I'll have a Scotch on the Rocks, please and thank you. Just finished Lawn Bowling. Won both games. First was 13-3 and the second was 8-5, which means we won overall for the evening. That's two outings in a row that I have won that honor. As well, I painted one window and prepped one double window, one single and a door for their second coat of paint for the mill. It's starting to get tedious so maybe I'll tape off the mill and paint the concrete window sills for a change of pace.
It's a little quiet in here tonight. Do you think if I was to take out the old Visa Card it might pick up? Well .... if anyone is interested I'll buy the next round. Tomorrow, I'll have to go to work. It would be nice to be indepentantly wealthy. Well until that happens, I will have to be satisfied with going to work. Gawd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GUB
I sure appreciate all the kind words. I hope that Larry's video bug doesn't mean that I am doing the layout construction alone.
Loved your photos this week. Everyones.
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
Page 4? That's what I get for trying to lose weight by cutting back on beer. So, I'll start with a Harpoon IPA, and offer one to anyone who'd like to sample this fine Boston-area microbrew.
This will be on WPF, but I thought I'd give my best friends a sneak peek. It's the same grocery store, but I finished up the interior and put in a light.
I couldn't resist the sale on Spam over on the right side.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
'Evening, everyone. Thanks for the Harpoon, Mister B. Hopefully I won't have any problems with the barbs...
Love the corner store, and that one sign reminds me of just about the only graffiti that ever got me to smile:
White spray cursive script: Jesus Saves
Green spray block print: S&H green stamps
Well, with the center curve finished, I've raised the outer curve to its proper height. Now that end of the peninsula looks like a freeway interchange, sweeping curves, all on different grades, the highest destined to cross over the other two-but not yet. Had to finish the center curve because now it's down in a trough between the other two - accessible, but awkward to work on. (Actually, all of this will be hidden, and access will be through the swung-open CTC panel once it and the fascia are in place.)
Thanks for the brew! See you all soon.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
MisterBeasley wrote: Page 4? That's what I get for trying to lose weight by cutting back on beer. So, I'll start with a Harpoon IPA, and offer one to anyone who'd like to sample this fine Boston-area microbrew.This will be on WPF, but I thought I'd give my best friends a sneak peek. It's the same grocery store, but I finished up the interior and put in a light.I couldn't resist the sale on Spam over on the right side.
MrB, I love what you've done with the place. I feel guilty that I am not working that hard.
Tomorrow I am doing a 21 mile bike ride on rails to trails. There is a 2.3 mile tunnel that I hope to get some photos of.
Mornin' again, Joe. Happy Friday! How about some bacon and eggs, crispy on the bacon, soft on the eggs? Thanks.
Thanks too for the nice words about the grocery store. I just love that little City Classics kit - it really captures exactly the look I wanted for that block. I ended up building up the terrain so I could make the block longer, just so I would have room for that structure and the theater at the same time.
I think I'll put up a shot with the roof off on WPF, too. Except for the guy inside (who also has a kid in a grocery cart) all the inside details are just downloads printed on cardstock. Add a light bulb and the whole thing comes to life.
Maybe I'll get in some biking, too, but only if it cools off a bit. 90's and humid isn't much fun. I did get to ride a bit on the rail-trail last weekend, but it was just to pick up my car from where my daughter had it, then drop it off again and ride home. That was the last time I'll have to do that. My errand was to go pay for her car, so now we're a 3-person, 3-car family. I'd rather have her getting a lot of driving experience now, mostly around town in a calm environment, and I prefer her as the driver rather than some of her friends, so I think getting her a car is the right way to go. She's got a restricted license for the first 6 months, which doesn't allow driving with other under-18's in the car without an adult, and doesn't allow driving after 12:30 in the dark.
We've got a paved rail-trail, the old Boston & Maine line, and also two unpaved right-of-ways in town. One of those is the old "Reformatory Branch" of the B&M that went to Concord, Mass., and was abandoned before the RDC commuter era, and the other is the ancient Bedford and Billerica railroad, which was mentioned in this month's MR in the Fornay ON 2 1/2 review.
Good morning: A BIG breakfast here please...and a really BIG coffee too.
