Running Bear's August 2022 Coffee Shop

[Alcomotive]

OLD NEWS or NEW NEWS?

New owners for Micro Engineering!
Considering this press release is nearly a month old, this might not be news to you, but it’s news to me so I thought I’d post it:
Aug. 1, 2022- Press Release
Ron Rands and Jack, Reece, Caleb & Jon Dwiggins are pleased to announce the purchase of the assets, intellectual property, and inventory of Micro Engineering Inc. by Warbonnet Enterprises L.L.C. of Macon Mo.
The company will operate under the name of Micro Engineering Company and will continue to offer the complete line of Micro Engineering products. New products will be added to the company catalogue in the near future.
Jack Dwiggins, Operations Manager, said “We look forward to continuing to offer high quality, American Made, track and turnout products as well as bridge and building kits to our model railroad clients and business partners.”
Ron Rands said, “My Daughter Donna and myself could not be more pleased with the purchase by the Dwiggins family. In our dealings with Jon and his family over the last several months, it has become obvious they possess the energy and ability to continue Micro’s success. I know Micro Engineering customers will find them very friendly and easy to work with. My father, Bob Rands, would be delighted that the Dwiggins family is purchasing the company he started in 1964 and Donna and I are thrilled to see my father’s legacy continue. We would like to thank all of our customers and friends over the last 58 years for your business and friendship.”
The company address, phone numbers and website will remain unchanged.
Micro Engineering Company
1120 Eagle Road, Fenton, MO 63026
Voice: 636-349-1112
Fax: 636-349-1180
www.microengineering.com
[email protected]

Micro Engineering

 

[Boris]

I made some more progress on the decking for my pier.
View attachment 150601


Definitely a labor of love

Jeff: That's awesome. Looks great. Where did you find the piling?

 

[TLOC]

OLD NEWS or NEW NEWS?

New owners for Micro Engineering!
Considering this press release is nearly a month old, this might not be news to you, but it’s news to me so I thought I’d post it:
Aug. 1, 2022- Press Release
Ron Rands and Jack, Reece, Caleb & Jon Dwiggins are pleased to announce the purchase of the assets, intellectual property, and inventory of Micro Engineering Inc. by Warbonnet Enterprises L.L.C. of Macon Mo.
The company will operate under the name of Micro Engineering Company and will continue to offer the complete line of Micro Engineering products. New products will be added to the company catalogue in the near future.
Jack Dwiggins, Operations Manager, said “We look forward to continuing to offer high quality, American Made, track and turnout products as well as bridge and building kits to our model railroad clients and business partners.”
Ron Rands said, “My Daughter Donna and myself could not be more pleased with the purchase by the Dwiggins family. In our dealings with Jon and his family over the last several months, it has become obvious they possess the energy and ability to continue Micro’s success. I know Micro Engineering customers will find them very friendly and easy to work with. My father, Bob Rands, would be delighted that the Dwiggins family is purchasing the company he started in 1964 and Donna and I are thrilled to see my father’s legacy continue. We would like to thank all of our customers and friends over the last 58 years for your business and friendship.”
The company address, phone numbers and website will remain unchanged.
Micro Engineering Company
1120 Eagle Road, Fenton, MO 63026
Voice: 636-349-1112
Fax: 636-349-1180
www.microengineering.com
[email protected]

Micro Engineering

There have been discussions on this announcement on most of the forums. Good to see it here now

My belief is it’s good news and I am a happy ME user.

What shocks me is the 18 month backlog. I read that as ME closed during Covid even though Missouri for the most part stayed open and have not been able to catch up. I could check to see how much PPP money ME got but its not worth digging into. In 3 years if they are still in business, it’s great for us modelers and of course the new owners. I really thought they were going to be done

 

[JeffH]

Jeff: That's awesome. Looks great. Where did you find the piling?

The pilings came with the waterfront Cannery kit from ModelTech Studios.

It's the building in red

 

[Sirfoldalot]

Really nice photos, CHET, always enjoyed your layout.
Good luck with the shoulder and the pup.
Charlie finally ate a little bit of shredded corned beef tonight; he had me worried that he had ZERO to drink, or eat, for 48 hours. He was pretty "goofy" all night and most of today -starting to perk up now again!
When i walked in the Vet's door - I told them I was there to pick up "The Devil Dog"!
The girl laughed and said, "You mean Charlie"?

