Bill Tidler Jr.
Retired N&W/NS Signalman
Have a great day!
Running Bear's August 2025 Coffee Shop
- Thread starter Bruette
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Good Wednesday morning! It's 70°F and partly cloudy.
Have a great day!
I like this quote "The dog is God's only creation that will love you more than itself" There are very few exceptions to that!
Troy. I have all the books Lance has published himself or done through what was Kalmbach Media. He was a darling at MR magazine for a few years. One of the nice guys in model railroading he is very well accomplished. His “negative” scenery theory and application resonated with me. Without going down stairs to grab a book I believe his self published works he did in larger font then the MR standard barely can see publishing standard font. His Facebook page is interesting but his blog on his homepage is very good. It’s where he goes a bit more in depth on subjects
Trying to wear two sets of glasses is uncomfortable in the extreme.
The headband magnifier is more comfortable to wear with glasses, and I can flip the mag lenses up, then down again when needed. Takes a short while to dial in the right magnification (come comes with 5 or 6 magnification levels of swappable lenses. And you can adjust the distance the lenses sit from your face by about 3/4 in.
that sounds like fun!
have a safe and enjoyable trip!
When we go to Florida for Spring break, the wife and daughter say the dog should go with us. So far I have won all those battles and to
the boarder she went.
Tyco was really reaching with some of that junk.
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Have a great day!
NorthBrit
Well-Known Member
Good morning all. A glorious, warm day. 26 C and rising.
Flo. A large coffee and a blueberry muffin please.
Oldest grandson stayed over last night and has asked if he can stay another night. His mother says okay. I shall collect more medication so he can stay.
Taking Dawn to the dentist this afternoon
Then the rest of the day is 'free'.
Flo. A large coffee and a blueberry muffin please.
Oldest grandson stayed over last night and has asked if he can stay another night. His mother says okay. I shall collect more medication so he can stay.
Taking Dawn to the dentist this afternoon
Then the rest of the day is 'free'.
troyphoto
Snarky Old Fart (in training)
May I recommend a cat? 
Well, howdy there internet peeps, and those with four-legged friends. It's Troy and Lord Fuzzbutt again.
His lordship is between my ankles on the footrest of the recliner as I type. We're both getting older so this is our speed.
Wife said we need to make appointments with an estate planning attorney. Between what her mother has left that will get divided between wife and her two sisters, and where we are on retirement assets, it's a darn good idea. But, she usually tries to shove making appointments with professionals off on me. This one I put on her.
She's just been through the process with her mother's impending estate. I grew up rural and poor. Our family never had the land. Hers was about the same, two working parents, three kids, but her parents had steady employment in the trades with Teamsters on her dad's side. Add in family farm land that is still being leased to farmers today, and it's a nice nest egg.
I try to keep my hobby dollars under what I bring in with my books, since my other professions (journalism, teaching journalism, professional photography) have pretty much died off, or gotten to the side-hustle level of money for full time work.
In other news, my brain is continuing the slide back toward model railroading from gaming. I just got a pile of more models to build and paint for the undead Romans. Hopefully, I can keep grooving along on those, while I spend my evenings inputting the learning and reading and sketching I need to plan out my Conrail zombie apocalypse for the upper deck.
I added a new book last night. One of Louis's buddies delivered it from Amazon last evening, and I've been reading it.
For my mental space, this (so far, two chapters in) is perfect. The What to Think About BEFORE planning section makes a ton of sense. He's got a string of questions, with follow up examples and more questions.
Most of the other design books seem to focus more on the shelf vs table issues, How many yards and such. Lance takes a step farther back in mindset, and tries to get the reader to think about why they want a model railroad. And does so with questions that cut through the starry-eyed gaze of "I want it all!"
The only downside is books for a greying set of hobbyist still uses small type. I'm not ready for large type yet, but 10 pt used in most magazine and magazine-style book publications is too darn small. Bump it up to 12 pt and cut a few pics.
