Running Bear's May 2022 Coffee Shop

[OBTC 1909]

Good morning all! 57 heading for 70 with yet more rain possible. Our garden is just about drowned now after all this rain, though the corn, green beans, onions and potatoes are growing quite nicely. The tomatoes...not so much. I'm really hoping the rain stays away for 4 or 5 days and get sunshine instead. Rain is good but we've had too much of a good thing lately.

Nothing much to report otherwise. Hope you all have a great day!

 

[kbkchooch]

Good morning all

66° and cloudy, expecting rain today with a high of 75°.

Had an interesting call last night. Service manager from another Chevy store called me up and offered me a job. 7-10 grand a year more, but a 40 minute longer commute each way. Workday is shorter by 1/2 hour M-F and NO SATURDAYS! All in all its the same job I have now, just a different location. I left that place in 07 because of his predecessor. He and his henchman are gone, and my old workmates asked the boss to go get me. Lots to think about over this holiday weekend.

Willie, Dontcha be hollerin at Sherril this early in the morning! You know how that affects his digestive tract! BTW, what are YOU doing up this early???

BBL

 

[santafewillie]

Willie, Dontcha be hollerin at Sherril this early in the morning! You know how that affects his digestive tract! BTW, what are YOU doing up this early???

I am always up at 0400 Central. It's a holdover from when I used to work and even then I woke up before the alarm (mostly) for over 43 years! No alarm now, but I still get up and start my day. I just don't always post here that early.

 

[PRR Modeler]

Good Morning All,

Just wanted to pop my head in to say hi and I'll talk to you'all on Sunday.

I hope everyone has a good day.

 

[logandsawman]

Good morning gang,

Started out 38, though enjoying full sun!

Headed for 77, supposed to be the best day of the holiday weekend and me at work. Gonna be a quiet day, usually is around holidays.

I made headway on the bridge last night, will post pics later.

Wife wants to drag me along to Duluth tomorrow. Not looking forward to it - the roads in that town are awful and after a week of long commutes I much prefer to stay home.

More later, Dave LASM

 

[McLeod]

Good Morning!
40+F this morning, in a beautiful light with cloud to the west and sun rising east. I'm told it might rain today.
I'd better get some lawn fertilizer down. Neighbours compliment me on the best looking, dandelion free lawn on the street. That's due to fertilization and actually digging the roots out on dandelions. - I'm a dandelion killing psychopath; surprised that they even try to grow on my patch.
The town thinks dandelions are a non-invasive species, so does nothing about them on pubic property.

I have a few photos to share this morning.
First, a photo of a switch near Blue Ridge. This proves my method of mounting Caboose switches on the layout is not too far fetched from the real thing:

Plus, I captured a couple more photos of CN engines yesterday, while downtown. These are shot from the CN bunkhouse parking lot, which is on the wrong side of the tracks in relation to the sun. So I consider them poor photographs. - Knew it at the time, but, I was unable to cross to the proper side of the tracks at the time I was there.

The engines were parked to close to the hardware store wall anyway, so I wouldn't have got good photos from the other side even if I had time to cross.

Anyway, I'd better get outside and spread some fertilizer before it rains.
Have a good one!

 

[JeffH]

Good morning!

Low pressure front hanging around the Ohio Valley today and into tomorrow, but this weekend is supposed to be beautiful!!! And to think I've been so busy preparing for my daughter's wedding that I almost forgot Monday was a holiday!!!!

It's not even 9:00AM and I'm already leaning into the weekend.

It dried out long enough to weed whack a couple days ago, and the only thing I really need to do other than wedding prep is to mow grass before we leave at the crack of dawn next Wednesday. Unfortunately, housesitters/pet watchers don't do yard work, lol!

 

[santafewillie]

Good Morning All. Clear and 61°, it's light outside. Looking at mid to upper-80's today before resuming 90°+ for a few days afterwards. Wind which is going to be minimal today will be excessive over the weekend.

