Scott is putting together a plaster cloth order to see how cheap we can buy in bulk. I won't place the order until we all agree on the price. Please let me know how many rolls (8"x15" or 10 sq ft) you would want to buy of a Woodland Scenics quality plaster cloth. I'll be engaging a medical supply business for the transaction.
Scott - 8 rolls
Rick - 10 rolls
Bob - 4 rolls
Keith - 12 rolls
Well, Scott forgot his camera and we didn't do much, but we all had a great time. In attendance...
Packrat Paul
Coalfinger Ken
Gator Scott
Glue Bob
Glue Bob's Friend, the Ship Builder
Bob was delayed due to curling. We worked without success on a freaky curved turnout that was stalling locomotives for no apparent reason. All of us took a try. We learned about Girling, which is similar to curling, and we tested out the sound unit in a locomotive.
Several years ago I set up the company store on Cafe Press so that our members could have NCI logos on stuff. So far, I'm the only one that bought anything...
But hey, its a free site so it doesn't cost us anything.
Well, my L&N single sheathed box car didn't make it. Heck, I didn't even get a chance to finish it. My buddy Rick just HAD to have it for his smelly old L&N railroad, so I gave it to him.
Of course, he couldn't take it as a gift...so he went browsing...
This Seaboard Silver Meteor boxcar is on its way over to my house for the Dixie Central. I'm glad to have a fine Seaboard car on the line and Rick's being more kind than me and even putting the metal wheels on it. Now I'm ashamed...
We are done with rolling stock! Now, to get it built and running!
Friday, Feb. 19 was the very first work session at the Richlawn Railroad. In attendance were Coalfinger Ken, Glue Bob, Steve-bay, Mark (nickname yet 2 b determined), and of course, Popsicle Rick. The purpose tonight was to get acquainted with the railroad and to do some general planning on the expansion into the balance of the basement.
We started by looking over the railroad and showing the layout to first time visitor Mark. Here Steve & Mark are in deep discussion about ??? That apparent "growth" on Mark's arm is Bob's camera. He brought it and his tripod along to take some time exposure pictures of the railroad.
Speaking of bringing something along - Ken brought one of his steam locos to check out the track as I've got some problem areas that derail the sensitive many-wheeled steam units. That's why I bought a 4-4-0 unit.
The only thing I like better than running locos on my railroad is watching others enjoy running there locos on the layout. All are welcome to "run what they bring" anytime.
Bob's getting down to business of picture taking and made Ken duck a few times so he wouldn't appear as a time exposure "ghost" in the pictures. We viewed some of his pictures on my laptop and I must say they are some of the best shots I've ever seen on the railroad, including those taken by the Piedmont photographers! Thanks Bob!
Bob's apprentice Steve gets into the act here and does a great job of capturing a few shots. Notice that he is using my tripod now as they needed a higher reach. Bob ended up wanting to take my tripod home - it's always available for loan!
Ken's loco looked and sounded great, besides finding a very bad track spot where my thru plate girder bridge is connected to the trackwork. At that point there is a "bump" and a turn right out of the bridge. I'll see what I can do to fix it.
Oh yeh.... we're supposed to be doing some planning. We did some brainstorming and Mark came up with a great idea of removing a section of the wall between the trainroom and the expansion area in what is now the closet. It will be easy to install the header and give a nice 7 foot wide opening between the rooms. It's kind of hard to explain - you'll have to see it to understand.
Here's Mark putting his gray matter to paper. Did I see some smoke there?
All this activity works up an appetite. Here Bob partakes of the goodies which included Girl Scout Thin Mints, assorted cookies, fruit, soft drinks, and water.
Near the end of the evening we had some nice time to just chat in general. I really appreciated everybody making the long trek all the way up to Cumming (thank you Bob for providing the car pool) and look forward to the next session at the Richlawn Railroad.
Ideas for future session include the removal of the wall after moving all the shelves, a weathering clinic held by Bob on rolling stock, a "spec" clinic on my rolling stock (checking wheel gauge, weight, couplers, etc) and a tree clinic.
