Good Morning Gang. 50° and cloudy this morning in beautiful North Central Texas. It won't get to 65° like yesterday, but I'll still take the 60° that's forecast. Uneventful trip to the grocery/beer store yesterday, I went later than normal and it was more crowded. Whole different genre of customers as well. Seemed like a walk-in advertisement for Lululemon pants...of all sizes. I did finally get some spinach planted in the garden, hopefully today I get the lettuce in.
Trainwise - big news. I posted a few times last year about placing a pre-order with ScaleTrains.com for four ATSF SD40-2's, that were originally scheduled for June then were delayed until November and then December and then again til "early 2018". Received notification on Wednesday that they had arrived in TN and were ready to ship. No monetary problem with the delays since I didn't have to pay anything until they were ready to ship, just frustration regarding the delays. I really have no need for any additional motive power but...I'll be able to hire additional engineers and conductors. They are their "Rivet Counter" line and they come "DC ready".
I'll report back when they arrive and I can test-run and photograph them.
Trig - Most of what I have gotten from Tichy through my LHS's is signs. RR crossing, Stop signs, rr Whistle signs, traffic signs etc. I'll be interested in reading what you post regarding their doors and windows. OK, now on to cardstock structures. I posted this picture last spring of a cardstock building that I assembled, and then enhanced by gluing appropriate sized styrene strips on the door and window frames to give it a more 3D effect. This is just an example of what can be done.
Garry - I have known many fine Baptists over the years. My wife's nephew by marriage is a Baptist preacher, a real "fire and brimstone" type. He gave the eulogy at my mother in law's funeral and said only five words about her. The rest of the fifteen minutes were directed at the congregation advising them to "find Jesus". No one was expecting this! Interestingly enough, shortly after this when his own father in law passed away, he was not allowed to eulogize. He tolerates me and several other family members having a drink at family affairs though.
Even though I don't run DCC, I am pleased to hear of the response from NCE regarding your decoders.
Jesse - If you download printable structures from the internet, they usually come with instructions on how to change scales. In the case of HO specific structures, you just set the print parameter to "No Scaling" and they come out correctly.
Greg - On all versions of Excel that I have used, there's a counter clockwise arrow in the "Standard Toolbar" that reverses stuff, even consecutive mis-entries. Since I don't use Excel everyday like I did when working, I do have to stop and think about certain functions sometimes. There's probably some kind of "Ctrl+" way of reversing, but I never learned it.
Curt - Nice "flyover" video of the layout. It reminds me just how sparse my "plywood plains" still is.
Justin - A few words on wood kits:
TAKE YOUR TIME. They are generally very good kits, but never rush through them. Who made it or what kit is it? I might be able to give some manufacturer specific tips on it since I have made at least three or four dozen of them from different manufacturers.
Joe - That must have been one heck of an uncomfortable feeling the first few times that you used that turntable.
Mark - Sad to hear of your troubles with Bachmann products. It is no way to run a business, but at least they are somewhat responsive.
Eric - Good ;uck moving forward.
I have read a few posts regarding folks feeling ill with flu symptoms. There's an absolute flu epidemic here in Texas this year, regardless of whether or not persons got a flu shot, it's affecting everyone equally. I do not get flu shots, and I haven't gotten the flu in all of my 66 years. I do consider myself lucky or maybe "chosen". I am not an "anti-vaxer", except where it applies to the flu shots. I believe that some "germ transmission" is necessary to build up immunities in the body. That's just me. Nonetheless, everybody be careful when in public.
Everyone have a great day.
Willie
