I talked her into letting me buy the RV. I talked her into letting me park it in the backyard. I talked her into a pretty good train budget. All that and she LIKES TRAINS !!! I aint gonna push my luck just to get closer to the back door...LMAO !!
I love following this thread. Wish I could compete. George, I would love to know more bout the cabinet installation and such. The Grey and Grandure is likely to be cut back to about 18" almost all the way around as the possibility of my Lady Grandure moving in becomes an ever greater realty. I'm guessing you have not glued the foam to the cabinets yet, if ever?
I bought unfinished kitchen base cabinets at Lowes. They are 24 inches deep. I had to add some 1x6 behind them...as the layout top width itself is 32 inches deep. I laid 1/2 inch plywood on top of the cabinets. I had/have no plans for foam topping as THERR is based on the 'flatlands'. It does however have an incline...as THE Wife loves the 3 truss bridges we acquired. Before I laid the plywood down...I notched the cabinets accross the center and ran my buss line in the notch. There are 4 different 'districts' of buss wire. 2 down each side. I really have no plans to even finish the cabinets...as they are oak and look pretty good as is with the new flooring. The track feeders are done...track is permanetly affixed...and trains are running. Its time to decide on scenery now. It took 7 months from the time I parked the fully loaded RV in the backyard...to gutting it...refinishing it...and where it is today.
George, I love what you have done in converting the RV into a cool layout room. I love also how nothing is thrown out or wasted. The kids say I'm cheap, but in my defence, my other Jeep I own only cost me $400.00 and has gotten me all over the midwest. I also like how the W.I.F.E. loves doing the hobby with you. Unfortunately, T.H.E. F.I.A.N.C.E. over here doesn't care much on way or the other. Maybe that will change when the track work is done and scenery comes into play. Can't wait to see more of your creativity unleashed!
George - I really am impressed. I should be where you are but, toooo many other interests. Oh well. My cooking skills are expanding every month.
< Clears Throat > < Looks Left > < Looks Right > Naaaa Not Gonna Say It. Not Me. No Way. Nice! looking loco! Lady Grandure and I Love the Road Name and Number. Feel free to add the pic to my fantasy thread: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine...s-Done-or-Dreamed-Of/page32&highlight=fantasy
Thnxs guys Maybe tomorrow I'll 'attempt' the removal of the BNSF stuff. Scared of messing up the paint under the lettering. Sometimes ya just gotta take a deep breath and dive in. We'll see how it goes ;-)
Wellllllllllllllllllll... Things are kinda at a standstill. I started THE RV yesterday to 'prewarm' the place before turning the rv heater on. I hear a funny noise from the engine compartment. I took off the doghouse cover and looked around. Shut her down ! The serpentine belt that runs the alternator was shredded with only a sliver of belt left! I bought a new belt today. *Gone are the days of 5.00 V-belts...these serpentine belts aint cheap !!* Being almost 64 and disabled made bending over the doghouse and threading that belt on a PITA...literally !!! Then the ^$&^&%$(&%% belt wouldnt snake under the pulley on the crankshaft. So UNDER THE RV I had to go. Yup...a foot of snow around it and I had to slither under. My bones ache so bad right now from the cold wet snow...grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. I got it all done though. Then I flooded the motor trying to start it. It was only 33 degrees out today and the engine is a coldhearted chevy 454 !! Sooooooo...I also killed the &^%*&%(& battery cranking it. So the battery charger needs to be put on it. I was too cold and aching to do it this evening...so tomorrow I will get to it. Then I gotta wait probably a day for the trickle charger to get the battery up enough to start it. I dont see me going out and doing any real meaningful work for a few days anyways. Maybe I will just wait till after the New Year and the hangover subsides...LOL. As a sidenote: I did get the raised portion of the layout all 'mudded' and sculpted and painted before the belt fiasco however. 'We'...that includes THE Wife...are pretty happy with the rusults !! ( Like my daddy used to tell us kids when we where growing up "If the momma aint happy..aint nobody happy !!". ) It's just about time to buy some grass and ballast and try a few 'experiments' that have been rattling around in my head when it comes to ballasting Unitrack ;-) ** GGGGgrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...I left my bag of Hershey Kisses on the workbench out there. Guess I'll have frozen kisses come tomorrow...LMAO ***
Nope, those $5.00 V Belts went the way of the DeSoto. Had to replace the belt in T.H.E. Railfan Jeep (Jess) and it cost me $54.00. Fortunately putting it on was a lot easier than your ordeal. The Girlfriend found some pepermint Vodka at the store, recipe she found says ad an ounce of pepermint Vodka to a cup of hot coco. It's good! Might be in order for you George. Get warm and stay well.
thnxs guys... Yea....after getting the belt job done...I came inside and took a hot shower. Put on some dry clothes...drank a few cups of coffee and took my pain meds. Latter last night THE Wife and I had hot cocoa while watching our TV shows. I got up this morning and about the only pain is in my neck. We'll doctor that up in a bit...before I go out and hook up the battery charger ;-)
Oooh, not good, but sounds like you have everything under control. A different type of layout/room problem than most of us have. Stay warm and enjoy the New Year!
George, your life just has too much excitement. Though I expect that's what keeps you young and interesting, at least to T.H.E. WIFE.
When I ballasted my Unitrack, I just hit the outside of it. Didn't bother trying to do between the rails. If you blend you're own ballast you won't really notice that part of it isn't ballasted. As for the grass, I see you live next to Colorado. Hear they have a special grass they sell there......not sure how it would look on a layout though.....Mike
George, Have you heard of a drop cord that can be used to plug in the mobile home? That's what I use to power up my riny tin tin train shed. Temp's here are dropping into the single digits at night. Working my frost watch & radiator heater to keep things above freezing. Stay warm and stay healthy.
Yea rick...I got the 'lifeline' plugged in. It runs everything 12 v (converter) and everything 110 inside...including the DCC stuff. I just turn it all off at night. In the mornings I start THE RV to warm the place up. Then use the furnace to maintain the temp. The only problem I have encountered so far is that the locomotives are cold and run slow for a lap or two...lol. No other probs with the 5 degree night time temps. I'm figuring I need new plugs and plug wires for THE RV is all. I have a call into my mechanic son to come up and do the manual labor ;-) I actually used the furnace to warm it up from below freezing in there today. All because THE Wife wanted to run HER Train. Life is good
