Running Bear's December 2021 Coffee Shop

[ACL-CSX]

Nice score on the little cars, the red vette in the front row looks like a Monogram Miniexact from a few years back. Love the tow trucks!

Sorry to hear about the problems with the Terrain. We usually don't replace the whole engine when the rings fail, just new rings, pistons and timing chains. A lot cheaper than replacing the whole engine. Google GM special policy 16118 for parts list. I'm betting you are out of the policy's parameters, but the info may be useful.

My plan is to pull the engine and rebuild it with better parts. I'd like to bore it out and replace the entire rotating assembly with something a little more bulletproof. But I'm not sure what is available and not out of my price range. I figure if I'm going to have to fix the factory's boo-boo, I might as well try to get a little more power out of it too. I want either a turbo or a supercharger, but I know the wife won't go for it. Otherwise I'm going to rebuild it cheaply and pass it on down the line. I used to be a die-hard Chevy man, but these days the just disappoint me. I miss my old school small block and carburetor. At least they were easy to fix.

 

[OBTC 1909]

Ken: What kind of flooring did you have put down. The wife and I are debating what type we want (wood, LVT, LVP, carpet), in the meanwhile the carpet is getting older and more worn. We believe it's the 22+ year old builders grade carpet that was in place when the house was new. Pad is badly worn down (read non-existent) in the traffic areas.

Troy: Nice plane!

We are putting down Smartcore Ultra plank flooring from Lowe's. Take a look at the one we bought here: Flooring at Lowe's
We are extremely happy with it. Doesn't hurt that I get an employee discount, but we would have bought it anyway.

 

[OBTC 1909]

Ken- We started out with carpet upstairs, then we put in laminate wood (what a job that was) and then after our roof leak was fixed with the associated wall damage and sub floor damage (had to take down the1st layout) we had a contractor put in vinyl plank flooring just before Covid struck last year. It looks great and if it gets wet it doesn't ruin it.

The flooring we bought is waterproof. Super happy with it and given my clumsiness it's good that it's waterproof.

 

[IronBeltKen]

Good evening Shop Dwellers!

First of all - Thanks, all of you who "liked" and/or commented on my Monday post: Jesse, Louis, Sherrell, Tom-C51, Guy, Troy, Patrick, Karl, Rick, OB Ken, Willie, Jaz, Christian, James, Chad, Hughie

Haven't done any mrr stuff since then, so nothing to share about that; just been too busy with other "life" issues these past couple days. And this evening, MHO and I will be going out to dinner with other people in this church group we're involved with.

Regarding the suppression of seasonal music or decorations - all I can say is "Don't get me started..."

Dakota Steve, sorry to hear about the illness that you've had to deal with, Covid or otherwise.

Tom-O - I couldn't see the trains very clearly in the GoogleMaps image that you posted. Are those all locomotives sitting in that yard beside the engine house? I have a scaled-down engine terminal on my layout that includes two ~7ft-long "ready" tracks for outbound consists, if that is what you mean by "staging" yard; just LMK if you want me to share a top-down photo of it.

Tomorrow, as soon as I clock-out from work, I'll be visiting a local pharmacy to receive my Covid booster shot. The two I originally had in March were the Pfizer vaccine, but this time I'm requesting the Moderna since a few medical professionals have told me that I'll have better overall immunity if I mix-n-match vaccines from the different companies. The only downside is that Moderna apparently has worse side effects. I experienced essentially none from either of the Pfizer doses, so I'll see how this plays out. I've been taking aspirin 325mg pills every morning for the past week, and will continue with that for another 2 weeks after the shot; this is supposed to protect me from having a blood clot or a stroke from the vaccine.

Time to run, gotta head out for the group dinner.

Good Night - and have a Pleasant Tomorrow!

 

[McLeod]

Good Evening!
The wind is just a-howling outside. Some trees are blowing down, and the snowdrifts are building up. - It's 30f, though, so still very warm.

medical professionals have told me that I'll have better overall immunity if I mix-n-match vaccines from the different companies. The only downside is that Moderna apparently has worse side effects.

Ken - Did those medical professionals look kinda like this:

I was told not to mix the potions. That was told to me by an animal farmacist; which is better than a pharmacist; which is better than a doctor.
Bye- the-way, I'm full to the eye-balls with Moderna, and have had no weird side-effects.

