Evening all...A very tall and very cold tap please, Joe.
Well, I made it back home, I'm a total pumpkin, but I'm home! The meet went well and working part of a CPO shift (remember, I'm supposed to be on vacation) was OK too, but I'm really looking forward to the remaining days of my vacation! I hope I can fulfill it without any more outside demands for my time! Wouldn't that be nice.
Going to cut some more firewood tomorrow morning and then spend the remainder of the day...And hopefully a long weekend playing in the Trainroom.
Put a round for the house on my tab, Joe. And for all you do, here's a tip too!
It's a little early for me....well, it's 5'oclock somewhere. Set us up with a round.
Just got back from the states.
It's 0700 and I will be getting started on my 5X8 folding layout today (2.5 ft off the floor and folds against the wall for storage). My wife said I could build it in our extra room, but there is a bed and other things in the way, so I figured out a way to make a lightweight folding layout so I can put it away when I am not "working on my railroad." This way, the wife is happy and I get to keep the layout. I am going 5X8 in order to run as close to 30 inch curves as possible and still have a enough room for an inner staging area. This is all temporary anyway, because I will be coming back to the states in 2.5 years. Then, I will set up my semi permanent layout.
How about a Shipyard, Joe? Local brew from Portland, the one on the east cost. I put down a number of those this week.
Back from our 5-day ski trip to Sunday River in Maine. Lots of snowmaking, probably the most and best in the East, but we're still waiting for the Perfect Storm, that "big natural" snowfall that still ends up not leaving anything to shovel on my driveway when I get home. We had an inch of wet snow one night, and snow showers after that, but only about a third of the trails are open, and I've never seen the place as crowded as it was today. (And this is only Thursday! Yeah, it's a school vacation week, but wait till the weekend! We didn't. We headed home ahead of the rush.)
My sister bought me some Woodland Scenics trees for Christmas, so I've got some planting to do. I've spent some "quality time" on the chairlift thinking about the Atlas turntable pit-bash project, and I think I've got the basic plan. I'll try to take good pictures along the way.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Morning all. Joe I'll take a cup o' coffee and a bowl of oatmeal. Thanks. Ain't this place great... you can get anything you want anytime you want!!
Haven't been doing much on the RR the last few days, Sinuses are killing me. I mostly take pills and feel sorry for myself.
I am supposed to go to work on the 2nd of January as a John Deere mechanic in Altus, I hope everything works out, as I really do need the job. Only thing is I will not have as much time on the RR. I guess first things first. Later. Mike
Coffee, and how about some bacon and eggs? Thanks, Joe.
Mike, great to hear about the new job for the new year. It's nice to have lots of time off to work on the railroad, but that can't go on forever. Also, it's nice to be able to buy stuff for the trains, too.
We opened some more presents last night, since we were away for the holidays and just didn't feel like taking all the stuff with us. I got a T-shirt with the Billerica and Bedford Railroad's logo and engine on the front. This was an old 2-foot narrow gauge, dated 1877. It's a local historical project, and I'm thinking of getting involved in it next year. If nothing else, I suspect there are a few other MR types in town who are there, too. The right-of-way runs about a quarter mile from my house, and we've always referred to the path as "the railroad bed." It's town-owned now, and it's maintained as a walking and biking trail, unpaved. Oh, and I got the MR calendar for 2007, which wasn't much of a surprise since I bought it for myself a couple of weeks ago. My daughter also threatened to wrap up my decal paper and put that under the tree, but they never got around to it. I'd better start using it before they decide to hide it until my birthday in March.
Beer time. Back to Harpoon, I think. Thanks, Joe. And could ya slide down the beer nuts?
Day one of the Atlas turntable pit-bash. I drew the outline around the turntable and motor unit, then pulled it out. I found that a drywall saw is the perfect tool for cutting through already-installed 2-inch foam. I got the circle and the extra keyhole cutout in a matter of minutes, neat as you please, and with a minimum of foam bits all over the place. Next I cut a piece of masonite, 12x16 inches, and drilled holes for bolts. I installed this over the bottom of the hole, so I can just drop the whole turntable into the pit and have it rest on the masonite sheet. That way the turntable is even with the top level of the foam, and just 2 inches below it. I bought an Atlas deck bridge, and cut it down so it's only an inch tall. That will be the turntable bridge. The turntable pit will only be an inch deep, so next I've got to engineer the false bottom, the rail and the bogie mounts.
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
Morning all Joe I'll have some French Toast this morning with my usual coffee, I haven't had French Toast in a while.
