Good Morning All,
55F with intermittent showers today. So in other words, typical New England weather - wait five minutes and it will change. I'll have a regular and a ham, egg and cheese sandwich on an English muffin please Zoe.
posted a couple of pics of the scratchbuilt backround building on weekend photo fun but here it is for those of you who rarely get out of your booth in the diner.
sperry2 by J.R. Mitchell, on Flickr
Still have the roofing and corners to do plus some other detail items but what I thought I'd knock out in a day or so took a week. The inside is just the foam core base - no details or anything as it is all the way on the back of the layout. I still have trackage to figure out, one lead into the building, a siding off that and a test track that ran a half mile or so through the woods which will end up as a 2 foot stub.
The rest of the foam core I ordered along with the 4 x 8 sheet of styrene arrived so I can start laying out the urban part of the layout at the other far end. Probably best at this point to reclean the track and rerun everything to make sure it is ok before I make stuff hard to access.
Another day trying to hold the shop together - another shoe dropped and Thompson the middle of next month is cancelled for the year. Turns out the regs do not allow enough people on the track property at once and all the hotels are not yet allowed to take regular bookings. Even the Indian casinos are remaining closed. So it goes. Ciao, J.R.
hon30critter howmus Good luck trying to get masonite any more. As far as I know masonite is still available at our local Home Depot. All I really need is a 2' x 4' x 1/8" piece to make the control panels out of. The store opened to public traffic earlier this week, but the line ups have been long so I'm going to wait until things settle down. By the way, I got the rest of the lumber order. Dave
howmus Good luck trying to get masonite any more.
As far as I know masonite is still available at our local Home Depot. All I really need is a 2' x 4' x 1/8" piece to make the control panels out of. The store opened to public traffic earlier this week, but the line ups have been long so I'm going to wait until things settle down.
By the way, I got the rest of the lumber order.
Dave
Just searched for Masonite on their website. Searching for “Masonite” leads one to a bunch of pre-made doors. Searching for “Masonite sheet” gets one to “sheet material”, but when you get to the actual product it is described as tempered hardboard.
Might as well just ask for that in the first place.
Thank you to everyone who has offered me birthday greetings! In addition to all of your comments I had several phone calls and emails from friends and relatives. I don't think that I have had this many congratulatory messages for any previous birthday!
The best part was that the wood for the layout was delivered on my birthday. Today I will sort it all out and label each piece so I will know what goes where. I'll post pictures of my progress on my layout thread.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/281323.aspx
Cheers!!
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
howmusGood luck trying to get masonite any more.
The very first Mango ripened on the tree today! Summer is here. In a couple of weeks I will be drowning in Mangos.
If you have never eaten the cheek slices from a tree-ripened mango as soon as it is picked, trust me, you are missing one of the most decadent experiences in life.
I have about 1/3 of the garage tiles installed now. Grouted and everything.
I installed a threshold cut from remnant pieces of Turkish Travertine tile.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Heartland Division CB&Q Ray ... Your model railroad, the SLOW , is excellent. The "O" is for Ontario. So, I suggest you show photos of the SLOW while we are in Ontatio. Some of your older pictures will do.
Ray ... Your model railroad, the SLOW , is excellent. The "O" is for Ontario. So, I suggest you show photos of the SLOW while we are in Ontatio. Some of your older pictures will do.
I can do that..... Try to find some time tomorrow to show a couple.
73
Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO
We'll get there sooner or later!
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
maxmanThat might be because Masonite is a brand name. Should have tried asking for tempered hardboard. Went to the local HomeDepot a couple years ago and asked for “Masonite” and they never heard of it. Plenty of tempered hardboard on the shelf though.
Good point! If I ever need the stuff again I will ask for tempered hardboard. Hmmmmm.....
SeeYou190If the lock plate is not bent properly, the hub, brake drum, both wheels, and both tires will come off the trailer as an assembly.
I have seen this arrangement in the tractor shop at GE. I've also worked on quite a few older cars that relied on a similar arrangement to hold the front wheels on. Several times I've seen the cotter pin that keeps the castle-nut from turning was broken (mechanics re-use the bent-up cotters!) or it wasn't properly secured and the vibration wore it right through.
I agree, an old method from the conestoga wagon days applied to heavy, high-speed equipment. It is a wonder there aren't more accidents caused by this.