I gave up, and I'm now moving my spiffy new magnifying headset between hobby desk and recliner for reading.
Gerry Leone over on the Trains.com site was also on tap last night. Instead of a Model RR magazine subscription, I switched to a Trains.com sub for the videos. I'm only scratching the Model Railroading side of their videos, but it's worth it for me. Gerry takes 3 to 5 twenty-minute vids to cover how he did something to his railroad.
His Back on Track series covered the design and construction of the new Bona Vista layout in his "retirement" home on land his wife inherited. While I don't do HO scale, nor does my layout look like his, it was educational, and inspirational.
Time to get back to reading and drinking coffee.
Well, howdy there internet peeps, and those with four-legged friends. It's Troy and Lord Fuzzbutt again.
His lordship is between my ankles on the footrest of the recliner as I type. We're both getting older so this is our speed.
Wife said we need to make appointments with an estate planning attorney. Between what her mother has left that will get divided between wife and her two sisters, and where we are on retirement assets, it's a darn good idea. But, she usually tries to shove making appointments with professionals off on me. This one I put on her.
She's just been through the process with her mother's impending estate. I grew up rural and poor. Our family never had the land. Hers was about the same, two working parents, three kids, but her parents had steady employment in the trades with Teamsters on her dad's side. Add in family farm land that is still being leased to farmers today, and it's a nice nest egg.
I try to keep my hobby dollars under what I bring in with my books, since my other professions (journalism, teaching journalism, professional photography) have pretty much died off, or gotten to the side-hustle level of money for full time work.
In other news, my brain is continuing the slide back toward model railroading from gaming. I just got a pile of more models to build and paint for the undead Romans. Hopefully, I can keep grooving along on those, while I spend my evenings inputting the learning and reading and sketching I need to plan out my Conrail zombie apocalypse for the upper deck.
I added a new book last night. One of Louis's buddies delivered it from Amazon last evening, and I've been reading it.
For my mental space, this (so far, two chapters in) is perfect. The What to Think About BEFORE planning section makes a ton of sense. He's got a string of questions, with follow up examples and more questions.
Most of the other design books seem to focus more on the shelf vs table issues, How many yards and such. Lance takes a step farther back in mindset, and tries to get the reader to think about why they want a model railroad. And does so with questions that cut through the starry-eyed gaze of "I want it all!"
The only downside is books for a greying set of hobbyist still uses small type. I'm not ready for large type yet, but 10 pt used in most magazine and magazine-style book publications is too darn small. Bump it up to 12 pt and cut a few pics.
I gave up, and I'm now moving my spiffy new magnifying headset between hobby desk and recliner for reading.
Gerry Leone over on the Trains.com site was also on tap last night. Instead of a Model RR magazine subscription, I switched to a Trains.com sub for the videos. I'm only scratching the Model Railroading side of their videos, but it's worth it for me. Gerry takes 3 to 5 twenty-minute vids to cover how he did something to his railroad.
His Back on Track series covered the design and construction of the new Bona Vista layout in his "retirement" home on land his wife inherited. While I don't do HO scale, nor does my layout look like his, it was educational, and inspirational.
Time to get back to reading and drinking coffee.
Bruette
Well-Known Member
That is the truth! I have had both pure breed and mutts. I've been blessed to have nothing but wonderful dogs regardless of breed.
I like this quote "The dog is God's only creation that will love you more than itself" There are very few exceptions to that!
Certainly! I have had one cat in my life, Noel and she was wonderful.May I recommend a cat?
I can't wait to see that!
TLOC
Well-Known Member
May I recommend a cat?
Well, howdy there internet peeps, and those with four-legged friends. It's Troy and Lord Fuzzbutt again.
His lordship is between my ankles on the footrest of the recliner as I type. We're both getting older so this is our speed.
