Geezer's Lounge (Rev 1) - Volume 5

[TomO/Tloc]

I am back.

75 minutes at the bench and daughter said "dad, clean up and go". I was unaware she was having a dollhouse Expo this morning at 9! I was supposedly told. They were sitting in their cars at 8:30 for the 9am opening. Daughter says she'll sell quite a bit today and expects at least 2 dollhouse orders that take about 6 months to build and furnish. She has 5 designs she has narrowed down to sell. These things make trains look cheap!

My laser cutter arrived last Friday but have not had a chance to open it. Maybe tonight


Enjoy the day

What coolness laser did you get?

I purchased the OMTech 60W Cabinet CO2 Laser. A bit higher than my budget but Terry agreed that I should not cheap out. I did not get to it yesterday but should tomorrow. I basically asked the daughter which lasers she was looking at for her dollhouse gig and she wanted a similar one and when I showed her the OMTech 60 she researched it amongst her doll house furniture creators and they approved. It definitely will do what I want it for but wanted to be sure she could use it when I wasn't.

[TomO/Tloc]

Good morning from a very nicely wetted down So Central Wisconsin without the severe storms we've experienced at least once during each of the past 3 weeks. It should end around 1pm and it's been steady the 2 hours I've been awake.

The laser (OMTech 60 watt Co2) was purchased to create structures quicker for the couple paper mills I have been working on. I also have a commission for a 4 stall diesel house that I told him to just buy a couple of the Walthers kits and combine them. He said no he wanted something his way. I have 2 engine houses on order, 1 a single stall shed and another a 2 stall shed for the layout we have been working on the last 20 months. Those will be first up. Weathering commissions are down to not much but I'm not advertising either so I have time and the desire. If I get another 3 decent sized diesel sheds it will pay for itself plus the daughter will be able to use it.

Doll houses and furniture make model trains seem inexpensive. The daughter sold 3 doll houses. 2 of the ladies purchased the houses she had on display. The third one needs to be built. The laser once set up and dialed in will reduce her build time by over 50% she figures. It's a side gig for her and in her case the poor economy doesn't seem to be slowing her sales

Last night I had to call the plumber at 9:15 as I had a leaking toilet and the wall shutoff didn't work and while I shut off the whole house water Terry has friends coming over at 9 this morning. Bit the bullet for the $250 call out charge vs the regular house call of $100. So not too terrible. He walked me through suggestions on the phone and I said come on out.

I am being picked up at 10:30 for heading north to the layout. Shakedown cruise on the Wisconsin & Upper Michigan. He's been running trains since Sunday and today we are going to run the full schedule and see what happens. We do not have the signal system installed so we will practice how that will be handled. It shall be fine! Probably more of the same tomorrow


Enjoy your day

[deemery]

A large bed laser would let you make dollhouse walls, and not just the furniture for same...  I've seen a lot of really exquisite dollhouses, some real craftspeople in that hobby.  What software will you use for laser design and to drive the laser itself?   I thought about one of those combo laser/scriber devices (Xtool M1/M2), but the learning curve for the software has stopped me.  Same thing with 3D printing.  I had to learn SketchUp (for a class project when I was taking courses at UNH), and that experience was Massively Frustrating.  I spent most of my time fighting bugs and the tool, rather than actually executing the project (I was building a model of the 'small theater' at Pompeii, the course was Roman Architecture...)(

Anyway, back to the basement in a bit.  After some time on the exercise machine, I'll see if I can build up motivation to tackle some layout projects.

dave

[friscomike]

Good morning folks,

Rick, thanks for opening and the tasty breakfast. Safe travels to Colorado.

Curt, hope the medical appointments went well.

Larry, glad you could return the post topper so easily.

TomO, congrats on the powerful laser.  I found it takes more time to learn the drawing software than to use the laser.  If I amortized the laser purchase, I think the structures I have created are running about $450 each...

Dave, the learning curves for 3D and laser software are steep.

How goes the rest of the crew?

It's a bright day in Georgia.  Early this morning, I took Sharon to her follow-up cataract appointment.  Later, I have a dental appointment. I'm at the painting steps on the Model T.

Have fun,
mike

[Philip]

Morning Mike and crew.

Tom, I remember looking at Epilog lasers years ago and they were 15k. 3k isn't that bad in 2026.


David, Tinkercad will almost do what Sketch-up or 360 does. They need to work on round overs/chamfers. They have added a few new features in the last year or so.

Rick, I see the HOA Karen with a 3" ruler checking gras height on the new occupant.   

Larry, I was poking holes in glued on gussets last night. All gussied up now. Finished up at 1145 last night...time flies by when modeling! No pic yet. Pressure washing the porch today. Oh fun.

Morning Curt, Elwood & K9!

Philip

 

[Jerry]

Morning everyone

Rick thanks for the coffee & breakfast.
Nice picture.
And yes to your question that thing is still out there every night blinking at me.

Morning Curt.

Larry I hope they get your toppers right this time.

TomO sounds like you have  a buy time coming up with the laser.

Morning Dave hope you get to do some RR.

Mike I hope Sharon is doing well.
Looking forward to the model T project.

Weather in South Jersey i sunny/75.  Later on 80's.
I still haven't made it to the bench again.
Things keep getting in my way!!!
Hopefully today I will get to finish the one side of shingles.

Everyone have a great day!!

Jerry

[KentuckySouthern]

The first of the Doll's daylillies are open this morning.

1:1 yesterday wore me out. Rain coming shortly. I'm thinking about some bench time.

I rebuilt a dollhouse the Doll bought at a sale. I made it into a Halloween prop for one of the girls.

