Good afternoon everyone, and a HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY to all those who are Irish in some part at least. Still cloudy today and 26.6F with winds at 15 mph from the NE, but the big storm has finally passed. We received 17" of 6+ inches of snow!!! To make matters worse, it changed to sleet and freezing rain near the end, so the snow packed hard, and was the heaviest that we have had to shovel in a loooong time. The snow blower was able to handle and areas where cars or trucks or people had not packed the snow down hard. For the rest, we had to use ice scraper to lift the snow off the tar, then use the blower and/or shovels.
My son and his wife are due back from the Carribean tomorrow, so we have to go over and shovel him out also, as well as my 84 year old neighbor. WOW, I will sleep good tonight.
DER JOHN: How did you guys fair up there in Nova Scotia? It looked as though you might have been on the rain side of the storm, with New Brunswick getting hammered.
JEFF: Did you paint that loco yourself?? If so, that is one hellava nice job mon ami !!!! How are the new shoes working out?
MIKE: The Pellet stove seems to be working Ok right now, no exhaust smells, this is really strange.
PC: I see you made in back from Florida in one piece........I didn't see any mention of any LHS visits, there are some nice places there too, just ask Flip.
CAPE JIM: The secret to getting the little ones to take an afternoon nap is to completely wear them out, then get them comfortable with a bottle of apple juice and a warm blanket, and bingo!!!!! There off to sleepy land. This has worked all 9 days so far. Mom is going to want me to come over every afternoon now to work my magic........it's a Grandfather thing!!!
Time to get going, talk later guys,
Afternoon, A GOOD ST. PATTY"S DAY to ye, how bout a green barley pop Janie,
Kinda cool here today, 40 with a N. wind, and a little sun, but still better than you folks in the NE, and the mess ya'll got
DUKE, sure sorry to hear bout your dad passing. Mother n me be keeping ya'll in our thoughts
Dick, glad the stoves working some better, darn things are funny some times. Good to hear your baby sitting job is going to slow down a bunch. Hope all the kids had a nice time and you and the misses get some rest
OZ, congrads on the DL. A defense driving course in needed anymore with some of the fools out there anymore.
DER, thanks for the pics of the fox. We have a vixen that lives round here we see some, but never with a camera round. She had 4 pups last year, 2 of them were hit on the road. Don't know anything on how the others faired.
PC, glad your trip went well.
LEE, good ya got a girl freind that likes trains. Better be good to her, they be few and far between like that.
JEFF, the paint job looks great. Glad the new shoes are working ok too.
Jerry, the plan [for now] is a trip up to the Urbana show tomorrow, with a little railfanning on the way. With any luck [and the CFO's willing], I'll get some pics from up that way.
Best get around to some more honey-do's, just to keep her happy for a spell. Catch ya'll laters
inch
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/4309
grayfox1119 wrote: PC: I see you made in back from Florida in one piece........I didn't see any mention of any LHS visits, there are some nice places there too, just ask Flip.
No time! I flew down on Wednsday and did Epcot, Thursday I did Disney, and back to the airport on Friday. I'm sure they've got some great places, but time was extremely limited.
Cox 47 wrote:PC...Thats a couple of slick rides is that you in picture?
Thanks, it's one of the other hobbies I have. Been doing it for a long time. I love restoring those old rides. And yes, that's me. I've shown my mug around here before, but it's been a while. Here I am in a slightly more appropriate setting: http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j319/pcarrell/MeNKP587.jpg
grayfox1119 wrote:JEFF: Did you paint that loco yourself?? If so, that is one hellava nice job mon ami !!!! How are the new shoes working out?
Grayfox: The shoes are working out fine. I've never had shoes this comfortable.
About the loco in the KCS Southern Belle scheme, no, I didn't paint that. That's a real loco, as in 1:1 that just came from the paint shop. That baby looks sharp! I wouldn't even attempt to paint that in HO scale.
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
Good Evening All and Happy St. Patricks' Day,
Spent some am time finishing up shoveling at the shop and the rest of the day setting up my new tool boxes for the track. I think we got about 12" total in snow but the sleet that came in behind it around nightfall really compacted it. I agree with Dick it was a real bear to move.
