Weekend Update 9/16/12

[MVW]

I love the openness. Everyone is always cramming too much in and you did very well by leaving spaces!

Bruce, I'm not sure if you're pulling my leg or not. I think most people would accuse me of cramming too much in here. In fact, I get several responses to that effect 2-3 years ago when I first floated this track plan on the Model Railroader forum.

Two things: It's a good-sized Midwestern city, so it will eventually be somewhat crowded (those empty spaces are going to be filled in by buildings). Secondly, my main interest is operation. It doesn't bother me that the yard and that large industry behind it are only inches apart on the table, when operationally speaking they're five miles apart.

Jim

[Ike the BN Freak]

Gonna do some train stuff this weekend!  In the meantime...

Your United States Air Force turns 65 years old next Tuesday as a separate service, so last night Hurlburt Field held an Air Force Ball, attended by 1,200 members of Hurlburt's 3 Wings and all the tenant units.  My little 55-man squadron managed to fill 4 tables alone.  We dedicated the dinner to the 6 Airmen lost from Hurlburt in the last year.  Additionally, our guest speaker was the 5th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Chief Gaylor...  At 82 years old he was still an amazing speaker.

I get to celebrate the AF birthday by being off...but guess that is what happens when you volunteer to work weekends...

Today got to spend 2 hours in front of a KC-135R before it took off to go refuel a C-17 doing a support mission for the Secretary of Defense, then another hour getting one of our alert birds already to sit alert duty.

Keep reminding myself why I put up with 12+ hour shifts and working weekends...retirement...in 11 years...

Think Fairchild is doing their AF ball next weekend, which means I'll be at work, getting jets ready for another fun week of flying here at Fairchild  Not sure who our speaker will be, then again, not like I'll be going...but really should invest in a mess dress uniform...who knows, I might actually get to wear it sometimes.  Kinda like my service dress, or any blues for that matter, haven't worn those since Airman Leadership School, in summer of 2008, been BDUs or ABUs everyday for me.

Oh and Col Dave, I'd like phase III or higher winds every Monday from 1500 to 2330...be great if you could arrange that.

[robert3985]

Next I will redo the FEF-1 casting, the master mold was damaged.

Jason Smith

Jason, when you've re-done the master mold for your FEF-1, make sure you let us know.  I'm in the market for at least two.

Cheers!
Bob Gilmore

[jereising]

Here I am at may favorite place in the world - visiting a friend...



She's as beautiful as ever.  Next weekend she'll be doing a road trip from Chicago Union Station to Galesburg and on to Quincy and return - both days, on the BNSF main with no protection, just her Nebraska Zephyr trainset and running at track speed.  Some seats are still available, see irm.org .  Who says BNSF doesn't do heritage!

Meanwhile, back at the Sub, it's early morning at Caliente...



And a somewhat different angle:



This last was shot using a front-surface mirror.  You can really get interesting angles using the technique you can''t do any other way.

The lighting was simple enough, a couple of lights on the other side of the hill and shoot.

[spookshow]

And it keeps looking better and better!!  You really make me want to model the Rock!

Thanks, Brian. I've never tried a hack'n'slash job this ambitious before, but I'm pretty happy with where it's headed so far. I do wish the front windows hadn't wound up so big, but oh well 

Cheers,
-Mark

[superturbine]

Jason, when you've re-done the master mold for your FEF-1, make sure you let us know.  I'm in the market for at least two.

Cheers!
Bob Gilmore

You've got it Robert, I should have it done in the next month.  Numerous improvements to the boiler and tender will be made.

[PAL_Houston]

Dave, thanks for your service!

+1.

Good to know the military still has formal events like yours

[robert3985]

You've got it Robert, I should have it done in the next month.  Numerous improvements to the boiler and tender will be made.

 

Cheers!
Bob Gilmore

[PAL_Houston]

I had a lot of help over the last couple weeks to turn this:



into this:



Thanks, guys, for all your help and comments!!

[central.vermont]

I had a lot of help over the last couple weeks to turn this:
Thanks, guys, for all your help and comments!!

Tell us more on how you did the background of the bridge. Did you take a photo of a
bridge and place it in behind it?

Looks great Paul!!!!
Jon

[PAL_Houston]

...
She's as beautiful as ever.  Next weekend she'll be doing a road trip from Chicago Union Station to Galesburg and on to Quincy and return - both days, on the BNSF main with no protection, just her Nebraska Zephyr trainset and running at track speed.  Some seats are still available, see irm.org .  Who says BNSF doesn't do heritage!

....

Jim:  That would be a fun ride..... how do you find out about these things, and how long in advance does IRM announce them? 

[robert3985]

Meanwhile, back at the Sub, it's early morning at Caliente...

Love this shot!  It goes on forever...EXCELLENT!

Cheers!
Bob Gilmore

[w neal]

Looking GREAT Pal Houston!!!!!!   

Awesomeness in Caliente!

[PAL_Houston]

Tell us more on how you did the background of the bridge. Did you take a photo of a
bridge and place it in behind it?

Looks great Paul!!!!
Jon

Jon--
Thanks for the comments.  Short answer is "yes".  While far short of a how-to, you can follow the development in the "Holes in the wall" thread.

[Puddington]

Jim............you got me with those shots............wow; outstanding.......