I spent a-lot of the day shoveling, and then re-shoveling. Darn winds. Anyway, I was way to tired to come in for coffee any earlier.
Tomorrow might be the same.

Have a good one!

 

[Bruette]

Hughie, you have good taste.

Good night Everybody!

 

[Jaz avalley]

Ken: What kind of flooring did you have put down. The wife and I are debating what type we want (wood, LVT, LVP, carpet), in the meanwhile the carpet is getting older and more worn. We believe it's the 22+ year old builders grade carpet that was in place when the house was new. Pad is badly worn down (read non-existent) in the traffic areas.

Troy: Nice plane!

Let lvp|? We have concrete floors and when we first moved in added some looks like wood,but you faint anytime someone drops water in case they swell, then we found garage paint strong finish and cheap synthetic rugs - prefer wool but had one attacked by moth so synthetic seemed safer and you can roll up when decorating or swop rugs between rooms if bored, and no place for bugs to hide

edir

ah Ken’s post = luxury vinyl tile, lvp-luxury vinyl p?

 

[ACL-CSX]

George, my kidney doctor said my high coffee consumption was ok. My primary doctor had me measure my blood pressure after not drinking coffee for a week, no change. None of my doctors are complaining. I make a lot of healthy sacrifices, but coffee won't be one of them. I often drink 2 pots of coffee a day, sometimes more. Usually 6-8 cups per day. I even like a cup of coffee before I go to bed. Coffee seems to have no affect on me, thank God.
Thank you all the same for thinking of me, I appreciate that!

If given enough time to speak stupid people identify themselves, usually.

I'm with you, almost anything that is free is good!

Sorry to hear about the GMC. Karl is the source for GM advice. If what he says is not an option I've had success with Jasper engines. I wish you well.

Great score with the cars! I love my little vehicles almost as much as my trains.

True, but like in the days of old, I would prefer a little more advance warning before that ICBM drops.

 

[ACL-CSX]

Thanks for the compliments on the cars y'all. They had more that I wish I could get, but maybe another time

Got all of the remaining deliveries made today, so I'll be headed home in the morning. And right darn happy about it too.

Y'all have a good one. Need sleep. It's a 2-2.5 hour drive home.

 

[D&J RailRoad]

...

I can't quite put my finger on it but this guy reminds me of someone.
Could have been a nightmare, but still, rings a bell

 

[TLOC]

Good evening Shop Dwellers!

First of all - Thanks, all of you who "liked" and/or commented on my Monday post: Jesse, Louis, Sherrell, Tom-C51, Guy, Troy, Patrick, Karl, Rick, OB Ken, Willie, Jaz, Christian, James, Chad, Hughie

Haven't done any mrr stuff since then, so nothing to share about that; just been too busy with other "life" issues these past couple days. And this evening, MHO and I will be going out to dinner with other people in this church group we're involved with.

Regarding the suppression of seasonal music or decorations - all I can say is "Don't get me started..."

Dakota Steve, sorry to hear about the illness that you've had to deal with, Covid or otherwise.

Tom-O - I couldn't see the trains very clearly in the GoogleMaps image that you posted. Are those all locomotives sitting in that yard beside the engine house? I have a scaled-down engine terminal on my layout that includes two ~7ft-long "ready" tracks for outbound consists, if that is what you mean by "staging" yard; just LMK if you want me to share a top-down photo of it.

Tomorrow, as soon as I clock-out from work, I'll be visiting a local pharmacy to receive my Covid booster shot. The two I originally had in March were the Pfizer vaccine, but this time I'm requesting the Moderna since a few medical professionals have told me that I'll have better overall immunity if I mix-n-match vaccines from the different companies. The only downside is that Moderna apparently has worse side effects. I experienced essentially none from either of the Pfizer doses, so I'll see how this plays out. I've been taking aspirin 325mg pills every morning for the past week, and will continue with that for another 2 weeks after the shot; this is supposed to protect me from having a blood clot or a stroke from the vaccine.

Time to run, gotta head out for the group dinner.

Good Night - and have a Pleasant Tomorrow!

