Running Bear's February 2022 Coffee Shop

[truckdad]

I never found my huge bundle of shrink wrap, though I had found a few small bundles of large diameter shrink wrap that I had bought a long time before that. But it was too large a diameter. I finally found one more older bundle of a narrower sort and was able to get going on the guitar update.

I decided to not add the "boost" circuit to this guitar (due to some new stuff coming which the wife was not happy with) but did getthe Lace Alumitones installed and tested. (A "Deathbucer" on the bridge and a "Humbucker" on the neck. The difference between them being in their electrical specs).

The guitar is just a cheap Ibanez GIO low end starter guitar I bought like 8 years ago when my daughter was 6 and starting her lessons. She wanted me to sit in with her for comfort so I though, hey, "free guitar lesson" and got this for $130 at Guitar Center on a sale. Eventually she was comfortable with her lessons and I no longer sat in and I stopped learning and forgot everything I had learned. She continued and has grown into a full size from hr short scale guitars and so now uses this one.

She is a much better player and I like to fiddle so added the Alumitones. Her previous short scale guitar also had Alumitones (and the boost circuit she would never use). Trying to bring up her newest guitar to the same level (minus the boost circuit).



View attachment 140052

I bought this in 1974 for $160. Harmony made a bunch of these, not a bad guitar. I have seen them go for over 2K on ebay in good shape. I got Buck to sign this one at his Crystal Palace in Bakersfield in 02. I gave it to my son along with the G&L Asat I had. There were another group of the Buck guitars from the other side of the world that were cheap junk..

 

[NYC_George]

I went on TCS systems webpage to find out more about the new WOW POW programmer my friend seen at the train show. The programmer that is capable of downloading and installing sound files from any brand on any decoder. This is big news if it's true? My friend, said they were showing it off at the show. Their site has nothing on it. Strange if it going to be available in 2 months. I wonder if James stop by their table?
George

 

[Greg@mnrr]

Good Morning everyone out there and it's nice and sunny and already warm for this time in February. Snow is melting off the roads so no car wash today. My car really needs it. The big snow storm is missing us and we've had so little snow this season. Even at the cabin the snowmobilers must be having fits.

Carpet guy is coming to measure the hallway later after lunch. The cost will be higher than it should be since the hallway requires carpet cut from the roll ends and there's a lot of waste.

Watched a video yesterday on Woodland Scenic's paint pens to weather rail. The final results look great. Rusted side rails, aged ties and rust o the tie plates and where the spikes would be located.

I have a friend who never married, lived in a cabin on his parents lake property and never paid the family a dime. He will inherit the entire family fortune and likely will not spend a dime of the money. He only buys a new truck every ten years!

In March Cathy is traveling to La Jolla, CA to visit her sister and stay at the sister's ocean property instead of at the sister's Mesa's home on the Salt River Water Project. The ocean home is a stone's throw from the beach and they walk down to see the surfers and seals. Nice life. Cathy's sister uses the place as a weekend retreat to escape the heat of the Mesa's summer months. She usually flys since its a six hour drive. I think I build a wooden kit at the kitchen table while she is gone. I have a couple of Bar Mills that would be fun to do.

I can't believe how many suppliers are out of model railroading stock. Disappointed not being able to purchase what I need.

That's all to report today.

Greg

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The Omro Junk Yard on the CM&N Railroad. The bushes around the yard is slated to be replaced with different ground covers.-Greg

 

[NYC_George]

I bought this in 1974 for $160. Harmony made a bunch of these, not a bad guitar. I have seen them go for over 2K on ebay in good shape. I got Buck to sign this one at his Crystal Palace in Bakersfield in 02. I gave it to my son along with the G&L Asat I had. There were another group of the Buck guitars from the other side of the world that were cheap junk..View attachment 140053

Acoustic

 

[bnsf971]

I went on TCS systems webpage to find out more about the new WOW POW programmer my friend seen at the train show. The programmer that is capable of downloading and installing sound files from any brand on any decoder. This is big news if it's true? My friend, said they were showing it off at the show. Their site has nothing on it. Strange if it going to be available in 2 months. I wonder if James stop by their table?
George

Two months from today is April 1st.
Read into that what you will, but that date IS April Fool’s Day.