The weekly grocery trek went off without a hitch yesterday. No stock outs here and less crowding of the aisles than normal. While I was at Kroger, my wife went over to Aldi's to look for "low-carb" hamburger buns. She chose not to purchase them since they were nearly $20 for eight, and they were 21 carbs each. I pointed out that the package of eight that I purchased at Kroger was $1.59, and they were 23 carbs each. I have personally never seen anything cheap at Aldi's.

I did some mowing with the new battery operated mower yesterday, since the tractor would still have left ruts after Tuesday's rain. Should be good to go today. You know, that self-propelled feature on the electric mower is nice, but you still have to walk behind it! The tractor mower will get a workout over the next few days after the 3.5" of rain Tuesday Interestingly, none ran off; it all soaked in. The garden is also going crazy. Onions and broccoli are beginning to mature and green beans and yellow squash are forming. There will be some of each ready for picking by Sunday. I haven't seen any signs of tomatoes turning red, but it's too early by normal standards.

I was out in the train shed for a little while yesterday. Still haven't found the two packages of chains yet, so that project is on hold. I am going to Dallas tomorrow for my two grandson's birthdays, so I'll go early and stop at the LHS and get some more. Then I will find the ones that I already have. Since I now have three stalled projects scattered about, I played it safe and brought out the figure painting stuff. There's always figures to paint. To give my eyes an occasional rest, I ran a few trains since that's what they are there for.
Since I have no project pictures, here's a couple of Acme Chemical in Charlottesville.

This is a very old Magnuson resin kit called V.F. Transfer Service.

Ken (D&J) - Have a safe ride this weekend. Remember to put your foot down when you stop! Have fun too.
Jeff - A little weight loss has been a good thing for me as well. I am now under 210 from a high of 254 just three years ago. As can be expected, energy levels and body dexterity are much improved. I'm looking to go about 15 more. I always ate healthy, it's all about portion control with me. Haven't given up beer yet though.
Guy - Too bad about the gate.

Everybody have a great day and an awesome weekend.

 

[JeffH]

Speaking of dandelions... They look bad. I get it, especially in urban environments and the burbs, where your yard is meant to be sculpted and pristine.

But out in the country, I don't mind them in my yard. They make great topsoil... restoring nitrogen into the soil. And the bees love them. I, too was a dandelion mass murderer when were were in the burbs. Nobody wants an unsightly yard!

I'd love to have the back 3 acres of my land to be covered in clover and dandelions. The deer would be in heaven! And the pinks and whites of the clover dancing above the lush deep green leaves, coupled with the yellow dandelions, especially in the distance, look great together.

Too bad the dandelion leaves are so bitter. Every part of the dandelion is edible, and they have more nutritional value than most other greens. But I can never get the bitter aftertaste out of my mouth... Just can't bring myself to eat it...

 

[logandsawman]

Good Morning!
40+F this morning, in a beautiful light with cloud to the west and sun rising east. I'm told it might rain today.
I'd better get some lawn fertilizer down. Neighbours compliment me on the best looking, dandelion free lawn on the street. That's due to fertilization and actually digging the roots out on dandelions. - I'm a dandelion killing psychopath; surprised that they even try to grow on my patch.
The town thinks dandelions are a non-invasive species, so does nothing about them on pubic property.

I have a few photos to share this morning.
First, a photo of a switch near Blue Ridge. This proves my method of mounting Caboose switches on the layout is not too far fetched from the real thing:
View attachment 146528

Plus, I captured a couple more photos of CN engines yesterday, while downtown. These are shot from the CN bunkhouse parking lot, which is on the wrong side of the tracks in relation to the sun. So I consider them poor photographs. - Knew it at the time, but, I was unable to cross to the proper side of the tracks at the time I was there.
View attachment 146531
View attachment 146532
The engines were parked to close to the hardware store wall anyway, so I wouldn't have got good photos from the other side even if I had time to cross.

Anyway, I'd better get outside and spread some fertilizer before it rains.
Have a good one!

