Running Bear’s November 2021 Coffee Shop

[CHRISTIAN]

Hello Happy Fellow Modelers !
I post these three photos of the French National Railroad Company signals (SNCF). I'll try to explain how they work. They are temporary used on a part of the track (working zone, construction area...) to reduce the speed of the trains. On these signals, the speed limit is 80 km/h (approx. 50 mph). Don't forget that all French trains are left hand drive. First one is a "distant signal". The second is the beginning of the reduced speed. The third is the end of the speed limit. I hope I'm clear but I'm not really sure...

 

[CHRISTIAN]

"hoochmobile"

What's that ?

 

[bnsf971]

What's that ?

In this case, it is a vehicle modified to transport untaxed alcohol.

 

[CHRISTIAN]

Oh Oh ! Is there some moonshining around here ?

 

[Patrick]

Morning all,

39° and cloudy this morning, but no rain. Supposed to clear later with a high in the upper 50's.

First off, welcome to here Topherisme. Don't worry about being amateurish, we all started there and some of us still are (I consider myself in this category).

Not much new going on here. Looks like I have at least another week or 2 of mowing. We didn't get the heavy frost predicted for overnight, so the grass will still be growing. I still need to empty the rain barrels and get them put away for the winter. Although I didn't use the water I collected this year.

Been looking at jobs myself lately. For all the talk of the lack of workers, wages for IT workers doesn't seem to be getting any better in my area. A local restaurant is paying bartenders $25.00 an hour to start, but places wanting 5+ years of experience and a college degree only paying $15-$20. As it stands, I'm still making less than I was 10 years ago, but with better benefits.

Terry: Not sure what you do, but may be time to make a change.

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. Cloudy and 45°, which hasn't changed at all in the last 36 hours or so. We're expecting the clouds to disappear about noon and warm up to 58° today and into the 70's by Sunday. however the absence of clouds will allow the next two nights to drop into the mid-30's. Two day rain total was just a fraction over 2". I finally did it, I had to start a fire in the wood-burning heater last evening. This is the latest date for that in the 41 years that we have lived here. Usually get 5-6 nights in October in a normal year.

My wife's antibiotic treatment has taken an unusual twist. The lab results from Monday's blood draw, while mostly showing improvement, had one bad number. The infectious disease doctor who we were going to see yesterday anyway, suspended one of the two infusions. Staci came out yesterday to do another draw and we don't have the results yet. Meanwhile one infusion continues. Bad thing is that we have already received and made the copay for the last two weeks of both of them, so we might be out of $209 for antibiotics that can't be used or returned. On the other hand, the doctor feels that it was just a lab screw-up and he might restart the other one today after the new test results are available.

Meanwhile, life goes on. As is the norm for Thursday, I will be making the weekly grocery trek this morning as I need a lot of stuff. Sam's Club, gas station and the Vitamin Shop are also on the agenda. Speaking of gas, I did notice yesterday that gas prices in Denton TX actually dropped by a nickel since last week. Still above $3 at $3.04/gal.

Thanks as always for the likes and comments regarding my hopper progress; Joe, Steve J, Patrick, Christian, Guy, OB Ken, Chad, Hughie, Tom O, Curt, Rick, IB Ken, Tom, Jaz.

A Mexican omelet this morning with extra sausage on the side, Flo. The usual spicy salsa and OJ on the side should fix me up.

So, out in the train shed yesterday, I mostly ran some trains. I did do a little more assembly on the P2K covered hopper, but I know when it's time to stop. I worked on the underbody details. The train air line was broken on the sprue.

That actually made it easier to install as it interweaves around the bolster and frame. Here it is with the additional brake parts and bolster installed.

And the repair.

Those "shaker brackets" are also separately applied parts which I did. I broke that air pipe on the A end also, above the coupler pocket near the end, but I didn't take a picture of the repair. Time for beer and I switched over to the train running as I don't model after popping a top.
Why is it that I have to sneeze every time I get a dab of super glue on two parts before assembly???

