Running Bear's June 2026 Coffee Shop

ModelRailroadForums.com is a free Model Railroad Discussion Forum and photo gallery. We cover all scales and sizes of model railroads. Online since 2002, it's one of the oldest and largest model railroad forums on the web. Whether you're a master model railroader or just getting started, you'll find something of interest here.


In other news, the New England Industrial Division YouTube channel just posted a vid that looks back at the decline and rise in the MRR hobby, speculates a bit, and looks ahead at the new growth wave and what he believes has changed... and I pretty much agree.


As the thumbnail on the vid says: Atmosphere First! create a story with your setting.
 
westtexjohn said:
Might want to check new laws. A lot of states passed laws this year against anything that obscures the license plate. License plate frames were one of the items mentioned.
I know you can still read the plate, but we're talking lawmakers here.

John
Click to expand...
I know the reasoning here was that people were putting stuff over the plates to obscure them from automated readers for places like toll collections and traffic enforcement cameras. Of course, law enforcement took that and ran with it.
 


bnsf971 said:
I know the reasoning here was that people were putting stuff over the plates to obscure them from automated readers for places like toll collections and traffic enforcement cameras. Of course, law enforcement took that and ran with it.
Click to expand...
Yep, nothing that says "look at me! I'm trying to get away with being an a-hole!" more than a plastic cover on a license plate. Now, instead of getting fined after the fact (dumb@ss driving), fine them before it can happen.

Like it!

I don't know if they did this over there, but they were bending their license plate upwards for that reason. Not sure if the Japanese police are doing anything about it since they are only reactive and not proactive, unless they need a fresh batch of donuts. They'll put up a check point to look for cell phone use or seatbelt once in a while, but I saw a car run the red light directly in front of them and nobody did anything. That wasn't in the script I guess.
 
Texas Hobo said:
Agave seedling perhaps?
Click to expand...
Boy, that would be interesting. Our ground can freeze 3ft down; winter depending, although it is within 3ft of the house, so maybe 2ft. I do not remember planting a Tequila bottle there though. Google Lens told us 'some kind of Succulent' which was so very helpful. Will watch it and we will see what we see.

L8r
 
Last edited:
Morning all,

Partly cloudy and 66° this morning, going for a high of 84° later. Some rain possible later this afternoon.

Back on my office computer this morning and off the loaner. Over the holiday weekend and into earlier this week, it just kept freezing up. Run between 15 to 30 minutes and just stop. No blinky ethernet lights, no disk access, nada. Have to pull the power cord to get it to reset. Nothing in the logs. Yesterday, I pulled several BIOS updates from the manufacturers website and updated, system stayed up and was still up this morning.

Nice to be back in a 4 year old i7 instead of a 7 year old i5.

Gotta run server updates on Saturday and again on the 27th as the first Saturday of July is the 4th, and they don't want to pay me double for the time I'd normally work.
 
63°F and clear this morning. Good morning folks. I left a window in the kitchen open last night and it cooled of to 72°F inside. Not cold, but a little chilly when you're used to it being about 80°F at 0700 inside.

Grass cutting day today. The rain we had a couple of days ago really made it shoot up.

Willow had her first visitor yesterday when a former co-worker and friend stopped by. Told me he had a large dog run across the street towards his truck and banged right into the side of it between the door and rear quarter panel. He didn't know the breed, but said it was large. It put two large dents in the side of the truck. Police are still trying to locate the dog. Legally, I don't know what will happen if the owner is found. I imagine he would be held responsible for his dog's actions, but I haven't looked up the law in ILCS 720 to know. If that's where it is.

The involuntary peeing that I was warned about with Willow when a visitor comes didn't happen. I was pleased with that. He rapped on the storm door pretty hard and the front door was open. That got her attention in a hurry and she barked twice. First time I've heard her bark. Two loud authoritative barks that would make anyone think twice about opening the door. She's no German Shepherd, but I know I wouldn't open the door if I was on the other side and didn't know her.

Nothing on the schedule for today other than grass cutting. Have a great Wednesday!

