Morning all.

Black Friday.  Odd that I'm off work, I think I've worked 12 of the last 13 years on this day.  No crazy shopping today, though we will go down to the local appliance store to purchase a new dishwasher, as there's a rebate.  I spent a lot of $$$ Wednesday on a new TV for the missus, no need to fight the crowds today. 

Jeff

Morning all.

Turkey Day!   I'll be headed to the grocery store this morning where our yummy ready to go Thanksgiving dinner will be boxed up and ready.  It's a "dinner for two", but it feeds us twice and is quite reasonable on price.  No mess, no carcass in the fridge for a week, no work.  It's ideal for the two of us.   

Started bracing the walls on the FSM kit and will continue that today.  Football watching on tap as well.

Have a great day, and a nice nap after dinner.  

Jeff

Morning all.

A trip to Costco and Lowe's this morning, otherwise nothing planned for the day.  Will hopefully continue some work on the FSM kit.  

Jeff

As I'm off 6 weeks post surgery and and limited to 10 pounds of lifting, this challenge came along at the perfect time.  I picked FSMs Jeffries Point Stave and Heading (George's 1995 kit).  I have a perfect spot for it on the Empire in the area I can't seem to ever get finished.  It will not have track access, it will just be truck accessed (I noticed in the rules it has to be "railroad themed").  This doesn't matter as I don't expect to win any prizes, I'd just like to get something done for the layout.  
Another caveat, I can't guarantee this will be done by the end date of the challenge, maybe even next years  .  Anyone who's seen any of my past builds will note they take a loooooooong time.  

Jeff

Morning all,

Got in a two block walk yesterday, later went through the grocery store.  It was a bit tiring.  Will try to increase my walking distance today, but it's gotten quite chilly here over the last week.  

Didn't do much with the kit and my son and the grandkids are coming for a couple of days, so nothing will be accomplished on that until Monday, probably.  

I am enjoying seeing the other new builds.

Jeff

Morning all.

Cold and blustery here and we had snow on and off yesterday, there is a trace on the ground this morning.  I walked around the circle yesterday without issues and drove the car around the block.  Later drove to the drug store and to a nearby restaurant for dinner.  My post op issues are improving.  

I even got out the FSM kit to start for the challenge and read thru the instructions and will start that today. 

Jeff

Morning all.

I didn't get much accomplished yesterday, though I did get the Flight sim downloaded, many people didn't as the servers were overtaxed.   No flying yet though.  I seem to be losing time, there's two hours in the morning I can't account for and believe I must have napped sitting in this chair.  We'll get that loco reprogrammed later today, though. 

Jeff

Morning all.

I'm feeling pretty perky today. I think i'll try some increased walking today.  I'm on a 10 pound weight restriction for 6 weeks, so I can't do much.  And I don't want to over do it. Need to contact my PCP about a follow up visit, but I'm not keen on a 60 mile round trip just for labs and to say hi. 

Jeff

Morning, all.

Loco almost back together.  Needs some lubrication and wheel cleaning and then it's on the layout.  

Got the Christmas trees set up, need to do some cleaning/moving stuff down here today.

Might get the FSM kit out to look it over as well. 

Jeff

Morning all.

Thanks for all the good wishes on my surgery.  That is scheduled for Wednesday, no time allotted yet.  I have several chores to do the next two days as I'll be on a lifting restriction for a while.  I'm cleaning and putting up Christmas trees today.  

Hope to get the loco back together today.  I couldn't reprogram the lights, and I'm not changing them out as the wires are super glued to the front plate.  The wires will tear if I try to remove them.  I'll try reprogramming another time.  Needs cleaning and lubrication as well. 

It's Veteran's day.  Thanks to all who served.  

Jeff

Morning all.

I have an appointment for my yearly physical with my PCP this morning.  I'm sure will discuss all the fun specialists I've seen and my planned surgery since our last visit six months ago.

The loco actually works.  I think there was an issue with the tender power pickup.  Testing showed the Mars light was in the wrong spot (the emergency red light on the front of the loco), so I'll try to reprogram this or swap the two lights.  Then put the thing back together and move on to the next project.

