The DisFort's Chit Chat Cafe

[Teamubr]

I saw you said you sold the toy hauler. I knew you full timed in it, but I wasn't sure where you were moving. A hurricane safe duplex is probably a nice compromise.

j

 

[jbrostek]

What did you go with for the 12v connection? I see so many things like that online that seem to range from snake oil to fire hazard.

I'd like to get some more 12v plugs around the rig to charge all of the devices everywhere and try to save the losses to invert just to convert it back to DC

I have used this style many times on golf carts without issue to convert 36v and 48v down. Usually the ones I get her 20-30A for that need. This one was a smaller 6A. Takes 8-40v input, puts out a steady 12.5v output. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X9XX9J8 I tapped the power for the radio to do this, its on a 15A fuse and more then enough juice for this.


You can always go high end if you want https://www.amazon.com/interVOLT-Voltage-Stabilizer-Regulator-Conditioner/dp/B00K67HQQS

I mean really just adding in a few 12v USB-a/c ports would probably do the same thing. I have used these in the truck https://www.amazon.com/Charger-Female-Charging-Direct-Converter/dp/B07H6W1BZG And use the surface mount so far in the RV. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HC391PC?pd_rd_i=B09HC391PC (this is the updated version with usb-c port) https://www.amazon.com/Outlet-Charger-Waterproof-Adapter-Motorcycle/dp/B09D34DTTZ

 

[garneska]

@friendofeeyore i know you will miss the toy hauler. I too was surprised when i saw your post. I was hoping you would explain a little more. Yes duplex is much safer in a storm and you get plenty of them in Texas. I do hope you enjoy your new place.

 

[Teamubr]

What do you do when you are 3 sheets short on discontinued tile you bought 9 months ago?

Improvise.

I decided a lovely, artsy border in the shower was needed. It may not have been Plan A, but is good enough for the downstairs shower. This is all dry set now. Going down for real tomorrow.



The border is little circles. Of the 100 or so choices at our Lowes, Home Depot and local flooring store, these were in stock and blended the best with the floor and wall tile.



j

 

[garneska]

@Teamubr good job on the improvising. Not sure if you remember me complaining that advil was not helping my knee. Well the Dr gave me Meloxicam for my elbow. Not sure if it is helping my elbow but it is definitely helping my knee .

 

[jbrostek]

When life throws you a curve

I kind of like the artsy border. Never mention it again and noone will be the wiser.

RV is mostly packed and set for the weekend. Still need to do tire pressures on the truck and RV and grease the hitch. Then just load up my bag of clothes and hit the road. I am shooting to hit the road about 4 to head to the track which will get me there with ample light to setup and then relax.

Then I can play/test the new internet setup and see how it compares to last season. Looking forward to a slower weekend at the track.

 

[Teamubr]

@Teamubr Not sure if you remember me complaining that advil was not helping my knee. Well the Dr gave me Meloxicam for my elbow. Not sure if it is helping my elbow but it is definitely helping my knee .

Thanks Kris. Meloxicam should help anything that swells. I took that for a year or so for my hips, but it stopped doing much. They upped me to Celebrex and it takes a while, but does the trick. And yes, it helps my neck, head, hands, back and anything else that may have had a vague ache.

I am shooting to hit the road about 4 to head to the track which will get me there with ample light to setup and then relax.

Is this a Test/Tune or Play Day weekend or real racing? Our local dirt tracks don't start running weekly races until April. And even then, the weather can be sketchy. When I crewed on a dirt late model, we ran methanol motors and we had to completely block off the radiator and leave them running in the paddock to get enough heat in them to run on the track.
When I road raced, the Central/Midwest regions would start the season at Gateway in mid-March. Sometimes it was nice (50s) and sometimes, like 2013, we got 12 inches of snow on Saturday night.

j

 

[jbrostek]

@Teamubr Jim it's SCCA drivers school! Time for the permit holders to earn their rookie stripes! It's usually the 3rd weekend of March. Weather is usually cool, sometimes morning frost. I think I have lent out my space heater at least once a year for the past few years.

April 1-2 is SCCA Majors at SPR, so ill be back in 2 weeks, off the PR and then April 15-16 is NASA MA at SPR, followed by SCCA WDCR MARRS (regional series) on April 22-13. April 28th we head to Enless Caverns RV park.....you know slow roll.

 

[2goofycampers]

@Teamubr good job on the improvising. Not sure if you remember me complaining that advil was not helping my knee. Well the Dr gave me Meloxicam for my elbow. Not sure if it is helping my elbow but it is definitely helping my knee .

When I had elbow pain a Tommy Copper sleeve helped a lot.

 

[garneska]

We went to Perry GA to look at RVs at the FMCA rally. We also met up with a friend.



@MrsPAHunter took her first trip down in the RV. We enjoyed the window shopping, yes I would like a New Aire. It is on the list for the potential retirement rig. Had a nice lunch at Cracker Barrel and enjoyed visiting with Jenn. Glad we could meet up. Now if only my RV was done at the shop. Two things left, so hopefully two weeks to pick it up.

 

[bama_ed]

Good to see Jenn, Kris. Thanks for sharing the picture. Oh and I HIGHLY recommend that whole 'retirement' thing.

