I've set up (and taken down) more than a few of those canopies at our church picnics. The ones I've seen had steel tube poles that are MUCH sturdier that PVC pipe of anywhere near the same diameter.
The PVC would be stronger then the cheap tin pipe that came with the canopy. For sure. My son-in-law has some galvanized pipe that he needs to get rid of. General Contractor, type. So he thinks he can build a support that will stand up to the average snow fall we get here in Nampa, ID. He wants to add in some more cross supports to add strength to the Mylar canopy. Sounds like it might work. Most folks here say a foot... maybe if we are lucky a foot and a half of snow is all we'll get. The one thing that's apparent, Nampa, ID. doesn't have snow removal equipment for the streets, nor do they treat the streets for ice. Your on you own. Grab your ice skates. Need to slip, slide my down the street. Neighbor needs a ride to the Pawn Shop (not the one on TV) and I've been looking for an excuse to check out their tools. Later.
Pawn shops around me have trash for tools and want new retail for them... hopefully yours is better. I did once buy a Glenfield model 65 from a local pawn shop. The rifle was non functional, and in horrible condition, but it has a part I needed for another project rifle I was working on. It turned out I couldn’t use the part as it were, but I found out that aside from the damaged brass feed tube, and missing trigger the rifle wasn’t really all that bad. Then I found out that the Glenfield Model 65 was a special edition rifle made for 3 years only to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the TASCO tire and wheel company. They were sold from 69 to 71 and mine was one of the last ones made in 71. I ended up being able to fix the mag tube, my auto body metal working skills came into play here, I also polished it to a bright shiny gold color, I found a trigger, and the insert to the feed tube, I fixed the chips in the stock and refinished it, and repainted the receiver. Now the rifle fires beautifully and looks good too. I for giggles brought it back to the pawn shop I bought it from and they would only give me $40 for it... I told him that’s what I paid for it a few months ago from you... he couldn’t believe it was the same “junk” rifle I bought. He then offered $50... I told him to kick rocks... I still got it, and will prolly end up giving it to one of my kids when they get older.
We have some at work for company functions that are like what you mentioned and I agree those are way stronger than PVC pipe but I've seen a lot of home versions that are cheap tin like Rick said and PVC would be a huge improvement. Looks like you have a couple of options for repair now Rick. You definitely don't want that table saw and wood soaking up rain and snow. Of course, no football and a "dusting" of snow makes for good wire work conditions!
Thanks for everyone's come backs. Great suggestions. Another storm has moved in and it's still snowing. Accumulative snow is at about 6-7 inches. I can move the table saw and wood back up and under the eaves of the house. That will add some protection. The rifle: A find like that is always a good thing. Once repaired and now usable, even better. Well, the Pawn shop, has some interesting things. They allow you to plug in and give the tool a whirl. Unless it's battery powered. Then I will want the battery and charger. It's not worth anything to me if it's a shelf queen. I found a Pioneer Surround Sound that I'd like to add for Train Sounds coming out from under the layout. What I have now is Stereo, and works just fine. It plays three CD's and two Cassettes. There is a radio if I want to keep up with the local news and tunes. Have my car radio set to the "Bull". Country Western. Nothing like a good, "Did me wrong" song. No more distractions that I'm aware of. It's work time on the layout.
Can't go wrong with a 60 series. Inexpensive and accurate, easy to work on. On auction sites Ive seen the long tube, pre Massachusetts capacity regulation, magazines sell for as much as an entire rifle.
