Good Morning All. Beware the Ides of March! Clear and 47° here. We continue our great spring weather here, highs in the upper 60's-mid 70's and lows in the upper 40's. Sure looks like a full moon out there, but it's not actually until Friday. Thunderstorm last night was almost non-existent, barely got the car wet. Some hail about 30 miles east of us.
This morning brings to me a follow-up visit with my doctor for the nagging pneumonia that I have had since late-January. I actually started feeling a bit better in the last 4-5 days, but I still have not regained full stamina. I have been walking about a quarter mile a day now, hoping to get up to a half mile by this weekend. Back to my regular full mile by months end. Breathing is much improved, shortness of breath is now minimal. I only used the prescription inhaler once yesterday. I did read on the Internet that recovery is normally between 6 weeks and 6 months. I am hoping for the 6 weeks.
Thanks for all of the likes and comments yesterday;
Tom O, Guy, Chad, Patrick, Karl, Hughie, Moermusic, George, Louis, Gary, Smudge, Tom, Sherrel, Lee, OB Ken.
Out in the train shed yesterday, I only added some ground foam to another small blank area. Slowly making progress.
I took a few pictures of a rail car from Europe yesterday. My BIL gave me this for Christmas after he saw in in a hobby shop in Ohio. The clerk assured him that it would work on HO track, but that was all. It cannot be fit with any couplers that I have, but I like the car anyway. It is a product of Brawa and represents a German railcar from around 1905.
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From what I have read, that's a brakeman shanty on the top of the car.
Todd - I also grill in the wintertime quite regularly. I don't use the smoker as much though. Rain is the only thing that stops me as my porch is not covered. I can and have used an umbrella, but I cannot put the cover back on the grill until it cools off and I'm usually in bed by then!
Tom O - I'll have to see what I can do about another overall shot of the layout. Regarding how much room that I have left, there is approximately 1/3 of the layout with no structures or scenery; just main line and passing sidings running through it. I am intentionally not developing it yet because I really want to finish the scenery gaps elsewhere. About 25% of the unfinished area is going to be a staging/classification yard and all of the track is laid. Another 20% is going to be dedicated to an Ethanol processor and most of that track is laid. I switch it out already with no structures or scenery present. Most structures have been purchased and I have posted several builds recently. I do still need to obtain some more. I still have gaps in the other 2/3 of the layout. I have some kits that I will never use; my son gave me a wooden coaling tower for Christmas a few years ago.
Steve J - My daughter and family installed Smart Bulbs a couple of years ago, but the novelty of changing colors wore off pretty quickly. Grandsons still occasionally do it to impress friends and relatives.
Guy - I intend to be rather selective about the Miniprint figures. I just don't need any "novelty" figures, mummies, Fred the Sock etc.. I like the armadillos and coyotes though.
Greg - Sorry to read of your issues with ScaleTrains. I have only purchased "Rivet Counters" or "Operators" and I am very satisfied with them. I have 13 and the only issue was a broken horn on one of them, which was replaced immediately.
Gary - Impressive boat. Keep the pictures coming.
Everybody have an awesome day.