It has been a long, hard week...and I'm tired. On the other hand....I've got to get moving, but thought I'd stop in for a bit this morning.
Really nice work Mr. Beasley! As I've said before, you really have a great eye for the detail.
I'll stop by again later, after work and some chores around the homestead.
Morning all, Joe, I'll have a couple eggs sunny side up and a cup of black coffee.
Mr. B. Really nice corrner store, the details and interior really add to the scene. I have interior lights and finished interiors in most of my buildings. For those of you that don't, you really should try it, it takes more work but it really adds to the realisim of the layout. Even in the daylight, there are still lights on in most houses. To add lights without detailing the insides really isn't that real looking. IMO
Here a couple of pics of the inside of my convience store.
I am still down in my back, woke up this morning at 5:30 AM with my back killing me, I took a couple of pain pills and laid on the couch and am just now gettung up. The doc isn't doing anything except giving me pain pills and muscle relaxers. They are wanting to do an MRI on my back but are waiting for the outcome of workers comp. I really hate to file workers comp, but I feel I have to.
I do get a small amount of train time in when I can move enough to get out there. I read the forums but when I am taking the pain pills, I have a really hard time typing.
Looking forward to seeing Mr. B.'s pics on WPF, And Sue, Hope to see more videos. Mike
Nice interior, Mike. I have to agree with you on the lights. Unless the windows are really small, putting lights inside a building without interior details just looks wrong. I specifically look for big windows in buildings, or figure out ways to open doors, so that the interiors will be visible.
Wow, did you see that? An advertising post by someone with 1 post to his name showed up, and just like that it was gone! I saw one "No Advertising" reply by tstage and then it disappeared. Actually, I was off copying the Monty Python "Spam" dialog so I could paste it in, but Bergie beat me to the punch. Good work, gang.
Ahh, that last hour of work on a Friday. Do I look like I'm workin'? OK, working class heroes, first round is on me....
Evening all: Set up the place Joe...It's my turn to buy a round or two!
Another workweek done and with no other demands for my time....I'm going to play all weekend. I have Trainroom, White Oak Rendezvous and a parade on the slate for fun.
After work today, I escaped to the Trainroom and laid out Headstrom Lumber with the new storage building. I even got some landscaping done and it's starting to look like something....Finely!
Un-like Mr. Beasley or Mike however.....I have NO detail yet! You guys really do a great job with the interior detail and lighting! Something for me to strive for!! As far as my detailing of the lumber yard (and most of Sawbill Jct. for that matter) I have a very long way to go. I have plenty of "lumber" to cut and stack along with any number of other building materials, yard poles and lights.....The list goes on, and that's just at Headstrom's. On the other hand, it is coming together.
I was going to post a picture of today's progress...But Photobucket isn't cooperating. Maybe at a latter date.
Chuck, it sounds like you are really making progress (around all the heat) on your staging. Do you have a picture you could post? I would love to see how it's all coming together. GUB, glad to hear you had a good vacation to S.F. Did you get farther S. of Roughing Camp? Just curious if you made it to the vineyards of the SLO area.
Mike, sorry to hear the back isn't any better. Hope you can get some help.
Good Morning Everyone:
I'll have a coffee and an english muffin this morning. Today's projcets are as follows: Build four cedar cabinet doors and finish painting the Mills 2nd floor windows and doors. Cedar doors are Human scale and the Mills... well they are HO.
Hope everyone has a great day. Will check back later.
Mike I hope your feeling better.
Mr. B nice work as always.
I do have a quick question. What do you use as the power source for your lighting?
See yas later.
Morning all. Joe I'll have a couple scrambled eggs with some toast, buttered on both sides please, Thanks.
Still having trouble moving but I thank you all for the kind words. Gub, if you are asking me about the power supply for my lights, I use a series of wall warts they work very well and you can usually pick them up at garage sales and yard sales pretty cheep. I try to find the ones that are 12v. and around 1 amp. I do install small inline fuse because if they become shorted out it will burn up the wall wart. I use mostly miniature Christmas lights for the insides of the buildings and GOW bulbs for the street lights. Have a good day. I am going to have my breakfast and I am in need of another pain pill about now. Later, Mike
'Morning, everybody. Just toast and coffee, Joe. Have to do a little driving...