Some pictures here to remind me why I'm doing this and what I'm working toward. This was taken in Big Bear Country. Yes, I miss living in Big Bear Lake. I had some great times with a bunch of Toy Train Enthusiast and a couple of Model Railroaders. Those guys and gals at the train shows and Balboa Park. Great bunch of guys and gals. Lot's of fun!! It will happen here. It took almost ten years last time to get to know the locals. This is Ashfork Junction. It could be the Summit at Cajon Pass but the track arrangement isn't quite right. The J in Cajon is pronounced like an H. Spanish annunciation I believe. It hit me this morning that I could name the mini-city, Williams. That would work. As and you probably already know this is the Williams and Ashfork Division of the Howland and Pacific Railroad. A bridge route for detouring trains. The layout is Freelance as it's hard to model actual locations with size compression of the layout, being what it is. Basically it fits into a 9.5 X 9.5 space. Works well for N Scale. I wanted as much linear running space and run time as I could get. I got it but look at this monster. Below in the picture. Ashfork Junction. Here the Chipewa Chief has pulled in for a watering stop. Santa Fe's Official's Inspection Train is waiting in the hole to depart Ashfork Jct. To the left is the turntable and future roundhouse. The two unoccupied tracks to the right is the main line a part of a folded over pretzel dog bone. As I said earlier, I got rid of the Atlas Turntable. I don't recommend purchasing one. Your wasting your time. I bought a Cornerstone turntable that is self indexing. I'm the self that has to index it. Looking forward to getting it installed. Here you can see trains in the Coal District. Originally I thought that D&RGW would handle the Coal Route, again with detouring trains. To the left of the picture. On the main at the Coal District Jct. you can see a Union Pacific passenger train and Santa Fe work train passing through. On the other leg of the main, a dog bone, you can see a D&RGW passenger train and Southern Pacific Daylight. What makes you think I like passenger trains? It was a celebration of types. As these are the first trains over the layout. Steve, Stubby and Greg was present to witness it. This is the Coal District Junction. To the right of this picture the switch connects the Main to the Coal District. Things have changed some since the picture was taken. The switch was removed and spotted around the corner. I needed a yard lead for switching purposes. One curve at the bridges was removed. The curves topside were then pushed out. Wider curves are the best curves. I did say that? Yep, I did. Clearances are such the route can handle Hi-level passenger cars and Autoracks. The grades fluctuate between 2.3% to 2.5%. The ruling grade on the main is 2.0%. The rule is ten cars per each locomotive or diesel/motor. Down below you can see the hidden staging yard. Here you can see a Southern Pacific freight train with Autoracks coming up out of the Helix approaching the Coal District Junction. I was checking clearances. Just to be sure I did it right. Hey, I did. In case you were wondering. In the helix i, there's no cork roadbed because of needed clearances. Most of this is still intact and usable. Clean the track, unpack some trains and we will be off and running again. Make no mistake there is damage both from the move and a cat that managed to get into the train shed and damage the track topside. Those darn claws can tear up the track. Let the repairs continue. Thanks again for the likes, your participation and stopping in to visit.
The Coal District. A new name may be forth coming. Still thinking on it. Here's a picture of a Santa Fe freight drifting down grade. The same Southern Pacific freight you saw earlier attacking the grade. At the time of this picture. I had a limited number of Coal Hoppers and made up a train out of Cement Hoppers. It was a start. Then while at a train show in Bakersfield. Great bunch of guys and gals there. I found out BarstowRick wasn't to popular. I just discovered a fair number of three bay coal hoppers with full loads and empties. Atlas, I believe. Someone said, "I don't think BarstowRick would approve of that purchase." I responded, ""Really? Why would you say that?"" He's always talking about how the prototyper's would make up their trains. Okay, that's interesting. Your name Sir, I'm Billie Bob, (not his real name, I wouldn't do that to him). How would you like to meet BarstowRick? What is he around here somewhere? I'm wearing a fracking name tag and he finally looks at it. You? You? Your him? None other. You, he said again? Boy do I have a bone to pick with you. He didn't like something I said on my blog BarstowRick.com. What I said was, Toy Train Enthusiast don't have to worry whether or not something is 100% prototype. Of all things and to my surprise!! He had printed a copy of it and was distributing it. I thought, talk about cheap advertising. I then went on to say the Model Railroaders in our Hobby, do indeed worry about such things. I asked him if he read the whole thing. He had and then re-read it and said, "What did you edit this before I printed it." No, I hadn't. Some things... I've gone back and edited. Not that one. My grin on my face must have given me away. Before it was said and done he didn't apologize, I didn't want one. He did point me to someone else who is selling Athearn's coal car's at a savings. Saying they are a bit more prototype, satirically. I found it funny. He went with me to check them out. Introducing me, "This is BarstowRick, thought you might want to know." Almost grudgingly. She responded, "Oh the Turnout Man." I've laughed about that ever since. Bought the bunch of coal cars. I hope that meets up with your expectations BarstowRick? They did I assured her. Pretty sure, if we had time to get to know each other. He would of made a good friend. Most of my friends fit the category of most unlikely friends. One more picture. Drone shot. Ashfork Jct. Top two, tracks in the picture below. These are the main line one uphill and the other downhill. It works well and you can create train meets on the largest curve I have. Awesome! Second set, is the mainline headed toward the dog bone or loop. The mainline is actually single track and it splits at the top into a siding. Third set, of two is the two tracks of the Coal District. They are the tracks that simulate full loads out and empty loads in. Pretty cool operation if I say so myself. I'll bet you spotted those ugly Rapido Couplers on the SD 9's. Yep, they will be shopped and replaced with MTL's. Sun is finally out and the snow is melting off. Later.