 

[Alcomotive]

I went on TCS systems webpage to find out more about the new WOW POW programmer my friend seen at the train show. The programmer that is capable of downloading and installing sound files from any brand on any decoder. This is big news if it's true? My friend, said they were showing it off at the show. Their site has nothing on it. Strange if it going to be available in 2 months. I wonder if James stop by their table?
George

I did see that. It is still patent pending. I am not sure about every decoder as that may be a stretch. It is a neat gizmo. I think they have a ways to go to get this off and running and they still have permission rights to deal with to access some decoders so I am told whether that is true or not I do not know. I will be watching this as it progresses. There is a guy on Youtube that mentioned this and talked about the format and how it is used. I will post up a link when I find it again tonight.

You mentioned your friend said it was horrible at the show on your previous post. I am curious what day did he go?

It really wasn't that bad on Saturday. I guess it's a matter of opinions. I agree that there were not as many vendors as the norm but that wasn't enough to call it horrible at least not on Saturday. As I said the place was probably running at 75% as far as vendors. So like 25% didn't show up and same deal with displayed layouts and private sellers.

Anyways I had fun and got most of what I wanted with the exception of the ME ladder switch LH 5e.

 

[Alcomotive]

Good Morning everyone out there and it's nice and sunny and already warm for this time in February. Snow is melting off the roads so no car wash today. My car really needs it. The big snow storm is missing us and we've had so little snow this season. Even at the cabin the snowmobilers must be having fits.

Carpet guy is coming to measure the hallway later after lunch. The cost will be higher than it should be since the hallway requires carpet cut from the roll ends and there's a lot of waste.

Watched a video yesterday on Woodland Scenic's paint pens to weather rail. The final results look great. Rusted side rails, aged ties and rust o the tie plates and where the spikes would be located.

I have a friend who never married, lived in a cabin on his parents lake property and never paid the family a dime. He will inherit the entire family fortune and likely will not spend a dime of the money. He only buys a new truck every ten years!

In March Cathy is traveling to La Jolla, CA to visit her sister and stay at the sister's ocean property instead of at the sister's Mesa's home on the Salt River Water Project. The ocean home is a stone's throw from the beach and they walk down to see the surfers and seals. Nice life. Cathy's sister uses the place as a weekend retreat to escape the heat of the Mesa's summer months. She usually flys since its a six hour drive. I think I build a wooden kit at the kitchen table while she is gone. I have a couple of Bar Mills that would be fun to do.

I can't believe how many suppliers are out of model railroading stock. Disappointed not being able to purchase what I need.

That's all to report today.

Greg

#################

View attachment 140054
The Omro Junk Yard on the CM&N Railroad. The bushes around the yard is slated to be replaced with different ground covers.-Greg

Supplies are out on those cargo ships in Cali...........unfortunately

 

[Texas Hobo]

Good morning all! A warm but overcast day. Decent weather today till Thursday afternoon, then the bottom drops out and a plunge to 29 degrees is predicted. I know it's not cold compared to some of you guys, but Thursday's high is predicted to be in the upper 70's. So, a 45-to-50-degree drop does get one's attention. No snow here but Willie might see some.
Flo, I'm not sure I like the smell of paint and bacon. Maybe some SOS this morning.

So, I started searching Amazon for a suitable replacement for Ernie's Gas Station. I found that Amazon has a lousy selection when it comes to N scale buildings. That is disappointing since I have quite a few gift cards from Christmas.
Hopefully some train time this afternoon.

 

[NYC_George]

You mentioned your friend said it was horrible at the show on your previous post. I am curious what day did he go?

He went Sunday James. He was very disappointed that Rapido, Tony's Trains and other vendors he usually buys from were not there. I can't remember them all but over the phone he said about 7 or so. It was not a good day for him. It seems the vendor that brings 500 engines to the show, didn't show. You found everything you wanted to buy so it turned out to be a great show. He said, the weathermen scared everyone from going. Post that link about the TCS WOW POW programmer.
George

 

[Alcomotive]

He went Sunday James. He was very disappointed that Rapido, Tony's Trains and other vendors he usually buys from were not there. I can't remember them all but over the phone he said about 7 or so. It was not a good day for him. It seems the vendor that brings 500 engines to the show, didn't show. You found everything you wanted to buy so it turned out to be a great show. He said, the weathermen scared everyone from going. Post that link about the TCS WOW POW programmer.
George

This is the guy that did the review....I will look later to find the video....

https://www.youtube.com/c/TheDCCGuy

 

[PNKFLOYD]

Mikey - Oh how I envy you finding a box with 39 HO vehicles in it. That could partially populate a few of my empty parking lots and driveways!

Willie-
I was very glad to also find my Corvette collection of 14 vehicles from a 1988 C4 metal kit to a 1955 N scale convertible.

