Monday morning, the eve of elections final voting day. I voted via a absentee ballot several weeks ago. All done! Now the hurry up and wait game. I have no plans to participate in any rioting, oh excuse me Uprising if it doesn't go my way. I grew up along time ago and don't need to throw a tantrum. Getting to old for this stuff. The Eagle did not land. Bank account still holding at tilt. A whole $1.68 left. That's Okay because I found the felt pads. Wouldn't you know, right where I put them. In my hardware box. Where else would I expect to find them. Aiiyiiyii !!!! I managed to get some drawers cleaned out and rearranged, as a result of the search. Kitty cat's are covered. Plenty of food on hand. I'm covered, as well. I'm tired of eating frozen dinners. Then my son-in-law came along and suggested I should heat them up. Odd but that works better. Halloween wasn't much to talk about. Seven youngsters and that was it. The kids from up the street came down to say hi and visit for a minute or two. Good kids. They each took one piece of candy. Way to polite. I admonished them and said grab a couple of hands full. You'll most likely be the only Tricker Treaters, I see tonight. They did!! Lot's of thank-yous and friendly smiles. Why couldn't it of been that way in the mobile home park back in Big Bear Country? It started out that way. Then something happened. Those kids literally declared war on me and the parents thought it was funny. A culture thing. Most parents didn't go along with it. I know what started it. Someone had called the Federalis, as they call them. They didn't know who and it wasn't me. But, I got blamed for it. Let's go beat up on the old man while he's asleep. Oh well, it is what it is and it is no more. Next thing to do is get the felt pads on. Then flip up the layout on it's own feet. Neighbors weren't around to help me over the weekend but promised me sometime this week. Film at 11 o'clock. Remember our local news stations. They had to process the film before it could be used. Clocks have all been changed. My inner clock is still on Daylight Savings Time. Feels weird. I've chatted long enough. Time to get some breakfast.
Still waiting on notification from my bank. I love the way banks advertise "Receive your direct deposit up to 2 day early".... No kids out here where we live and I am OK with that. What is Daylight Savings Time ?? Right behind ya on the breakfast thing...stomach is growling...
Something you don't have in you neck of the woods. Wish that was universal across America. Lucky you. Banks!! If they have it two days ahead of time, then you'll have it. Otherwise suck it up. Yeah, I know the feeling.
Our family moved here in 1960...never had to deal with DST and I'm glad. As far as SS checks...our current administration wants to kill it all by 2023...
I don't know how that can happen. It's pretty much established and way to many of us elderly types dependent on it. I've heard the same rumor about the other camp as well. You know the ones wanting to get elected. Everything would be socialized. Now back to what? If there's noting left. So much to say but not here and not now.
If someone is to blame someone, that would probably be me. Why not? That's been the story of my life. Truth is I just wanted to comment about things around us as in passing. At least I hope this too shall pass. Okay, back to the layout and all the fun it brings. I was looking for pictures this morning while eating breakfast. Like every-other picture it's the one you want evades you. Got to get kitty boxes cleaned, then it will be shower time. I know you can't smell me but I can. Next: I will put the felt on the feet of the legs. Wonder where I put the socks and shoes it's supposed to wear. Oh that's for me. Off on the wrong topic once again.
Yesterday, was interesting to say the least. The Eagle Landed and now it was time to get out and go get caught up on my stock of items. Everything from food supplies to laundry. Then off to the Dollar store to get felt pads and True Value to replace a drill bit. Finally, after dumping a Wendy's Chili Cheese baked potato on my lap in the car. For the first time it was actually HOT! Ouch, oh...#@$%...where's my drink and some ice. That's better. Well, I can't sit in the dining room. Darn Chinese virus. Eating the last bite and it was over. Now back home. Once everything was put away. Pants changed and in the wash. Checking and noting my new ($8.88) watch is working well. I turned to the train layout. It was time to add the felt pads. But first would this work? I decided it might but I only have one pair. So that option is off the table...legs. There that should work better. I just noted it's short on one end. Amazing what you can learn from a picture. Now it's time to make a layout shift and flip it over. Thanks for tuning in and all the likes. No I won't quit reporting the progress but once the layout is on it's feet it will slow down. I have a lot of flex track to replace, wires to re-join and I don't know if I'll have time for pictures. Feel free to add your comments, criticism and I promise to be patient with you and I won't go out in the street to...protest, burn down...oh never mind. I have to much to do. An abundance of things to do. I've got to get trains running. No time for nonsense. Later!