Mazda Mack Mangled by Edmund, on Flickr
Cheers, Ed
howmus hon30critter I got very thin plywood instead of the requested masonite Good luck trying to get masonite any more. A couple years back I tried to find it a three or 4 different lumber yards and was told, that it is not made anymore.... Nobody had any left in stock. Bummer as I was using Masonite for the fascia board and still had a bit more to put up.
hon30critter I got very thin plywood instead of the requested masonite
Good luck trying to get masonite any more. A couple years back I tried to find it a three or 4 different lumber yards and was told, that it is not made anymore.... Nobody had any left in stock. Bummer as I was using Masonite for the fascia board and still had a bit more to put up.
That might be because Masonite is a brand name. Should have tried asking for tempered hardboard. Went to the local HomeDepot a couple years ago and asked for “Masonite” and they never heard of it. Plenty of tempered hardboard on the shelf though.
Same thing as asking for Homasote. None of that available, but plenty of “soundboard”.
gmpullmanYeah, I've seen some of the damage done by semi tires popping off. I saw one that was a dual tire, the retainer nut must hagve come off the end of the axle.
Most of the tire/wheel assemblies on class 8 trailer axles are barely held onto the vehicle.
The brake drums and wheels are held on by a dozen bolts that torque to about 150 foot/pounds, but these studs are only going into the hub. The hub is supported by a pair of tapered roller bearings. All that holds the hub on is a single nut.
This single nut also sets pre-load for the hub bearings, and it is only torques to a few inch-pounds of torque, then a lock plate is bent over to secure the nut.
If the lock plate is not bent properly, the hub, brake drum, both wheels, and both tires will come off the trailer as an assembly. This results in a 500 pound rolling boulder bouncing down the highway at 70 miles per hour. Whatever it hits will be destroyed.
I am amazed this mounting system is still legal. Newer efficient tandem axle tractors with a single drive axle have a pair of hubs that are the same.
Mornin' from "partly" in the Finger lakes this morning. "Partly" means you can fill in the word after most anyway you want and you will be right. Right now it is partly cloudly with the part that is cold and cloudy hanging over my house as I try to get the lawn mowed.
hon30critterI got very thin plywood instead of the requested masonite
Good luck trying to get masonite any more. A couple years back I tried to find it a three or 4 different lumber yards and was told, that it is not made anymore.... Nobody had any left in stock. Bummer as I was using Masonite for the fascia board and still had a bit more to put up. Ended up using the very thin plywood (1/8" I think) which did look pretty much the same once it was painted and installed.
Ok, just came in for a battery for the lawn mower as the first one done ran out of current on me. Wet, heavy lawn out there today.
Be Blessed and Stay safe!
Dave ....... ... Hope it was a good one.
Bear ......... That looks yummy!
GMTRacingGlad you are going to be able to start on your layout finally. Have fun
Thanks J.R.
The order arrived first thing this morning, or to put it more accurately, part of the order arrived. I was missing the foam and half of the wood. I got very thin plywood instead of the requested masonite, and the 19 mm plywood was not cut despite my having sent them a cutting plan twice!!
The driver took the plywood back to have it cut and I have emailed a list of the missing items to the fellow who took the order. Hopefully it will all be here by this afternoon.
Dave. As Mel says, getting old is not for sissies (or words to that effect).
Glad you are going to be able to start on your layout finally. Have fun. J.R.
Happy (now belated?) Birthday Dave. Let me buy you a little drink to celebrate!
I'm getting the feeling I have a relatively short honey-do list for the weekend. Might I get some time in working on the layout? Maybe! Calling for rain Sunday, so that should eliminate outdoor work. Don't really have any indoor projects right now. This could all come together.
Cheers!
Mike
Dave, happy birthday, old fella...
Oh gosh, that looks delicious!!! Thanks Bear!! I will have a hard time not keeping it all to myself!
We had a real treat thanks to our son and daughter-in-law a couple of days ago. They sent us a dozen pieces of chocolate covered fruit! The strawberries were enormous and they were the sweetest strawberries that I think I have ever had! There were also banana pieces, apple wedges and pineapple chunks, all covered with dark chocolate with white chocolate drizzled over the top.
They were supplied by a company called Edible Arrangements. They specialize in creating delicious cut fruit arrangements, often with bits dipped in chocolate. We have used their services many times when we wanted to send someone a 'pick me up'. Their fruit is always amazingly fresh and tasty. I have no affiliation with them. Good thing, or I would be eating all the inventory!
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
hon30critterI'm only 66 but I don't feel a day over 90!!!
So you are running two years and a couple of months ahead of me! My back is just the same - I cannot stand for more than a few minutes without my back yelling insults at me. Lifting that washing machine 3 years ago didn´t help much to improve it.