Ray - Interesting video although I could only take the time to watch the first six minutes...48 minutes is a bit too long for me!
Sherrel - Hmmmh! Sounds like a National Lampoon vacation movie!
Chad - I use a fresh single-edge razor blade when working on the P2K kits. Most sprue cutters and wire cutters are too thick to do the job properly. Matter of fact, there are specific instructions to not use anything else except a #11 Exacto blade or razor blade. I have a similar nipper to the link that you posted, but experience has shown that it cannot readily nip the gates.
I think that you are correct regarding the insurance and preventive care.
Joe - Yes, there are some interesting results all over the place from Tuesday's elections. Not sure if I can comment on any one in particular, but besides the two widely publicized governors races, Buffalo, Seattle, and San Antonio had some interesting local races. Some down-ballot races in VA and NJ were also interesting. Some of the media seems to be losing their minds!
Regarding the P2K model kits, I generally break a few parts on every one. The score is on the current build, one broken on the sprue and two that I broke. One of which is the same part that was already broken on the sprue. Air pipes are generally my nemesis. I break a grab on about every three cars. I have broken and replaced roofwalk grabs with A-Line ones on five other cars out of the 14 that I have built.
Hughie - Nice progress already.
James - Belated Happy Birthday. Good luck with the tooth extraction.
Topherisme - Welcome to the Coffee Shop. Don't worry about being an amateur here, after all, Sherrel has been here 12 years and read his posts!!!! If you don't mind me asking, do you have a real name like Mike or Bill?
OB Ken - I have a bunch of aluminum windows that I removed from my house that I periodically remove parts from in order to make the trip to the scrap dealers place profitable. Each of them has about $6 worth of aluminum in them and I replaced 19 all together. Removal of the glass has slowed that process considerably!

All of this talk of changing jobs makes me glad that I was able to pull the plug 6 years ago. Benefits were excellent and although the pay was good, I hadn't had a raise in six years. They didn't really need me and other than insurance, I didn't really need the job any more, so as soon as I could stretch COBRA out to Medicare eligibility, away I went. Sure don't miss that 50 mile commute each way!

Everybody have a great day. Stay safe and warm.

 

[troyphoto]

Well howdy there again...

Been researching a setting for my next book series. And then my wife asked me where we should retire to (after the family obligations here in Indiana have passed).

Of course, the location I'd been researching popped to mind.

Nova Scotia Canada

From what I'm seeing, the climate is similar to what we get here. Perhaps a bit milder in the summers. there is the ocean. And it's darn convenient to the rest of the world for travel.

And, since the wife and I both have Scottish roots in our family trees, Nova Scotia seems like a decent fit.

So the wife bit her lip while she thought. It's now on her radar.

Any Canadian friends on here want to speak up for or against? We're still a good 5 years out from that move, or longer.

 

[MilwRoader_Steve]

I was in Halifax once when in the Navy. As a Lieutenant and the chief Engineer, my captain didn't much care for me (guess who loses) so I was in 'hack' during our port visit. That is a deckplate term for an informal discipline of an officer and means restricted to the ship. Nothing goes in your service record and there are no formal proceedings. It is a rather 'iffy' order, but used in certain circumstances by the CO to make a point. Keeping his damn boilers online and the screw turning, I missed his imposed deadline on a piece of paper by a day or two - hence the 'hack.'

Also had my father's sister who lived in Newfoundland. Her husband's father was an RN captain who had received a land grant in Newfy for an rescue mission he commanded. That was 1900-ish, methinks. My uncle died and she retired to Virginia (she was the eldest of the four and probably born 1910? My father was born 1912 and his father died in the 1918 flu epidemic) before I had a chance to visit. Black Duck, I seem to recall the name of the town, or something like that. Pretty sure her married name was Campbell. So if any Canadians chime in to answer Troy and wish to share some info re my family - - glad to hear.

Welcome to our new member! This is a very encouraging group and give lots of support. I, too, am a newbie to the hobby and am only building my very first layout ever. Much nicer group of folks than the other forum I follow. There most threads, though with lots of useful info, break down into "Who Struck John" pissing matches. Much larger egos than I have found here! Yes, y'all MAY take a bow!

I will show off my layout to date to a fellow modeler for the very first time tomorrow night. We are having the guys I play golf with over for homemade pizza and one is restoring his '60s/70s layout and equipment. We've had many a chat on the teebox and enjoyed each other's pictures. I know he will want to see what DCC looks/feels/runs like, so toss up a prayer for me and my layout that no gremlins appear.

Blasted greyhound got me up to take him out three times last night, so running on too-little sleep here. And a definite day.

Terry - - no way to take your skills to a competitor? Sounds like a very negative workplace environment and with the job market so hot now, you must be thinking of a change.

Steve J

 

[McLeod]

Good Morning!
As I begin this post, I can hear the train whistle sounding in the distance. The 3x burst tells me a train is crossing highway 43. Sound travels well in the cool weather, and it's only 25F this morning.

