Running Bear's October 2021 Coffee Shop

[Texas Hobo]

Good Morning all! Well it appears the humidity is returning. Yesterday we were in the low 90's and today predicted to be mid 90's.

Flo, let's go with an English muffin with black raspberry jam and coffee.

The plan for the day, we all know how plans go, is to take it slow and easy. Maybe gas up the truck ($2.65) and spray for insects. Nothing to strenuous. Maybe some train time which has been short this week.

Willie - I like the building. I looked at their catalogue but not much I could use in N scale
Garry -Nice photo, I can see why it would be a favorite
TomO - I really like the scenes from your pulp plant.
JazA - Thank you for your analysis of my photo, but my saying it wasn't a good photo was because it didn't show the crossing well enough.
Patrick - If you would, make that front strong enough to make it all the way to the Gulf Coast, thanks in advance.
Sherrel - It amazes me how one can have nothing to do and then be swamped with real world issues and events that just consume the days,
then nothing.
Boris - Just how many Pennsylvania pictures do you have. So far I have enjoyed each and every one. I guess it's my East Coast upbringing.

STAY SAFE
LATER

 

[santafewillie]

Not to worry; the Secretary of Energy is "concerned" about energy prices. Yeah, right. Just like the Secretary of Transportation is doing anything to solve the back up of ships at the ports. So much incompetence in DC !

No more incompetent than the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security.

 

[PNKFLOYD]

2. Soldering. I am terrible at soldering. Probably because I'm impatient and also because I really need to invest in a new tip for my soldering iron.

Ken- I had the same problem using a 200 watt soldering iron for over 20 years for small projects. I really could not get wires hot enough to make a good connection. While wiring the club On30 layout, another club member brought in his soldering station, which is variable up to about 800 watts. At the higher wattages, the wires heated quickly and sucked the solder into the connection without excessive solder in the joint. I wound up purchasing the same model when I started wiring my home layout. No joints had to be repaired.
A new tip for your soldering iron cannot hurt, but you must allow your iron to heat the area to be soldered.

 

[chadbag]

Ken- I had the same problem using a 200 watt soldering iron for over 20 years for small projects. I really could not get wires hot enough to make a good connection. While wiring the club On30 layout, another club member brought in his soldering station, which is variable up to about 800 watts. At the higher wattages, the wires heated quickly and sucked the solder into the connection without excessive solder in the joint. I wound up purchasing the same model when I started wiring my home layout. No joints had to be repaired.
A new tip for your soldering iron cannot hurt, but you must allow your iron to heat the area to be soldered.

After I bought my digitally controlled solder station (Hakko) my soldering ability were magnified 1000%. Well worth it for any sort of fine work like DCC, model railroad feeds, R/C electronics, guitar electronics, appliance repair, etc.

I struggled with various solder guns and wands (all analog) for a long time before making the plunge.

 

[PRR Modeler]

Afternoon All,

Yesterday was a mess. I had been in the train room 15 minutes when I got a call from daughter that grandson had been in a MVA (not hurt) in my wife's car. Needless to say I didn't get home until 1830. The darn FHP never did show up. After 3.5 hours waiting in the sun someone called gave me the case number and I had to fill out the report at home. Went to the repair shop this morning (waiting on adjuster) then did chores. I did get up to the train room and finished painting the track and repaired several spots of ballast.

Garry- Great looking scene.

Mikey- People advance to their highest level of incompetency- that's Washington in a nutshell.

Sherrel- Ours was finally below $3 then it shot up to $3.15. Tell me the oil companies aren't fixing prices. I see Tesla is moving most of it's stuff out of CA because of high taxes and cost of living. They're moving to Austin.

Joe- Hopefully MIL will be in a new residence quickly. I've had a lot of weathering redo's. Nice photos.

Willie- Nice photos. The build look like it's going to be really nice.

TomO- Nice looking dogs and layout scenes.

Ken- Congrats on the new furniture and 4 days off. I glue the piece of cork to the layout (let dry) then use a B&D sanding mouse (electric) and sand it down that way (but it's messy).