Just a brief passing reference to St. Patrick's Day which came and went quietly in my town. The University of Alabama was on spring break this past week so not many folks were here to celebrate it plus it was drizzly and cool/cloudy locally. Being of mostly Polish decent, St. Paddy's is not relevant to me but it did provide a reason to pull out my CD's that I have bought at Raglan Road over the years (4 of them) and play them. This was the first in the cd tray.



Next to post some pics for Spencer.

Ed

 

[bama_ed]

I have a relative coming to visit this weekend who is a trains fan and I was planning to pull out all the loco's for an impression. Possibly will be able to post pix.

ED

PS - big boy trainz. have about a dozen locos (or so - what DW thinks). Will post some pix this weekend maybe.

Spencer,

Here are some train pics. They are (most of) my locomotives (one is for parts) and other motive power vehicles. This is G-Scale and is either 1:24 or 1:29 in scale. For comparison, HO (perhaps the most common size of toy trains) is 1:87 scale.

I'll start with my newest little diesel engine (only have two of these).



Also have the same model but in the Southern RR green color (I try to get Southern when I can or something else for whatever reason).



I also have one LGB steam loco from someone who wanted it to have a good home. LGB is quality German engineering with matching prices of course so I don't have any others.



Next is a little Speeder which was a gas powered vehicle used for maintenance on railroads.



Next are a couple Eggliners, whimsical self propelled vehicles. One is Southern RR:



and two (still in wrapper) are Snowflakes which will be Christmas themed (the Egg can tow one flat car with a Santa in it, for example). Sort of a Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer for train nerds like me.



Also have a saddle tank steam engine. These didn't have a tender - they carried the water in the saddle tank on top in front and a small pile of coal in back of the cab.



A Railbus in Southern colors. It was also gas powered for inexpensive operations for infrequent mixed freight/passenger lines.



Finally, although not a motive power, I include a picture of one of my Bobber Cabooses in Southern red (as their cabooses were).



Why include a picture of a caboose? When I saw it for sale and looked at it, I was shocked (pleasantly) to see my town's name decorating it and a reference to the "AGS RY" which is historically accurate as the Alabama Great Southern railway came through Tuscaloosa in the late 1800s and was later bought and merged into the early Southern Railroad system.



Neat to have. More steam next.

Ed

 

[bama_ed]

I have four little steam switcher locos all with tenders in the Southern, Union Pacific, Pennsy, and Hershey colors.









The biggest/longest loco I have is this Pacific in Southern colors. With the tender it's 36 inches long.



An undecorated loco:



And one in East Broad Top livery (in Pennsylvania - we rode behind one of their steam locos on a trip when the kids were little).



Finally, this is my only wood burning steam loco. It runs pretty well:



Everything is track-powered DC and I have a PIKO remote control to control speed/direction. So I keep it simple to operate. I might pick up a blue Thomas the Tank engine because our sons enjoyed that show. But working with these usually puts me in a happy place.

Ed

PS - plus I have many coaches, freight cars, and cabooses. Been collecting these for 15-20 years.

 

[Sjm9911]

Looking good ed. I have never seen the egg. Lol. You have more stuff then I thought. But it looks like you have room for more.

 

[Part-Time Paradise]

I have a bunch of HO stuff I dinked around with as a kid. I took over the ping pong table for many years, but it made my table never complete. Maybe it's a hobby I need to pull out of the bag some day.

 

[Teamubr]

Bathroom is coming along.

Productive weekend.

Tile is done and grouted. Baseboard is cut and coped. Waiting to paint before the trim goes in.

Tomorrow will be sanding primer and paint. Tuesday should be trim and put the toilet in.



j

 

[Sjm9911]

Ok , my latest 2 day project, that has gone longer. Lol. I have taken all my aquired FD stuff. Bought by me or acquired through attrition , stuff and and making a room for it. Not done yet, but coming along.

 

[Sjm9911]

Bathroom is coming along.

Productive weekend.

Tile is done and grouped. Baseboard is cut and coped. Waiting to paint before the trim goes in.

Tomorrow will be sanding primer and paint. Tuesday should be trim and put the toilet in.

View attachment 747667

j

I like the shower tile. And that the shower is good for tall people. Pet peave....

 

[jbrostek]

Happy Monday all! Weekend was cold but went well. RV was nice and warm and the RV internet went great! I was able to watch the last 4 hours of the 12 hours of Sebring on peacock without an issue.

Now I we have 2 weeks till the next race weekend and then off to sun and fun!

 

[garneska]

It seemed like it would be another Rundisney registration nightmare. However for Wine and Dine this year (nov 4 and 5 2023) it did not sell out immediately. Bert had a meeting so i said i would register him. We already had booked a campsite for Nov 4 to Nov 18. Then i realized it was Wine and Dine weekend. The plan was to register for the Half since we would get in on Sat. Well they announced the themes and Figment was the challenge theme. I was a sucker for disney. I managed to get a second reservation for the campground for Friday Nov 3, so that if i could manage to get a challenge registration we were good.

Disney IT was at it again but i did get both of us registered. Now i need to decide if i really want to link the two camping ressies, but not sure it is necessary since it is all Full hookup. Yay only two days of early wake ups for a 10k on Sat and a half on Sunday. We do get a ticket to Epcot on Sunday that let's us in at 5 pm till midnight.