tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6888351172720557492024-03-05T04:03:41.618-08:00Ed Harrison's Model Railroad DiaryAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-53606712688376647732014-06-03T03:20:00.000-07:002014-06-03T03:25:54.974-07:00Stopping my foot pain!I am not getting any younger and my feet are not what they used to be. It's pretty darn hard chasing after the trains especially on your feet....I have been getting foot pain and cramps in my feet recently which has really put the stoppers on my days out on the railroads with my friends, in this post I am gonna try and stop this pain in its tracks, pun intended!<br />
<br />
When I go train spotting it maybe really fun but it can really take the toil on my feet and recently I have been getting some real pain as I walk on the ball of my feet... As my foot hits the ground the ball of my feet slaps down and as the day goes on and I have walked and been on my feet all day this can really start hurting, not only that being on my feet really start causing the build up of pressure underneath my arches and my heels as my body weight pressed down on my feet and this weakens and makes injury more likely.<br />
A week ago I went camping with a few friends and my feet after a coupe hours walking and standing around were really inflamed it was then I decided I needed to do something about it (one of my friends mentioned that if you ignore things like this the damage that is caused can cause things like arthritis when you older). I have been looking online and there looks as though there are lots of things I can try to stop my foot pain but there are so many... too many insoles and pads that you can buy, which is making me a little bit stumped on what I actually need and what will help me best, as different products help different causes of foot pain. I have read on some sites that custom insoles (which are really really expensive) are your best bet but then I read other sites that look just a official saying that research has proven that custom insoles yield no extra benefit from wearing them and may actually cause your feet to weaken even more as your feet become over supported and dependent on them and dont actually support themselves. I think at the moment I am buying into the notion of custom insoles are no good... but that being said there are still tons of soles out there to buy and its still a minefield when you dont know what to get.<br />
<br />
Currently I am thinking of buying some special arch support soles runners use.. even though I dont run around chasing the trains on my days out I think they might be the best ones for me to get... because they have just about everything built into them from arch support to shock absorption that I need to stop the shocks hurting my ball of feet when I walk which I mentioned above... In fact I might just order some right now. <a href="http://inthenameofsport.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=54">Do you think these are any good?</a> They have some good reviews and seem exactly what I am looking for? If i am wrong they not too expensive and I guess id just need to buy and try as many as it takes to find some that helps.. unless you know any good ones?<br />
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Do you think I am on the right track with buying insoles? I cant think of anything else I can do or buy to stop this foot pain... Please comment below and tell me! Thanks!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-7754396696259334432014-06-03T03:04:00.001-07:002014-06-03T03:04:43.475-07:00Back!I have not posted in a long time but that all about to change gonna start up this blog again so stay tuned for some more train posts and news! I dont know how many of you guys still follow this blog considering I haven't posted in years! The last post was 6 years ago!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-30347472147052790242008-05-18T05:08:00.000-07:002014-04-11T05:10:10.214-07:00Looptie Loop It's not like I've done anything with the trains lately, but Bob and
Jeff have braved the heatwave to put the two loop modules together for a
trial run. According to their report, everything went pretty well after
a few tweaks. It is easy to imagine a string of modules in between
these two loops. If anyone asks my opinion, I like the smooth lines of
the Delta module (in the foreground) over the very angular Absolut
module (in back).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-81299826316880983572008-04-06T05:10:00.000-07:002014-04-11T05:11:29.177-07:00Delta ForceAs often happens, after the guys left, I got motivated to start work on
the next module. We need another balloon module, but I was looking for
some way to get the weight down. I came up with the idea of modifying
two hollow-core doors instead of the door and plywood that I used last
time. The result was this delta shaped module.<br /><br /><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080524213150/http://bp0.blogger.com/_qARwdCsn8oU/R_jfnjHUBEI/AAAAAAAAAhs/oJKfX1L_W_s/s1600-h/delta.JPG"></a>I
took the second door and cut the two wings with a circular saw. As
suspected, there is a waffle pattern of cardboard between the two layers
of hardboard.<br /><br /><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080524213150/http://bp0.blogger.com/_qARwdCsn8oU/R_jfnjHUBFI/AAAAAAAAAh0/pJ_vaGhwLI8/s1600-h/honeycomb.JPG"></a>Because
