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**slimrails** · 04-11-2006, 05:01 AM

Goooooooooooooood Morning, Tim!

Thanks for opening up. I'll pass on the coffee, thanks...I've had my share and will be on the road with one of our managers this morning. I don't want to have to stop every 10 minutes! [:I] Hmmmmmmmm...'craftsman' kits. I have what some modelers call 'craftsman' rolling stock kits on my orphan shelf in my 'inventory'.

Old Ambroid kits, Northeastern kits, Bethlehem Car works kits, etc. I have every intention of building them

, although I have some duplicates that may need to auctioned off. And of course I have declared a moratorium on rolling stock kit buying, although I did just get in two Baldwin-Westinghouse Class D electric freight motors (locos to you steam & diesel guys).

Those are brass kits that I hafta build 'cuz they'll be the center of my motive power! [:-bigmouth] Well, gotta get my morning mapped out here. I'll check back in around beans.Beautiful day out there...enjoy it, Friends!!

Russ

**Dutchman** · 04-11-2006, 05:16 AM

Good morning Tim, Russ, and the rest of the crew. I've been out in the yard already, and came in for some coffee.

Tim, up till now, most of my kits have either remained on the shelf, or have been built and set on the shelf. Now that I am moving forward with the layout, I hope to only build the kits as I need them on the layout. Then I can place them in their final position. We will see how long that lasts.

Actually, I have taken two kits down recently: a Campbell deck girder bridge and a Queen Post bridge kit by Hunterline. One is built already, the other I will start today. Those will immediately be installed on the layout. In a few weeks, I think that I will have created places for about 8-10 structures. I will then start working on them. So, it is a new direction for me. Build what I need next for the layout. That is why I decided to pass on the gas station challenge. I don't have a place ready for it on the layout.

Well, time to head back outside. I will check in later.

**Bbags** · 04-11-2006, 05:19 AM

Good morning all from Georgia where we may get into the mid 70's today.

I have returned from a short vacation and see that many have been active while I was away.

Lots of threads to read and much progress to be viewed.

As for kits on the shelf some sit days and others have been sitting there for years.

I am in the process of constructing my first layout and will in the future be placing all the structures with scenery directly onto the layout.

I have been working on my Alaskan mountain and my first venture into real scenery has been as difficult as any craftsman's kit I have ever attempted.

I am no Dave Frary.

That said this part of the hobby is a lot of fun and with practice I am sure I will only get better at it in the future.

Have a great day one and all.

**mikeLV** · 04-11-2006, 05:20 AM

Good morning crew. I'll take some decaf if you made any...people here at work said I was wired at 8:30am. I'll admit my ratio is pretty embarrasing! I did my first craftsman kit a year or so ago, and have partially started/finished others since then. To my defense, I work 11 hours a day, have 3 kids, and am slowly working toward a finished layout. So I have high hopes and dreams to have plenty to do years down the road when the kids move out, and have more free time.

**Bbags** · 04-11-2006, 05:28 AM

quote:

Originally posted by mikeLV

Good morning crew. I'll take some decaf if you made any...people here at work said I was wired at 8:30am. I'll admit my ratio is pretty embarrasing! I did my first craftsman kit a year or so ago, and have partially started/finished others since then. To my defense, I work 11 hours a day, have 3 kids, and am slowly working toward a finished layout. So I have high hopes and dreams to have plenty to do years down the road when the kids move out, and have more free time.

Hi Mike,

How have you been and how is everything.

How about a few pictures on your progress the next time you pop in.

**essodee** · 04-11-2006, 05:29 AM

Well Good morning Tim & Russ.

I've but up for hours, but outside on this fine morning raking, snipping, weeding around the spring flowers. Got to nip those dandelions in the bud before they flower and send out all those parachute seeds. I love the flowers but hate those ground-hugging stems.

As to kits: as it has turned out over the years with so much moving from place to place, all my kits have been built and just stored, not even made into dioramas.

Now, with my model railroading esnthusiasm

seemingly born again, starting with this Fennimore's I'm nearing completion on, and with a couple of Sierra kits in the pipeline, I intend to make each one into a diorama that will eventually fit on a layout, that is still to come.

I have piles of rolling stock and locos, kit-built from a dozen or more years back, but currently I'm interested in structure kits, and I'll go with that tendency as far as it'll take me. I' have to see if I can maintain the same level of committment that I've been imbued with since joining RR-L in January, and being inspired by the member's efforts, displays and helpful enthusiasm.

I have very little in the way of unbuilt kits on my shelf since I have a limited budget and usually go at a kit as soon as I open the box. I just regret all those fine craftsman kits I missed over the years that are OOP or available at such inflated prices.

Steve O'

**George_D** · 04-11-2006, 05:32 AM

Good morning crew. Thought I'd stop in for a cup of coffee. We're watching my son's dog this week while they're on a spring break trip and I just finished taking him for a walk - beautiful day outside.

I built a Ye Ol' Huff and Puff bobber several years ago and I'm now slowly working on a Quality Craft wood caboose kit. I managed to measure the window opening wrong on the ends of the car (matched errors :erm: ) and now I'm waiting for some wood from Northeastern before I can resume work. I keep looking at some resin kits I have in my - what's the term Russ used - "inventory" that I'd like to start. I've never tried a structure kit. Like Bruce, I need a place to put it before I build it.