Received an E-mail from our friend Ed in Mexico suggesting I drop the track top to flush for the Stone company. Good idea and it hadn't occured to me that it would solve a bunch of issues. So when I got home I did just that - pulled the track and dug a trench in the foam. Now for the interesting part. Due to our friends good suggestion, I also learned that flex track once glued to the surface will keep its' contour after being lifted back up. This could be helpful when you want to weather flex track and detail it off the board. I always have done the painting in place to keep from having the clips move on the rail when it is final placed and having lots of little untouched areas of bare shiney rail showing.Gluing the track in place over wax paper could allow you to pick it back up to detail it. The trench was another item. I would normally have used a router or knives to dig the ditch, but since I'm building on 2" foam I remembered I have a bondo shaper (bought sometime in the 60's actually when I needed to do a lot of bondo work on my old sorry daily drivers). I marked where the track needed to be sunk and used the shaper which is shaped like a narrow curved cheese grater to dig the trench. I checked the depth with a straight edge against a piece of track in the trench until it was flush then reinstalled the pre glued, precurved siding with my favorite Elmers. I gained 5/32" or about 7" in HO scale. I wasn't planning on running through freights on the siding, but I now have a much better looking clearance under the door frames of the building. Thank you Ed.
http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/uploads/6812/JRswing_bridge.jpg
lowered track with cheese grater to the side of the weights.
Off to see how Sebring is going and later the first F-1 race of the year from OZ.
CUL, J.R.
I hope everyone had a safe St Patrick's Day today,
Grayfox: 17" of snow wow!
inch, yea I better keep her.
Went to the Train Show in Kirtland, Oh this morning, Dorothy forced me to buy trackside diner, loading dock and an overhead crane. Not bad since I spent under $20. Several of the vendors were selling those HO scale cars from Wal-mart. One vendor made the mistake of offering me 4 for $15 I said no thanks they sell these at Wal-mart for under $2, if looks could kill.....
I had to ask Dorothy about making out or rail fanning; she said there is plenty of time between trains for making out. LOL!
BM1 Lee Soule USCG (ret) L.S.&W Railroad Serving the Lower Great Lakes
Evening Gang: If anyone is wondering that I haven't sent any E-mails, it's People PC. It's been a mounth since they didn't recognise my name or pass word. I haven't been able to contact them because there phones are always busy. They ask me to call back at a more convient time. Convient for who? Any way I'm going to cut them off from my credit card and check with Dish about TV and high speed. It's that or a local wire less if they can get a direct line of sight to there tower. Right now I'm getting my mail over Outlook Express. I'd send mail that way but I keep getting cut off. I can only think that People PC is cutting me off.
The WGH show was BIG. I'd say it is at least twice and maybe three times what we normanly have here. The only problem was the size of the room. It could have been a bit larger. There were a bunch of layouts from Z to O gauge and one very large scale (read 7.5in gauge). Little Engines who make kits for 7.5in locomotives and cars had an operating oval of track and was giving rides. I got another Bachman G wood ore car for $30 tax included. I also visted with several of the manufactures reps. If you haven't seen the new Bachman 4-4-0 get to some place that has one and see it. It is as good or better then any brass I've got or seen. The detail is great. Micro Mark has them for about $135. Retail is $240. Bachman was giving away there catalogue so of course I got one. I mean it was free. I'm going back tomorrow with my son so I may do some more damage to my check book.
I got the yard almost all mowed. The battery in the mower went dead so I had ot use the booster to start it. We went to tractor Supply to get a battery and they didn't have one to fit so I've got to try and find one tomorrow.
Mary Ann just came so I think I'll get ready for bed. I've been wordy tonight. I'll see you all tomorrow night.
Good Night All
Ed: drop me a line.
Good St. Patrick’s Day evening to one and all: We took the grandchildren back home this afternoon, but our travel plan was altered because of the freezing rain overnight. You were correct Dick, N.S. was mostly on the rainy side of this one, but freezing rain was a large part of the overnight mix. I’ve only just got through reading the email and the last page and a half of posts here.
