Ertl 1/87 John Deere 310SE Backhoe Loader...

...picked up at a local festival some time back. The torches are scratchbuilt from a hand truck, using carved sprues for tanks. Gauges were made from sliced styrene rod with levers made from lift rings and hoses from fine wire.

Wednesday's Word, Matthew 24:42-46

Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

Ertl 1/64 scale 1963 Ford Model 2000 Tractor...

I learned my trade from one of the vilest people one could ever have the displeasure of working with. There was nothing sacred to Melvin and his vocabulary could peel the wallpaper off of a wall. Yet I owe my work ethic to him, rules I follow and pass on to my assistants---though not quite so colorfully...

1. Git yer own @#$%& tools and take care o' 'em @#$%& it!

2. Don't come here @#$%& drunk or high 'cuz I'll send yer dope smokin' hippy @#%%& back where ya come from!

3. What the @#$%& you mean comin' in at this hour?!

4. What kinda cluster @#$%& is this? Take it apart and do it again 'fore I dock yer @#$%&!

Great oogly moogly, how I learned the hard way not to tell him I had a girlfriend...

He more than likely owned a Model 9N, but this one is close enough, he used it all around the amusement park we worked at.



Some years later I ran into him and I could tell he remembered not only who I was, but how he treated me. He was looking to see how well I remembered but God had already done His work in my heart by that time and I was simply grateful to see that Mel was alive and doing OK. We had a good talk and the peace was made, enough for a good laugh or two.

I doubt he's even alive now, he looked pretty gaunt, the kind of look that only comes from cancer...

Being 49 is interesting, caught deep in the transition that gets to watch the next generation come up and make their way in the world while watching the generation that molded and shaped yours pass on the way of all man, sooner or later realizing that one day, you too may be the topic of someone's musings in a blog, remembered only in a trinket on a shelf.

Jagermeister 1/87 scale truck set...

...purchased and awaiting shipment on Ebay.



"Now that's booze...why would an evangelical Bible thumping teetotaler like you buy such a thing?"

I'm glad you asked...more on that when they arrive.

"Lovest thou me more than these?"

Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

Miniatur Wunderland, Corporate Video...

Old car barn finds...

...in 1/24 scale.

Wednesday's Word, Psalm 9:11-20

(11) Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.

(12) When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

(13) Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:

(14) That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.

(15) The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.

(16) The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

(17) The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

(18) For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.

(19) Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.

(20) Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.

Matchbox 1994 Snap-on Limited Edition Dale Earnhardt Transporter...

One of the few times I watched a race all the way through...I see video of those last seconds from that time and still wonder at how a relatively minor wreck ended so badly for the Earnhardt family. Anyone who saw Davey Allison's massive endo in '92 would have to agree that crash magnitude has nothing to do with physical danger in racing.

The Matchbox truck is somewhat larger than HO scale and thus only looks good in a model setting surrounded by larger scenic elements, such as buildings and hills, away from figures and other closer to scale vehicles.



While I still pick up the occasional old school NASCAR item when it is close to HO size, watching racing itself lost its luster shortly after Dale's passing. The cars nowadays bear little resemblance to their real life counterparts and, quite frankly, look like they're all made by the same manufacturer, the only difference being the decals used to fake the headlights and grills.

1993 Racing Champions 1/87 Transporters, Alan Kulwicki and Davey Allison...

I was working in a retail store when these two racers met their untimely deaths in 1993 and well remember the people flocking in to get models of their cars.

Alan Kulwicki had one of the finer looking paint schemes at the time, second only to Texaco's "Battlestar" paint in my eyes.



Davey Allison's Texaco "Battlestar" paint showed up several times after his death until Texaco got out of NASCAR racing.



Both of these trucks were offered with scale wheels or the more toy like racing wheels. They came as a carded set with the mini car or in a display box without the car. They look good with most HO trucks but scale out slightly smaller than true HO. These were picked up at a local flea market.

The ramblings of this modeler now go into 101 nations...

And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

German large scale R/C models...

HO scale scratchbuilt working excavator...

Do our hearts indeed burn within us?

And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

And he said unto them, What things?

And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

Bachmann N scale Santa Fe 4-8-4 Northern...