Have a good day.

George

**essodee** · 04-11-2006, 05:39 AM

Tim,

You didn't express yourself on the subject.

How about you and kits? I'm aware of you participating on quite a few group-builds, with excellent results. And also that you seem to have a large and well sceniced layout, with a drop-dead gorgeous backdrop; so what's on your shelves, built and/or unbuilt?

Steve O'

**Mike_Hamer** · 04-11-2006, 05:45 AM

Hi Tim and the boys!

I remember when I first got into the hobby a few years ago. I had mostly bought the standard inexpensive kits from the shelves of the local hobby shop.

I recall my wife's concern when I bought my first Craftsman kit...one produced from a local fellow here in Ontario...John Rendall.

She was aghast at the price I paid at the time in comparison to anything else I had done.

It wasn't until she realized the hours and hours that went into completing this kit...that I truly got my "bang for my buck" as far as hobby time and enjoyment went. (I even modified a bunch of things in the building of the kit.)

Since then...I've mostly completed scratchbuilt affairs and a bunch of kitbashing. So, no...I don't carry a big inventory of "future projects" on the shelf..it's "pay as you go" for me.

**jlg759** · 04-11-2006, 06:02 AM

good morning guys sorry I haven't checked in for awhile I have been very busy. The fire department I volunteer for just received our new tanker and I have been training with it. I did get to 2 train shows the last two weekends. Put the first layer of plaster cloth on a moutain I am building. Tonight I have a work session scheduled for the layout I will then add some new pix etc to the construction thread. Have a Great Day Joe

**TomPM** · 04-11-2006, 06:16 AM

Good morning folks

Can it be? Has Spring sprung? We have two days in the mid to high sixties in a row if today pans out. Yesterday was a great day. Too bad I spent most of it in dentists’ offices. My son had an appointment in the morning. By the time we got there, which was on time, they were an hour behind, so my son’s 10:40 AM appointment turned into a 11:50 AM appointment. It was almost 1 PM by the time we got out of there. Then my daughter had a orthodontist appointment but luckily they were on time and we were out of there in about 20 minutes. My kids had their last day of bowling and got their trophies for their high games. My son also got a trophy for first place as his team took first in the 6 to 9 year division.

No modeling last night. We finished assembling my son’s new loft bed. It took two nights to put this thing together. I think I would rather deal with a craftsman kit then tackle one of these again. Tonight the kids have baseball and softball lessons.

As stated elsewhere I build kits in varying time frames. Some, like the Medusa Cement Distributor, take a few weeks, other can take a year. The F&C coal car I am working on in now entering its third month of assembly. I know part of the problem is I have too many irons in the fire but sometimes I need a break from one type of project to another.

I hope everybody has a good day.

**leeflan** · 04-11-2006, 06:21 AM

Good Morning, Tim & Crew,

Gloomy, gloomy here in the L.A. area this morning with light rain falling and more to come.

Nothing to report on the modeling front from yesterday evening. Mondays are just too busy at the old foundation. But tonight I hope to get in some work. We'll see.

To answer your question, Tim, I am at a point where I only buy kits, craftsman or otherwise, with the intention of placing them the layout. Because my structure needs are so specific, I rarely buy the large craftsman kits as they just don't have the right look for my layout.

So I end up doing a lot of kitbashing or scratchbuilding to get the right look and feel. As to how long a particular kit sits on the shelf, I've got a couple of FSM kits that have been hanging around for around 20 years.

Yes, they'll go on the layout, but that's my very last scene.

Catch y'all later.

**LVRALPH** · 04-11-2006, 07:46 AM

Morning guys, Well, I just peek in here and there. I just finished working a 86 hour work week. Thats a heavy one, as I usually do 65 to 70 hours. I had to leave at 8PM last night cause I hit the wall. I got 4 really tough days ahead. and then it should start to slow. Can't wait till it's over so I can rest and get back to modeling. This termite thing is also making things tougher. Thanks for the grub.

**anbhurst** · 04-11-2006, 08:26 AM

Good Morning Mr trussman & to the Rest of the Crew,

Thanks for opening up our lounge, Tim. I went out the door this morning and forgot my key. I brought some uncolored boiled eggs. We did a couple of flats for next Saturday morning's hunt, so the least I could do is spare several dozen for our crew's breakfast this morning. Now if someone will fork over some Taylor ham, we'll be in business. [:P]

We had a beauuuuuuuuuuuuuutiful day yesterday, but today is starting out overcast. As I sit here on the keyboard, a squadron of F-15's are passing over our house. They're comin' home from early maneuvers out over the Pacificid="blue">. [:O] :up:

Lessee, more work on the 'S' curve into the wee-hours of the morning while beaucoup kits sit on cupboard shelves in Utilityville. They've been there for a least five years, and at the rate I'm going, they will probably gather some more dust for the next five before I get to 'em. I stopped by the club last night and visited with some of the crew. There are eight from our club and six from another that are meeting in Corrine, Utah, for an operations session on the 29th.

Guess that's about it from the RIMid="blue"> for today. I hope everyone is enjoying the first day of the rest of our lives,

quote:

Originally posted by trussman

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Toooooosday, where is everyone?

Toooooosday, where is everyone?

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