Willie - sounds like a plan - Kate had mentioned that the Pool House would make an excellent Salon for her clients! There have been a few showings and one offer which was countered to no avail. BIL John and myself thought that the offer should have been taken, but the girls did not want to lose 200K. Now, John and I both feel that they will lose a lot more - things have really slowed down and gone down too!

It was confirmed today that sister Irene does have multi myeloma. Fortunately, she does have one of the best doctors in the area who is also BIL BRAD's cancer doctor.
Brad has a form of leukemia with a "white count" of 200,000. He has been living with this condition for 5 years by controlling carefully his food intake and has doctors in Cleveland, Houston, and other places (he has been all over) shaking their head at his resilience.

Stick and Tissue airplanes? Lord, it has been a long time since I have done that - and I loved it. Sounds like a plan! I'm sorry that I forgot who is doing this. I'll go back and look - I need to take a lesson from CURT and make notes as I read?

JeffH - that's some good looking work on the pier - and other construction I see.

Spousal Unit and I watched the 'STAR TREK into darkness' tonight on her PRIME!
I did not care for all the destruction and, for me, too much fighting. Too much of the movie was like watching TV auto commercials with the blink of an eye visual - tiring to me, but I did like the characters which fit the series nicely.
I'll have to see if I can fine the 3rd one now?

YES, the two numbers in the Voyager series was pleasant to see!
I thought it was one of the better "space" series.

I simply cannot believe the stupidity coming out of D.C. I have been paying on a student loan, daughter, for 14 years (6 to go); I don't have a $125K income; and I doubt that I will see any relief from the actions today - nor should anyone else!

 

[Bruette]

Sorry to hear that, LOUIS: Is everyone vaxed?

Vaccinated and boosted. I think that is why my grandson and I are already feeling better.

 

[NYC_George]

Yesterday I started to secure the reinforcement 2X4's to the Rubbermaid shed walls. My first idea was to use the durawall wire I had left over from my chimney project. That took too long bending the wire into shape. 1st photo. I had a few aluminium flat strips 1/2 & 3/4 X 36 that I could cut and bend into the shape I needed. It worked out really well. Very strong shed walls now. Can hang just about anything on them.
George

 

[OBTC 1909]

Good morning all! 56 heading for 82 and another sunny and pleasant day.

The craziness at work continues although it's gotten better. I still ran non-stop yesterday for most of the day, but I got a lot done. I wiped out most of my help tickets and got some other things accomplished so I'm gonna call it a good day. There's still much to do but I am making progress for sure.

Not much else going on. Been staying really busy all day, coming home and eating dinner and then going to bed early. I got all the assignments for my online math class for this week done the first day they were available to work on, so nothing to do there till Saturday. I have started work on the outline for my first speech class assignment and that's going well. Nothing much else going on right now, just work eat, sleep, repeat.

Hope you all have a great day!

 

[D&J RailRoad]

First day after my steroid shot in the spine. Woke up to a world of difference. I could actually bend my legs without pain in the first few steps. Went out for my morning walk and was able to pick up trash off the street without doing a few bounces to reach down that far. No pain in the back when doing the free weights.
Great day.
I'll go pick up my new Tesla today. Y model with 21" wheels and trailer hitch. Midnight silver color with black interior. No auto pilot though. I just don't trust that software at all or ever. My biggest interest though is if my modules will fit in the cargo area and how many.

 

[Patrick]

Morning all,

Was on earlier, but didn't have a chance to post.

65° and clear, high today of 95°. low humidity (finally) will make us feel like 93°.

Not much yet at the office. Been busy lately as well, mostly for small stuff.

I interviewed for a job a few months back and was told they wanted me, but they were delaying the hire. They said they'd contact me to see if I were available when they were ready to actual fill the position. Job was reposted a couple days ago, and I wasn't contacted (not unexpected). Part of me wants to re-apply, but in reality, I suspect they were looking for someone a bit younger. I also really can't afford a job change with all that's happening with the Mrs. right now. It would be a decent enough job and as much as I could use a change, the position here isn't all that bad.