the space between the hardboard doesn't match any standard lumber size,
I had to mill a two-by-two to the right thickness.<br /><br /><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080524213150/http://bp1.blogger.com/_qARwdCsn8oU/R_jfnzHUBGI/AAAAAAAAAh8/rdRbDGy9hdw/s1600-h/pilot.JPG"></a><br />I
pre-drilled the lumber with pilot holes about every eight inches along
the length and then glued and screwed them to the uncut door edge. Make
sure you leave enough room for the geometry of the wedge shape.<br /><br /><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080524213150/http://bp1.blogger.com/_qARwdCsn8oU/R_jfnzHUBHI/AAAAAAAAAiE/AwAJgCa3PsI/s1600-h/smash.JPG"></a>I
took a scrap of the strip and a hammer and pre-smashed the cardboard
waffle so that the wedge would slide over the glue/nail strip.<br /><br /><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080524213150/http://bp2.blogger.com/_qARwdCsn8oU/R_jjeDHUBJI/AAAAAAAAAiU/Hz5oesXwffU/s1600-h/leftwing.JPG"></a>I
then applied lots of carpenter's glue to the edges of the strip, slid
the wedge over the top, and nailed the wedge on both sides. The wood and
clamps helped to make sure that the wings dried on the same angle as
the whole door blank. Once that dried, I repeated the process for the
other wing.<br /><br /><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080524213150/http://bp2.blogger.com/_qARwdCsn8oU/R_wbUDHUBKI/AAAAAAAAAic/Z_cYaNCxdC0/s1600-h/legsdown.JPG"></a><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080524213150/http://bp3.blogger.com/_qARwdCsn8oU/R_wbUTHUBLI/AAAAAAAAAik/h4ZyCxMU5Yo/s1600-h/legsup.JPG"></a> I saved ten pounds of weight by building the module this way. The same
techniques could be used for other modules. There are several sizes of
doors available, and it is a simple matter to apply the endplates and
fascia to the doors. In the folding door section, you can find bi-fold
doors that are 15" x 80" which is a great size for a module.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-47084375344953149992008-04-05T05:12:00.000-07:002014-04-11T05:12:37.456-07:00A Little LoopieToday was the monthly breakfast and work meeting of the <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/N-landPacific/">N-Land Pacific Group</a>.
Jeff added everything else to the module so we could run trains around
it. In this first photo, Bob and Stan are admiring the fact that we can
easily get a nine-foot train through the passing siding.<br /><br />Bob is
really pushing for a removable styrofoam scenic piece that can be placed
in the center of the loop as a view block. While he is working on that
idea, Jeff and I will be working on a duplicate return loop for the
other end of the setup. Stan continues to work on getting his new module
ready for the NMRA show.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-48046505601030951252008-03-16T05:12:00.000-07:002014-04-11T05:13:28.311-07:00Absolut ModuleBy popular demand, I added fascia to the balloon module. It is just
tempered hardboard (masonite). This thing weighs 63 pounds without cork,
track or scenery. Because of the size and weight, it definitely will
require more than one person to manage it.<br /><br /><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080524213150/http://bp3.blogger.com/_qARwdCsn8oU/R91VddDzUWI/AAAAAAAAAgs/E9u38ePTxGc/s1600-h/absolut.jpg"></a>As the module was leaning against the table, it occurred to me that it looks like those advertisements for Absolut Vodka.<br /><br />Jeff
and Bob want to add scenery, but I hate to store modules with scenery
in anything but a horizontal position (It looks pretty funny when all
the dust is on the left side of everything). Sure you could cover the
thing with a tarp, but with the size of this thing, you could use a car
cover. At least it won't be in my garage.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-20758063350369014022008-03-15T01:30:00.000-07:002014-04-11T05:14:38.699-07:00Blast Off!!!As we get ready for the <a href="http://www.nmra.org/2008/">NMRA layout tour</a> in July, the boys from the <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/N-landPacific/">N-Land Pacific</a>
really wanted a way to turn around trains without running the locos
around on a passing siding. We came up with the idea of a simple balloon
module.<br /><br /><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080524213150/http://bp2.blogger.com/_qARwdCsn8oU/R9vw2tDzUQI/AAAAAAAAAf8/j7GRWqfvfxU/s1600-h/loop.jpg"></a>A
balloon track is something the real railroads use to turn an entire
train. This photo is of the balloon track at Union Pacific's West Colton
yard.<br /><br />For our balloon module, we decided on keeping it to just
one piece and compromising on the track radius. It uses a 24" door as
the backbone of the module. There are 12" wide <span style="font-style: italic;">wings </span>on
the last four feet of the module so we can fit an 18" radius turn
there. It took some engineering to attach the wings to the door without
heavy bracing, but my design solution seems to have done the trick.<br /><br />For
the size of the beast, it is surprisingly light weight - for now. I was
hoping to skip putting fascia on it because of the weight and the
additional framing which would be required to keep the fascia secured.
