Yeah, just testing to make sure my "new" computer can do what it's supposed to do. I say, "new" because it was new about six months ago when I bough it, just waiting for this day when I actually put it to work. So by today's standards, it has to be obsolete by now.

If I say, "Ignore this post", I know what usually happens, so I'm not going to say that and I'll bet that no one responds.

Just have about 1,253 more settings to change before things appear normal.

My contribution for this week  ...

Caught up with WPMA-40 as they stopped for lunch in Whiskey Point.

Bruce

   

This is not trains but a diorama that will go on a friend's layout.  The birds are from Miniprints.ca

   

I am actually building a Juneco Wood Kit of a CNR Wood Caboose for a friend of mine.  This being the very first wood kit I am building, I am not sure how to finish it. Basically two questions?

1- What kind of primer should I use?

2- The kit came with Dry Transfer letters.  Is it possible to use regular decals instead on wood surfaces or should I stick to the Dry Transfers?

Thank you.

   

Here is a Tichy Reefer kit I have built as a CNR Wood Ice Reefer.  I know that this one will not be prototypical but I had fun building it.

First, I added all the piping for the brakes. It won't be visible when the car will be on the track but I like to add those wires.  Certainly one of the best job I have done to date.

   

   

To mimic the CNR Reefer, I added the Coal Heater and the Liquidometer to the Tichy kit.

   

The car is now ready for the Paint room.

Attached Files

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It was suggested in another thread here that we get together occasionally for a facetime chat using Zoom. That seems to be currently the most popular venue to do that. I have only had one Zoom meeting with one doctor and I was forced to use my cell phone. When I couldn't hear them, they wound up seeing a lot of my right ear. The next time we will use my computer or I'll go to his office.

From what I understand, you can use Zoom on any device that has a camera and microphone. I went ahead and registered on Zoom and downloaded their app, but have yet to install it. As I understand, you can use Zoom through your browser with or without the Zoom extension. They have free and paid versions, the free version allows someone to schedule a meeting of up to 100 people and it can last 40 minutes which should be sufficient for our needs. Again, not being that into Zoom, it appears that the person scheduling the meeting sends everyone else a link with the time and date of the meeting. Clicking the link brings you into the meeting.

If there is anyone here that is more knowledgeable about Zoom, clue us in please. In the meantime, I think this is a great idea, way beyond the old chat room that we stopped using years ago. If anyone is interested in doing this, post something here and give us an idea of when it would be a good day and time to do this. Remember, we are in a lot of different time zones, so let's use EST as our reference. We can try to do this once a week, once or twice a month, or whatever works.

We are in the exploratory stage, so let me know what you thing and give us some of your ideas about doing this.

How does one know which trackside signs (not signals) to use (for what purposes) and where they would go on a layout when many prototype signs consist only of a letter, a number or a symbol of one kind or another and no wording?  

My GN freight layout, c. 1945-1955, is a small 5' x 7' with a double reverse loop, five track crossings by road, a wayside siding and two freight depot sidings, so there would be a need for only a modicum of signage. 

I've already placed crossbucks where the roads cross the tracks.  What other non-operational signs would be appropriate and practical for the GN line in my era?  Color photos with interpretations (uses) and appropriate locations along the route would be most helpful.

I've already contacted the GNRHS, but did not receive a helpful reply.  I've also since learned that the only books even remotely related to my question are long-winded recitations of rules and regulations, with basically zero graphics, that were written for railroad employees, not the general public.

I've made a special effort to not talk about a few things in my personal life here thinking that this forum is about our love for our hobby and I didn't want to mess things up. Then again, it's also about friendships and sometimes helping our friends through rough times. So I guess it's time for me to open up a bit.
 
Back in 2014, my wife Peggy was diagnosed with dementia, she was hospitalized a year later and they wanted me to put her into a memory care home, but I just couldn't do that then. I took care of her as she got worse; it's a progressive disease with no cure. Medication helped keep her calm, but she could no longer do routine things, plus she was unsteady, falling and hurting herself a lot. A while back, I got help through a local program that put her in adult day care for a few hours each week, but it stopped when Covid19 hit. We were able to apply for long-term care last year, knowing that it would be a long process. Meanwhile, earlier this year, she qualified for hospice home care and that helped big time. Even then, I was still her main caretaker, 24/7. A few weeks ago, her approval for long-term care came through, and so we all watched as the transport vehicle took my wife of 60 years away. Everyone says this is best for both of us, and they are right. I did what I could, but being untrained, it was not enough and it showed on her care and my health.
 
I no longer need to be aware of her moving around or needing help. She's in a highly recommended facility that specializes in memory care and just about five minutes away. She is in the hands of professionals, which puts me at ease, but still knowing that it was the hardest decision I ever had to make.
 
Thanks for listening, I'm not looking for sympathy; although I could use some R&R, I just think that friends want to know when other friends are dealing with major changes or issues in their life, and talking about them with others can help, that's one reason we started Big Blue, some other forums wouldn't allow personal discussions. Some of you have had to deal with worse situations than this, and my heart goes out knowing what you went though. Peggy should be comfortable where she is, they'll keep her occupied, but more importantly, she will be safe. I'll be able to visit once this virus thing goes away. For now, I can have video and "window" visits anytime. Getting the help through these programs wasn't easy. I'm not sure where we'd be if I hadn't found the ones that I did.

Hello,

in my inventory i found this:


DB 628.2 + 928.2 in first livery mint green. The model is from Roco out of the 1980's and meanwhile it is converted to DCC. Flanges are turned down and wheelsets were fixed to meet NMRA specs. It runs flawlesss. Adding ditchlights, air condition units, snow ploughs, horns and some detailing is still required. This will then match the third DMU of the Train De Charlevoix.

A big bugbear for me is painting and lettering. This is the pivot where whole project is hooked up. 
https://cimtchau.ca/nouvelles/train-de-c...-attentes/

What do you think?



Lutz