Running Bear's Coffee Shop XLIX

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KEN: Sorry about the bridge problem. Been there, done that. Finally got dentures after the teeth loosened that held the bridge in place. Best thing I could have had happen. Really like the busses .. You found a good one.

CAREY: I like the old stories like that. More please.

TERRY: Keep up the search for Bill T. Sure hope he is OK.

Hope everyone has a good day!
 
Well I vacuumed off all the excess ground cover yesterday - finally. I'm a little surprised and disappointed at how many bare spots there is since I was being quite liberal with the glue-mix application. Although I didn't measure out the mix, I tried to be heavy on, or lean to, the glue side so as not to dilute it too thinly. It's nothing I can't fix though.
I had to take to the trains for a few laps today since it's been about all week on this dirt-work.

While investigating some of the larger bare spots (about the size of a half-dollar) it occurred to me that I used high gloss trim-paint. Sure, it brightened up the room but I just wasn't thinking ahead at the time. I should have used a water-based white primer instead.

Lot's of rain and upper 60s here today.
E.
 
sorry... double posted....

While the heavy rain is coming down I thought I might give a go at building a flashing circuit using a 555 timer chip.
Seems like it should be simple enough but no joy. I can get it to come on but no blinking. Without an oscilloscope I don't really know that for a fact either. It may in fact be blinking so fast I can't tell.
But I'm not finding proper, or close enough, resistors for the trigger either. This new DVM I got isn't really clear [at all] about how to use it as an ohmmeter either.
If anyone has any clues, pass them on. I'm bored.
E.
 
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what size of capacitor are you using?

LED-flasher-circuit.png
 
rzw0wr said:
what size of capacitor are you using?
LED-flasher-circuit.png
Click to expand...

That is in fact basically the same circuit I'm using. Mine has nothing going to pin #5 however.
I've tried several values for C1 - anywhere between 10 mikes to 47.
I've tried different values for the resistors as well.
I have 2 555 chips and tried them both to be sure. Of course, I suppose they both could be bad.
I've tinkered with it several times already times with no effects. i.e. the light comes on and no blink.
It's only been since my first semester in college since I've messed with electronics at this level. That was in 1978.

Yeah, it's fun to tinker with this stuff. All I want to have is (or some) blinking LEDs for some structures. Like for my helicopter landing pad and maybe on top the flood loader tower.

So if anyone knows of a source of some simple low cost little circuits I can get to make this happen, that would be fine as well. Something with a little trim-pot on it adjust blink rates would be nominal just capital! :D
 
I BE BLINKING!!!!!
Video is uploading as I type and will be coming up forthwith.
Apparently Dale's diagram putting a cap on pin 5 was the key.
Thank you Dale!!

E.
 
Here ya go!!
If I recall from reading the spec sheets on the chip from a couple weeks ago I should be able to adjust the resistor ohm values to affect the blink rate.
It sounds like I said "4 years" but did say 40 years.
Ignore the bird nest on the bread board. The blink circuit is at the bottom where the two capacitors are sticking. The two messes of wires up top are from other experiments with some other LEDs for numbers and letters.
I have had a fun day.
E

[video]https://youtu.be/RKcxgVMW5Ik[/video]
 
Good afternoon.
My detective work has born fruit.
Bill Tidler is alive and well, and is busy off the forum right now.
 
Sirfoldalot said:
...

CAREY: I like the old stories like that. More please.
...!
Click to expand...

One morning, after spending more than a few hours getting the 949 clean and shiny, one of the yard switchers, needed to pull a dead loco out of its stall, to be taken to the shops located next to the rndhse. Well, either the engine to be moved had its brakes still on, or the crew decided to just "play a trick" on the wipers and Dad, so they allowed the yard engine, I think a small 0-6-0 to blow off the pop valves, while it was inside the front of the rndhse. Well this knocked down quite a bit of soot, dirt and ash, off of the rafters, right onto the 949. To say this pissed them off was an understatement, Dad said he thought the 949's engineer was going to have a heart attack, his face was so purple!

Dad said that he and the wipers won the ensuing fight, and they still got the 949 ready to go on time with the "reluctant" help of the yard crew. They never tried anything like that again! In fact, Dad said that the shop foreman, and yardmaster both were so upset, that they made the yard crew get the hoses, and made them keep the rafters cleaner than normal for several months afterwards! Dad would smile every time he told this story.
 


bnsf971 said:
I did let him know we missed him.
Click to expand...

Thanks Terry. We all missed Bill and his wake-up greeting and coffee. Relieved to know he's otherwise occupied, and not ill.

After yesterday's 80° beauty, today was a reality check, only going to 59°. It's now 46°. I have been consumed with hockey playoffs this weekend.

After two afternoon games, I'm skipping one, and planning to catch tonight's Calgary - Vancouver game. Most people don't associate New Jersey with hockey, yet at least four "Jersey Boys" are playing in the first round of the playoffs.

I'm looking at a busy week coming up.

Later...
 
Hiya Gang!

Yesterday was gorgeous here, and I had a nice time at the NMRA Mini-Con with Ken "riding shotgun". The Mini Con with 2 LHS visits made for a fun trip. Sorry the mouth was an issue Ken....:(

Anyway, got home to a honey do list that kept me busy til dark. Today was more of the same, but #2 sons China Cabinet is drying its last coat in the garage. Well assemble it tomorrow night. I'll take a pic when its done.

