Colorado Midland in N scale 2.0

[CRL]

There she is, on her back with her legs in the air!

Oh crap! I had the same thought.

What’s happening?!?

[Dave V]

Construction of the CMRy will invariably be delayed.  A package from Fast Tracks ordered a month ago is still MIA containing track templates (SweepSticks) and dimensional stripwood for trestle bents.  I did place an order for parts and structures from both Fifer Hobby Supply and Wild West Models...hoping those packages actually arrive.  While those won't further the tracklaying task, they WILL hopefully allow progress on other fronts.  I also have a Kato power pack whose last known location was Kentucky on August 4th.  I have a sense I'm not alone...and if you're looking for reasons why the Post Office has become a soup sandwich the news outlets have you covered.  At the risk of violating the political rules for the Railwire I refuse to elaborate further.

John Campbell, president of our modular club, designed and built a really neat mine scene for our On3 layout.  He called it the "Rattlesnake Mine."  Later, Bill Banta of Banta Modelworks based his "Cimarron Mine" kit on the Rattlesnake.  Sadly, Banta never made a kit in N scale, but luckily John still has all the plans (as well as the original mine module) and has been helping me get ready to scratchbuild an N scale version.

[Point353]

Construction of the CMRy will invariably be delayed.  A package from Fast Tracks ordered a month ago is still MIA containing track templates (SweepSticks) and dimensional stripwood for trestle bents.  I did place an order for parts and structures from both Fifer Hobby Supply and Wild West Models...hoping those packages actually arrive.  While those won't further the tracklaying task, they WILL hopefully allow progress on other fronts.  I also have a Kato power pack whose last known location was Kentucky on August 4th.  I have a sense I'm not alone...and if you're looking for reasons why the Post Office has become a soup sandwich the news outlets have you covered.  At the risk of violating the political rules for the Railwire I refuse to elaborate further.

Do you prefer to use the USPS , or is that the only option the shippers offered?

Recently, I had two packages sent to the same place on the east coast from the same company in the Chicago area - one via USPS and the other via UPS.
The UPS Ground package made the trip in only two days (Mon-Wed), while the USPS Priority Mail package took four days (Mon-Fri).
While the USPS package didn't make any scenic detours, it did seem to spend the better part of a day loitering at several intermediate stops.
Aside from spending several hours at two intermediate locations, the UPS package seemed to be on the move much more of the time it was in transit.
The USPS package also appeared to have taken a beating somewhere en route.

[Dave V]

Do you prefer to use the USPS , or is that the only option the shippers offered?

Recently, I had two packages sent to the same place on the east coast from the same company in the Chicago area - one via USPS and the other via UPS.
The UPS Ground package made the trip in only two days (Mon-Wed), while the USPS Priority Mail package took four days (Mon-Fri).
While the USPS package didn't make any scenic detours, it did seem to spend the better part of a day loitering at several intermediate stops.
Aside from spending several hours at two intermediate locations, the UPS package seemed to be on the move much more of the time it was in transit.
The USPS package also appeared to have taken a beating somewhere en route.

The Fast Tracks package goes from Canadian Post to USPS...no choice for me there.  And the eBay seller shipped the Kato power pack USPS.  Going forward now I know to look for more options.

[CRL]

I rarely buy strip wood. Several years ago, I bought a little wood stripper which uses an Xacto blade and a guide to cut strips from the edge of a basswood plank of an appropriate thickness. The blade will wander some on longer cuts, so the shorter the length you are stripping, the better the result. Overall, it does a reasonable job, especially on trestle timber which is not exactly finely planed and finished dimensional lumber.

[Chris333]

There are plans for the Rattlesnake mine in the Gazette. I have built parts of it in the past.

[johnb]

Ok, now I am mad, and going semi political. This is not an opinion, but stating what was said. President Trump said that he is defunding the USPS to stop mail in voting.

"They want $25 billion for the post office. Now, they need that money in order to have the post office work so it can take all of these millions and millions of ballots. Now, in the meantime, they aren't getting there. But if they don't get those two items, that means you can't have universal mail-in voting because they're not equipped to have it."

Defunding the Post Office also affects small businesses, mailing in your bills, waiting for your Social Security checks...it is more than just voting. I am getting off of my soap box now, and I will drive my ballet to the county election center.

[Chris333]

I have used mail in ballots in the last 3 elections. It is just a sealed envelope inside another elvelope. It should amount to no more than sending a letter. Don't watch the news so I'm not up on any newer stuff...

[CRL]

I’ll be voting early by standing in line like I’ve always done. Texas has absentee voting only if you’re unable to vote during early voting or on Election Day (but you have to specifically request a ballot be sent to you). That way, my ballot is tallied immediately when I put the paper ballot into the ballot box scanner. The Post Office can’t F*** it up that way.

The post office is charging Amazon less money than it costs to deliver their packages, so basically they’re asking the taxpayer to subsidize Amazon. Nobody is “defunding” the post office — the postal service is requesting more funding from Congress. POTUS is against, but said he would sign bill if passed by Congress.

I feel that if some states want mail in voting, let those specific states foot the bill for any added cost associated... or require more postage and let the voter pay. That’s basic Federalism and is reasonable since the states each run their own elections.

[Point353]

Defunding the Post Office also affects small businesses, mailing in your bills, waiting for your Social Security checks...it is more than just voting.

So far, I seem to be receiving bills with no delays.

[wazzou]

I’ll be voting early by standing in line like I’ve always done. Texas has absentee voting only if you’re unable to vote during early voting or on Election Day (but you have to specifically request a ballot be sent to you). That way, my ballot is tallied immediately when I put the paper ballot into the ballot box scanner. The Post Office can’t F*** it up that way.

The post office is charging Amazon less money than it costs to deliver their packages, so basically they’re asking the taxpayer to subsidize Amazon. Nobody is “defunding” the post office — the postal service is requesting more funding from Congress. POTUS is against, but said he would sign bill if passed by Congress.

I feel that if some states want mail in voting, let those specific states foot the bill for any added cost associated... or require more postage and let the voter pay. That’s basic Federalism and is reasonable since the states each run their own elections.

I generally agree with all of this.

[eric220]

People, Dave stopped short of making this political. Please don’t get this thread locked or portions deleted due to thread drift into political territory.

[Dave V]

Back on track, guys, please. 

@Chris333 , I have the Gazette article but John also sent me his original plans as well so I'm in good shape.

[DKS]

Construction of the CMRy will invariably be delayed.

Sounds like the perfect opportunity to start building rolling stock.

[Dave V]

Sounds like the perfect opportunity to start building rolling stock.

It is!  Plus more structures. Those 3-D printed Chinese structures turned out to be a bust… They just don’t stand up to close inspection.