Running Bear's August 2024 Coffee Shop

[TLOC]

dang. Just had to pay almost $700 to repair the lift spring system on my garage door. Now tonight, I notice a blinking light on the lift motor. I check the manual and it says the logic card needs to be replaced. Another $150.
This house is about 15 years old now and I think things are starting to fail. Just a few days ago, had to order an anode and heater elements for my water heater. I'm sure the heat pump system will be going anytime now. I'm also on a well system. That'll be sure to jump into the fray.

Sounds about right! When we lived in North Central Wisconsin when that house hit 12 years old I think every kitchen appliance met the landfill over a couple year period. Then the well pump at year 16. Never had a gas water heater last more than 6 years. The roof made it to about 22 years and when I brought up the warranty the manufacturers rep said lucky you got as far as you did living amongst the pine trees and the sap they produced. I did get a couple hundred $ credit. The gas furnace was great until we thought about selling at 34 years when the realtor said replace it!

The fun of home ownership!

 

[KriegslokBR52]

Oh the joys of home ownership!!

I too am on a well, end even with a water treatment system, my water heaters rarely last 3-4 years. Thank goodness my neighbor is a plumber!

I'm on a well also, my dad and I put in a new water heater about 6 or 7 years ago, surprise that it's still working. I've had a guy do the water treating system about 5 years ago, since I wouldn't even know where to start-two big filter tanks. I'm currently overdo on getting those tanks replenished, but I wonder if that filter sand, or what ever it is, contributes to premature corrosion of water heater elements. I had to replace my water pump about 5 years ago. $400 and decided to do it myself, great decision, because it's still working great and I probably saved myself about $2000 from plumbing service; had to change the plumbing attached to the pump itself, because I bought different pump. Weekend work on the pump and immediate plumbing replacement and by the time Sunday evening hit, I had fresh water running from the faucets.

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. Partly cloudy and 81°; supposed to hit 103° again today. No change in the hot and dry forecast although the NWS is now predicting only double digits starting Wednesday of next week.

Very busy day yesterday, as we decided to go ahead and do the weekly grocery trek. Nothing new in town, my right side hearing aid has still not come back from the repair shop. Gasoline prices have creeped back above $3.09/gallon. Got home, ate lunch, napped and then went to PT at 2:00. After I got home, the tree trimmers that I hired to take down branches that needed to be done from a ladder or climbing into the tree, came by early to start. I semi-supervised the 2 man crew until supper which was about the time that they called it quits for the day. My best observation is that they got about half done and will be back this morning, supposedly with a bigger crew and finish up by mid-morning. They only had one saw with them, the other crew had the rest and they got that saw pinched in a tree trunk. Fortunately it was in a downed position by then, so I was able to get my trusty Homelite electric and rescue them with one well-placed cut. Otherwise they would have to wait for someone from the other crew to drive from wherever with another saw. More of the same today although I will most likely start on some of the downed stuff littering the front yard while they finish in the woodlot and the back 40.
By the way, I found the chigger patch yesterday.

No train shed time since I was with the tree guys or assisting my wife with her once a week supper prep. A good Southern meal of baked Cilantro-Lime chicken wings, baked beans with a slew of add-ins and potato pancakes.

No photos today, gotta go now, the crew just showed up. Everyone have a great Friday.
BBL

 

[TLOC]

Good morning from So. Central Wisconsin. Today is travel day! I think I feel strong enough to do this.

Spoke to Terry 3 times yesterday instead of the normal 1 time. She and my sister and the 2 friends still there along with the brother’s girl friend are craving some excitement after 57 days on Maui! Time sure flies! Since the brother is out golfing they decided his place in Vegas is where they are headed. I will join them this evening! Our daughter and granddaughter are traveling with them to Vegas and will stay tonight and the son will fly them home to Wisconsin Sunday night. He has a charter to Vegas Sunday and then a 8pm flight with a few couples to Chicago’s Executive Airport in the northern suburbs. Then back to our local airport in Middleton with his sister and niece. He’ll stay until Tuesday at his sister’s. I think I’m a bit stir crazy but I’m testing negative and the body fatigue while still there is not as severe! My travel partner is going to be my Endocrinologist who is a very good friend with Terry. There is nothing for me here this week that I must be here for. The cleaning crew I hired will be here at 8am ( I’m still here) and the SIL will pop over when they call him to inspect and pay them. The hot sun and some pool time I figure cannot hurt me. Terry says we will be back next Sunday!

I did spend time at the bench yesterday. I worked on my diesel! The other thing I did was cut out decals! I have 4 box cars that will get graffiti and tags

Those cars, decals and the decal solution are coming with me to Vegas. Along with a few brushes and a couple colors for washes after the decals are dried.