Wife said we need to make appointments with an estate planning attorney. Between what her mother has left that will get divided between wife and her two sisters, and where we are on retirement assets, it's a darn good idea. But, she usually tries to shove making appointments with professionals off on me. This one I put on her.
She's just been through the process with her mother's impending estate. I grew up rural and poor. Our family never had the land. Hers was about the same, two working parents, three kids, but her parents had steady employment in the trades with Teamsters on her dad's side. Add in family farm land that is still being leased to farmers today, and it's a nice nest egg.
I try to keep my hobby dollars under what I bring in with my books, since my other professions (journalism, teaching journalism, professional photography) have pretty much died off, or gotten to the side-hustle level of money for full time work.
In other news, my brain is continuing the slide back toward model railroading from gaming. I just got a pile of more models to build and paint for the undead Romans. Hopefully, I can keep grooving along on those, while I spend my evenings inputting the learning and reading and sketching I need to plan out my Conrail zombie apocalypse for the upper deck.
I added a new book last night. One of Louis's buddies delivered it from Amazon last evening, and I've been reading it.
View attachment 235131
For my mental space, this (so far, two chapters in) is perfect. The What to Think About BEFORE planning section makes a ton of sense. He's got a string of questions, with follow up examples and more questions.
Most of the other design books seem to focus more on the shelf vs table issues, How many yards and such. Lance takes a step farther back in mindset, and tries to get the reader to think about why they want a model railroad. And does so with questions that cut through the starry-eyed gaze of "I want it all!"
The only downside is books for a greying set of hobbyist still uses small type. I'm not ready for large type yet, but 10 pt used in most magazine and magazine-style book publications is too darn small. Bump it up to 12 pt and cut a few pics.
I gave up, and I'm now moving my spiffy new magnifying headset between hobby desk and recliner for reading.
Gerry Leone over on the Trains.com site was also on tap last night. Instead of a Model RR magazine subscription, I switched to a Trains.com sub for the videos. I'm only scratching the Model Railroading side of their videos, but it's worth it for me. Gerry takes 3 to 5 twenty-minute vids to cover how he did something to his railroad.
His Back on Track series covered the design and construction of the new Bona Vista layout in his "retirement" home on land his wife inherited. While I don't do HO scale, nor does my layout look like his, it was educational, and inspirational.
Time to get back to reading and drinking coffee.
Troy. I have all the books Lance has published himself or done through what was Kalmbach Media. He was a darling at MR magazine for a few years. One of the nice guys in model railroading he is very well accomplished. His “negative” scenery theory and application resonated with me. Without going down stairs to grab a book I believe his self published works he did in larger font then the MR standard barely can see publishing standard font. His Facebook page is interesting but his blog on his homepage is very good. It’s where he goes a bit more in depth on subjects
TLOC
Well-Known Member
Good morning fellow modelers. It’s 63f degrees now, the dew point is 62 degrees and it’s very humid outside. So. Central Wisconsin per the WeatherChannel app says low 80’s today but the humidity will stay above 85%.
You’d think my wife has never traveled before. She hit up Target yesterday while I was at an OPS session and I think she purchased very new TSA approved travel sized bottle. Not saying a word, just letting her have her fun.
I finished a loco late last night that I started a couple months ago. I don’t have permission to release photos yet but here is the short video of the prototype he sent for reference on the custom graffiti work. Yes, it’s a LA based UP diesel!
I tried to post the still pictures but they were denied for some cookie issues
No need to discuss any dislike of graffiti. It’s part of the modern era and therefore history. Plus my guy paid me for it. Call me a mercenary but graffiti is here to stay
The main thing today is clean the already clean train room. Arrange the remaining client models on the shelving and making sure the owner name tags and addresses I use is on every box for an “in case of” situation. I use painter blue tape for my ID tags on every model that comes in. This is also a way for me to check and adjust my production schedule
Enjoy the day
You’d think my wife has never traveled before. She hit up Target yesterday while I was at an OPS session and I think she purchased very new TSA approved travel sized bottle. Not saying a word, just letting her have her fun.