JB, most of what I've been building lately is actually thoroughfare track (the main line will be operated point-to-point, but is actually a loop.) Just about when I think I'm making progress reality intervenes. This time, it's the throat for long-term staging, which will have two left-hand three way switches (one with EVERY route curving left,) plus three more-or-less conventional turnouts. I put everything into approximate position (horizontally aligned, temporarily propped up on hunks of 2 x 4,) stepped back and cringed. Everything, in this case, does NOT include some of the plywood subgrade (the track pattern is spray-painted on the foam roadbed.)
I'm one of those technologically challenged types who hasn't quite made the transition to electronic graphics. Someday... In the meantime, the one part of the layout that actually has track on it resembles a Disney World thrill ride without its skin - tracks running here and there through a maze of steel structure.
Mike, I sure hope your back will respond to treatment. So far, I've been lucky (and really careful about how I lift heavy objects.) My son can't say the same, and now has fused vertibrae where the damage had gotten too severe for lesser repair. Having observed his problems I sympathize with yours.
One question, Mister Beasley. Why did you choose a Toyota for Annie? (Asks he, who has a RAV4 and a 200,000 mile X-cab parked in front of the garage layout room door.)
Well, the boss says it's time to get ready for a mall crawl. If you figure that's not my favorite thing, you got it in one.
See you later.
Chuck (modeling the netherworld under Central Japan in September, 1964)
Something tall and cool, Joe. It's another hot one here in Masschusetts. 89 egrees on weather.com, with plenty of sunshine in case you get chilled. I was timing at the Swim Championships meet today. Too busy to think about how hot it was. Every team in the league is there for this one, and they played the "Chariots of Fire" theme as the teams walk around the pool for "opening ceremonies."
tomikawaTT wrote: One question, Mister Beasley. Why did you choose a Toyota for Annie? (Asks he, who has a RAV4 and a 200,000 mile X-cab parked in front of the garage layout room door.)
We're on our second Toyota now for our family van, and they've treated us well. Contrast that with all the GM cars we've owned, which were falling apart before 100,000 miles. When we traded in the Sunbird wagon for the first Toyota, I literally breathed a sigh of relief that it made it to the dealership - it was steaming anti-freeze out the head gasket. The one we got her was in really great condition, and seemed as tight and quiet as most new cars, even after 60K miles. It also had the full airbag package, including side curtains, which is unusual in a 99. For the same price, it was way ahead of the Civic with obvious body damage, 90K and bad air vent breath.
When I die and go to the Big Roundhouse in the Sky, though, I expect to find my '75 MGB. I put 165,000 on that car. It was still running, but no longer the reliable transportation I needed to get to work.
Good afternoon:
A round for the house Joe! Yes, I know I just bought a round a couple of days ago....But, I've come into some unexpected money and I feel the need to share!
I spent most of Saturday at the White Oak Rendezvous and was pretty lucky. I didn't do well at all with my tomahawk throwing, nor in the first round of black powder rifle target shooting. But, I did take third place in the second round at the rifle range. OK, the truth be told; I spent more money than I won with paying an entry fee and enjoying some pork, red beans & rice along with a few brews at "Dad's Tavern", but still fifteen gold dollars in my pocket, just for a day playing is pretty nice!
And speaking of playing....The Trainroom is on hold until Tuesday afternoon when I hope to plant more trees and get some more landscaping done! But, in the meantime, Photobucket was up and running today, so here is the pic I was going to post.
As afore mentioned, I still have a very long way to go with both details and scenicing. I foresee both sheds full of lumber and supplies along with stacks outside all around the buildings too. This coupled with a few "yard lights", trucks, cars and people should make it look pretty busy. The area just in front is slated for a marshy area. Not a pond, but lower with tall grass and cat-tails.
One more for me and the house Joe, then I've got to get busy with chores around the house...Before heading back to the pool this evening.
Gee, JB, backstrokin' daughters and now the same lumber yard building? Seems like you and I ought to share a beer or three. If anyone else is thirsty, take care of them too, OK, Joe?
I've got one of those that my sister gave me a few years back. It was yard sale building she found, but after some painting and weathering I'm happy with it. You've left a bit more space on your layout for the lumber yard than I've got, so you'll have more room for details. Which reminds me - I've got to start liberating some more wooden coffee stirrers from work before they go back to those silly peppermint-stick plastic ones.