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
Thanks for the birthday greetings Ulrich! I'm only 66 but I don't feel a day over 90!!! Maybe building the layout will loosen my back up a bit, or kill it! We shall see! If I'm posting from the garage floor in two days you will know what happened!!!
Just bfor the purpose of comparing:
Tinplate ToddlerSo do the highspeed trains in Germany! Other than France and Spain, we do not have track dedicated solely to HSTs.
I knew you were going to say that!!
Here is another video from inside the train showing some of the perks that VIA Business Class offers. When you get to about the 2:20 mark you can tell that the train is on regular track!:
hon30critterBefore Ulrich starts boasting about how fast European trains go, just remember that the VIA trains run on regular trackage.
So do the highspeed trains in Germany! Other than France and Spain, we do not have track dedicated solely to HSTs.
More info on Ontario railroading!
The Via Rail System is now the primary passenger train operator all across Canada. In Ontario, it runs from Windsor all the way to Quebec City in Quebec, and it also runs in Jason Shron's basement! Yes, that's right, the owner and founder of Rapido Trains has a Via Rail car (or at least part thereof) in his basement. It is equiped with all sorts of authentic Via bits:
Okay, the guy is certifiably nuts, but don't deny the fact that you want one too!
Back to the real VIA. Here is some history:
https://corpo.viarail.ca/en/company/our-history
Here is a video of the Toronto to Montreal trip:
Before Ulrich starts boasting about how fast European trains go, just remember that the VIA trains run on regular trackage. Getting from Toronto to Montreal in four hours is pretty good. This is one passenger train that gets priority on the tracks.
In a couple of days I'll show some details from Ontario's long running and successful Go Transit System.
Dave!
Beatiful, sunny morning over `ere! Enjoyed watching our little morning visitors for a while, sipping my first coffee of the day. There is so much grace and elegance in these animals, whereas people are noisy, nosey and annoying! I should move to a place without humans!
I spent the better part of the night searching the Norwegian real estate market. As a result, I am afraid I have to drop this idea. I am getting weary of not knowing where to go to. All I know is that it can´t be Germany, the way things are turning out here.
hon30critterMy birthday will be a bit special this year because I will (supposedly) be receiving the wood for the benchwork the same day.
My layout is going on 26 years old and I still remember the satisfaction of building the benchwork. I think I had a Sears 9" Miter saw which could barely cut a 2 x 4 but, by golly, it did a fine job on benchwork joints. Fortunately, drywall-type screws were just becoming popular so I had plenty of those on hand which made assembly go along quickly.
HO_1995_0002 by Edmund, on Flickr
IMG_mine-fix by Edmund, on Flickr
Glad to hear you'll be making sawdust soon Ed
gmpullmanHappy Birthday, DAVE!
Jeez Ed, your keeping too close track of me!
Seriously, thanks for remembering! My birthday will be a bit special this year because I will (supposedly) be receiving the wood for the benchwork the same day. After 18 years of farting around with model trains I'm actually going to have a layout! I'm like a kid on Christmas Eve!
Happy Birthday, DAVE!
I hope your wheels don't come off during your celebrating! Keep your nuts snug but not too tight
Anybody remember the goofy Chrysler products with the left-hand nuts on the left side? I think it was my first truck with aluminum wheels. The lug nuts corroded something fierce. Wound up taking it to a shop that had a 1" drive impact wrench running on 150 PSI air!
I always use anti-seize on my nuts.
Where's Track Fiddler been since Monday???
My brother-in-law had a wheel come off his van a couple of years ago. All the wheel studs had snapped off. Fortunately nothing serious happened. I urged him to go and get the other studs replaced but he didn't bother.
Wheel studs break because some jockey with an air gun drove the nuts down too tight. Whoever did it on one wheel likely did it on the rest of the wheels as well.
One time the wheel nuts on my MGB were so tight that the 'X' wrench I was using rotated one full turn before the nut popped loose. I put a full 360 degree twist in the shank!
My son uses a torque wrench.
Howdy .
Speaking of wheels coming off vehciles reminds me of an incident on i-75 in Ohio. It was one of our trips to Michigan, and we were northbound somewhere between Dayton and Lima. Across the median, I saw a car with its front end bouncing up and down. Its front wheel has come off. In an instant, I saw the wheel bounce ahead of me on the pavement. It then flew over our car. In the mirror, I saw it bounce beween our car and the car behind us. Next, it bounced harmlessly off of the road. ... It happened too fast to be scared. However, when I recall the incident, I realize it could have killed us or the people in the car behind us.
...
Meanwhile, who is working on their model railroads ?