I hope everyone has a good night.

 

[Greg@mnrr]

Good afternoon everyone.....a nice fall day here in Wisconsin after yesterday's and last night's rain and thunderstorm. More rain later is forecasted.

Finally yesterday I made it down to the train room. Relayed the floor tile that were wet from the water from the furnace and the tiles' adhesive was still good and the tiles reattached themselves to the concrete floor. The floor (carpet) protector was set standing on edge and the piece now has a curve in its acrylic material and hopefully by laying it upside down it will regain its normal shape.

I had a real scare when I looked for an envelope that contained all my decals. Many of the decals were signs and the custom one that I had done for my CM&N Railroad. After an hour of looking I figured out that Cathy had placed them on a table in her Packer Room for safekeeping and she did just that and they were aright. My three engines from Scale Trains were in a place high and dry in the same room.

Slowly I'll get the room back into shape. I was surprised how fast an afternoon in the train room can go by. I made it up the basement stairs by myself with a little work. Now I know that I can do it, I'll spend more time working on the layout. When Cathy goes to the southwest, I just may purchase a help alert to wear when I'll alone down in the basement.

When Cathy is away I'll have Riley to puppy sit. She is happy to be in her own crate and is sleeping right now and as long as she can see and hear me when we are alone everything is fine with her. She will miss her walks with Cathy in the mornings, but Riley and I will play and she will get her exercise.

Tomorrow, hopefully I'll be running some trains. I purchased a ballast spreader a year or so ago and never used it. I watched a video with a fellow using one to ballast his mainline and it work real well. I was surprised at the prices for the device... any where from $29.00 to $60.00 for the same model. All for a little plastic box with a hole in its bottom. I also ordered an undecorated box car and the price form the manufacture was $10 more than the price I paid at $27.99 form a discount mail order shop, so it pays to spend a little time to shop around.

That's all for now...

Greg

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

 

[Sirfoldalot]

Greg -- Is that your ballast spreader I see in the photo?

 

[Sirfoldalot]

After I bought my digitally controlled solder station (Hakko) my soldering ability were magnified 1000%.

CHAD - One of the daughters gave me one for Christmas a couple years back - I'm pretty sure that I have the same model as you. I had always used a Weller two speed gun, - but I never reached the need for tiny work like decoders and such.
What a difference the "station" makes ... ZAP ... it's done!

 

[OBTC 1909]

Ken- I had the same problem using a 200 watt soldering iron for over 20 years for small projects. I really could not get wires hot enough to make a good connection. While wiring the club On30 layout, another club member brought in his soldering station, which is variable up to about 800 watts. At the higher wattages, the wires heated quickly and sucked the solder into the connection without excessive solder in the joint. I wound up purchasing the same model when I started wiring my home layout. No joints had to be repaired.
A new tip for your soldering iron cannot hurt, but you must allow your iron to heat the area to be soldered.

Thanks for the info Mikey. I need to go check mine and see what the wattage is. That could be part of the problem.

 

[Sirfoldalot]

Hughie: I like the "then nothing" days! LOL

TomO - great doggie photos - The black one with the white muzzle I think is a twin to one that I had - smartest pup I have ever had. She lived to 18, never slowed down! This is at about 15/16 YO.

 

[PNKFLOYD]

I made it down to work on the club On30 layout yesterday and continued installing the barrel factory.
Here are some pictures from the pad built up with plaster to painting the patched area and gluing down real dirt and sprinkling the wet mixture with green ground foam.

 

[Boris]

We have oil, why do we import any?

Tom: Not for nothing, much of this has to do with International Bankers speculating on energy, because of the shortage of fuel in Europe, Where, (allegedly), government(s) have mismanaged the changeover to "renewable" energy. For example, Solar doesn't work well, in the winter, especially around the Arctic Circle, and Wind farms don't produce when there is a calm wind...Coal and oil are banned, Nuclear is being phased out, and Putin is squeezing their gas pipelines...those folks are gonna face a cold, expensive winter.