Servus!
 
Well, howdy there internet peeps,

It's Cheezed off Troy again.

I went to the big box stores near me looking for 2x4 drop ceiling tiles. Style doesn't matter. Just cheap. I need 2. Could do a third, but not necessary at this time.

this was the message at both Menards and Lowes

715177976_18584083156035711_7109623207681481936_n.jpg


Pulled out the phone and started checking.

I don't need 10. I don't want to store 7 of them in an already crowded basement or overflowing garage.

I just want 2. Mix and match is fine. Just two. But I'll buy three if you split the case.

Nope. Don't even have a SKU to charge you for them.

Funny... you did a year ago. But not now.

Left the cart sit at the contractor desk and walked away. two unfortunate employees did their "did you find everything OK?" routine on my way out. I was polite, but let them know it's dangerous to ask the guy with a cartoon storm cloud over his head. :eek: 🌧️

Checked online, and only Ace Hardware seem to still stock individuals. Closest one with any in stock is a 20 min drive away. I'm heading there next.

Will probably purchase four of them, just in case I screw another one up.
 
troyphoto said:
In other news, the New England Industrial Division YouTube channel just posted a vid that looks back at the decline and rise in the MRR hobby, speculates a bit, and looks ahead at the new growth wave and what he believes has changed... and I pretty much agree.


As the thumbnail on the vid says: Atmosphere First! create a story with your setting.
Click to expand...

I think that because trains are still a part of the culture in Europe, that the hobby is much more popular there with younger people than it is in the States. And not just an oval of track. They do build miniature worlds with their layouts. It's a rare railroad in Europe for which scenery has taken a back seat. Scenery and town/city/country planning is usually well thought out before even the first piece of track and roadbed has been laid.

I rather winged it on mine and built scenery and villages where they would fit within the trackplan. Not always to my satisfaction either. But I've made it work.

What I've never really understood about part of this hobby is why many in O-scale insist on toy-like representations of towns, industry, and everyday life in that scale. I just can't get past that for some reason. I realize no modeling is wrong, but to me it just detracts from the trains.
The 100 MPH train on a tight radius curve with the train jerking at every turn doesn't add anything for me either. Unrealistic track plans, spaghetti bowl track plans to cram every last inch of sub-roadbed with track and out of scale structures and support equipment is very detracting to me.
 


Good morning! 56f degrees heading to the mid 80’s for another nice but dry day in Wisconsin.

Today is the day I venture over to the dreaded HomeDeported big box store! Midweek the Spring planting and renovators should not be too intense!

Terry decided it’s a NO on the Farmer Markets this morning. There were 3 choices

Grandson is cutting lawns after school today, I’m 4th on his list today

I actually spent time at the bench yesterday. About 90 minutes. I will definitely be in the train room this evening because

Terry said yesterday she is making homemade crab cakes and lobster cakes for tonight. That means her friends are coming for dinner. I will be having a shrimp roll instead though I enjoy the lobster cakes. I will be having mine for my lunch today. The fish monger delivered yesterday afternoon 12# each of the lobster and crab. Just 5# of the shrimp. When I asked last night who was coming she said Pat (her life time friend) , Pharma (her good friend and my Endocrinologist) the daughter, at least one of her friends and the granddaughter. Then they will watch the Knicks and Spurs NBA game on my big screen. The girls love basketball and while Terry is not a wino the rest are! Pat and Pharma are staying over, the son in law will pick up the rest! Yep, lots of train room or deck time tonight for me!

Enjoy your day
 
troyphoto said:
Well, howdy there internet peeps,

It's Cheezed off Troy again.

I went to the big box stores near me looking for 2x4 drop ceiling tiles. Style doesn't matter. Just cheap. I need 2. Could do a third, but not necessary at this time.

this was the message at both Menards and Lowes

View attachment 267075

Pulled out the phone and started checking.

I don't need 10. I don't want to store 7 of them in an already crowded basement or overflowing garage.

I just want 2. Mix and match is fine. Just two. But I'll buy three if you split the case.