I had a 1981 C3 (only 195 hp when new) with T tops until I bought a motorcycle and my wife "bartered " the Vette to a contractor for labor to build a deck onto the house. I was not a happy camper, but I had promised to sell the car when I got the motorcycle.

I envy your skill in making your figures convey action in each scene. Selecting a figure to be believable in each situation is one of the things that makes your layout so great.

 

[PNKFLOYD]

I need another project that doesn't create too much saw dust.

George- can you find a child sized dummy to place on your caboose dressed as a railroad worker?
Maybe you could use a grandchild temporarily to make pictures and when you have visitors. Should not make much sawdust.

 

[Greg@mnrr]

So, I started searching Amazon for a suitable replacement for Ernie's Gas Station. I found that Amazon has a lousy selection when it comes to N scale buildings. That is disappointing since I have quite a few gift cards from Christmas.

Try Inter-Action Hobbies, they have some gas stations that may work for your layout.

Greg

 

[Boris]

Why can't people see the truth? Do they like to whine and complain? Keep in mind I'm not talking about politics.

Louis: 1. Happy Birthday to your Wife. 2. Perception is reality...Right now, most people's perception is negative...The fan base had high expectations for the Ravens...due to circumstance beyond the teams control, the season ended more like an Orioles season...the fan base is not happy.

Sports fans live in a fantasy world of expectations and perceptions, and put their money where their expectations are. Take the NJ Devils...There was no expectation of them making a run at the playoffs this year...they are not quite ready for prime time...the expectation was they would be improved over last season ....which they are. But they are still very unhappy, because the team did not exceed their expectations.. The season is only at the half way mark...but they are already ready to sell off half the team at the deadline. (which will cause the team to perform as bad or worse than last year...yada, yada, yada.

George: That's awesome...for some reason, I thought you were doing NYC, but Conrail is just as fine.

Note: I initially wrote this this morning, but in my haste to do other things, I must have forgot to post the message, so here it comes...unedited.

 

[NYC_George]

GEORGE - Absolutely love your caboose ! How about a side and a 3/4 view?

It's only 7 inches wide, not much to see but I'll post one later if you want.
George

 

[NYC_George]

George: That's awesome...for some reason, I thought you were doing NYC, but Conrail is just as fine.

Thanks Boris,TLOC, Sirfoldalot and everyone else for the comments. I looked at a bunch of cabooses and thought the Pennsy/Conrail was the easiest to build. I did change a few things like to ladder. etc. but I just wanted some wall art for my train room.
George

 

[PRR Modeler]

Afternoon All,

Spent most the day in the train room. I finished up the add-on and roof on the main office along with putting 2 additional add-ons at the base of the main office. There will be a small consumer dock that attaches to the left of the wood plank add-on. I also put together the 4 add-ons that sit on the top of the back office.

I can't believe that we got to 104 pages in January.

Thank you for all the likes yesterday.

TomO- Great scene.

Steve- Very nice job.

Joe- This country is going to hell.

Louis- Happy belated birthday to your wife.

Willie- Nice scenes.

George- That looks awesome.

Lee- The RS3 and trailers look great.

Greg- Nice junkyard scene.



I hope everyone has a good night.

 

[kbkchooch]

Thanks Boris,TLOC, Sirfoldalot and everyone else for the comments. I looked at a bunch of cabooses and thought the Pennsy/Conrail was the easiest to build. I did change a few things like to ladder. etc. but I just wanted some wall art for my train room.
George

Looks awesome from here!

 

[JazzDad]

I’ve got a great idea for a new layout – it’s the Lake Powell & Missabe Railroad. The premise is this: the tailings from the coal mines in Arizona are taken to Minnesota to fill in the open pits left after the iron ore mining there. In turn, the iron waste product is hauled from MN to AZ to fill in THEIR open pits. Now this is where it gets good. The layout starts in my train room. It punches through the exterior wall, crosses two back yards and enters my neighbor’s house, and into HIS train room. The lead locomotives are fitted with cameras, and each of us has a CCTV feed to the other’s control panel. Our ‘radio’ communications will be via Wi-Fi. What do you think?

 

[Patrick]

Going to be interesting tomorrow. We have 25 concurrent user licenses available for our vpn and 35 users. I do have the ability that most don't by coming into the network an alternate way. So I can still administrate the network without using any of the 25 licenses. It's nice being the Network King!!! lol

I've also been tasked with getting more licenses.