Bob and Jeff are proponents of the fascia as a place for mounting the
turnout mechanism and throttle ports. They also want to do some scenery
inside the balloon. They typically rent a truck to transport their
modules, so leaving ground foam along the freeway isn't a worry. If I
were storing and transporting this 25 square-foot beast, I'd just paint
everything black and think of it as the backstage of the theater.<br /><br /><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080524213150/http://bp1.blogger.com/_qARwdCsn8oU/R9v4RdDzURI/AAAAAAAAAgE/KFS81VeU1yw/s1600-h/soapbox.jpg"></a>When
I finish with the fascia, Jeff will take over construction with laying
track and wiring. If it works out well, they want to build another one
of these balloons. Since it is a club module, I probably won't be able
to keep with my tradition of Spanish names for the module. If I could,
some ideas are <span style="font-style: italic;">Globo </span>(balloon), or <span style="font-style: italic;">Lazada</span> (loop). My neighbor says the thing looks like a Space Shuttle Soap Box racer.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-54748963720965602852008-03-13T05:15:00.000-07:002014-04-11T05:16:00.067-07:00Alright Already! Sheesh!I've been getting comments and emails about the dry spell here, and
before I show what I've been working on, I thought I'd point out the
similar lack of progress on other model railroad blogs, like <a href="http://fridaynightgroup.blogspot.com/">here</a>, <a href="http://www.modelrailroader.ca/">here</a>, <a href="http://www.joe-daddy.blogspot.com/">here</a> and even <a href="http://coxy.squarespace.com/">here</a>.<br /><br />The
N-Land Pacific group is getting ready for the NMRA tours in July, and
we decided to build a utility module with a balloon track to turn the
trains at the end of a run. Since this is strictly utility, the radius
will depart from the standard and go down to just 18 inches. We should
be able to turn an eight-foot train on a module that is 80" long, and
24" wide on the connection end, and 48" wide on the balloon end.<br /><br />Last
night I built the four legs for this module, and thought it'd be a good
opportunity to post something here. I have completely given up on the
idea of a leg made from a single piece of wood. There is too much
warping and weight involved. These "engineered" legs are much lighter,
and nearly bullet-proof. They are made of a strip of 15/32" plywood 2"
wide, and another that is 1.5" wide. There are three, three-inch blocks,
milled from a two-by-four with the saw still set at the 1.5" width. I
mount a tee-nut with screw mounts (Rockler 68379) and use a 5/16"
eye-bolt for the leveling adjustment.<br /><br />I've used this leg design on several modules now, and I am convinced it is the only way to go.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-77015301548174842832007-10-15T06:41:00.000-07:002014-04-11T06:42:36.997-07:00Hide Your Children!I added a photo of a new module I started today. I named it after the
mythical Mexican beast, la Chubacabra. The name fits because this thing
is a monster! 17" wide and eight feet long, it is 45 pounds of fury!<br /><br />Seriously,
I decided to build it sturdy so that it could serve as a home base at
shows and runs. There will be no scenery, just staging yard, programming
track, engine/caboose storage tracks, a power strip, DCC booster,
transformer, and refrigerated cup holders (just kidding about the
refrigerated part).<br /><br />The photo was taken before I added the
endplates so that you could see the channels for storing tools, car
boxes, etc. It is a couple inches under eight feet so it can be stood on
end without hitting the ceiling.<br /><br />The far end in the photo is ten
degrees from square so that the ladder real estate is optimized. The
mainline is the ladder track on the far end, and maybe the middle track
on the close end.<br /><br />To keep things bulletproof, I used Code 80 Peco
turnouts and Atlas flex track with a transition to Code 55 at the ends.
