I know many of you have wondered where Hobo Tim has gone, and some of you are now wondering who the heck is Hobo Tim, well, this past year construction work, out of state, has kept me pretty busy. The down side to this is my passions for working with Z scale are greatly diminished. No sooner I arrive home and get a project started, or for that fact, get a project re-started, I am called away from home back on the road away from family, friends, and my garage shop where the World of Z takes place. I have several projects that I am working on for many of you fellow Z scalers. Most important of all is the SD70ACe shell project for which I am at a stand still awaiting professionally etched parts to be made. I have a backlog with Ztrack near a mile long. I have several small projects for individuals I am also trying to finish. "Rev. Robert Jacunski, I am trying!" Fact is I have alot! This morning I got a call to report to Taft, Louisiana tomorrow morning. 5 days earlier than was originally planned. I will be departing my home near Atlanta, GA tomorrow morning at 2am. The project is slotted for 6-8 weeks in length, but could potentially be shorter or even longer. Last year, before the election really started heating up, all the major oil and chemical companies on the Gulf Coast had collectively about 23 Billion dollars of construction slotted for the next 10 years. That is steady jobs for tens of thousands of people for near ten years. In construction that means security. The project I leave for tomorrow was one that has been postponed 3 times in the past 6 months and the only reason they are going ahead with the Turn-Around now is that the unit is in dire need of repair. It constantly is shutting down due to this need of repair. It is one of only a few of DOW's chemical plants doing any special work, most are closing their doors for 1-3 months. Am I happy to be going to work again, Yes and No. I want to finish all of these Z projects I have but I need $$$ to survive. I put myself second to all others and for that reason I have not brought much of anything new to the masses in quite some time. The 195ton HD Flats is the only exception and then the manufacturing window was very short. Production of first run was small. I'd rather stay home and work on Z then go to work, but construction jobs, the type that I do, are getting very scarse right now. This is an update for those needing one. It is most likely not what you want to hear. I Extremely Apologize to those long awaiting completion of their projects, especially you Rev Robert Jacunski. Your's is top of my list when I return home in 2(+/-) months!!! One note, from early September to mid December last year I had no access to the internet. I was able to check my emails 5 times from a job computer and probably reply to about 3 emails total. Life sucks when strong habits are broken. I do plan on having internet access this time. Forums might be limited, but emails are a must. Please email me if you have a project with me so we can talk about it. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD, do not slip into the back door of www.tnt-z.com and place any more orders for container decals!!! My decal supply has been depleted. I am hoping for a better year for working on Z upon my return. I appreciate all patience that everyone has and continues to have with me. Thanks Tim Buehring - a.k.a. Hobo Tim
Thanks for the open words Tim, much appreciated! I hope you soon find the time for your Familiy again and of course also for your hobby. Take Care!
Tim, who is Rev Robert. Sounds like somebody that needs to show what his doing in this board, and dont worry, I will pass the word.
One thing is for certain......Tim isn't bored one bit unless it is with the type of work he does, but as he said, feeding the family and paying the bills has got to be top priority these days. Wouldn't it be nice if those of us who want to, could actually find the time that we want to play/work with our Z scale. It's like that with anything I suppose unless you are born with a silver spoon in your mouth and someone else does all your busy work for you so you can play. Tim, you are in our thoughts and we greatly appreciate all you do for Z....when you can. Be careful on the job site and we'll look for your return asap. Best, Loren
Tim, I echo everyone else, take care of business. I know my shells are safe in your hands, I for one am not worried or in a hurry. Take care.
Tim, Thanks for the update--I wouldn't worry about the ACe shells, as I am working ludicrous amounts of hours in my line of work. At least you have a job, which many folks cannot say. Do what ya gotta do, and we'll be here when you get back!
Hi Tim, thanks for the update. So we can be at bit relaxed in our hunt for SD70 chassis. Take care and hope to see you back soon. But please leave any political command out of the forum, I want to read only about Z and the people involved.