Next weekend I have some spots in the driveway to fix, but son #3 will be here for the weekend. He's big. he's strong, and he likes doing stuff outside. Gotta love em!

MAYBE I can get back to some modeling this week!

Terry, glad to hear Bill T is alive & well. thanks for the update

Carey. Amusing story, Ill wager your Dad had a million of em!:)

Big E, Glad to hear you are blinking , and not flashing!:rolleyes:

Later Gang!!
 
Good evening. 51*F and raining here in central MD.

Sherrell, Thanks for the kind words about my mouth. Hopefully I'll never have to go that far - my dentist says my teeth are in excellent shape below the gum level (i.e. no bone loss), it's the crumbling fillings that have given me fits in recent years. Luckily most of those have been rebuilt with porcelain crowns.

Terry, thanks for the update on Bill - good to know!

Carey, I bet you could write a book of short stories based on what your dad told you over the years. You're quite blessed to have been raised by somebody "was there and did that" back in The Day.

Eric, if you have the talent to build your own flashing circuits, I think you've got a pretty bright future in this hobby!

Karl - best of luck with the honey dues, the cabinet and the driveway project. Taking me to Tommy Gilbert's yesterday was a mixed blessing: Great because I found a model of a GMC "Old Look" transit bus that I've wanted for over a decade, but bad in the sense that I've been diverted from my project of rehabilitating the layout. I'm now totally obsessed with painting this bus in the livery of the Cleveland Transit System. [Painting and lettering models is my "drug-of-choice" in this hobby.]

BTW - the 1:48 model shown in the link has a price tag of $554.00 USD; I paid $25 for my 1:87 model!

* * *
Mouth update: I was able to use one of my hobby files to grind down the sharp edge of the remaining piece of the temp bridge. Good news is, I can swallow again. But I'm keeping myself on a liquid diet until Thursday because my tongue is still swollen and tender from the scraping, and I don't want to stress it any more from chewing. I don't mind drinking chocolate-flavored Ensure for the next three days, better safe than sorry.
 
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CSX_road_slug said:
Good evening. 51*F and raining here in central MD.

Sherrell, Thanks for the kind words about my mouth. Hopefully I'll never have to go that far - my dentist says my teeth are in excellent shape below the gum level (i.e. no bone loss), it's the crumbling fillings that have given me fits in recent years. Luckily most of those have been rebuilt with porcelain crowns.
Click to expand...


I wonder if added Calcium in your diet would help? I take a liquid supplement that seems to help me.


Terry, thanks for the update on Bill - good to know!

Carey, I bet you could write a book of short stories based on what your dad told you over the years. You're quite blessed to have been raised by somebody "was there and did that" back in The Day.

Eric, if you have the talent to build your own flashing circuits, I think you've got a pretty bright future in this hobby!

Karl - best of luck with the honey dues, the cabinet and the driveway project. Taking me to Tommy Gilbert's yesterday was a mixed blessing: Great because I found a model of a GMC "Old Look" transit bus that I've wanted for over a decade, but bad in the sense that I've been diverted from my project of rehabilitating the layout. I'm now totally obsessed with painting this bus in the livery of the Cleveland Transit System. [Painting and lettering models is my "drug-of-choice" in this hobby.][/Quote]


Ken, that what make the hobby facinating is that it offer almost all the various things each of us finds an interest in.
 
CSX_road_slug said:
Good evening. 51*F and raining here in central MD.

Sherrell, Thanks for the kind words about my mouth. Hopefully I'll never have to go that far - my dentist says my teeth are in excellent shape below the gum level (i.e. no bone loss), it's the crumbling fillings that have given me fits in recent years. Luckily most of those have been rebuilt with porcelain crowns.
Click to expand...


I wonder if added Calcium in your diet would help? I take a liquid supplement that seems to help me.


Terry, thanks for the update on Bill - good to know!

Carey, I bet you could write a book of short stories based on what your dad told you over the years. You're quite blessed to have been raised by somebody "was there and did that" back in The Day.

Eric, if you have the talent to build your own flashing circuits, I think you've got a pretty bright future in this hobby!

Karl - best of luck with the honey dues, the cabinet and the driveway project. Taking me to Tommy Gilbert's yesterday was a mixed blessing: Great because I found a model of a GMC "Old Look" transit bus that I've wanted for over a decade, but bad in the sense that I've been diverted from my project of rehabilitating the layout. I'm now totally obsessed with painting this bus in the livery of the Cleveland Transit System. [Painting and lettering models is my "drug-of-choice" in this hobby.]
Click to expand...



Ken, that what make the hobby facinating is that it offer almost all the various things each of us finds an interest in.
 
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Good morning. It's cloudy and 64.
A couple of weeks ago, I had to purchase a new tablet. Yesterday, I had to use the insurance I purchased for the new tablet. The replacement should be here in a few days.
 
bnsf971 said:
Good morning. It's cloudy and 64.
A couple of weeks ago, I had to purchase a new tablet. Yesterday, I had to use the insurance I purchased for the new tablet. The replacement should be here in a few days.
Click to expand...

Ahhh, yes...Damage insurance. It's not just for your kids' cell phones anymore!
 
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Good morning, good day gentlemen....been a sunny weekend here in Glasgow/UK, hope to see more of that...

I also managed to snap up another couple of good books to rather agreeable price...

IMG_20150420_002703_zpsbfhfn49a.jpg


IMG_20150420_002630_zpsi55hk9li.jpg


Have a nice day everyone!
 
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