I'm going to ask Sherry to sew a large canvas sock to cover the beast
when I transport it outside my truck. I'll be adding casters on one end
so I can wheelbarrow the thing into shows and setups.<br /><br />Everything
you see in the photo was completed in about four and a half hours last
night. With track, transformer, legs and wheels, this beast should end
up being 50 pounds.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-28880907636244366752007-03-31T06:19:00.000-07:002014-04-11T06:20:49.166-07:00New CabooseWe just got a <a href="http://www.fleetwoodcampingtrailers.com/">new caboose</a> for the family's iron horse. After spending a great weekend car camping in a fantastic <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://www.pinezanita.com/">camp site</a>,
we decided it was time to upgrade from sleeping on the tent floor. I'm
looking forward to some great weekend trips and maybe some longer trips
too.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.socalrailfan.com/forums/vbgooglemaphse.php">SoCal Railfan</a> has GPS coordinates for most of the railfan areas around Southern Calfornia, so with a little coordination with <a href="http://www.socalcamping.com/">SoCal Camping</a>,
I may find that perfect spot. Somehow I don't think my wife will be
interested in camping next to the tracks, so I'll save those trips for
the boys.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-89933216061540709502007-03-05T06:18:00.000-08:002014-04-11T06:19:12.770-07:00The Grand ExperimentLast night I worked until three in the morning, so I skipped the office
today. After waking up with the sun, I decided to play trains for a
while.<br /><br />Those
things that look like cookies gone bad, are actually test blobs of the
static grass. I put a handful of dirt in the bottom of a paper cup, made
a depression in the center, and then poured in some plaster. Once it
dried, I painted the plaster blobs <span style="font-style: italic;">Trail Tan</span> and then tried different ratios of the Woodland Scenics static grass. I ended up liking the <span style="font-style: italic;">Honey Gold</span> sprayed on and then mottling some<span style="font-style: italic;"> Burned Grass</span> over the top of it. Solid colors just looked like I took a giant hole-punch to a deer pelt.<br /><br />I
painted the concrete abutments, and then the canyon and other areas of
the module. I'm pretty sure I will be repainting the canyon because it
looks too <span style="font-style: italic;">Arizona Highways</span> and
not enough like the local scenery. Once that gets done, I will be adding
lots of shrubs and some grazing cattle, barbed wire fence, creekside
clutter and the usual trackside details. These elements will go a long
way in making the grass look like something other than the back dash on a
Caprice.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-84865580823335428682007-03-03T06:06:00.000-08:002014-04-11T06:07:25.757-07:00Design ImprovementFor those of you making your own "<a href="http://ten87.blogspot.com/2007/02/mother-flocker.html">little-flocker</a>"
you might want to change the output pipe to this new design. With
sustained use, the gap between the two barbed adapters collects flock
and eventually makes a clog. This new design eliminates that problem.