A prosthesis? Nope but I was afraid my layout might walk off. That is believe it or not, my favorite pair of shoes to work in. Comfortable.
Yes !! I talked to my neighbors last night. Not able to help me last night. We are looking at when they get off from work tonight. Tonight, may-be the night. One of the things I'm concerned about has to do with how this layout was moved. I first built this section in Hollister, Ca. for my Dad. The wood I was able to buy back then was straight and went together well. So the base was solid at this point. It was moved to Santa Maria where it was stored in a garage with the track facing the outside and where yard tools ended up leaning against it. Then it was moved to Big Bear Lake, Ca. to my tin-can of a home. A shout out of thanks to my Brother-in-law. I found it was in better shape then I expected. Yes, some track damage. N Scale track is not Lionel or Atlas O gauge track. It will pop lose with minimal effort. It did. In Big Bear, I decided to push out the curves and that went well but I noticed that made it tipsy. Because, it was in a shed with a plywood floor (the best flooring to have in my opinion) I was able to anchor the legs to the floor. I won't be able to do that here. It has to be free standing. Noticing after we got it here, because it was literally hung off the inside of wall of the U-haul truck it moved and torqued enough to loosen up some of the glued and screwed joints. Requiring me to reinforce the layout. I've accomplished that with a L-girder type of construction. It feels solid and we will see how it goes when I tip it up on it's own feet. Can't miss, that all this made it heavier. I may have to call a toe truck to help hoist it up. I might add here. Over the years a number of Toy Train and Model Railroad wig wags promoted building your base on L-girders. I didn't use it first time out. Trying to save money but the box like construction allowed me a strong base and a open grid to build my layout with grades where I want them and the radius of curves I wanted. I was satisfied with that. Until now. Layouts cannot be handled like some cheap piece of furniture. Thanks for asking. Maybe more information then you need but that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Oh, I'm wearing that pair of shoes. They feel like they belong on my feet.
Sir? Sir? Well thanks but that was usually reserved for dear old Dad. Good one, well played. I did, I did. You might be hearing other groan's pointed your direction. We like to share groan's. Say what? What, what, what did I say? It would be more fun if it was moan's. According too a professor I had in College. I have no idea what he meant. Last minute work on the layout and we are good to go.
It's time for some Good News. You've seen a number of pictures of my work as of recent. By now I'm likely to be boring you. Well this should change everything up. Literally !! I've waited longer then two years to get to this point. Don't think for a minute it hasn't been frustrating. At one point I was ready to cut it up and let the trash man pick it up. Just a low moment I would have regretted. Well, no regrets now. I finally got the legs back on the layout. Neighbors came over and we flipped it up on it's own feet. Yes! Yes! Yes!!! 1. Below: Legs are on and but not yet fully supported. It's setting and waiting for me to add 2 more L girders to strengthen it up. I found that some of the joints I glued and screwed in place... broke loose. I can't get back in to fix them SO....here it is waiting more patiently then I. 2. I added an L girder to stabilize the legs. This is the widest end of the L Shaped section of the layout. I'll refer to as the L Section until I think of something better. 3. Everything I've done is working. Check it out. 4. The layout is shaping up. I still have the upper deck to add to the L Section of the layout and the Mini-City. Then there's the Grain Elevator and the yard that I have planned for it. You can see risers that will support the upper deck. Tipsy it isn't. How about them cookies? Pretty it isn't but give me time. I'm working on it, I'm working on it. Scenery will be the tough part. Just look at the fun I'm going to have. You can't all be glued to the TV. More later!
Rick, Congratulations on getting your layout on it's feet!!! That's the best feeling in the world when you make a major accomplishment like you did. Looking forward to your next post. Great job!!! Joe
Now it's starting to look like the spaghetti bowl we are used to seeing !! Congrats on getting it on it's feet !!
Sorry, the "Sir" thing is a bad habit my mom taught me many moons ago. A big congrats on flipping that section of the layout. Now it's time to sit back and watch the progress