Today was ballast day. I had a 4-foot section to take care of, up from the subway tunnel and through the new cobblestone trolley stop, then a few more inches to the girder bridge over the small cut called George's Gorge. No dilly-dallying on this effort - I picked up the wet water and the pipette on my way in from the garage, and went straight to work, pausing only for a Dr. Pepper to quench my thirst, and to switch to shorts to keep cool in the humidity. An hour later and the oldest stretch of un-ballasted track on my layout was finally done.
I pulled out the Weimer's Mill kit. I got this a year and a half ago. It's a beautiful laser-cut wood structure by Branchline Trains, which was going for close to a hundred in kit form at the few places that even had it. When I saw it on a back shelf at my LHS for under 70, I had to have it. I wrapped it up and let the girls give it to me for Christmas, 2005. Now, I feel worthy of it. It was intimidating before, and I really wanted to be ready before I started on this one.
colvinbackshop wrote: I spent most of Saturday at the White Oak Rendezvous and was pretty lucky. I didn't do well at all with my tomahawk throwing, nor in the first round of black powder rifle target shooting. But, I did take third place in the second round at the rifle range. OK, the truth be told; I spent more money than I won with paying an entry fee and enjoying some pork, red beans & rice along with a few brews at "Dad's Tavern", but still fifteen gold dollars in my pocket, just for a day playing is pretty nice! Didn't know that you were into shooting. Larry and I were considering cowboy action shooting. Haven't done it, but the collecting is fun. As afore mentioned, I still have a very long way to go with both details and scenicing. I foresee both sheds full of lumber and supplies along with stacks outside all around the buildings too. This coupled with a few "yard lights", trucks, cars and people should make it look pretty busy. The area just in front is slated for a marshy area. Not a pond, but lower with tall grass and cat-tails. Love the abandoned track. Keep us posted on your progress.
Didn't know that you were into shooting. Larry and I were considering cowboy action shooting. Haven't done it, but the collecting is fun.
Love the abandoned track. Keep us posted on your progress.
MrB & Mike, You guys are sure making a statement with lighting. You will be good mentors when I get to populated areas. Thanks for sharing the photos.
I did a first coat of stain on my stockyard. We will see what it looks like when it drys.
I will have a cold one, while we sit and visit.
Morning all, Joe I'll have some toast and jelly with some black coffee, Thanks.
Sue, thanks for the kind words, it always makes me feel good when someone likes my layout besides me, I do try to make it as realistic as possible, (don't we all?)
Still down in my back and not working, the insurance company calls me nearly every day asking questions. I hope they will figure something out soon, I am tired of laying on the couch on my back drugged by the pain killers (They do work, anyone know where LA LA Land is) I had to hire my lawn mowed yesterday, That is really bad, a lawn mower man hiring my lawn mowed! Well I guess it could be worse at least I am not in a hospital. I am going to go for now and eat my breakfast. Later Mike
I will just have coffee this morning. I need to do one more fence post before it starts raining.
Mike, Hope they figure out the back problems. There is nothing worse that back pain. Larry gets it if he doesn't stretch regularly. You can't sit, you can't..... Are you ok when you stand? We stand alot when we work on our layouts.
It's after 8:00, so I can probably make noise outside.
Good morning to all. Almost lunch time, but tonight is hockey so I'll stick with a tall glass of water. No beer until after the game.
Mike, I've been lucky to avoid back problems for most of my life. I did have some lower back pain a couple of years ago, but I think it was due to dehydration. Too much beer, not enough water, and the discomfort was really from constipation, of all things. So, now I'm much more aware of how much I'm losing due to sweat, either just from the heat or from sports.
Good evening....A cold one please, Joe.
Mr. Beasley...Yes, we certainly have a few "in commons". Not to mention the already mentioned; Toni, calls Raeanne "Annie", both our Annie's are getting drivers licenses, and from what I've heard from your end and what I see on my end, they may both (to some degree) be in love too.
Raeanne and Bob, at the Reif before Showboat showtime one evening two weeks ago. They're together a lot and have fun together....But, just great friends so I'm told???!!!???