Just go to the electrical department of your local hardware store and
get a 3" steel nipple (<a href="http://www.rlights.com/viewproduct.php?id=13385">Westinghouse 70603</a>) and a set of locknuts and washers (<a href="http://www.rlights.com/viewproduct.php?id=13408">Westinghouse 70628</a>). Use the rubber washers from the previous assembly to keep things airtight.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-65915923349817657492007-02-15T06:04:00.000-08:002014-04-11T06:05:50.051-07:00Mother Flocker!Back in <a href="http://ten87.blogspot.com/2006/12/kind-of-fuzzy.html">December</a>, I was trying to come up with a cheap method of making tall grasses in my scenery. I tried the <a href="http://ten87.blogspot.com/2006/12/kind-of-fuzzy.html">auto carpet</a>
route, but as Steve told me, "The only thing that sticks to auto
carpeting is dog vomit and Milk Duds." That made attaching bushes a
little tough, though I enjoyed the Milk Duds, especially with a bowl of
popcorn.<br />
<br />
I remained envious of the results that <a href="http://www.america-n.de/">Bernd</a>
had with a very expensive electrostatic flocker (click on the barn for
an up-close look), but I had a hard time spending $120 or so on the
device. Bernd uses a blend of three different types of electrostatic
grass from German manufacturer HEKI: Sommerwiese (Heki 3360),
Winterboden (Heki 3363) and Wildgras (Heki 3367). He says the fibers of
the first two are about 3mm long, the Wildgras is about 5mm long.<br />
<br />
A Google search came up with an <a href="http://www.donjer.com/suedetex/aasg.html">alternative to electrostatic applicators</a>
for half that price, but I'm a tight-wad, and convinced myself that I
could make something at home.<br />
<br />
Ignoring the sickly color of my sample
flock at right, my home-built device worked fantastically and it only
cost $20 for the parts. I'm sure someone with a decent scrap box could
cut the cost even more. Make sure you click on the photo below for a
good look at the parts list.<br />
<br />
One of the things I like about my
flocker is that the cup is translucent so I can see how much static
grass is left. Make sure you don't go over 25 PSI and keep the nozzle
about ten to twelve inches from the surface. I would also recommend that
you keep the air intake centered, and the outlet off-center, that way
the fibers swirl around and ultimately line up for the trip down the
tube and into the glue. Assembly should be self-explanatory, and I
wouldn't bother with any teflon tape because of the low pressures. I
also wouldn't skimp on the plastic cup, I liked the EZ Touch-Up Cup
because it had lots of deep threads to hang on when pressurized (just
cut off the brush with a hacksaw). <span style="font-weight: bold;">NOTE: please see the design improvement <a href="http://ten87.blogspot.com/2007/03/design-improvement.html">here</a>.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-47400965256021933192007-02-10T06:08:00.000-08:002014-04-11T06:09:07.646-07:00Get to workApparently tired of being the primary workers at the <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/N-landPacific/">N-Land Pacific</a>
Work Day, Jeff and I cruised while Bob and Stan did most of the work.
Here Jeff has donned the BNSF Supervisor's helmet and directs Bob and
Stan in the scratch-building of a hangar for Stan's new helibase module.<br /><br /><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080227004044/http://bp1.blogger.com/_qARwdCsn8oU/Rc5yj4vafyI/AAAAAAAAAFE/tFhE2IwmN4Y/s1600-h/butter.JPG"></a>If
you read the bucket, it says "I can't Believe it's not Butter!" and
that's not a big leap. Here Stan is spreading the sanded grout we all
use for soil on our modules. This new module is going to be pretty cool.
There is going to be a farm house on top of the hill, with a palm-lined
driveway going down to a rural road. On the other side of the tracks
from the hill will be farm land and a crop-dusting helibase.<br /><br /><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080227004044/http://bp2.blogger.com/_qARwdCsn8oU/Rc5zlIvafzI/AAAAAAAAAFM/4q8ZRm4tX1g/s1600-h/gaTo.JPG"></a>I
spent the day working on some miscellaneous projects, some module legs,
and fixing the broken scenery on El Gato. Another great day in the
garage. Thanks guys!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-87892939357710646852007-02-04T06:39:00.000-08:002014-04-11T06:40:51.997-07:00Only 17 Months to GoThe <a href="http://www.nmra.org/">National Model Railroad Association</a> will be having their <a href="http://www.nmra.org/2008/index.htm">2008 convention</a> in Southern California, July 13-19th.<br /><br />Prior
to the tearing down of the Cajon layout, I was asked to participate by
having my layout included in the layout tours. Once I had torn it down, I
was told by several folks that the tours were a year-and-a-half away,
and that I needed to get my butt in gear so I would be ready for the
show. Just the motivation I need.<br /><br />The <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/N-landPacific/">N-Land Pacific group</a>
was also invited to attend the National Train Show by setting up a
modular layout. At Saturday's monthly breakfast meeting, we decided
against displaying our modules at the Train Show. Instead, the modules
will be incorporated into the layout tour at my home. I think this is a
great opportunity to show how home layouts and modular layouts can work
together, and may inspire others to do the same. The group also
believes it is a great opportunity to hang out at the pool and drink
margaritas in between tour buses!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-42710968697038905842007-01-27T06:29:00.000-08:002014-04-11T06:30:02.136-07:00Road RageI was driving into the civic center today for a meeting with a bunch of
lawyers when I noticed this truck behind me riding my tail. As I drove
on, the driver of this truck seemed to grow more desperate to follow me.