I finished a loco late last night that I started a couple months ago. I don’t have permission to release photos yet but here is the short video of the prototype he sent for reference on the custom graffiti work. Yes, it’s a LA based UP diesel!
I tried to post the still pictures but they were denied for some cookie issues
No need to discuss any dislike of graffiti. It’s part of the modern era and therefore history. Plus my guy paid me for it. Call me a mercenary but graffiti is here to stay
The main thing today is clean the already clean train room. Arrange the remaining client models on the shelving and making sure the owner name tags and addresses I use is on every box for an “in case of” situation. I use painter blue tape for my ID tags on every model that comes in. This is also a way for me to check and adjust my production schedule
Enjoy the day
santafewillie
Same Ol' Buzzard
Good Morning All. Mostly cloudy and 71°, air quality of 47 but conditions are going to be right for an air quality alert south of here in the DFW area. Mainly, there will be no wind today. Rain yesterday amounted to a light drizzle for 2 hours, not enough to wet my rain gauge. Weather Underground station around the corner reported 0.04". Didn't even reach 90° here yesterday. Pool water cooled down to 85° from 89° on Sunday due to the cloudy skies for two days.
Doctor visit yesterday went OK, no change in medications. He has prescribed PT to regain stamina after my recent health issues. We'll see if Medicare approves and pays. Later on, Bubba finally made it by and assisted me getting the mower deck back in place. He apologized for forgetting to come by on Sunday. I guess that it helped that I moved it closer to the road so he saw it on the way by!!! We figured out a way that it might be done in the future without needing two sets of hands.
That doctor's appointment at 11:30 in the morning really screwed up my whole day and I didn't have any time to go out to the train shed. That's always a drag.
But I have some more pictures of structures that I rescued from Chet's now dismantled layout. I have 4 in my town of Charlottesville, thanks to a major space-filling project last year. Town Drugs and the Dusty Saddle Saloon sit side by side.
A block away is Garner's Market.
A few blocks south is Candi's Confectionery.
Upstairs is the law offices of O'Neil and Prey
Mike -
Freshman orientation now, driver's license is next. Be prepared!
Troy -
Everyone have a wonderful Wednesday.
Doctor visit yesterday went OK, no change in medications. He has prescribed PT to regain stamina after my recent health issues. We'll see if Medicare approves and pays. Later on, Bubba finally made it by and assisted me getting the mower deck back in place. He apologized for forgetting to come by on Sunday. I guess that it helped that I moved it closer to the road so he saw it on the way by!!! We figured out a way that it might be done in the future without needing two sets of hands.
That doctor's appointment at 11:30 in the morning really screwed up my whole day and I didn't have any time to go out to the train shed. That's always a drag.
But I have some more pictures of structures that I rescued from Chet's now dismantled layout. I have 4 in my town of Charlottesville, thanks to a major space-filling project last year. Town Drugs and the Dusty Saddle Saloon sit side by side.
A block away is Garner's Market.
A few blocks south is Candi's Confectionery.
Upstairs is the law offices of O'Neil and Prey
Mike -
Boy, does that sound familiar?
Freshman orientation now, driver's license is next. Be prepared!
Troy -
Why not just buy a cheapo set of reading glasses?
Everyone have a wonderful Wednesday.
troyphoto
Snarky Old Fart (in training)
I wear glasses with bifocals already, and I have an astigmatism that changes one eye greater than the other. Left eye is far worse than right, so I want to keep my own glasses on.
Trying to wear two sets of glasses is uncomfortable in the extreme.
The headband magnifier is more comfortable to wear with glasses, and I can flip the mag lenses up, then down again when needed. Takes a short while to dial in the right magnification (come comes with 5 or 6 magnification levels of swappable lenses. And you can adjust the distance the lenses sit from your face by about 3/4 in.