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. Clear, calm, cool and 71°, should rise into the 90's today. I need the sunshine to warm up the pool a bit. It had dropped to 80° yesterday, a bit on the low side.

The plan for mowing yesterday was derailed when it started to sprinkle about 9:30, and continued until mid afternoon. Today is the weekly grocery trek, I already have a bigger list than last week. Looks like a stop at the UPS place needs to happen, as the sealed Cologuard box is by the door! I won't explain, but you may already know what it is.

I never got into the Star Trek stuff. We only had one TV when it was broadcast back in the 60's and while I don't remember what was on opposite it, obviously my dad wanted too watch it instead. Now I just don't watch TV at all.

Thanks for the likes and comments regarding the progress photos yesterday; Chad, Hughie, Patrick, Tom O, Dave B, Smudge, Karl, James, Louis, Gary, Tom, Chet, Rick, Mikey, George, OB Ken.

Out in the train shed yesterday, I just didn't feel like working on anything in the project area, so it all is on hold while I regroup. It won't take long. Instead, I ran trains and inspired by Tom O, I weathered three covered hoppers. I do simple weathering, light and no rustbuckets. On all three of these, I dry brushed the trucks and used only weathering powders on the rest.
First, an Intermountain 4760 cu ft grain hopper.

Here it is alongside another unweathered one.

Next is an Athearn RTR PS-2 4700 cu ft hopper.
Before.

After.

Here it is alongside another car from the same series.

Finally, another Athearn RTR, this one an ACF covered hopper.

I'm sure that I have another unweathered one somewhere among my 200+ covered hopper fleet; but I didn't have time to look for it, so no comparison shot.

OB Ken - While you seem to be busy, it seems as if you are really enjoying the new job and the classes.
Smudge - I'll get back to you on the mortar wash, I'm about to do another structure and I can take pictures along the way.
Louis - Hope that your Covid bout is a short one.
Chet - Your archive photos are always great. So much detail in them.

Everybody have a great day.

 

[Sirfoldalot]

Another short night, but at least I slept good! About another repete on the forecast for today - it is currently 68 degrees. There has not been a great deal of spread from the highs to lows. Mostly Sunny and very warm. Afternoon breezes, high around 91°F.

Ken: Going to sound a little like your mother! Watch what you are doing carefully, or you could do some really bad stuff to your spine. Just because the medication makes it feel good - the damaged part is still there? It
s great that you are feeling better. I hope you enjoy your new car. I'm not visualizing what a midnight silver looks like, but a black interior does not turn me on. It's too hot out here to have a black anything - I woud venture to say that 70% of the autos out here are either white or another light color.
NOW I REALIZE WHO WRITES THOSE MANUALS THAT I CANNOT UNDERSTAND!


THE SPOUSAL UNIT is in her favorite recliner watching a movie on her computer and CHARLIE is curled up in her lap. At the moment he is not liking me and kind of cowers when I go to pet him - poor little guy realizes that I caused him some hurt!
I have a hard time trusting people anymore; I really wonder if he needed all those teeth pulled? He had no trouble eating/chewing hard treets or crunchy food? Sure did not seem to slow him down at all!

Last evening Governor Gruesome was on the news touting what he is doing for the thousands of homeless people. He is praising his program of putting them in hotels and apartments, at a cost of millions of dollars, that I can only dream of! I am pissed!
I am not against helping people, but Make these people work doing something even if just pickin cotton - otherwise you have accomplished nothing.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

The steroid shot reduces the inflammation of the spinal cord thus providing relief from the stab of the bone spurs. The pressure was pinching the cord to less than half its size in three vertebra.

 

[logandsawman]

Good morning all, 59° and mostly sunny, easy drive to work today, Deer seem to be bunching up, velvet bucks kind of rowdy

Ran the train around yesterday, staged some freight cars. Just about always find something to work on with a freight car when doing that, last night a coupler fell off one. Same one I re-applied last week. Need to take a closer look at that

Curt - Love the night scenes

Chet - I get out the old railroad pics occasionally, I sure had lots of room to work with on that layout. The new layout is smaller, but better for operations because of the sidings and I think following the track plans of the prototypes really helped.