Being the suspicious type, I did my best to ditch the guy, but he
became even more aggressive in chasing me. I pulled into a busy
construction site, hoping to have at least some backup if things got
rough, and to my amazement, the truck flew through traffic cones and
pulled along side me. Having shed my seatbelt and opened the door in
anticipation of a quick exit, I stopped cold when I recognized the logo
of a railroad on the side of his truck. I looked up to see the driver
just five feet from me. Like nothing had happened, he very calmly asked,
"Where'd you get that cool knuckle hitch?" He was talking about the
trailer hitch on my truck being a replica of a railroad coupler. It
turns out he is a signal maintainer for a railroad (to remain nameless)
that operates downtown. I'm glad to know that safety is his number one
priority.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-50143671583042622802007-01-27T06:21:00.000-08:002014-04-11T06:22:08.624-07:00Cool campfireI remember paying six bucks for a single LED and seeing a model campfire
effect circuit for $36. Now, LEDs are everywhere, and are so cheap they
are almost disposable. Here is a case in point. GE sells these "tea
lights" for under two bucks each. It uses three of the button batteries
(included) and a circuit that makes it flicker.<br /><br />I bought one of
these, dissected it, and I'm convinced I will be using it on a model. It
was easy to cut off that plastic flame and the outer case with some
wire cutters. Inside is a circuit board smaller than a postage stamp, a
slide switch, a battery compartment and an orange LED. The circuit melts
down with more than 3 VDC, but rewiring it to an AA battery should make
a flame that will last for at least a week. A quick touch with a
soldering iron and the orange LED could be replaced with a white LED for
a welding effect. Not bad for two bucks.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-25582553428668904972007-01-19T06:36:00.000-08:002014-04-11T06:37:36.286-07:00Train Stolen by TeenagerTwo boys, aged 13 and 16, <a href="http://www.athensnews.com/issue/article.php3?story_id=27075">escaped from an Ohio group home</a>, started up a locomotive, disconnected the train, and drove it twelve miles down the tracks. I guess the <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/games/trainsimulator/">Microsoft Train Simulator</a> works pretty good as "training" software too.<br /><br />Over on <a href="http://www.socalrailfan.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2214">SoCal Railfan</a>,
they're talking about how a couple days ago an engineer was removed
from the work site and terminated for having a photo of the locomotive's
cab on the web. According to the thread, the Feds are investigating all
cab shots and removing guilty engineers. Reportedly, such acts are a
threat to national security (and the security of Ohio group homes). I've
got to wonder if Microsoft will continue to sell their product.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-1845315997156076172007-01-13T06:26:00.000-08:002014-04-11T06:27:59.749-07:00Petticoat JunctionToday, we had a work day in the garage for the <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/N-landPacific/">N-Land Pacific</a>
guys. Bob and Jeff visited for a few minutes, but then headed home to
finish a bathroom remodel. Stan and I spent a couple hours working on a
new module for him, and then after lunch Steve showed up. As usual we
had a blast, and talked a lot of trash. My favorite line of the day was
classic: <span style="font-style: italic;">"It sounded like someone was f------ a cat. It was with his finger, but that is still wrong."</span><br />Stan had asked me about <a href="http://tycotrain.tripod.com/tycotrains/">Tyco trains</a>, so after dinner, I did a search for Tyco images. I saw the image on the right from <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056780/">Petticoat Junction</a>, and it hit me.<br /><br />I flashed back to the image on the left of Jeff and Bob at a previous work day in the garage.<br /><br />I'm sure they'll hate me for posting it, but damn, it looks to me like they came from the same gene pool.<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-32455772786429663312007-01-12T06:38:00.000-08:002014-04-11T06:39:23.283-07:00Train TaggersThere is nothing that will set off a flame war on the model railroad
boards faster than a discussion about graffiti. These guys will obsess
over the diameter of a rivet on a boiler plate, and how a handrail
height on a model isn't prototypical, but they won't consider having
tagging on their trains because somehow that endorses or promotes
