One thing I've learned while wearing mine is to be VERY careful when I reach for something. With my field of view completely filled with what I'm working on, reaching away to pick up a tool without reorienting myself inevitably results in me smacking something over, like my coffee, glue, paint or the lamp.
The saga of the knee/quad tendon continues. I don't know that I did anything different the past week but what ever it was, the knee didn't like it. I have had it let go on me a few times lately but not during the week last week so it's just a mystery I guess. Now if I just had some cheese to go with my whining, right. With it hurting, I had to pass on the stairs so I had my son bring up the 10 freight car storage boxes I had not inventoried yet and sat in the recliner and worked on that Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Made great headway on the project of getting together a good solid updated inventory. Down to locomotives, the couple of dozen fright cars on the layout and maybe another 100 or so freight cars on the display shelves left to go. Might actually finish this project ahead of what I thought I would. It is fun to look through everything. It makes me want to build a freight yard big enough to have it all out on the rails. If only I had the space. Here is one of the fun cars I found that I completely forgot I had. And some Auto Rack fun Happy Monday Ya'll
Sorry to hear your knee is giving you problems. Inventory of your rail items is a great way to keep busy while you're not feeling well, hopefully it will pass soon. Best of luck to you Richard. Joe
Thanks Joe! It's a tad better this morning so I'm sure in another day or two, it will be back to it's normal mess. Inventorying the rolling stock has been more interesting than I thought it would be and have to admit, it makes me feel a little better knowing its finally getting done. Now I just have to make sure I keep it that way.
Latest from the JPT Sub. Finished decaling the River Pointe Station pick ups. 3 of the 4 are now on the layout. Holding back one of the utility trucks for an add on. A while back, Atlas release some 3d printed high rail wheels for pick ups. Have a set that are in the process of getting a quick coat of paint and then I will add them to this truck and see how it looks. Next up, I pulled the - round 1 didn't like it - roof off the silos for the grain elevator. Got a curbside to go new sheet of styrene Saturday while out doing pick ups and the new roof was in the queue. I was a little undermotivated about really working on it but after some kind words about the layout from a friend, I decided to hobble down and get some work done on it. I think this attempt came out better. Need to sand the edges a little and glue it down. Now that I have something going for the tops, it's time to think about the building that will run along the top pf the silos. The other thing I could use is a day of 70 degree weather to get a coat of paint on the silos.
Another project for the weekend was to put some Intermountain 60072 metal wheels on some freight cars and see how they perform. I got this pack of wheels a couple of months ago and finally around to using them. Did the full truck and coupler swap on these 3 hoppers. They now have M/T trucks and couplers with the Intermountain wheel sets. I ran them for several hours and no issues at all. Doing 3 to 6 cars at a time, I'll probably never be able to upgrade my entire fleet to metal wheels but I'd at least like to get the cars that will be on the layout the most upgraded as funds allow. Next small project on deck is adding some sunflowers at the edge of the corn field. Just thought it might be a cool little addition. Here they are ready to be planted. These have been hanging on the supply board above the work bench for a while so it's about time. I also unearthed an old set of decals for an odd ball intermodal flatcar scheme. If I run across the right flat at the right price, and can dig up a photo of one so I can figure out what decals go where, this will for sure be a project. I'm sure it shows that I am good at seeing something I think would be cool to do and then taking forever to do it. Of course, there are times when I'm glad I have these "rainy day" projects to pull out when needed.
Blizzard in Acworth GA. Had hoped to escape the bonds of work today and get out for a few pictures today but no luck. It's the patches of black ice that are the real culprit. Maybe tomorrow or if not, maybe I'll knock off a tad early and see what's happening in the train room. Have an idea to mock up a top building for the grain silos. We shall see.
"Blizzard" Seriously, this kind of weather, especially the ice, paralyzes things down south. What a mess!
Okay …. okay ….. Blizzard may be just a very very slight tad of an exaggeration. LOL It's ice, not snow that really paralyzes things here. I can actually drive fairly well in the snow but when we get ice here with no snow, it's all but impossible to drive on because there is absolutely no traction. Even the all mighty 4 wheel drives are useless. At least if we get a little snow with it, there is somewhat of a texture on it that helps a little. Most southern states don't get enough winter weather to invest in all the fancy snow and ice fighting equipment and what we do have sticks to the interstates and emergency routes. Then to top it off, lots of trees and shade spots so when it does get icy, it tends to hide in those spots and make for some seat of the pants type excitement. Sun is finally out now and a slight breeze so for the most part, all will be dry before we drop below freezing tonight and tomorrow's morning driving will be cold but okay. Layout wise, (just to keep the post sort of on topic, I printed some mock ups for the top of the silos today and have them glued to some cardboard. Will cut them out tonight and if have time, put them together to see how they will look on the silos.
Rare weekday action on the JPT sub. Planted a few sunflowers last night. I think they look neat at the edge of a corn field. Also decided to get around to adding more scrubby trees to this area before adding additional ground cover. Before And here's a start.
I was stationed in Norfolk VA, and we got about an inch of snow. Where I come from the school buses would not even be an hour late, we would be on time. No big deal. I drove my 2wd 04 Dakota to my command that day. When I got there, only duty section was there. They asked what was I doing there. (I had not listened to the radio that morning) I replied its almost time for Muster. I was then informed that they base shut down to essential personnel only... for AN INCH OF SNOW!! I said oh, ok, I'm going home then. They tried to get me to stay, by saying it was too dangerous to drive. I said I was from Washington and this isn't snow, it's a dusting and I'm not essential today so I am leaving...
Nice progress on the layout! Really like the small details getting added in. Hope your knee gets some better. Baby it. As an aside, you can always sit on the steps and pull yourself up, and slide down?? I have a buddy does that. It was always scary when I was down south and things got slick, people that aren't used to it get 'educated' by the slick! Then we had a bunch from down your way up here during the last oil boom, and it got dangerous to drive around here when it got slick, IF they went any where!
Thank you! The sunflowers are JTT and I just thought they were cool. We have a decade long running sunflower joke at work so that also added to the have to have factor. The grass you see is Woodland Scenics Medium Green Course Turf. I painted the ground green or brown depending on the area of the layout and then with good ole Elmar's white glue, I added a layer of the turf. Slowly, I will build on that in areas to add more brush and details.
I hear ya. It can be for sure silly what they consider conditions to close. After the big ice storm and fall out in 2014 here in Atlanta, they will close schools if inclement weather is even forecast. For those of you who remember that nightmare, I would like to point out that I was out of town when it happened so I can't be included in the list of those labeled as "can't drive in it" crowd.
Thank you sir! I have a long long long way to go on details. Of course, that will help keep me interested.
We have to have at least 6" of snow on the roads before the schools close because they wont let the buses go out...LOL