KenDJ - explains your aptitude with model railroad electronics. New Tesla? Nice.

Willie - nice freight cars, great job weathering with a simple but very effective technique. - - I do not buy many myself, I think I average 1 or 2 per year for the last 5 years.

Karl - Thurmont pic is Dynomite.

Troy - what do you mean, you won't edit my book?

Close up of my work train, while shifting rolling stock last evening:

more later, Dave LASM

 

[troyphoto]

Troy - what do you mean, you won't edit my book?

I have enough trouble writing my own.

Just got back from the vampire. Had to have a PSA drawn, and an electrolyte panel or such drawn to fill in the blanks for my new doc. What the insurance wellness check had drawn wasn't enough for him.

Which meant no coffee this morning. The chemistry panel was a NO FOOD fasting panel.

When that happens, I stop by the Amish bake shop for some donuts. They sit in the car, with my thermal cup of fresh coffee, untouched until the vampire has her way with me. Then I get my donuts and coffee.

the woodpeckers, and their cousins, the gutter monkeys are back. We'll see what gets done today and tomorrow.

Back to writing. Those donuts gave me energy! (I hope)

 

[TLOC]

Good morning Crew from the dreary So. Central Wisconsin where it rained some overnight, the decks are wet and I have not checked the rainfall totals manually or on the computer. 68f degrees now heading to 78 with lots of humidity. Per the WeatherChannel app I would say the rain events are done but Terry’s TV giuy last night told her pop ups anywhere are possible most of the day with some of them severe. It feels like you can touch the sky today the cloud cover is that low! Grass was cut Tuesday and Wednesday and the new hire does a nice job!

Yesterday, 15 minutes in the train room, accomplished zippo!

The WIFi system is up and running from the new internet provider but actually an old provider. We dropped Spectrum due to over pricing and non-existent service support. Went back to TDS who came back as I was at the doctor yesterday with the Wi-Fi stuff. He couldn’t get the app to connect to set up the system. I called the Eero tech support and the customer service guy had the patience of a full team of saints. Got me through it bypassing some stuff on his end. Good guy! When the WIFi network is down as it was when trying to set up the new one our cell phone service is almost nill here in the house. We are in a hill for the most part, a 2.5 story cement lined bunker. The app worked for setup but would stop when trying to register.

I have documented speedtests in 21 locations of the house and repeated 4 times as I tried to see what the best set up was using different variations of the extenders on or off. Turns out the best speeds were when the extenders with the WIFi network was turned off but then a portion of the house had slow speeds. The best overall and what I am running now is one extender running with the location near the elevator upstairs. Overall the speeds range from 241 in the train room, 560-580 on the 2 decks and pool decks that I spend the most time at. Terry’s office, the reading area and living room all are at 850+. Now the question is do I really need 1 gig speeds and would 400 work figuring about 60% less speeds to the WIFi current readings. It would save another $20 a month. Am I that cheap? Terry threaten to cut something off if I lowered the speeds!

I sent my test sheet to the son last night and his response was “dad, you need a job”. 84 documented tests plus the TV settings speed numbers from the Hula connection app. Speeds on Terry’s TV were all over 500, my rarely used TV in the cave were all over 200 and the Home Theater was 300+. Before I switched over on Tuesday I checked the TV speeds and none were over 40 on Spectrum. The son said he would Amazon a 4K gaming console and I can play the games to use the speeds I am getting. I told him don’t bother I won’t play them. He said to make sure that the 4K connections are enabled on the monitors now that we definitely have the speeds to handle it. Cost with tax, guaranteed 3 years with no contract is $56 plus change for 1 gig speeds, internet only. We stream everything so no TV receiver is needed. Down from $116 at 400 speeds. I am happy.

alcomotive, James sent me a message while sitting in the waiting room yesterday that he found a listing on FB of the Walthers pulp cars. Exactly what I am looking for. Until about 9 last night I was setting up and testing the WIFi and forgot to contact the guy. Sent a message after 9 if they are still available and a price offer. IMO he was high but everything is high today. We shall see and it’s great to have friends helping out! Thanks James

Willie, we have to pump our septic tanks out every 24 months here and prove with receipts it’s been done. Great job with no issues in all that time between your pump outs!

