Welcome back fellow train lovers! We are getting ready to take that last train into summer as we start the unofficial end to summer and head full steam into fall. And what better way to do it but with an extra day to boot! Saturday: Is supposed to be beautiful and the area is busy with all sorts of activities. Angela and I plan on going to her home town of Hoopeston (pronounced Hup-sten by the locals) or otherwise known as Hooterville, with apologies to Paul Henning. More "refined" folks may get that reference. Our reason for going is the annual Sweet Corn festival and car show. Of course we'll take Jess, and she'll not have a hardtop and we'll explore the current and abandoned rail lines we encounter both to and from the event. As time allows, a trip to my favorite hardware store is in order. Sunday: This might be the day I work on the project I have been thinking about since Galesburg RR Days and the reason for heading to my favorite hardware store. Frustration with the Galesburg City Job modules had hit an all time high, to the point of throwing out the whole darn thing. If it's one thing I've learned in life, it's never to make a rash decision at the height of an emotional low. Rather, walk away and collect your thoughts and when you have it figured out, start planning. My original design for each module was 1X3 dimensional lumber with risers, plywood roadbed, etc. It works okay but has seen it's share of problems. Since I decided I still, even as a New Englander, love the CB&Q and BN and I love the track plan, I would keep the layout. That said, I have designed Module design Mk. III. This one will be built of light ply and more of the standard table top variety. More on this later. Monday: At this point, no real plans. I may just relax before going in for a short week of work, or finish up my design. So how about you? What do you have planned this Labor Day Weekend? Cook outs, picnics, railfaning, track work? Let us know. We'll assemble again on Tuesday, September 5th, to see how we all did and what we accomplished. Until then, enjoy a relaxing long weekend, stay safe and as always... High Greens!
So, I have no idea (again) if I'll get to work on my layout. If I do, I hope to work on my diesel service platform. And, perhaps get to work on installing decoders into a set of GP-9s. We'll see. Hope y'all have an awesome and safe weekend!! Wolf
My Free-moN modules are built with 3/4 inch birch ply endplates, sandwiched between 1/4inch or 5mm ply fascia using screws and glue. I add a rail along the inside for extra support and to act as a shelf for the foam top. Cross bracing is 1x4, notched to align with the top of the inside shelf. The whole thing weighs just 11 pounds and is strong enough to be used as a ladder. My weekend includes College football, Nebraska State Fair, and prepping the yard extension for track laying. If time allows, I too will sneak away for some Jeep fun!!
Jim, they can say it anyway they want, but it's "Hoops Ton" to everyone else! Is the high school mascot still the Corn Jerker? I'm now the home for the Wausau modules (our sceniced stagin yard) from Modutrak between shows, and we're (my five year old boys and I), working on updating the scenery. All my supplies arrived via the mail today, so I think we'll knock some of it out tomorrow and Monday.
The forecast (for now... in fifteen minutes it may change) is Saturday sunny, Sundy rainy, Monday sunny. Maybe. I will take advantage of the alleged sunshine and relatively cool weather to enjoy some free-range air, but trains will be on the menu since my layout is still a work in progress. I will need more wire, another project box and some more toggle switches to control various fixed lighting (buildings, street lights, etc.), and a low to medium current power supply (12V is convenient) to feed the LEDs i'll be using for lighting. I'll be looking for more scenic materials soon (roadway, for one, and gravel). I may visit some unconventional sources (pet shops, for example). I get these crazy ideas and it's better to check them out first than cast them to the bad idea pile without consideration. I may have found a use for two things that don't really fit into my modeling framework - an Atlas SD35 in Chessie colors and a long hood from a Kato SD40 that someone used in an attempt to make a Comfort Cab equipped CN SD40-2W. The idea light came on when I was reading about the SD40X prototypes 434 and 434A-H. While 434A through F had flared radiators a la SD45, the original 434 (no letters) as well as the last two SD40X engines had regular vertical radiator grills... This is going to be a nice kitbash project. In the meantime I'm running my loco roster over the new layout's trackage to find the kinks and wrinkles that could cause trouble like derailments and spontaneous uncouplings (like a Bachmann H16-44's coupler is a bit low, so when it hits a slight kink in the rails, it uncouples from its train). That also allows me to find weaknesses in some locos and rolling stock.
I'll be: Working in the train room (Wiring or putting down plywood, don't have clue now) Working in at the bench fixing up buildings from the last layout. Watching College football tomorrow and Sunday night. Grilling ribs on the smoker Sunday.
Due to recent high stress levels, my wife has informed me that at least 1.5 days this weekend will be "relaxing". Since my usual form of relaxation is doing little projects around the house, she's also forbidden that. I promised her that I would spend a day working on train stuff.
M Mark, that is one sharp looking WK (Grand Cherokees for the rest of you ;-) I had one years ago, very nice truck.