...sometimes all you need are a towel, a book and the setting sun for a good model shot.

Note to self...

..."Do not close layout when less than happy thoughts are going through your head."

...sigh...

1 Corinthians 15:12-28

Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

The Miracle Strip Model Railroad Club Open House - May 17, 2009...

....in Shalimar, Florida from 10-4

Good Friday...

---Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, and saying, "Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross."

Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, "He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'"

The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is to say, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"

Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, "This man calleth for Elias." And straightway one of them ran, and took a spunge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. The rest said, "Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him."

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

---And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

The N Scale.org cars arrived today...

...and they were well worth the wait. Micro-Trains did an outstanding job on them and the black paint makes for an eye catching car in a consist.



It started out as an idea that many forums play with but only N Scale.org pulled it off that I know of. It is the fruit of four individuals including one who forked over some serious coin to make it a reality.

I rarely buy new cars and the final price came close to my upper limit on a locomotive purchase, much less a car. As a rule, I rarely have the funds for this kind of purchase, they just came around at a time when I could do it. In the end, the reason I purchased two of them was to show my appreciation to the guys who put it together, especially the one who put it all on the line with his own money. You don't often find someone who'll put out like that in a venture that could ultimately bite them in the hinder parts.

If you are interested in one (limit three), become a member and then place your order. It won't be too long before they'll go up in price so now's the time to do it.

Char-griller "Outlaw"...

...hey, this counts as a kit.

Down here in hurricane country, this is your kitchen, so you jump at any and all discounts. In my case, I bought the base grill as a well weathered outdoor floor display, the monies saved went to all the trimmings.



My grilled salmon is revered by all, my name spoken in hushed, reverential tones by even the best local chefs. A drizzle of olive oil, some salt and pepper, grill it for three minutes on each side, then let it rest on a plate covered in heavy foil for 15 minutes...



Well, what do you offer your guests after a ops session---coffee and donuts?

Wednesday's Word, 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12...

For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

A Pop pop boat...

...for a change of pace, inspired by instructions found here...

High Speed Metal Product's N scale 2 bay hopper and container gondola...

Regularly sold on Ebay as N scale rolling stock, these and other cars in the series (as well as the infamous "dummy" GP60) were part of a premium offered to readers of Reader's Digest. Though never intended to run with N scale equipment, enterprising modelers have managed to power the locomotive using modified Atlas mechanisms. While not quite in the same league, I have modified several cars to run with my equipment, the two easiest posted here.

The 2 bay hopper only required the removal of four tabs located on either side of the king pin. Sifting through my junk box provided the necessary pins to mount Bachmann trucks to the car. The gon was even simpler, a damaged Atlas gon's floor was used in place of the stock one---a drop in fit. I will now be perusing yard sales and flea markets with a keener eye as I'd like to have a string of the hoppers and two or three of the piggy back flat w/ trailer that was offered.

John 4:35-38

Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.

Life-Like HO scale Thrall Door boxcar, MacMillan Bloedel Building Materials...

...yet another occupant of the aforementioned flea market box lot.

Pocher/AHM HO scale 4-4-0 American "Genoa", progress report...

...found some driver medallions and a stack---well, actually, I cannibalized my other Genoa, then swapped out the tenders, the later one having proper step and tender beam details that enhance the older engine. This leaves me with a locomotive I can bash into a Spartan or a yard goat rusting out its last days...



The stack was the hardest, they completely redesigned the whole assembly. But, with a little twiddling and a counter sunk mounting hole, all fits quite well. The tender was a drop in fit and contains the later, better running Rivarossi 5 pole motor. The medallions required a little trimming to work in. The only thing left to do is to install some finials on top of the cylinders. The flags will come from some graphics I was directed to on a wargamer site.

When I last owned one, it was the fall of 1977. I got really adventurous and replaced the drivers with a smaller diameter set from a Life-Like 0-4-0 Docksider. I then mounted a Kadee #5 on the tender beam and dressed it up with a Russian Blue boiler, Graphite smokebox, turquoise banding on the domes, American flags on the pilot and gold trim all over. Hey...it looked good to me...

Tyco HO scale "Spirit of '76" caboose...

...in two variants, a gift from a fellow Tyconaut.

Wednesday's Word, 1 John 1..

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.