Enjoy the day

 

[migalyto]

Sounds about right! When we lived in North Central Wisconsin when that house hit 12 years old I think every kitchen appliance met the landfill over a couple year period.

Ah yes, the joys of home ownership. Its still better than renting in my opinion!

You were probably fortunate to get that long out of them.

We did our kitchen 8 years ago and were starting to see appliances going down hill already. The second oven starting to take too long to pre-heat and will abort with an error code. The dishwasher racks are all starting to rust out, and I don't think the fridge is as cold as it was when new, and the compressor has already been replaced twice under LGs warranty extension, because they knew what junk their linear compressors were.

 

[migalyto]

Good morning all, happy Friday!

Another round of thunderstorms moved through the area early this morning. Not sure how much rain fell in the last 24 hours but judging by the pool level it would have to be a couple of inches. Looks like the skies are clearing now for a pleasant day. I mowed on Tuesday, but with the rain and thunderstorms, the grass took off.

Finally getting the vigor back to do some layout work. Seems the 2 week or so funk I was in has passed.

Time to see what the day brings!

Have a great day all!

 

[Smudge617]

For our Intermodel enthusiasts
Oxford Models

 

[migalyto]

For our Intermodel enthusiasts
Oxford Models

Curse you!!

These look great! You know what an intermodal fan I am! Might need a couple of these for my yard. Be much easier than putting together the Walthers kits, since Im not a great kit builder!

 

[John from Indiana]

Howdy from NW Indiana, it's almost 9am and it's 76 with 99% humidity with "flood like downpours and hail this afternoon". So much for touching up the paint on the pation deck, and so much for adding another coat of Man-O-War Spar varnish on our glider...put a coat on yesterday, and it's still sticky due to the humidity. So I will go back to finding the dead short on the my layout. I did not use buss feeds when I built the layout and the power to the track goes everywhere. My plan was to slowly rewire my layout with controlled buss feeds; but since I have a dead short somewhere, I might start now...that would be the logical thing to do; but I want to fix the short first. I can't fix the short, because the main circuit breaker blows before I can trouble shoot anything... a soldier's request to be relieved from active duty can be accepted only if he is mentally unfit to fight. Any soldier, however, who has the sense to ask to be spared the horrors of war is obviously mentally sound, and therefore must stay to fight...Catch 22

 

[Smudge617]

Curse you!!

These look great! You know what an intermodal fan I am! Might need a couple of these for my yard. Be much easier than putting together the Walthers kits, since Im not a great kit builder!

Be quick then, they're on sale with £10 off

Bundles

Oxford Diecast is the world’s largest manufacturer of 1:76 diecast scale models. We have one of the largest ranges around producing trucks, planes, cars, farm and railway locomotives at 1:148, 1:87, 1:76, 1:72, 1:50, 1:43 and 1:18 scales.

www.oxforddiecast.co.uk

I've also bought one, I don't fancy making that kit either
it's also a working stacker.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

Day before the op session. As usual, I'm finding things that need to be taken care of, fixed, put away, put somewhere else or just thrown away. Makin this a busy day. Later this afternoon, I'll put a couple of track cleaner trains into motion then just sit at the desk down there and fiddle with the smaller projects or maybe just take a nap.

 

[migalyto]

Be quick then, they're on sale with £10 off

Bundles

Oxford Diecast is the world’s largest manufacturer of 1:76 diecast scale models. We have one of the largest ranges around producing trucks, planes, cars, farm and railway locomotives at 1:148, 1:87, 1:76, 1:72, 1:50, 1:43 and 1:18 scales.

www.oxforddiecast.co.uk

I've also bought one, I don't fancy making that kit either
it's also a working stacker.

I see its 1:76, do you think it will be a noticeable difference VS 1:87?

The container that comes with it wouldn't be a big deal if it doesn't fit a well car. It could sit in the container yard or be used as a storage unit in another scene.

 

[John from Indiana]

Curse you!!

Be much easier than putting together the Walthers kits, since Im not a great kit builder!

I just finished building Walthers City Apartments, and I had to fight with it in a few places. I threw away the empty box yesterday; but is so doing i noticed that the kit said "made in China"...when did that happen?...maybe I just haven't noticed that before

 

[migalyto]

I just finished building Walthers City Apartments, and I had to fight with it in a few places. I threw away the empty box yesterday; but is so doing i noticed that the kit said "made in China"...when did that happen?...maybe I just haven't noticed that before

I know Walthers kits have been manufactured in a couple different places. When It changed to China I don't know. I assume everything is made in China anymore!


Here's mine I built a while back. I am having a fit finding something to keep the center window panel glued. I have tries several times and it still keeps falling out. I have it just taped now, thus the sagging. I'm not going to use it, as my plans have changed and I'm not doing a city/urban scene anymore, so on the shelf it stays.