Regarding the lumber yard building.....I assume that you are referring to the old Atlas. Mine is actually a remnant from the 1959 RR empire my brother and I had. I put that kit together when I was 9 yrs. old. It got packed away in 1965 with the dismantling of the empire for a move and not seen again until my parents presented me with a box of "train stuff" in 1986.
As for space...Yes, I have left plenty to fill with (I hope) a lot of materials and activity. Hope it works out that way!!
Mike, good luck with the back. As I mentioned once before....I hop that you can get to somebody that can give you therapy, stretches and exercises (not just drugs) to help you get going again!
Sue and Larry, I don't shoot in any league or such. I just do the "period" black powder at the rendezvous and deer hunt with it too. I've also gotten back into (after a 35 yr. lapse) water-fowling about three years ago.....But that's the extent of it.
A Harpoon IPA for me, Joe. Time to settle back into my comfort zone with something cool.
JB, that's one fine picture. Annie did a few theatrical things, but she didn't stay with it. Our school system takes the spring musicals seriously - it's just like a sport, and takes the same level of time and dedication, except in the last couple of weeks before the show, when, as you probably know, it takes all of your time and dedication.
Sue, you were interested in how I would deal with the cobbles - well, here there are:
The layer of cobbles directly over the ties is very thin, and a lot of them broke off. So, I figured the rail maintenance types might not have cobbles around, so they would fill it with gravel or fine ballast. The trolley is coming up the hill on the other side, out of the tunnel up to the surface lines.
I've got to re-shoot this with more light. The colors don't show up well. My monitor at home crapped out, so I'm using a little old Dell with really bad colors and poor resolution.
Looks like they got the font thing fixed. I wonder how many giant posts that I have left.
JB, It is good to know that there are other shooting enthusiasts out there. We are in the process of moving the shooting range on our place, so we have not been as active. When I hear other people talk about their activities, it helps to motivate me.
MrB, I love the damaged cobblestones. Great idea with the gravel.
Good evening, Joe, folks. I'll have a Singha, please - and some of those red stick peppers.
JB, watch out for the end of that beautiful friendship! (I'm sure you know the punch line to that old song)
Mister Beasley - love the picture, and not just for the cobblestones. You've caught that 'magic moment' just after sunset, when there's still some daylight, but the artificial lights start to show up clearly. Really makes the scene come to life.
I've been working on the layout electricals, trying to keep up with tracklaying.The latest development found me trying to put too many wires on a single terminal post at a place where I needed six (count 'em) connections to the common rail bus. The terminal could only take four. Whoops Well, not quite. I just backed out the one inch machine screw, replaced it with a like serviceable 1 1/2 inch screw, reinstalled the washers and wires, added the other two and torqued down the nut. THAT is the beauty of making terminal blocks with plywood and screws. If the screw is too short, just substitute a longer one.
Then there's the problem of trying to connect 23 wires to a lift-out module (yard throat.) Wanted, a quick disconnect! Enter a solder-connected RS232 plug and socket set, which will accept the #22 wire I'm using for connections and leave me 2 spare pins for future expansion. Careful alignment where one steel stud sits on another gives me automatic connection - one less thing to think about. Added bonus - since the wire connections are fixed on both ends, I can use solid communications wire instead of the stranded wire usually used with plugs and sockets.
(None of these ideas are patented, so if they meet your needs, feel free...)
Well................I see Squeaky isn't making any money this week! I'll buy for anyone that shows, Joe.
And for myself: No, I haven't been around either. With so many demands for my time of late, seems all I'm doing is work, work and work. Absolutely NO time for the Trainroom and I haven't even been in the garden much!! Between demands at home, work and extra meetings...I'm not sure if I'm foot or horseback.
I am however running away Saturday, with taking a vacation to Chicago for a week, so I'll be in touch when I return.
Good Afternoon Everyone;
I'll have a Corona with a slice of Lime if you please. Played in my 1st Lawn Bowling tournament today. Three games of 12 ends each. It was a long day, but fun never the less. There was a light rain for most of it. Lost our first game 26 to 4. I guess we shouldn't feel too bad since one was a Canadian Champion and the other an Ontario Champion. Our second game went much better 17 to 7 to a couple in our own club and neighbours from down the street. Our third game we lost 12 to 10. Overall we finished 7th. Not bad for less than two years in the sport and not so bad when you consider this was my first tournament. Next week I play in a Provincial Trebles tournament in Brantford in the Novice division. Should be interesting.