Nope. Don't even have a SKU to charge you for them.

Funny... you did a year ago. But not now.

Left the cart sit at the contractor desk and walked away. two unfortunate employees did their "did you find everything OK?" routine on my way out. I was polite, but let them know it's dangerous to ask the guy with a cartoon storm cloud over his head. :eek: 🌧️

Checked online, and only Ace Hardware seem to still stock individuals. Closest one with any in stock is a 20 min drive away. I'm heading there next.

Will probably purchase four of them, just in case I screw another one up.
Click to expand...

I checked Home Depot where I like to shop (because I hate Menard's commercials) and they don't sell singles either. Smallest pack size was six at about $80+/-. I think that's outrageous. These were square edge, drop in panels.
 
Good Morning All. Partly cloudy and 68°, a bit cooler than the past few days. Still looking for highs below 90° for the next 5 days. Chance of thunderstorms is still in the forecast, except it has been moved back until Friday now. Summer is officially here as I saw the first lightning bugs (fireflies to some) last night.

All caught up on the mowing and weedeating for now, so no yardwork planned for today. Pool is progressing nicely and there's a good chance that I'll get in today. It's still not completely cleared out yet, but it's no longer a murky brown. The vacuum is no longer picking up leaf debris from the bottom, so it's just a matter of time for the chemicals to work.
Wife came home yesterday from the extended stay in Dallas and immediately set the robotic vacuum to work! Muttered something about dog hair all over. I would have run it, but it's controlled by an app on her phone so I just don't bother.
I've posted here before about the wheat field across our road to the south of me. It's proverbial "amber waves of grain" are in full force right now. I expect to see the combines this week, probably this afternoon after the dew dries and before it rains later in the week. It's an interesting sight for those of you who don't live in the country.
1780495672333.jpeg

1780495697640.jpeg

Not a weed in the whole field! Those in the first picture are in the fence row.

Received a package yesterday from a model RR vendor called Highways and Byways.
1780495929927.jpeg

On the left is a sheet of highway and parking lot stripes, the right is RR crossing markings. All "peel & stick" vinyl products. I have used them before and fellow forum member Jim (Jim 68cuda) first turned me on to them a couple of years ago. They're a local Texas business located about 50 miles NW of Houston. They have numerous other graphics as seen on the website that I hyper-linked.
1780496170580.jpeg


Kevin - As John pointed out, check the license plate obscurity laws in Arkansas. In Texas, that "St Louis" obscuring the state name will get you a warning, or ticket depending on the circumstances.
Kusojiji - Good to read that the severe weather wasn't quite as severe as the hype.
Troy - I ran into that same issue with ceiling tiles a couple of years ago. They even had a broken box on the shelf, but the manager refused to sell me one! At least she could have gotten something out of an otherwise unusable SKU.

Everybody have a wonderful Wednesday.
 
31 miles one-way to the Ace Hardware in Huntington IN and it's mission accomplished. They had two singles. I purchased both.

714599459_18584115658035711_7045244393881173791_n.jpg
The good news is that I discovered one of the "Local" Wineries is. Not too far away. They purchase some of their grapes from elsewhere to get some without the "indiana not really a good wine grape" flavor. Their flavored wines seem popular. If the wife drank wine, she might not mind going sometime. But, we'd just be going for food, and one glass of something for me.
 
Good morning and may God bless you all. Thanks for the warning about the license plate. A local cop told me I was okay when I called him, so hopefully I will be okay when I travel to Texas and Missouri. I drive a boring looking van and don't drive like an idiot, so hopefully I won't have any problems.
Got some paint on minis yesterday and primed the new engine house except for the roof, turned out clean for the work to come. Also received a fleabay order of some project stuff, gonna have to figure out how to take the drive gear out of a Bachmann 4-4-0 so I can put a Kato drive unit into a rebuilt tender to shove it around.
Anyway, gonna get moving here, you all take care.
 


You must log in or register to reply here.




Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a commision from some of the links and ads shown on this website (Learn More Here)

Back
Top