tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73760754794779665582024-03-24T23:09:15.577-07:00 The Old Main Line Subdivision:RESEARCH + DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION + OPERATION: Modeling the inevitable demise of America's oldest railroad in HO scale.Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-92194697733962647632018-09-09T10:00:00.000-07:002018-09-28T06:09:40.327-07:00"Something old, something new..."<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">... Something borrowed, something blue. As the saying goes, I think I have that covered with this kitbash of one of the more iconic plastic structure kits of days gone by. Marketed under the Revel and AHM labels during my impressionable years, the Superior Bakery/Weekly Herald/Operating Engine House has always featured some of the best brick detailing ever to grace a model layout.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">I have stashed away several new, untouched kits, as well as some previously kitbashed versions from my teenage years. For the most part, I abhor producing structures per the kit instructions, but I did want to take advantage of the quality of these kits. The prototype structures that I need to build don't necessarily mimic these details, so I decided that I could at least produce something that would serve as a nice background, non-rail-served industry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Nicely detailed aged brick is a hallmark of these kits. So sad that today's mass producers (I'm looking at you Walther's) roll out the masonry walls that they do. Note that two joints are visible here, but when painted ultimately blend in very well.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Some clean-up work was required to salvage some old pieces. Regrettably then, but thankfully now, it seems that I was partial to Goo back in the day. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The new blue and yellow walls join the middle reclaimed section, plus a couple of end walls to form a background structure that measures just about 3" x 22". </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>End walls were made from both a new kit and a previously used one. They were joined with the central portion of the original gable ends so they could be cut to form a parapet. The building footprint was cut from a sheet of .060 styrene and served to help erect the walls at 90 degrees and help pull the front wall assembly together.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Gator Board was used as a back wall and interior bracing for it's rigidity and stability. I'm not sure what adhesive is best to merge the styrene with the Gator Board, but I'm thinking Super Z RC-56, otherwise known as canopy glue. Thoughts anyone?... please!</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Some .060 styrene was used to fabricate the roof and now a decision needs to be reached about its final topping. Since several of my other industrial structures have metal roofs (standing seam or corrugated) it would appear that it's between shingles or tar paper. Shingles could look great, but that's a lot of shingles! Again, thoughts anyone?</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The walls dress up pretty nice with a coat of a very dull auto primer and await some weathering. The roof will probably end up with a long clerestory or billboard-type signage to enhance its verticality. Window frames will be decided down the road once the structure's location and ultimate purpose is decided upon.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">So, what about the "something borrowed" part? Well this idea had rattled around in my head for a few years. I had always been intrigued with a little structure that I saw on Kip Grant's layout and a larger one on Tony Koester's. Turns out Kip had built a cut-down version of Walther's Leviathan Manufacturing, while Tony doubled it up. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I liked the rhythm that the windows and brickwork created. And the modest depth is perfect for a shelf layout. So I improvised using parts of a model that I always loved to get something similar to one I admire now. Kip and Tony's finished work is pictured below. My finished photos are still to come.</span><br />
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GO ... </span></em></strong><br />
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Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-73941584390344379742018-08-08T05:00:00.000-07:002018-08-08T05:47:13.858-07:00"Wordless Wednesday Wrap-up... Numero Uno"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">My relative reluctance to embrace the often-used feature, <em>"Wordless Wednesdays," </em>that many bloggers employ may have been evident in that I dipped my toe into the shallow end by running a photograph of ... words. But while I may have had my tongue firmly planted in cheek, I should provide an explanation of that signage, since I'm always asked about it... even if it is a year later!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">It's a sign that I made from some scraps that I had in the garage, most specifically old fence pickets that had been out in the weather for many years. When we replaced some sections of our 6' stockade style fencing, I saved a few pickets just in case I needed some here and there in the future. Well, the future has rapidly rushed by and at this point the next act regarding several hundred feet of fencing will be a total replacement. So little pickets, come to poppa.</span><br />
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">The homemade sign measures just under 8" x 60" and graces the more visible side of my workbench. It was designed and built quite quickly out in my garage workshop from entirely on-hand materials, with the exception of the letters.</span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: small;">I showcased the real imperfections of the pickets for 'character and realism.' The 3-1/2" high wood letters were purchased at Hobby Lobby and given a spray of flat black before being glued in place. I chickened out when considering whether to distress them.</span></em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong><em>I ran each of the four pickets down my table saw, ripping off the rounded face so three would lie flat against a 1/4" hardboard backing for easy gluing and screwing. The fourth was then further ripped into a suitably proportioned surrounding frame. The backside of each picket is what is actually visible.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong><em>Any clean edge of the frame that had been ripped on the saw was given an alcohol and ink wash and blended with the twenty year old fencing better than I could have hoped. </em></strong></span></div>
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Full disclosure here. I had originally planned to wash the background in white and the surrounding frame in black to more closely approximate a depot sign, but I decided against it for two reasons. <span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">One is that I really liked how this looked as is, especially in contrast against my workbench wall. And two is that I really, really didn't want to screw this up trying to weather and age at a 1:1 scale!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Overall though, I'm pleased with the result and the ambience it contributes to the train lounge. I have built a second, similar one from my last remaining pickets and am contemplating how to finish that, including lettering. But I promise to be more adventurous with that one whenever I do get around to it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> <strong><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>BONUS</em></span></strong>: <strong><em><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GO... </span></em></strong></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong><em></em></strong></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>Oooops!... seems that some careless CSX track construction caused flooding in this lovely historic town twice within a week. At least it's not on the order of Ellicott City's woes further down the line.</u></strong></span></div>
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Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-76840412183397260302018-08-03T10:00:00.000-07:002018-08-07T06:58:20.640-07:00"Too hip to be square?... Nope, that not be us!"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Has it really been a year? Well, it has been a rough one for our family, but nevertheless, I simply cannot let the <strong><em>Old Main</em></strong> <strong><em>Line</em></strong> reach "one year ago" on the blog list. So without further ado, allow me to actually post something that has been sitting offline in my drafts folder for quite sometime.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">The <u>Garden State Division</u> of the NMRA has conducted several meets featuring "works in progress" or WIPs that have been very popular for both clinicians and attendees. The low key, informal setting is relaxing for the clinician and extremely engaging for the attendee. A real win-win as they say.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Craig Bisgeier did a nice clinic on tools and techniques for kitbashing and scratchbuilding. But what really captured everyone's attention was the sanding square that he built to guarantee clean, square edges for cut materials.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The sanding jig is about 15" square and is predominantly made of 1/2" MDF. It relies on a glued block as a stop, or fence, set at a 90 degree angle to a sliding sander.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The H-shaped sliding sander sits inside a double track that is routed out of the MDF to guarantee an even, consistent sanding to the 90 degree fence.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Like an excited schoolboy at 3 pm, I dashed right home and built my own with a few modest variations in overall size and features using the same 1/2" MDF material. It's 12" square so I could maximize the use of a 24" x 48" piece of MDF.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Rather than routing out the MDF, I simply used two layers overall to create the tracks. All of the MDF pieces were glued and screwed together for a really strong and rigid bond. Plus I preferred the extra heft that the additional layering gave me for added stability.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>I used double sided tape to hold the sandpaper to the slider and actually used two different grades on the two sides for added flexibility.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>While squaring up corners is crucial in modeling structures, my main use will be in butting together multiple side pieces since I am replicating three major mill structures that require multiple kits to be kitbashed.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Since this was a relatively easy task, and since I had an excess of clear pine from assorted benchwork adventures, I decided to mass produce a dozen 8" x 8" sanding jigs. I used the leftover 1/2" MDF as a base and 3/4" clear pine for the sander and fence. In a moment of sheer madness, I gifted them <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>to my fellow GSD board members as a gesture of kindness.</em></strong></span></em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Even made a few for lefthanded modelers. We're a full service that aims to please!</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The underside shows the screw placement to hold the double layer. The four corner self-adhesive bumpers are reinforced with a dab of Goo for better adhesion.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">I believe that there are similar jigs available commercially, and knowing Craig, he probably just wanted to save a few bucks while sticking it to the man. But one must admit, it's a neat, little project. I'm considering a few options on how best to build a second sanding slider that will give me a 45 degree angle for corners.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">But that's it for now. Back to life's challenges. My hope is to have some energy to more regularly update this blog, because although postings have seriously lagged, work on the layout has only modestly been affected. Later!</span><br />
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GO ... </span></em></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><strong><u>We may live just 25 miles from the media capital of the world, but the editors of a local monthly may want to work on tweaking some of their headlines. Duh!... ya think?</u></strong></span></div>