One more shot of two freight trains coming out at the bottom of the Coal District. The Union Pacific Commuter is in the hole waiting for the highball into Williams Junction and train station. Okay, now back too BarstowRick's poopuularity. Setting this up I'm at a train show in Bakersfield, Ca. Considered to be one of the best in the region. A group of us from Big Bear Country caravan-ed together. I had just published a number of subjects on BarstowRick.com. Regarding DCC and Analog DC. Upon arriving I started hearing my moniker BarstowRick. BarstowRick, this or something else and I wasn't catching it. I figured there would be some reaction but not quite...well you'll see. I would learn by many, I was seen as a fake, fraud and phony. I published a, How To Wire in DCC and Analog DC... on the same layout. One of the sellers apparently answering questions about this posting. As he gives advice on wiring up DCC and he sold used DCC equipment. He didn't like much that I had published a How To. Saying your asking for more trouble then it's worth. He's right you know. It is trouble. And my layout is still wired and set up that way. The one thing he was most offended by is the track posting on how I offset and cut in my isolators for my blocks. He didn't like the idea of offsetting them. The other issue he had with me. I had said avoid buying used electronics. You can buy someone else's problems. Yep, I said that. Even my closest friends got stung buying a used DCC power supply and throttle. He ended up sending it back to the manufacturer to have it fixed and reprogrammed. Odd that it never did work right after that. Anyway, he went on about BarstowRick, hick, phony, fake and isn't a model railroader. Doing this in front of the guys and gals from Big Bear and self. Stubby, blows it and tries to introduce me to him. I wanted to hear what he had to say. I tried shushing Stubby. Stubby says I want to introduce you to BarstowRick. He stood there, dropped his jaw. You are him, he asks? Yes, sir I'm the hick from Barstow. Held my hand out so he could shake it. He didn't. Me, asking and who are you? Some idiot who can't keep his mouth shut, he muttered. To funny Sir, just to funny, I said. I laughed and said your entitled to your opinion. By the way three of us here have our layouts wired for DCC and Analog DC. Most of us operate it separately and seldom at the same time. The discussion was on going. He didn't apologize and tried to avoid eye contact with me. We also had our blocks cut in similarly and I think it was Steve, that told him that. You have to know it's okay, if you don't like something I've said. I'm not offended. There's plenty on BarstowRick.com that has been fodder for discussion on various train websites. That's the nature of the game. Some like what's been presented and some don't. Sad, that for some reason BarstowRick.com... it no longer works. Take what you can and leave the rest behind. And Rule #1.
I need to put this out here. The management that's responsible has asked me if it's okay to remove what could be considered as shoot-um up chatter. Not a problem. So, they will most likely remove the chatter leaving the train discussion intact. If not we could get locked down and I'd end up taking that personally. They want to avoid that. Feel free to add pictures of your layout or discuss anything related to trains. We should all be good with that. Thanks in advance.
I will admit it did miff me at first, but then again I have to remember that I am one of many here with just as many different views on pretty much everything. I can expect everyone to like my likes, nor will I like theirs. This is trains, so removing my comments on other favorite things is not a big deal here. Now if I were on the Ruger or Marlin forums and this happened... Well that's a different story. Now back to the regularly scheduled train show. How goes the rainbow spaghetti?
https://cookingtv-channel.com/wp-content/uploads/26704545_10156492703447437_56115362629943296_n.jpg That does look like Ricks wiring....
S#!t, that is my wiring. Isn't that the way of things. Worked on "Wireus Repairus" some more last night. Getting closer to having the blocks reattached and working.