Check out the latest work that Gator has been doing on planning; and of course, give everyone your input. Apparently the operation didn't hurt his imagination!
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video must be worth a million! I was sorry to have to cancel, but there's no need to risk our lives to play with trains, especially when we can do it another time. I even cleaned up the basement!.
This is mainly for Bob as he was wining last night AGAIN that I didn't show him the location of the windows in my basement. :-) I know there aren't any measurements, but you can get the idea.
Also, when you guys arrive, please go around the right of the garage down to the basement entrance and BE SURE to stay on the stepping stones as the area is full of loose gravel. Anyone that doesn't follow that, then slips and falls, will be shot and buried in the woods (by the stream bed - a nice final resting spot!)
Still trying to figure out how to edit someone else's post (Scott's), but I wanted to get these on the blog, so I'm creating a new posting. Since Scott was taking pix, it's only fair that we get to see his ugly (just kidding) mug.
Here's Scott talking to Paul while Bob is working.
Here's Scott looking while Bob and Paul are working.
Here's Scott WORKING!
Just kidding - Scott worked every bit as hard as I worked!
It's sheetrock night at Steve's house. You know your friends are true friends when they will help you with sheetrock.
Tonight's Players:
Steve-bay
Concrete Keith
Packrat Paul
Glue Bob
Popsicle Rick
Gator Scott
Mark-with-no-knickname
I came in a little late to find Keith hot wiring the house. Literally. At least Mark was avoiding seeing the bright blue flash.
It always stinks being the host because you don't get to do anything because everyone is always sending you to go get stuff.
We could have used Coalfinger's help tonight. We were all busy. Scott, Rick, Bob and Paul were putting up the sheetrock on the newly framed back wall. Paul was in charge of cutting out the outlet holes. Paul was fired from cutting out the outlet holes.
The bows in the lumber are a pain. Good thing we've got Bob to push them back into play.
Paul was cutting out the small board in the corner. Rick had to take his place. We fired Rick as well and put Bob on it. Two seconds and done!
I'm not being fair. We all HATE sheetrock, but Bob loves it. Want to whitewash the fence, Bob?
Meanwhile Keith and Mark took on the 36" door. Seems they will need to cut some timber.
"This reminds me of something on a Three Stooges skit!"
A rare glimpse of rick working. This is just before we fired him from sheetrock cutting.
"Now wait...if we open it that way we hit the roundhouse. If we open it the other way, we hit the dispatcher. I know! Let's just put in the frame and take the door off."
We decided to block up the other door and ran out of lumber. Paul and Scott jumped in the truck and headed to Lowe's to pick up a 2 x 6 x 10 pressure treated to make a stud and floor cap combo.
Scott measured and sawed the lumber while Bob installed another stud on 16" centers.
There is the floor board. Just snug!
There is the stud! Just a hair loose, but that won't matter. We are gonna sheetrock over it. This will give Steve a nice long wall with no interuptions.
Bob means business when he's sheetrocking!
Rick is concentrating, too. One false move and the HOG gets clobbered! Steve, are you ever gonna sell that thing?
Hey! A nice door! Good job guys!
The merriment played on through the evening. Rick and Scott had to leave early.
Guys, feel free to add or edit! Let Scott know if you want a pass to post!
This is the newly revised area where the Ore Boat will dock. I have revised the track arrangement, added (4) switches and revised the control panels, and built the Heulett Unloader kit from Walthers. Needs painted still, but almost done.
From this angle you can see the elevated section, and the revised siding at the base of the quarry.
This pic shows that I have in fact installed a spline roadbed test section, after elevating the Westfield gravel quarry about 3 inches or so. Scott was right, it does look much better this way.
Let Scott know if there is something special you want and he'll add it to the store.
Calendar
Next Train Nights:
Keith - 10/1/10
Paul - 10/8/10
Contact the NCI Group
The North County Interchange Operating Group is located in the North East Atlanta (Mall of Georgia, Buford, Lawrenceville) area. If you are interested in the group you can contact Scott Perry at scottgperry@comcast.net for more information.
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