Wish I knew Greetings Fellow Z scalers!!! Just a quick note to let everyone know I am still alive, but also still out of town. Looks like a week + window of opportunity is coming 'round quick for a trip back home before the next job starts in March. I look forward in working on some Z projects. Rev Jacunski, yours is first, then follows several others. I brought my air card with me this time, but the "Frackin" thing does not like my laptop. It's probably not all that compatible with a 5+ year old computer. Has to be the problem. Must be time for a new laptop. If it worked right I'd be able to chat and have all other internet functions. Oh, by the way, I am using my bosses computer to write and send this. Last night I was thrust into the night shift life till this job is over. At least I will be able to use his computer now. My main reason for writing this message is to ask everyone who reads this to help me please spread the word, especially in the Yahoo Z Scale group and the Z Central Station for everyone to please Stop slipping into some back door of my website, www.tnt-z.com and ordering container decals. If one of you guys that has an Alps wants to use my Coreldraw artwork to print decals for containers, just ask. I really appreciate everyones support and especially their patients. Thanks Hobo Tim
Tim, if this post is your main reason then how about closing your website for a couple of month? That's just a phone call to your site hoster.
but the "Frackin" thing does not like my laptop Hmmmm. Battlestar Galactica. I knew you had good taste.
3-22-09 Update Today is Sunday, early in the AM for me. I have probably 2 more weeks left in New Orleans. At this point I have submitted the artywork to a professional etcher for the SD70ACe handrails. I am awaiting a reply for possible artwork revisions. Once all the revisions are made, I will order 5 sheets of brass. If all goes well, I will have an over abundant supply of handrails, 70 to be exact. Not being home I do not have the actual amount of shell requests but I believe it is between 30 and 35. Means I should have plenty left over for myself!!! Wow!!!! 35 SD70ACe's in BNSF "Swoosh"!!!! Actually David will get a good supply of these handrails for his projects!!! Will update everyone when I get more info!!! Hobo Tim
Take Care Tim Take care Tim Priorities first always. I'm not a Z Scale RRer but I always enjoyed stopping in for your progress post on the SD70ACe project. Quite talented individual. And from passive observation a very respected member of this community. Once again take care and look forward to your safe return.
i see from your avatar that you have the picture of the SP heritage SD70ACe. i would love to have that one as a companion to the Rio Grande, but the paint/decal on that is a nightmare! i AM very tempted to try. all the heritage units are neat in their own way. CNW, while attractive, is the least "artistic" in my opinion. i like the WP too, but Rio Grande and SP take the cake. it will be fun to see what comes of them (NO doubt MRL is on the list of SD70ACe repaints. right robert?). dave f.
Yes, the MRL decals are done, but I am way behind on everything else. So far behind that I'm sorry I had to stop answering emails that will just find me deeper behind.