JR: Since I had both Ed’s and CapeJim’s solutions occur to me while reading your door height dilemma, I’d say do both. The building will likely look better for a concrete foundation anyway, and you’ll be able to take almost anything you want through the resulting gap.
(Good to know that Ed is still out there somewhere, BTW)
Der - as long as the glue on the edge of the rock doesn't wick through, the painting technique you want to try should work. I try to keep my plaster stone as glue free as possible so the water based paints will soak in so I didn't think of that.…The white glue from the sawdust mix has leached out onto the tops of the rock castings (and of course long since dried). As a result, those tops don’t take the stain as well as the rest of the rock, and I see on closer examination while taking the photos, the glue has also gotten on other parts of the rock. However, this results in an interesting “quartz” effect that I shall exploit some. For the rest, if it continues to bother me, I’ll go over the offending places with some more sawdust mix, and stain that with the same green washes the rest of the sawdust is going to get, or perhaps just cover over with some WS ground foams where either of those approaches makes geological sense. If all else fails, I can always scrape off the hardened glue layer and get back to raw plaster. It’s way too late, in these parts of the layout, to try CapeJim’s masking idea, as the damage (if that’s what it is) has been done when the sawdust was applied. Here’s what I mean about the “quartz” bits.
Der - as long as the glue on the edge of the rock doesn't wick through, the painting technique you want to try should work. I try to keep my plaster stone as glue free as possible so the water based paints will soak in so I didn't think of that.
(No, our rocks aren't really that blue, the colour values screwed up somewhere between my camera, MS Photo Editor, Photobucket, and the forum!...and as predicted, no green washes have been applied so far this weekend…tomorrow is another day! )
BTW, your bondo shaper looks almost exactly the same as a tool I bought for making my built in window seat project a few months ago…some things don’t change eh?
Ryan: I’ve not come across the Bathroom Reader Calendars. I’m working my way (no straining!) through Uncle John’s Curiously Compelling Bathroom Reader (That’s the 2006 edition title I think, a Christmas gift) Truly amazing stuff in there too.
Mike: DER, thanks for the pics of the fox. We have a vixen that lives round here we see some, but never with a camera round. She had 4 pups last year, 2 of them were hit on the road. Don't know anything on how the others faired.…Reminds me of a time in my youth when I was visiting a girlfriend in the country. We were outside at her place, and a vixen screamed quite close by. Gf’s reaction was to cling tight to me, which was kinda nice…but then I was young and impressionable….
Jeff: That baby looks sharp! I wouldn't even attempt to paint that in HO scale.…which is why you should switch to N…covers a multitude of sins!
That baby looks sharp! I wouldn't even attempt to paint that in HO scale.
Time to turn in. all, and God Bless. Prayers for all in need of healing, comfort and peace.
"There are always alternatives, Captain" - Spock.
Good Evening, Chloe - so, how many have come through on the Pub Crawl tonight? That many? Well, I'll just have a Pepper and cheesy chili fries, please.
Surprised me to see light snow flurries here today(!) - but it was in the 40's and the ground was probably warmer than that, so no accumulation happening. It looked nice as I was watching out the window this afternoon. I thought maybe DerJohn or Dick had sent us a present... Cooling off to a couple of degrees below freezing tonight, and back into the mid-50's tomorrow. So I won't need a snow shovel anytime soon.
JP, that gal sounds all right - she's even talking possible merger of RR equipment?
Jerry, sounds like your eBay purchases are getting on the right track now, with the last two engines. Good to hear, after your string of some disappointments.
PC - not to worry, I understand you weren't the only one in the Diner who was plumb tuckered out. Dick was getting worn down by the grandson-sitting (not sure who was sitting whom there, but I'm getting off the topic a bit there...). Good to hear the kids enjoyed it at Mickey's place. Looks like you like the muscle cars, huh?