Welcome back jeffrey I was wondering about you, thought had give up modeling or were avoiding us, or both. I got my laptop back form the PC hospital over Christmas with a new hard drive, it works like it is supposed to. Jeffrey is it possible for a hard drive to affect the wireless internet? The reason I am asking we have wireless internet here at home and befor I had the laptop worked on I could not get the internet in the train room and now it comes up great. What Gives? Mike
And a good morning to you all...to...I'll have a coffee and an oatmeal Joe.
Well, two more days of vacation gone (Thru. & Fri.) and I still haven't gotten to the Trainroom! Just too much "other" going on, but today I'm ready. I have a thermos of coffee ready, the heat is on and I'm soon to be out the door.
The list of "to-does" for the day (weekend) are varied. Some that I need to do before doing anything else (I'm working back to front in two corners) and other projects that I just want to get done for the visual.
In the N.E. corner I basically just need to do some painting and landscaping on a hill side. In the N.W. I need to finish up a wood retaining wall and get it in place. In addition to those projects, I want to finish up the Mainline trackwork at Sawbill Junction with the installation of the groundthrows, ballasting and landscaping.
Mr. Beasley, ironically, my other "want to" project for the weekend is the turntable....We'll be working on them together today! I got the bridge stained, so it's ready to get glued in place. But first, I want to get any and all of the sub mechanism into the pit...So today construction requires I get the wiring done, then secure the Atlas table to it's base and mud in the pit.
mopac, good to hear that you are getting started with a layout. It's always hard to get a start, knowing that it will all get moved! But it can and should happen...At least in my mind anymore, after putting off for so many years.
You mention a "folding" pike as to get it out of the way: I have a MRR friend that has a pike that can be lifted. It is a framed, light-weight with folding legs, that can be attached to a cable and pulley system that lifts it toward the ceiling. If you have a tall enough ceiling...It's a good way to get it out of the way.
And, I know another fellow that moves often with his job. He has gotten into building dioramas that will some day be incorporated into his "dream" pike. Not at all a bad way to keep the hands and brain busy, even with limited space!
Gotta' get the construction crew going....Heading for the Trainroom with coffee in hand! Latter.
mikesmowers wrote: Jeffrey is it possible for a hard drive to affect the wireless internet? The reason I am asking we have wireless internet here at home and befor I had the laptop worked on I could not get the internet in the train room and now it comes up great. What Gives? Mike
Jeffrey is it possible for a hard drive to affect the wireless internet? The reason I am asking we have wireless internet here at home and befor I had the laptop worked on I could not get the internet in the train room and now it comes up great. What Gives? Mike
Mike: Yes, it is possible. If the old hard drive had a bad sector or some spurrious data where that sub-routine for the wireless was, it could have an adverse effect on it. In changing out the drives, the techs could have corrected the problem without even knowing about it. The drive change I did effected my computer also. Before the drive was changed, the total time for my system to go from cold start to online was 48 seconds. Now it's 45 seconds.
Evening guys...I'll have a August Meininger, Northwoods Porter, Joe. This really is a great place! I haven't had one of those for at least two years! And Lord knows when it might be on tap again!!??!! BTW, set the house up, I'm feeling like a million, with having some time in the Trainroom today!
Got some work done out there, but it seems to always go slower than I would hope! I pretty much finished the abandoned "programming track" siding at Sawbill and got the first layer of landscaping on the hill in the N. E. corner, but never did get to the turntable....or even give thought to the retaining wall. Tomorrow! Right?
I did, however, make a great hotdish that was a really big hit with all of the family! So, I guess I did make out OK!
Here is a shot, looking N.E. at the Sawbill wye with the programming track, mostly finished.
Another round for the house, Joe...And keep the change!
Hi all!
My turn to rescue this from page 3.
Wishing you all a happy New Year!
Haven't been playing with my trains much since my dad passed away. He was in bad shape, so I am not sorry that he went; but still I am just in a blue mood.
Going over to mom's tonight to celebrate the coming in of the New Year with a few beers and some rum.
You guys have fun!
Welcome back, Squeeky. Sorry to hear about your Dad. For many of us, model railroading is something we will always associatate with our fathers. Even if they weren't into the hobby themselves, it was probably them that put together that first train under the tree for us. And I'll agree with you about the "good passing" when it ends a period of suffering, for everyone.