With my son having got a job at the Blue Ridge mill, the wife and I have decided to help him out with a newer vehicle to get him there safely. It's not him; it's us that don't trust the rust bucket that he's driving right now. I want him to get to work without problems or worry, so we'll help him.
There's great opportunity at Blue Ridge to make a fine living. Lots of room to move up the ladder and very good benefits. I worked there 7 yrs myself as an industrial electrician.

Troy - I'm not into music, so the most equipment I have in a room is the am/fm box radio, listening to the yap put out on our local station. We don't even own any kind of fancy stereo equipment; and I've only had a radio in my truck since the 8-track days.

Willie - I admire your consistency and disciplined commitment in the hobby. I always seem to get bored with projects and have a tendency to set them aside before completion. I've got way more started projects than finished ones. - However, I am committed to packing a camera everywhere I go.

Today's photos are of a 3-bay open hopper owned by Park Paving out of Edmonton. They haul a-lot of gavel out of here for the greater Edmonton market, enough to justify their own railcars. There are huge gravel pits to the west of us.

When I get to building the layout, I want a gravel operation and a sawmill on it, as industries.

Well, that's enough yap for today; the coffee cup is emptied. See ya on another day.
Have a good one!

 

[Topherisme]

Chris, living in Ohio, modeling UP late 80s to early 90s somewhere fictional between Chicago and St. Louis….

I agree, good bunch of peeps, more than willing to help, which is always most appreciated…

Gotta lot of work to do, but honestly enjoy the whole process

 

[Boris]

I thought that preventative care was supposed to be covered at 100% by insurance companies due to so-called "Obamacare" mandates for what is acceptable insurance.

Chad and Terry: There is a loophole in the so called Obamacare legislation which grandfathers certain plans, especially "Employer Provided" plans, (even if the employer doesn't contribute a penny, as long as they sponsor it). Note, that not even Medicare covers all "screenings", but doctors can get around this if the patient displays "symptoms", then the can code it as Medically necessary.

 

[Boris]

if I don't make the cut to stay working here, it could be considered an opportunity.

If all the news storys about labor shortages are accurate, I would think there are plenty of opportunities out there. Times are different than they were back when you signed on... I know it's not an easy decision, unless they make it for you, but you should start looking. More work/hours for the same pay = pay cut.

 

[chadbag]

Chad - I use a fresh single-edge razor blade when working on the P2K kits. Most sprue cutters and wire cutters are too thick to do the job properly. Matter of fact, there are specific instructions to not use anything else except a #11 Exacto blade or razor blade. I have a similar nipper to the link that you posted, but experience has shown that it cannot readily nip the gates.

The ones I posted are especially made to cut sprues and stuff. They are not normal wire types. Just a suggestion to look at. But the N-scale guys rave about them for this purpose.

 

[Boris]

Some of the media seems to be losing their minds!

Willie: The problem with media types is they all talk, but don't listen...sort of like the academics, and high level corporate types. They all hang out where the air is rarefied, and everyone sees things the same way. They have trouble accepting that others, especially, those they consider less advanced than themselves, have opinions/ideas/ solutions that don't conform to the solutions that the media/Academics/Extreme Wealthy propose.

They advance the concept of "Diversity", for instance, but cannot accept Diverse view points. They don't understand what Discourse is, relying instead on dictation. When there is push back, they just don't understand the why.

The race for Governor in Jersey, was so close, that a few more votes would have changed the outcome. The polls said Murphy would win by a substantial margin...He didn't. Now the elites are looking for answers... they should find a mirror... My personal take is regardless of which candidate won, I stand to lose...but I'm too cynical.

Enough.

The detail work on that Proto kit is fantastic.

 

[chadbag]

Chad and Terry: There is a loophole in the so called Obamacare legislation which grandfathers certain plans, especially "Employer Provided" plans, (even if the employer doesn't contribute a penny, as long as they sponsor it). Note, that not even Medicare covers all "screenings", but doctors can get around this if the patient displays "symptoms", then the can code it as Medically necessary.

yes, but the link I provided says or implies that the grandfathered plans cannot change materially the coverages provided after the grandfathering date. Since these changes went into effect, as Terry explained, after the ACA passed, I don't see how they can be legal. I would definitely file a complaint with whatever governmental organization is interested in this sort of thing.