Jeff, I'd have to agree with Jerry on that new paint scheme - it'll be really hard to slip one of those past somebody undetected. So will you be painting some of your locos in the new scheme any time soon? Yeah, I'd agree with you - that one would probably take a lot of masking, taping and (extra-)careful painting to get even halfway close to the 1:1 in the pic.
Dick, I sure hope your son and daughter-in-law aren't snowed out and can't land when they come back home! Think you could stand another week or two until they dig out the airport? (...and Dick mutters under his breath "OHMIGOSH! - I HOPE NOT!!!") (Just teasing you, guy) Better be careful about getting too good with getting the grandson down for naps, though - they'll be calling you all the time, and you might not get to work on your layout or go to your LHS. Nah, surely not...
Mike, I think I'll pass on having a glass of any green drinkin' stuff - never got into that, myself. I'd have to agree with your comments to OzJim about the usefulness of a defensive driving course (and the whys...).
JR, that sounds like a good idea that Ed sent you to lower the track - but I can't see the track, just a bunch of paint spray cans!
Paul, sounds like your trip was pretty good (for the first round, that is). Good luck with your hunting tomorrow, too!
I'd better get going for now. Finished those cheesy chili fries (yum!) and now I need to go wash my face and hands. See you all later!
Blessings,
Jim in Cape Girardeau
Hey everyone....check it out! This round is on me!
It's been a while, so load up!
Good morning ! from Indiana.
03-18-07
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
Mornin, Janie, I'll have steak [rare], eggs [over easy], a side of gritts n gravey, and some irish coffee. Gotta another cold morning here [26].
Not suppose to be to bad here today for a swap meet with highs round 50, but showers moving in this evening, so I'm guessing cloudy most the day. Mothers all fired up bout going, they had a segment on the news last night bout, and she seen it's in a mall and she wants to look [there goes my train money]. Besides it's been 3 or 4 years since we've been up that way. Hoping to get some railfanning along the way,. Been wanting to get some pics of the N end of the EILL.RR in Metcalf and some of the UP in Villagrove.
GMT, those old cheese graders come in handy some times. I've used them on my layout some. I need a new one though, the boys used it on some body work and ruin it.
PAUL, glad you had a good trip to the show. Sounds like it was bigger than any one round here now days, we never see any factory reps.
der5997 wrote: ..Reminds me of a time in my youth when I was visiting a girlfriend in the country. We were outside at her place, and a vixen screamed quite close by. Gf's reaction was to cling tight to me, which was kinda nice...but then I was young and impressionable.
Nature can be so helpful some times. I think the rocks are coming along ok, looks good to me.
Heres some pics I got last weekend, first ones are of the bridge the CN is replacing the tressel that was there, on the IC track, between Bethany and Sullivan
These 2 are of the IC [CN] and NW [UP] diamond in Sullivan
Still got 2 or 3 to post from Mattoon the other day. Best get a moving on chores, Thanks for breakfast PC. Hope yay'll has a good day
Good Morning, Zoe - since PC is so kindly footing the breakfast bill this morning, I'll have a steak (medium), scrambled eggs, and a couple of waffles with some maple syrup. Dick sent us a tanker car of Maine maple syrup? Hey, thanks, Dick! Oh yeah, and thank you, PC! Good thing this virtual food doesn't put it on like the real stuff, or I'd have to be walking a mile or two to burn off all the calories...
We're at 30 degrees (F; that's -1 C!) this morning here in Cape Girardeau, with 74 percent humidity, and an easterly wind at 3 mph (no effective wind chill). Supposed to hit the mid-50's this afternoon, and maybe some sun peeking through the clouds. Then tomorrow, storm and rain move back into our area. Yep, it must be spring.
Inch, nice pics, and hope you get some more today. Maybe you can negotiate part of your train money back from Debbie (but better do it before you head out for the swap meet - she might change her mind once she sees whatever they have in the mall stores! ). Maybe go for a 1/3 (or if you have to, a 1/4) cut for you - see if you can sweeten her up this morning before you go.
PC, you should try to get together with JR if either of you gets close to the other's town. Maybe he might let you look under the hood of one of those race cars. [drool][drool] My car skills are considerably more limited than for either of you two, I suspect.
