I've no excuse for late check in except not moving very fast today. I started work on the Jordan delivery trucks and found I was missing the wheels for one. I took the measurements of the four each I have and had the 3D printer make up some that came out very very close in looks to the original. It is a modern world for sure.

Jim

Good Afternoon;

Nice photo and Happy Memorial Day weekend. Driving yesterday and was nuts. We will stay around home for weekend and I can continue work on the Jorden's.

Jim

Good Morning Folks

Jeff, not how you want to wake up but glad just a storm, at least in your area. 

Today I took the wife to Gainsville for CAT scan. Doctors keep circling the 'lump' found on her left breast but keeping wanting more tests before removing it. Can anyone spell Annuity? For the love of God, remove it, test tissue, know what it is! Instead this is third 'picture' session, bet you anything results come back, 'Yep still there, nope, no idea what it is'. She has been referred to now three doctors, none trust test from previous doctor, thus three scans. Modern Medicine at it's finest. 

Once home bench cleaning on agenda. Have a great weekend folks. 

Jim

Good Morning;

Dentist this morning and then I have a couple 1911 Jordan Delivery Trucks to start work on. A couple days ago I put the parts into a solution of Super Clean (Dan Raymond recommends this to help the surface have a 'bite' for the paint) yesterday I remembered I had put them in for an expected couple of hours and forgot so they got 24 hours! For those that wonder, Super Clean does attack the plastic, I had a couple of parts that are now thinner than originally. Fortunately all are still OK for use. 

I appreciate all the comments I got on the forum yesterday, special thanks to Jeff Firestone for the elbow e-mail (I needed it, the site can be better for all). Any thoughts anyone has to improve site please tell me. Thanks

Jim

Mark, just catching up on the forum, really impressive bridge, quite the project.

Jim

I don't know Jerry, your background looks great to me. At the end of the day background is something needed to help focus interest on the layout. From what I see in the photos you've got that done great. Looks like you have a great project for those raining NY days. Thanks for the photos.

Jim

Great photos of really nice scene. You've put a lot of love into this layout.

Jim

Neat building and layout!

Jim

Folks thanks for the input, more than I expected. The Forum is not closing, nor was I considering that, just looking for ways to make it more useful, the historical files alone are worth keeping it open and available to all. So long as Craig can do his magic I have no issue supporting it. We do not have a commercial aspect to our site so we do not need to clutter it with ads and such, though I have let Craig know we'd love to see his stuff on the site if he so chooses. We are down to the core of people that appreciate the efforts of others sharing knowledge so we will simply build on the quality we have and won't worry about the quantity, we will leave that to Facebook.

I am planning on having a build contest this coming fall that will include a prize for the structure that wins by popular vote. I need to work out the details but should have something for everyone by October. Any ideas for it would be appreciated, just drop me a line.

The Forum has a lot of build technique knowledge already stored, however, as each of us comes across something new and interesting drop a line if you can. Moreover show us your layout as it grows, there are a lot of amazing artists in this hobby who keep their art in the basement or garage. Let the rest of us admire it if you can. You've done the hard work now show it off.

Thanks again, oh and by the way it is sunny and hot here today.

Jim

Folks I am writing this late Tuesday and will be curious how many respond tomorrow, I suspect not many. Since the site re-opened traffic has steadily dropped and build threads have almost ceased. Even the daily chat has less then 10 people on a good day, today there was 3. The reasons are many but the result is the same, the site is no longer meeting the purpose for which it was designed. Jeff e mailed me asking  what is up and what now? The site is very stable, Craig Rusty has done an incredible job of bring everything back and improving the site's ability way above what it originally had. We simply have too few posting threads or reviewing otherswork. Cost is not an issue, or perhaps it is. I learned a long time ago that things that were free were perceived to have no value. Put a cost to it, be it ads, subscription, whatever and people would say they were not getting their money's worth, but they would come.

Folks, I do not have any magic answer, the site needs everyone if it is to prosper. Please let me know if you feel it still is relevant to you, what you think needs to be done to bring the people back or if time has move on.

Thanks
Jim

Woke up to sunny and rather nice. Not really sure what is expected but that's OK I have a list of projects for both inside and out. I am sure there will be time for something train related just not what at the moment. Jeff our two pups bark whenever a dog is on the TV, I swear one of them (the female) actually watches the soaps with the wife! 

Have a great day folks.

Jim

Good Morning Jeff and Bob, as well as all who check in today. It is my turn to go to a play today, we are seeing Peter Pan in Orlando. I enjoy most of these plays and getting out of the house. This coming week I need to do some sprinkler fixing, clean up the workbench and start taking a beginner yoga class. My back tends to really let me know when it's unhappy and it has been really unhappy for a while. My doc suggested yoga for stretching, said it has helped her a lot so thought I'd give it a try.

Other then that it is just another week of Saturdays for me.

Jim

Good Morning;

I hear thunder in the distance and it is gray outside so I guess the rain is coming. 

I have a little different  view I guess on patient / customer issue.  For better or worse health care today is big business and the insurance company and government want to limit if not remove the customer (you) from the decision making. I can't tell you the number of times I've had to ask 'what will that cost' when told I'm sorry insurance won't cover that. The assumption is if the insurance company (or medicare) won't pay you won't have it done. I have to tell them, I'm the customer, not the insurance company, your organization makes it very clear I am solely responsible for payment so what is the cost and I will determine if it is worth having done. A good example is currently happening, Deb had breast cancer 5 years ago resulting in both breasts had to be removed and replacements installed. A month ago they detected a lump on one side of left breast. Deb's General doctor had an MRI done which showed it was not moving but what it was is unknown. She said it needed to be removed and then tested since a biopsy in that area might miss it completely resulting in false results. Now comes the Medicare man and Surgeon decision board who said first they needed to do a biopsy to determine if surgery warranted. I said no, this is my wife, we will want it removed. They said, 'that is not the proper SOP'.  I replied how much if I simply pay. They have yet to get back and time goes by so I have lined up a doctor friend in Toledo Ohio to set up surgery. It will be removed, As individuals we must be up to date to how the 'system' works, for large hospital organizations we are annuities, to Medicare and Insurance companies we are an expense. Knowing good people in both organizations are the only way to get the best health care you can afford.

Jim

Good Morning;

I will open the clubhouse today. Yesterday saw another batch of heavy weather come through but we needed the rain so all good. Today bright and sunny. I am a little bored with structure and layout work so am going to switch and see what I can learn about electronic add ons for the layout. Should be an interesting change.  Hope everyone has a great day.

Jim

Quote from: Zephyrus52246 on May 13, 2024, 08:10:02 AMNice structure.  Looking forward to your new layout.  It will be interesting to see how you transition between the two areas.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff, as I looked at it I did not 'feel' it so I went back and made it more 'used' overall. Here is how it will sit on layout.