We don't have that problem, as we generate enough oil, coal, and Natural Gas in North America to provide for our needs indefinitely, especially, when our fossil energy needs are shrinking. But...the perception is everything is in short supply, and speculators are taking advantage of the situation. After all, all the money being taken out of the stock market, has to go somewhere...

The only saving factor for us is that we just had an nice cut in our gas tax, so the increases are mitigated somewhat. That said the price of Regular hit $2.23/gal. today. Good thing that on the average, we fill up once a month.

 

[Boris]

Boris - Just how many Pennsylvania pictures do you have. So far I have enjoyed each and every one. I guess it's my East Coast upbringing.

Hughie: I "mine" them from various sources. As long as they are published in a public forum, and I don't attempt to claim credit or profit from them, I share them with others. keep in mind as collectors pass, and their collections become"public", more unique stuff is available. I mostly follow PRR/PC, B&O, RDG and CNJ.

The darn FHP never did show up. After 3.5 hours waiting in the sun someone called gave me the case number and I had to fill out the report at home.

Curt: Here in Jersey, , it would be considered leaving the scene...but they will permit on line reporting for property crimes, such as burglary.

No Hockey on ESPN+ tonight. Did watch their new weekly Hockey Show, "The Point". Reminds me of something TSN does, and it was interesting enough to hold my attention for an hour after dinner. Right now, I'm listening to the Rays-Red Sox game on over the air radio. Rays not doing too well, tonight.

We have two things pending right now concerning the MIL, one is moving her, the second is gathering documentation, for a second Medicaid application in December. Hopefully this will be all resolved by year's end. This stuff is all new to us, and is an education as to how the bureaucracy works, and how bureaucrats think and communicate. Certainly not the same as the business world... I mean, I've had dealings with the FRA, NTSB, STB, USRA, and the FDA. The NJ DEP and the PA PUC. Never have I dealt with the likes of these caseworkers....

No time for yard work, or the model RR today. Went food shopping, also stopped in Hobby Lobby, where I picked up a couple additional cans of Dullcote, and some styrene sheet.

This is an Athearn Ready to Roll box car, that was entirely too glossy out of the box. I Dullcoted it, then added some dark grimy powder. Doesn't shine or reflect light any more, which was the goal.

 

[2Tracks]

Good Morning all! Flo, ya have any deer camp coffee? Fill it up please......
It has been a bit since I've last been on here, although lurking has not been out of the question.....
Just a lot of other life stuff going on, you know what I'm talking about.....
And as info, (some may have noticed,) I am not a social media person! No Facebook, no Twitter or any other what ever they are, as I'm just not comfortable putting myself out there, even on this forum. Which I think is a great forum by the way.......
Then there is one more thing, computers, I hate the things. I'm not good and I'm not fast on them. I just try and stick to the basics, (until there's an update or some such)....

On the modeling front, I got all the cantilever brackets & hardware for the new layout. I'm going to look into a battery operated impact driver.
Any body have some recommendations there? Also picked up the toggle on/off switches for the staging tracks, and the last couple of switches that I needed. I have picked up a couple pieces of rolling stock, I'll post over on the RPO. I'll leave this pic with you, taken last Friday, relatively early in the morning, looking Southeast.

Take Care.....

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning Everyone. Clear and 68° on my back porch, light breeze coming through the open windows. Expected to top out at 94° later on. I hope to get some yardwork done this morning if I get done with the extra household chores early enough. Besides laundry and emptying the dishwasher which are normally my responsibility anyway, I need to mop the kitchen/dining area floor, and make a cursory attempt at the bathrooms. I am not usually trusted with either.

Just a couple of over-easy eggs and a handful of bacon this morning Flo. OJ to drink.

Thanks to the whole gang who liked or commented on yesterday's progress pictures; Ken, Tom O, Patrick, Garry, Hughie, Gary, Rick, Curt, Sherrel, Joe, James, Christian.