Patrick, improving yourself with better money is always good. The thing is you are right, with your financial changes about to happen it might be best to stay. It’s always better knowing who you are working for then to finding out the new job isn’t what they say it is. Whatever you decide though, I offer nothing but best wishes.

Ken, enjoy the new Tesla “y”. I agree with not getting the self driving…

Ken in Illinois, seems like you have things well in hand. Congrats, that is hard to do in a short staffed department. Is any help coming over the horizon? I over saw with just enough to be dangerous knowledge our IT staff. I let the Manager manage with no over the shoulder especially his software group but his IT gophers who did all the network stuff and repairs he was very lack. Trouble tickets to him were a nuisance. We ended up splitting the department and then 2 managers reported to me just to give oversight to their jobs, someone they had to report to.

Sherrel, your take on loan forgiveness is right on in my book! Tradesmen are in great demand and short supply. Maybe folks with these government backed loans should have gone to trade school instead liberal arts colleges where sex, drugs and fun are the major, majors. That was what I majored in anyway! I asked Robb the TDS service installer/tech/service did he make a good living. He said definitely over 120,000 per year but works his tail off 5 days a week. Lots of 12 hour days! Said they have just in the Dane County area 15 service tech jobs open, no applications. Hundreds of Tech jobs like his open across the 21 states TDS covers. Jobs are out there. This forgiveness program is as stupid as the belief another country was going to pay for a wall

My sister (73) is still paying a ridiculous student loan that she had to sign for her daughter. She doesn’t get any loan forgiveness because of the amount of her pension income. It’s not a big deal for her but because of the payment hold hasn’t needed to pay since Covid started. She refuses though to write a check to pay it off even though she could. How many others can do that but like her are taking advantage of government stupidity.

enjoy the day

 

[kbkchooch]

First day after my steroid shot in the spine. Woke up to a world of difference. I could actually bend my legs without pain in the first few steps. Went out for my morning walk and was able to pick up trash off the street without doing a few bounces to reach down that far. No pain in the back when doing the free weights.
Great day.
I'll go pick up my new Tesla today. Y model with 21" wheels and trailer hitch. Midnight silver color with black interior. No auto pilot though. I just don't trust that software at all or ever. My biggest interest though is if my modules will fit in the cargo area and how many.

A trailer hitch, really. I'll bet even a small trailer really gives the battery a workout!

 

[McLeod]

Good Morning!

The past days have been very hot, and very busy. It don't look like it's going to get any more peaceful in the coming days, as my son is getting married in my backyard on Saturday. That means I'll be busy as ell getting the yard looking good. The wife is out there right now, working on her flowers and making the place weed free.
Lots of visitors coming, with some staying over the weekend. It's going to be a nightmare for a grouchy old man who just wants to be left alone.

We were out picking blue-berries again, on what I'm calling helicopter day. I got photos of 3 different helicopters committed to various duties, all in the same area. Here's a few photos:

One was spraying, one was dropping people off in the bush, and one was inspecting.
We travelled to those blueberry cut-blocks, as I was hoping to get photos of grizzly. The numerous choppers in the area ensured no grizzlies were going to be showing their face. So, grizzly photos will have to wait for another day.

Well, I can't hang around. Need to go make the yard look nice for the wedding.

Have a great day!

 

[PNKFLOYD]

After 16 months, I am finished building my son in law's 16' x 20' shed. I built 90 % by myself and what painting has been done so far.
Obviously, the rafter placement and roofing took more than one person.
He is supposed to finish the painting and build ramps into the popup camper side and another for the motorcycle door. He ran across some excess plywood sheets and wants to cover the walls and floor. I volunteered his teenaged son to help him install the plywood, but will likely help with advice on cutting the window openings. And I will probably wind up driving a few screws into the wall studs.

 

[Boris]

Good morning. 83° at Swampside, and Sunny. Going to 90° Typical late August day in Jersey.

Molly the cat goes to the Vet for her check-up today...she is not pleased. She has been confined to her carrier so she couldn't hide somewhere. .

After the Vets and a quick stop at the library, we will be home. Today is work on the layout day. I'm concentrating on assembling structures.

Don't fret too much about Pandering Brandon's latest targeted giveaway. It may not withstand the courts.