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Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-54635772820469820252017-08-04T05:00:00.000-07:002017-08-22T07:44:49.202-07:00"Friendly Fridays... Franklin & South Manchester!"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">What better way to kick off Volume II of the <strong><em>Old Main Line</em></strong> than with a visit to everyone's bucket-list layout? George Sellios' Franklin & South Manchester in Peabody, MA, was on tap as part of a belated Father's Day weekend trip to Boston to see our little millennial. And as part of da-dee's festivities, wife and daughter happily joined in the half hour drive to a non-descript storefront on Main Street.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Anticipation mounted as we climbed the dark stairway to the second floor and then entered through a narrow hallway behind the layout's massive backdrop. But in turning the corner, the expanse of 23' x 42' cityscape revealed itself. The more than 600 detailed structures and extensive scenery was both breathtaking, but overwhelming too. Was I really here, finally? Where should I look first?</span><br />
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">There's no mistaking the Sellios aesthetic of a dense and dilipated, depression era urban setting of exquisitely crafted structures.</span></em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The ladies were absolutely blown away by the scope and detail. They especially liked the 3-D scissor sign, but I noted George's nod to his childhood favorite, American Flyer Trains.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>A deeply religious man, I'm betting that the paint company sign is one of George's little inside jokes. I also suspect that his use of ivy is not out of necessity like it is for many of us.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>George says that he wore out the pages of MODEL RAILROADER and was most influenced as a young modeler by masters Frank Ellison and John Allen. He learned his lessons well.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Nothing hidden here... This is the way visible, sceniced staging is handled on the F&SM!</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The entire layout is kept clean by its skirting which is pulled up and attached to hooks in the valence when not on display. George says that open houses create the most dust.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The detailed scenes never end. This is one of my favorite ones depicting the depression era. Three Stooges fans should note the tailor shop sign... more subtle than other structures like the not-pictured I.M. Boren Company or R.U. Bawnegan building.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>George said that the F&SM has no access hatches even though it is very deep throughout. He relies extensively on the Topside Creeper to reach in, but also swears that he sometimes hangs from the supports above the dropped ceiling and works upside down. I still feel like he was pulling my leg on that one, but a religious man wouldn't do that to me, would he?</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Here's a tenement row that would make Earl Smallshaw proud, complete with the requisite balconies and hanging laundry pushed up tight to the tracks.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Allegedly a Batman figurine is planted somewhere in the detailed layout which we could not find in person, nor in the 100+ photos that the three of us took. I assume that such a device is a good trick to help visitors focus on the micro rather than the macro.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Want to do eroded roadways and faded signage? Look and learn, people. Look and learn!</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Whoa, wait a minute. What's that middle building doing here? Isn't that the old Atlas/AHM/Tyco Burns Engineering Company? Looks like George fancied it up with a scratchbuilt roof and customary debris. I reckon we can let him slide on this one.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Here's the man himself explaining how he does what he does. The former Minnesota Twins farmhand started Fine Scale Miniatures in 1966 and then the layout about 20 years later.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>My pick up line, "Hey babe, wanna be in my blog?</em></strong></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>" went nowhere with this hot chick. "Better watch it," she deadpanned. "I'm married to a crazy man." Ouch! That's harsh.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Gina, Kendall and I spent a couple of hours marveling at the workmanship and chatting with the shy craftsman. A proud customer of his brought in a completed diorama of the final FSM kit, I.M. Dunn coal yard. George studied it carefully, looking at it from different angles. The new retiree then proclaimed, <em>"It's perfect... better than mine." </em>High praise indeed!... and very classy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">The Franklin & South Manchester is open one Saturday morning most months. Photos are obviously allowed, as are smart-ass wives, but small children are not. Admission is $5.00. Afterwards, we concluded that two visits are really recommended. The first is just to get one's bearings and take in the overall scope. The second is when you can really relax and appreciate the individual scenes. We look forward to a return in the not-too-distant future... to find Batman!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">But it was time to say goodbye and thank George for everything he has meant to the hobby. Now, on back to my daughter's north end neighborhood for a nice Italian meal and then one more stop that evening for another first. This was shaping up to be one heck of a day!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><u><span style="font-family: "georgia";">Another bucket list item checked. Fenway Park and the Green Mon-stah on a beautiful summer night. And we got to see the ump toss Sawx manager John Farrell for a tirade that was wicked awesome.</span></u></strong></span></div>
Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-91937972651413780382017-08-02T05:00:00.000-07:002017-08-04T19:26:07.455-07:00"Wordless Wednesday... Numero Uno!"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-large;"> <em><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">BONUS: JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GO ... </span></em></span></strong><br />
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Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-24872268636979661972016-07-31T09:00:00.000-07:002016-08-02T08:44:34.110-07:00"Again?... A Sunday Morning's Rude Awakening."<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">An unwelcome text came in from our friend in Maryland early this morning with news and video of the overnight flooding in Ellicott City. Readers of this blog know that this has been a <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/06/a-most-unfortunate-anniversary-of-sorts.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">habitual problem</span></a> for the area and it is what ultimately rendered the <strong><em>Old Main Line </em></strong>all but obsolete.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The National Weather Service reported that more than s</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ix</span> inches of rain fell in less than three hours. More than five inches fell within 90 minutes! It has been deemed, <em>"a thousand year storm."</em> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The charming downtown is built on the side of a hill and its main street runs from top to bottom, punctuating with a meet at the Patapsco River. Higher hills on each side of Main Street funnel all water run-off onto it. This area, pictured in happier times, suffered significant damage.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Twenty four hours later damage was still being assessed. This stretch of Main Street is considerably higher than the area adjacent to the Patapsco River. It did not escape harm.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/severe-damage-after-flooding-maryland-n620416"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">News</span></a> is still filtering in about the extent of the devastation. Two deaths have been reported so far. Our family is absolutely gutted, having visited this historic place so many times and always enjoying our interaction with the friendly residents and shopkeepers. Prayers!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">BTW, for more photos of Ellicott City and its downtown architecture, see my post on <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/08/modeling-using-selective-representation.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">selective representation</span></a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><strong><u>UPDATE: August 1, 2016</u></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Buddy David Olesen sent this update from the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/07/31/video-and-photo-horrific-flooding-in-ruined-ellicott-city-md/?tid=a_inl"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Washington Post</span></a>. The videos emphasize the danger and helplessness that powerful, cascading water presents. The damage is such that there is now the very real fear that some of the historic buildings may not survive. EC will never be the same. So heartbreaking.</span><br />
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Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-11937486347361915212016-07-29T12:00:00.000-07:002016-08-04T07:44:40.957-07:00"Friendly Fridays... Cheshire Branch Revisited."<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">On one of several recent trips to Boston to help our college graduate settle into her <em>"second floor closet with natural sunlight"</em> in the city's historic north end, I had the opportunity to ultimately rendezvous with Jim Dufour and check on his progress. I hadn't visited in about three years and I was long overdue.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">After a fortuitous meet at a nearby grade crossing, I arrived and we got right down to business... cold beers and gossip, plus a quick check of some workbench projects. But it was the work one level below that I was most anxious to see.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">I have featured many images of the <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/05/friendly-fridays-b-cheshire-branch.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Cheshire Branch</span></a>, some from my original visit, but many received <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2016/03/damn-it-get-up-you-can-sleep-on-beach.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">via email</span></a>, and I was excited to see the updates in-person. Aside from the expected rave reviews, one dominant impression struck me repeatedly. Jim's mainline 'rolled,' gradually climbing and descending around the layout, meeting at its run-through staging, despite his protestations that it was level. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><em>"At least it's supposed to be,"</em> he pleaded.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Like my New Year's trip to Sykesville, I was one pick-up truck away from perfection as a CSX local rumbled by on the former B&M Worcester-Ayer line one block from Jim's residence. Alas, I did miss the motive power hauling a real assortment of graffiti-covered cars but there were some genuine blasts-from-the-past like this yellow one...</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>... and this blue one! (BTW, great prototype photo for aging roads.)</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Jim's handiwork is exceptional and it comes from a modest table set up in his kitchen with nice sunlight. Here, my beer dwarfs the gas tanks for a fuel facility that he will be installing. Note the naked little people on the napkin that Jim is in the process of dressing.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><em><strong>The undulations of the terrain and the crossing lines of the track, road and river not only convey the impression that the railroad is not flat, it creates an illusion that the track is most definitely undulating itself.</strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>I know that land forms built above and below track grade disguise the fact of a level railroad, but Jim's somehow goes beyond that, forcing the viewer to accept that the track is either gradually ascending or descending.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>I got you now! I actually used my iPhone's level app to prove that this stretch north of Troy was climbing. It wasn't.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">We ran a couple of trains and I enjoyed the perceived rolling undulations. And then it was off to a local pub for New England clam chowder and a lobster roll. What else? But even over a nice meal, Jim couldn't explain how he had created such an illusion. I wish he could because I would like to steal it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-30-</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GO... </span></em></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>A photo may be deceptive, but it's just as deceiving in person. C'mon now, tell me that the track isn't gradually climbing as it weaves through the cuts and curls around the end of the peninsula in the foreground.</em></strong></span></div>
