Good Morning Folks;

Well I am on my second cup of coffee and checking up what is going on in the world. Weather in central Florida this morning was nice 75 (23c) but heading up to over 90 again today. Still sitting on the porch enjoying coffee is a great way to start the day. I plan on working on the layout today as well as continuing finishing up the Engine House project. I made the warehouse doors for it yesterday, the one's in the kit could not be straightened being too flimsy. 

My photo of the day is my wife and I getting ready to fly to Maine in 2010. Taken in front of the Cirrus SR22 G2 we owned. It was the best cross country plane I ever flew. 175 knots (190 miles per hour), it could fly over 4 hours with instrument reserves, had full de-icing and allowed us to go where and when we wanted. Little did I know when this picture was taken it would be the last trip I would fly a plane. Physical issues, financial concerns, blah, blah blah would result in selling the plane. Still it was a great way to end an incredible 30 plus years of flying.

Hope everyone has a great day.

Jim

Good Morning Folks;

Another day, another hot day! Oh well, already fixed the vacuum cleaner, paid the bills and working on my third cup of coffee. I thought I'd share one of my favorite photos taken in my travels. A lake up in Canada, name I have forgotten. Hope everyone has a great day.

Jim

Brooks and Dunn

Jim

Good Morning;

Still warm and muggy here in Florida. Already had a cup of coffee and finished some work on the Engine House kit. I'm at the point where I would like to work on something else so might clean everything up up and start something new.  Not much else going on so have a great day.

Jim

Good Afternoon Everyone;

Well it has rained off and on which kept temps in low 80's so that was nice. I made some progress on bench project but not much. It just sits and waits for me to get motivated. Not today. Maybe tomorrow.  Off to diner and evening walk. 

Jim

Good Morning Everyone;

I've been AOL for a few days, good to be back. Sounds like the weather up north is starting to cool somewhat. Here in Florida still middle of summer, humid, rain in afternoon and hot when sun is out.

I talked via FaceTime yesterday with a couple of the kids. One is redoing her house, the other trying to figure out what he wants to do since he is between jobs. Fortunately he has savings so not worried.

In retirement I find hardest thing for me is staying motivated. Need to just get started I guess. Well off for coffee and whatever the day brings. Have a great one.

Jim

Good Morning;

Beach Stagger wings are beautiful planes, had a friend who had a fire red colored one. Flew his family all over the country in it. 

Not sure what I will get involved in today. Lots of ideas, not a-lot of motivation. We will see. Weather has been OK, cloudy and some rain but keeps temps in the 80's. Off for coffee have a great Saturday.

Jim

Good Morning Folks;

Coffee is on and club house doors open. We had a monster thunderstorm yesterday that really rattled the house. Six inches of rain and a home a couple miles away hit and heavily damaged by resulting fire. What a fireworks show.

Today some yard work and bench-time. Mostly the second, going to be another really hot day so so day to enjoy the train room. 

Jim

Good Morning;

Thanks for the coffee. Great photo too! 

Here we had one of the strongest thunderstorms I have ever been in yesterday and having been in Florida since 1973 I have seen a few. Rain gauge says almost 6 inches and paper says a home about two miles away was hit by lightning and heavily damaged by resulting fire. It was quite the fireworks show.

Today some yard work and bench time. The wife is off to get her car's oil changed so I have some time to read the paper first. Have a great day folks.

Jim

Good Morning;

Enjoyed the coffee and even got a swim in this morning. Over an inch of rain yesterday and thunder that rattled the house. Apparently more of the same today. A good day to work on bench project, FOS Engine House. I took it to local modeling group Friday and asked the two MMR members if they thought it might pass for a merit award in my quest to achieve the AP Structures designation. No one ever says no but 'maybe' is the new no. They said 'maybe'. Oh well I like it as is so on the layout it will go. I will still see what judges say to see where I am missing points but I model so it fits my layout.

Speaking of which after this guy is done I am going to switch back to layout work, time for a change. Hope everyone has a great day.

Jim

Good Morning Jeff and all who follow;

Coffee is on and donuts on the counter. I am enjoying both on the back porch before the heat of the day kicks in. Yesterday I went to a local train modeling group I belong to and had a great time. A couple of the members are some of the who's who of the hobby so I get a lot of ideas and tips by just listening and watching.

One of the things I've noticed is the hobby has so many parts to it, each a hobby unto itself but overall we in the hobby tend to stick with methods that are not cutting edge. Some parts of the hobby are under pressure, especially the manufacturers of many of the items we use such the plastic items needed, lighting, castings and so on. Resin 3D printers, laser cutters and the simple fact many who make the niche parts have retired or are no longer in business has really disrupted the hobby. Not sure where we are headed but there sure is a lot of change happening at the moment. 

Anyhow, enjoy the weekend!

Jim

Afternoon Folks;

Saw the lung doctor and all is stable so good news there. Hope to have some benchwork this afternoon as it is already 95 and thunderstorms in area. 

Good to see more members of the RR forum joining. The more the merrier. Have a great day.

Jim

Another late check in for myself. Was another hot day here in Florida but I was able to get some paperwork caught up. Hope to get some benchwork in this evening.

I saw we have a spammer slip through the cracks this morning so I will work with Craig and Dave to get him out. 

I got a merit award in the mail today for Pam's Flour Mill I made. That makes 3 scratch builds for the AP Structures award in NMRA. I hope to take three kitbashed structures to the Sunshine Region convention to make some real headway on this project. I might get everything done by end of next year at speed I work at so not rushing. Just something to aim for. Hope everyone had a good day.

Jim

Well looks like it was a slow summer day on the Forum. I've been offline for a week while taking a friend around Florida showing him the sights. He and I go back to 3rd grade and cub scouts. Best friendship I have ever had. Neither of us ended up where we thought, just proving 'if you want to hear God laugh tell him your plans'. Still it has been a great ride for the both of us. 

I see Raymo has determined a finish day for simi-retirement, loved the photos Dan. As for myself I am continuing work on the FOS Engine House. Have checked out the one done by Bob Butts, don't think mine will be THAT good but it is coming along nicely.



Jim

Hi Tom;

Just following along. I have not tried improving any rolling stock so am finding this really interesting. I think I will try to duplicate something similar once I understand the whole process, thanks.

Jim