what they do know where the movie is 98% CG
Steven OtteI can no longer tell if I'm the "Steven" being referred to in this thread... maybe people should just call me "Otte" like they do my father. Even my mother calls him "Otte," and she has the same last name!
Well, I'll just have to call yopu Mr. Otte then, because that is the way I was brought up. Should you become a monk, then we can call you Br. Otte.
Anyway, people do not call the LION late for supper (twice)
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
up831 Good morning Diners, Brunhilde, I'll have an extra large coffee with lots of cream, please. When the first Star Wars movie was released in 1977, I was living about2 blocks from the famous Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. What's interesting is that the lines for the movie would wrap around the block on each side of the theatre. So, they would let one line in, and the other line waited their turn while the vacant space from the first line was rebuilding. They alternated lines like that all day every day for like 3 or 4 months. I knew of some people that saw the movie over 100 times. Kind of crazy when you think about it. The other thing was the computer graphics, which was in its infancy, were so simplistic wire frames. It's my understanding that at the time, the graphics had to be built frame by frame. Compare that to Rogue One, which had a computer generated animated image of Grand Moff Tarkin, aka Peter Cushing, who has been dead for several years. They also did the same with a very young Princess Leia, aka Carrie Fisher. On the surface, you wouldn't know that they were just CG images. Hello to everyone, and I hope everyone is OK, safe, and warm.
That CG image of Carrie Fisher in Rogue One gave me the creeps as she had just passed when I saw it.
Joe Staten Island West
I, for one, miss Ulrich. He was a talented model railroader. His personal situation, both health and economic was tragic and sad.
Neither he or I were here during WW2. Being on the losing side has consequences. Living where it was fought had consequences for my French uncles even though the country won the war. People all over the world were affected by the war even if they were an ocean away from the action.
On the MR front, my LL 2000 GP9 tested fine with the lokprogrammer (LP), except for a bad LED. I put it on the tracks, hit F8 for sound, reached for my Iphone because I meant to record it and it died. It sound great, just before it died. Back to the LP and it worked, back to the track and nothing. Back to the LP and nothing, no decoder detected. You can't reset a decoder that isn't detected.
Took down the Kapton tape and the connection to the frame was disconnected. This model has a screw into the weight that was connected to the circuit board. I made a 'washer' out of soldered wire and attached the decoder to the washer and the screw. It did not hold. I think I will try a little piece of brass.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Evenin' Folks!
Janie, I'll have a nice plate of the potroast with fresh vegies, and a cup of decaf to tide me over right now...
Heartland Division CB&QHe is not the only one who quit posting in the Diner at about the same time. There were some convesations leading up to it, and those were deleted. Personally, I liked all who were involved, and wish things did not happen. I wish those who left would come back. Jeffrey's rule used to be "Don't p___ anybody off", and that combined with common sense would help prevent such things. Enough said.
Well said Garry! At least this site is moderated, and is moderated nicely (Thanks Steven O). I have decided to stay away from the place accross the street from now on. Very tired of the cheap shots politically, ignorance about many topics, and the bragging about firearms. It is after all supposed to be a Model Railroad site. I find this place much more friendly and to my liking. Too bad as there are some over there whom I enjoy seeing their work and conversation. I left over there back in 2008 after some raunchy crap from a few jerks that have long since left, but evidently have been replaced by some almost as bad. You have my permission to let them know why they won't be seeing me anymore if you like......
I finally found a store that carries clothing for "Portly" men and actually wanted to wait on me. It was across the street from anogther large chain I went to a couple weeks ago. They were supposed to get back to me about ordering in a suit that would fit me. They never did, and after I called them twice and they didn't seem to want to have me spend my $$$ there, I decided to go to another place. This place does carry suits for "Short and Fat" guys, aka: Portly. Had several to choose from, fitted me to the suit and I will pick up the suit on Jan. 2nd. They also had a 2 for one sale going on so I am having a tailor made suit made for me with vest (the other one didn't come with a vest). Did spend about $850.00 there today. But getting two for that price was a great incentive and both suits should look good on me!
Have several more gifts needing to get wrapped tonight, so I best get at that.
Catch you all later, and remember: "Forgive me my nonsense as I also forgive the nonsense of those who think they talk sense." - Robert Frost
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
howmusAt least this site is moderated, and is moderated nicely (Thanks Steven O).
ABSOLUTELY!
This is the best group I have found.
Thanks Otte! (I like Steve better. This might take a while to get used to)
Ray .... Thanks for commenting. I'm glad you agree.
Henry ... I feel the same about Ulrich. He is a good friend in my book ... I hope you get the decoder taken care of in the GP9.
Kevin .. I find it easy to type "Steven O" and I will do that unless he objects.
Good Evening, Fellows
Just a few minutes before I turn in. I'll have a little spot of VSOP, warmed in a snifter, if you don't mind, Chloe.
I'm turning in earlier than usual for me as last night was a sleepless night. I get a bit upset when I hear tragic Amtrak news — and here we are looking at possible over-speed again after the tragedy at Frankford Jct. curve just two years ago.