Got to get going - still need to wash my hair and get ready for church. See everyone after lunch, maybe.
Blessings on your Sunday,
JimRCGMO wrote: PC, you should try to get together with JR if either of you gets close to the other's town. Maybe he might let you look under the hood of one of those race cars. [drool][drool] My car skills are considerably more limited than for either of you two, I suspect.
I used to live not far from him. I used to live in Fairfield, CT. for many years. It's a bit further of a jaunt now that I'm in Indiana.
Good morning y'all.
Cup of coffee for me, please.
Hope everyone had a good St. Patrick's Day yesterday. I was going to post, but I had to run off to work. Seems like out of the four of us there...I was the only one who did anything for St. Patty's Day...Uniform isn't green, but I had my green beer mug pin on; and I was the only one who was having corned beef, cabbage, and Irish gold that night.
Kinda upset right now...My girlfriend is having family problems and is really upset, but can't be on the phone, nor can we go out and talk about it...I'm getting worried. I don't like this at all, and I know how distraughting these things can be...I want to be there for her, but can't at the moment...Argh, it drives me mad!
Jeff: The KCS paint scheme is kinda weird lookin' on the new locomotives...I'm not sure if I like it or not...I didn't know they were reviving the Southern Belle.
I'll see y'all later.
Scott - Dispatcher, Norfolk Southern
newRRdude wrote: Hey Guys,Colby, You'll faint when you see my hairstyle at 6:30 AM tomorrow. Or maybe just fall asleep like before... (get the shaving cream.... FAST!) ......Either way you'll be suprised. See you tomorrow.-Alex
Hey Guys,
Colby, You'll faint when you see my hairstyle at 6:30 AM tomorrow. Or maybe just fall asleep like before... (get the shaving cream.... FAST!) ......Either way you'll be suprised. See you tomorrow.
-Alex
You WERE a redhead now you are a blue head.... and March 24th. MNGRR the steam engines will be in use. want to come? ask ur mom if you could meet us at the Lewiston Park & ride. call me for the time to meet us there.
In Model RR news: My HO Layout is a wopping 7ft x 7ft with 2 really long sidings.
In Railfan news: today I went to an Anteek Store and foud a REAL LOCOMOTIVE LAUNTERN the kind that goes on the side of the engine. (the colored kind) it was $195.00 there were 2 NYC breakman lanturns, MilePost sign for $6.00, a "5 track" crossing sign for $12.00, and a set of grade crossing flashers for $50.00, a MARX 1950 train set complete with engine, cars, track and power pack for $90.00. can you say JACKPOT!!! but sadly my mom didn't want to buy me anything... but I doubt that anyone in the area would by those items anytime soon!
Afternoon, I'll have a barley pop Flo please.
Got back from the show a bit ago, had a good trip. Picked up a few thing I was in need of a some good prices even. Also seen a couple freinds from by Paris, that I hadn't seen in years. Mother wasn't happy with the mall though. Wasn't any of the stores there anymore that she liked, and what was there didn't suit her fancy.
Weather was good both ways, so I did get some more pics from Metcalf and in Villagrove found the old Round house and a couple other building still standing. Got a bunch of pics there, and even talked to a train crew [relief] waiting on their train to come in from Chicago. Still need to down load on to here and go through bout 62 pics, hoping to get a few good ones to post.
PC, don't know why those pics didn't work right. I'll check them out after I finish this post.
Need to do a couple chores I didn't get done this morning. Got kids tomorrow, so need to get a head start on the day
Good afternoon, all - I'll have one of those root beer floats that Jerry's having. Thanks again, PC!
Jerry, I can't say as I blame you - I'd probably be calling up someone and chewing major in the morning, too. Point out that you need that chair working, and how long it's been out of commision, and if whoever you get doesn't have an answer, ask to speak to their "supervisor, please." But be nice (and persistent).
Scott, if you can't talk things out with the girlfriend directly, you still can talk with the Father (notice - I don't mean her Dad, either). He can do things when we can't do much about situations. We'll be talking with Him for her and you, too, if that's okay.