A bit further on the turntable project, but not too far. I've done 3 castings for the pit wall, and I think that will be enough. The concave curves are much harder than the convex ones, because the mold has to be flipped on its back before it hardens completely, so you've got to time it just right. It's somewhere around 12-15 minutes, I figure. I also put in a terminal block in preparation for wiring up the whole thing. I originally planned a kill switch for each spoke off the turntable, then decided it wasn't necessary with DCC. Now that I've got sound in a couple of engines, though, the kill switches are going to get wired up. As expected, I'm having trouble aligning the bridge track. I had to rip out the 8-layer styrene block I was using to support it, because it wasn't perfectly flat. When you build a "styrene sandwich" like that, drilling holes can be a problem because the styrene scraps wedge between the layers and create a bulge around the hole. The second time, I drilled the hole before I glued the layers together.
Hi all, I had a great Christmas break. I was hoping to get more done on the layout. One of our goals was to get 2 Roundhouse 2-truck shays converted to DCC. Well, one more fried decoder. The motors bound up and I think that we are giving up on them. They have been a great source of mental pain.
When we were in the not so LHS, they had a sale on locos, so I picked up a Roundhouse 4-4-0 with sound. My husband weathered that today while I worked on ground goop and put rocks in the bottom of a pond.
MrB, If you still have a lot of concave rock to pour, I would look at bragdon enterprises geodesic foam. They sure are great to work with. If it sets up just use a hairdryer to reshape it. Are you scratch building your TT?
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
Eveng all, Joe, Bring me a cold beer please and thanks.
Well the holidays are rapidly winding to a close and for most I guess it is back to the grindstone. as for me I will be starting a new job in the morning, I hope it is everything it appears to be. I spent most all afternoon going through my tool boxes and loading them in the PU, I am sure I hve forgotton something but I should know more tomarrow. Maybe I will feel like getting back on the RR in a few days, if my sinuses will clear up. Catch you all later. Mike
Coffee for me, please, Joe. Time to get back to the standard schedule. No more sleeping late, I'm afraid. (Ha ha! Mike's gotta get up and go to work! Nyah!)
Sue, the turntable is an Atlas pit-bash. I really don't have the space for a full-sized TT, but my 0-6-0 and all the diesels fit on the 9-inch Atlas so that works perfectly. If I can get the whole thing aligned properly, I think it will work pretty well.
Howdy all: I'll have a cold one to go with "what's cooking for the dinner special", then I've got to head for work.
Got caught up with all sort of union matters today, along with the daily chores, and didn't do much of anything in the Trainroom.
Mike, hope your first day on the new job went well and you are feeling good about it. I still need to send off that email regarding my woodsplitter!
Sue, troubles with the Shay are normal...Sorry to say! Check out "The MDC Handbook" by Jeff Johnston. This fellow really knows these locos, in-side-out and up-side-down. It is a great book geared to the assembly of the kits, but will also help in any tweaking that may need to be done to get the critters running sweet. You did mention that you got them R-T-R right? If so, and all else fails, get them back to the dealer. If it's a good one they should stand behind whatever they sell.....Just a thought.
Gotta' get. See you all after work this evening!
Howdy everyone. Joe I am in need of a cold beer real bad.
Just got home from my first day at the new job. Guess what. When I got there and got all signed in and went to get my PU to unload the tools, The (*)(&%#@ battery was dead, How was that for a very first hour of a new job? Lucky though everything elece went fine, I got along well with the others, (I do play well with others although some may doubt it.) I think I will like working there although I am not crazy about getting home after dark and leaving befor daylight. OH and Mister B, I used to like you! LOL Well all turned out good, at least I didn't get fired. They do have wireless internet there, probley more so for the bookeepers and such, But I can use my laptop and check in on the forums at lunch and breaks. Joe, I think that last beer had a hole it because it it empty, Thanks. Don't take it to hard Mr. B, I will get over it. Mike
Hello all, just checking in while I grab some steak and onions.
colvinbackshop wrote: Sue, troubles with the Shay are normal...Sorry to say! Check out "The MDC Handbook" by Jeff Johnston. This fellow really knows these locos, in-side-out and up-side-down. It is a great book geared to the assembly of the kits, but will also help in any tweaking that may need to be done to get the critters running sweet. You did mention that you got them R-T-R right? If so, and all else fails, get them back to the dealer. If it's a good one they should stand behind whatever they sell.....Just a thought.
The Shays are old enough that I would not think about the dealer. They ran fine until we decided to change to DCC. We have gone through several decoders on RH locos trying to get them running. They are cute but a pain in the backside. I think that new motors are next. Thanks for the tip on the MDC handbook. The new loco is R-T-R with sound and it seems happy.
