Saturday, December 20, 2025

[Zephyrus52246]

Morning all,

Above freezing here and headed to a high of forty degrees.  

My four year old snowblower needs $250 dollars worth of carburetor work.  If they fix it, it will probably not snow again this winter, but I wouldn't complain.  

A bit more clean up needed downstairs and then some set up before guests start arriving on Christmas Day.  

A double shot of a structure form the narrow gauge convention. 

Jeff

[deemery]

$250 for carburator repairs?  Huh!  Maybe you should get out of medicine and into small engine repair

My almost-new snowblower hasn't worked for 4 years.  We have a guy who plows the driveway, but I really should get the snowblower fixed to do the walkway to the front door and other post-storm cleanup.  Or at least take a neighbor up on his offer to take a look at it.  I suspect it's something simple, but I just hate anything internal combustion...

Back to the train room in a bit, to hopefully finish the boiler room.  The machine shop project is almost complete.  I just need to figure out how I'll work the installation of the main building and boiler room on the layout, including the forge smokestack.  My current thinking is I'll tack it into position, do a brace halfway up, and then see if I can install that stack on-location.  It'll be finicky!  The other alternative is to cut a slot in the boiler room ceiling, install the stack permanently on the machine shop wall, and then slide the boiler room into position.  Either way, the boiler room roof has to be removable.

dave

[jbvb]

Good morning, Jeff, Dave and later arrivals. Sun over the lower Merrimack valley has gotten the mercury above freezing here.  Yesterday's rain and warm wind has melted my lawn completely clear. My chickens are out enjoying it all.
I guess I'm lucky my mother grew up on a farm; my first experience with gas engines was helping her replace a Sears lawnmower crankshaft that bent when its blade struck a rock. Email me the symptoms, Dave? I took my toolbox out of the Bolt when Seashore's outdoor work season ended, but it could easily go back in.
After I'm done with the 'net, I'll finish installing a foundation for my wife's latest house, then maybe start roughing in scenery around it.

[ReadingBob]

Afternoon all,

Just got back from a visit to Tom's place. Isn't quite the same without the Judge at the throttle but we had a nice chat about structures and kit building. Later on we're heading up to Mt. Dora to see the lights. Hopefully I'll be able to find a parking place.

Have a great one!

[KentuckySouthern]

Just back from a quick dash into the Western edge of the Lansing Metro area.  Ordered a couple items from an email add and a couple other items, looking out at the traffic headed toward "Capital City" I got claustrophobic and decided to head back home.  EVERYbody seems to be taking advantage of the doubling of the temps, only 18⁰ all day yesterday with 20mph winds has rocketed to 36⁰ with a breeze, felt tropical.  LOTS of the snow is gone.  Roads are in good shape, too.

Tomorrow winter starts and it will be the start of longer days, can't wait until DST and June...  

Headed down to the layout shortly. 

[cuse]

Probably can't tell, but the Robot Repair Shop diorama in Dr Jeff's post is all famous movie and TV robots...if you pushed the button, it would cycle through at least a dozen and the robot in question would light up and/move while their voices would play. It was incredibly creative and fun...for example, the one in front is the robot from "Lost in Space" and there were a few from Star Wars and some less well known ones as well. 

Take a close look...really fun idea and great execution.

Sunny and 75 here   

[S&S RR]

Good evening! Stopped in to see what everyone was up too.  Bob gave me a scare with his post "It wasn't the same without the Judge".  A quick search on "Judge" solved the mystery.  Sorry to hear about your fall Judge. My thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

John

[deemery]

Probably can't tell, but the Robot Repair Shop diorama in Dr Jeff's post is all famous movie and TV robots...if you pushed the button, it would cycle through at least a dozen and the robot in question would light up and/move while their voices would play. It was incredibly creative and fun...for example, the one in front is the robot from "Lost in Space" and there were a few from Star Wars and some less well known ones as well.

Take a close look...really fun idea and great execution.

Sunny and 75 here   

"These aren't the droids you're looking for.   Move along."

dave