If you have questions about something I said. Please feel free to ask me. I just read back through the Hick - BarstowRick story and spotted some things that would confuse me. That's what happens when you formulate a story in your head for the first time. Sigh!! That can also happen with the short time we have to edit something. I know grumble, grumble, grumble. Back to the layout and the pictorials that show the reason why, (did I get it said right?) I'm working so hard or not... to get the layout back up and running. I think this restoration project is going to take me longer to finish, then when I built it in the first place. Shortly after our Grand Opening celebration and first trains ran. I still had work to do and circuits to get wired up. However, there was enough track working to run some trains. Santa Fe days on the Howland & Pacific Railroad. If you like Santa Fe Zebra Stripes and early EMD Cat Whiskers along with the Business Blue and Yellow Pin stripped diesels. You might appreciate these shots. Ashfork Santa Fe Yard. Dry Gulch Arch Bridge. A local leaving the future sight of the Ashfork Train Station. There was a local that came out of San Bernardino that resembled this local. Not 100% accurate but close enough. On another thread someone was asking about Bachmann freight cars. If you look closely you'll see some in these pictures. Right along with Atlas freight cars. Other then Life Like, Model Power and ConCor, that was about all we could get for awhile. Most of my Bachmann and other freight cars, has been converted over to MTL freight trucks and working knuckle couplers. Down side. They run good but they lack a certain amount of realism. Those that weren't converted over have left via E-pay! Most owners were glad to get them. Originally, I only paid about a $1.50 to $2.00. I passed on that price to my buyers. Seemed fair to me, don't you think? Okay, back to work.
Rick, I know exactly what you mean when talking about writing or doing things and later wondering what the hack it was you meant or how you did things. In my old life as a engineer/tech, I used to write up procedures or instructions and later wondered how I ever wrote such things. seemingly making no sense, or designed certain devices. I guess it's when you are in the heat of things, you just do things that make sense at the time. And BTW, the blue and yellow "cigar band" (or is that the "cat Whiskers") scheme on the Santa Fe F units has always been a favorite of mine. Doug
Doug, It can be very frustrating when trying to tell a story in easy to understand mode. Sometimes the story doesn't flow exactly as it happened because there's to much to tell. So I shorten it and run with the basics. Good question and observation!!! The lead F7 ATSF unit is sporting the Cigar Band on the nose. It's the one that showed up at Ashfork AT&SF Yard. Here crossing the Dry Gulch Arch Bridge, is the Grand Canyon. F7's, Cigar Band in the lead. Above: The lead Warbonnet units failed and had to be replaced with some freight units geared to run 100 mph. Usually the ones responsible for pulling the Potato Run, Perishable Trains or Fruit Express. Here they head up the Grand Canyon, which at this time has been relegated to a (slow) mail train with perishables on board destined for Kansas City, KA. Below: Here, here is the Cat Whiskers. The one you are looking for and so was I. The AT&SF FT's in the Cat Whisker, nose emblem. Check out the other trains in the picture. Above: The curve in the middle of the picture. Is the original curve I put in. It's from a former layout. This is the Coal District. I liked it and that's why it's there. However (the Yeah But Committee at work) because of the S curve it was hard to manage switching moves over and through it. To many derailments. Not going to happen. Despite it all, to this day one of my favorite configurations. You can see a set of GP20's leading a empty coal train into the open pit mine, I say tongue in cheek. Below: You can see the Cat Whisker FT's pulling a mixed merchandise train. Today we would call it a Mixed Manifest. Looking around at the other trains, pictured here. Is this anyway to run a railroad? Gosh, I've got to get this back up and running. Other things to do today. I might be able to get back at it "Wireus Repairus". Later.
OK, it is the cigar band version I meant (although I like the cat whiskers scheme, too) and it all started when my late older brother got a Tyco train set for Christmas 1961 and it had the F7/9 in it. I got a pair of Kato F's in that scheme a few years ago. Doug
Funny that one of my first Covered Wagons, also was a Tyco F7, with the Cigar Band. I ran it into the ground. Literally. A questionable friend of mine ran it right off the table. Who says diesels can't fly? That made him an official member of the flying diesel corps. Athearn came out with some F types and the Tyco's were replaced. Wait a minute. As I sit back in my chair and think about it. Athearn came out with the Warbonnets but I don't remember them having the business blue ones. I think I managed to save up enough money to buy two new Tyco F7's with the Cigar Band. Then they put out a dummy B unit and we all whined about that. We don't want dummies we want powered B units. Times they were a changing. Not necessarily for the better. Back later.
