Good Morning;

Rick thanks for opening. It appears lots going on today. My better half is taking me to the movies later and we are heading to the chop house for dinner afterwards. 

I have been slowly working on the pickle factory scratch build. For some reason I got a bug to build a true wood ladder made of 2 x 12 uprights and 2 x8 steps. It had to have the 25% step angle found on most ladders and the wood had to go in the right direction. I know, rivet counting in HO scale. I made a jig using the 3D printer and think I got it. So I did the same for the wood staircase. 

Hope everyone has a great day.

Jim

I agree with Tom, really great looking, well done.

Jim

Good Morning Jeff aand the rest of the gang;

My better half and I are going out o the movies today and the local steak restaurant so a very nice day on tap. We have overcast which will keep the temps down a little as well. Hope everyone has a great day.

Jim 

Good Morning Folks;

Mike I'd rather be the one going on the cruise. 

Thanks everyone on the comments for the pickle factory, I am not sure what I enjoy more building it or learning how folks made things work in 1900 like making pickles. For example the corrosion was non-stop so their solution was to make the main pipes out of wood!

Rick love the trail pictures, amazing. I saw the video of the grandfather being thrown by the bison too, he is lucky to be alive. One of those cases of being at the wrong place at wrong time. He did well to protect the grandchild. I've been to Yellowstone area many times and have been even closer to a Bison by accident (came around the corner of a cabin and there he was). They are great to watch from a distance, up close not so much.

ACL Tom is hurting so prayers for him and his wife as he now deals with eye surgery. Tom you are having a year.

Today I have repair men coming to fix appliances and some bench time I hope. Everyone have a great day.

Jim

Good Morning Jeff and everyone following;

Yes it does appear to be Tom's turn in the barrel. Does not sound like fun. Hopefully they will be able to do something to speed the recovery time.

As for myself, got my hair cut first thing and now enjoying a coffee. Hot, humid and showers maybe in afternoon. From how clear the morning was it appears the dust from the Sahara has finally gone away which is a good thing. We have repair men coming to fix the dishwasher today and hopefully the golf cart. It has decided that 11 miles per hour should be fast enough while the engine sounds like it is doing 40.  

Hope everyone has a great day.

Jim

Like Jeff said, good grief! 

Tom you are having one heck of a time. At least there is a solution but even that does not sound like fun. OK with that out of the way the boys wanted me to ask if it is OK if we have are upcoming parties at your train barn? We promise not to make too much of a mess and not run the trains flat out (most of the time). Hopefully that at least brought a small smile to your face. Will miss you on the forum but get well and keep us in the loop.

All the Best My Friend

Jim

Quote from: jbvb on July 14, 2026, 06:34:39 PMJim, are your pickle vats going in the sheds you mocked up with card and blue tape?  The only small-scale pickle works I ever saw close up was in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, next to the New Haven's 4 track elevated RoW from Back Bay towards Providence. I wish I'd expended a few shots on it, but I was on a budget in 1981. The tanks were in an open yard enclosed by an 8-10 foot high brick wall. No tops or shelter at all.

Good Morning Everyone;

Hot and muggy in Florida. Happy birthday to Mike and Karl. I enjoy my 71st trip around the sun this coming Sunday, they days go by fast.

James;

The building I am currently working on contains the raw materials needed for making the jar pickles including brine tanks, vinger tanks and all the supplies. The second floor has the pickle vats that are finishing up the pickling process and getting them ready to be packaged. Lots of warehouse doors for moving supplies and keeping acid smell down. There will be a rail siding in the back where pickle cars will be unloaded using early pump systems on a walkway. Like you said, in the real world there would be a bunch of large holding tanks for storage and pickling as well sitting outside. I will have just a couple on layout for show. Some of the older operations had no tops on their tanks since the brine would kill bacteria, however it did not keep insects out so they either screened the brine and rinsed the pickles before packaging, or...not. Heinz was the big boy in the business and they along with some others did cover their vats and worked hard to keep a clean work place. The two saw tooth buildings next to this building will be the packing stations which is why the design to allow fresh air and light into the area. The small square building will be the office. I am attempting to build in such a way the outer 'shells' of the buildings can be removed so you see a complete interior since it was the construction inside that was unique to pickle factories. Lot's of support beams, wood roofs covered with tar paper then corrugated roofing due to the moisture, salt and acid. I have attached a couple photo's so you can see.