Not a lot of progress out in the train shed yesterday; I guess that I'll have to get used to that for a few months. I resumed painting the crates and other details that came with Ramones Salvage.

I also made my first attempt at painting the upper wall a brick-red on one wall.

Unfortunately I had some bleed-through that I will have to touch up, although I may leave the spot on the left as it seems to be appropriate. The spot on the right may also be OK, depending on how dilapidated I want the finished structure to be.
I did finish the filing of the window openings on the two remaining walls.

Tom O - Despite how good the pain medications are, she doesn't really like taking them. Right now they're a necessary evil and she will wean herself at the earliest opportunity.
Curt - You posted about Tesla moving because of the high cost of living. I was reading earlier this week, about housing costs in the Bay area averaged $1.5 million for a small family sized home. In Austin, despite the influx of techies from CA, the average price is $500,000; a third as much. Texas also has no state income tax either. Downside though is that the folks moving in are bringing their politics as well.
Jerry - Good to see you again.

That's it for this morning. Everyone have a great day and an awesome weekend.

 

[Jaz avalley]

Well, howdy there internet MRR peeps

It's Troy again

Today lets talk about arm pain and orange chips

But first: Willie: I seem to recognize some of the honkers in your photos. We call them the Canadian mafia. they take over our two drainage ponds in the neighborhood each sprint and summer. They get nasty if one invades their territory. I see now why our neighbors to the great white north are so nice and polite. They've poured all of the hate and outrage into the geese and sent them south.

Back to why my arm hurts.

Today was the day for wife and I to head to the doc's office to get our annual flu shots. Normally we go separately, but having only one car was enough to call and schedule them at the same time.

Wife got her's first. then the Med Assist asks if I have asthma
Yes.
Do I get the flublock every year?
I dunno, what did I get last year
Flublock - it's normally for age 65+ (I'm late 50s)... but, if you have asthma that's probably why your doc recommended it.
OK

So, now my arm is sore. I'll probably be feverish sometime tonight. Shouldn't be as bad as the Pfizer C-19 one, though.
Wife says I got the flublock instead of the normal, because I'm a grumpy old cuss. She might be right.

Oh, and the MA asked if I was going to get the C-19 booster.
Do I qualify?
"Age, and Asthma, yes. Call your doc if you have questions."

So, I'll get that in a few weeks.

At least I had fish-n-chips for dinner. And a friend in Black-Country England sees the pic, and asks Wot? No Orange Chips...

Not sure how widely accepted Orange Chips are in the UK, but now I want to try them.

Link to what they are here: http://www.foodsofengland.co.uk/Orange_Chips.htm

I think orange chips are sweet potatoe chips which are a fad here at the moment

 

[Jaz avalley]

Good Morning Everyone. Clear and 68° on my back porch, light breeze coming through the open windows. Expected to top out at 94° later on. I hope to get some yardwork done this morning if I get done with the extra household chores early enough. Besides laundry and emptying the dishwasher which are normally my responsibility anyway, I need to mop the kitchen/dining area floor, and make a cursory attempt at the bathrooms. I am not usually trusted with either.

Just a couple of over-easy eggs and a handful of bacon this morning Flo. OJ to drink.

Thanks to the whole gang who liked or commented on yesterday's progress pictures; Ken, Tom O, Patrick, Garry, Hughie, Gary, Rick, Curt, Sherrel, Joe, James, Christian.

Not a lot of progress out in the train shed yesterday; I guess that I'll have to get used to that for a few months. I resumed painting the crates and other details that came with Ramones Salvage.
View attachment 133644
I also made my first attempt at painting the upper wall a brick-red on one wall.
View attachment 133645
Unfortunately I had some bleed-through that I will have to touch up, although I may leave the spot on the left as it seems to be appropriate. The spot on the right may also be OK, depending on how dilapidated I want the finished structure to be.
I did finish the filing of the window openings on the two remaining walls.