Hi Ken

Yes that is a yard full of diesels either ready for the road or heading into servicing. Corwirth Yard on the former Santa Fe now the BNSF in Chicago. About 2 miles from where I worked in Chicago during the 70’s. There now is a intermodal yard just to the East or right of the locomotive tracks. I remember the loop back when I was a kid but of course no intermodal. I am trying to remember or locate if this was the Santa Fe passenger yards or if that was a few miles closer East to downtown Chicahgo.

TomO

^ this is on the east side of the yard East looking West and yes with this being Chicago’s Southside that is razor wire topping the fence.

^ both pictures are from the same spot looking North to the enginehouse and looking East at the yard sign.

Lots of action available here. Just doodling now but it is in my mind now

 

[Topherisme]

Apparently I had to try out Covid-19 for myself. Thanksgiving day was the absolute worst, and every day since then has been better. I've been sicker with less scary bugs in the past, but even with that said the mental toll of this has been a real B.

I went and did a drive-thru swab test Sunday morning and I STILL have not gotten the results back. My employer made me get an at-home test kit just so I had something to show them.

Oh man, was the same here…. On Thanksgiving when you should be enjoying family time and good food I was debating on whether my breathing was bad enough to warrant a hospital visit, most definitely sucked…. Just glad you are getting better!!!

 

[kbkchooch]

Let lvp|? We have concrete floors and when we first moved in added some looks like wood,but you faint anytime someone drops water in case they swell, then we found garage paint strong finish and cheap synthetic rugs - prefer wool but had one attacked by moth so synthetic seemed safer and you can roll up when decorating or swop rugs between rooms if bored, and no place for bugs to hide

edir

ah Ken’s post = luxury vinyl tile, lvp-luxury vinyl p?

LVP goes great on concrete or wood. I did the basement 5 years ago. On concrete as well as the steps, works great!
Here are the before pics,

And after (before final trim out)

It wears well, is waterproof unlike carpet. A few minor basement floods have reinforced that claim. Plus it looks like wood, but with only weekly vacuuming, mainly because of the fuzzy cat! We had Berber carpet prior to this so there was a good bit of prep to level the flooring, fill in divots from tack strips, and removing the glue that held the padding down, but it was totally worth it.

 

[Topherisme]

Looks good

 

[PNKFLOYD]

2nd day of december
i suppose they hate Santa because he was saint claus and they would definitely know that would they not,all kids know that,doh….pc correctness, any ways if you want a Santa sleigh this might give you some ideas

A very interesting series of how-to photos. I think I will try to make one of theses sleighs.

 

[Alcomotive]

Anyone have experience in using Micro Engineering ladder track switches? I am looking to buy 12 pieces to create a ladder track for my small yard. Also where would you get the best deal? They are pricey boogers....

Heres what I am talking about.....

http://microengineering.com/Micro_Engineering_Ladder_Track_System_v1.pdf

 

[chadbag]

Let lvp|? We have concrete floors and when we first moved in added some looks like wood,but you faint anytime someone drops water in case they swell, then we found garage paint strong finish and cheap synthetic rugs - prefer wool but had one attacked by moth so synthetic seemed safer and you can roll up when decorating or swop rugs between rooms if bored, and no place for bugs to hide

edir

ah Ken’s post = luxury vinyl tile, lvp-luxury vinyl p?

luxury vinyl plank -- the fake wood ones vs the fake tile ones

Better ones have limestone or other stone core now.

 

[ACL-CSX]

Good morning y'all. We're having a heat wave here in the Carolinas. It is not yet 3 am and the temperature is 52. Three days ago it was 28.

Flo- Coffee please, and just some bacon this morning. I hate traveling on a full stomach.

Headed home today to take care of a few things and do my laundry so I can repack my suitcase and head back out for Raleigh on Sunday. Fun times. At least that will be my last out of town trip for the year. Perhaps I will finally get a chance to visit the last hobby shop on my list.

Y'all have a blessed day. I'm going to drink my coffee and hit the road.

 

[troyphoto]

Wow! This place is hopping at 3 am eastern time (USA East coast).

Got up for the pee break and thought I'd check in.

 

[BigGRacing]

in using Micro Engineering ladder track switches? I am looking to buy 12 pieces to create a ladder track for my small yard. Also where would you get the best deal?

I heard that they have closed shop Alco, has anyone else heard anything?