The laser sounds like something for another lifetime. 3d resin is enough challenge for me.

Later all

[elwoodblues]

Good morning everyone,

Thanks for the coffee and breakfast Rick (had to look up what chicken fried steak was  ), getting ready for another road trip already?

Current weather is 20c (68f) with sunny skies.  I bought a 40W diode laser to play with a couple of years ago, but haven't set it up yet.  It's been on my list of things to do.  No modeling last night as I got distracted with other things, we shall see what tonight brings.

Have a great day everyone.

[PRR Modeler]

Good Afternoon All,

Well the grandson's appointment was a waste of time. His paperwork said be there at 0740 for an 0800 appointment. After getting there they say no appointment, it's a walk in appointment. Grandson has no insurance so this is the free mental health clinic and it shows exactly what nationalized Healthcare would be. At 0900 after no one being called at all we left.

Got home and commenced cleaning since the majority left today with MOH. I think we have 10 left here in 2 pens down from 5.

After the major cleaning I'm done for the day. I'm frustrated and irritated and just want left alone for awhile.

I did manage to get an hour at the workbench yesterday.

Tomorrow I'm at the VA most of the day so I probably won't be in until Friday.

I hope everyone has a good day.

[Rick]

Good morning everyone.

It's 54 now, 78 and cloudy all day.
Heat is on the way and it's a good time to head to the mountains.

Coffee, sodas and OJ are ready.
Breakfast pizza topped with scrabbled eggs, sausage, bacon, peppers and onions.

Curt, sorry for the wasted time at the clinic.
Anytime the government gets involved with anything it's always made worse.
Good luck at the VA.

Ron, the mountains are calling.

Karl, pretty flowers and not the usual orange.

Jerry, how's the wall?

Philip, I haven't seen or heard from anyone at the HOA.

Mike, hope both medical visits for Sharon and you went well.

Dave, any layout projects tackled?

TomO, sorry about the plumbing problem and how'd the shakedown cruise go?

Larry, it's amazing how fast Amazon gets things delivered.
Imagine if they ran the post office.

ACLTom, hope you are feeling much better.

How's everyone else?

I was disappointed that only Jerry answered the UFO question.
Everyone else totally non believers or embarrassed to admit that you are.
There's overwhelming evidence that they do exist and are here.

The van is loaded with food, fuel and water.
Was able to get diesel under 4 bucks.
Didn't get a haircut because the wait was over 80 minutes.
After breakfast I'll finish loading the van and meet with my neighbor to give her the shed (lawnmower) and mailbox keys.
I know Star will be very happy to be back on the road.

Split Rock Park in MN.
I should have new picture soon.



Have a great day everyone.

[friscomike]

Good morning,

Rick, thanks for breakfast. Safe travels.  Rick, I certainly believe there are other beings besides humans.  Who am I to limit God?  

Yesterday went well for Sharon and me at the doctors.  I had a crown replaced and was in the chair for three hours. It is amazing that they took scans of my tooth and used a CNC machine to carve a new one from zirconia.  

Work will continue on the Model T.  I'll post some photos later. I have a meeting at a fellow lodge tonight. 

Have fun,
mike

[Philip]

Morning crew, well if ufo's are real then the maker,who created the heavens and earth.......left something out?

That hippy dude on independence day knows!

[Larry C]

Good Morning,

Rick thanks for the coffee and breakfast. Safe travels to you and Star.

Curt sorry to hear about yesterday and hopefully things will get better around your place.

Mike next thing yo'll know they'll be using a CNC machine to make new organs.

Philip gotta luv Independence Day.

What's on your plate?

It's a cloudy 64 with a high of 74. Making. trip to Wegmans shortly for a few things then to install the 2nd post topper outside then maybe some bench time after.

Have a great and safe day!! Be well.

[deemery]

Larry C, a friend's son got his PhD in biomedical engineering looking at 3d printing of body parts.  I think his was bones.  

Mike, our dentist (GP) has done a lot of investment in high tech stuff.  His laser replacement for the old compressed air rotary drill is really great.  Wife had a badly cracked tooth pulled, and she has an appointment coming up for the replacement implant soon.  

Today I'll start work on the lighting across the aisle from the farm scene, above where my Lamson & Goodnow build goes.  Then I'll start work on scenery along the whole back edge of the layout.  The 12v power supply for the lights is due late today, I still need to figure out how I'll run the wires up to the ceiling.  

dave

[TomO/Tloc]

Good morning from a crystal clear sky in So. Central Wi. For the second week in a row the severe storms predicted to blast our area swerved and stayed west and north of us. Today mid 70's and dry. There was just over 1" of rain in the gauge when I got home at 7 last night

Is my friend's layout ready?  We shall see at 9am Saturday morning for the 1st of 2 sessions 3.5 hours long. We were running trains the last 3 hours yesterday. 25 cars trains were handling the helix rather easily. If I never clean another rail in my lifetime I'd be ok with that or put a meter on the track. Of the 6 hours yesterday I spent 4.5 cleaning track. I've spent at least 1/2 my time the last 3 sessions before yesterday cleaning track. The track I know is ready. The rest of the time I spent with the DCC meter and looking for power issues. Everyone had jobs and we checked them off 1 by 1. I am hopefully cautious.

The plumbing was just one of those things. But it's solved and peace of mind has returned

A few guys at the work session asked about Disclosure Day. It's a tough movie to describe but I do recommend it.  I don't feel it's a waste of time or money and people need to remember, ITS JUST A MOVIE!

I believe we are not the only creatures in the Universe as why would it be built so vast, just for us? You decide

TomO