Weekend Update 11-1-2009

[John]

November 1 already .. what you been up to.

For me, printing car cards, and making sure each car on the layout has one. I also spent the week putting couplers on the remaining rolling stock that had crapido's. I added at least 20 freight cars to the layout this way.

[Bob Bufkin]

Morning John.  Didn't do anything model related this week.  I did do something that took all of 42 years to accomplish.  I retired (yes officially retired/retired) on Friday.  Now have lots of time on my hands.  Planning on a long train trip come springtime.

[RockGp40]

Morning John.  Didn't do anything model related this week.  I did do something that took all of 42 years to accomplish.  I retired (yes officially retired/retired) on Friday.  Now have lots of time on my hands.  Planning on a long trin trip come springtime.

Congrats on your retirement. Were you expecting to do this or was it more spontaneous?

No modeling for me this week. But, at my part time gig, I got to switch (for the first time) a transformer load on the back of a four truck QTTX car:

[Philip H]

Congrats Bob!  sounds like you've earned it.  We'll be looking forward to that train trip - with lots of pics.

Model wise I managed to squeeze in some work on my bad order locomotives - I'm down to two that aren't running to my staisfaction.

I also started some scenery work, by carving the drainage ditches that run along side my tracks into the foam I have down as a base.  With my parents coming for Thanksgiving, and my in-laws at Christmas - I want to have the layout presentable . . .  

And Rock - I hope  that's not the only picture you got of that car . . . .

[DKS]

Finished building the structure in which the "world's smallest layout" will reside, as well as a z scale working barber pole. Although it was also painted, the building is now soaking in alcohol to strip it down so I can start over, as the paint job was unacceptable.



Construction articles
Building: http://jamesriverbranch.net/project_17.htm
Layout: http://jamesriverbranch.net/detail_16.htm
Barber pole: http://jamesriverbranch.net/detail_15.htm

[tom mann]

Nice, David...but I question the logic of having two cool animated things in the same building.  It seems like you would want to space them out a little.

[Puddington]

I was "de-modeling" this week... the hot water tank behind the layout fried itself requiring the "de-construction" of the layout in order to replace the tank....not a very satisfying expereince at all..............

[C855B]

Hot water heater? Ugh. You do, of course, realize this was a self-inflicted woe. But you're not alone - guys consistently box-in their household mechanicals with their layouts under the assumption that the stuff never fails, or, worse, the really big denial, "Won't fail while we live here." I've replaced three "inherited" water heaters in my serial homeownership, so this point somehow never seems to be lost on me.  :-\

The only "layout progress" around here is still working on that kitchen I reported on two weeks ago. Floor tile is starting to go down today.

[Catt]

Nothing new and exciting from me,though I did start on a N scale cabbage for my N scale AMTRAK Pere Marquete passenger train.For those that are curious the PM runs from Grand Rapids,MI. to Chicago,Ill. 7 days a week.

Today is the first day of starting back working on the Z layout as we have 2 shows coming up one in December and the other in January.Have two scratchbuilding projects coming in Z one is a 70' woodchip gondola and the other is a coal porter of a somewhat generic design.

[wm3798]

I've been working on a few decoder installations, as well as getting a couple more freight cars through the paint shop.  I'm held up at the moment because I can't put my hands on the damn can of Dullcote I bought 3 weeks ago... >

I guess I HAVE to clean up the train room, now!

Lee

[skytop35]

Spent part of the week at the Prototype Modelers meet in Naperville,Il. so not much time to do much. However, I got plenty of ideas and came home to finish weathering this little scratchbuilt toolshed.

[DKS]

Nice, David...but I question the logic of having two cool animated things in the same building.  It seems like you would want to space them out a little.

I am spacing them out, actually. Almost every building on the street will have some kind of animated effect. The cafe to the left will have ceiling fans; the Woolworth to the right will have a window fan in a second floor apartment; down the street, the firehouse will have working doors, and the gas station next to that will have a rotating sign and a car on a working lift. I'm basically picking up where I left off with my N scale layout.

[up1950s]

I retired (yes officially retired/retired) on Friday.  Now have lots of time on my hands.  Planning on a long train trip come springtime.

Good for you Bob . I have been retired since 2002 . Can't figure out how I was able to do everything I did while I had to work . Time appears to be moving even faster the older I get . The fiery hand-basket to hell is getting swallowed up into a black hole time warp . I do appreciate having the extra time as Doctor visits increase with age , though all has been ok for awhile lately . Enjoy your retirement , I know I have mine .

[wcfn100]

Well I did something that I never thought would happen.  After 30 years, I bought my first piece of HO equipment.  I don't know where this will lead, but I was sure nice to buy an undecorated kit without having to call the factory or endure lame excuses as to why they aren't available.


Jason

[asciibaron]

looked at a house yesterday that would be perfect for a layout in the basement, but the cost and small family room really put the damper on that.  we looked at another one today, just didn't like the bedroom layouts (angled walls everywhere).

the L&HR might resume construction if we decide to stay put for another year or two.