If that wasn't enough, Otis, the recently adopted cat managed to get outside and must have been scared and hid somewhere. I made several "rounds" with a flashlight all through the night but couldn't find him.
We asked neighbors to keep an eye out for him but none had spotted the little guy. The burden on my conscience was relieved today at about 4 PM, 24 hours after he disappeared. He is safe back in the house tonight, warming himself by the wood stove.
Otis_crop by Edmund, on Flickr
If that wasn't enough, I decided to give the underside of a recently decaled Erie baggage car a little weathering. In a dumb move, I masked the car with "light tack" masking tape. I had it sealed with Dullcote so I thought there wouldn't be a problem...
wrong!
Every decal came off with the tape (they were quite old Champ decals) and my heart sank again.
Just one of those days I should have stayed in bed (or would the ceiling have collapsed on top of me, then?).
Things are much better today, I'll fix the baggage car. I don't know what I was thinking — or not. Otis is safe and warm. The grieving suffering families of the Amtrak derailment are in my prayers.
I miss many of the contributers that have moved on, both from the Diner and the forum altogether. Look at the numbers from some of the threads from just a few years ago and you'll see quite a reduction. I hope that can be reversed.
Well, that's all from the chilly coast of Lake Erie. I see Chloe has my night-cap ready.
Wishing you all good cheer!
Ed
Eveing Diners.
Flo, Steven O, Ed, Gary, Brent, Angelob, Galaxy, Ray, Mr B, Inch, Jan and I will have a please. Give Steven and Rick a RBF and leave a Stein outside for Ulrich.
Gary Did Ulrich really quite due to the WWII topic? That is sort of nuts, sorry Ulrich.
Later, Ken
I hate Rust
gmpullman If that wasn't enough, Otis, the recently adopted cat managed to get outside and must have been scared and hid somewhere. I made several "rounds" with a flashlight all through the night but couldn't find him. We asked neighbors to keep an eye out for him but none had spotted the little guy. The burden on my conscience was relieved today at about 4 PM, 24 hours after he disappeared. He is safe back in the house tonight, warming himself by the wood stove.
Cats that have gotten used to being outside for as long as it sounds like Otis was get to the point where they want to spend more time outside than they do inside. The now departed orange cat (Bosley) was an outside cat for quite a long time before he adopted Mom & Dad. He never let anyone pick him up outside.
Hobby Front: Got the shop yard bedding installed and the terminal joiners moved to their new locations. Unfortunately, the shop building didn't show up in the mail today so I was unable to get the flex track installed. For the moment, the flex track is just joined to the short sections that are sitting in the turntable slots. For layout work, that will be the last of it for the year. If the weather cooperates, I might try to work on the layout on New Year's.
Getting closer on the caboose. I have the old window positions filled with styrene and putty. Two cupolas have been cut in such a way to allow for the wider one needed for the model. Next step will be cutting the long roof walks to fit on top and drilling some new holes to fit the posts.
Better say good night. 4:15 in the morning comes quite quickly.
FRRYKidCats that have gotten used to being outside for as long as it sounds like Otis was get to the point where they want to spend more time outside than they do inside.
Since we don't know anything about Otis' previous life we now suspect that he was strictly an indoor cat, maybe even living in a townhouse or apartment, and when he did find himself in the "great outdoors" he was scared terrified and — as near as we can tell — hid in a covered stack of firewood we had nearby. Fortunately the temperature was 41°F that night. It had been 8°F just a few days before!
We're all glad he's safe and warm (and well fed!)
Thanks, Ed
BroadwayLion Steven Otte I can no longer tell if I'm the "Steven" being referred to in this thread... maybe people should just call me "Otte" like they do my father. Even my mother calls him "Otte," and she has the same last name!
Steven Otte
Br. Elias, That is what I have called Steven Otto along. "Br. Otte"
as I feel like we are all Brothers in arms herein the Forum.
Night all and to you too Mrs. Calabash wherever you are.
Johnboy out..............to ZZZZzzzzland.
Evening Diners,
To both Steven's on the subject of Star Wars. I was going to watch the last jedi, but with the bad reviews and tons of plot holes is not worst watching.
I got reintroduced to the franchise with the animated series the Clone Wars. It's way more better than originals. I got tired of the rebels vs the empire. It looks like it's repeating again with the new trilogy.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
I have noticed a change in traffic from when I first posted at the beginning of the year and now...
I believe Ulrich left because someone ridiculed him for posting his family's WW2 struggles...
Modeling front, I have put Project Big Bad John in the siding until I finish a more pressing project which is building a consist of eight track cleaning cars for the club... I plan to get some 40' Hi Cube boxcars and create weighted pads with one or two bright boy rubber track cleaning bars on the bottom, much lIke Masonite skid cars which the club has... I will gladly accept donations of such cars that are in usable condition... I will have to get Big John running shortly after their introduction into service because pulling the cleaning consist I'm building will probably take quite a few geeps and sd units to pull...
