Early Risers.

[The Stationmaster]

G'night all.

[PhilJ W]

Goodnight all.

[emt_911]

Weather wise it turned out to be a decent day with a high of 21 degrees.

 

A few modelling tokens were spent at Buffers followed by a relaxing afternoon in the sun.

 

I had a walk into the village this evening for some proper pub food and a couple of pints of the local ale. For some reason the walk back took far longer than the walk there.

 

A trip into Exeter tomorrow.

 

Night all

[newbryford]

5 of the 8 scenic boards of the club layout powered up for the first time tonight.

 

All worked first time.

 

Celebratory nightcap being consumed.

 

Have a good Hump day folks.

 

Cheers,

Mick

[Ozexpatriate]

I haven't caught up on Early Risers over the weekend. My regrets to anyone with sad news that I haven't read yet.

 

I was in central Oregon for Monday's total eclipse of the sun. To demonstrate the veracity of that statement I present the following:

 

 

The partial eclipse shots were taken using a small reflecting telescope with a solar filter. It was inexpensive and did not have a camera mount. The photographs were taken with a hand-held mobile 'phone camera on manual, infinite focus pointed into the eyepiece - hence all the weird flare effects. (It was tricky to accomplish this without a second tripod and mount for the 'phone camera.)

 

The totality photograph is the same camera on 8x electronic zoom. The eclipse actually looked nothing like this. What light there was is blown out in the auto-exposure.

 

Totality was only 20 seconds or so for me so there was no time to fire up the SLR and I didn't have all the gear - super long lenses and a tripod, etc. EDIT: The transitions around totality with the 'Baily's Beads'* appearing and disappearing was something I did not expect to be as dramatic it was.

 

* The Wikipedia page now has a photograph from Monday, which is exactly as I saw it.

 

If you have the opportunity to experience a total eclipse of the sun I thoroughly recommend it. Words do not describe it well. The transition from harsh shadows with dim almost red light with even the tiniest visible sliver of sun to totality is almost instantaneous. The temperature dropped and Venus was visible overhead. It is truly remarkable.

Edited August 23, 2017 by Ozexpatriate

[Ozexpatriate]

... i.e. we had a partial solar eclipse. I expect we will get more pictures from RMWebbers in the US, where there was a path of totality across the whole country.

 

This wasn't too successful. You couldn't see much detail, plus there was still a definite "ghost" in your vision after you looked away.

 

Best way to see it was using binoculars and projecting the image onto a sheet of paper, recommended by the CBC science correspondent. (That's how that first image was produced.) 

 

We also tried something else I'd read about. We took a metal colander, held it up to the sun and again projected the image on to paper. Each hole in the colander acts as a pinhole camera and projects a separate image. Not great for detail, but makes an interesting design:

I used three devices to view the eclipse

1. cheap cardboard frames (rather like the red+blue 3D glasses) with solar filters - these were sold ubiquitously, including by supermarkets for about $2; a bit surprisingly to me, these were really effective - Amazon sold shoddy knock-offs for which they eventually refunded people
2. binoculars with solar filters over the main optics - these worked quite well, though it could be tricky to locate the sun - I wore a straw hat that gave me a bit of an idea where to point them - at one point I accidentally got a glance taking the binoculars away from my eyes and my retinas did not like it one little bit, though the effects seem to be temporary
3. a small reflecting telescope (with tripod) with a solar filter over the non-mirror, open end - this was the most effective, though it did require a lot of tending to reposition it every few minutes or so - the telescope had a pin-hole sight, which worked adequately

[laurenceb]

Night awl

[Ozexpatriate]

One interesting option is that the STUPID SUPER BOWL is being held here in February and places are renting for large sums for that week. Several estimates suggest we could get about $10,000 - $15,000 for the 10-14 days around the event. Since it's a full four bedroom place and we're just 10 miles and about a 20 minute drive to the stadium, it's an interesting possibility.

Ian, if you must use a pejorative tor the second largest food holiday on the US calendar, may I offer 'stupor bowl' as being more nuanced and better rhyming.

 

Put your new home up on Airbnb as soon as you own it. Hopefully the rentals will exceed the damages caused by the partying hordes. At least look at what comparable properties go for on Airbnb.

[Ozexpatriate]

The untold damage of letting GDB loose with a circular saw.... its not worth thinking about....

I'm a bit leery of those things too but I will stipulate that they can be tamed. Table saws though make me weak at the knees.

[grandadbob]

Good morning all,

Still a bit dark out but at least it's stopped raining and we should get some sunny spells today.