Jim

Good Morning;

Having grandkids and kids over is what makes it worthwhile. Cuse glad yoiu are back at it. As for Central Florida, same hot, muggy and the Sahara sand makes the sky hazy. I need to get my walk in and then I can enjoy some quality time in the workshop. Hope everyone has a great day.

Jim

Good Morning;

Thought I'd say hi. Overcast, muggy and good chance of rain later. I did get my walk in early today and enjoyed the porch with my coffee. The weight scale is telling me I need to lose a few pounds, the breathing is agreeing so will cut the treats out. We bought new furniture for the great room last week, a sectional with reclining seats, looks nice. So we had to pile up the old furniture until Habitat for Humanity picks it up tomorrow. It is all solid oak and in great shape but the kids say they don't want it. We changed it out because MBH said it was time. Happy wife...

Plan to work at the bench later, mostly electrical stuff on current building. I got the first floor done yesterday. Second floor and perhaps gooseneck lights outside today. It will be a 1910 pickle factory when complete, anchoring the far side of the canal on my little layout. My goal is to finish the canal area this year and power up the actual layout finally. The buildings are being used to get the NMRA AP for Structures. I have two more to do counting this one and will be done on that adventure. I am including a photo of where it is going, currently working on the big building. As you can see some assembly still required.

Hope everyone has a great day.

Jim

Good Morning;

Jeff sounds like you have a great day ahead of you. For us in Central Florida it is overcast, muggy and most likely some rain this afternoon. Yesterday we got about 2 inches, I had to lower the pool, the auto overflow could not keep up. Yesterday I got the lights working on the first floor of the pickle company build, today will work on second floor and the outer area. Got my walk in early today and finishing my third cup of coffee so time to get cleaned up. Have a great day everyone.

Jim

Tom I just caught up on this. You have been dealing with 'stuff'. Thanks for letting us know. Sounds like you are in good hands.

Jim

Good Morning Jeff and all who pop in;

Overcast and muggy. Looks like a repeat of yesterday, I expect thunderstorms by this afternoon. Did some electrical wiring on current build, plan to finish it today. Have some chores and a walk in my future. All and all a nice day. Been watching the crowds here for the world cup. It looks like they are having a great time and enjoying the country! It has definitely been fun to watch.

Jim

Good Morning;

Woke up to hi 70's and clear. Apparently good chance of a thunderstorm. this afternoon and since we still need the rain, great. Yesterday met up with the local modeling group to catch up, today I'll check in on the World Cup and get some bench time in. Going out with family this evening so day pretty well planned. Hope everyone has a great day.

Jim

Good Morning;

Thanks for getting breakfast ready James I'll just have a coffee for now. Central Florida is definitely in the summer pattern now. Upper 70's to start the day up into the 90's and good chance of afternoon thunderstorm or two. Yesterday I was able to cut the dead trunks of two date palms we have, the winter freeze got them. Today is weeding and feeding day. Hope to get back on my project later on the bench as well.

Hope everyone has a great day.

Jim

Good Morning;

Coffee is hot and so is the weather. I did the morning chores, it's mopping Monday in the Donovan house. While the wife is out doing her dragon boat practice I get to enjoy a cup of coffee and then mop the tile floors. Works out well and it is alway good to stack a 'at a boy' in the closet for when sorely needed. 

I've been working on a model of a 1900 pickle factory and have reach a part I enjoy, detailing, and this one is going to have a full interior so that will be my project for some time. As for the one to one world there is a small date palm in front that did not make it through the winter so we will work on cutting it in pieces so it can be hauled away.

Well coffee is calling. Hope everyone enjoyed the 4th and has a great week.

Jim