Edit before I was going to hit the sack I measured a 40' boxcar and a 50' boxcar (not hi cube) I have and found that there is a space barely over 3" between the trucks on the 40' and a larger 4.5" space between trucks on the 50' I went to Cratex website and they make a extra fine grit block that measures 3"x1" so I guess it should work with the 40' boxes if not I'll shave some off the block to get proper clearance... I'm wanting to use extra fine grit bright boy material to minimize wear on the track, and with a combined 2 ft. of pads in the consist it should clean the track more than enough...
Well goodbye and goodnight again, for now...
NWP SWPI believe Ulrich left because someone ridiculed him for posting his family's WW2 struggles... truth is all countries have a "dark side" (pardon the STAR WARS reference) if you start digging... even here in the U.S. the World Wars were bad times and led to poor decisions... not being political, not being unpatriotic, not antagonizing anyone, just stating my opinions and the facts...
Steven, with all due respect, Mr. Otte has clearly said that war will not be discussed on the forums. I know how difficult it can be to restrain yourself from broaching the topic because it is something that we all have very strong feelings about, but this is not the place.
No disrespect intended, quite the opposite.
Regards,
Dave Warnica
Dave I am in no way offended by your opinions and I agree history can be a well disputed topic... experience that even with my extended family... if requested by Mr. Otte I will redact that part of my post, either way I will not bring it up again... I thought it over and I find it prudent to redact the possibly offending part of my post...
Now let's drop the war talks and get back to model railroading!!!
angelob6660I got tired of the rebels vs the empire. It looks like it's repeating again with the new trilogy.
Yes, The Force Awakens was kind of like A New Hope. There was a Death Star that was not really a Death Star. There was a Darth Vader that was not really Darth Vader, etc.
In some ways, The Last Jedi is kind of like The Empire Strikes Back. There is a Hoth that is not really Hoth. Light Speed does not work again, but for different reasons, etc.
None of this takes away from the fact that the new movie is one heck of a good ride. It pounds through a desperate battle from beginning to end in an almost non-stop rush of excitement. I loved it. The set up for Episode 9 is solid.
I really thought The Last Jedi felt more like the first few epsiodes of Galactica more than The Empire Strikes Back. I kind of expected one of the crew members to suggest they needed to start to look for the 13th planet.
Is that too nerdy?
SeeYou190 angelob6660 I got tired of the rebels vs the empire. It looks like it's repeating again with the new trilogy. . Yes, The Force Awakens was kind of like A New Hope. There was a Death Star that was not really a Death Star. There was a Darth Vader that was not really Darth Vader, etc. . In some ways, The Last Jedi is kind of like The Empire Strikes Back. There is a Hoth that is not really Hoth. Light Speed does not work again, but for different reasons, etc. . None of this takes away from the fact that the new movie is one heck of a good ride. It pounds through a desperate battle from beginning to end in an almost non-stop rush of excitement. I loved it. The set up for Episode 9 is solid. . I really thought The Last Jedi felt more like the first few epsiodes of Galactica more than The Empire Strikes Back. I kind of expected one of the crew members to suggest they needed to start to look for the 13th planet. . Is that too nerdy? . -Kevin .
angelob6660 I got tired of the rebels vs the empire. It looks like it's repeating again with the new trilogy.
That may be but the only one I know who saw it said it was just okay. I will see it after New Years when the SIW move is done.
My Bachmann reversing track set arrived and with a few extensions I am hoping to use it to set up a reversing Subway scene around the train rooms near the ceiling. Technically speaking the wife says its not mine until Christmas even though it’s sitting on the kitchen table.
I do have a question about the track though maybe I should post it in the electronics forum. My Understanding is that the reversing action is triggered by the end track sensing current flow across the wheels of a locomotive so if I put plastic wheels on the end trucks of the consist and put the motorized car in the center of a 3 car consist i should be able to add a few inches to each end of the track?
Garry... I don't mind Steven O, but you might find SteveO easier to type. Several people around the office call me that.
Ed... Otis is a handsome cat, and I'm glad you got him back in good shape.
Ken... thanks for the , but I never could stand the taste of the stuff. Next time put me on the RBF list.
Johnboy... call me Steven O, call me SteveO, call me Otte, call me Br. Otte, just DON'T call me Otto again.
Angelo... I hope you don't think my review of The Last Jedi was meant to be negative, it wasn't. I greatly enjoyed the movie and strongly recommend it.
Kevin... I think you're onto something with your Battlestar Galactica analogy. Particularly the first episode, "33," when the fleet had no idea how they were being tracked through hyperspace.
Ray... your pot roast is up.
Why isn't the focus of the Tacoma wreck the building of a faster commuter line with a 35 mph speed limit? Even 80 mph is half speed in the world of high speed rail travel. Small minds have small ideas. Investors Business Daily addresses this very point.
Day 3 post chemo and my wife had some 4 am nausea which was successfully treated with compazine. Tomorrow she goes back to the surgeon. He put in a port so they wouldn't have to start an IV and it didn't work for reasons that aren't clear to anyone. It could be they just needed a longer needle.