Enjoyed the rugby semi-final last night and the England Women did well to beat a strong and very determined French side. It was a close run thing for most of the game. There is now the "small" matter of facing New Zealand on Saturday. After watching the Black Ferns play I would say that will be extremely difficult but I live in hope.

 

Some muddling was attempted yesterday and after that (and a couple of previous attempts) I seem to have a level crossing that looks OK (from a distance) It will do for me but not, I suspect, for others.

Next up are the station platforms which have been put off for far too long. Like everything else on the layout.

 

Have a jolly good & safe day whatever you are doing,

 

Bob.

[Robert]

Morning All,

 

It is a nice bright morning here - a little on the chilly side, but it is due to get warmer later on.

 

Interesting to see the pictures of the nuclear train.  The last time I saw one, it took me completely by surprise as I was heading from Rye to Brenzett and got caught at the Dungeness Branch level crossing.  Nuclear trains are the only traffic on that line, and sure enough, shortly afterwards two 37s came through with a flask.  Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera with me.

 

Time for a coffee!

 

Have a good day everyone...

[chrisf]

Good morning one and all

 

I started on the weediculture yesterday.  After an hour the garden waste bin was full but at least three times more than I had uprooted remains.  This is dispiriting.  The contents of the bin will have settled by this morning so I might have another go.  Before that, the car need to be taken to the dealership for inspection and oil change.   I would love to know how a black mark appeared on the rear bumper and hope that the nice people at the dealership will remove it as part of the valeting process.  I have arranged to drop the car down to the dealership in time for a 9.30 am appointment, so that I may come home using my bus pass and do something useful  - ironing, weeding - instead of sitting around in the dealership working out how and whether the tea machine functions.

 

Best wishes and felicitations to all in distress and recovery

 

Chris

[TheQ]

Morning Awl, Inner temple here,

 

A reasonable sleep last night, of 6.5 hours with just a few wake ups to turn over.

Ben The Border Collie, was reluctant to go for his morning constitutional, but then I found out why, thunder and Lightening in the distance. He didn't know whether to come close to me or run back to the house, and did a bit of each...

 

It was very dark as a light rain shower went over and for the first time I had the outside lights on. This brings me to a long planned future project which is for a chain of lights down the 150 yards of garden. we've tried solar lights but they are spectacularly unsuccessful. I fear some time in the near future I have a long trench to dig, I might add a water pipe along side at the same time...

 

Today is my last day this week so I have 5 days off, I think the plans are,

 

Thursday, garden walling by the new gate and take car to see about a blowing exhaust.

Friday, Go into town for shopping, SWMBO to pick up art materials from a friend on the way back, MRC in the Evening.

Saturday, More garden Walling.

Sunday, More garden walling.

 Monday, Work on Motorboat.

Tuesday come back to work for a rest....

 

Time to go measure some more current shunts...

[45156]

Morning All

 

Time for a shower and so on - back later,

 

Regards to All

Stewart

 

ps I do wish Ian and Sherry would return soon - I too miss their contributions.  I know there was some cyber friction, and I can see all sides, but ERs is generally a pleasant place to spend some time - unlike some other areas on here nowadays.

[RhBBob]

Morning !

 

I note some stirrings in the big house at the end of the Mall as our future monarch seeks to re-assert himself as a wonderful human being.....(sound of laughter in the background).

 

I suppose we must all remember that the UK is not a democracy, it is a 'constitutional monarchy'...(be quiet at the back there, put your wig straight and adjust those stockings !)

[Barry O]

Fatchy pog here this morning. Her indoors off to a rehearsal.. Might just get a lot of modelling done.

 

Have a great time in your next 24 hours here on Planet Earth.

 

Baz

[jamie92208]

Good morning from a quiet house.  It is strange without the felines Yesterday we didn't do a great deal but some muddling got done.

 

Today the main task is assisting in a church cleaning day.   As I need the church for the railway next week I need to do my bit.  Then an evening at the club so not too bad a day.

 

It was good to hear from Sherry yesterday and I hope that both she and Ian will return before long.  I will be thinking of the Sarthe when I head for our future home in a fortnights time and go through the area.

 

Oz, thanks for the eclipse pictures.  I've never seen a total one but there were pictures of one that occurred in the 30's at my school in Giggleswick.   Apparently it was visible there and the Astronomer Royal had his temporary observatory on the school grounds.  I doubt that I will ever get to see one but you never know.

 

Regards to all.

 

Jamie

[emt_911]

Morning all. Later on parade than planned but a swim before breakfast seemed like a good idea.

 

Off into Exeter in a while to procure items not available locally.

 

Time for another coffee though.

 

Have a good day everyone.