On the modeling side of things, I am still painting the windows for my Mill. I ran out of the original colour, which is okay, because I really didn't like the brand (can't think of the name at present) so I got a bottle of polly scale "Depot Bluff" which needs to be toned down somewhat. Again this is my first attempt at a custom mix. Didn't turn out too badly. Any one know what the equivalent of 30 drops is in ml's? Don't ask, it's a long and probably very embarasing storey. I think I prefer the Pollysacle paints. I am working on the third floor windows and I am about a 1/4 of the way through the painting process. It's very tedious. Should I model some of the windows in the open position? Any Thoughts on this?
Well ... I should probably go and start on supper. I took out a couple of strip steaks from the freezer. Now I just have to decide what to do with them. Perhaps ... a Little Garlic, Onion and maybe some Chipotle Peper and Smoked Paprika.
Will check back later.
Ummmm....smells good, GUB. I can almost smell it from here. We got a new grill last week, and yesterday was spent putting it together. The old one finally wore out after 21 years. It was a wedding gift, and has served us well. I'd replaced the burner element 4 or 5 times, but this time the whole wood frame kind of gave way at once. The lighter hasn't worked for years, and the controls kind of hang there on their own, so I guess it was time for the new Webber. We christened it with burgers last night.
My citizens of Moose Bay will soon have a brewery to call their own, but right now it's on hold due to a localized shortage of Dul-Coat. My LHS is on its summer schedule, closed Saturday through Monday, and none of the other hobby shops and hardware stores carry it. So, I'll have to wait until Tuesday to pick some up to protect the decals of the Strumpet Brewery. Their motto, prominently displayed at the top of the building, is "Nothing goes down like a Strumpet!"
I'm having fun with this one. It's a "Background Building" from Walthers, which they called Arrowhead Brewery. Not bad, but I wanted a more colorful name, and their decals left something to be desired - kind of small and unimpressive. On my layout, it will be at the edge, but I've got a walk-around table so there's no "background." Instead, I've decided to detail the inside of this inch-deep structure, too, so I've been having some fun with scratching out walls, floors and other inside stuff.
Mister B
I am hoping I can get another year out of ours. It too is on it's last legs. I can't complain though it is a Napolean which we have had for about the same amount of time.
Any pictures of the new project? Do you print your own Decales?
Yeah, once again, I did my own decals. They're not quite photo-ready, though. I need that Dul-Coat first, and then some weathering powders to hide the decal edges. Also, I'm working at a disadvantage on the computer - the old office-slash-server room is being painted, so our Internet connection is disconnected until they get things finished. Right now, I'm piggybacking on somebody else's wireless in the neighborhood, using my laptop from work that I brought home to put more train pictures on for my screen saver.
The "painting contractor" is my daughter (it's now her office, after all) and her priorities run more to her boyfriend than to painting walls. It could be a while.
About a year ago, when I brought the laptop home for the first time and installed a cheap wireless router, the only wireless network it found was mine. Now, there are a half-dozen visible, and none of them seem to have any security at all. I'm on somebody's wireless network called "default." Amazing that nobody has even turned on the most rudimentary security, even though it takes all of like 5 minutes. Even though it's a nice convenience, I feel it's my duty to find out which of my neighbors is running wide open, and tell them to zip up their pants before somebody comes in and steals their identity.
Have a cold one on me, everyone! The weather has turned down the thermostat up here in New England, and it won't be long before we're back in our trainrooms for another winter.
Pour me a Scotch, better leave the bottle. It's been a long day and an even longer week. But your thinking it's only Monday night. Yep! Your right of course. So imagine my surprise when I realize that I have 4 more of these friggin days to get through before the weekend gets here.
Think I'll paint another couple of windows. Picked up some chain from my LHS for the block and tackle. My gawd it's small. Should look good though.
Well .... I'm going to have some supper. Chile and potatoes, I think. Nice on such a cold night. We even have a fire going in the fireplace downstairs.