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Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-77167231364466850182016-06-09T17:00:00.000-07:002016-07-11T18:10:32.942-07:00"Just what the doctor ordered... 500mg of Fukitol!"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">If you read Marty McGuirk's <a href="http://centralvermontrailway.blogspot.com/2016/06/new-england-rpm-day-1.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Central Vermont Railway</span></a> blog, then you already know about Randy Laframboise's <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/06/friendly-fridays-rutland-road.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Rutland Road</span></a> presentation at the recent NERPM... and his reliance on 500mg of Fukitol in designing and building his very large multi-deck layout with Mike Sparks. (So, that's how they do it!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But that was just one of the many humorous, yet insightful, moments presented at this annual event. In that vein, Mike Rose detailed how he can delicately fine-tune benchwork with a reciprocating saw and Kip Grant showed his radio roots by imitating the sound of an RS-3 in start-up mode. And of course, there were no shortage of wife anecdotes from various presenters that gave support and comfort to a room full of basement-dwelling model railroaders.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Several hundred attendees had 3-4 clinics to choose from in each of the seven slots from early morning through late evening this past Friday and Saturday. Here Neil Schofield discusses his latest layout and some quick scenery techniques to a rapt audience.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Marty McGuirk presented a nice piece on his latest layout efforts focusing especially on fall scenery and backdrops. He recounted that several areas have been redone on multiple occasions. (Music to my ears!) Plus, I got to finally meet Marty face-to-face after several years of only on-line communication.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Who knew there was such a story about those two nuns loitering in downtown Sonnyvale on Kip Grant's <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/08/friendly-fridays-d-sonnyvale-branch.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">D&H branchline</span></a>? In addition, he recounted a story of a modeler who had seen his GMR 2011 article and called to ask for a visit. "Hi Kip, you don't know me, but my name is Dick Elwell..." Good stuff!</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Moving the meet from the senior citizen's center in Collinsville, CT to the Holiday Inn in Enfield, CT provided many advantages, not the least of which was a larger room for vendors and model displays. This photo captures about one half of the space which was filled with plenty to gawk at between clinics. Truth be told though, the lighting could have been better in this room. Or is that my age rearing it's ugly head?</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>A tremendous amount of motive power and rolling stock was on display illustrating various talents in building, modifying and weathering including <a href="http://www.theweatheringshop.com/butch.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Butch Eyler's</span></a> graffiti-filled goodies. Fellow bloggers <a href="http://algonquinrailway.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Ryan Mendall</span></a> and <a href="http://elgincarshops.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Pierre Oliver</span></a>, plus <a href="http://www.theweatheringshop.com/jered.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Jered Slusser</span></a>, had similarly very nice displays which my terrible photos unfortunately do no justice.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>This HO scale scratchbuilt structure was the unofficial fan favorite of the meet and builder Ron Poidomani's presentation explained his process from design to finishing details, including interior LED lighting and weathering techniques. It is breathtaking.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>I regrettably missed this clinic in order to heckle Kip Grant in his, but heard that it was very well-done. Likewise, I had to attend Jersey buddy Ted Pamperin's <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/04/friendly-fridays-c-new-river-division.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">C&O New River Division</span></a> in lieu of Chris Adams' presentation on his <a href="http://blog.thevalleylocal.net/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">New Haven branch line</span></a>. Decisions, decisions!</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>And of course food was a highlight, although I did not expect braised short ribs, truffled mac and cheese and fresh asparagus washed down with some local IPAs. This certainly beat a burger and beer, four-fold, which was about the cost ratio.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">A word of thanks and congratulations to Dave Owens and his crew at the <a href="http://nerpm.org/galleries.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">NERPM</span></a>. A great time and wonderful event! What I've presented is just a fraction of the weekend's events. So many other clinics and model displays could have been covered here, but I'm certain that they will be in other blogs, websites, etc. Click on the above for photo galleries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">And a sincere thanks to my roomie, Jim Dufour, who shared great banter and some real neat discussion about theory and philosophy in constructing his prototype. His presentation on detailing the B&M's <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/05/friendly-fridays-b-cheshire-branch.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Cheshire Branch</span></a> was a highlight. The NERPM is just few miles down the road from the annual Springfield show. If you can get to this region for that, you should do the same for this event. You'll be happy that you did. Cheers!</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GO... </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Although I'm not quite ready to pull a George Costanza and declare, "I'm back, baby," the NERPM was a needed shot in the arm for me and hopefully will get me going again. Just what the doctor ordered!</span></u></strong></div>
Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-11715258377346771692016-04-01T00:00:00.000-07:002016-04-01T07:25:58.143-07:00"One year anniversary... and the need for speed!"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Well, one full year with the blog, and my critically definitive review is, <em>"Meh." </em>My goal was to present well-written, entertaining and informative pieces on model railroading in an attractive format. But with an average of less than one comment per post, stagnant membership and declining viewership (except in France!), I have to be honest and acknowledge something less than success... although it was a good creative outlet and a fine way to document my missteps in attempting to build a layout. Stuff happens. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Blah, blah, blah.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">I am fortunate however, that a really neat hobby shop is right here in my town specializing in slot car racing, which may be more my speed, so to speak. <a href="http://www.njhobby.net/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">NJ Nostalgia Hobby</span></a> is an institution in the slot car community and racing nights are not all that different from operating sessions. Just faster, friendlier and much more inclusive. The store's track is nice, but I am installing a more significant one at home, necessitating some big changes in the basement. We started this week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The store's track is about 5' x 16'. I'm installing one that will fill my 15' x 35' 'finished' area where my lounge, office and workspace had been. They have all been moved to an empty bedroom upstairs. The current train room will remain as is, at least for the time being.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Anyone who has ever visited, knows the 6'-3" ceiling height is problematic. So to negate that and add overall resale value to our home, we are replacing the existing slab floor with one that is 14" lower. I took a day to gut the room and then had a crew come in to begin excavation. In this shot, some wall framing and the baseboard heating units sit in dust awaiting removal to the dumpster. Several neighbors will be using much of the crushed concrete for dry well's in their backyards saving me considerably in disposal costs. Nice!</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>It's a noisy, dusty job, so my wife and the pups visited the in-laws on eastern Long Island for a few days. I am reminded that a client of mine did this in his old Victorian to create a nice basement play area for his kids. It came out great! But the real genesis for this came from a casual comment from a buddy about an issue I had detailed in an earlier <span id="goog_1274327379"></span><a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/11/noodling-can-entry-gate-be-salvaged.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">post<span id="goog_1274327380"></span></span></a> here. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The trickiest part of the entire job is the initial chipping away of the slab that sits atop the foundation footing. Once that is done, excavating commences and a new footing is poured to undercut the original one. I am fortunate that we have a bulk head exit so all materials and debris could easily be transported, relatively speaking. The sunken 14" area will be accessed by two 7" steps. Can't wait to frame and sheetrock the walls!</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">So, that be that. The railroad was probably a tough ask for a first-timer like me, with no right-hand man, no experienced wing man, or go-to guy to help with the myriad of questions that I had at every step. Not sure what will happen in the train room, but right now I want to race... and I definitely won't be blogging about it. Well, probably about time to hand in the ol' NMRA card and save a few bucks. RPM has a whole new meaning now. Be well everyone. It's been real.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-30-</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GO... </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Sweeeeet, and no PanPastels needed!... BTW, look out for fools who may prank you this April day. Don't you just hate those guys? Cheers!</span></u></strong></div>
Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-64452165017989704682016-03-26T05:00:00.000-07:002016-03-26T15:29:34.612-07:00"Damn it, get up!... You can sleep on the beach!"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The ladies of the household dragged me to Mexico's Riviera Maya last week so I could reprise my role in, <em>"You're so annoying."</em> Far be it for me to say, but I don't understand the logic of waking at dawn to secure a prime beach chair under a hut out of the sun, then slathering on sun block from head to toe for protection from said sun, before dozing off for much of the day. I could achieve the same result staying in my air conditioned room, with a lot less fuss and a lot more ESPN. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Whatever the case, I reluctantly experienced the beach ambience with my wife and daughter while a favorite <a href="http://www.rpmvalleyforge.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">RPM</span></a> commenced in Malvern, PA. No clinics, no models, no layouts, no nothing. Just a bunch of topless European women on holiday with, and I'm guessing here, no interest whatsoever in model railroading. But I did get a hobby fix via an email thread that I will unabashedly share here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Jim Dufour enlisted the help of the visiting Randy Laframboise to complete some river scenes on his <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/05/friendly-fridays-b-cheshire-branch.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">B&M Cheshire Branch</span></a>. Due to the river's slope, they chose Golden Polymer Medium to pour into the previously modeled river beds, per Glenn Glasstetter's advice.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Tony Koester commented that New England's cleaner waterways present more of a modeling challenge than the Midwest or central Appalachian regions which merely require that modelers fill the undetailed basins with plaster and paint them pea-soup green, before building up layers of gloss medium. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>While the acrylic gel was easy to work with for Jim and Randy, Bernie Kempinski reminded all of the anxiety of dealing with the alternative two-part resin option. He suggests that the most reliable and most foolproof is Magic Water from Unreal Details.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Jim referred to Randy as <em>"ever fearless." </em>in his email.<em> </em>Kip Grant beat everyone else to the quip, <em>"It's easy to be fearless when it's someone else's layout!"</em> Truth is, we all recognize Randy's talent and his willingness to help, not to mention his ability to throw good-natured verbal jabs of his own when he spots an opening. For today, we'll just say that Dairy Boy done good here, real good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Well, this is post numero 75 for this blog and it seems like a good number to finish up with as the one year anniversary is a week away. I'll be back on that special day with one more entry. Thanks everyone. We'll see you then.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-30-</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GO... </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">My daughter, Senorita Wise-Ass, suggested that I post this photo from the local OTC farmacia as a public service to all modelers.</span></u></strong></div>
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Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-31555954116785519052016-03-10T12:00:00.000-08:002016-03-26T19:02:47.537-07:00"Modeling using selective orientation..."<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Back in August, I wrote about a design and modeling concept that I referred to as <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/08/modeling-using-selective-representation.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">selective representation</span></a>. I concluded that it is just one aspect of the overall collective idea of selective compression. Now, I'd like to suggest combining that component with what I term, selective orientation. It's about the idea of necessary compromises to re-orient a structure relative to its relationship with the track, or the track's relationship with the benchwork footprint as mandated by room constraints. Everyone still on board so far?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">As I play with track arrangements on my completed sub-roadbed, and continually fine-tune my drawings, I realize just how much of a challenge that selective orientation will be on my shelf layout. The photos below tell the story best.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The flour mill at Ellicott City bears off the main at a fairly sharp angle and crosses the river. The building itself is u-shaped and surrounds two spurs making operations difficult for my 1:1 crew. The angle can be reduced, but the building components may need to be staggered to allow decent access for visiting operators switching cars.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>At Ellicott City, the track and Patapsco River travel east-west while the distinctive main thoroughfare climbs a hill in a north-south direction. Rotating that perpendicular relationship into more of a parallel one is the only way to depict any portion of the town, even when taking advantage of the depth that an inside corner of the benchwork offers.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>One half mile up the river, around a horseshoe bend that would be best suited at the end of my peninsula is the Dickey textile mill in Oella. Alas, too many other layout design factors mandated that Oella end up along a straight portion of the benchwork, but that is the least of my worries. The structure is t-shaped and accepts a spur almost perpendicular to the mainline and river. This would work nicely if my shelf was about 42" deep!</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The Dickey mill will need to be selectively represented predicated on its dominant window and brick fenestration, but re-oriented 90 degrees to fit the 20" deep benchwork. The sharp angle will be reduced so the spur can run alongside the front of the structure rather than the side. So exactly when is it that we enter no-longer-prototypical territory?</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The Daniels mill complex is distinctive by the horseshoe curve of the river and the massive original building set perpendicular to the mainline. Like at Ellicott City and Oella, Daniels' spurs are severe and surrounded by structure causing headaches for humans bearing uncoupling skewers. And no one wants to be around a frustrated human wielding a skewer.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>This axonometric drawing from the early 1900's shows the two original spurs, including a coal trestle, that bear off at about 45 degrees from the main. A third spur was present in 1960 and cut straight across the front of the original building into a 'well' created by the expanded complex. It is evident in the photo above.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Like so many aspects of building a prototype-based layout, compromises become the devil in the details. We continually try to determine the least of the necessary evils. How can we best determine what must be done, and what might be done without compromising things too much? Go too far, for whatever reason, and the layout becomes nothing more than the equivalent of a cheap made-for-television murder mystery, <em>"based on actual events."</em></span><br />
<em><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span></em><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">I guess we'll see as we move forward. My very first <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/04/finally-final-track-plan.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">track plan</span></a> shows my earliest attempt at dealing with each of these LDEs. Some modifications are forthcoming. But for now, work and life in general will waylay me for awhile. See you a bit later, but please comment with your own layout design experiences.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-30-</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GO... </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Check out the 2016 issue of Model Railroad Planning for a feature on the <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/06/friendly-fridays-rutland-road.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Rutland Railroad</span></a> layout by Randy Laframboise and Mike Sparks that was a very popular post here last summer. Congratulations, boys!</span></u></strong></div>
Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-9702453534720784222016-03-04T09:00:00.000-08:002016-03-26T15:30:27.261-07:00"Have I become the Jerry Lewis... of railroaders?"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I enjoy a good joke as much as anyone, and if it's at my expense, so much the better... usually! I do not take myself, or anyone else, too seriously. But I don't care for unsolved mysteries very much, and there's one that's got me befuddled. Perhaps a fellow blogger or computer savvy reader can help.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Various statistics are available to bloggers regarding their viewership, including country of origin. For the first ten months of this blog's existence, American visitors dominated, accounting for about 75% of all views. Canadians comprised about 15%, Brits 5% and the rest of the world the remaining 5%. No surprises there. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">But in the past month, French viewership has rivaled that of American... and there is no rhyme or reason to it. It's defies any rationale.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Goofy American comic Jerry Lewis enjoys an unrivaled popularity in France to the point that he was named to the country's Legion of Honor. His work on behalf of the Muscular Dystrophy Association is legendary. He has even earned a Nobel Peace Prize nomination. But to many Americans, first and foremost, he'll always be the Nutty Professor!</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">I do not mean to denigrate Mr. Lewis or the French people, but I can not determine what about my blog should be so appealing to a Francophile. I have on occasion used French phrases and even once mentioned the Tour de France in my <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/06/playing-with-trains-and-understanding.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Sam Posey</span></a> post, but that simply can't be it. Have hundreds of avid readers collectively relocated to the Cote d'Azur? That would be neat, but doubtful.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Last night at 10 pm EST here in north central New Jersey, there was a greater French audience than American and it was 4 am on the Champs Elysee! Is my blog the sure-fire cure for, how do you say, snooty insomniacs? <em>"Mon dieu!"</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Google support has assured me that this cannot be a glitch. Of course not. But then why am I identified as <em>"a visitor from Sugarland, Texas"</em> whenever I click on other blogs? That's a suburb of Houston, more than 1,600 miles from my basement laptop. Anyone? What am I missing?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><strong><u>UPDATE: March 7, 2016</u></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Once again, at 9:45 pm EST, only five views are currently logged in from the United States and 25 views are supposedly logged in from France, where it is 3:45 in the morning! In the past month, more views have allegedly come from France than the US, while in the first ten months of this blog, US views outnumbered those from France by a rate of 6:1. Someone has some real 'splaining to do. This is ridiculous, but enough about this. More model railroading up in our next post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-30-</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GO... </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><u>"I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now... and not defer nor neglect it."</u> - Jerry Lewis</span></strong></div>
Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-44706757312748934582016-02-27T10:00:00.000-08:002016-03-26T15:30:46.986-07:00"Annoying tasks... and life's little victories."<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There were a number of projects that I had been putting off, but absolutely had to address prior to laying track. The time had come to man-up. I wasn't looking forward to any of these because they were either frustratingly redundant, annoyingly messy or inevitably tricky... with the real chance of real damage.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">The entire backdrop had taken a beating from the installation and removal of the upper deck. Patched screw holes and various marks and gouges were touched up and the result was a blotched backdrop. Attempts to feather the discolorations into a varied sky only exacerbated the issue. A new coat of the entire backdrop was required, and completed. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Job one, annoying, but easy and done. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">But the bigger tasks awaited. Because the bench work was built at a uniform 20" depth, it ultimately did not provide the necessary space required for one of my Layout Design Elements. But simply extending the bench work wasn't the issue. The <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-deal-i-couldnt-refuse-jersey-style.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">lighting system</span></a> had to follow the edge of the bench work. So despite my earlier claims that I was never, ever again going to address the lighting assembly, there was no avoiding it. I did have a plan. In theory, it should work. Let's see.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>With the freshly painted backdrop complete, the repositioning of a 12' length of lighting was taken on. Two sections of valence were carefully removed and short lengths of wiring were unclipped in each corner to create some slack.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The 12' length of 1" x 3" was disconnected at the corners from its counterparts, the ceiling clips were loosened and the entire unit was slid forward by about 5" until the clips hit a cross-member of the grid system. The now-excess frame and rear reflective valence had to be cut in place using a circular saw, held upside down without damaging the ceiling grid.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The 1" x 3" frames were reconnected in each corner, the reflective rear valences were reinstalled, the corner light bulb was repositioned and excess wire was looped. No way was I pulling the cable tight by repositioning more than two dozen sockets. Good ee-nuff!</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The bench work below was then extended by 7" along the 12' length with two identical 6' long 1" x 3" grid frames fabricated from my disassembled helix frame. They were generously screwed together to create a 27" deep foundation for the Ellicott City area.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Because there was slight deflection at the joint of the grid sections, additional 27" long 1" x 2" lengths were 'sistered' under each cross member creating a more rigid arrangement. Alas, there is no shortage of 1" x 2" lumber on hand from the former second deck. Even with the 7" extension, the aisle is still a comfortable 32" wide opposite the end of the peninsula.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">To untrained eyes, like those of my wife and daughter's, it may appear that no progress has occurred. But I can readily attest that seldom has the appearance that nothing has changed been so rewarding. As annoying as everything was, the tasks got done with no real complicating issues. No damage, no injuries and a minimal amount of cussing. The valence was trimmed and reinstalled with no need to touch it up. Victory!... but seriously, I really am so sick of sawdust.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-30-</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em> BONUS: JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GO... </em></strong></span></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">The crew did lend moral support... while awaiting their puppy chow.</span></u></strong></div>
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Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-91037262626981253122016-02-19T10:00:00.000-08:002016-03-26T15:31:05.501-07:00"Friendly Fridays... Hello again, old friend!"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I guess I have a love-hate relationship with <u>Model Railroader</u> magazine. On the one hand, we go way back to my formative years in the hobby when I was gleaning everything I possibly could and was attracted to every era, every geographic locale and every road name. But things evolve and readers like me begin to define our likes and dislikes and move from novice to something beyond.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">I have subscribed on and off for years and just signed up after going MR-free in 2015. I do not envy editors and publishers of print media in this day and age of online overload where every yahoo (pun intended) can allegedly disseminate expert information, helpful advice or entertaining anecdotes to anyone who will listen via blogs, websites, YouTube, Facebook, etc. (Yes, I do see the irony here!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">But <u>Model Railroader</u> marches on, trying to appeal to newcomers while holding on to established hobbyists. It can't be easy. And losing a beloved icon like Andy Sperandeo recently doesn't help. But a new columnist has been named to carry on the monthly operations feature and he's a real good, knowledgeable guy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>It was good to hold the magazine in my hands again, but immediately based on the cover and bonus insert, I wondered if my interests had passed it by... or was MR trying to tell me something? But there was neat news inside. A buddy was becoming a regular columnist.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>New operations columnist Jerry Dziedzic (center) joined our road trip a few years back. Here Jim Dalberg appears to be selling something at Kip Grant's <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/08/friendly-fridays-d-sonnyvale-branch.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">D&H Sonnyvale Branch</span></a> that Jerry just isn't buying. But Jerry's true entertainment value on that trip was seeing him wind up Tony Koester over each night's dining arrangements... just for the fun of it.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Jerry's own basement empire is the multi-deck HO scale New York, Susquehanna & Western that fully occupies the approximate 25' x 40' space. His three staging areas are in a separate room that is about the size of my entire layout! It is fully operational and awaiting scenery. The design and fabrication of his unique pivot-lift-gates using drawer glides mounted vertically was featured in the May 2014 issue of <u>Model Railroader</u>.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">I haven't known Jerry too long and haven't spent that much time with him. But the time we have had together has always been very enjoyable, whether it's that <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/04/friendly-fridays-road-trip.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">road trip</span></a>, or operating on the Susquehanna or just having craft beers and Jersey cheese steaks at the historic inn down the road from his home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">He is currently helping me with some roadbed decisions I need to make which I expect to cover in a future post. But for now, I wish my newer friend the best in his exciting endeavor. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Jerry's column will debut in the April 2016 issue of that older friend. Check it out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-30-</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GO... </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Jerry is a retired chemical engineer who winters in </span></u></strong><strong><u><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Colorado </span></u></strong><strong><u><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">with </span></u></strong><strong><u><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">his </span></u></strong><strong><u><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">wife Laura. They serve as guides with the Breckenridge Ski School and are very active in the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance. He thoughtfully sent along a photo of <em>"the view from my office"</em>... Nice!</span></u></strong></div>
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Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-78411156601836412822016-02-04T14:00:00.000-08:002016-02-18T18:26:18.400-08:00"Like the man said... It's deja vu all over again."<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I am not in the habit of quoting the late New York Yankee catcher, Yogi Berra. But as I embarked on installing 150 risers, it was not lost on me that I had done this once before for the original <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/04/onward-and-upward-risers-and-sub-roadbed.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">single deck</span></a>, then <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/05/im-converting-but-still-saying-my.html">removed them</a></span> all, before re-installing taller risers to cantilever my ill-fated <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-plan-seems-to-be-working.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">second deck</span></a>. That sentiment seemed so perfectly descriptive, even for a New York Mets fan.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">So let's see. One hundred and fifty risers at two screws per riser... installed, removed, installed, removed, installed. That's 1,500 tweaks of the drill in all of the same locations. If that ain't <em>"deja vu all over again,"</em> I don't know what is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The very original single deck sat on benchwork that rested on a ledger strip about 44" above the floor. Five inch risers, plus the 1" Gatorboard brought the track height to 50" and nicely met the styrene backdrop in corners and along the peninsula.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The benchwork had been dropped about 5" to accommodate the ill-advised second deck, so new risers had to be used to make up the difference. Seventy five 17" risers from that second deck were reused, cut in half and mounted using jigs, so that they'd be plumb and level.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>By using a block clamped in my table saw to assure that all cuts were 8-1/2" and by using jigs that aligned those risers with the bottom of the 1" x 3" benchwork, I theoretically should have risers that extend 6" and are even with one another. My level confirmed that, for once, theory and practice were in harmony... AKA "even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes!"</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The new risers still leave the deck about 4" below the styrene backdrops in corners and along the peninsula, but land forms should be able to hide the issue. Of course an added bonus to my venture into multi-deck land is that I now have twice as many lengths of Gator Board that are all two narrow to 'cover' the full depth of the single deck. But again, the issue should be minimized with varying land forms and all of the hacking and stacking to come.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">So the long, strange journey from single deck to multi-deck and back again, has cost me more than a year and has left me with a track height of 46" instead of the originally planned 50". Not the end of the world, but frustrating as all get out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-30-</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GO... </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Friends and visitors often tease about my benchwork being "too nice to cover up"... apparently I have taken their comments too literally!</span></u></strong></div>
Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-10039789069406747382016-01-30T10:00:00.000-08:002016-01-30T14:47:35.398-08:00"Forecasts are like layouts... subject to change!"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Aided by warming temperatures, we have finally dug out from the recent blizzard. Somehow weather models continually showed that our region would get between 8-12" of snow right up until we had actually gotten 8-12" of snow. Then, forecasters adjusted the likely totals to 18-24". </span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Ultimately, television news reported</span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"> that my town in north central New Jersey got 28 unexpected inches of the white stuff. Not exactly spot-on. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Weather forecasters to the public, <em>"Our bad!"</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">But the unexpected is very expected in our hobby. We all know adjustments, revisions and the like are an ongoing adventure when it comes to track plans and other design issues. So I used last week's snow day to finally take on a task of which I was not particularly excited... mounting my flat screen to the wall to accommodate plans for a once-and-for-all revised staging area.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The flat screen was raised nearly a foot when detached from its base and mounted to the wall. Staging can now utilize both ends of the 18' wall at 46" high and 18" deep. The bureau will be relocated to another part of the room. New benchwork will mimic that from the layout room and hold the various A/V boxes with all wiring being concealed. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>A view from an earlier post on my new workbench shows the former position of the flat screen. Viewing from all three of my work stations is now enhanced as an added bonus.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">The actual mounting was tricky, but I won't bore with the details. Suffice to say that nothing is as easy as one would hope. Eventually I did get the flat screen positioned and it continues to stay in place! Its final positioning has now determined my track height of 46" and the location of a wall penetration.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Much more on this as we go forward. For now, risers are being re-installed on the benchwork and a track plan is being prepared for a post that will better detail staging. See you shortly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-30-</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GO... </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Remember our lesson for the day, boys and girls. Mulligans exist not only in golf, but in weather forecasting and model railroading.</span></u></strong></div>
Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-11529064811812737912016-01-22T19:00:00.000-08:002016-01-23T07:29:53.283-08:00"From the land of pleasant living... Part deux"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">While we await the approaching blizzard that our local media has been excitedly forecasting for the past week, I am mixed with childish anticipation for a good snow storm and the more mature nervous anxiety from memories of several power outages during the past few years. Either way, it may be wise to get a new post published while it's still relatively calm here.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">This will be short and sweet. My previous post on period ads and brand logos generated considerable emails, so here's a few more.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQklbzwbTKyzGzplYq2iGXB3sMG_OSAfEWoTxr1-vID4K3kyyS-lO5fV5u7bg_yna4BvjNdPD-0n2KkHek0d7iwQsJCq8taP746lVwAfDuNWJD2NMxsH1Se9dHW8DPyzYvU1Ytd1IQG1io/s1600/Natty+Bo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQklbzwbTKyzGzplYq2iGXB3sMG_OSAfEWoTxr1-vID4K3kyyS-lO5fV5u7bg_yna4BvjNdPD-0n2KkHek0d7iwQsJCq8taP746lVwAfDuNWJD2NMxsH1Se9dHW8DPyzYvU1Ytd1IQG1io/s640/Natty+Bo+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>One can never have enough 'Natty Bo.' A circular sign plastered to the side of a structure always looks neat, and unlike a Coke sign for instance, this brand has local chops.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>I'm not too concerned if any image is fuzzy or faded. When reduced and weathered, I suspect they'll be just fine. I like this one due to the inclusion of Baltimore, Maryland.</em></strong></span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">While I dissed Gunther Beer in my previous post, I actually uncovered quite a bit of their images and will find a way to afford them some equal time on the layout.</span></em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Again, I'm not too worried about the fuzziness, but love the Baltimore, MD.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Another circular sign for a general store. But this 'Frostie' may be poorly timed right now.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Somehow I'm not sure come tomorrow whether I'm thinking that 'Frostie' is a good thing. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">That's it for now. Hopefully mother nature will provide only a modest distraction that will yield some hobby time, but we'll see. The basement actually had a minor change in infrastructure this week that will accommodate a new staging arrangement. Photos shortly, followed by some track drawings. Stay warm.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-30-</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GO... </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">The battle of the Baltimore beer trucks! I may have to go with this one over last week's National Bohemian truck. Opinions anyone?</span></u></strong><br />
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Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-66692784369339124552016-01-16T12:00:00.000-08:002016-01-22T18:19:05.180-08:00"From the land of pleasant living..."<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I'm rather envious of how productive some of my fellow bloggers have been recently. For me, traditional holiday activity, combined with ongoing family needs, has pretty much negated any opportunity to really dig into meaningful work in the basement. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">But I did steal some time recently on the computer to do some additional research on Baltimore and surrounding areas in 1960. I was most interested in confirming popular local brands from that time for use as layout signage and for ambience in the lounge area. Significant identifiers such as beers, soft drinks, restaurants, TV/radio and professional teams seemed like good places to start.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUZVn5QJTNVBnv04ejkRfr3lCvB11CYszP9irsfAUuv936pUE9shj9cmWVKADn1J6ioF2ioYIIDrKXA4d_uUGJVaZ8tmUt7S2CeneJKhR00S4QkrKLJfo_hve5hAn2NBiXdZFg2nfDWIw/s1600/Natty+Bo+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUZVn5QJTNVBnv04ejkRfr3lCvB11CYszP9irsfAUuv936pUE9shj9cmWVKADn1J6ioF2ioYIIDrKXA4d_uUGJVaZ8tmUt7S2CeneJKhR00S4QkrKLJfo_hve5hAn2NBiXdZFg2nfDWIw/s640/Natty+Bo+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">'Natty Bo' is the local beer of choice, then and now. The iconic mustachioed character immediately identifies the brand. I think that this could make a great billboard.</span></em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Another version of the beer's advertising features a different tag line, but one I think is so evocative of an earlier, simpler time. Alas, I must identify which slogan was used in 1960. I am really hoping that it is this wonderfully innocent one, "from the land of pleasant living."</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>If National Bohemian, sponsors of the football Colts, could be, "Oh boy, what a beer!" then competitor Gunther might as well be, "G, what a wonderful beer!" They sponsored the baseball Orioles, but do not seem to have been much of a factor in the beer market.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Frostie root beer was a very popular regional drink in 1960. I suspect that a little bit of Photoshop work could make this a really neat metal sign adhered to the side of a general store or feed distributor for instance.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The only one real radio station in Baltimore back in the day was WBAL-AM who broadcast the Colts, Orioles and all of the day's popular hit songs. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>I have countless images for the Baltimore Colts who entered 1960 as the defending NFL Champions. This earlier logo, predating the iconic horseshoe, is thoroughly unsophisticated and too busy to be marketable today. It is not slick whatsoever, therefore perfect for its time. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Like the Colts, I have countless images for the Orioles, but am unsure I actually have anything to use, outside of pennants or banners that could find their way into a scene on the layout. But research did confirm a local pastry from that time and I'll follow-up on Tastykake to see what I may find.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Several Colts' players capitalized on their fame with local business ventures in the late 1950s/early 1960s. Fullback Alan Ameche of overtime touchdown fame had a number of drive-in family restaurants, while his teammate, defensive end Gino Marchetti, had Gino's, a fast food burger place. Each took advantage of the early days of the McDonaldization of America.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">I enjoy research because you never know what you may uncover. One other interesting tidbit comes from the Carling Brewery, which handled Natty Bo for awhile. They introduced a malt liquor product around this time, long before political correctness was even a concept. Although it was called Colt 45 and used a pistol as its logo, it allegedly was named after Colts running back Jerry Hill who wore number 45. I can't verify that, or simply attribute that to folklore. Either way, it's part of the fun of research.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Having said that, I am really chomping at the bit, as they say, to get back to building and modeling. One can hope. Cheers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-30-</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GO... </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">This photo from the Baltimore Sun archives shows a National Bohemian delivery truck... definitely something that looks like it can be fabricated from one of my many Mini-Metals HO scale vehicles.</span></u></strong></div>
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Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-87738109446725177602016-01-09T05:00:00.000-08:002016-02-11T07:21:04.013-08:00"Once it was Crayolas... Now, it's all PanPastels."<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I guess one of the beauties of having an adult hobby is the opportunity for loved ones to supplement the obligatory holiday gifts of socks, ties and underwear with something that still makes us feel like a kid on Christmas morning. But as I comprised a wish list for my wife and daughter, several ironies did dawn on me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">PanPastels topped my list so that I could begin to weather the roster I have been compiling, but it made me question just how far I had really come in 50+ years. Back then, Crayola Crayons were the ticket for all things coloring... book reports, posters, banners, etc. Had I simply exchanged one iconic product for a future one? No matter, at least now I knew that it was actually advisable to wander outside of the lines... and that Raw Umber and Burnt Sienna now had a rather important place in the color palate very near the head of a mature class.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Santa delivered the two primary sets of muted colors... the very same colors that were often left with hardly-worn near-perfect points in the old Crayola box. The wide choice of sponges should assure that I will deliberate far too long over which is best for any given application.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Tony Koester presented an article in the November 2013 <u>Model Railroader</u> on quick and competent weathering for large rosters specifically using this product. The author, editor and lifetime veteran of our hobby essentially advised that anyone could do this... which is probably easy for an author, editor and lifetime veteran of the hobby to say! But as far as I know, no one has ever confused with me Tony. Hmmm, should I remain skeptical?</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>But 'rock star' and former blogger Ralph Heiss of the <a href="http://lvnyharbor.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Lehigh Valley Harbor Terminal Railway</span></a> presented a clinic on this very topic to the <u>Garden State Division</u> almost two years ago. The theme? "If I can do it, then anyone can." OK Ralphie boy. Then I'm in.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">I look forward to experimenting on some really old, toy-like Tyco boxcars and the like. But I would love to hear from any other blogger who may have posted about this, or any reader who may be able to provide a link or interesting tidbits about their own experience using PanPastels. Please add your own two cents in the comments section below. Thanks and happy coloring!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><u><strong>UPDATE: January 16, 2016</strong></u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Click for <a href="http://www.railroad-line.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=41265"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">WEATHERING TUTORIAL</span></strong></a> from Ralph Renzetti of Railroad Lines Forum.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Click for <a href="http://adenarailroad.blogspot.com/2016/01/multimedia-weathering-attempt.html"><strong><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: #3d85c6;">WEATHERING POST</span></strong></a> and other links from Chris Ellis of the Adena Railroad blog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-30-</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GO... </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">As kids, we all knew that getting the Crayola 64 pack was like hitting the mother lode. Hallmark has cleverly marketed Christmas tree ornaments that tap into such nostalgia. My wife just had to have it!</span></u></strong></div>