[81C]

Yawn, just got up after a restless night laying next to a steam beam engine wheezing and puffing all night, yesterday a small chore was carried out cleaning the

 the front drive after the Hippo Bag man had collected the thing to my annoyance some cement has been dropped on some of the block pavours and set hard

which is a wire brush in the drill job to remove it, as I can't be @rsed to do it at the moment as "IT" is whining about finishing the back fence off.

 

No peace for the wicked another hour in bed me thinks good night now.    

[Horsetan]

The current Weinert catalogue arrived from Wagenwerk. Contrary to what I had thought, it looks like there are at least 12 (expensive) castings that could be used on 43.001, and a further one - ref:87035 - may only be available direct from Weinert since Wagenwerk are no longer able to supply it, citing "lack of demand".

 

I also discovered that they have a motion kit for the Br.44, much of which can be reused in the Br.43. Not cheap at 70-odd Euros, though, and you still need to provide the cylinders from somewhere (Fleischmann, probably, as the Revell ones look a bit weak). Unlike British kit designers, Weinert don't believe in providing etchings for valve gear and motion. Instead, they produce their rods and links in cast brass; I have a set for the Br.01 Pacific. They must have huge faith in their masters as well as the accuracy or otherwise of the casting process.

 

The one thing I've never quite understood about German outline models is why they still resort to having the motor powering the tender. Given that most real-life Einheits- tenders were on a double-bogie arrangement, this means the model becomes a rigid 8-wheel vehicle. Even Roco still does this, albeit with a cardan shaft now going into the cab to provide an extra drive to the engine's trailing axle.

[PhilJ W]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Spoke to Ian on Facebook this morning and he said that he will be back but not just yet. Ian's other news is that for the first time for several years there are no quadrapeds on site. Varian passed away a few weeks ago and the donkey is now with others of his kind in Alisons field. Opened a fresh pack (750grm) of tea this morning to realise I had forgotten to order large leaf tea and had fine leaf instead . The fine stuff I had before from the supermarkets tended to clog the filter basket but this stuff seems to be OK. The supermarket stuff is little more than dust and should go back into the tea bags. Bye for now, be back later.

[roundhouse]

A visit to the doctor this morning meant getting a later train into London. This freight went past us at Redhill which delayed our service and hence missed the connection at East Croydon but did give me time to get a photo of the freight passing through East Croydon

[The Stationmaster]

G'day all,

 

Simba, our remaining cat, has been to the vets to have some staples removed from a small wound on his rump - they came out with as little fuss on his part as when they went in.  Somewhat more fuss while have his claws and fur trimmed.  And the ultimate cockwomble later appeared in Tesco car park because having stopped at a pedestrian crossing he then drove forwards as Mrs Stationmaster attempted to cross in front of him, fortunately she was far more alert than he was and stopped in time while dumbo went cheerily on his ignorant way; alas we failed to find him wrapped round a lamp post during our subsequent journey home but for the sake of mankind I hope he doesn't take anyone else with him on his final journey and connection with something else he wasn't taking any notice of.

 

We are now faced - so I'm told - with preparation for tomorrow's visitor and I am duly deputed vacuum cleaning and, no doubt, some 'tidying up' although the latter hasn't been mentioned (yet).

 

Have a good day one and all

[AndyB]

Morning all from Estuary-Land. Spoke to Ian on Facebook this morning and he said that he will be back but not just yet. Ian's other news is that for the first time for several years there are no quadrapeds on site. Varian passed away a few weeks ago and the donkey is now with others of his kind in Alisons field. Opened a fresh pack (750grm) of tea this morning to realise I had forgotten to order large leaf tea and had fine leaf instead . The fine stuff I had before from the supermarkets tended to clog the filter basket but this stuff seems to be OK. The supermarket stuff is little more than dust and should go back into the tea bags. Bye for now, be back later.

 

Sorry to hear of Varian's passing but nice to hear that Ian will be back in due course. 

[BSW01]

Good afternoon

 

This morning straight after breakfast I completed the Sainsbury's Grand Prix. Once I'd returned home and put the shopping away, I made myself a cup of tea and completed the Sudoko in the RT, then went to the large DIY emporium and collected an over 60's discount card. Whilst I was there I bought some post fix for the new fencing and a few other bits and pieces. I then went to collect the paint which we had ordered for the fencing. Everything is now safely packed away in the shed ready for use when the new fencing is delivered.

 

As for the rest of the afternoon, nothing is planned so to us a quote from Chrisf, a little bit of unspecified pottering will be undertaken!

 

Back later

Edited August 23, 2017 by BSW01