Oh my - what has Alex (newRRDude) done to his hair, Colby? Should we ask? Well, the good thing is, most color mistakes (I understand) - deliberate or otherwise - eventually grow out and/or wash away. Might take a while, but eventually they do...
Colby, did you modify your layout plan any more after the last one you showed us? When does construction begin, by the way? Plan it out and do it right the first time - having to re-do benchwork is such a pain... (yes, I already learned that lesson...). If you're lucky, the antique shop might drop some of their prices after the RR stuff sits there for a while.
pcarrell wrote:Nice pics Inch. They don't get any larger when I click on them though, so it's a bit hard to see them.
Yeah, Inch, I'd noticed that too - are the pics so big that the forum doesn't shrink 'em down like usual? I've seen that in here sometimes with some pics.
This afternoon (besides being on the computer way too long) I got out some Kadees couplers - going to put some more on cars I already have with the horn-hook type, until I run out of the Kadees (got too many freight cars to think I'll be able to get them all switched over). I also got out some autos, trucks and some figures to improve the looks of the layout as it currently is. The freight station looks better with people on it, and half the loading dock covered with boxes and crates instead of sitting empty! I discovered that most of the CMW delivery vans I have so far, are food delivery ones (Nabisco, Kraft, Swift). (Memo to myself - need to order more 'freight' type vans and trucks.) I do have some semi trailers, but no truck/tractors to pull them (!) - need to work on that, too.
Haven't heard much out of our Northeasterners/Nova Scotians since yesterday - are they still snowed in?
Well, I need to run by the store - discovered I'm out of butter/margarine, which I will need if I'm going to fix Mom's Beef Stroganoff tonight. If I have any left, maybe I'll bring it by later tonight.
OK all,
Check out the pics now. I changed the formatt
ModelTrainLover wrote: newRRdude wrote: Hey Guys,Colby, You'll faint when you see my hairstyle at 6:30 AM tomorrow. Or maybe just fall asleep like before... (get the shaving cream.... FAST!) ......Either way you'll be suprised. See you tomorrow.-Alex You WERE a redhead now you are a blue head.... and March 24th. MNGRR the steam engines will be in use. want to come? ask ur mom if you could meet us at the Lewiston Park & ride. call me for the time to meet us there. In Model RR news: My HO Layout is a wopping 7ft x 7ft with 2 really long sidings. a MARX 1950 train set complete with engine, cars, track and power pack for $90.00.
a MARX 1950 train set complete with engine, cars, track and power pack for $90.00.
Hey in most cases you can pick up Marx's sets for less than $50.00 including shipping on ebay and thats in good to vg unless its a rare set. Theres a marxs set at a store near here in box for $65.00 and I've told him he wants to much and its been sitting there over a year scince I told him lol.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
inch53 wrote: OK all,Check out the pics now. I changed the formattinch
"I see" said the blind man as he picked up his hammer and saw! (Thought I'd throw a few double entendre's your way!)
The pics work great now! And they look even better now! Interesting supports for the bridge!
Hey, Inch, those are much better now - thanks! I'd have to agree - funny to see wood bents under so new of a metal bridge. Maybe they had an older bridge before that, and didn't want the line out of commission for too long?
Working on my Stroganoff at the moment (it's simmering with the lid on) - after my trip to the store, I discovered I didn't have the mushrooms (Oh, pooh...) and didn't want to go back one more time.
Time to get back to the cooking!
Good evening y'all.
Not much activity went down today in here...Kinda surprised.
Jim in CG: Yessir, I do talk with Him. I appriciate whatever help he can give my friends whenever I am unable to be with them.
But I did get to talk to her today, she called me earlier today; so I know what's going on, but it's not the greatest thing...So I'll be doing more talking with the Father.
I'll catch y'all later.
JimRCGMO wrote: Working on my Stroganoff at the moment (it's simmering with the lid on) - after my trip to the store, I discovered I didn't have the mushrooms (Oh, pooh...) and didn't want to go back one more time.Time to get back to the cooking!
WAIT A MINUTE! Here I am with credit card in hand, and you're cooking?
I like you!