Tom O - Despite how good the pain medications are, she doesn't really like taking them. Right now they're a necessary evil and she will wean herself at the earliest opportunity.
Curt - You posted about Tesla moving because of the high cost of living. I was reading earlier this week, about housing costs in the Bay area averaged $1.5 million for a small family sized home. In Austin, despite the influx of techies from CA, the average price is $500,000; a third as much. Texas also has no state income tax either. Downside though is that the folks moving in are bringing their politics as well.
Jerry - Good to see you again.

That's it for this morning. Everyone have a great day and an awesome weekend.

I tried wood glue in my crates instead of dye if they are plaster results can be pleasing not great on plastic unless you paint first

 

[Jaz avalley]

Good Morning Everyone. Clear and 68° on my back porch, light breeze coming through the open windows. Expected to top out at 94° later on. I hope to get some yardwork done this morning if I get done with the extra household chores early enough. Besides laundry and emptying the dishwasher which are normally my responsibility anyway, I need to mop the kitchen/dining area floor, and make a cursory attempt at the bathrooms. I am not usually trusted with either.

Just a couple of over-easy eggs and a handful of bacon this morning Flo. OJ to drink.

Thanks to the whole gang who liked or commented on yesterday's progress pictures; Ken, Tom O, Patrick, Garry, Hughie, Gary, Rick, Curt, Sherrel, Joe, James, Christian.

Not a lot of progress out in the train shed yesterday; I guess that I'll have to get used to that for a few months. I resumed painting the crates and other details that came with Ramones Salvage.
View attachment 133644
I also made my first attempt at painting the upper wall a brick-red on one wall.
View attachment 133645
Unfortunately I had some bleed-through that I will have to touch up, although I may leave the spot on the left as it seems to be appropriate. The spot on the right may also be OK, depending on how dilapidated I want the finished structure to be.
I did finish the filing of the window openings on the two remaining walls.

Tom O - Despite how good the pain medications are, she doesn't really like taking them. Right now they're a necessary evil and she will wean herself at the earliest opportunity.
Curt - You posted about Tesla moving because of the high cost of living. I was reading earlier this week, about housing costs in the Bay area averaged $1.5 million for a small family sized home. In Austin, despite the influx of techies from CA, the average price is $500,000; a third as much. Texas also has no state income tax either. Downside though is that the folks moving in are bringing their politics as well.
Jerry - Good to see you again.

That's it for this morning. Everyone have a great day and an awesome weekend.

I think the fires because a certain element are outlawing burn offs for ecological purposes are a big thing too

 

[Jaz avalley]

Yes, that one, is it scratchbuilt?

Unfortunately not, but it would be easy to do with foam board, unfortunately it is on the loft and I am on the ground floor
i will go photo and expand when I can get back up there, I live fiamboard

 

[OBTC 1909]

Good morning all! Sunny and 65 here. Supposed to get up to 85 today and 88 tomorrow. Kinda warm for October, but I'll take it over winter weather any day.

Day number 3 of 4 off today. I've got plenty of stuff to do since I was gone most of the day yesterday. Had a great time visiting my parents and then picked up my youngest granddaughter from school. Had to run a few errands after that, so I didn't accomplish anything at home.

If I get a chance I may sneak out to the garage and get that 72" by 30" board from my old layout down from the rafters and see what I can do with it. I've been trying to come up with a good idea for a switching layout, but haven't finalized anything.

I'm one of those guys who likes to try to come up with a plausible version of my home area for a layout, so I've been thinking about what current and former industries along the local lines I could service with switching. I may come up with something that services industries that existed along both lines that come/came through here over the years as one line. The NYC/PC/Conrail and later the Prairie Central used to come through from north to south on the old Egyptian line, but those tracks are long gone. The east/west was the IC, but it's now the Indiana Rail Road. What I like is I've got HO equipment from PC, IC and INRD that can all be used on the line, depending on my desire to run modern or old stuff. If I ever get a chance to build a larger layout, I'd like to model like the Oil Belt RW survived and eventually took over the Egyptian line in our area. Big dreams, small wallet and no space to put it all anyway.

Hope you all have a great day!
Ken