If anyone has a magic bullet for windows, I would love to hear them!

 

[John from Indiana]

I know Walthers kits have been manufactured in a couple different places. When It changed to China I don't know. I assume everything is made in China anymore!


Here's mine I built a while back. I am having a fit finding something to keep the center window panel glued. I have tries several times and it still keeps falling out. I have it just taped now, thus the sagging. I'm not going to use it, as my plans have changed and I'm not doing a city/urban scene anymore, so on the shelf it stays.

If anyone has a magic bullet for windows, I would love to hear them!

View attachment 196455

That was my problem; the center window section. I cleaned out the female locaters on the top and I clean them so well, the glue ate a hole in the 2 outer walls. I had to cover it with For Sale by Owner signs, it looks like crap; but it's better than 2 holes. I ran out of "window acetate" and ordered some from Amazon. The acetate was delivered and I put up the curtains and forgot about the window acetate...nobody will see the sides, so I left it. I like your weathering; but I kept mine prestine for the apartment owner to sell it at a quick sale, cause if an earthquake hits, the building will come apart

 

[Smudge617]

I see its 1:76, do you think it will be a noticeable difference VS 1:87?

The container that comes with it wouldn't be a big deal if it doesn't fit a well car. It could sit in the container yard or be used as a storage unit in another scene.

It's doubtful anyone would notice the difference unless you put the Walthers kit one next to it.

As for the container, what's another oversized container in the yard, or use it as for storage or even convert it into the yard office

 

[troyphoto]

Not to change the subject or anything

I finished my giant for the Rock Band Orcs. He sure can play guitar, but he plays it left-handed.

That's Gilly and Weird between his feet. Because ZiGé needed a spider on his martian landscape.

Orcs on manticore for size comparison

 

[KriegslokBR52]

I know Walthers kits have been manufactured in a couple different places. When It changed to China I don't know. I assume everything is made in China anymore!


Here's mine I built a while back. I am having a fit finding something to keep the center window panel glued. I have tries several times and it still keeps falling out. I have it just taped now, thus the sagging. I'm not going to use it, as my plans have changed and I'm not doing a city/urban scene anymore, so on the shelf it stays.

If anyone has a magic bullet for windows, I would love to hear them!

View attachment 196455

Nice weathering

 

[TLOC]

Ah yes, the joys of home ownership. Its still better than renting in my opinion!

You were probably fortunate to get that long out of them.

We did our kitchen 8 years ago and were starting to see appliances going down hill already. The second oven starting to take too long to pre-heat and will abort with an error code. The dishwasher racks are all starting to rust out, and I don't think the fridge is as cold as it was when new, and the compressor has already been replaced twice under LGs warranty extension, because they knew what junk their linear compressors were.

Mike back when we built the house 79/80, appliances were built in the USA and of course without all the current electronics. We actually could get an appliance service person out to the house until about 2010.

Just had the lights 6 weeks ago go out in the refrigerator and didn’t buy the Best Buy warranty with it! $500 to maybe, no promises made, that the repair guy could actually replace the LED board that is in an impossibly accessible spot

 

[montanan]

I am alive and well but disappointed with the company that I have been buying buying computer parts from. I found out from them that what I am looking for is no longer made and they have been looking for something that either replaced the part or will work in its place.

Had to put the computer back together to file for my property tax rebate so I figured I would check in. Will probably take it apart went I am done using it today.

Todd - I feel your pain having to crawl around on the floor. I used to laugh at the TV commercials with people saying that they have fallen and can't get up. I was putting a storage cabinet together and a smoker/grill and it was a major undertaking to get my butt up off the floor.

Willie - It was good to see those buildings being put to use on your layout. Always enjoy your photos. The Logan Valley lives on with your layout and Todd having the Logan Valley locomotives and rolling stock. I still have a box full of pine trees, buildings, freight cars and other MRR items in boxes.

John from Indiana - Nice photos. I have relatives in Portage, Merrillville and Crown Point and South Bend and they were talking about the moisture. We had a passing shower here, but with the western fires, we could use a lot more.

KriegslokBR52 - Excellent photos.

It has been hot up here and have either stayed indoors with the A/C or have been heading up a few miles to the Libby Dam Recreational area as it is a bit cooler with the shade from the trees. I have to have my dogs on a leash, but I just let them go where the want and let them explore and we all get some exercise. I also made a couple of trips down to Bozeman to see the kids and grand kids and visit friends. It is such a shame to see what has happened to the area. The traffic there is as in a larger city now with so many Richard Petty wannabees on the roads. I do miss being with my family and friends, as well as my model railroad, but I am so happy to get out of there.

Here we go back to the archives for some photos.

Gotta go, LATER