Guy - that switch stand is pretty much what I have on my layout. I made one operating once, just like in your prototype photo, but a major Pain in the Arse to make it work properly, so decided to just put them on the layout without the connecting rod.

Dave LASM

 

[TLOC]

Good Morning!
40+F this morning, in a beautiful light with cloud to the west and sun rising east. I'm told it might rain today.
I'd better get some lawn fertilizer down. Neighbours compliment me on the best looking, dandelion free lawn on the street. That's due to fertilization and actually digging the roots out on dandelions. - I'm a dandelion killing psychopath; surprised that they even try to grow on my patch.
The town thinks dandelions are a non-invasive species, so does nothing about them on pubic property.

I have a few photos to share this morning.
First, a photo of a switch near Blue Ridge. This proves my method of mounting Caboose switches on the layout is not too far fetched from the real thing:
View attachment 146528

Plus, I captured a couple more photos of CN engines yesterday, while downtown. These are shot from the CN bunkhouse parking lot, which is on the wrong side of the tracks in relation to the sun. So I consider them poor photographs. - Knew it at the time, but, I was unable to cross to the proper side of the tracks at the time I was there.
View attachment 146531
View attachment 146532
The engines were parked to close to the hardware store wall anyway, so I wouldn't have got good photos from the other side even if I had time to cross.

Anyway, I'd better get outside and spread some fertilizer before it rains.
Have a good one!

Guy, thanks for the pictures. That switchstand with the broom and shovel just yell out to me, you need to model this.

Dandelions are the ”in” plant this season in my neck (county) of Wisconsin. They are doing “No Mow May” to allow nature to “breathe”. Remember, I am in the liberated State of Dane county in the US State of Wisconsin. This allows your yard to look like a jungle and it’s ok not to mow it during the month of May. Some yards are 18”+ high! Come June 1, I would love (but would never do it) to turn some neighbors down the road in. Their dandelions have gone to seed and are spreading all over. I hate the things as it stems from being a kid. I remember as a kid on my hands and knees removing them with a long fork type thing along side my mother. All our weeds were removed by that method.

 

[JeffH]

Tom, don't look!

 

[Boris]

Good morning. 72° and sunny...with rain predicted for later today.

Today is "BENNY" travel day. In honor of this occasion, and through Labor Day, the Reading disappears from my layout, replaced by Jersey Central engines, cabins and coaches.

Another view of CR OCS-101 this time crossing the Rahway River, at "KAREN", on the "Garden State Secondary". FWIW, "KAREN" used to be called "RAHWAY", and the line was called the "Chemical Coast Secondary". The Movable Bridge is now remotely controlled from the Train Dispatchers Office in Mt. Laurel, NJ.

 

[bnsf971]

Speaking of dandelions... They look bad. I get it, especially in urban environments and the burbs, where your yard is meant to be sculpted and pristine.

But out in the country, I don't mind them in my yard. They make great topsoil... restoring nitrogen into the soil. And the bees love them. I, too was a dandelion mass murderer when were were in the burbs. Nobody wants an unsightly yard!

I'd love to have the back 3 acres of my land to be covered in clover and dandelions. The deer would be in heaven! And the pinks and whites of the clover dancing above the lush deep green leaves, coupled with the yellow dandelions, especially in the distance, look great together.

Too bad the dandelion leaves are so bitter. Every part of the dandelion is edible, and they have more nutritional value than most other greens. But I can never get the bitter aftertaste out of my mouth... Just can't bring myself to eat it...

Dandelions aren’t bitter as long as you harvest them before they bud or blossom.

 

[Alcomotive]

Ya I kinda like it. I wished I had gotten the 1 run of the SP Daylight which looked wicked cool. Now they are selling for 600 plus bucks.....

View attachment 145797

I like the fantasy schemes. I have several of them and enjoy having them on my layout. I just call them heritage units on my layout.

View attachment 145798View attachment 145799View attachment 145800

They also have this Black Widow scheme but I already have one by Athearn #750 (shown above) minus the American Flag.....