MrB, It takes a lot of patience if something is not working right. We are spoiled with the Walthers 130' TT, but it is a monster and takes a lot of space. It is seldom off more than a hair, and that does not enough to affect the function of the locos. I hope that you get your alignment figured out.
Another post-hockey beer, Joe. Just a Bud this time. The good stuff doesn't go down well this late at night.
One thing I have learned from model railroading this time around is patience. Back when I was a kid, my father used to say I had "the patience of Job" for the modelling work I did, mostly ships and airplanes back then. When I started working on the trains again, I re-discovered the simple pleasure of taking the time to do something right the first time, rather than setting some kind of artificial deadline. I probably learned a bit more about knowing how long something was really going to take, rather than making one of those management-pleasing estimates that are in fact rediculously too short.
Sue, I'm gonna remember that tip about re-softening the Bragdon foam castings. I didn't realize that it could be reheated and bent. That's a great advantage. When I get around to the rock walls around Moose Bay, I will be using the foam.
Welcome back to the working world, Mike. Right now, I wish it was dark on my way home, because I head right into the sun and the traffic always jams up at a couple of places.
Greetings! Just a quick tap, Joe. Then I've got to get back to the chores of the day...With a zillion things to try to figure out!
Frustration, Frustration last evening! As you know I was on vacation over the holidays (even though I had to go in to cover stuff) and yesterday was the first day back on the job, so to speak. Well....In the infinite (and highly paid) wisdom of my foreman and even his supervisor....They didn't have a sub for me! Nor did they feel the need to have anybody check pool chemistry! In a nutshell, I walking into a mess, that I didn't want to have to deal with, and took an extra ordinary amount of time to fix all the "oversights", getting home way late....Oh well.
When I did get home, I went right to Louis's Saloon for a cold one and then worked on the CCRY for a few hours. The good side of this was that I got some stuff done!
The N.E corner hillside is now completely "planted". This is a hill that is 3-D off the backdrop, made with canned foam and drywall mud. Not sure if I'll do more of that, but it did turn out pretty good.
And the "match stick" retaining wall in the N.W. corner where the old General Logging (now Sawyer Lumber RR) line crosses the DM&IR main, coming from staging, is now "almost" done with only a few more inches to do.
Maybe the frustration manifested a need of accomplishment?
After chores and before having to head off to work....I hope to get a bit done on the turntable.
Well...Maybe one more Joe, and hey, let me set a round for the house too, but then I've got to get.
Howdy, Joe. Sam Adams tonight, for me and anyone else who's interested.
Thanks to a run of warm weather, I've managed to get a (very) little done on the Monster in the Garage. Cutting wood sheet stock to switch tie lengths has got to be the most boring activity in model railroading. Cut, shift two millimeters, cut, shift two millimeters...
On second thought, cutting the individual ties just might be even less inspiring. OTOH, tomorrow I get to start laying rail on a crossover and two three way switches. That will make the tie-cutting worthwhile.
Hope that everyone safely weathers the return to the normal routine. Got to keep Joe busy.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Hi guys, I'll have a Mike's tonight. It has been a long 3 day work week. Short weeks after the holidays always seem longer.
I am anxious to get back to work on the layout. I am almost ready to do water in a pond. The rock is on the bottom. All I need is to get the figures that will be in the water. They say that you should put silly things to spark interest. Cowboys bathing in a pond should be great. I should have photos in a week or two.
Is everyone else gearing up for a good weekend working on their layouts?
I'll have a Porter tonight Joe...And a round for the house.
Only spent a very little time in the Trainroom today, as I was again out in the woods cutting firewood. One more day, tomorrow, and I'll take a break from that chore for a few days.
I did work on the TT "pit-bash" as Mr B. has referred to it. I now have the bridge and wheel assembly glued together and ready for some extra detailing. Also cut the fuel filler for around the Atlas base. I was going to use foam, but ended up used 3/8" plywood because it is a lot closer to "correct" regarding keeping the pit base as uniform. We're geting closer!
Morning all Joe I'll have a bowl of oatmeal and butter, and of corse, black coffee.
Just getting some coffee in my system befor heading to work. so far so good, still haven't got fired. I like it pretty well, fairly relaxed atmosphere, everyone seems to know what to do and does it. Makes for a good day, Hope I can get back in the trainroom soon, I feel like I am avoiding an old friend. Got to go, see you all later. Mike