tagging.<br /><br />One of my primary reasons for liking trains is the raw
power of them, the primitive nature of smelling exhaust and feeling the
rumble. I think of the tagging like the primeval cave paintings. It is
the base of mankind to express themselves. It is an expression, no
matter how crude, that sets us apart from other animals. Perhaps it is
that anthropological side of me that let me relish the several years I
spent as part of a graffiti task force catching these bad guys.<br /><br />Recently, <a href="http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=3601">Ken Szok</a> posted this image on the <a href="http://www.socalrailfan.com/">SoCal Railfan</a>
board, and I thought I would share my professional analysis of the
tagging. Click on the photo for a much larger view (Hold down the shift
key when you click for a new window, or if you're using Foxfire, the
Ctrl key for a new tab).<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">It was
a female tagger (yes, they are out there). The two sets of three lines
around the "27" are often indicative of eyelashes (and vanity). The
stars around the 27 and date likely represent the "star" personality of
the tagger. 27 is the tagger's initials , or more likely, the initials
of their moniker (or nickname) . It is probably "BG" for the second and
seventh letters of the alphabet, but it could also correspond with the
letters on a phone keypad. You might be able to catch a fingerprint off
the four horizontal drags on the left panel. The tagger's eye-level is
most likely equal to the top of the date as suggested by the alignment
with the strong horizontal segment of the scrolling in the right panel
and the start of the better penmanship of the looping e's on the left
panel (the spacing increases as it goes up, indicating the perspective
change). This also places the four horizontal finger drags at mouth
level, which is a natural position (go ahead - try it)...</span><br /><br />This
is the critical eye that haunts me when I look at tagging on walls,
bridges and trains. It is not all gangsters marking their territory like
dogs. It is an expression of emotion in a primitive form. It is a
necessary element in modeling a railroad, and an unnecessary element in
modeling a train. I am a model railroader, so I will be tagging the crap
out of my trains and scenes.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-16342803199225246242007-01-06T06:33:00.000-08:002014-04-11T06:34:53.553-07:00The Train ShowThe guys from the <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/N-landPacific/">N-Land Pacific</a>
met for breakfast this morning and then headed over to the train show
in Anaheim. I'm pretty sure that was my last public train show ever. It
was the same Tyco trash on cookie sheets that I've seen for years, and I
had to pay $7 for the privilege.<br /><br />The
people attending the show continue to inbreed and apparently somewhere
in the evolution, they stopped bathing. It would have been more fun to
do a tractor-pull with some of the dozens of electric wheelchairs that
took turns ramming my ankles.<br /><br />Andy
and I split after just an hour and headed across the street to
Disneyland. The highlights of the day included talking the tram dude
into letting Andy do the spiel <span style="font-style: italic;">(</span><span style="font-style: italic;">Driver, we're all clear</span>), getting a <a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2233872625909823904">WPM</a><a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20080226084837/http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2233872625909823904"> DVD</a> from Bob and Jeff, and trading <a href="http://ten87.blogspot.com/search?q=gato">El Gato</a> to Robert for a Maxi-Stack. You can check out a four minute edit I did of the DVD <a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2233872625909823904">here</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-88376929095902506762007-01-02T06:32:00.000-08:002014-04-11T06:32:56.526-07:00Sociology of Model RailroadingI was just reading a great essay, <a href="http://trainweb.org/lfnwfan/html/Sociology.htm"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Sociology of Model Railroading</span></a>. Imagine my surprise when I found the author has a link to my website on his site. Great minds and all.<br /><br />Lots
of email on the demise of the Cajon Layout. Stuart writes, "Trashed the
layout, have we? Looking to socialize more while running trains? I
wonder what Freud would have said about that." He goes on to say, "Let
me be the first to predict that your little Porter venture will soon
lead you into HO. You heard it here first."<br /><br />Stan writes, "I just