 

[Sirfoldalot]

Good morning from Laughlin, NV again! Was a pretty warm (hot) day here yesterday and the wind was blowing sideways.
The lovely Spousal Unit played 4 games of Bingo at the Riverside Casino and won three times for a total of $380.00!
Proud of her and let her pay for dinner when I drove the car down to pick her up. Surprised myself that I did not even see if they had the usual poker tables going. My option trading here lately has more than satisfied my gambling in stinks and that has been going very well too!

JAMES - I really feel for you with the cracked tooth! I left one of mine in Paris and another prior to that in Albuquerque.
Same scenario - split right down the middle. Finding a dentist at night on a layover is certainly not a chore that I would even wish on my enemies. I could go into nightmare tales about my dental forays , but we will save that for another time. Short version, my father had very bad teeth and lost his in his early 40's ... I inherited his teeth and made it until my very early 50's.
I clicked "sad" on your post for two reasons: the tooth problem and hunting. Not that I am against hunting - it's just that the last deer that I killed was when I was in college; my father, who had been an avid hunter all his life, sat me on a deer stand where he had been seeing this buck all year out on his job, and sure enough it came along and I dropped it first shot! When I loaded it onto the hood f my car and drove up to the country store where I knew my dad would be taking a break with the oil field crew I was all smiles, but when I looked at him- he had a tear in his eye - as he had watched that deer for over a year. I lost the desire to kill any animal after that excepting rattlesnakes, black widows, and scorpions. I should add that I have not lost the desire on politicians - just need the chance!

FLO - Another cup if you please ... this one went dry?
BBL

 

[TLOC]

Hello global modelers. It’s a cool 73 at 8:32am heading to an ok 82 with a 4 mph breeze.

The daughter and the 2 g/kids with the SIL got on a plane this morning at 7 am and they are heading here. Her birthday is tomorrow and she will be 40! 2 neighbors and their kids and hubbys are all coming. Party tomorrow at 5. The son and his g/friend are coming but leave Austin this afternoon. The niece was going to New York for a few days on business but will show up for the party. My brother made the flight arrangements.

We are having a family meeting on Saturday. The girls on Monday have appointments at a few schools they previously visited a few years ago. The 7, “soon to be 8 poppa” grandson is a math wiz and has tested out of grade school and high school math. He needs specialized math education. He reads already with a college age understanding. Just the opposite is the 10 year old granddaughter that is Down Syndrome. Her needs are much more basic and finding a school for her a few years ago kept the daughter’s family in Verona. If she can find a school similar on Maui they would move here tomorrow. The son said he will stay in the Austin area but come visit a lot. The niece had said she will stay either in Burbank, Ca and continue writing or go back and teach at NYU in NY but will not move to Maui full time. My sister will have her cottage here and said she’s fine with whatever is figured out. I would love to leave Wisconsin in the rear view mirror.

We met with the contractor yesterday and the only way possible to move the buildings along any quicker is to make the walls poured concrete or tilt-a-walls also made of concrete. The difference of 3-4 months over normal metal or wood stud walls may not be worth the huge increase in finishing costs. Terry is figuring out cost differences and arguing with the brother. The brother wants the poured cement and Terry wants to add a bonus for each 30 days completed before 12/25/2022 which is the promise date now if there are no more Covid stoppages. The biggest issue that we found out yesterday is the brother has an offer on this house that he does not want to turn down. Just found out also yesterday that about 10 miles away Mr. Bezo just spent 78 million to buy a 12 acre complex that sold 10 years ago for about 8 million. That property has its own private cove and I guess money was no object. Definitely in a different neighborhood then here. But prices on Maui for raw land with water rights have risen about 11% from last year and for finished housing about 18%. But heck that seems to be everywhere.

I ordered 8 rubber bins last night. I need to get all the stuff I had sent here out of cardboard boxes and into the bins and mark the bins. I can move all the modeling stuff either into the completed garages or into one of the 3 completed green houses. Terry wants me to put it into one of her greenhouses. I can definitely get a layout out of the remaining space 20’x 68’, lol.. It just needs a concrete floor. It already has a finished office with bathroom.

enjoy your day
TomO

edit at 5:18am on 11/4 Thursday

Well I guess you have to hit the post button to get this on the page— just a quick visit as I want a 2 hours more sleep then what I have

left back in Wisconsin

 

[Sirfoldalot]

'm totally amateur, but I still post anyway I enjoy the camaraderie in the shop.

Hopefully that is why most of us are here, plus out "love" of trains!

 

[CHRISTIAN]

I'm totally amateur,

Me too ! Welcome to the club !

 

[CHRISTIAN]

Many thanks as always for the likes and comments regarding my posts.