View attachment 145796


Here were some others from the past runs which I have a few of.......I was not interested in the F59PHI units. I did bid on the Union Pacific SD60M on ebay and paid and the guy screwed me over and decided not to sell or rather sold later to somone else at a hogher cost. I won the bid at a 100 bucks. I knew he wouldn't honor it. It sucked....he sucks!

View attachment 145801View attachment 145802View attachment 145803View attachment 145804



I wish someone would do this scheme in HO scale. Currently this scheme is done in O gauge by Lionel I think or MTH......

View attachment 145805

Well I found an SP #600 GE AC6000 from a young kid on FB Market Place who resides in New Jersey. He sent a ton of pictures and documents from BLI. The unit was refurbished and came with all the documentation of all the work done including replacing the shell! Crazy I know....so I offered him 250 plus shipping and he agreed. He was asking for 300 plus shipping. I already got tracking number and it should be at my door step tomorrow morning! The Paragon3 series RollingThunder system with smoke.....It will be my 2nd ever BLI locomotive. I am interested to see how this will be. It is better than paying 900 bucks for it! As I posted that last ebay auction it went for....

HO Scale BLI Rolling Thunder GE AC6000 SP Diesel #600-DCC with Smoke & Sound 836563056891 | eBay

For sale is an HO Scale BLI Rolling Thunder GE AC6000 Southern Pacific Diesel #600-DCC with Smoke & Sound. This was tested and and runs well. The lights and sound work. It is very clean and in nice condition.

www.ebay.com

Anyways tomorrow we will see! I am excited to add this to the stable.

 

[Boris]

This allows your yard to look like a jungle and it’s ok not to mow it during the month of May.

Tom O': So what high crimes against society will you be charged with, if you choose to ignore the Commissar's proclamation and mow your lawn in defiance of the Enlightened Elite?

I love the thought process of the Progressive Socialist Elite. If they find a law or regulation offensive, they ignore it. But...if they favor something, then "Everyone" must comply with their wishes.

Reminds me of the time 36 years ago. Coming up on our first Christmas Season here, when we were approached by our "Progressive" next door neighbor, and were informed that decorating for Christmas was not recommended in our neighborhood, so as not to offend those who do not celebrate Christmas. Next morning on the way home from work, I made several stops and spent a thousand dollars on Christmas decorations, then put them up. Guess I did offend HRH and her lackeys, but I made my point. [You will never guess who lavishly decorates her home every Christmas?].

"No Mow May"....Some folks need to find a better use for their time...

 

[TLOC]

Good morning creators of models, dandelion lovers and haters. The weather today will be mixed with some niceness and then more rain. 1.75” of rain on Wednesday, almost 3” per he TV weather guy in some of our areas of which my yard was one. Our rain gauge showed 3.21“ on the computer readout for yesterday. Terry is taking me to Home Depot and 2 other garden centers. Flowers, flowers and cararobi. Grape tomatoes are in the upside growing things. Terry loves them, I don’t. I prefer the Cherry ones and one plant is enough for me. The peppers, green beans, peas and things are in the covered walkway to the stables. She planted those in April in containers and because the walkway is covered it acts like a greenhouse. We have been eating all kinds of lettuce.

I spent sometime in the train room yesterday again detailing just the Machine Shop building in the Paper Mill complex. I blew out the brand new Illuminator for the fiber optics yesterday. Plugged it in and 10 minutes later it went Pop! It’s one of those Amazon deals that now seem too good to be true. I could have purchased the recommended $89 one but I got 2 for that price on Amazon. I will plug in the other one before contacting Amazon this morning. I rusted the roof, roof vents and the white trim on the building. Then I dusted the siding of the building with weathering Pan Pastels and glued on the downspouts supports. Today, the downspouts that I just now realized I have not painted yet. Same treatment planned for the #1 digestor building but with many more pipes added. Finally and hopefully completed by next Tuesday the #3 paper machine building. Same thing, dust the building siding, rust the roof, dirty up the white trim, add more piping, add the downspouts remembering to paint those with yesterday’s forgotten batch. I have the before pictures and will take some when finished for comparison. This should complete to 80-90% the east side of the Paper Mill complex as shown below before weathering …

Be safe, have fun

 

[TLOC]

Tom O': So what high crimes against society will you be charged with, if you choose to ignore the Commissar's proclamation and mow your lawn in defiance of the Enlightened Elite?