got on the computer and one of the things I like to do is read your
blog. I find it humorous, fun and most of all a good release. So I'm
in there reading your last two entries and I see something that your
tearing down Cajon? What happened? I've heard about realigning for 2007
but..."Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-40975849077248030532007-01-01T06:24:00.000-08:002014-04-11T06:25:31.155-07:00The End of an EraYou might think it was a New Year’s Eve thing, but I’ve been thinking
about it for days, if not weeks. I’ve decided that staying the course
with the Cajon layout is not what I want to do.<br /><br />My style of model
railroading has become social, and consumable. I love the interaction
with others, and once something is done, I’m done with it, and I usually
give it away. I look at the Cajon layout and see all of the extra
infrastructure like dust control, and lighting, and realize it is not
what I enjoy about model railroading. I look at the compromises of a 12”
minimum radius and realize I’ll have to apologize to others and myself
for the rest of the layout’s lifespan.<br /><br />I like modular
railroading. I get the social interactions. I get the vain displays of
my work. I get to experiment. I get the freedom of ditching what doesn’t
work for me. I get to feel the satisfaction of completion over and over
again.<br /><br />I’m
ready to tear out the Cajon layout and re-task the garage as a workshop
for modular model railroading and other projects. I am imagining
cabinets for dust free storage of modules. I am imagining a modest test
layout, a spray booth and a workbench.<br /><br />I think my next modular project will be a staging yard similar to <a href="http://www.america-n.de/Module/EY/EY.htm">what Bernd built</a>
for their group. Even though I will be using Code 55 for all my
modules, I have a considerable amount of Code 80 turnouts and track that
will work for a utilitarian staging yard. Sure there will be a
transition to Code 55, but Code 80 is robust and perfect for the utility
of the yard.<br /><br />The yard, and most of my modules for that matter,
will probably be 16” wide. I think that is a great width for
single-track modular railroading. A 24” wide module is too cumbersome
for one person, and a 12” wide module is too skinny. A module width of
16” has the advantage of portability and the economy of a standard
dimension that cuts cleanly from four-foot timber.<br /><br />I don't regret
any of this. It has, and continues to be a wonderful hobby for me.
Cajon Pass is still in my neighborhood, and I will continue to draw upon
it for inspiration. Now if you excuse me, I have to go clean the
garage.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-74002508622287875602007-01-01T06:22:00.000-08:002014-04-11T06:23:28.697-07:00Demolition DayToday was the last day of the Cajon layout. It went fairly well, but I
have a cut on my forehead from a snag on a nail, and a sore back for my
troubles.<br /><br />The
rubble filled the bed of my truck and six large trash bags. Of course
not everything is heading for the landfill, but the lumber, foam, cork
and track is gone from Devore to Summit.<br /><br />That
area of the layout is now going to be a 3'x12' workbench with
cupboards and pegboard under the worktop. The area on the other side of
the garage is going to be a 4'x20' layout with a connection to the
Free-moN modules.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-688835117272055749.post-76372092853737690132006-12-30T07:10:00.000-08:002014-04-11T07:11:38.795-07:00This is Model RailroadingIt doesn't matter what scale you're interested in, this is model railroading. Half a world away, in Germany, these <a href="http://www.america-n.de/index.htm">eight guys</a> get together, talk trash, and play with trains. Exactly what we do in the <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/N-landPacific/">N-Land Pacific</a> Group.<br /><br />We've
been sharing some emails, despite the language barrier. Bernd (second
from the right) has asked to join our Group. He writes, "<span style="font-style: italic;">I must admit that I have fun provoking these guys </span>(at <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Free-moN/">Free-moN</a>)<span style="font-style: italic;">
just as Ed ;-) but that´s not my intention in your group. Most time I
would be a 'passive' member. When I come to California, I will bring you
some bottles of dark beer, so we can practice 'drink´n´drive.</span>"<br /><br />Except for the driving part, that sounds great to me.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16437777795249877372noreply@blogger.com1