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Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-60536876982224788882016-01-02T20:00:00.000-08:002016-02-22T18:46:15.826-08:00"Sykesville, railfanning... and New Year's Eve?"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">An invite from dear friends in Maryland to a New Year's eve dinner party was a no-brainer once our daughter confirmed that she would indeed be jetting off to Italy to spend the holiday with friends made during her study abroad. So the pups were off to meet new playmates at a local boarding facility, Miss La-di-da went to Milan and we stole 40 hours of R & R sandwiched between eight hours of I-95.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">We arrived Wednesday evening and I immediately plotted out a research expedition to the western part of the <strong><em>Old Main Line</em></strong> that I would be modeling, namely the <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/06/yada-yada-yada-sykesville-usa.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Sykesville</span></a> area, about 35 minutes northwest. I figured that I could get away the next morning while the others did whatever they chose to do. But to my surprise, my wife and our hosts wanted to share in my excellent adventure.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><em>"What exactly is this model railroading thing of which you speak,"</em> they queried.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>As we approached the gateway to Sykesville at the Patapsco River bridge about 1 pm, the unmistakable sound of a rumbling train combined with the crossing's alarm bells advised us that our timing was one Chevy Blazer away from being absolutely impeccable. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The sheer size, sound and power of the empty westbound coal train was stunning when witnessed from such close proximity and in such an unexpected fashion. The train barreled through for about four minutes, obscuring all but the central section of the Sykesville depot.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>My primary goal on this trip was to get a better idea of various land forms and the relative relationships between the mainline, river and overall geography. Here is a view from the bridge looking west just in front of the depot that was undermined during the flood in 1972.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>There is a bit of an ad hoc collection of railroad memorabilia adjacent to the station including a former Pennsylvania Railroad signal tower, a C&O passenger car and this refurbished B&O caboose. It was unfortunately closed during our visit.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>There was also this not-yet-refurbished-and-we-don't-know-if-it-ever-will-be caboose sitting on a former siding just west of the depot building. I assume that it was also closed.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>We climbed to an area west of town tracing an abandoned spur to the nearby State Hospital. The sharp difference in elevation throughout Sykesville surprised me. Here the old tracks are visible in the foreground with the mainline below and the river just beyond.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The grade at which the spur climbed was very substantial. It was essentially only used by a 'dinky' pulling a single coal hopper every few days to provide for the hospital's power plant.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>We moved east to once again gauge the relationship between the river and the mainline and to get plenty of photographs that would help me depict a time of year in which little is in bloom. While I'll be portraying March, my Maryland friends assure me that this is probably pretty representative of that time anyway.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Part of modeling the OML in 1960 is to depict that which was no longer utilized by that time like this bridge abutment which is the only remains of the Henryton Road bridge over the Patapsco, just east of Sykesville.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">I was assured throughout the day that my railfan mates were sincerely enjoying themselves and not just humoring me, even when I would channel my inner Cliff Clavin and recite interesting historical anecdotes and relatively useless facts and figures. So, a</span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">ll in all, it was a banner day. Several dozen photographs for later reference for me and a few minor purchases from quaint shops for the ladies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">We were home in time for final dinner prep, a great meal and a few drinks, plus some lousy bowl games and some even lousier New Year's Eve shows. We are all now well assured that we are no longer a preferred demographic target for any television network. Happy New Year everyone!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-30-</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: JUST ONE MORE THING BEFORE WE GO ... </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><u><span style="background-color: #f3f3f3; color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Big thanks to my backseat hosts, Jim and Carrie for this video and fine hospitality.</span></u></strong></div>
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Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-68633121185168172222015-12-25T05:00:00.000-08:002016-02-08T10:33:49.667-08:00"Friendly Fridays... Merry Christmas!"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There's little debate that trains and Christmas have gone hand-in-hand for many years. Many of our earliest childhood memories of this holiday involves trains and train sets. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">An article was sent along by <u>Garden State Division</u> board member Tom Wortmann recently. It discusses the relationship between trains and the holiday. Click <a href="http://www.familychristmasonline.com/musings/trains_n_christmas/trains_n_christmas.htm"><strong><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">here</span></strong></a> to read. In the meantime...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-30-</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: RHETORICAL QUESTION OF THE DAY... </span></em></strong></div>
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Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-68699217859328477642015-12-22T10:00:00.000-08:002016-02-11T09:07:14.020-08:00"Harvest time... and my own field of dreams!"<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Since it's the season of Chanukah bushes and Christmas trees, why not take a quick look at the potential foliage for the <strong><em>Old Main Line</em></strong> depicting mid-March when trees in Maryland are a mix of still-barren and just-blooming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">Modelers have always sought cheap (free) and plentiful natural specimens that can be applied for scenery-making purposes. Horseweed or Mare's Tail, Oak Leaf Hydrangea and Sedum seem to be the most popular and most effective.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>This massive field of horseweed is in my neighborhood here in north central New Jersey. It is typically ripe for harvest right around Thanksgiving, but the continued warm temperatures this year has lengthened the time before it has gone dormant. BTW, this looks like it would make a great photo backdrop, doesn't it?</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The weed looks like this throughout the summer and typically grows to about three high. It tends to flourish along side roadways and highways. Its eventual transformation during late fall is pretty significant.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>A supply that was harvested a year ago seems to have kept just fine in one of my trusty boxes. The items can be straightened out by holding over steam, but seem to be a little too dry to use the soldering iron method that works with Super Trees.</em></strong></span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">The top of each bush can be clipped to look like this and then carefully trimmed back to yield several potential trees. The key to harvesting is to wait until most leaves have dropped leaving only the seedlings. A few leaves are still evident here, but they'll fall off easily.</span></em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The trees on the right are the result of simple clipping of the top armature that is pictured above. The trees on the right come from the process of dragging through a clawed hand so the fingers knock off the seedlings.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">The plan is to experiment with various treatments of matte medium, spray paint and even A/I wash. Most trees will be left bare, but some will have a hint of new growth using the traditional dip and sprinkle method. They look best when clustered closely together as background trees. But since I'm modeling a wooded river valley, I'm going to need an awful lot of that type, so why not give it a try?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">But that won't be for awhile. For now, warmest wishes to everyone this holiday season. May your trains be on time and always remain on the rails.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><u><strong>Update: January 13, 2016</strong></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Where'd it go? The old adage says, "You snooze, you lose." So much for my field of dreams!</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-30-</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: RHETORICAL QUESTION OF THE DAY... </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><u>What do you find is your favorite part of the holiday season?</u></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">A) Finding a non-handicapped parking spot in the mall parking lot.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">B) Finding the absolutely perfect Christmas tree with your wife.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">C) Finding a suitable box in which to pack and ship odd-sized gifts. </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">D) Finding which outdoor decoration has shorted everything else out.</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">E) Finding peace on earth and goodwill towards man.</span></strong></div>