Jeff

Morning all.

At least the political ads and calls/texts have stopped.  

A chilly 40ish morning today, high to 54 later.  

I will again try to see what the issue is with the DCC install.  I just don't get why it's not working.  I even tested the decoder before putting it in.  

After surgery next week, I really can't lift or do much for 2 weeks.  I decided I will build a "major" kit for the spot in front of the ITLA building.  Looking through the stash, FSM's Jeffries Point Stave and Heading will fit well.  Will start that after I get the locomotive off the workbench.  

Jeff

Morning all.

Thought I had slept late, later realized forgot to "roll back" the alarm clock, so I'm up actually up a bit earlier than normal.   

Hawkeyes put up 40 points again yesterday.  Last year they averaged 15 points a game, getting rid of the coach's son as offensive coordinator has paid big dividends.

I doubt the Patriots will put up 40 today.  

Closing in on the DCC install.  So many tiny wires to solder.  Today I need to solder the lights with their resistors and then put the thing back together after testing it.  

Jeff

Morning all.

Dog wanted out at 0530 so I'll open today.

My last PT appointment before surgery is this morning, so that will be out of the way.

I got the tender wired up yesterday in between football (who can believe it, the Patriots won), and dog strolls.  I figured out the original wiring/board were just for lighting, not DCC.  There are three front lights (headlight, MARs, and red for when stopped) along with the tender light.  So many wires, especially with the "power pack" needing three (that's it in the picture below).  The decoder will go in the engine along with the speaker.  Either way, five or six wires were required between the loco and tender, so I opted to do it this way.  Hope to get the loco done today.

Jeff

Morning all.

Slept an hour and a half late, and I'm still the first one in.  

Figured out how I'm going to install the decoder and ran it through the tester, so we'll try to get that accomplished today in between football and dog walks.  

Hawkeyes put up 40 points yesterday, mostly after the starter was yanked for throwing a pick six.  I think he's lost his starting job.  

Let's have a good Sunday and a great week!

Jeff

Morning all.

A chilly 37 degrees here this morning.  I'll need jeans and a jacket to walk the dog.  I'm on dog duty as my wife is out of town for a few days.  

My LEDs came yesterday, I will attempt the DCC install today.  I've never done a steamer install with lighting, so we'll see how this goes.  

Hawkeyes play this afternoon, hopefully better than last week. 

Jeff

Morning all.

Had my meeting with the surgeon and my pre op stuff done yesterday.  I told my wife it's sad when you're at the appointment to get a text that you have a PT appointment tomorrow and another that your bill for some other medical appointment is due.   

I have the aforementioned PT this morning and then a haircut at noon.  Told the schedulers we have to work around the barber's times, as he's harder to get into than they are.

Happy Hump Day!

Jeff

Morning all,

Brrr.  We may have  to turn on the heat today.  It's down to 33 deg F outside and 63 inside.  Glad I have my little heater here in my computer/work room.  

I have a physical therapy appointment this morning and the wife has an appointment at the same clinic for her procedure that will hopefully get her better.  

Still working on the locomotive.  Got the old decoder out, and managed to get the tender apart.  Why did they build it where you had to take the trucks off to get at the screws to take it apart?  Weird.  Trying to figure out where to put all the components for a new install.

This crane was at the Green Bay museum as well, somewhat the worse for wear. 

Jeff

Morning all.

Hawkeyes played their best game in years offensively yesterday, let's hope the Patriots can do the same today. 

Looked through all my scenery stuff and only needed some glue, which I ordered on Amazon as Scenic Express' shipping charges were more than the glue was.  Organized it a bit as I had stuff spread all over.   

At the Green Bay Train Museum they had this model of the Aerotrain, and one of the locomotives and a passenger car as well.  Up close it really does look like a city bus on rails.  No wonder it didn't sell.

Jeff

Morning all.

Hopefully all our Floridian/Southeastern U.S. friends are safe from the storm. No rain here, though we could use some.  

Maybe some layout work later, maybe just a lazy day.  

A Huey from the airshow.  

Jeff