Our 3 days of 100's are over. Sunrise was pretty nice, but for a little smoke haze. I highlighted just above Mt Jefferson.
and this is our Cascade ridge of volcanoes; Jefferson, Hood, Mt St Helens, Davis, and Ranier. St Helens is that flat top to the left.
and this is our Cascade ridge of volcanoes; Jefferson, Hood, Mt St Helens, Davis, and Ranier. St Helens is that flat top to the left.
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kbkchooch
Verified Human
Good mornin y'all!
Last day this week, heading for a long weekend in NC early tomorrow. Just cleaning up some loose ends today at work. Wife is really looking forward to visiting the G-kids. DIL will be puppy sitting the dogs and the cat so we can go away. Ain't no way I'm taking a 6 hour drive with the animals!
BBL
Last day this week, heading for a long weekend in NC early tomorrow. Just cleaning up some loose ends today at work. Wife is really looking forward to visiting the G-kids. DIL will be puppy sitting the dogs and the cat so we can go away. Ain't no way I'm taking a 6 hour drive with the animals!
BBL
migalyto
Well-Known Member
Good morning all!
happy Hump day to the workers of the world.
A mostly sunny Northern Illinois day today. Temps are currently at 72F heading up to a high of 84F. We never received the predicted
rain yesterday. As our normal summer pattern returned with it all going North and South of us. With the rain we have received over the
last couple of weeks has made the grass flourish again. Not going to mow today though.
Some laundry and a few other things to do around the house today. Nothing big or time consuming.
In the train room last night, I left the throttle in the holder and concentrated on painting groundcover. Hopefully more work on
it tonight.
have a safe day everyone!
happy Hump day to the workers of the world.
A mostly sunny Northern Illinois day today. Temps are currently at 72F heading up to a high of 84F. We never received the predicted
rain yesterday. As our normal summer pattern returned with it all going North and South of us. With the rain we have received over the
last couple of weeks has made the grass flourish again. Not going to mow today though.
Some laundry and a few other things to do around the house today. Nothing big or time consuming.
In the train room last night, I left the throttle in the holder and concentrated on painting groundcover. Hopefully more work on
it tonight.
have a safe day everyone!
Bruette
Well-Known Member
Graffiti is history and realism, plain and simple. You can't have a realistic modern era layout without it.
That is good, you wouldn't want anyone to accuse you of being cheap!
I love the Oscar Mayer truck! I don't remember seeing that on your layout thread. Of course I suffer from CRS... Now I have a great excuse to review your thread again.
Wow!
I can only imagine, one pair is a PIA for me!
That is brilliant!
Try not to get locked up
migalyto
Well-Known Member
that sounds like fun!
have a safe and enjoyable trip!
Don't blame you one bit.
When we go to Florida for Spring break, the wife and daughter say the dog should go with us. So far I have won all those battles and to
the boarder she went.
logandsawman
Northern Pacific history enthusiast
Good morning all,
62 and calm, sunny. Plan to mow my trails today and work on the woodpile. Will be spending time in the train shed, I think I have finally completed a couple more details in my box, ready to place on the layout.
Some talk at the history center yesterday about their layout. The guys running it are 77 and up. It has all the towns in the county with track frontage, which makes it somewhat cluttered, in my opinion.
I helped build it in 2013, then moved away. Pretty clear, after that experience, that someone has to be in charge. This is a very rural area, and the things they want to do generally require more people than are available. I think it serves its purpose well, all things considered. Trains begin running when someone enters the room. Two at a time with a crossover and several spurs and sidings, generally used for parking.
More later, Dave LASM
62 and calm, sunny. Plan to mow my trails today and work on the woodpile. Will be spending time in the train shed, I think I have finally completed a couple more details in my box, ready to place on the layout.
Some talk at the history center yesterday about their layout. The guys running it are 77 and up. It has all the towns in the county with track frontage, which makes it somewhat cluttered, in my opinion.