I love the thought process of the Progressive Socialist Elite. If they find a law or regulation offensive, they ignore it. But...if they favor something, then "Everyone" must comply with their wishes.

Reminds me of the time 36 years ago. Coming up on our first Christmas Season here, when we were approached by our "Progressive" next door neighbor, and were informed that decorating for Christmas was not recommended in our neighborhood, so as not to offend those who do not celebrate Christmas. Next morning on the way home from work, I made several stops and spent a thousand dollars on Christmas decorations, then put them up. Guess I did offend HRH and her lackeys, but I made my point. [You will never guess who lavishly decorates her home every Christmas?].

"No Mow May"....Some folks need to find a better use for their time...

You get the look of scorn when they The Enlighten drive by. My yard is mown to 3.5” in height every week and sometimes twice a week. Monday for sure and sometimes Friday. I also am anal enough to vary the mowing lines! It is especially neat when the grass is mown on the diagonal.

If you don’t mow any other month but May the city and the Town of Verona have ordinances that say you cannot allow your yard to be unruly. I am not sure what is the maximum height requirement but they will fine you 2 weeks after your notice. Then after 3 weeks they will come in and mow and add it to you property tax. it has been tested in the County legal system and the City and Town have won in the past because our Alder people have voted it in without public input. Or it might have been apathy.

You know, we r the politicians and we know what is right for you.

Very similar to the US Senate where supposely 80% of national voters want something (insert here something) but the Senate knows better because the lobbyist have told them what folks really want.

 

[Alcomotive]

Good morning creators of models, dandelion lovers and haters. The weather today will be mixed with some niceness and then more rain. 1.75” of rain on Wednesday, almost 3” per he TV weather guy in some of our areas of which my yard was one. Our rain gauge showed 3.21“ on the computer readout for yesterday. Terry is taking me to Home Depot and 2 other garden centers. Flowers, flowers and cararobi. Grape tomatoes are in the upside growing things. Terry loves them, I don’t. I prefer the Cherry ones and one plant is enough for me. The peppers, green beans, peas and things are in the covered walkway to the stables. She planted those in April in containers and because the walkway is covered it acts like a greenhouse. We have been eating all kinds of lettuce.

I spent sometime in the train room yesterday again detailing just the Machine Shop building in the Paper Mill complex. I blew out the brand new Illuminator for the fiber optics yesterday. Plugged it in and 10 minutes later it went Pop! It’s one of those Amazon deals that now seem too good to be true. I could have purchased the recommended $89 one but I got 2 for that price on Amazon. I will plug in the other one before contacting Amazon this morning. I rusted the roof, roof vents and the white trim on the building. Then I dusted the siding of the building with weathering Pan Pastels and glued on the downspouts supports. Today, the downspouts that I just now realized I have not painted yet. Same treatment planned for the #1 digestor building but with many more pipes added. Finally and hopefully completed by next Tuesday the #3 paper machine building. Same thing, dust the building siding, rust the roof, dirty up the white trim, add more piping, add the downspouts remembering to paint those with yesterday’s forgotten batch. I have the before pictures and will take some when finished for comparison. This should complete to 80-90% the east side of the Paper Mill complex as shown below before weathering …

Be safe, have fun
View attachment 146539

Love them 2-bay hoppers! They look fantastic!

 

[JeffH]

A brief moment inside my head:

The world can't be flat. If it was, my cat would have already knocked everything off.

So I accept that it's round... But if the World suddenly stopped spinning, would we all fall over?
(the above is in jest... I know that would be apocalyptic, and people would die almost instantly)

Perhaps solar systems are really just atoms to a much larger being. Would that make Galaxies, like molecules to them?


OK, carry on. Nothing to see here.