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Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-13388185616630917572015-12-09T05:00:00.000-08:002016-02-23T07:55:20.876-08:00"Knock, knock! Who's there?... Redemption."<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">A few months ago when I evaluated my first 50 posts here in blogger's paradise, I reluctantly revealed which entry was the least popular with readers in the interest of full disclosure. It was my kitbash of two inexpensive Atlas rural station kits into a representative version of the Ilchester depot. I could live with the result since it was a not-yet-completed project and was really only undertaken as an inexpensive way to redevelop skills that I hadn't used in 30+ years.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">But a funny thing has happened since then. The post has slowly been gaining momentum with readers. I've received several emails with questions about the project. And I even was engaged by a reader at a local meet recently about that specific piece. So without any further ado, here are a few more photos and some additional information about the task. Click <a href="http://oldmainline.blogspot.com/2015/04/practice-makes-perfect-really.html"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">here</span></strong></a> for the original April 26th post for the complete background in, '<em><u>Practice Makes Perfect... Really</u>?'</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The rear of the depot will actually be the side that is featured on the layout as it sits on the south side of the railroad putting it right against the aisle. The window configuration is distinctly asymmetrical so I felt that it was imperative to duplicate such.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The green putty at the base of the structure gives away the six different sections that were cut and spliced together to achieve the window arrangement. Four of the six windows have gotten their upper sashes replaced with some scrapbox extras that I was able to trim into the distinctive B&O look. The other two windows may get boarded up. The white styrene strips are plugging cavities in the kit wall that held the roof brackets.</em></strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7HFRthXYZfOv-3KQT-3YSu9cZ-sSGsvkHt652c1lxVj-EeBDyiD2k4GYh6Tvnh8pV8kr5bO4c420YUJZ0VbJ0TuYDBUXblISW9n6-IuvZjJMkoTnh4o1iBxSNZMxQ3lyeLdmPzQX84U7G/s1600/Ilchester+Station+Kitbash+-+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><em><strong></strong></em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em></em><strong><em></em></strong></span></a><br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>The eastern end of the depot featured two half windows that were ganged together. This 1959 photo gleaned from the <u>B&O Historical Society</u> archives shows the three different siding materials of the depot which I did not worry about for this entry level project.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Cutting out half of the wall horizontally was tricky enough due to the vertical board and batten, so I did not try to gang the two windows together. A stone foundation should add to the overall look as the structure will be sited on a slight grade leading up to the tracks.</em></strong></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVksvqesXwpFUIf1v0dgfk7P8W8yNzxL-d4YvlIatzQBeWzRsWvezqBZN41-MjEEzAixz9k8hnDyFGeZq_jGbdEP9D9w7HqPHykSLaxCJTZHRgcn_FQEWAyXx9RNd0lTeXYPm4U0YQocM/s1600/Ilchester+Station+Kitbash+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnVksvqesXwpFUIf1v0dgfk7P8W8yNzxL-d4YvlIatzQBeWzRsWvezqBZN41-MjEEzAixz9k8hnDyFGeZq_jGbdEP9D9w7HqPHykSLaxCJTZHRgcn_FQEWAyXx9RNd0lTeXYPm4U0YQocM/s640/Ilchester+Station+Kitbash+10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Much of the reader interest has been in the process of evaluating the wall components, deciding where to cut and keeping track of all necessary parts. This is what works for me.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>I typically lay wall sections on my color copier, make multiple copies and then start marking up and cutting. Once I have arrived at a formula that maximizes the available inventory, I make a master with notes and cut marks and then go to work on the styrene.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">The project is still exactly where it was several months ago while I devoted my time and energy into converting my single deck layout into a multi-deck one... and then right back into a single deck again. But I do promise to do a final post when the structure is completely built, painted, weathered and detailed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">And BTW, we all know what the response should be in the title line, but I couldn't come up with a clever reply to, <em>"Redemption who?"</em> But that's OK. I was never really a knock, knock joke kind of guy. Give me a good light bulb riddle any day!</span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Update: February 23, 2016</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Boy, no one gave the light bulb joke a shot. The answer, albeit to the rhetorical question is: <em>"Only one, but the light bulb has to want to change." </em>... Ba-da-bum!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-30-</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: RHETORICAL QUESTION OF THE DAY... </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">How many clinical psychologists does it take to change a light bulb?</span></u></strong><br />
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Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-67419513309521742002015-12-05T11:00:00.000-08:002016-02-22T18:56:28.362-08:00"Friendly Fridays... Some nods to blog buddies."<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">While I'm appreciative of so much that I have learned from various bloggers and their <em>"do this, but definitely don't do that," </em>type of postings, today I do need to highlight a few authors specifically, but for rather tangential reasons.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">If <a href="http://centralvermontrailway.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Marty McGuirk</span></a> can occasionally post his '<em><u>Wordless Wednesdays</u>'</em> on something other than hump day, then I reckon that it's more than acceptable for me to issue a <em>'<u>Friendly Fridays</u>'</em> missive a few hours after the mark... Right?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://elgincarshops.blogspot.com/2015/11/another-pleasant-valley-sunday.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Pierre Oliver</span></a> and <a href="http://themodelrailwayshow.com/cn1950s/?p=6930"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Trevor Marshall</span></a> each recently posted delightful entries about hosting a visit from model railroad enthusiast and actor Michael Gross, detailing a full day of hobby-related operating, shopping and dining. Certainly I was familiar with Michael from his television, stage and film roles as well as his work as spokesperson for the "World's Greatest Hobby." But I forgot something very important, especially for someone depicting B&O's <strong><em>Old Main Line</em></strong>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Actor Michael Gross has served as the celebrity spokesperson for the <u>Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum</u>. Just click on the sidebar link under References & Resources to see his personal message, videos and full biography. How could I have forgotten?... My bad!</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">To their credit, Trevor and Pierre reported on their enjoyable day not as star-struck fans, but as participants marveling at the many worlds that our hobby crosses. Check out their blogs on the sidebar if you somehow haven't already.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">And if you do watch the latest video that Michael narrates, you may recognize the topic, <u>The War Came by Train: 1865</u>, a very familiar topic per <a href="http://usmrr.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Bernie Kempinski's</span></a> extensive work. Enjoy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"></span> <span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-30-</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: RHETORICAL QUESTION OF THE DAY... </span></em></strong></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">How did those Thanksgiving travels work out for you last weekend?</span></u></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>We New York area travelers know that it's not about 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles,' but rather, 'Holes, Tolls and River Crossings,' that leave one feeling trapped with no way home.</em></strong></span></div>
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Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376075479477966558.post-12265638766831817262015-11-20T19:00:00.000-08:002016-02-22T18:35:35.089-08:00"Friendly Fridays... the Garden State RPM."<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The third annual <u><a href="http://www.hansmanns.org/ld-op-nj/index.htm"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Garden State RPM</span></a></u> was held this past weekend right here in bucolic Scotch Plains. A few of us north Jerseyans help Ted DiIorio each year with organizing and staging the event. Ted is an instructor at the county vocational school where the meet is held. In return for getting the venue for the day, Ted donates some proceeds back to a couple of student organizations, so everybody wins. It's a neat two-day meet with about a dozen clinics, model displays and vendor tables on Saturday and about a dozen layout tours Sunday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Serious motive power was the order of the day! James Auriemma had two tables of beautifully weathered diesels and rolling stock for attendees to drool over. The number of models on display increased dramatically this year which is a welcome trend for the event.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>NYSME member Fred Wadleigh displayed several dozen prototypical trackside structures that he scratch-built in HO scale. This freight house was in fact built three times depicting three different time periods during the 20th century. Here, the all-wood model shows the most recent version and the ravages of time per the photograph.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Any clinician's worst nightmare is a technological snafu prior to presenting. Dave Ramos (seated) came to first-timer Dave Olesen's rescue by switching out laptops and some wires to get the venue's projection system to cooperate. It was deja vu for me as I had the same problem in the same classroom last year. Dave rode in on his white horse then, too. </em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>South Jersey's Ralph DeBlasi gave a very informative Power Point presentation on weathering rolling stock and then devoted several more hours to small-groups in a hands-on clinic stressing three key points: 1- Always work from photographs; 2 - Weather in layers; 3 - Fading is not about what you put on, but what you take off. See <u>The Weathering Shop</u> link on my sidebar under References & Resources for amazing work and techniques.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Travers Stavac (right) of the <u><a href="http://ldsig.org/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Layout Design SIG</span></a></u> was available to critique track plans throughout the day. Here he and attendee John McCluskey discuss some ideas. Travers and group founder Doug Gurin have traveled from the Baltimore/DC area each year to help out.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>RPMs are great places to find research materials. Jay Held and son Nick do a tremendous job promoting the <u><a href="http://www.erielackhs.org/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Erie Lackawanna Historical Society</span></a></u> schlepping an endless supply of magazines, maps, manuals, timetables, etc. to these types of meets throughout the year.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;"><strong><em>Daylene Wolf and her main squeeze Alfred, let hubby Norm tag along from Fredericksburg, VA where Norm coordinates the very popular <a href="http://www.marpm.org/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Mid-Atlantic RPM</span></a> each September. They cheerfully peddled Scotty Mason's products in his absence, while Alfred chilled out all day.</em></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">By all accounts, the 100+ attendees had a great time and the student organizations made a killing selling coffee and doughnuts throughout the day, not to mention pizza and drinks at lunch. Imagine? I do regret not getting a photo of the exceedingly long line of modelers anxiously awaiting their slices as the pizza boxes depleted at a furious pace. I would've enjoyed putting a caption to it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">If you've followed this blog, you'll understand why I chose not to open my bench work or do my <strong><em>Old Main Line</em></strong> Power Point detailing the conversion from single deck to multi-deck. As Roseanne Roseannadana used to say, <em>"Never mind!"</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;">-30-</span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="background-color: black; color: yellow; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"> BONUS: RHETORICAL QUESTION OF THE DAY... </span></em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia"; font-size: large;"><strong><u>He may not have gotten the Iwata airbrush or PanPastels kit, but who has two thumbs and parlayed $40 in raffle tickets into this $35 B&O Wagontop, generously donated to the meet by ExactRail?</u></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>...This guy!</strong></span></div>
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Jim Fawcetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.com0