Addition to the update! .........., I just want to know one thing. Can you give us an approximate date as when we will receive our SD-70Ace shells. It has been 6 months since I paid you. .........., I Just want what I have paid for. Six months seems a reasonable time to have waited knowing Tim's work situation. But now I am getting antsy. My patient personality is in remission. ..........., Tim has updated us on the SD70Ace project. He has send the etchings to a professional etcher. Until he gets home, I doubt Tim can do anything. Sometimes Tim takes a littler long, but its worth it. All this work has been first rate. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Greetings! Wanted to let all Z scalers, who have a financial interest in the SD70ACe Shell project, know what stage the project is in at this time. Before I left home for the last job, the first mold of the cab, walkway and the main body was depleted. I was able to cast near 20 shells before the molds gave out. Since that moment, David sent me the original cab, walkway, and main body to make mold number 2. Before I left home, mold number 2 was completed and is now awaiting my return home to start casting round 2. I am hoping to also cast near 20 shells from this set of molds. If not, I will make a third set of molds. Currently I have a professional etcher approving artwork for the brass handrails and side panels. Today I did not receive a response from the etcher so I'm hoping this artwork is A-OK and ready to go for etching. This etch will produce up to 70 sets of handrails for the castings. At present the count of requested SD70ACe shells are near 35. This is not counting the handrails due to David and myself for our own use. What I am hoping is that all 70 etches are perfect with no bad spots. At this time I am not taking any more requests for shells. Depending on the total outcome of molds and castings and the total number of extra handrails, at that time a few more SD70ACe shells might come available. Outraged, Discouraged, Upset, Mad, "P-O'd", Cursing me and my family! If you have paid for a SD70ACe shell and have a concern or are upset with the amount of time this project is taking, you can email me and I will return your funds via Paypal. I am sorry for the long term of this project, but my job does not allow me time to work my hobby like I would like to. Just send me an email. Remember, my TNT-z email is no longer applicable. Email me at sgt_tim1@yahoo.com Hope everyone is having a Great Day!! Hobo Tim -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I thought I had posted the message on both the Trainboard and ZCS. Apparantly I only posted it on ZCS. Clearly, the last paragraph of my message written for just such an occassion as this. I know their are alot of modelers who are upset that they don't have their Paid For SD70ACe shell in their possession yet. Have heard it thru the grapevine!!! Monday I am purchasing brass that will have 70 (hopefully they will all be perfect) sets of SD70ACe handrails & side panels. They quoted me 2.5 weeks to delivery. I just returned home last night/early this morning. In 8 days I start another job, this one for 2-4 weeks. Will know more on Monday. Good thing is it is 3.5 hours away, and in Georgia. Just not on my side of Georgia. Unfortunately the closest/most reasonable place to stay is 85 miles from the job and nearly 2 hours driving time. That is 12+ hour days plus close to 4 hours of round trip driving. No time to work Z. This SD70ACe project is priority #1. All of the brass etching talk about Husky AP conversions and Husky Drawbars has to do with the fact that I had space on a brass sheet and I used the artwork to fill that space. Note; due to the unknown length and "at-a-moments-notice" of my work, the SD70ACe project will probably be the last one that requires lots of Time, mold making, casting, and/or other outside parts to complete. If I do projects in the future, they will be made complete and limited. Meaning if I have a wild hair of a project, make 2-3 for myself, and maybe 5-20 extra, that 5-20, or so, will be all that I make. No more taking orders and people waiting. Don't want my work taking away from my hobby! I apologize for the length of time the SD70ACe project is taking!!! The Mi-Jacks before this took about 8 months and ask Reverend Jacunski about his GP7 repaint. 17months later it returned to his hands(even longer than John's CSX C44-9 repaint). Thank God I never got struck by lightning as he was very patient but wanting, wanting to know when he was going to get his GP7!!! I hope everyone has a great weekend! Hobo Tim
Dumb Q: Do decals come with the shell kit? I know I need an SD70M donor loco, but Do I need to source decals from somewhere else? Perhaps this is where Robert comes in?
Tim, I bet is great to sleep in your own bed. I know I miss my bed even after a two week vacation. Hemi, So far, theres two Ace decal. Theres the DRGW and CSX. Both are design by Robert. I hear is also working on a MRL.
hemi, decals are not in the deal. there were just none to be had. i'm betting that one can get pretty close with an N scale UP set, or NS, and probably a BNSF swoosh is out there that will fit. robert has made a set or two for the ACe, but that is between you and him. i know he's busy and always being pestered for other things (from me as well) so it's up to his time and schedule as to what he is willing and able to do. fyi. dave f. p.s. and MRL would be the easiest paint job i think, and there seem to be enough people who've done it in Z that one of these sets should work for the ACe too? but i'm really just guessing. df
I must have missed this. I was going to make my own CSX decals for my ACE but I might have to contact Robert. (As long as I don't get the same road number as John ) Now if only someone would make a SD70 MAC shell I'd be set.