I helped build it in 2013, then moved away. Pretty clear, after that experience, that someone has to be in charge. This is a very rural area, and the things they want to do generally require more people than are available. I think it serves its purpose well, all things considered. Trains begin running when someone enters the room. Two at a time with a crossover and several spurs and sidings, generally used for parking.
More later, Dave LASM
RhB Michael
RhB Lokführer
Tyco was really reaching with some of that junk.
migalyto
Well-Known Member
I wonder how many takes they had to do on some of those commercials to get some of those trains to to run that flawlessly.
Patrick
What, me worry?
Morning all,
Have PT shortly and peaches to continue processing. Wife is ready for me to cut the tree down. She's not a peach fan.
So far we have peach bread frozen, have several frozen quarts of peaches and 2vquart bags of dehydrated peaches. I eat those like chips. They get brown as I don't use citric acid or lemon juice, but those only affect the color, not texture or taste.
BBL
Have PT shortly and peaches to continue processing. Wife is ready for me to cut the tree down. She's not a peach fan.
So far we have peach bread frozen, have several frozen quarts of peaches and 2vquart bags of dehydrated peaches. I eat those like chips. They get brown as I don't use citric acid or lemon juice, but those only affect the color, not texture or taste.
BBL
ctclibby
Well-Known Member
Good Morning All!
57F @ 61% clear again. To be 93F later.
Dogs: Sometimes Craigslist is your friend. That gets you out of the puppy mills, pet finders, adoption for a fee and such. Most of the time it is more or less local, so driving is not an issue. We got Jake ( Aussie ) from the breeder in Bonner's Ferry, still had to pay the freight for the pure breed ( papered ) but no other questions/tests to do or other hoop jumping.
We have bought papered Pygmy goats without problems too. Go to the farm that has them, then walk through the heard. If they run away from you, ya ain't getting any of their animals. In one case when we went to Spokane for a buck, I went out to check out the heard while Maria chatted with the owner. All the goats pretty much swarmed me wanting to smell this, smell that .. etc. Maria told me the owner grinned and told her that we could have any of her animals. Cows, Donkeys and Horses do the same thing, although you need to be a little more careful has they out weight you by quite a bit.
We watch our animals when somebody new shows up, just about any animal knows when something is not right. Dogs are protectionists. Always bark at new although after we interact with whomever, the dog will then 'show their feelings'. If they continue be protectionists, watch out for that person. It usually takes a human a little talking and watching to get that warm and fuzzy feeling, where animals tend to sense it immediately.
L8r
57F @ 61% clear again. To be 93F later.
Dogs: Sometimes Craigslist is your friend. That gets you out of the puppy mills, pet finders, adoption for a fee and such. Most of the time it is more or less local, so driving is not an issue. We got Jake ( Aussie ) from the breeder in Bonner's Ferry, still had to pay the freight for the pure breed ( papered ) but no other questions/tests to do or other hoop jumping.
We have bought papered Pygmy goats without problems too. Go to the farm that has them, then walk through the heard. If they run away from you, ya ain't getting any of their animals. In one case when we went to Spokane for a buck, I went out to check out the heard while Maria chatted with the owner. All the goats pretty much swarmed me wanting to smell this, smell that .. etc. Maria told me the owner grinned and told her that we could have any of her animals. Cows, Donkeys and Horses do the same thing, although you need to be a little more careful has they out weight you by quite a bit.
We watch our animals when somebody new shows up, just about any animal knows when something is not right. Dogs are protectionists. Always bark at new although after we interact with whomever, the dog will then 'show their feelings'. If they continue be protectionists, watch out for that person. It usually takes a human a little talking and watching to get that warm and fuzzy feeling, where animals tend to sense it immediately.
L8r
Bruette
Well-Known Member
I did, I'm glad to see I wasn't the only one who noticed the skill and awareness involved. They made it look easy, but we know better.
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